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[dinazimmerman]

This might be old news to many, but I had never heard of it.

The Hispanic Paradox: U.S. Hispanics Live Longer, Despite Socio-Economic Hurdles

When it comes to Hispanics and health care, the horror stories are well known. Less so is the mysterious phenomenon known as the "Hispanic Paradox."

Again and again, we hear that the Hispanic population is disproportionately beset by the bugbears of poverty, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and lack of access to quality health coverage and insurance.

These unfortunate facts are indisputable. But what many people don't realize is that, when it comes to the bottom line -- that is, mortality -- the news for Hispanics is good. Very good.

In the United States, Hispanics, despite their socio-economic hurdles, on average live longer than blacks by seven years, and whites by five years, says Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, a professor of medicine at UCLA.

"There's something about being Latino that is good for their health," Hayes-Bautista told HispanicBusiness.com, adding wryly: "Just think if we had access to health care."
Widely known as the "Hispanic Paradox," the phenomenon was discovered and coined by researchers decades ago.

At the time, many scientists were skeptical, speculating that the data must have been skewed. They hypothesized that immigrants who came to the United States were simply younger and healthier than the average American, or that a large share of older immigrants returned home to die.

But recent studies have refuted the doubting theories, and the science community today generally accepts the Hispanic Paradox as real.

Data on Hispanic Immigrants Presents Puzzle on Aging

If medical researchers were to pick someone who might defy national life expectancy statistics, few would pick Irma Lara.

She came to this country illegally from a small town in Mexico to work as a baby sitter. She was 26, had only a first-grade education and was desperately poor.

She married a Mexican-American and had seven children. Her husband’s meager salary at a cotton compress company was never enough. The family had no health insurance, never saw a dentist. Now, widowed at 75, Mrs. Lara is still poor; her monthly income is less than $600. She spends her days at a community center near her tidy subsidized apartment in Hitchcock, Tex., playing bingo, learning English, working out with exercise bands and with weights.

“I am happy,” Mrs. Lara said.

And, if statistics are any guide, Mrs. Lara has a long life ahead of her, longer than would be expected if she were black or a native-born white woman. It is called the Hispanic paradox, and it is one of the most puzzling discoveries in research on aging.

For example, a recent analysis by Irma T. Elo, a demographer at the University of Pennsylvania, indicates that a 65-year-old white woman will live, on average, an additional 18.9 years. But a 65-year-old Hispanic woman who immigrated to the United States will live an additional 19.8 years, a significant difference.

The longevity difference persists even though Hispanic immigrants tend to be like Mrs. Lara, poor and poorly educated and lacking health care. It persists even though, like Mrs. Lara, they get chronic diseases like arthritis and high blood pressure and are often overweight.

This is very interesting to me, because we usually assume that socioeconomic variables like access to health care, level of education, and income almost fully determine one's life expectancy. But for a lot of Hispanics, that really isn't the case. A lot of them live long, happy lives and prove themselves to be resilient in the face of chronic diseases, despite scoring low on all these socioeconomic measures. This is even stranger because Latin Americans living in their native countries aren't very healthy on average.

Could it be that familialism and religiousness, major parts of Hispanic culture, are actually good for your health? If Latin American countries weren't so poor and dangerous (high crime and violence rates lowering life expectancy rates), would the positive effects of these cultural features really stand out?

 

[wenis]

It must be the warm 7up we drink when we get sick. I hear it's the bubbles that really helps.

 

[-x.Red.x-]

Awesome...

jajaja

 

[VeryGooster]

It must be the warm 7up we drink when we get sick. I hear it's the bubbles that really helps.

No, it's the Vicks VapoRub our grandmothers insist is the future of medicine.

 

[dinazimmerman]

Oh and my fellow Hispanic-Americans, don't take this as an excuse to adopt unhealthy lifestyles, just because we on average tend to live longer than whites and blacks. :lol

 

[madara]

Even more reason for them to be mindful of breeding traditions.

 

[Dresden]

Being part of a strong family usually does wonders for your psychological health. A steady and constant faith helps too. They help you deal with stress and generally reduces the toll that stress takes on your body.

I'm not saying this is what makes Hispanics live longer, just a little something to throw out there. I have no idea why latinos have healthier lives. It must be the tamarind candies.

 

[WillyFive]

Even more reason for them to be mindful of breeding traditions.

That's racist.

And be quiet, we multiply at will.

 

[Shanadeus]

It's their genes, we just need to do some research and find the key ones.

 

[SmokeMaxX]

Eh, I'm not one to stereotype but could this be because a large proportion (comparatively speaking) of hispanics do active physical work versus peoples of other nationalities?

