Latest news with #Aguayo
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Transform your health from head to toe following these guidelines, study suggests
Better health for your whole body can be broken down into just seven factors, according to a new study. Life's Simple 7 is the American Heart Association's guidelines for achieving and maintaining ideal cardiovascular health. The factors include not smoking, a nutritious diet, regular exercise, a healthy weight, optimal blood pressure, controlled blood sugar and well-managed cholesterol. Researchers reviewed 483 studies on the impacts of maximizing Life's Simple 7 on the health of many different body systems over the course of people's lives in a meta-analysis published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Maintaining ideal levels of at least three of Life's Simple 7 metrics was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, even if someone had a genetic predisposition, according to the data. And better scores across all of the factors showed benefits in many body systems beyond cardiovascular health. 'A few years ago, we learned that heart health and brain health are very closely tied. Through this review, we found that almost every organ system and bodily function also benefits from maintaining the healthy lifestyle behaviors of Life's Simple 7,' said lead study author Dr. Liliana Aguayo, a research assistant professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and the Global Diabetes Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta, in a statement. 'We were pleasantly surprised to find that Life's Simple 7 at optimal levels touched every aspect of health, from head to toe. It goes well beyond just cardiovascular health to encompass whole-body health,' she added. The researchers conducted a systemic review of studies that followed a gold standard approach, said Dr. Nour Makarem, assistant professor of epidemiology and co-leader of the Chronic Disease Unit at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. Makarem was not involved in the research. One of the most significant findings of the research is that a little change makes a big difference when it comes to lifestyle and health, Aguayo said. The study assessed adherence to Life's Simple 7 using a scale from 0 to 14 points. Each improvement by 1 point was associated with an 11% decrease in dementia risk, a 6% decreased risk of eye disease, a 23% decreased risk of fatty liver disease, and an 11% decreased risk of chronic kidney disease, Aguayo said. 'This means that small changes, for example, moving from obesity to overweight, adding any physical activity even if below recommended levels counted as progress,' she said. Many of the studies showed an adherence to Life's Simple 7 was associated with maintaining brain and lung function, vision and hearing, and teeth and muscle strength over the course of aging, according to the data. The studies included in the meta-analysis used Life's Simple 7 to evaluate lifestyle behaviors, but the AHA has since updated the metrics to Life's Essential 8. The new guidelines are more comprehensive, such as including avoiding secondhand smoke, vaping and nicotine products in the not smoking factor and pointing people to the Mediterranean diet or DASH diet under the healthy eating metric, Makarem said. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; high blood pressure is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke. Importantly, the update added an eighth metric that recognizes the role of sleep in long-term health, he added. Good sleep means seven to nine hours a night for most adults, 10 to 16 hours for children ages 5 and younger, 9 to 12 hours for kids ages 6 to 12, and 8 to 10 hours for adolescents ages 13 to 18, according to the AHA. The study confirms that adopting a healthy lifestyle is important to achieve optimal health as well as managing the conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease –– weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, Aguayo said. Everyday lifestyle choices have a big impact on overall health, and it's worth it to take steps toward better cardiovascular health, Aguayo said. 'The key message is that it is never too early or too late to make small, feasible changes,' she said in an email. 'Small improvements in diet, physical activity, smoking, or managing risk factors (weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar) can have meaningful benefits, not just for heart health, but for all the body, from head to toe.' For a heart-healthy diet, Makarem recommends focusing on plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains and consuming lean proteins such as fish. She also recommended limiting processed foods, sodium and sugar-sweetened beverages. Adults should engage in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity — like walking, dancing or gardening — or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity a week, Makarem added. Even considering how impactful small changes can be, ideal cardiovascular health is very rare –– with less than 4% of people worldwide meeting the criteria, Aguayo said. 'We must do more to support young people, especially women, by making it easier, more affordable, and achievable for all to improve their cardiovascular health,' she added. 'Cardiovascular disease is still the number one killer of women. Supporting the heart health of young people and women is both cost-effective and the right thing to do.' Sign up for CNN's Fitness, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide will help you ease into a healthy routine, backed by experts.
