Public Health Moment

The Importance of Vitamin D

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:23:35 +0000

At least 60 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. That’s according to a survey of blood tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

University of Minnesota nutritionist Kim Robien tells us why vitamin D is important for our health.

• Listen to Robien on Public Health Moment

Pandemic Practices Web Site

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:34:02 +0000

A Web site developed by the University of Minnesota serves as a national clearinghouse for best practices in pandemic preparedness for local and state health departments.

Jill DeBoer, director of the University’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, tells us more about the site, called Promising Practices: Pandemic Preparedness Tools.

• Listen to DeBoer on Public Health Moment

Teens and TVs in the Bedroom

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:06:14 +0000

Researchers have found that teen-agers who have televisions in their bedrooms are more likely to engage in unhealthy habits than those without TVs in their rooms.

That’s according to a study led by University of Minnesota epidemiologist Daheia Barr-Anderson.

• Listen to Barr-Anderson on Public Health Moment

Adolescents and Fast Food

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:38:39 +0000

More than 20 percent of adolescent males and females consume fast food more than three times a week.

That’s according to research by Nicole Larson, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota. She tells us why this is a concern.

• Listen to Larson on Public Health Moment

It's National Public Health Week!

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:44:38 +0000

April 7 through 13 is National Public Health Week.

John Finnegan, dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health tells us that the theme this year is Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.

• Listen to Finnegan on Public Health Moment

Polyps and Glucose Levels

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:00:56 +0000

A new study has identified elevated glucose levels in patients as one factor in the recurrence of adenomatous polyps. These are benign polyps that can lead to colorectal cancer.

The four-year study followed 715 patients who had had a polyp removed. University of Minnesota epidemiologist Andrew Flood, one of the study’s authors, has more.

• Listen to Flood on Public Health Moment

Alcohol prevention and 'tweens'

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:28:12 +0000

A new study has found that adolescents who already use alcohol are less receptive to prevention programs aimed at all students.

According to University of Minnesota epidemiologist Keryn Pasch, intervening at earlier ages, specifically between third and fifth grade, would provide more support for high-risk students.

• Listen to Pasch on Public Health Moment

National Nutrition Month

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:55:51 +0000

March is National Nutrition Month, which provides health professionals another opportunity to encourage people to eat healthy foods and stay or become more physically active.

University of Minnesota nutritionist Kim Robien has more.

• Listen to Robien on Public Health Moment

Cancer Survivors Return to Work

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:52:36 +0000

More cancer survivors are returning to the workforce, thanks to improved screening and treatment. But little is known about what helps these employees return to work successfully.

Recently, Nancy Nachreiner, a University of Minnesota occupational health professor, conducted focus groups with cancer survivors--women ages 31 to 54. She learned that job flexibility, active involvement from health care providers, and coworker support, were keys to a successful return.

• Listen to Nachreiner on Public Health Moment

National School Breakfast Week

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:54:51 +0000

This is National School Breakfast Week, a campaign to educate students and families about the importance of breakfast and the benefits of the National School Breakfast Program.

The federal program began in 1960s as a pilot project to provide free breakfast to children from low-income families. It became permanent in 1975. University of Minnesota nutritionist Jamie Stang tells us more.

• Listen to Stang on Public Health Moment

College Life and Obesity

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:02:39 +0000

The transition from high school to college is associated with dramatic declines in physical activity.
During this same time, students tend to eat more foods high in fat and sodium and drink more sweetened beverages.

This helps explain the increase in overweight and obesity among college students. That’s according to research involving more than 30,000 college students. University of Minnesota epidemiologist Toben Nelson was the lead researcher.

• Listen to Nelson on Public Health Moment

Minnesota's Healthy Hearts

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:36:51 +0000

Over the last 10 years, the death rate from heart disease has dropped 45 percent in Minnesota—faster than in any other state. That’s according to a report from the American Heart Association.

John Finnegan, dean of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health says there are several reasons for this good news.

• Listen to Finnegan on Public Health Moment

Diabetes and Colorectal Cancer

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:04:38 +0000

Women with diabetes are 50 percent more likely to suffer colorectal cancer than those who do not have the metabolic disorder.

That’s according to a study of 45,000 women led by University of Minnesota epidemiologist Andrew Flood.