 

[El Sloth]

No, it's the Vicks VapoRub our grandmothers insist is the future of medicine.

Clearly it's a combination of both. Wait 'till the rest of the world finds out we cured cancer with EVAPORUB and ginger ale years ago.

 

[madara]

That's racist.

And be quiet, we multiply at will.

I dont think so. Its been fact with population statistic for ages and acknowledged cultural thing. But if you felt offended it wasn't my agenda, sorry.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Hmm. Hispanics live longer, older people vote more, and GOP has been consistently anti-immigration. The American Southwest is going to as solid blue as the south is solid red.

You can't argue with logic of that magnitude!

 

[SUPREME1]

It must be the warm 7up we drink when we get sick. I hear it's the bubbles that really helps.

Shhhh!!

Don't let whitey know... they'll take that away too.

 

[WillyFive]

I dont think so. Its been fact with population statistic for ages and acknowledged cultural thing. But if you felt offended it wasn't my agenda, sorry.

It can be a fact and offensive at the same time, you know. Many sterotypes are from real things, and because they are offensive, we try to change it.

 

[Jarate]

What I like to do is to switch the wording around in these so they talk about how white people are superior and see how racist these things are.

Something like this would be so funny if it actually appeared in an article


"There's something about being Caucasian that is good for their health,"

 

[ZoddGutts]

It must be the warm 7up we drink when we get sick. I hear it's the bubbles that really helps.

No, it's the Vicks VapoRub our grandmothers insist is the future of medicine.

Oh man that's the type of "medicine" my mother and grandmother used on us. It did work though. :lol

 

[wenis]

Shhhh!!

Don't let whitey know... they'll take that away too.

Don't worry they never actually try it. Fools always refrigerate their drinks before hand...smh

wait till they find out that those tacos they are eating aren't really tacos.
and gorditas are not real.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Could it be that familialism and religiousness, major parts of Hispanic culture, are actually good for your health?

I'm no expert and I'm not Hispanic, but I would agree with your hypothesis. I think that those traits reduce stress and depression, which increases overall health.

 

[Nizz]

It must be the warm 7up we drink when we get sick. I hear it's the bubbles that really helps.

No, it's the Vicks VapoRub our grandmothers insist is the future of medicine.

:lol :lol

Oh and my fellow Hispanic-Americans, don't take this as an excuse to adopt unhealthy lifestyles, just because we on average tend to live longer than whites and blacks. :lol

Point taken. Though I already have Type 2 Diabetes. I think it's our "whatever" attitude in the face of problems. I know that's how I take it. I also think having a strong family to back you helps a lot too.

 

[Vox-Pop]

Hispanics in Mexico? South America? USA?

 

[dinazimmerman]

Hispanics in Mexico? South America? USA?

Hispanics living in the U.S. Sorry, guess I didn't make that super-clear in the OP.

 

[Lonely1]

Hispanics in Mexico? South America? USA?

Spain?

 

[f0nz0]

Eh, I'm not one to stereotype but could this be because a large proportion (comparatively speaking) of hispanics do active physical work versus peoples of other nationalities?

I think this does play a part. I'm a mexican american, and all the older people that I've known or know presently have all had for the most part a strong work ethic, my dad keeps sayin he's never goin to stop working because that's when you begin to "fall apart"

 

[Dude Abides]

Even more reason for them to be mindful of breeding traditions.

What is a "breeding tradition"?

 

[Trojita]

Female Hispanics will likely live a little longer. Male Hispanics and Black Females are growing to be the most unhealthy demographics in America based on lifestyle choices.

 

[dinazimmerman]

I think this does play a part. I'm a mexican american, and all the older people that I've known or know presently have all had for the most part a strong work ethic, my dad keeps sayin he's never goin to stop working because that's when you begin to "fall apart"

But so many Hispanics are obese...

Female Hispanics will likely live a little longer. Male Hispanics and Black Females are growing to be the most unhealthy demographics in America based on lifestyle choices.

On average five years more than whites, seven years more than blacks. Is that really a "little" longer?

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

YOU HEAR THAT?!? WE ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE!! WE ARE...... PERFECT. :lol :lol

and we all know it's the combo of vick's vaporub, tea and whatever weird herbs and santeria our grandmas and mother did to us when we were little.

 

[Trojita]

Spain?

I'd think they are talking more about people that have a distinct indian background, but that's just my guess.

 

[Trojita]

But so many Hispanics are obese...



On average five years more than whites, seven years more than blacks. Is that really a "little" longer?

I said a "little" longer based on the fact that a lot of second and later generation hispanics tend to not have the same work ethic as their previous generation. Based on immigration data these numbers will likely change over time.

