Health Issues / Public News Service

It is estimated 30% to 40% of the world's population now has some form of allergy, everything from hay fever to eczema and asthma. (auremar/AdobeStock)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Ignoring effects from New Mexico's seasonal allergies could lead to asthma

Toughing it out during spring allergy season is not in your best interest if you want to avoid asthma later in life. New Mexico has plenty of grass …

Among adults in Arkansas, 32.6% report symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, almost identical to the national average. (Halfpoint/AdobeStock)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Expert reveals how neuroscience, practical tools helps build mentally strong kids

As Children's Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off in Arkansas, an expert said parents can help their children have a healthy brain to thrive…

Nearly 27% of U.S. hospitals do not practice recommended suicide prevention practices, including safety planning, warm handoffs to outpatient care, patient follow-up and lethal-means counseling. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Zero Suicide Institute aims to expand access to SC suicide care, prevention

Studies show suicide is a serious public health problem, claiming more than 48,000 lives each year in the nation. A new initiative from the Zero …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized clean air standards affecting heavy-duty trucks starting with the 2027 model year. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Communities close to big box warehouses face health fallouts

A recent study by the Environmental Defense Fund showed communities near mega warehouses are exposed to more polluted air. More than 2 million …

According to the American Lung Association, nearly four in 10 people in America live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution. (Pcess609/AdobeStock)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

PA groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized stronger air quality standards for soot pollution and one regional organization said it is a step in…

Research shows those hospitalized for suicide risk face an elevated risk of dying by suicide post-discharge, making it a critical time for patients to have access to resources, support and care to help keep them safe in the event of a crisis. (Chinnapong/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Michigan hospitals embrace suicide prevention, support

Recent research shows approximately half of people who die by suicide had contact with a health care professional within the month prior to their deat…

Despite many Connecticut counties ranking poorly for air quality, Hartford was the only city to improve enough to move off the list of the worst 25 cities. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Report: CT counties rank poorly for air quality

Several Connecticut counties rank poorly in the latest State of the Air report by the American Lung Association. Four counties measured for ozone …

Artificial intelligence has recently been used to facilitate the diagnosis of acute stroke, by automatically detecting intracranial hemorrhage on noncontrast computed tomography scans of the head. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

AI could help detect stroke, AZ cardiologist says

Artificial intelligence seems to be quite the hot-button issue these days but an Arizona cardiologist contended the technology could be useful in even…

If symptoms of stroke are recognized within the first four and a half hours, experts said irreversible damage can be prevented. (marina_ua/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Stroke Awareness Month: Quick response key to treatment

May is Stroke Awareness Month and health experts stressed time is of the essence when responding to the medical condition. The acronym "BE FAST" can …

New treatments can reverse the effects of stroke if administered fast enough. (SewcreamStudio/Adobe Stock)

Calling 911 critical when stroke symptoms present

May is Stroke Awareness Month and health experts stressed time is of the essence when responding to this medical condition. The acronym "BE FAST" …

The American Heart Association cites emerging research showing in stroke care, elements of artificial intelligence-based supports reduced the chances of additional strokes by more than 25%. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

AI has its critics, but for stroke patients, it might be a lifesaver

Artificial intelligence has come under scrutiny over potential negative impacts on society but a Minnesota medical expert said it has become one of ma…

Medicaid expansion in Alabama could help an estimated 283,636 people gain access to health care. (Adobe Stock)

Calls grow for AL Medicaid expansion as legislative session winds down

Alabama is running out of time to tackle Medicaid expansion this legislative session. More than 230 people gathered earlier this month with the …

The 340B rule empowers select safety-net providers by providing discounts on outpatient prescription drugs and in reaching more eligible patients to provide comprehensive services. (Banana Images/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Big Pharma uses red-meat rhetoric in fight over drug costs

Access to reduced-price medication is a necessity for many rural Missourians with low income. Rep. Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, the Senate Floor …

An engraved plaque on the National Fallen Firefighter's Monument bears a message from President Ronald Reagan. At the base of the monument, an eternal flame symbolizes the spirit of all firefighters, past, present and future. (National Fallen Firefighters Foundation)

