PREVENTING DISEASE
Research in Action
Dietary interventions
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ore than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure, the top risk factor for heart disease. Changing lifestyle behaviors, such as eating a high-quality diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active can lower blood pressure and prevent heart disease. Dori Steinberg, PhD, MS, RD, is looking to increase awareness by creating digital health tools that extend the reach of evidence-based dietary interventions as a heart disease prevention method. The flexibility and scalability of this approach makes it applicable for delivery of other behavioral and diet-related preventions such as cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
The role of stress
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tress exacerbates the risk of diseases and chronic illness. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, PhD, MPH, RN, CPH, FAAN, is seeking to learn from Latino immigrants who are healthier when they arrive in the United States than when they have lived here for a period of time. By studying that population, she plans to understand the social determents of health and use that information to improve health across all populations. Her research examines the role that stress and resilience factors, including coping strategies, family support, and community connections play in influencing overall well-being.
HIV intervention in black women
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lack women are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 69 percent of all HIV diagnoses among women in the South. There is medication that has been proven to be 92 percent effective in preventing HIV. However, very few black women are aware of it. Schenita D. Randolph, PhD, MPH, RN, CNE, is changing how, and where, to address and overcome medical mistrust that has historically existed and continues to be a barrier for black women choosing to use the medication. Randolph believes that hair salons are the ideal location to create awareness and ultimately improve health outcomes for black women at risk for HIV. [photo: next page]
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