News tagged with public health
Leading explanations for whooping cough's resurgence don't stand up to scrutiny
Whooping cough has exploded in the United States and some other developed countries in recent decades, and many experts suspect ineffective childhood vaccines for the alarming resurgence.
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 20, 2013 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
|
Human disease leptospirosis identified in new species, the banded mongoose, in Africa
(Medical Xpress)—The newest public health threat in Africa, scientists have found, is coming from a previously unknown source: the banded mongoose. Leptospirosis, the disease is called. And the banded mongoose ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 14, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
|
Study defines level of dengue virus needed for transmission
Researchers have identified the dose of dengue virus in human blood that is required to infect mosquitoes when they bite. Mosquitoes are essential for transmitting the virus between people so the findings have important implications ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 13, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
|
New study offers insight on pandemic flu
(Medical Xpress)—Pandemic flu continues to threaten public health, especially in the wake of the recent emergence of an H7N9 low pathogenic avian influenza strain in humans. A recent study published in ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Apr 26, 2013 |
5 / 5 (2) |
2
|
Facebook interests could help predict, track and map obesity
The higher the percentage of people in a city, town or neighborhood with Facebook interests suggesting a healthy, active lifestyle, the lower that area's obesity rate. At the same time, areas with a large percentage of Facebook ...
Overweight and Obesity
Apr 24, 2013 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
|
Kids more likely to pick up warts at home, not public spaces
(HealthDay)—Contrary to conventional wisdom, a new Dutch study has found that the most likely way children get infected with the virus that causes warts is from close contact with family members or classmates, ...
Pediatrics
Apr 22, 2013 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
|
Teens exposed to schoolmate's death by suicide much more likely to consider or attempt suicide
Youth who had a schoolmate die by suicide are significantly more likely to consider or attempt suicide, according to a study in published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). This effect can last 2 years or mo ...
Psychology & Psychiatry
6 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Salt consumption in India: The need for data to initiate population-based prevention efforts
(Medical Xpress)—International researchers are studying the salt intake of Indian adults to provide vital new data to aid the development of a national salt reduction strategy.
Health
12 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Youth bullying because of perceived sexual orientation widespread and damaging
(Medical Xpress)—Bullying because of perceived sexual orientation is prevalent among school-aged youths, according to a study led by Donald Patrick, professor of health services at the UW School of Public ...
Psychology & Psychiatry
May 20, 2013 |
not rated yet |
1
Expert questions US public health agency advice on influenza vaccines
The United States government public health agency, the CDC, pledges "To base all public health decisions on the highest quality scientific data, openly and objectively derived." But Peter Doshi, a postdoctoral fellow at Johns ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 16, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
Change in cycle track policy needed to boost ridership, public health
Bicycle engineering guidelines often used by state regulators to design bicycle facilities need to be overhauled to reflect current cyclists' preferences and safety data, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public ...
Health
May 16, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
Body mass index of low income African-Americans linked to proximity of fast food restaurants
African-American adults living closer to a fast food restaurant had a higher body mass index (BMI) than those who lived further away from fast food, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, ...
Health
May 16, 2013 |
not rated yet |
1
Study shows preschoolers affected by medication-related poisonings at alarming rate
Poisonings in young children have increased over the past decade, mainly due to medications in the home. A new study led by the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, found that medication-related poisonings ...
Pediatrics
May 16, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
ECO: Industry-funded reviews query sweet drink, obesity tie
(HealthDay)—Reviews that are funded by industry tend to find the evidence weak for a causal link between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and the increasing prevalence of obesity, while other reviews consider ...
Overweight and Obesity
May 14, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
Most Michigan parents, grandparents prefer research hospitals for pediatric care
Four out of five parents and grandparents in Michigan say they'd rather take children to a hospital that does medical research for children than one that does not, according to a new poll from the University of Michigan.
Health
May 13, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." (1920, C.E.A. Winslow)[citation needed] It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. The population in question can be as small as a handful of people or as large as all the inhabitants of several continents (for instance, in the case of a pandemic). Public health is typically divided into epidemiology, biostatistics and health services. Environmental, social, behavioral, and occupational health are also important subfields.
There are 2 distinct characteristics of public health:
1. It deals with preventive rather than curative aspects of health 2. It deals with population-level, rather than individual-level health issues
The focus of public health intervention is to prevent rather than treat a disease through surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors. In addition to these activities, in many cases treating a disease may be vital to preventing it in others, such as during an outbreak of an infectious disease. Hand washing, vaccination programs and distribution of condoms are examples of public health measures.
The goal of public health is to improve lives through the prevention and treatment of disease. The United Nations' World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
For more information about Public health, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
