Health/Salud

Bill to Cap Insulin Prices in TX Picking Up Steam at the Capitol

Over the past decade, insulin prices have more than tripled. Out-of-pocket prices range from hundreds, to thousands of dollars a month, and now state lawmakers are trying to put a cap on those costs. “Children with diabetes, Type One Diabetes, cannot live without insulin, they have to have it,” said Texas nurse Dawn White. Her son Cole was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago when he was 15.. “Since that time, we have paid varying costs for insulin, we’ve paid as little as $100 a month, and as much as $500 a month,” White explained. Tugboat team frees container ship from Suez Canal after being stuck for nearly a week But, some of her friends in support groups are stuck paying even more out-of-pocket each month. “One mom in our support group who actually has twin daughters that have diabetes, and she has to meet a $4,000 deductible. And after she meets that her insulin costs for three-months supply $2,800,” White said. She said some families are having to choose between the life-saving medication and food, which is why Republican State Senator Lois Kolkhorst authored Senate Bill 827. “Which caps the copay, the out-of-pocket expenses at $50 for people,” Sen. Kolkhorst explained. The bill is already getting plenty of bipartisan support. On the Senate floor last week, Democratic Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. called it one of the best bills he’s seen in the legislature in years. “There isn’t much legislation that will, I believe have more of a direct impact on our constituents than this one,” Sen. Lucio said. That impact isn’t limited to the 2.8 million Texans living with diabetes, it’ll also cut down costs for taxpayers. “Diabetes and prediabetes cost Texans an estimated $23.7 billion a year,” Sen. Kolkhorst explained. Sen. Kolkhorst said oftentimes when insulin gets too expensive, people start rationing their medication, which then leads to severe problems that lead to hospitalization. And even though they’re still insured, if they’re struggling already financially, many times they’re not able to foot the entire hospital bill. That’s when it trickles down to taxpayers. After the bill officially passed unanimously in committee, and then passed on the Senate floor last month 27-3, White is hoping it passes in the house with just as much support. “We just, we have to make insulin affordable for everyone,” White said.

Wellness/ bienestar

Sara Silva Encourages Running to Stay Fit

BY REBECCA RUIZ, INTERN

FOR LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE

Sara Silva enjoys running and uses it to stay fit, which she says has benefited her health. Silva was overweight as a teenager and decided that running would be a good way improve her weight and become healthy. “I started running my junior year and saw that it helped my weight. I would go outside, and it felt good, that’s what motivated me to run,” she said. According to a study from Healthline, the benefits from running for just 5 to 10 minutes at a moderate pace each day may include: reduce risk of death from a heart attack or stroke, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, lower risk of developing cancer, developing neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Silva runs four to six miles a day four times a week and believes running its preventative care for long-term health issues and a way to release stress. During her morning runs, she enjoys catching up with friends and being outdoors. Silva said that running has prevent her from having a chronic illness. According to a study from Healthline, the minimum recommendation for exercise is at least 150 minutes per week. However, it is important to start slowly and let your body rest from time to time. “We were raised needing to work and have an education, which is very important, and I am who I am because of those two factors, but we are neglecting our health. Which is causing issues in the long run and exercising is good for your health as well as mental health.”

Sara Silva alienta correr

para mantenerse en forma

POR REBECCA RUIZ, INTERN LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE

Sara Silva le gusta correr y lo usa para mantenerse en forma, lo que dice que ha beneficiado su salud. Silva tenía sobrepeso cuando era adolescente y decidió que correr sería una buena manera de mejorar su peso y de estar saludable. “Empecé a correr en el tercer año de la escuela secundaria y vi que me ayudaba con mi peso. Salía afuera y me sentía bien, eso es lo que me motivó a correr,” ella dijo. Según un estudio de Healthline, los beneficios de correr solo de 5 a 10 minutos a un ritmo moderado cada día pueden incluir: reducir el riesgo de muerte por un ataque cardíaco o accidente cerebrovascular, reducir el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular, reducir el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer, desarrollar enfermedades neurológicas como el Alzheimer y el Parkinson. Silva corre de cuatro a seis millas por día cuatro veces a la semana y cree que correr es una forma preventiva para problemas de salud a largo plazo y una forma de liberar el estrés. Durante sus carreras matutinas, le gusta ponerse al día con amigas y estar al aire libre. Silva dijo que correr le ha ayudado a no tener una enfermedad crónica. Según un estudio de Healthline, la recomendación mínima de ejercicio es de al menos 150 minutos por semana. Sin embargo, es importante comenzar lentamente y dejar que su cuerpo descanse de vez en cuando. “Crecimos con la necesidad de trabajar y tener una educación, que es muy importante, y yo soy quien soy por esos dos factores, pero estamos descuidando nuestra salud. Lo que está causando problemas a largo plazo y el ejercicio es bueno para la salud, así como para la salud mental.”

