Public Health

UPDATE: Recent illnesses have been associated with use of e-cigarettes (vaping). Since the specific causes of these lung injury cases are not yet known, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends refraining from all vaping products. If you spend time around someone who vapes, you might be wondering if you can get secondhand smoke from a vape. While there’s still … Read more

The popularity of hookah smoking, in which a fruit-flavored tobacco product is inhaled through a glass pipe, is raising concerns about harmful effects such as cancer and other medical conditions. Hookah smoke contains many of the same carcinogens present in tobacco smoke. There is some indication, in fact, that hookah smoke may be even more … Read more

How to Take Advantage of the Benefits and Avoid Overexposure Copper sulfate is an inorganic compound that combines copper and sulfate. In its liquid or powdered form, it’s most commonly called basic copper sulfate, BSC copper fungicide, CP basic sulfate, or tri-basic copper sulfate. In its solid, crystal-shaped stone form (known as a pentahydrate), copper sulfate is … Read more

If you have a friend or loved one who can’t remember the last time they had a doctor’s appointment, they might justify it by saying they never get sick or don’t have any risk factors. Even if they are generally healthy, that doesn’t mean they should skip out on a regular doctor’s visit for preventive care. … Read more

Getting recommended cancer screenings can help spot cancer in the earliest stages when treatment is most likely to work.1  However, some significant barriers can keep people from getting recommended cancer screenings, including a lack of awareness or time, high costs, inadequate access, and fear of what the screenings might entail or reveal. Here are some of the … Read more

How It Differs from an Epidemic and Pandemic A disease is endemic if it is consistently present but limited to a certain region. This differs from an epidemic in which there is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease or a pandemic in which a disease has spread over several countries or continents.1 Examples of endemic diseases … Read more

Health Effects, History, Exposure, Advocacy Efforts Toxic chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) might have harmful health effects.1 They are known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down and, when taken in, remain present in the human body.2 PFAS are found in everyday products, such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant coatings, carpets or upholstery, water-resistant clothing, and … Read more

This article is part of our series looking at how Black Americans navigate the healthcare system. According to our exclusive survey, 1 in 3 Black Americans report having experienced racism while seeking medical care. In a roundtable discussion, our Medical Expert Board called for better representation among providers to help solve this widespread problem. Dr. Ali: COVID shone … Read more

Key Takeaways Here’s why you’ve been hearing about a possible government shutdown next week: Keeping the U.S. government running requires Congress to authorize spending by September 30 of each year, since the federal government’s fiscal year begins on October 1.  So far, though, Congress has not been able to agree on spending levels for federal agencies … Read more

Key Takeaways In an updated guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now encourages healthcare providers to have discussions with patients about potential exposure to PFAS and to determine if blood testing would be useful. This is the first time the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have … Read more