Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. 

                                                                                 Les Brown

TUESDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- White and black Americans who live in poor neighborhoods struggle with many of the same health disparities, which suggests that where a person lives plays a larger role in health disparities than previously believed, according to a new study.

Researchers looked at rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and obesity in two low-income, racially integrated communities in Baltimore with at least 35 percent black and 35 percent white residents who had similar income and education levels.

The researchers compared the information from these two neighborhoods with national data on health disparities. Nationally reported disparities in high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity among women, and in the use of health services, weren't evident or were much smaller in the two neighborhoods.

The study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers is published in the October issue of the journal Health Affairs.

"Most of the current health disparities literature fails to account for the fact that the nation is largely segregated, leaving racial groups exposed to different health risks and with variable access to health services based on where they live," lead author Thomas LaVeist, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, and a professor in health policy and management, said in a Hopkins news release.

"By comparing black and white Americans who are exposed to the same set of socioeconomic, social and environmental conditions we were better equipped to discern the impact of race on health-related outcomes and have concluded social factors are essentially equalized when racial disparities are minimized," LaVeist added.

"When whites are exposed to the health risks of an urban environment, their health status is compromised similarly to that of blacks, who more commonly live in such communities," co-author Darrell Gaskin, deputy director of the Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of Health Policy and Management, explained in the news release.

"Policies aimed solely at health behavior change, biological differences among racial groups, or increased access to health care are limited in their ability to close racial disparities in health. A more effective policy approach would be to address the differing resources of neighborhoods and improve the underlying conditions of health for all," Gaskin added.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about health disparities.

SUNDAY, Nov. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Holiday foods and feasts can cause trouble for the estimated 30 million Americans with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but there are things they can do to be comfortable and symptom-free, experts advise.

GERD occurs when a faulty valve between the stomach and esophagus allows stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD include heartburn, acid regurgitation, wheezing, sore throat and cough, according to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).

Things that may trigger GERD symptoms include obesity, pregnancy, smoking, excess alcohol use and consumption of fatty foods, tomato-based products, chocolate, peppermint, citrus drinks and coffee.

Answering "yes" to two or more of the following questions may indicate that you have GERD, according to the ASGE:

• Do you frequently have one or more of the following: Discomfort behind the breast bone that seems to move upward from the stomach? A burning sensation in the back of your throat? A bitter acid taste in your mouth?
• Do you often have these symptoms after a meal?
• Do you have heartburn or acid indigestion two or more times a week?
• Do you find that antacids only provide temporary relief from these symptoms?
• Are you taking prescription medication to treat heartburn but still having symptoms?

If you suspect you have GERD, seek diagnosis and treatment so that you can enjoy the holidays and every day, the ASGE said in a society news release.

Treatment options include lifestyle modifications, medication, surgery or a combination of methods.

National GERD Awareness Week is Nov. 20 to 26 in the United States.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about GERD.

MONDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The longer they live in the United States, the more likely it is that Hispanic immigrants will develop health problems, a new study says.

Researchers analyzed 2007-08 data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and discovered a dramatic increase in obesity, diabetes and hypertension rates among Hispanic immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than 20 years.

Compared to those who have lived in the United States for fewer than 10 years, Hispanic immigrants who are U.S. residents for more than 20 years are 98 percent more likely to be obese, 68 percent more likely to have hypertension, and nearly 2.5 times more likely to have diabetes, according to the researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The study results, scheduled for release Monday at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, were based on body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and diabetes measurements. Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The researchers took into account age, gender, education, income and other factors that could influence the likelihood of being obese or having hypertension or diabetes.

"The findings make a clear connection between communities and health. When we take a broad, comprehensive look at the communities in which U.S. immigrants live and their health status, we see that minority immigrants and their families can disproportionally experience barriers to good health. And that's troubling," lead researcher Leslie Cofie, a doctoral candidate at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, said in an APHA news release.

"There needs to be more work done to address the full spectrum of factors that influence health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups, including minority immigrants," Cofie added.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about Hispanic/Latino populations.