Public Health Scene

Prostate Cancer Screening

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:54:15 -0600

A national task force of has recommended that doctors stop screening men ages 75 and older for prostate cancer because the search for the disease in this group was causing more harm than good.

The PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen test is the screening method that doctors use, says Tim Church, a University of Minnesota expert on cancer screenings.

Church adds that two large clinical research trials are looking at whether or not screening is beneficial for men under age 75. While awaiting those results, Church says men who have concerns should talk to their doctor.

• Listen to Church on Public Health Moment

Alcohol Standards Lax at Pro Stadiums

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:12:25 -0600

If you're underage or intoxicated and want a beer, go to the ballgame.

A new University of Minnesota study found that three out of four people posing as intoxicated fans and one out of five trying to pass as underage drinkers without ID succeeded in buying alcohol at sports stadiums around the country.

"We know that we have problems with fans drinking too much and contributing to problems in and around stadiums," Traci Toomey, the lead researcher, told U.S. News and World Report. "We need to make sure we prevent these illegal sales from occurring."

Her advice to vendors? Check IDs for anyone who appears under 30, and take the time to talk with anyone who looks like they may have already had enough.

PFCs and Lake Johanna

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:26:07 -0600

In the first study of its kind locally, University of Minnesota researchers are analyzing perfluorochemical levels—or PFCs—of Lake Johanna, a suburban Minnesota lake that contains high PFC levels but is not connected to any known source of PFCs.

Matt Simcik, a University of Minnesota professor of environmental health sciences, says what he learns in Lake Johanna will be beneficial for other lakes in Minnesota and the United States.

• Listen to Simcik

Who are the uninsured in Minnesota?

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:26:51 -0600

About 14 percent of Minnesota's artists are uninsured, according to Artists Count, a 2007 survey of about 20,000 artists conducted by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.

That's nearly double the 7.2 percent rate of the state's overall uninsured population, according to the latest Fact Sheet (PDF) prepared by the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health.

While low-income people certainly dominate the ranks of the uninsured, increasing numbers of the so-called middle class are joining them, says Kathleen Call (pictured), an associate professor in the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health/Division of Public Policy and Management who has worked on the state surveys since the mid-1990s.

"The middle class is having a lot of difficulty affording health care coverage, and it's getting harder for employers to offer it," Call stated in an article today on MinnPost.

More about Minnesota's uninsured from MinnPost

When Adding Fish to Diets, Choose Wisely

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:32:07 -0600

Regular consumption of some types of fish can significantly reduce the risk of silent strokes according to a recently released study co-authored by University of Washington professor, David Siscovick.

The risks associated with silent strokes, or subclinical brain infarcts, are that they are known to increase cognitive impairment, dementia and full-blown strokes, according to the research.

That’s why eating fish, which is also known to be heart-healthy, can be a good dietary choice for many people.

Still, SPH professor, Deborah Swackhamer cautions that just adding fish to diets may not be the safest thing to do.

Some fish, such as tuna and mackerel, that are rich in the healthful omega-3 fatty acids tend to be filled with methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and other industrial chemicals. Because the pollutants can accumulate in the body they can be toxic to the brain, particularly to the developing brains of fetuses and young children.

“Eat smaller fish and fish that are lower on the food chain — fish that are more vegetarian," said Swackhamer. "The contaminants are carried up the food web and are retained at each level of that web. So the top predators have a lot more contaminants than those lower on the food chain."

The High Cost of Health Care

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:25:31 -0600

As the cost of living skyrockets, so does the price consumers pay for insurance and health care and that that’s a big problem, says SPH professor Roger Feldman.

Today’s rates are not only far greater than there were during the lean financial times of the 70’s and early 80’s, they’ve increased at a rate that is greater than general inflation.

Feldman makes his point by referring to the average cost of a health care plan for a single U of M employee in 1980. Then, a person paid less than $40 a month, he says.

“Now the cheapest plan available to me costs $470 a month. That’s more than a 10-fold increase in more than 28 years," he said.

He adds that the cost of medial care, including doctor’s visits and hospitalizations that uninsured people might pay for out of pocket, has increased more than inflation has since 1980.

"If we think of the prices of all goods and services going up three times since 1980, the price of medical care services going up five times, and the price of insurance premiums up 10 times, I think now we have some really good comparisons," Feldman says.

