In a post titled, “Preventing Violent Deaths in America,” CDC states:
January 17, 2013
Violence is not just a law enforcement problem. It is a public health problem of vast proportions. Each year, violence kills 55,000 people in the United States. Violence takes a particular toll on youth. Every day, 13 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 are killed, making homicide the third leading cause of death in this age group.
President Obama on Wednesday announced his multi-prong campaign “to do the right thing” to protect the public from gun violence. Stated the White House in a prepared statement: “There are approximately 30,000 firearm-related homicides and suicides a year, a number large enough to make clear this is a public health crisis.
A new report out of Europe is raising fears that excessive use of smartphones and tablets could cause ergonomic psychosocial problems – especially among people who use the devices as work tools.
Elevated radon levels found in roughly 1 in 15 homes nationwide
January 16, 2013
The EPA has a message for you: test your home for radon, fix the problem if you find one – and possibly save your life. As part of National Radon Action Month, the EPA is urging the public to test homes for high levels of the colorless, odorless gas but dangerous gas.
CDC recommends vaccination and antiviral treatment
January 11, 2013
Influenza activity continues to increase in the United States and most of the country is now experiencing high levels of influenza-like-illness (ILI), according to CDC’s latest FluView report. “Reports of influenza-like-illness (ILI) are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons,” according to Dr. Joe Bresee.
Workplace health promotion programs have the potential to reduce average worker health costs by 18 percent — and even more for older workers, reports a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is throwing its support behind the EPA’s bid for a tough new air quality standard that the organization says will protect the health of all Americans by curbing harmful emissions of fine particulate matter, also known as soot. On the other side of the issue, manufacturers are predicting that it will “crush” growth.
Americans have taken big steps to be healthier – like decreasing smoking and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels – but we still aren’t exercising enough and eating right. Those conclusions from a recent American Heart Association (AHA) report highlight a serious statistic: in spite of some improvements, cardiovascular disease still kills one American every 40 seconds.
On December 14th the EPA finalized a rule updating the standards for fine particulates, including soot, setting the annual health standard to 12 micrograms per cubic meter, down from the current level of 15. EPA’s proposed rule issued in June, 2012 generated more than 230,000 public comments.
Many cardiac patients are not giving healthy eating a high priority because some of their medical conditions are being controlled by drugs, according to a new study, which finds that practice can increase the risk of recurrent heart attacks.