Public Health Moment
November 9, 2009
Teen Car Accident Fatalities and GDL
 Motor vehicle accidents is the No. 1 cause of death for American teenagers.
In an effort to reduce this rate many states have adopted graduated driver's licensing standards — or GDL — for these young drivers.
But has GDL been effective? That's what University of Minnesota researcher Pinar Karaca-Mandic is trying to find out.
Listen to Karaca-Mandic on Public Health Moment
October 27, 2009
Health care reform will continue after this year
 Whether or not Congress votes to include the hotly debated Public Option plan in its health reform legislation this year, the overall bill will fall short of comprehensive reform, says Lynn Blewett, an associate professor of health policy at the University of Minnesota.
For example, she says, the bill will fall short of providing health insurance for all of the nation's 46 million uninsured.
Blewett believes a bill will definitely pass this year, but it will be the start of ongoing, incremental reform.
Listen to Blewett on Public Health Moment
October 19, 2009
Surgical Treatments for Breast Cancer
 October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year. And about 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009 alone.
Surgical Treatments
For women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, surgery is the typical treatment.
But that surgery can take one of two forms, says University of Minnesota professor Beth Virnig, who studies treatments for breast cancer.
She says it can be either mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery, otherwise known as lumpectomy.
Beginning the early 1990s, a major effort was made by oncologists to reduce the rate of mastectomy by favoring lumpectomy and radiation therapy. The thought was that lumpectomy was less invasive and had equivalent survival results.
Since then, mastectomy rates have dropped, Virnig says.
Rates for double mastectomy rise
But she and other researchers have noticed a recent increase in the number of double mastectomies.
Virnig encourages more research to learn why but also offers advice to women, in this installment of Public Health Moment.
Listen to Virnig on Public Health Moment
October 8, 2009
National School Lunch Week
 Oct. 8 through 12 is National School Lunch Week, a time to recognize this program that serves 31 million U.S. students each day.
In this installment of Public Health Moment, Jamie Stang, a University of Minnesota assistant professor and nutrition expert, talks about the program's origins.
She also discusses the relatively new Farm-to-Schools movement, under which many schools are starting to buy foods locally. Stang says that Minnesota is a leader in this area.
Listen to Stang on Public Health Moment
September 30, 2009
Overweight Youth and Disordered Eating Tendencies
 Overweight youth with certain socio-environmental, psychological, and behavioral tendencies are more likely to suffer from eating disorders.
These tendencies include reading magazine articles about dieting, reporting a lack of family connectedness, and placing a high importance on weight.
That's according to research led by Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, a University of Minnesota professor of epidemiology.
Listen to Neumark-Sztainer on Public Health Moment
September 17, 2009
H1N1: Who is at risk? What are the symptoms?
 State health officials report that the flu is now widespread in Minnesota. While not all of the cases are the swine flu, or H1N1, officials believe it's playing a big role in the upsurge.
So, what are the symptoms? We asked John Finnegan, dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
He says the symptoms are similar to those of seasonal influenza - they include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Finnegan also explains when someone should seek medical care.
Listen to Finnegan on Public Health Moment
September 9, 2009
Tanning Beds and Skin Cancer Risk
 For many Midwesterners, the tanning bed is a necessity of life. Now, it's also officially a cancer-causing agent, according to the World Health Organization.
In a recent report, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer states that there is a causal link between ultraviolet radiation produced by tanning beds and cancer.
DeAnn Lazovich a University of Minnesota cancer epidemiologist, explains.
Based on this report and her own research, Lazovich offers advice.
Listen to Lazovich on Public Health Moment
August 20, 2009
The link between smoking, high blood pressure and dementia
 Middle-age individuals who smoke, have high blood pressure, or have diabetes run a high risk of being hospitalized for dementia later in life.
That's according to a research study of more than 11,000 people, led by Alvaro Alonso, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.
Alonso adds that this research provides one more reason why people should quit smoking and concentrate on improving their cardiovascular health.
Listen to Alonso on Public Health Moment
July 23, 2009
Minnesota tied for lowest childhood obesity rate
 A new report from the Trust for America's Health finds that Minnesota kids have the lowest rate of obesity in the nation - tying with Utah at just over 23 percent.
Jamie Stang, a nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota, says that obesity rates vary dramatically by region of the country.
Stang says that Minnesota's relatively low rate of childhood obesity is due in large part because our children are more active than those in many other parts of the country.
Listen to Stang on Public Health Moment
July 10, 2009
Diabetes and Depression
 Women with diabetes are 85 percent more likely to suffer from depression during or following pregnancy. That's according to research involving more than 50,000 women.
University of Minnesota epidemiologist Mark Pereira was a co-author of the study.
Pereira recommends that pregnant women, especially those with diabetes, consult closely with their doctor to ensure their health and the health of their baby.
Listen to Pereira on Public Health Moment
June 25, 2009
The Vitality Project aims to improve health of entire community
 Albert Lea, Minnesota is the center of an innovative, ten-month pilot project designed to improve the health and life expectancy of people who live and work there.
It's called the AARP Blue Zones Vitality Project.
Leslie Lytle, a University of Minnesota epidemiology professor, is co-director of the project.
She says that instead of focusing on diet and exercise, the project encourages the best practices of the world's longest-lived populations with strategies such as making it easier to get around on and encouraging the development of social networks.
Listen to Lytle on Public Health Moment
June 9, 2009
Smoking bans do not cause economic harm
 Smoking bans do not cause economic harm to bars and restaurants. That's according to a study led by epidemiologist Jean Forster from the University of Minnesota.
Forster and colleagues used state-mandated reporting data from 10 Minnesota cities for the years 2003 to 2006. That was before the introduction of a statewide smoking ban, but at a time when a number of local cities had adopted their own full or partial bans.
Forster says that smoking bans are an effective way to protect people--especially bar and restaurant employees--from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
• Listen to Forster on Public Health Moment
May 27, 2009
Burned and charred meat can increase your risk of pancreatic cancer
 People who regularly eat red meat that is very well done, burned or charred may increase their risk of pancreatic cancer by almost 60 percent.
That's according to a 9-year study that involved more than 62,000 people.
The study was led by Kristin Anderson, a University of Minnesota cancer epidemiologist.
Anderson recommends turning down the heat when you grill meats and says that you should trim away any burned or charred portions.
• Listen to Anderson on Public Health Moment
May 20, 2009
Disparities in Health Coverage
 Overall, Minnesota ranks high for the percentage of residents with health insurance.
But Kathleen Call, a professor and health policy expert at the University of Minnesota, says that when one looks closer, you see great disparity.
She says that providing health care access to the uninsured will actually save money in the long term.
• Listen to Call on Public Health Moment
May 5, 2009
Health Information Technology
 The use of health information technology has had little or no effect on improving patient safety.
That's according to research led by Jeff McCullough, a health policy expert at the University of Minnesota. Despite this, McCullough says it's still too early to judge the effectiveness of health IT. He adds that that more research is needed to see ensure that the technology is worth the investment.
What is health information technology? McCullough explains.
• Listen to McCullough on Public Health Moment
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Public Health Moment provides general health education information. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Specific advice on diagnosing or treating a heath care problem should be obtained from a health care provider.
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Last modified on Monday Jul 02, 2007