Fallen TX firefighters to be remembered at national ceremony

More than 1,000 family members of firefighters who died in the line of duty, including some from Texas, will gather in Emmitsburg, Maryland, starting …

Connecticut's 2011 paid sick leave law was the first in the nation to require private-sector employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

CT paid sick days bill passes House, heads to Senate

A Connecticut bill would expand the state's paid sick leave law. The initial 2011 law requires 40 hours of paid sick leave for workers at employers …

Under a new DEA proposal, marijuana would be considered less dangerous than heroin but still more addictive than cocaine, alcohol or Xanax. (Roxxyphotos/Adobe Stock)

Advocates cheer feds’ proposal to reclassify marijuana as lower risk

Marijuana legalization groups are celebrating after the Drug Enforcement Agency proposed Tuesday to reclassify cannabis as less dangerous or addictive…

Eating disorders can lead to fatigue and muscle breakdown, which ultimately affects a young person's athletic performance. (Peter Kim/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Pediatricians: Watch for rise of eating disorders in young athletes

Pediatricians are warning about a rise in eating disorders among young athletes. Common eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa are …

The National End of Life Alliance says death doulas do not perform clinical procedures, nor do they give medical advice on a course of treatment. (Adobe Stock)

IN 'death doulas' a compassionate resource

Birth doulas assist new moms with the stress, uncertainty and anxiety of childbirth. Another type of doula offers similar support - to those who are …

Over the span of a decade, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust has invested $107.5 million across ten North Carolina counties including Beaufort, McDowell, Halifax, Rockingham, Burke, Edgecombe, Nash, Bladen, Columbus and Robeson.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Report finds long-term Investment in rural areas improves resources

A new report reveals that investing in rural areas can improve essential resources for the people living there. Despite a significant rural …

MDHHS reports many cardiac deaths among young people in Michigan could be prevented through screening, detection and treatment. (Rawpixel.com)

MI high school coaches will need CPR, AED certification

Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of about 250 Michigan children and young adults each year. Legislation signed into law over the weekend aims …

Experts believe increasing access to healthy food is not just about nutrition, it is about addressing disparities and improving overall health outcomes. (ARTFULLY-79/Adobe Stock)

Breaking barriers for health equity with nutritional strategies

Missouri residents are gaining new insights into the powerful role of food in health care as experts and organizations advocate for a shift toward foo…

An estimated 2,700 people identify as transgender in Montana, or about one-third of 1% of the state's population, according to the UCLA Law School. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates ask MT Supreme Court to allow minors gender-affirming care

Advocates for end-of-life care options in Montana have asked the state Supreme Court to uphold an injunction of a bill banning gender-affirming care f…

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed modern-day coal miners are at greater risk of respiratory disease than their predecessors, likely driven by inhalation of silica coal mine dust. (AI-generated Adobe Stock)

Advocates: New silica dust rule 'missed opportunities' to curb black lung

After the Biden administration released a new rule setting standards to limit exposure to silica dust, advocates in Kentucky and around Appalachia …

Some groups see disproportionately high rates of suicide, including veterans, racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ people. (Adobe Stock)

Experts spotlight youth mental health, suicide prevention

Rates of suicide among young people have increased by about 36% in roughly the last two decades and the surge has caught the attention of federal poli…

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, methane is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, accounting for about 16 percent of global emissions. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina weighs in on Duke Energy's methane gas proposal

The North Carolina Utilities Commission is giving residents a chance to voice their opinion on a plan which could influence how their electricity is g…

Salud Family Health Centers has served over 70 thousand patients, including migrant farm workers, and has created over 600 jobs. (Adobe Stock)

VIPs tour Salud Family Health Center’s mobile clinic

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo - D-Thornton - recently paid a visit to Salud Family …

Individuals present during atmospheric nuclear weapons testing could qualify for a single, substantial financial payment as compensation. (Hamara/AdobeStock)

RECA expansion bill impacts Tennessee, awaits House approval

A Knoxville-based environmental group is advocating for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expansion, currently awaiting House approval…

Voters who say abortion is the most important issue to their vote are disproportionately younger, Democratic-leaning, and want abortion to be legal in all cases. (Adobe Stock)

