September 2007

As an internal medicine physician at PAMF’s Redwood City Center, Ronesh Sinha provides care to many South Asian patients who have high cholesterol or some other risk factors for heart disease. Although many of these patients are vegetarian, do not smoke and are not overweight, their South Asian ethnicity puts them at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. To help these individuals reduce their risk factors and lead healthier lives, PAMF’s South Asian Wellness Task Force - a committee of physicians, dietitians and community members led by Dr. Sinha and PAMF researcher Latha Palaniappan – launched the new PRANA (Prevention and Awareness for South Asians) Web site.

"The goal of the Web site is to promote total wellness by providing culturally tailored information about a wide range of medical conditions for South Asians of all ages, from infants to seniors," said Dr. Sinha.

The PRANA Web site helps individuals identify their risk factors for major medical conditions, debunks misconceptions about health and wellness, gives tips for improving health and provides a list of resources.

"South Asians have the highest prevalence of diabetes and more heart disease than virtually any other ethnic group worldwide, and they experience heart attacks at a very young age," said Dr. Sinha, who noted that half of heart attacks occur in South Asians younger than 50 years of age. "Through the PRANA Web site, we hope to encourage South Asians to have early preventive health screenings, be aware of their unique health risk factors and make positive lifestyle changes to help them live longer, healthier lives."

One of the reasons South Asians have a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, and other cardiovascular conditions is the great amount of refined carbohydrates, fried foods, tropical oils and other fats in a typical South Asian diet.

"The Web site addresses the unique health challenges posed by South Asian cuisine and gives people practical advice on how to eat healthier," said Dr. Sinha.

In addition to often eating unhealthy diets, South Asians also have a lower threshold for developing disease. "A body mass index (BMI) greater than 23 is high for South Asians compared to 25 for most other ethnic groups," said Dr. Sinha. "Very little extra weight around the stomach can lead to heart disease and diabetes in South Asians."

He added that many South Asians lead sedentary lifestyles and do not place a priority on preventive health, including routine screenings such as colonoscopies, as they tend to be very private about their medical issues. As a result, they often only see their doctor if they have symptoms – a behavior the Web site hopes to change.

"What makes the PRANA Web site unique is that it provides culturally specific and sensitive nutrition and health information to meet South Asians’ unique needs," said Dr. Sinha. He noted that the site has received such positive feedback from users since its launch earlier this year that many local community organizations have already expressed interest in using the site as a resource for their members. "The Web site is already on its way to being the most comprehensive resource for South Asian health available online."

Visit the About PRANA site for more information.