• Listen to Flood on Public Health Moment

Diet and the Metabolic Syndrome

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:05:32 +0000

Too much meat, fried foods, and diet soda can increase your risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a condition that can lead to heart disease and diabetes. Dairy products, on the other hand, appear to reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

That’s according to a University of Minnesota study involving ninety-five hundred people. The study was co-auathored by Pamela Lutsey.

• Listen to Lutsey on Public Health Moment

The Importance of Studying Real Food

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:53:29 +0000

In order to learn more about the health benefits of food, researchers have typically focused on individual nutrients, such as beta carotene, calcium, and vitamin E.

But David Jacobs, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, believes that scientists need to examine food itself.

• Listen to Jacobs on Public Health Moment

Gout may reduce risk of Parkinson's disease

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:21:25 +0000

If you have gout—a form of arthritis—you may have a lower risk of acquiring Parkinson’s disease. That’s according to a study of 8,000 people in the United Kingdom.

Alvaro Alonso, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, was one of the lead researchers.

• Listen to Alonso on Public Health Moment

The Benefits of Family Meals

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:45:53 +0000

Girls who eat meals regularly with their families are less likely to use diet pills, laxatives, or other extreme measures to control their weight.

That’s according to a five-year study involving more than 2,500 Minnesota adolescents. Dianne Neumark-Stzainer, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, led the study.

• Listen to Neumark-Sztainer on Public Health Moment

e-Public Health

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:14:49 +0000

The Internet is undoubtedly the most powerful communications tool of our time. At the University of Minnesota, epidemiology professor Simon Rosser is using it to advance public health through online research and interventions. He calls it "e-Public Health."

• Listen to Rosser on Public Health Moment

Keeping Your New Year's Resolution to Lose Weight

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:26:19 +0000

How do you keep that resolution to lose weight in the New Year? Start by making realistic goals. That’s according to Melissa Nelson, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.

• Listen to Nelson on Public Health Moment

Holiday Eating

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:59:19 +0000

It’s the holiday season. A time for family, friends, and food. Oftentimes, too much food.

But Melanie Jaeb, a registered dietician at the University of Minnesota, says that by cutting down on portion sizes, we can enjoy all of our favorite holiday foods, while maintaining our weight.

• Listen to Jaeb on Public Health Moment

Binge Drinking

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:27:35 +0000

The Upper Midwest has some of the highest rates of binge drinking in the United States. The tragic death of 21-year-old Mankato woman is the most recent example.

Toben Nelson, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, has advice for parents.

• Listen to Nelson on Public Health Moment

Handwashing Awareness Week

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:50:22 +0000

This week is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Keeping our hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

That’s according to Jill DeBoer, associate director of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

• Listen to DeBoer on Public Health Moment

Health Policy and the Presidential Election

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:53:39 +0000

Health care is emerging as the number one domestic issue in the 2008 presidential election. For that reason, Susan Foote, a health policy professor at the University of Minnesota, says voters need to pay attention and ask themselves some questions.

• Listen to Foote on Public Health Moment

Rural Emergency Department Staffing Challenges

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:04:19 +0000

Doctors and nurses in emergency rooms at rural hospitals are less likely to have advanced training in trauma life support than those in urban areas.

That’s according to health policy researcher Michelle Casey of the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Casey on Public Health Moment

Coffee Consumption and Diabetes

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:31:47 +0000

Drinking several cups of coffee each day may lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.

The finding comes from an 11-year study of more than 28,000 postmenopausal women. University of Minnesota epidemiologist Mark Pereira was the study’s lead researcher.

• Listen to Pereira on Public Health Moment

Children's Health Study

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:04:06 +0000

The University of Minnesota has been awarded nearly $14 million over five years to lead a national study assessing the effects of both environmental and genetic factors on children’s health. The lead researcher is University of Minnesota professor Pat McGovern.

• Listen to McGovern on Public Health Moment

Seasonal Influenza

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:24:04 +0000

Between 5 and 20 percent of Americans will fall ill this year from seasonal influenza. Symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Your best defense against the flu is to have a flu vaccination each year, says Jill DeBoer, associate director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy.

• Listen to DeBoer on Public Health Moment

Planning for an Emergency

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:28:40 +0000

In the case of an emergency, such as the pandemic flu or a natural disaster, would you and your family be prepared?

If not, MERET, a program at the University of Minnesota, may be able to help. Project coordinator Andrea Hickle has more.