Alcohol and Homicides

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:45:23 -0600

A new study has found that poor neighborhoods with high concentrations of African Americans had higher homicide rates and significantly greater numbers of off-sale alcohol stores than other neighborhoods.

Rhonda Jones-Webb, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, says this study was unique because it looked at neighborhoods rather than individuals. She says that communities should consider policies that limit the promotion and marketing of alcohol in these neighborhoods.

• Listen to Jones-Webb on Public Health Moment

Why is it called Salmonella Saintpaul?

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:20:00 -0600

A quirky connection that explains how the most recent outbreak of Salmonella was named after Minnesota’s capital city was explained by SPH professor, Michael Osterholm.

In a City Pages posting reporter Kevin Hoffman wrote about how he learned of the connection after watching Osterholm on a national news television program.

Osterholm told Hoffman that the name, Salmonella Saintpaul, came about after a local professor first diagnosed the Salmonella in turkeys. Osterholm also revealed that data from Minnesotans sickened helped reveal the Salmonella source.

Obesity Rate Stabilizes

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:42:34 -0600

Childhood obesity has been on the rise for more than 20 years. Now, however, the rate appears to have stabilized.

Melissa Nelson, a University of Minnesota expert on nutrition and obesity, says the news should be greeted with cautious optimism. While the rate has flattened, the prevalence of obesity, she says, remains very high. In addition, racial disparities are vast.

• Listen to Nelson on Public Health Moment

Rise in Health Insurance Premiums

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:39:34 -0600

Over the last five years, employer-based health insurance premiums have increased 10 times faster than workers’ incomes.

That’s according to a study from the University of Minnesota’s State Health Access Data Assistance Center.

Associate Professor Lynn Blewett led the study. She says that in addition to rising costs, the number of companies offering health insurance benefits is declining.

• Listen to Blewett on Public Health Moment

Salmonella scare hit California growers hard

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:06:33 -0600

California's tomato sales plummeted more than 40 percent during the most recent Salmonella scare. Melanie Horwath, a member of the fourth generation of the family that runs Gonzales Packing Company in the Salinas Valley blamed government for her company's estimated crop losses of $2 million.

"The government has a responsibility to only provide facts, not idle speculation. They're going to put us all out of business."

The FDA is now looking at jalapeno and serrano peppers as possible sources of the Salmonella instead of tomatoes.

"I don't think we have all answers yet," said Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota.

Fish Consumption Advisories

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:32:22 -0600

A diet that includes fish provides an excellent source of low-fat protein and may reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

But fish can contain contaminants such as mercury that can harm human health.

Matt Simcik, a University of Minnesota professor of environmental health sciences, says pregnant women and young children are most at risk. He recommends following the Minnesota fish consumption guidelines.

A New Report Urges Lake and Wetlands Restoration

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:14:45 -0600

A new report that could have a substantial impact on public policy was recently released by The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. The report outlines recommendations for preserving the state's natural resources.

"The recommendations in this report will serve as foundation for Minnesota's environment going forward," said Deb Swackhamer, interim director of the Institute on the Environment and the report's main author.

The report, which took 18 months to produce and relied on 40 U of M researchers and 50 people from other places, was written on behalf of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. It could influence lawmakers funding decisions for proposals identified in the 330-page document.

The five categories of recommendations include integrated planning, critical land protection, land and water restoration, sustainable practices and economic incentives for sustainability.

More about the institute's report from MinnPost

Binge drinking tied to college culture

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:08:31 -0600

What is the cause of binge drinking by U.S. college students? A new study links it to college culture — campus environments that allow easy access to inexpensive alcohol and have weak control policies and lax enforcement.

The 14-year study by the Harvard School of Public Health involved more than 50,000 students at 120 colleges and found that heavy drinking behavior of students was more common in college environments that have a strong drinking culture.

One of the lead researchers, Toben Nelson (pictured), now at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said that binge drinking varies widely depending on the college.

"At some colleges almost no students binge drink, while at others nearly four in every five students do," Nelson said.

Nurses bear brunt of patient violence

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:23:54 -0600

Half of all nonfatal injuries resulting from workplace assaults occur in health care and social service settings, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nurses and other personal care workers are at most at risk — suffering workplace injuries at 12 times the rate of the overall private sector.

One of the largest studies on the issue was a 2004 survey of 6,300 randomly selected nurses in Minnesota, in which 13 percent of respondents reported having been physically attacked during the previous year and 39 percent reported having been threatened, verbally abused or sexually harassed.

