A study published on April 3 in JAMA Pediatrics is thought to be the first to recognize naturally occurring lithium in drinking water as a potential environmental risk factor for autism. “Any contaminants in drinking water that could impact the developing human brain warrant serious investigation,” stated the lead author of the study, Beate Ritz, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a professor of epidemiology and environmental health at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
Public health
India Accelerates TB Eradication: Uniting the World through Innovative Healthcare Initiatives and Global Unity
On Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India aims to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target set for 2030. He made this statement during his address at the One World TB Summit, held at the Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi. In addition, he launched several initiatives, such as the TB-Mukt Panchayat, a nationwide launch of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), a family-focused care model for TB, and unveiled India’s Annual TB Report for 2023.
Silent Streets for Healthier Hearts: Unraveling the Impact of Road Traffic Noise on Hypertension Risk
Road noise outside your window, such as roaring engines, blaring horns, and wailing sirens, might be harming your blood pressure. A recent study published on March 22 in JACC: Advances discovered that high blood pressure (hypertension) risk increases due to road traffic noise, independent of air pollution’s effects.
Mirror or Mirage: Navigating Social Media’s Impact on Youth, Body Image, and Eating Disorders
Many young people, especially girls, are at risk of developing eating disorders due to their constant exposure to unrealistic body images on social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. A recent review of 50 studies from 17 countries revealed that the widespread use of social media, which remains largely unregulated, may contribute to body image concerns and low self-esteem among users, leading to unhealthy eating habits and disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
Warming Waters: The Rising Threat of Flesh-Eating Bacteria Along the U.S. East Coast
Researchers have found that global warming is causing the spread of a deadly flesh-eating bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, along the northeastern coast of the United States. The bacteria, which is found in warm, shallow coastal waters, can infect a person through a cut or insect bite during contact with seawater.
Vigilance and Preparedness: India’s Comprehensive Strategy to Combat Covid-19 and Influenza Surge
Today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a high-level meeting to evaluate the Covid-19 and Influenza situation in India. The meeting focused on the readiness of health infrastructure and logistics, the progress of vaccination efforts, the emergence of new Covid-19 variants and Influenza strains, and their public health implications for the nation.
Rising cases of multidrug-resistant fungal infection of Candida Auris: What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Candida auris, a deadly and multidrug-resistant fungus, continues to pose a significant threat to public health worldwide. First identified in 2009, this emerging pathogen is
Sleep and Stroke: A Complex Relationship with Significant Implications for Public Health
The relationship between stroke and sleep, including both quantity and quality, is complex. Previous research has indicated that both sleep deprivation and sleeping for more than 9 hours a day can increase the risk of stroke, and experiencing a stroke can also cause changes in sleeping patterns.
Tick Talk: The Rise and Spread of Babesiosis in America
A new report from the CDC says that a disease called babesiosis, which is spread by ticks, has become more common in the United States
Beyond Hot Flashes: How Menopause Impacts Women’s Heart Health
Women entering their late 40s and early 50s may be unaware that their risk for cardiovascular disease is increasing, despite the hallmark symptoms of menopause,
Healthy Lifestyle May Protect Against Long COVID
A new study suggests that people who contract COVID-19 are at risk of experiencing long-term health consequences, but a healthy lifestyle may provide protection against
WHO Announces Pandemic Transition Point, Urges Continued Action Against COVID-19
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the pandemic has reached a “transition point”. However, this does not mean the public health emergency of international