• Listen to Hickle on Public Health Moment

Lung Cancer and Minnesota Miners

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:49:07 +0000

The relationship between respiratory disease and mining work has been a continuing concern in northeastern Minnesota, where unusually high rates of mesothelioma—a rare and fatal form of cancer—have been reported among males since the late 1980s. Jeffrey Mandel, an environmental health sciences professor at the University of Minnesota, is helping lead an effort to find out why.

• Listen to Mandel on Public Health Moment

Children's Health Insurance

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:45:43 +0000

Last week, President Bush vetoed a $35 billion expansion of the 10-year-old State Children's Health Insurance Program, or S-CHIP.

S-CHIP was created to provide health insurance for families of low-income children who didn’t qualify for Medicaid and couldn’t afford private insurance. Lynn Blewett, a health policy professor at the University of Minnesota, says the current debate centers on how much to expand the program.

• Listen to Blewett on Public Health Moment

• Download "Leave S-CHIP Alone," by Lynn Blewett (PDF)

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:11:25 +0000

Three out of four American adults know little or nothing about peripheral arterial disease or PAD, a common blockage of blood vessels in the legs that boosts heart risk. That’s according to a report co-authored by Dr. Alan Hirsch, a professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Hirsch on Public Health Moment

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:14:58 +0000

Fewer than 1 in 5 Americans eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, says Jamie Stang, a professor and nutrition expert at the University of Minnesota. She says a balanced diet that includes five to 12 servings of fruits and vegetables provides many health benefits.

• Listen to Stang on Public Health Moment

Youth Access to Alcohol

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:35:40 +0000

Nearly 20 percent of young males are willing to purchase alcohol for underage youth when approached outside of a store that sells alcohol. That’s according to research by University of Minnesota epidemiologist Traci Toomey.

• Listen to Traci Toomey on Public Health Moment

Cholesterol Awareness

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:05:16 +0000

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, an annual campaign to alert people to have their cholesterol levels checked and to take steps to lower it, if need be.

The general consensus is that anything greater than 200 for total cholesterol is too high, according to Dr. Russell Luepker, a University of Minnesota professor of epidemiology.

• Listen to Russell Luepker on Public Health Moment

Number of Blood Donors Fewer Than Previously Estimated

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:12:07 +0000

Only 37 percent of Americans are eligible to donate blood—much fewer than previous estimates. That’s according to a study co-authored by Bill Riley, a healthcare management professor at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Bill Riley on Public Health Moment

Alcohol Advertising and Youth

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:12:06 +0000

Adolescents who attend schools in neighborhoods where alcohol advertisements are prominent are more likely to drink alcohol. That’s according to Keryn Pasch, lead author of the study conducted by the University of Minnesota and University of Florida.

• Listen to Keryn Pasch on Public Health Moment

National Immunization Awareness Month

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:54:51 +0000

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. As kids head back to school, it’s a good reminder for parents to make sure that their children are up to date with their vaccinations, says Joan Patterson, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.

• Listen to Joan Patterson on Public Health Moment

Relaxation Therapy and Foot Ulcers

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:45:03 +0000

A new relaxation therapy to improve the healing of chronic foot ulcers in patients with diabetes was successful for 14 of 16 people involved in a recent clinical trial. The therapy was based on research conducted at the University of Wisconsin by Birgitta Rice, a public health researcher now at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Birgitta Rice on Public Health Moment

Hypertension and Physical Activity

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:45:21 +0000

Young adults who are physically active are less likely to develop high blood pressure. That’s according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Lead researcher David Jacobs says that the results were from 15 years of research involving more than 4,000 people.

• Listen to David Jacobs on Public Health Moment

Universal Health Care

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:38:09 +0000

Nearly two-thirds of Minnesota physicians believe a single-payer universal health insurance system would provide the best value for Minnesota patients, according to research led by Dr. Jim Hart, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

• Listen to Dr. Jim Hart on Public Health Moment

Fish Consumption Guidelines

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:02:37 +0000

Minnesota, home of 10,000 lakes, leads the nation in the number of fishing licenses sold per capita.

But is it safe to eat the fish we catch?

It’s an important question because fish can contain contaminants such as mercury, says Deb Swackhamer, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Deb Swackhamer on Public Health Moment

Summer Safety

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:37:59 +0000

This week, families across the United States will be involved in numerous events as they celebrate summer and the independence of our country.

To ensure that our fun time is also safe, Nancy Nachreiner, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, recommends a dose of common sense.