Associated Press
16-07-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Adults with heart-healthy metrics had better health from head to toe
Research Highlights: Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Wednesday, July 16, 2025 ( NewMediaWire ) - July 16, 2025 - DALLAS — People who had more heart-healthy habits and factors, as assessed by the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7(TM) metrics for ideal cardiovascular health, had more positive benefits for whole body health, according to a review of research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. Life's Simple 7 was launched by the American Heart Association in 2010 to define and quantify the spectrum of heart health based on seven lifestyle and health measures: not smoking, healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, healthy weight and normal blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. In 2022, the metrics were refined to include sufficient sleep and more detailed scoring. The updated cardiovascular health metric is now called Life's Essential 8(TM). While the cardiovascular benefits of optimal cardiovascular health in terms of Life's Simple 7 were already well-established, this is the first systematic review that examines the benefits to organs beyond the heart and death from cardiovascular disease and other causes, according to study authors. 'A few years ago, we learned that heart health and brain health are very closely tied. Through this review, we found that almost every organ system and bodily function also benefits from maintaining the healthy lifestyle behaviors of Life's Simple 7,' said lead study author Liliana Aguayo, Ph.D., M.P.H., a research assistant professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing and the Global Diabetes Research Center at Emory University in Atlanta. 'We were pleasantly surprised to find that Life's Simple 7 at optimal levels touched every aspect of health, from head to toe. It goes well beyond just cardiovascular health to encompass whole-body health.' Researchers reviewed nearly 500 research studies published in the decade after Life's Simple 7 was introduced that had incorporated at least three of Life's Simple 7 measures. Ideal cardiovascular health was defined as having six or seven of the metrics at high levels. Among the findings: 'These findings confirm that healthy lifestyle metrics — eating well, exercising and not smoking — are key components to optimal health, in addition to maintaining healthy weight, normal blood pressure, and cholesterol blood sugar levels, which are the conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease,' Aguayo said. 'The ideal cardiovascular health metrics in Life's Simple 7 and now Life's Essential 8 are based on extensive scientific research that recognizes the majority of heart disease and stroke can be prevented,' said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and senior vice president of women's health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women's Health of Northwell Health in New York City. 'The findings in this review study indicate that these healthy lifestyle metrics are also a path to improving health and well-being across the board, from head to toe. Preventing cardiovascular disease and reducing cardiovascular disease risk, the centerpieces for Life's Essential 8, are the core of the American Heart Association's mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.' The review findings are limited due to the scoring system of Life's Simple 7, which rates each category broadly as ideal, intermediate or poor and is less precise than is now possible under the methods of Life's Essential 8, according to Aguayo. Because this study relies on published literature, it may under-represent studies with negative or inconclusive findings, researchers said. The investigators called for more research especially among children, pregnant women and populations in less-studied areas of the world. Also, more research is needed on both the benefits of even small improvements in these health metrics and the mechanisms that are pathways between Life's Simple 7 or Life's Essential 8 and better health. Study details, background and design: This review was partially funded by a Strategically Focused Research Network grant from the American Heart Association as well as a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Heart Association. Co-authors and disclosures are listed in the manuscript. Studies published in the American Heart Association's scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content. Overall financial information is available here. Additional Resources: ### About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173 Staff contact: [email protected] For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) and
USA Today
22-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Are Latin American travelers still coming to the US for vacations?
Even though Karen Aguayo lives in central Mexico – a short flight away from the United States – she has yet to visit, and has no plans to. The 35-year-old Mexican national was hoping to make her first trip to the U.S. this year to visit her uncle, and even has a visa to visit the country. However, given the political climate, it feels like too much of a gamble for her safety. She went to Italy instead. Under President Donald Trump's flurry of executive orders signed in January, the goal was to "strengthen national security," including cracking down on immigration, increasing scrutiny at our borders, and imposing a travel ban on numerous countries. Earlier this year, the president also ignited a trade war between the U.S. and China, Mexico, Europe and Canada when he announced a skyrocket in tariffs – a move that upset nationals. 'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly? Aguayo