This title features 93 tables and 14 figures. With America's renewed focus on issues of healthcare, disparities between various population groups - in terms of both needs manifested and services received - are increasingly in the public consciousness. One of the groups that clearly must be better understood in this context is Asian Americans, now the fastest-growing minority in the United States. According to the most recent census, there are 11 million Asian Americans now, and their numbers are expected to triple by 2050. Hailing from more than 50 different countries and cultures, their health is affected by genetics, actions, beliefs, and prejudices that differ from those of others in the United States. In these timely volumes, a cross-disciplinary team of specialists explains the health issues and diseases most common to Asian Americans, how and why disparities in both disease development and treatment exist for them, and what changes must be made to improve the health of this growing group. This comprehensive collection includes vignettes and personal stories that illustrate the issues discussed and their impact on both individual and societal levels. Behavioral factors, including diet, smoking, and substance abuse are addressed. The text also describes traditional Asian American medical practices, as well as ways in which those practices have influenced American health care overall.