Health

Last month healthcare leaders, birth workers, and community members gathered to honor the legacy of Charleston native Dr. Janell Green Smith, a nurse-midwife and doctor of nursing practice who died in January from childbirth complications. She had participated in more than 300 births and specialized in helping Black women give birth safely.  

A new study has revealed a strong association between high consumption of ultraprocessed foods and compromised muscle quality, particularly increased intramuscular fat in the thighs. Researchers noted that a participant whose diet comprised 87% ultraprocessed items annually exhibited pronounced fat marbling, a condition linked to serious health complications, including knee osteoarthritis.

Emerging research reveals that GLP-1 medications provide substantial health advantages beyond weight loss, including reduced risks of cardiovascular events, improved liver function, and decreased systemic inflammation. These findings necessitate a reevaluation of insurance coverage criteria, advocating for the inclusion of these broader therapeutic impacts.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has approved changes to the rules governing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, broadening its scope to include vaccine safety research, cumulative effects of vaccines, and novel vaccine platforms.

A new study reveals that a high-quality, plant-rich diet, including whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, can prevent cognitive impairment, even for those who initiate the dietary changes in their late 50s and 60s.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is rising across all racial and ethnic demographics in the United States, with a notable one in five new diagnoses now affecting individuals aged 50 or younger. This trend disproportionately impacts Black Americans, who frequently face misdiagnosis stemming from insufficient awareness.

The Heart, Soul, and Joy program provided Black women with at-home monitoring kits and partnered with clinics and doulas to improve maternal health outcomes and address systemic racism in the healthcare system.

Colorado has enacted the nation's first law prohibiting arrests based exclusively on colorimetric drug test results, addressing concerns over their documented false positive rates, which can reach as high as 91%.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its intent to investigate the impact of microplastics and pharmaceutical medications on the safety of the nation's tap water, marking a significant step in addressing these emerging contaminants. These substances have been added to the drinking water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL), a roster of unregulated potential threats to public water systems. While hailed by some as a 'major win' for public health initiatives, the regulatory process is projected to be extensive, potentially requiring years for any new standards to be implemented, if proposed at all.

A recent study has found that health and government organizations have inadvertently provided millions of dollars in advertising revenue to websites that regularly disseminate health misinformation.