• Listen to Nachreiner on Public Health Moment

Summer Food Safety

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:48:13 +0000

Summer is here—a season when many of us cherish the time we spend at family picnics or at the backyard BBQ grill. But it’s also a time to take special care in how we handle and cook food, says Craig Hedberg, a food-safety expert at the University of Minnesota.

Listen to Hedberg on Public Health Moment

Prostate Cancer Screening

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:31:57 +0000

More than 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 27,000 will die. Yet there is no clear evidence that being screened for prostate cancer is beneficial, says Tim Church, a University of Minnesota expert on cancer screenings.

• Listen to Tim Church on Public Health Moment

Seat Belts and Air Bags

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:27:23 +0000

About 40,000 Americans die each year from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. As the summer vacation season begins, families should be mindful of the importance of seat belts as well as the benefits, and potential dangers, of air bags, says Toben Nelson, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.

• Listen to Toben Nelson on Public Health Moment

Daily Weighing a Good Thing for Women over 40

Wed, 30 May 2007 03:02:25 +0000

Frequent self-weighing is not associated with depression in women between 40 and 65, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Lead researcher Jennifer Linde says that the study also found that self-weighing daily, rather than once every week or month, was associated with lower Body Mass Index levels in women 40 years or older.

• Listen to Jennifer Linde on Public Health Moment

Asthma Awareness

Fri, 18 May 2007 15:46:16 +0000

May is often the time when people with asthma notice that their symptoms worsen. Prevention is the first step in keeping those symptoms in check, says Ian Greaves, a University of Minnesota professor of environmental health sciences.

• Listen to Ian Greaves on Public Health Moment

Lyme Disease

Fri, 11 May 2007 17:48:26 +0000

May is Lyme disease awareness month. And while many people know that bites from a Deer tick can transmit Lyme disease to humans, most are unaware of two similar diseases spread by deer ticks. Craig Hedberg, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, says the three diseases exhibit similar symptoms.

• Listen to Hedberg on Public Health Moment

Fad Diets

Tue, 01 May 2007 21:19:10 +0000

This year the American Dietetic Association is urging people to be wary of fad diets. Why? For one reason, they are not effective, says Mary Story, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.

• Listen to Mary Story on Public Health Moment

Cover the Uninsured Week

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:42:43 +0000

More than 9 million American children are living without health insurance. How does Minnesota compare to the rest of the country? We asked Lynn Blewett, a health policy expert at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Lynn Blewett on Public Health Moment

Alcohol Awareness

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:34:12 +0000

Binge drinking, the act of drinking five or more alcoholic drinks in a row, has declined since the 1980s among our nation’s youth, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

That’s encouraging, says Rhonda Jones-Webb, an epidemiology professor at the University of Minnesota. Still, she says, alcohol use remains widespread.

• Listen to Rhonda Jones-Webb on Public Health Moment

World Health Day

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 14:30:50 +0000

April 9 is World Health Day, a time to commemorate the work of the World Health Organization, the health agency of the United Nations.

This year’s theme is international health security. According to Marguerite Pappaioanou, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, says routine health issues, such as malnutrition, continue to be the major threats to global health.

• Listen to Marguerite Pappaioanou on Public Health Moment

Public Health Film Festival

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:54:43 +0000

The first week of April is National Public Health Week. Each year, to celebrate the event, the University of Minnesota sponsors a Public Health Film Festival. John Finnegan, dean of the University's School of Public Health, says the chosen films portray the many dimensions of public health.

• Listen to John Finnegan on Public Health Moment

Long-Term Care

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 21:42:11 +0000

In his book, “It Shouldn’t Be This Way: The Failure of Long-Term Care,” Robert Kane, a University of Minnesota professor on aging, documents the difficulities that he and his sister encountered when trying to arrange long-term care for their ailing mother. We asked Kane: What should people know about caring for their aging parents.