NV pro-choice advocates back emergency abortion law targeted in SCOTUS case

Nevada health-care providers, patients and advocates are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court case that'll determine the future of the Emergency …

A flooded site at the Austin Master Services toxic-waste storage facility in Martin's Ferry, Ohio. (Jill Hunkler)

Court issues restraining order against fracking waste-storage facility

Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …

David Coon designs and evaluates interventions for families and caregivers of adults with chronic illnesses, including dementia, cancer and depression. (Arizona State University)

AZ Alzheimer’s Consortium shares advances in diagnosis, treatment

The 2024 Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium Public Conference kicks off Saturday, where industry experts and researchers will share the latest scientific …

As of March 2024, 243 schools have completed JED Campus and 201 are active JED campuses, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Suicidal ideation, planning, attempts decrease on college campuses

A new report showed a significant decrease in suicidal ideation, planning and attempts on college campuses around the nation, as well as improved …

New Mexico has yet to adopt setback rules governing oil and gas wells near schools and other educational institutions. (Courtesy Becca Grady)

NM officials press for setbacks amid pushback from oil and gas industry

New Mexico members of the group Elected Officials to Protect America are renewing their call for rules regulating how close fossil fuel companies can …

Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, the House Democratic floor leader, called Missouri politicians

Missouri's Medicaid block: denying patients choice in trusted providers

The Missouri Legislature has approved a law to stop its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet, from paying Planned Parenthood for medical services …

Though Connecticut's benefits cliff persists, there are other programs helping people maintain benefits of some kind when their income pushes them over the limit. (Adobe Stock)

CT Day of Action raises awareness on 'benefits cliff'

Today, groups working with lower-income families in Connecticut are raising awareness about the state's "benefits cliff" with a day of action…

In March 1961, Dr. Jack Fishman and Dr. Mozes Lewenstein applied for one of the first patents for naloxone. (oasisamuel/Adobe Stock)

'Lazarus drug' may have competition in MI

After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation. Naloxone is sometimes …

Hospitals provided 33% of abortions in 2020, according to data from the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court to hear oral arguments on abortion access in emergency rooms

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments today in a case about whether patients have access to emergency room abortions in states banning …

Electric school buses are in the minority, with about 95% of school buses nationwide running on diesel. (Thomas/Adobe Stock)

WA lawmakers move to electrify school bus fleet

School buses are getting cleaner in Washington state after this year's legislative session. Lawmakers in Olympia passed House Bill 1368, which will …

Five of nine full-time maternal-fetal medicine specialists have left Idaho since the state's strict abortion law took effect, according to a report from the Idaho Physician Well-Being Action Collaborative. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban

By Mary Anne Franks for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Northern Rockies News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

Nurses from Providence St. Vincent in Portland held an informational picket amid contract negotiations. (Oregon Nurses Assocation)

OR nurses at six Providence hospitals unite for union negotiations

Nurses at Providence hospitals across Oregon are coming together to fight for new union contracts. Negotiations are happening now or in the near …

A Siena College poll finds New York's medical aid-in-dying bill has support across regions and party lines. (Adobe Stock)

NY medical aid-in-dying bill gains broader support

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill …

The number of Americans with health coverage under the American Care Act has doubled since its 2014 launch, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (NLawrenson/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

NM aims to reduce out-of-pocket health-care costs for consumers

New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those n…

15-year-old Cash Hennessy and his parents became advocates for better training in schools on sudden cardiac arrest after the teen survived a brush with death. (Kristine Kelly/American Heart Association)

Advocates promote bill to improve survival after cardiac arrest in schools

The California State Assembly is considering a bill to require schools to have a cardiac arrest response plan. Assembly Bill 2887 would make sure …

Firefighting foam is one recognized source of PFAS. (ChiccoDodiFC/Adobe Stock)

Spokane joins lawsuit as city deals with 'forever chemicals' contaminating water

Spokane has joined a lawsuit against the manufacturers of toxic chemicals known as PFAS after the discovery of the chemicals in parts of the city's dr…

Alan Bedtka is pictured in a stand of sorghum-sudangrass, which he was paid to plant to boost soil health and reduce his fertilizer use. (Photo courtesy of Alan Bedtka)

Can taller cover crops help clean the water in farm country?

