Saint John's Health Center Educates Latinos on Prevalent Health Issues Affecting the Community

USA - English

• Latin America - español

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- March 30th marks the annual observance of Doctor's Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about the active roles physicians play in our community where they are facing health crisis affecting Latino families in alarmingly amounts. To celebrate Doctor's Day, Saint John's Health Center and its top Hispanic physicians aim to educate Latinos in LA County by opening up a dialogue between patients and their doctors to help understand and prevent common diseases affecting the Latino Community.

"High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol are the most common diseases why Latinos come to see me," says Dr. Oscar Hernandez, internal medicine physician from Saint John's. "Lack of information and underutilization of health services are regular problems for early diagnosis in our community. As a physician and as a Latino I have the responsibility to encourage the community to be proactive and learn about their health. Education is key in disease control and prevention."

Genetic is a major factor predisposing Latinos to conditions such as diabetes. Furthermore, obesity is particularly problematic as far as the links between it and chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, both of which are prevalent in the Latino Community. Dr. Hernandez says getting yearly-check ups and practicing a healthy lifestyle are the main line of attack to turn aside these diseases. He recommends three easy ways that can help Latinos to safeguard their health:

• Eat healthy: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, lean protein and low-fat dairy can help protect your heart. Avoid foods that are high in fat, cholesterol and salt such as fatty cuts of meat, bacon and butter.  
• Get moving: Make a commitment to be more physically active. Every day, aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity such as walking, dancing, house cleaning or gardening.
• Talk to your doctor: Increase your knowledge. Ask about your risk factors –identify and take action on those you can control. Nothing replaces a discussion with your doctor.

Saint John's truly respects the leadership role its physicians play in providing high-quality medical care. Doctors are partners in Saint John's medical mission to the community.  It is the expertise and contributions of doctors that enable this organization to treat more than a million patients since the hospital was opened more than six decades ago. Among other services, the personalized outpatient nutrition and Diabetes Care and the fully digital Imaging Center at Saint John's are staffed with highly experienced physicians that are renowned in the community for their exceptional care and compassion.

For more information on health issues and common diseases affecting the Hispanic community, visit Saint John's Health Center website at www.stjohns.org.

About Dr. Oscar Hernandez

Dr. Oscar Hernandez specializes in Internal Medicine and has a private practice in Santa Monica, Calif. As a primary care physician, Dr. Hernandez is interested in health optimization, disease prevention and longevity with particular focuses in hypertension, diabetes and obesity. He practices western allopathic medicine coupled with natural medicine as he strives to optimize each patient physically as well as mentally. Additionally, Dr. Hernandez has special training in addiction medicine with an emphasis in outpatient detoxification. Committed to the health and well being of the Latino community, Dr. Hernandez co-founded Latino MedPro (Latino Medical Professionals) in 2010 and is the Executive Medical Director of Grandcare Home Health Agency.

Born in San Francisco to parents of Salvadorian descent, Dr. Oscar J. Hernandez is a graduate of the University of California Davis class of 1991. He attended the University Of Southern California Keck School Of Medicine, where he received his medical doctorate in 1997 and thereafter completed his Internal Medicine residency. Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Hernandez was offered a clinical faculty position at Keck where he became well respected and was well liked.

Dr. Hernandez has been named Top Physician by Consumers Research Council of America and has served as Vice President for the Los Angeles chapter of the California Medical Association (CMA) as well as Medical Director for the Arbor View Rehabilitation Facility.

About Saint John's Health Center

Since its founding in 1942 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Saint John's Health Center has been providing the patients and families of Santa Monica, West Los Angeles and ocean communities with breakthrough medicine and inspired healing. Saint John's provides a spectrum of treatment and diagnostic services with distinguished areas of excellence in cancer care, spine, orthopedics, women's health, cardiac care and specialized programs such as the internationally acclaimed John Wayne Cancer Institute. Saint John's is dedicated to bringing to the community the most innovative advances in medicine and technology.

SOURCE Saint John's Health Center