Having a sexually transmitted illness (STI) is extremely common. In fact, more than half of Americans will experience a STI in their lifetime. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, at any given time, one in five adults in the United States has an STI. However, despite their ubiquity, there is still a stigma surrounding STIs and the critical discussions about sexual health that can lead to a reduction in STIs. Public health communicators have an imperative to communicate critical sexual health information, and everyone in the general public stands to benefit...

To many people, colon or colorectal cancer seems like a disease that only happens to older people. However, the medical community has cause for alarm regarding the increasing number of adults under 45 who develop the disease.  If you are under 50 and think you can wait to screen for colon cancer, think again. Rates of colorectal cancer are on the rise, and more young adults are getting diagnosed when the disease is in its advanced stages. Here is what you should know about colorectal cancer, the importance of screening, and how to reduce your risk.  Colorectal Cancer and Young Adults  This...

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...