Podstrony

• Index
• Microsoft Press Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security
• Peter Charles Hoffer The Brave New World, A History of Early America Second Edition (2006)
• Andrei Val'terovich Grinev The Tlingit Indians in Russian America, 1741 1867 (2005)
• Crichton Michael Norton
• Andrzej Pilipiuk Kroniki Jakuba Wedrowycza
• Violet Blue The Ultimate Guide to Cunilingus
• Vonnegut Kurt Galapagos (SCAN dal 688) (2)
• Sw. Faustyna Kowalska DZIENNICZEK DUCHOWY(2)
• Robert Jordan Wschodzacy Cien
• bedier joseph dzieje tristana i izoldy (3)
• zanotowane.pl
• doc.pisz.pl
• pdf.pisz.pl
• kerada123.opx.pl

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.7 Another study on current tobacco use among Asian Americans inthe Delaware Valley region showed usage was highest among Cambodians(42%), followed by Vietnamese (40%), Koreans (27%) and Chinese Americans(24%).8 High rates among Vietnamese American men was also noted amongtwo population-based studies, with 37 percent in Seattle, WA, and 32 percent inSanta Clara, CA.9Tobacco use among Asian Americans is influenced by cultural norms andvalues.Peer influences, tobacco use for medicinal purposes, and smoking prac-tices within cultural traditions have been associated with tobacco use behavioramong Asian Americans.10 Rates of smoking among Asian subgroups are influ-enced by age, gender, country of origin, education level, acculturation, andpsychosocial factors.Smoking behavior is higher among Asian men thanwomen; the prevalence of smoking was 23.5 percent among Asian Americanmen in California but 8.9 percent among Asian women.11 Cigarette smoking isalso associated with acculturation, with tobacco usage much higher amongAsian immigrant men than second- and third-generation Asian Americans.Incontrast, smoking rates have been observed to be higher among Asian Americanwomen with increasing acculturation.12Health 291Diet and NutritionAn important aspect of cardiovascular health is dietary behavior.The shiftfrom traditional food habits to a diet based on highly processed, calorie-richfoods has been suggested as the cause of disproportionately high rates ofcardiovascular mortality in developing nations and among disadvantaged ethnicminority groups in developed countries.13 The loss of traditional dietary habitsand physical inactivity contribute to the general increase in obesity, resulting inhigher risks for the development of cardiovascular disease.14 Diets high in ani-mal fat, cholesterol, and low in dietary fiber have also been associated withincreased risk for high blood pressure.15In general, diet changes after individuals immigrate to the United States.Forexample, Korean Americans consume greater amounts of American food, eat fastfood, and have meals away from home more frequently than their counterparts inKorea.16 Second-generation Japanese Americans have greater intakes of total fat,animal protein, and carbohydrates compared with their first-generation counter-parts.17 In one study of Southeast Asians, the adult immigrants were found to havemaintained their traditional diets, while their children had increased consumptionof foods such as meat, cakes, and soft drinks, as well as an overall preference forWestern foods.18 Public health research indicates that a loss of traditional dietaryhabits and physical inactivity contribute to the general increase in obesity, result-ing in a great risk to develop cardiovascular disease.Health behaviors are established early in childhood.Studies have suggestedthat minority adolescents, including Asian Americans, with a low level of accul-turation, low household income, and parents with a low level of education, aremore likely to report a high level of fat and sugar intake and a low level of phys-ical activity.19 These habits increase the risk of being overweight and develop-ing cardiovascular disease.Although the typical Asian diet, which primarily is based on carbohydrates andvegetables, is considered healthy, it contains high amounts of sodium in ingre-dients such as soy sauce, pickled vegetables, and salted meat products.AsianAmericans undergoing the acculturation process may consume a combination ofan American diet high in animal protein, fats, and sugar, while retaining theirtraditional foods that are high in sodium content.This bicultural diet may con-tribute to an increased cardiovascular disease risk for Asian Americans.20 It istherefore recognized that dietary education should include reinforcement of atraditional diet of vegetables and fish, as well as customary use of garlic, onion,ginger and lemon to enhance food flavor, while reducing the use of salty condi-ments and sauces.In addition, cooking methods, such as, boiling, steaming, roast-ing and grilling should be encouraged instead of frying.21Physical Inactivity and ObesityDiseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity increase cardiovascularrisk.Despite common knowledge that exercise is healthful and can decrease one srisk for cardiovascular and related diseases, more than 60 percent of American292 Encyclopedia of Asian American Issues Todayadults are not physically active.Asian Americans have the highest rate of beingsedentary compared to the general U.S.population.22 A study of Vietnamese adultsin California found that 40 percent of the men and 50 percent of the women didnot exercise, compared with 24 percent of men and 28 percent of women in theU.S.population.23 A study of Asian Americans in Hawaii found that 76 percent ofFilipinos and 57 percent of Japanese were sedentary.Factors associated with a lackof physical activity were lower education, lower income, and age between thirty-five to fifty-four years.24 Lower activity levels have also been reported amongChinese Americans, with 31 percent in Seattle engaged in physical activity.25Regular physical activity decreases the risk of being overweight and healthissues related to being overweight.Although Asian immigrants have lowerlevels of obesity than their U.S.-born counterparts, after living in the UnitedStates for more than fifteen years, the levels of obesity converge.26 Children areencouraged to engage in at least sixty minutes of age-appropriate physicalactivity on almost a daily basis.Underpinning such recommendations is agrowing recognition that physical activity promotes cardiovascular health andreduces anxiety and depression.Studies of Asian American children indicatethat a little more than 30 percent of them do not participate in any sports.Lowerlevels of physical activity are related to higher blood pressure and higher levelsof bad cholesterol (LDL) in Chinese American children.27The prevalence of overweight children has increased significantly across allracial and ethnic groups in the United States, including Asian Americans thelargest and fastest growing subgroup in the country [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]