Despite evidence of the health implications of insufficient sleep, a large number of Americans do not routinely get optimal hours of sleep (1). It is estimated that 70 million Americans are affected by chronic sleep loss or sleep disorders (1). National surveillance of adult sleep practices was first undertaken in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in 1977 in response to the public health community's increased focus on healthy behaviors for promoting health and preventing disease (2).  This report provides a national perspective on the association between sleep and selected health risk behaviors using data from the 2004-2006 NHIS. Prevalence of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, leisure-time physical inactivity, and obesity are examined by usual sleep duration among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, stratified by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. The goal is to identify variations in prevalence of these health risk behaviors by usual sleep duration and to identify subgroups for which these associations may be particularly noteworthy. Direction of causality cannot be determined with cross-sectional survey data. However, identifying health risk behaviors among adults with varying sleep durations can provide useful information on possible clustering of behaviors that are known to be associated with unfavorable health outcomes. 

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the nation’s principal agency whose mission is the protection, health and safety of all Americans. During FY 2007, CDC continued its commitment of supporting the mission of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans (EEHA) to strengthen the capacity of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) to provide excellence in education. In compliance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requirements, CDC is submitting the annual performance report for FY 2007 in support of this initiative. This report presents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (CDC/ATSDR) FY 2007 Annual Performance Report for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. The CDC FY 2007 Performance Report for the EEHA Initiative is guided in part by the five overarching goals identified by HHS. The HHS identified goals are: 

• Increase access to and the participation of minority-serving institutions of higher education and/or other minority organizations in HHS programs such as biomedical research and services; 
• Strengthen the capacity of minority-serving institutions of higher education and/or minority organizations that address racial/ethnic minority populations to provide high quality education and other services; 
• Increase access to and the participation of racial and ethnic minority populations in HHS programs such as biomedical research and services (education-related activities and HHS workforce); and/or; 
• Promote data collection of racial and ethnic minority populations, e.g., through minority-serving institutions of higher education and minority organizations; 
• Increase participation and support in HHS programs and services for other education-related activities toward educational attainment at early and post-secondary education. 

  CDC has determined four of the five goals provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) correspond to the mission and scope of activities of its centers, institute and offices. The identified goals are: 

• Increase access to and the participation of minority-serving institutions of higher education and/or other minority organizations in HHS programs such as biomedical research and services; 
• Strengthen the capacity of minority-serving institutions of higher education and/or minority organizations that address racial/ethnic minority populations to provide high quality education and other services; 
• Increase access to and the participation of racial and ethnic minority populations in HHS programs such as biomedical research and services (education-related activities and HHS workforce); and/or; 
• Promote data collection of racial and ethnic minority populations, e.g., through minority-serving institutions of higher education and minority organizations. 

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean.1Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.1 

 Menopausal hormone therapy once seemed the answer for many of the conditionswomen face as they age. It was thought that hormone therapy could ward off heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, while improving women’s quality of life. But beginning in July 2002, findings emerged from clinical trials that showed this was not so. In fact, long-term use of hormone therapy poses serious risks and may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.This fact sheet discusses those findings and gives an overview of such topics as menopause, hormone therapy, and alternative treatments for the symptoms of menopause and the various health risks that come in its wake. It also provides a list of sources you can contact for more information.

 Disease's Toll Worse for Minorities, Medically Underserved Cancer disparity is a real issue that's full of stark truths. For instance, data show that racial and ethnic minorities and medically underserved groups are more likely to develop cancer, and die from it, than the general US population.Research also shows that uninsured patients are more likely to be treated for cancer at late stages of disease, and they're more likely to receive substandard care."It's really a major concern," says Ronit Elk, PhD, the American Cancer Society's director of research targeted at the poor and underserved. "Everyone needs to have access -- equal access -- to optimal care."  

 What is cancer?The body is made up of hundreds of millions of living cells. Normal body cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide faster to allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells divide only to replace worn-out or dying cells or to repair injuries. Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells. Cancer cells can also invade (grow into) other tissues, something that normal cells cannot do. Growing out of control and invading other tissues are what makes a cell a cancer cell.

 Infection is what happens when germs (also called microbes or microorganisms) enter the body, multiply, and cause illness. The main types of germs are bacteria, viruses, protozoa (parasites), and fungal organisms (also called fungi).Infections in people who have cancer or are getting cancer treatment can be more serious than those in other people. They can also be harder to treat. If you have cancer, it is important to find infections early and treat them quickly -- before they get worse and spread.The good news is that by learning more about them, you and your family may be able to help prevent problems that infections can cause.  

Cancer Facts & Figures 2008.To Access Report Click Here 

 Latin AmericaThe Cancer Burden in Latin AmericaIn Latin America, the majority of the countries are experiencing an epidemiological transition, whereby the disease burden is shifting from infectious diseases to chronic conditions, with a corresponding escalation in rates of cancer. More than 70 percent of cancers are diagnosed when the disease is incurable.