Research

Demographics: Medical and demographic differences between Mexican-American and non-Hispanic whites should be taken into account by health-care workers trying to prevent stroke in Hispanic populations, a new study says.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Michigan, was based on interviews with more than 800 Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic white stroke patients in the Corpus Christi, Texas, region.

Differences in risk factors such as diabetes, access to care and use of preventive medicines such as blood thinners, as well as characteristics such as age, education and income, all impact stroke-prevention efforts, researchers said.

"The effort to reduce stroke's impact on the Hispanic population must mean more than simply translating brochures into Spanish," said Dr. Lewis Morgenstern, senior author of the study and director of the University of Michigan's stroke program.

The study found that Mexican-American stroke patients tended to be younger than their non-Hispanic white counterparts (69.9 years, as opposed to 75.3). They were also less likely to have finished high school and more likely to earn less than $20,000 a year and to have diabetes. Mexican-Americans were also less likely to be taking blood-thinning drugs, which reduce the risk of stroke by reducing blood clots. There were no differences in medications among people with diabetes or high blood pressure.

The study was presented this month at the International Stroke Conference in Phoenix.

Calendar

Move: The Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine will offer a six-week series of classes on guided movement for pain reduction and vitality beginning 6 p.m. Tuesday. Cost: $110. 791-5521.

Guidelines: St. Elizabeth Women's Wellness Center in Covington will offer Mother to Daughter, a class on the physical and emotional changes girls experience during adolescence, 7 p.m. March 6. Cost: $10 per family. (859) 344-3939.

For parents: Pharmacist Kellie Teague will present "Herbal Medicine and Children: Is It Safe for My Child?" 7 p.m. March 6 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's Anderson Outpatient Center in the Mercy Center for Health and Wellness, Anderson Township. Cost: $5. Registration: 636-5714.

Shelf help

Hot flash help: Menopause for Dummies (Wiley; $21.99) by Dr. Marcia L. Jones and Dr. Theresa Eichenwald covers the stages of menopause and prevention of related health problems, such as osteoporosis; how to get relief from menopause symptoms; updated information on hormone replacement therapy and alternatives to HRT; and lifestyle changes that make menopause easier to live with.

Tube

Pumped: See Fit City volunteer Tracy L. Russell and her YMCA trainer Brad Kinkema as they talk about motivation on "Healthy Living with Carol Williams" at 5 p.m. today on Channel 9.

Contact Peggy O'Farrell by phone: 768-8510; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: pofarrell@enquirer.com.