Pil-Am Health: It's Not Just Your Mom's Problem

It's rare to hear about Asian American health in the news, outside the context of the miraculous healing powers of green tea, meditation, and eating lots of fish--much of the mass media take Asian Americans to be one homogenous group that has excellent health.  Not only is this false, but buying into the stereotype can be deadly.  The fact of the matter is Pilipino Americans are facing a silent health crisis, and your 50-year-old Tito Alfredo is not the only one who should be worrying.  Young men between the ages of 18 and 49, and women need to increase their health awareness, as well.  Heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes are big problems in the community.  Here are the alarming statistics:

Heart disease claims the lives of a third the Filipino American population...About a third of Filipino men between the ages of 18 and 49 suffer from uncontrolled hypertension. The rate increases to 51% for those over the age of 50. The corresponding rate is 61% for Filipino women of the same age range, a figure that is 1.7 times higher than whites and 1.4 times the rate for black women.
(Taken from NYU Langone Medical Center News Releases Website)

 
This information may come as a big surprise considering that most Pil-Ams, male or female are petite in size.  But don't let looks deceive, cautions Dr. Mariano Jose Rey, Director at the NYU Institute of Community Health and Research.  He told the Asian Journal, "Filipinos die in their 30s or 40s of heart attack and strokes even though they're thin. They're one of two or three populations in the entire planet who while being thin, develop severe heart and brain disease." (Posted on ManilaMailDC)

Heart disease is not the only problem.  According to a 1993 study by the Northern California Cancer Center, Pilipino women had the lowest breast cancer survival rate among several racial/ethnic groups (white, African American, Chinese, Japanese) except African Americans. (Study cited in "Health and Health Care of Filipino American Elders.")

Causes
What is the cause of poor Pil-Am health, and what can one do about it?  Health professionals believe several factors are to blame: a high fat, high cholesterol, high sodium diet (patis with your pork fat, anyone?), a dearth of culturally and linguistically appropriate medical screening and educational materials, a high-stress work environment, and cheap and accessible processed foods.  (NYU Langone Medical Center News Releases Website)

 
Cures
While there's no other way around tried and true diet and exercise, "diet" and "exercise" don't have to be unpleasant things.  The autumn has not only brought the east coast cooler weather, but a fresh harvest as well.  Visit your local farmer's market and see the difference fresh ingredients make on the taste of your cooked meals (you'll be less likely to overdo the patis this way).  Try eating less meat and more fish and vegetables, and when you do, go easy on the frying.  Bring your own heart-healthy baon (lunch) to work.  Hot dogs with rice don't count!  Walk, dance, bike, or skate more, drive and sit less.  Your wallet and heart will thank you.

Finally, get regular medical check-ups with a doctor who is open to discussing your health concerns and questions, and encourage your loved ones to do the same.  Beware of doctors who buy into the stereotype that all Asians drink green tea and eat seaweed! They might overlook important medical tests that could save your life or the life of a family member.