Coalition to President Obama: “It is time for a new approach on marijuana policy.” WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–April 4, 2012.  In the wake of recent attacks on medical marijuana providers and patients by multiple branches of the federal government, including Monday’s raids on Oaksterdam University in Oakland, CA, a coalition of six[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2012.  This week, April 2-8, 2012 we observe the 16th National Public Health Week and join with communities across the nation in recognizing the many contributions of public health. From vaccinations and safe water to tobacco control and motor vehicle safety, public health is a critical element of[Read More…]

First rabid bat already found this year SPRINGFIELD–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2012.  With temperatures in Illinois already in the 70s and 80s this year, bats are becoming active, which means the possibility of exposure to rabies is increasing. Bats are the primary carrier of rabies in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public[Read More…]

Late-Stage Disease Incidence Not Reduced by Screening Boston, MA–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2012.  New Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) research suggests that routine mammography screening—long viewed as an essential tool in detecting early breast cancers—may in fact lead to a significant amount of overdiagnosis of disease that would otherwise have proved[Read More…]

Tips from Former Smokers campaign shows real lives and bodies damaged by tobacco Atlanta, GA–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2012.  Two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Tips from Former Smokers campaign, calls to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW quitline have more than doubled. Call volume rose from 14,437 calls for[Read More…]

Bilinguals slower to build vocabulary but better at multitasking than monolinguals Bethesda, Maryland–(ENEWSPF)–April 3, 2012.  Children who grow up learning to speak two languages are better at switching between tasks than are children who learn to speak only one language, according to a study funded in part by the National[Read More…]

TORONTO, ON–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2012.  Low oxygen levels in tumors can be used to predict cancer recurrence in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer even before they receive radiation therapy. The clinical research, led by radiation oncologists from the University of Toronto and the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Cancer Program, University Health[Read More…]

Higher deficiency rates in some groups deserve attention Atlanta, GA–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2012.  Overall, the U.S. population has good levels of vitamins A and D and folate in the body, but some groups still need to increase their levels of vitamin D and iron, according to the Second National Report on[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2012. In April, we commemorate National Minority Health Month to raise awareness of the health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minorities, as well as celebrate the opportunities of the Affordable Care Act’s groundbreaking policies to reduce those health disparities. Despite the progress our nation[Read More…]

Researchers speculate indoor tanning bed use, childhood sunburns are key culprits ROCHESTER, Minn.–(ENEWSPF)–April 2, 2012.  Even as the rates of some cancers are falling, Mayo Clinic is seeing an alarming trend: the dramatic rise of skin cancer, especially among people under 40. According to a study by Mayo Clinic researchers[Read More…]