The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has declared sleepiness a critical public health issue, calling it a key patient-reported outcome linked to serious health risks and reduced quality of life. Excessive sleepiness affects one-third of U.S. adults and may signal underlying conditions such as sleep apnea, mood disorders, or neurological disease. The Academy urges more research that prioriti…

A new Iowa report reveals that 95% of pregnancy-related deaths from 2019–2021 were preventable, underscoring urgent public health concerns. The state's Maternal Mortality Review Committee found most deaths were due to infection, hemorrhage, or embolism, with disproportionate impacts on Black and Hispanic women and those on Medicaid—especially postpartum. Experts cite COVID-19 and high rates o…

Measles, officially eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to widespread MMR vaccination, is resurging across multiple states—threatening the country’s elimination status. Recent outbreaks, including the death of an unvaccinated child in Texas, have sparked concern among public health experts. The disease, often reintroduced by unvaccinated travelers, spreads rapidly in under-immunized communities…

A new study warns that rising CT scan use in the U.S. may contribute to as many as 103,000 future cancer cases, with ionizing radiation from scans potentially accounting for 5% of new diagnoses. While the individual risk remains minimal, public health experts are calling for greater scrutiny of unnecessary scans, especially given the 30% rise in CT use since 2007. Researchers highlight vulner…

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a plan to cut $11 billion in federal health funding, a move that would have significantly impacted COVID-19 initiatives, mental health and substance use programs, and core public health services. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit from 23 states and D.C., which argued the cuts would devastate the nation’s public health infrastructure and leave state…

The recent surge in U.S. measles cases—642 across 22 states, with nearly 500 in Texas alone—has renewed urgency around vaccine advocacy. Public health experts acknowledged Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s social media support for the measles vaccine as a critical step, calling it the "most effective way to prevent the spread."   However, they also voiced conce…

A new Pew Research Center analysis shows that public confidence in scientists and medical scientists has declined since the early days of the pandemic. While they remain among the most trusted professionals, only 57% of Americans now express confidence in them—down from 87% in 2020. The findings highlight growing challenges for public health communicators as trust in science becomes more comp…

Public health experts widely agree that reducing soda consumption would benefit Americans’ health, given its link to obesity and heart disease. A recent proposal to restrict the use of SNAP benefits for purchasing soda has sparked debate. Supporters say it could reduce sugar intake, while critics argue it may do little to improve nutrition. Advocates stress that real change comes from increas…

A new CDC study published in JAMA reveals that invasive group A strep infections more than doubled in the U.S. from 2013 to 2022, with nearly 2,000 deaths recorded. Unlike mild strep throat, invasive strep can lead to life-threatening conditions like necrotizing fasciitis or toxic shock syndrome. Public health experts attribute the surge to rising rates of diabetes, obesity, injection drug us…