said she's worried about being denied entry at the airport, along with how she may be treated while in the U.S., such as possible anti-Mexican sentiment. "It's not only me, I believe that many people think the same. They'd rather feel welcome in other countries," said Aguayo, who posts videos about travel in Mexico on her YouTube channel La Karencita. "Now I'm in Europe because I feel that people are more open to make you feel welcome and safe; nothing happens here." Since Trump's inauguration it feels like conflict and policies within the U.S. have been constantly changing, Aguayo said. "Maybe this is not the time to go." A recent example that deters her from visiting is the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that swept through the greater Los Angeles area in response to Trump's vow of 1 million annual deportations of undocumented immigrants. Subsequent days-long protests against ICE escalated into violence between law enforcement and demonstrators, resulting in the president deploying the U.S. National Guard. While some Latin Americans are moving forward with their trips to the U.S., others are holding back due to safety concerns, a potentially hostile atmosphere or disagreement over the volatile political landscape under the Trump administration. A slowdown from this group of travelers could have a lasting impact on the U.S. economy. The U.S. has long been a popular destination for Latin Americans, with Mexico standing out as the second-largest demographic of visitor arrivals after Canada and contributing to an estimated $21 billion toward the American economy in 2018, according to the U.S. Travel Association. These travelers pausing their U.S. visits aren't swearing off the U.S. forever, but their hesitation shows the country's current political actions aren't going unnoticed. Latin American travelers conflicted over US travel Although some Latin American travelers are reconsidering visiting the U.S., many continue with their travel plans, especially Mexican nationals. Arrival and Departure Information System (ADIS) data between March 2024 and 2025 for Mexican arrivals to the U.S. showed a growth of 14.9% – comprising 26.7% of international visitors to the country, just slightly under Canadians. According to Expedia, many of the top U.S. destinations are still popular with Mexican travelers. For travel between May and June 30, lodging searches by Mexican nationals focused on cities like New York, Las Vegas, San Diego, Anaheim and Orlando. Emerging destinations showing increased interest include Charlotte, San Jose, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Worth. For the same travel period, airfare to the U.S. from Mexico is averaging below $575, with fluctuations depending on the arrival state. In some parts of Latin America, travel to the U.S. is on the decline. Although data from the National Travel and Tourism Office's International Visitor Arrivals Program (ADIS) shows U.S. travel demand for 2025 remains strong in countries like Brazil and Argentina, overall visitor numbers from South and Central America have dropped. From this past March to last, South American arrivals decreased by around 6% and over 35% for the Central Americans. 'We are seeing varying trends in demand for US travel across Latin America," the online booking platform Skyscanner said in a statement. "What we do know is that since the pandemic travelers are more engaged with travel warnings and advisories and these will likely influence demand." 'Everything is changing so fast' Alan Estrada, a 44-year-old Mexican travel content creator who shares his journeys under Alan Around the World, frequently travels to the U.S. for work. He recently attended the opening of the new theme park Epic Universe in Orlando and was also in Washington, D.C., earlier this month for the World Pride Music Festival. In July, the Mexico City-based traveler will visit New York for an event with one of his sponsors. Most of Estrada's U.S. visits are for work reasons, and he said he doesn't have any upcoming leisure trips planned. This is not only due to tensions like the ICE riots, but also the potential for other U.S. issues to escalate, like involvement in the war between Israel and Iran. "I'm not saying I won't do it," he said about going to the U.S. for pleasure. It's just that now is not the right time, he said. Although he's never had any issues with immigration, border control or hostility from Americans, the U.S. political landscape is on Estrada's radar. "Everything is changing so fast and can escalate from one day to another really, really quickly," said Estrada. "So, we have to be informed and aware all the time." About half of Estrada's audience is Mexican and most others live throughout Latin America. Lately, he's noticed a majority of comments on his social media channels and website – where people can call or email for travel advice – are about visiting the U.S. "There are some people in the comments saying like, 'is it safe to go to the U.S.' or 'please don't go to the U.S.,' depending on the political views of my followers," he said. "I can feel the people kind of worry a little bit about what's happening right now." Estrada believes the rise in concern comes from a mix of being more "cautious," disagreeing with American politics, and not finding the high price of travel to the U.S. to be worth it. As many situations remain unresolved, these travelers' decision to visit the U.S. is in the air. "The thing that I would need to see is not seeing people protesting because I think that's one sign that everything is getting uncomfortable, and not seeing the president talking about immigrants, about changing the rules," Aguayo, of La Karencita, said. Although Aguayo has never been to the U.S., it's not a priority for her either. In the meantime, she's content traveling the rest of the world.