• Listen to Robert Kane on Public Health Moment

Patient Safety Week

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:36:45 +0000

This week is National Patient Safety Awareness Week. What can patients and their families do to ensure their own safety. We asked Sandra Potthoff, a health policy and management professor at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Sandra Potthoff on Public Health Moment

March Madness: How to pick the winners

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:40:54 +0000

It’s March Madness time. The NCAA basketball playoffs begin March 13. Let’s say you’re in an office pool and you need advice in picking winners. Who do you call? How about Brad Carlin, a biostatistician at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Brad Carlin on Public Health Moment

High Blood Pressure

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:22:34 +0000

February is National Heart Month, an annual campaign to alert people to the risks of heart disease. One risk factor is high blood pressure. But what does it mean to have high blood pressure? We asked Jim Neaton, a biostatistician at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Jim Neaton on Public Health Moment

It's National Condom Week

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:30:41 +0000

This week is National Condom Week, an awareness campaign that promotes the use of condoms for safe sex and unwanted pregnancies. But are all condoms safe? We asked Jim Rothenberger, a public health educator with the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Jim Rothenberger on Public Health Moment

Health Care Communications and Patient Safety

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 20:26:44 +0000

Bill Riley, a healthcare management professor at the University of Minnesota, is working with hospitals to develop training to improve patient safety.

How? By reducing errors caused by breakdowns in hospital communications.

• Listen to Bill Riley on Public Health Moment

Cervical Cancer Awareness

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:48:04 +0000

What are the risk factors for cervical cancer and what preventive measures should I take?

We asked Kristin Anderson, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Kristin Anderson on Public Health Moment

Smoke-Free Minnesota Day

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:26:33 +0000

Minnesota this year will consider legislation that would ban smoking in the workplace. Why should the public care? We asked Harry Lando, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Harry Lando on Public Health Moment

How much exercise is enough?

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:55:11 +0000

The holidays are over. It’s a new year, and, if you’re like most people, you’ve put on an extra couple of pounds.

And now you want to start an exercises program. How much exercise is enough? Mark Pereira, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, provides some insight.

• Listen to Mark Pereira on Public Health Moment

Pandemic Flu Planning

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 15:19:10 +0000

If and when a pandemic flu strikes, local governments will be better prepared to deal with it, thanks to planning efforts at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

According to the University’s Jill DeBoer, the initiative will identify the most problematic issues state and local agencies may confront in a pandemic, and then collect and disseminate options for addressing them.

• Listen to Jill DeBoer on Public Health Moment

Teen Dieting

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:47:43 +0000

A new study has found that dieting during teen years can lead to long-term health problems. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, who conducted the five-year study, says that dieting teens were three times more likely to be overweight after five years than their peers who didn’t diet.

• Listen to Dianne Neumark-Sztainer on Public Health Moment

Childhood Obesity

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:22:24 +0000

What are the causes for the rise of childhood obesity? An interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Minnesota, led by epidemiologist Leslie Lytle, aims to find out.

• Listen to Leslie Lytle on Public Health Moment

It's National Handwashing Week

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 22:48:11 +0000

The week of Dec. 4 is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Why is handwashing so important? We asked Will Hueston, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Animal Health and Food Safety.

Listen to Will Hueston on Public Health Moment

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:50:01 +0000

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. What should you know about this disease? We asked Kristin Anderson, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota.

Listen to Kristin Anderson on Public Health Moment

How do I know if my home has lead paint?

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:12:09 +0000

Exposure to lead paint can cause memory loss, negatively effect learning ability, interfere with your central nervous system, and cause reproductive problems.

So, how do I know whether my home has lead paint?

• Listen now to Lisa Brosseau on Public Health Moment

Youth Smoking Rates

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:46:20 +0000

The rate of cigarette smoking among youth in the United States has declined over the last five years. Unfortunately, researchers aren’t exactly sure why because they’ve been unable to compare the various intervention methods used by states and communities.

In general, however, a comprehensive approach seems to work best at preventing youth from taking up smoking, says Jean Forster, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Listen now to Jean Forster on Public Health Moment

Asthma and Indoor Air Pollutants

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:59:10 +0000

The numbers of children with asthma is on the increase, but health professionals cannot say for sure why.

Ian Greaves, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, has some insights.

• Listen to Ian Greaves on Public Health Moment

Health Care Policy and the 2006 Election

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:26:32 +0000

Universal health care and access to health are key issues in the Minnesota gubernatorial election. What should voters know before going to the polls? We asked Lynn Blewett, a health policy professor at the University of Minnesota.

• Listen to Lynn Blewett on Public Health Moment

Are School Lunches Nutritious and Healthy?

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 21:46:01 +0000

As a parent, should you send a lunch to school with your child or trust that the school lunch is healthy and nutritious? We posed that question to Lisa Harnack (left), a University of Minnesota epidemiology professor. Here’s what she had to say.

• Listen to Lisa Harnack on Public Health Moment