Research has consistently shown that obesity is correlated with many health risks, including diabetes and other chronic conditions. New findings call into question current beliefs about being overweight, specifically that only extreme obesity and underweight increase mortality risk. A new study suggests that obesity is a greater health threat than previously thought.  Obesity Risks and Diabetes  Obesity is one of the most prevalent public health threats in the U.S. According to 2021 findings of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the prevalence of obesity in this...

On March 1, 2023, the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced in a press release that it would be capping the cost of insulin. Insulin is a ubiquitous medicine. It is crucial to the health of people who suffer from Type 1 diabetes and many who have Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes as well. Even though insulin is a very common medicine that more than 8 million Americans use, the price of insulin has been historically high, with the average monthly cost at $54 and as many as 24% of Americans paying $70 per month. Making this medicine more affordable is a major event in the lives of...

Tuberculosis is not just a disease of the past. Referred to as “consumption,” tuberculosis was the most feared illness in the world. TB was known as the “Great White Plague” at one time. Today in the U.S., this disease has generally remained under control, although it still kills many people worldwide.  There is still no known cure for tuberculosis, but researchers are working on developing a vaccine for people of all ages. Recently, scientists have gained strides in battling this disease, and there have been some significant breakthroughs in vaccine development.  Facts about Tuberculosis  Tuberculosis...

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to find its way into more aspects of our lives. AI has exciting applications in numerous sectors, including manufacturing, education, commerce, and transportation.  AI technology also holds promise in medicine, particularly in cancer detection. AI advancements have been shown to improve screenings by helping spot the early signs that doctors might overlook. This article discusses the use of AI in medicine and its application in screenings for various types of cancers.  AI and Cancer Detection  Artificial intelligence refers to algorithms or computer...

When it comes to public health threats, you never know when a disaster will strike. The threats to public health are myriad—ranging from biological (as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic) to environmental, and from manmade (such as the opioid epidemic) to natural disasters. Luckily, the U.S. has response teams in place to act quickly in times of great public health need. In the initial days following an environmental disaster, for instance, public health and preparedness teams often coordinate closely with disaster response teams to help ensure that public safety and health are not jeopardized.  A...