By Brian DeVore for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News…

A GeoHealth study reveals census tracts with high Hispanic and Latino populations accounted for 40% of 73,000 childhood asthma cases. (Hihitetlin/Adobe Stock)

Study: PA ranks high for health impacts of oil and gas flaring emissions

A new study raised red flags about respiratory health in Pennsylvania, particularly for those living near oil and gas activity. The study by …

A new study concludes that while anti-bullying protections in schools are effective, they are likely insufficient to address the mental health struggles of LGBTQ youth. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Study: NM's laws help reduce suicide among LGBTQ youth

A new study suggests laws in New Mexico and 22 other states to protect school-aged LGBTQ youth are having a positive impact. According to research …

The number of people over 65 with Alzheimer's disease has risen slightly in 2024 to 6.9 million, from 6.7 million in 2023. The number of younger-onset AD cases remained roughly the same. (Pixabay)

Rising Alzheimer's rates prompt renewed focus on end-of-life planning

The 2024 Alzheimer's Association annual report forecasts a doubling of Americans age 65 and older living with dementia - from 7 million to 14 million …

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Idaho's abortion ban will have ramifications for health-care providers in the state. (JudithAnne/Adobe Stock)

ID abortion law before SCOTUS this week

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week on Idaho's near-total abortion ban. Idaho v. United States is on the docket for Wednesday…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - May 3, 2024

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Health

Ignoring effects from New Mexico's seasonal allergies could lead to asthma

Expert reveals how neuroscience, practical tools helps build mentally strong kids

Zero Suicide Institute aims to expand access to SC suicide care, prevention

Communities close to big box warehouses face health fallouts

PA groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

Michigan hospitals embrace suicide prevention, support

Report: CT counties rank poorly for air quality

AI could help detect stroke, AZ cardiologist says

Stroke Awareness Month: Quick response key to treatment

Calling 911 critical when stroke symptoms present

AI has its critics, but for stroke patients, it might be a lifesaver

Calls grow for AL Medicaid expansion as legislative session winds down

Big Pharma uses red-meat rhetoric in fight over drug costs

Fallen TX firefighters to be remembered at national ceremony

CT paid sick days bill passes House, heads to Senate

Advocates cheer feds’ proposal to reclassify marijuana as lower risk

Pediatricians: Watch for rise of eating disorders in young athletes

IN 'death doulas' a compassionate resource

Report finds long-term Investment in rural areas improves resources

MI high school coaches will need CPR, AED certification

Breaking barriers for health equity with nutritional strategies

Advocates ask MT Supreme Court to allow minors gender-affirming care

Advocates: New silica dust rule 'missed opportunities' to curb black lung

Experts spotlight youth mental health, suicide prevention

North Carolina weighs in on Duke Energy's methane gas proposal

VIPs tour Salud Family Health Center’s mobile clinic

RECA expansion bill impacts Tennessee, awaits House approval

NV pro-choice advocates back emergency abortion law targeted in SCOTUS case

Court issues restraining order against fracking waste-storage facility

AZ Alzheimer’s Consortium shares advances in diagnosis, treatment

Report: Suicidal ideation, planning, attempts decrease on college campuses

NM officials press for setbacks amid pushback from oil and gas industry

Missouri's Medicaid block: denying patients choice in trusted providers

CT Day of Action raises awareness on 'benefits cliff'

'Lazarus drug' may have competition in MI

Supreme Court to hear oral arguments on abortion access in emergency rooms

WA lawmakers move to electrify school bus fleet

Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban

OR nurses at six Providence hospitals unite for union negotiations

NY medical aid-in-dying bill gains broader support

NM aims to reduce out-of-pocket health-care costs for consumers

Advocates promote bill to improve survival after cardiac arrest in schools

Spokane joins lawsuit as city deals with 'forever chemicals' contaminating water

Can taller cover crops help clean the water in farm country?

Study: PA ranks high for health impacts of oil and gas flaring emissions

Study: NM's laws help reduce suicide among LGBTQ youth

Rising Alzheimer's rates prompt renewed focus on end-of-life planning

ID abortion law before SCOTUS this week