Conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, and thyroid problems are highly prevalent in the Puerto Rican population.
By: Luisa Ochoa
During the ExpoSalud initiative of the Southern Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Rico, in Plaza del Caribe, specialists in the management of diseases endocrine, cardiac, skin, vascular, oncological, and even autoimmune, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions in the population.
The experts who were part of the educational agenda are: Dr. Ahmed Morales, gastroenterologist and specialist in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis; Dr. José García Mateo, president-elect of the Puerto Rican Society of Endocrinology and Diabetology; Dr. Leticia Hernández, president of the Puerto Rican Society of Endocrinology and Diabetology; Dr. Trina Steljes, general surgeon; Dr. Luis Negrón, hematologist oncologist; Dr. Rafael Santini, vascular surgeon at the San Lucas Episcopal Medical Center and Dr. Pedro Vendrell, dermatologist.
All agreed on the benefits of changing lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of most diseases Chronicles. These changes include changing your diet, engaging in physical activity, and routinely checking for family members with a history of any condition.
About the Diseases Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Dr. Ahmed Morales, mentioned that the prevalence in Puerto Rico has increased remarkably over the years. The same happens in diabetes, thyroid problems and cardiovascular conditions.
“Before, it was said that these conditions were very rare, but we have seen over time, between 15 to 20 years now, a dramatic rise in the incidence of these conditions and we are seeing that in developed countries there is a higher rate than in underdeveloped countries,” said the specialist, referring specifically to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
See the full interview here.
For her part, Dr. Leticia Hernández, together with Dr. José García Mateo, discussed the management of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyroid nodules. In Puerto Rico, these problems associated with the thyroid have a 20% prevalence, according to the latest figures provided.
“If we have relatives who have hypothyroidism, who have other autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes or lupus, we are likely to have Hashimoto’s disease, which in some people can develop hypothyroidism. This can happen at any time in life,” explained the endocrinologist.
The experts emphasized the need for more education on these diseasesin order for people to go early to the clinics and receive proper management by specialists.
See the full interview here.
Likewise, Dr. Rafael Santini provided guidance on the early detection of diseases related to the carotid arteries, in order to prevent cerebrovascular accidents, events that constitute the third cause of death in the population of the United States.
“Usually, the diseases Vessels, whether in the legs, the heart or the carotids, are silent. One day you are living your normal life and suddenly you had a heart attack or stroke and that is the signal that they are going to give, that is why screening is important to make an early diagnosis and treatment in order to prevent these events from happening.” , indicated the specialist.
The alliance of ExpoSalud of the Chamber of Commerce of the South of Puerto Rico, in alliance with the Medicine Magazine and Health Pública, AbbVie and Bristol Myers Squibb, allowed to put on the table the importance of detecting these diseases diseases and, in turn, promote healthy lifestyle habits to avoid an increase in the incidence in the population.