ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In an effort to help address important health issues of Spanish-speaking Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS’) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) released an easy-to-read, Spanish-language Web site offering important health information and disease prevention tools in plain language, based on scientific and medical research.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, ODPHP launched healthfinder.gov en espanol, an online health information resource designed for Spanish-speaking communities. Offering 46 different health topics from acupuncture to vaccinations, the site provides tools and information for people to be healthy and stay healthy.

Hispanics are the largest minority in the United States, accounting for more than half of the Nation’s growth this past decade, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Hispanics also lead the Nation in childhood poverty—painting a grim picture when it comes to Hispanics and health. ODPHP hopes to make a positive impact on the health and wellness of Hispanics by providing tools such as:

– Tu guia de salud—On this Spanish-language version of the Quick Guide to Healthy Living, users will find information on over 40 different health topics, which include small steps and quick tips to follow for better health.

– miBuscador de salud—A free, personalized health and wellness information tool, where users enter age, sex, and pregnancy status to get customized health recommendations based on the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce and the Bright Futures Guidelines. The recommended services are covered under the health care reform law, and depending on insurance plans, may be of no cost.

Additional features available at healthfinder.gov en espanol include “Recursos de salud,” “Noticias de salud,” and “Busca una clinica cerca de ti.”

About ODPHP

ODPHP, within HHS, manages the Web site healthfinder.gov as well as the National Health Information Center. The Quick Guide to Healthy Living, part of the original healthfinder.gov, recently won the 2010 ClearMark Award from the Center for Plain Language for the best plain language public sector Web site.

SOURCE Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services