Common Hispanic Health Conditions

Hispanics experience disproportionately higher rates of certain health conditions compared to other ethnic groups in the U.S. Common Hispanic health conditions include obesity and diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of these health issues in Hispanic people could be related to both genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, it’s vital to increase awareness of risk factors to help tackle these health conditions in Hispanics.

Common Hispanic health conditions

Obesity

According to data from 2018, Hispanic Americans are 1.2 times more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic individuals. Hispanic women and Hispanic high school students are 20% and 50% more likely, respectively, to be obese compared to their non-Hispanic counterparts. Obesity is a common health concern because it can lead to other health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

High blood pressure (Hypertension)

Approximately 1 in 5 Hispanics in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure, according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. Still, many Hispanics may not be receiving treatment for their hypertension, which can be a risk factor for heart disease.

Diabetes

Hispanics are 17% more likely to have type 2 diabetes mellitus than non-Hispanics (8%), based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the chance of having diabetes as a Hispanic is linked to the background of that particular person. For instance, someone who is of Puerto Rican origin is 2 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than someone who is of South American descent.

Liver disease

Chronic liver disease is the seventh leading cause of death for all Hispanics. Hispanic men and women are both twice as likely to have chronic liver disease than non-Hispanic men and women. Chronic liver disease can be caused by different health issues, such as obesity, alcoholism, and hepatitis.

Kidney disease

Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely to have kidney failure compared to non-Hispanic Americans. The exact reasoning behind this higher prevalence is not fully understood. However, the prevalence of diabetes is high in Hispanics in the United States, which may play a role in the development of kidney disease in this ethnic group.

Cancer

Cancer accounts for 21% of Hispanic deaths in the U.S., making it a leading cause of death among Hispanics. Compared to non-Hispanics, Hispanics may be more likely to be diagnosed with cancers of the stomach, liver, or cervix.

Getting treatment and medications

Despite the prevalence of certain Hispanic health conditions in the U.S., treatment and medications may be underused. For example, only 25% to a little more than half of Hispanics report taking their medications for high blood pressure, according to a report by the American Heart Association. This could develop as a result of high medication costs, among other factors.

It’s important to get the treatment and medications they need to help curb these common health conditions. Inside Rx is a free prescription discount card to help the uninsured and underinsured see if they can save up to 80% on brand and generic prescription medications. Instantly download, print, text or email your unique Inside Rx savings card to yourself, then take it to the pharmacy to see if you can save on your medications! The Inside Rx card can be used at over 60,000 pharmacies across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

To see if you can use the Inside Rx card on your medications, search your medication in the search bar. Enter your zip code to compare prices of your medications at the pharmacies nearest you! The Inside Rx savings card is a convenient way to help curb the cost of living with any medical condition. If Spanish is your or your family members primary language, visit the Spanish version of our website, where you can search for your medications in Espanol.

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