Noticias de salud/ Health News

FREE COVID-19 VAC-

CINES Each week the site is shipped vaccine to enable those who qualify to start the COVID-19 vaccination series. For an appointment or for more info call the Health Department at 775.2933 and selecting option three. FREE COVID-19 TESTING at Rodgers Park Gymnasium has started operating five days a week. This testing site, located at 3300 Auburn, will be open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary for this location. Appointments are not required for this location. For more info call the Health Department at 775.2933 and selecting option three. FREE COVID-19 testing site located 5502 26th St, at Lubbock Christian University. Open Mondays-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

2-1-1 NON-EMERGENCY QUES-

TIONS 2-1-1 is a free help line answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which will link you to health and community services. HEALTHBEAT EQUIPMENT brings the best of the gym to the great outdoors at Buddy Holly Lake of Cesar Chavez Drive, for ages 13 to 100. The outdoor fitness equipment is available to the public and has 10 pieces of fitness equipment. This is a project of Los Hermanos Familia. FREE. FREE CLINIC at Lubbock Impact The Free Clinic holds a free doctors clinic every Wednesday at 34th Street and Boston Avenue. Registration begins at 4 PM. Patients must be 18 and older and medically uninsured to receive free medications and doctors visits. For more information, please call (806) 799-4320.

FREE SICK CHIL-

DREN'S CLINIC is a free, all-volunteer clinic that treats sick children up to age 15 at 10th Street and Avenue A. Prescriptions at the on-site pharmacy are free. Call 7621805 for more info. FAITH BASED AA for Lubbock and the surrounding area, Thurs. from 6:30-8:00 P.M. and Sundays from 7-8 P.M. For more info call 806-793.3336.

FREE PARENTING CLASSES

Family Guidance & Outreach Center provides free anger management classes and parenting classes. For more information or to register for a class, call 747-5577. Visit us online: www.familyguidancecenterlubbock.

Health/ salud

Alcohlism Are you at risk? The Doc or Is In

If you are worried that your family's history of alcohol problems or your troubled family life puts you at risk for becoming alcoholic, here is some common–sense advice to help you: Avoid underage drinking—First, underage drinking is illegal. Second, research shows that the risk for alcoholism is higher among people who begin to drink at an early age, perhaps

as a result of both environmental and genetic factors.

Drink moderately as an adult—Even if they do not have a family history of alcoholism, adults who choose to drink alcohol should do so in moderation— no more than one drink a day for most women, and no more than two drinks a day for most men, according to guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Some people should not drink at all, including women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant, recovering alcoholics, people who plan to drive or engage in other activities that require attention or skill, people taking certain medications, and people with certain medical conditions. People with a family history of alcoholism, who have a higher risk for becoming dependent on alcohol, should approach moderate drinking carefully. Maintaining moderate drinking habits may be harder for them than for people without a family history of drinking problems. Once a person moves from moderate to heavier drinking, the risks of social problems (for example, drinking and driving, violence, and trauma) and medical problems (for example, liver disease, brain damage, and cancer) increase greatly. Talk to a health care professional—Discuss your concerns with a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or other health care provider. They can recommend groups or organizations that could help you avoid alcohol problems. If you are an adult who already has begun to drink, a health care

pro fessional can assess your drinking habits to see if you need to cut back on your drinking and advise you about how to do that.

