Latino Males are Healthy, but Die Young

We’ll call it the paradox within the paradox.

Scientists and health professionals have been talking and scratching their heads about the Latino paradox for years: the fact that, despite unfavorable odds,  Latinos live longer, healthier lives. This new twist, though, is not a mystery.

According to a report in phychorg.com about a study done by the Yale School of Medicine:

“Although the U.S. Latino population has an overall favorable health profile despite its socioeconomic challenges, young Latino males continue to have disproportionately higher death rates from homicides and car crashes, a disturbing trend that appears to be growing in spite of prevention efforts.”

The researchers found that Latino males have a higher incidence of death due to violence and auto accidents. If you’re nodding in agreement or shaking your head in sadness, I agree.

The paradox, as the researchers see it, is that:

“U.S. Latinos have more favorable health profiles than non-Latino whites or non-Latino blacks, based on key indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality, death from cardiovascular diseases, and measures of functional health. This better health profile exists in some instances despite poverty, low education, and limited access to healthcare.”

Could it be that the poverty, low education and limited access to health care is at the root of the violence and reckless driving? I’m not trying to fabricate victims, but environment has a large influence on behavior.

It seems that everything points back to the same thing: education and jobs. And that’s not much of a paradox, is it?

[Photo by epSos.de]