CBS News
08-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Farmer's market vendors in San Francisco grapple with uncertainty over tariffs
Uncertainty of tariffs and trade between key trading partners is forcing some farmers and local producers to increase their prices as President Trump hits pause on 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which supply a host of materials for American farming methods. At the Heart of the City Farmers Market at Civic Center, affordability is key. Serving a neighborhood with limited access to fresh, affordable produce, the market is a vital resource for low-income families. But with rising supply costs, farmers find themselves caught between soaring expenses and the need to keep prices low for their customers. Joel Aguayo of Castellanos Farms knows this struggle firsthand. His farm offers a variety of fruits, including mandarins, grapefruits, and oranges, but the rising cost of materials is squeezing his bottom line. "I feel like once the prices go up, they're never going to come back down," Aguayo said. "And it's not like we can just raise the price on produce, because then the people won't be able to afford it. The farmers are eating the cost." At Castellanos Farms, planting season has arrived, but tariffs and supply chain disruptions with Canada, Mexico and China have already pushed up the prices of essential materials like drip tape and metal stakes by at least 30%. Despite these challenges, Aguayo remains committed to keeping prices low. "We're not complaining, we're just talking about it," he said. "We have to buy it. There's no other way around it." While some farmers, like Aguayo, are absorbing the increased costs, others have no choice but to raise prices. Uriel Castillo, another vendor at the farmers market, said he has resisted price hikes for as long as possible but can no longer avoid them. "Maybe raise the prices a little bit," Castillo said. "You can see on my table, the prices are very, very low. I think I'm the only one, but I need to go up now. We need to do that." The economic uncertainty is making it difficult for farmers to plan ahead. Dan Sumner, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of California, Davis, said it's still too early to determine the full impact of tariffs and supply chain disruptions on local farmers. The worst thing right now is the uncertainty of it," Sumner said. "What we do know — and there's no debate about it among economists — is that putting on tariffs raises costs for consumers and producers, and the economy as a whole loses." For vendors like Castillo, the uncertainty is unsettling. "We are nervous right now," he said. "If we increase prices, it's going to be bad for everyone." Despite the economic pressures, Aguayo prefers to focus on his work rather than politics. "We're busy working at the farm and at the farmers market to even know what's going on," he said. "Hopefully, it turns out for the best. Hopefully, customers have more money in the long run, and we're able to jump the price up a little bit — even like 50 cents helps out a lot." If costs continue to rise, farmers worry that it won't just be their profits at risk—it could also mean the loss of affordable produce for the communities that need it most.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Freeze on funding to help green card holders get citizenship stirs uncertainty
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, or CHIRLA, is one of a number of organizations that serve immigrants by helping lawful permanent residents earn U.S. citizenship. But those services were jeopardized last month, when the coalition got a notification from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stating that their congressionally approved funding had been put on hold. The funding freeze meant disruptions to students receiving civics instruction, taking classes to learn English and getting ready for citizenship interviews and exams. Over a hundred other organizations have also had their services interrupted, with no end in sight. 'It's not fair,' Karla Aguayo, director of legal services at CHIRLA, told NBC News on Friday. The notification, which was received via email on Feb. 4, was no longer than five sentences. It read: 'Effective immediately, your grant from USCIS is frozen in accordance with the pause in activities,' generally citing a Jan. 28 memo from the Department of Homeland Security without specifics. 'Payments are not available at this time. We recognize this will have an impact on your organization. We are unable to provide a timeline on this freeze.' CHIRLA hasn't heard from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after that email, Aguayo said. On Friday, 35 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to USCIS Acting Director Kika Scott and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem seeking answers on the funding freeze. 'There has been no indication, evidence or even outright allegation that grantees have failed to meet their commitments or contractual obligations in good faith — raising serious concerns over the justification for disrupting their ability to provide crucial services,' reads the letter, which was first obtained by NBC News. If USCIS funding is not reinstated to this program, it will erase the progress made in reducing naturalization backlogs in recent years, the lawmakers said in the letter, spearheaded by Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., whose parents immigrated from Mexico. If backlogs grow, the time it takes to process citizenship applications will likely double. USCIS told NBC News in an email the agency has "nothing further to add on this matter" in addition to what's in the memo, which cites "concerns that these grants may not be an efficient use of government resources" as a reason for the funding freeze. DHS has not responded to a request for comment. As grantees of the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program, CHIRLA was set to receive $450,000 in federal funding from USCIS from October 2023 until September of this year to help hundreds of green card holders. "We want to create as many citizens as we can," Aguayo said. The funding freeze has sent the coalition on a race to find alternate funding to afford the labor needed to assist immigrants with their citizenship applications. 'We're not waiting because it's already been over a month, and we haven't heard anything' from USCIS. 'We can't now abruptly pass on this inconvenience to the students. We can't just say, 'Oh, sorry, no more funding. Today is the last day of class,'' she said. In the letter, the lawmakers said the grant program has improved efficiency by "equipping eligible applicants with the tools to navigate the naturalization process more effectively — saving USCIS valuable time and resources otherwise spent resolving errors, issuing requests for evidence, or reprocessing applications." Lawful permanent residents, or green-card holders, who may be eligible to become naturalized citizens this year may find the situation "disheartening," according to Aguayo. But "we always encourage people to apply despite the circumstances," she said. This article was originally published on
