HHS HealthBeat (August 16, 2006)

The yin and yang of smoking

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

The more smoking becomes part of the culture, it's harder to stub it out. Temple University researcher Grace Ma says that's pointedly the case among Asian immigrants in the United States.

Ma says smoking is a big part of Asian culture. Ma's study of Asian immigrant smoking habits is supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Ma says many mainstream smoking-cessation programs don't work for these folks – sometimes, they literally don't even speak the same language. She says it's important to focus on Asian beliefs.

"The yin-yang balance is the fundamental health belief of Asian cultures – a balance in life which means avoidance of harmful extremes, such as smoking." (11 seconds)

Ma also says many Asian immigrants don't yet realize the dangers.

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HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 26 2006