Guía de Salud

Recent health studies on the Hispanic community provide revealing insights. Although Hispanic women are more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white women, they live longer. They are less likely to get breast cancer but more prone to depression, diabetes, and arthritis. Latinas have very strong family and community ties and, as a result, are more likely to take care of others and neglect their own health. Delgado, a clinical psychologist who heads the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, has written a guide to the health concerns of Latinas. Divided into three sections, the book first examines how Latinas see themselves and how family and community ties affect them. Here, Delgado offers advice on finding a balance in life and remaining healthy. Part 2 covers common health issues affecting Latinas. The last section includes resources for keeping personal health records and finding more information, with charts for tracking blood pressure, allergies, medical visits, and medications as well as feelings, symptoms, and menstrual periods. There is also a resource list of web sites and organizations, many of which have information in Spanish. Delgado lists Physicians' Desk Reference for drug information, but a better choice would have been the drug information section of MedlinePlus, which has objective information in Spanish. More current than the popular Nuestros Cuerpos, Nuestras Vidas (Boston Women's Health Book Collective, 2003), this excellent book is recommended for public and consumer health libraries serving Spanish speakers.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA