Introduction
Asian Americans represent a large and
rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population. A recent U.S. Census
estimate puts their combined numbers at over 11 million people and
predicts a better than tripling in population by 2050. They are
exceedingly diverse, coming from nearly fifty countries and ethnic
groups, each with distinct cultures, traditions, and histories,
and they speak over 100 languages and dialects. Asian American diversity
extends to socioeconomic indicators, with members found throughout
the spectra of poverty to wealth, and illiteracy to advanced education
(The Asian and Pacific Islander Population in the United States: March 2002, U.S. Census Bureau (PDF - 91KB)).
Although Asian Americans in the United
States suffer from the same health problems as the population at
large, certain illnesses predominate. There is a particularly high
rate of liver cancer among Asian Americans, while lung cancer is
their leading cause of cancer death. Vietnamese women's cervical
cancer rate is five times that of Caucasian women. Asian Americans
have among the highest rates of tuberculosis and hepatitis B in
the United States. Asian Indians have an unusually high rate of
coronary artery disease, and parasitic infections are particularly
widespread among Southeast Asian refugees (Cancer
Facts on Asians & Pacific Islanders).
This Web resource on Asian American
Health, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, is designed
to increase public awareness of the health concerns of these important
minority groups, who are major contributors to our society's economy,
innovation, and vibrancy. Links are provided to an assortment of
documents, web sites, databases, and other resources.
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