Overview
The United States has many people from different backgrounds. Asian Americans “have their origins in the Far East and the Indian subcontinent” (Ho, 2015, p. 28). Many individuals from countries such as Korea, Japan, India, the Philippines, and China are grouped in this racial group. This “race comprises over 4.5 percent of the country’s total population” (Ho, 2015, p. 19). The number of Asian Americans is increasing very fast.
Demographics
Statistics indicate that this group “comprises around 4.6 percent of the country’s population” (Zia, 2014, p. 5). Members of this race have significant differences depending on their places of origin. The race is subdivided into three groups. These groups include “Southeast Asian Americans, South Asian Americans, and East Asian Americans” (Ho, 2015, p. 36). The United States has over 20,000,000 Asian Americans (Ho, 2015). Many Asian Americans “live in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles” (Ho, 2015, p. 3).
Health Care Practices
Asians have powerful healthcare practices. Such practices have been practiced for many centuries. For example, the use of traditional Chinese medicine supports the health needs of many Asian Americans. A good example of this medicine is acupuncture. This therapeutic approach is embraced by many groups in America. Acupuncture is “commonly used to treat complications such as chronic pain” (Ho, 2015, p. 39). These Asian Americans have also embraced modern healthcare practices. Massage therapy has become common in different parts of the country. Spiritual therapy is also embraced as a powerful healing process.
Risk Behaviors
Many Asian American youths have been taking different addictive drugs. They have also been indulging in various malpractices that can affect their health outcomes. Some of the cultural and religious practices embraced by this cultural group can result in different health problems. For example, spiritual therapy can be described as a risk behavior (Ho, 2015). This practice can result in negative health outcomes.
Genetic Susceptibility to Chronic Conditions
Some chronic diseases are common among members of this cultural group. Some of these diseases include prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes (Ho, 2015). This observation shows that majority of the minority groups in the country are susceptible to various chronic diseases.
Nutrition
The diet of many Asian Americans has remained the same for many centuries. These individuals “consume rice and different vegetables. Meat is also consumed by these people. They also embrace different social occasions. They use a wide range of techniques to prepare their meals. Some of these techniques include “barbecuing, steaming, stir-frying, and boiling” (Ho, 2015, p. 86).
Spirituality
Asian Americans have different religious views and practices. Most of these people embrace “different Eastern Religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism” (Ho, 2015, p. 92). Many Asian Americans have also become Christians or Muslims. Prayers are embraced by members of this culture. Meditation is also common among these Asian Americans.
Death Rituals
Many Asian Americans are encouraged to embrace death. The individuals “offer instructions to the deceased in order to guide them” (Ho, 2015, p. 87). Funeral rites are “usually undertaken for 49 days” (Ho, 2015, p. 87). Mourners “chant songs called sutras” (Zia, 2014, p. 56). Cremation is also common among members of this culture. Death is therefore treated as a new opportunity for happiness.
Reference List
Ho, J. (2015). Racial Ambiguity in Asian American Culture (Asian American Studies Today). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Zia, H. (2014). Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.