 

[Gallbaro]

Its because they don't work, those lazy bums!


Except when they are taking good American Jobs.

 

[Formless]

Family ties are strong, that might have something to do with it

 

[dinazimmerman]

I said a "little" longer based on the fact that a lot of second and later generation hispanics tend to not have the same work ethic as their previous generation. Based on immigration data these numbers will likely change over time.

Actually, this is partially true. Hispanics who have lived longer in the US tend not to have as high life expectancies. But is it because of a bad work ethic or because assimilating into America's individualistic culture is bad for your health?

 

[Trojita]

I'm not 100% sure trusting one study is good enough especially with this statement in the one article.

This might lead one to ask whether this means that Mexicans live healthier than Americans. Not so, according to the CIA World Factbook of 2008.

On that index, the life expectancy of Americans in 2008 reached 78 (a national record). For Mexicans, it was about 76.

 

[Mudkips]

Doesn't this directly correlate to heart disease rates?

Whites and blacks have heart attacks while browns and yellows are much more mellow.

Spoiler

ThatsRacist.gif

Edit: And yeah, it doesn't work because it implies stress (not being mellow) leads to heart attacks, not the, you know, diet, lack of exercise, etc. But it needs to rhyme.
Like the one about the snake.

vs

 

[Phobophile]

It's because of the manual labor they perform until the age of 70.

 

[Trojita]

Actually, this is partially true. Hispanics who have lived longer in the US tend not to have as high life expectancies. But is it because of a bad work ethic or because assimilating into America's individualistic culture is bad for your health?

It's a combination of the two. I was interested in the fact that infant mortality rate was worse for U.S. born Hispanics.

 

[dinazimmerman]

I'm not 100% sure trusting one study is good enough especially with this statement in the one article.

This might lead one to ask whether this means that Mexicans live healthier than Americans. Not so, according to the CIA World Factbook of 2008.

On that index, the life expectancy of Americans in 2008 reached 78 (a national record). For Mexicans, it was about 76.

That's talking about Mexicans living in Mexico, not Mexicans living in the United States. I realized this and tried explaining it in the OP.

 

[SUPREME1]

As far as Mexican-Americans go...

It's the super genes we have from the Conquistador/Aztec super combo!!

 

[joetachi]

Im hispanic and black so i like my chicken spicy:lol No really i can handle hot spices in my food.

 

[Rocket Punch]

corn and beans FTW! yum yum!!

 

[wenis]

YOU HEAR THAT?!? WE ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE!! WE ARE...... PERFECT. :lol :lol

and we all know it's the combo of vick's vaporub, tea and whatever weird herbs and santeria our grandmas and mother did to us when we were little.

But where does getting hit with a broom or shoe fit into this?
:lol

 

[Trojita]

That's talking about Mexicans living in Mexico, not Mexicans living in the United States. I realized this and tried explaining it in the OP.

Just realized that.

 

[El Sloth]

But where does getting hit with a broom or shoe fit into this?
:lol

Physical toughness.

 

[dinazimmerman]

corn and beans FTW! yum yum!!

Yeah, I was thinking our diet might have something to do with it, but isn't it that same diet the reason why we're so prone to diabetes? Weird.

 

[TurboLibre]

Shhhh!!

Don't let whitey know... they'll take that away too.

:lol Too late.

My mom would give me a warm 7up when I was sick. It really did help when I felt a little nauseous.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

I have a feeling it's got a little to do with the Vicks Vaporub (as mentioned) and the fact that we're only a generation removed from dire poverty and tropical disease. It's a tough combo - we've got the European resistance to things like colds and flus and the American resistance to cholera, malaria and dengue. An environment like that tends to toughen up the constitution (have you ever seen a Latino child with an athsma puffer?).

Plus, our families stick together and thus you basically live forever. The more women you have around, the longer you tend to live. It's like they have this regenerating life force. Men with daughters live five to ten years longer than men without and married men live longer than bachelors.

Also, when you get old and decrepit, your family keeps you around rather than shunting you into a home. I think Jewish families also exhibit the same behaviour with similarly boosted longevity.

 

[wenis]

I have an inhaler...... :/

 

[gdt]

:lol @ the notion that religion extends your life.



I'm Hispanic too (Dominican), but I'll probably die early because I got facial hair really early :/.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

:lol @ the notion that religion extends your life.

But it does...

Same reason having a strong support network extends your life. Same reason having a hobby or activity you're passionate about extends your life. Same reason cancer patients who have something to "fight for" are more likely to pull through than those who don't.

Hope and optimism are powerful things.

I have an inhaler...... :/

Oh. I'm so sorry.