Alcoholismo ¿Está usted a riesgo?

Si le preocupa que la historia familiar de alcoholismo o los problemas de su vida en familia lo pongan en riesgo de convertirse en una persona alcohólica, aquí se ofrecen consejos de sentido común para ayudarle: Si es menor de edad, evite consumir bebidas alcohólicas—En primer lugar, hacerlo es ilegal. En segundo lugar, la investigación demuestra que se corre mayor riesgo de convertirse en una persona alcohólica, cuando se comienza a beber a edad temprana, probablemente como resultado tanto del medio como de factores genéticos. Como adulto, beba moderada mente—Aún cuando no exista antecedente de alcoholismo en la familia, aquellos adultos que eligen consumir bebidas alcohólicas deben hacerlo con moderación; en el caso de la mayoría de las mujeres, no más de una bebida por día; en el caso de la mayoría de los hombres, no más de dos bebidas al día, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones del Departamento de Agricultura y del Departamento de Salud y Recursos Humanos, de Estados Unidos. Algunas personas no deberían beber en absoluto, incluyendo mujeres que están embarazadas o están intentando hacerlo; personas que están recuperándose del alcoholismo; cualquier persona que anticipa tener que conducir un automóvil o llevar a cabo alguna otra actividad que requiera atención o pericia; personas que se encuentran tomando ciertos medicamentos y personas con determinadas condiciones médicas. Las personas con antecedente familiar de alcoholismo, que corren mayor riesgo de desarrollar dependencia, deberían encarar el consumo moderado de alcohol con prudencia. Es posible que les resulte más difícil mantener hábitos de consumo moderados, que a otras personas en cuyas familias no existe historia de alcoholismo. Una vez que una persona pasa del consumo moderado de alcohol a tomar en exceso, el riesgo de problemas sociales (como por ejemplo, conducir bajo la influencia, violencia y trauma) y los problemas médicos (como por ejemplo, enfermedad hepática, daño cerebral y cáncer) aumentan considerablemente. Hable con un profesional de la salud—Discuta sus preocupaciones con un médico, enfermera u otro profesional de la salud. Pueden recomendarle grupos u organizaciones que posiblemente lo ayuden a evitar problemas con el alcohol. Si usted es una persona adulta que ya ha comenzado a beber, un profesional de la salud puede evaluar sus hábitos con respecto al consumo del alcohol y determinar si fuera necesario que disminuya el consumo y cómo hacerlo.

Advice from our Doctors... Consejos de nuestros médicos April is Minority Health Month

April is National Minority Health Month (NMHM), a time to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minority populations and encourage action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications. History of NMHM The 2021 NMHM theme is #VaccineReady. As recognized by the HHS Office of Minority Health, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted racial and ethnic minority communities and underscores the need for these vulnerable communities to get vaccinated as more vaccines become available. COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us get back together with our families, communities, schools, and workplaces by preventing the spread of COVID-19 and bringing an end to the pandemic.

Abril es el mes de la salud de las minorías

Abril es el Mes Nacional de la Salud de las Minorías (NMHM), un momento para crear conciencia sobre las disparidades de salud que continúan afectando a las poblaciones de minorías raciales y étnicas y alentar la acción a través de la educación sanitaria, la detección temprana y el control de las complicaciones de la enfermedad. Historia de NMHM El tema de la NMHM de 2021 es #VaccineReady. Como lo reconoce la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías del HHS, la pandemia de COVID-19 ha afectado de manera desproporcionada a las comunidades de minorías raciales y étnicas y subraya la necesidad de que estas comunidades vulnerables se vacunen a medida que haya más vacunas disponibles. La vacuna COVID-19 es una herramienta importante para ayudarnos a volver a estar juntos con nuestras familias, comunidades, escuelas y lugares de trabajo al prevenir la propagación del COVID-19 y poner fin a la pandemia.

Vaccines are for ALL AGES!

Children need immunizations at Birth, 2, 4, 6, 12, & 18 months 4-6 years & 11-12 years

806 18th Street 806.775.2933 Adults need a Flu vaccine every year and other vaccines as recommended by a physician.

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