“Nurses find different kinds of responses from their administrations and different levels of support,” said lead researcher Susan Gerberich, a University of Minnesota professor of environmental health sciences. “Everything from ‘This is not tolerated at our institution’ all the way to ‘If you don’t like it, people, you can leave your job.’”

More from North Carolina's Blue Ridge Now (This article originally appeared in the New York Times)

Abraham named to president’s economic panel

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:11:53 -0600

The University of Minnesota's Jean Abraham has been selected to serve on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).

Abraham, an assistant professor of health policy in the School of Public Health, and her fellow staff economists will provide President Bush and other government departments and agencies with the best current academic thinking on a wide range of subjects.

“This appointment will enable Professor Abraham to have a lasting impact on economic policy and health care reform,” said University President Robert Bruininks.

Said Abraham: “This is a particularly exciting time, given renewed interest in health care reform at the federal level.”

Abraham’s research specialties include health economics and policy, with a specific focus on issues of health insurance access by families, affordability of insurance coverage and medical care, consumer use of health care information to support plan and provider decision-making, and the relationship between quality improvement and costs.

More about Abraham's appointment

Abortion rate increases for older teens

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:34:45 -0600

Although there was an overall decline last year in the number of abortions in Minnesota, the number increased for the 18- and 19-year-old age group.

For those teenagers who received an abortion, the number who said that they had never used birth control increased from 116 to 150.

“Especially with teenagers, we know that almost all induced abortions are the result of an unintended pregnancy. An important piece is contraceptives,” says Wendy Hellerstedt (pictured), an associate professor at the University of Minnesota who studies trends in reproductive medicine.

The Minnesota Department of Health study also indicated that the number of pregnancies and births of Minnesota girls ages 15 to 19 increased 6 percent in 2006 — twice the national average.

Web may hold key to fighting new HIV wave

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:27:04 -0600

The Sexpulse website, in development at the University of Minnesota, is the newest strategy to slow a second wave of the HIV/AIDS epidemic rising among young gay and bisexual men.

Infection rates in that population have increased 12 percent annually since 2001, according to federal officials.

To stop the epidemic, experts like the University's Simon Rosser (pictured) say they have to go to where those connections are being made — which is less and less often in gay bars and neighborhoods and increasingly online.

Rosser and others at the University are using a $3.5 million federal grant to create Sexpulse, a prototype for online HIV intervention specifically for gay men.

"If this is successful, it is huge," Rosser told the Star Tribune. "We can flick a switch and make it available to every gay man in the world."

More about Sexpulse from the Star Tribune
More about Rosser from reporter Josephine Marcotty's blog

Cook meats at low temperatures

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:47:11 -0600

Cook meats and fish at low temperatures, recommends Kristin Anderson, a University of Minnesota cancer epidemiologist.

Today, Anderson was featured on CNN.com with recommendations on the healthiest temperature to cook meat, chicken, or fish.

She says it's also important to trim off any charred or burned pieces.

In interviews with the University of Minnesota's Public Health Moment and Advances magazine, Anderson discussed how her research links charred meat to higher risks of pancreatic cancer.

Anderson on Public Health Moment
Anderson at CNN.com
Anderson in Advances magazine

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:24:20 -0600

Scanning the heart's arteries for calcium deposits accurately predicts the overall death risk for American adults, a new study suggests in the July 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Meanwhile, a multi-institutional study led by the University of Minnesota's Aaron Folsom (pictured), provided additional evidence for the benefits of calcium scanning. It compared the prognostic value of calcium scans with measurements of the wall of the carotid artery, the major artery leading from the heart to the brain.

Researchers reported that the study of almost 6,700 middle-aged and older Americans who were followed for up to five years found that "coronary artery calcium score is a better predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events than carotid intima-media thickness [measuring the artery's wall]."

Folsom's study was published in the June 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

More about these studies in the Washington Post

Letters from 'Scene' Readers

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:57:23 -0600

Sharon Farsht Torodor sent in the following question regarding the June 19 Public Health Scene on Tomatoes and Salmonella that featured Craig Hedberg.

Hello:
I've been wondering -- should we be concerned about tomatoes we're growing in our own yards or that we buy from a local farm? How can we know they are safe? It would be great to see that addressed in one of these messages. By the way, I really like and appreciate these PH Scene messages!

Sharon

Hedberg responds:

Sharon,

Thank you for your question. As this outbreak reminds us, growing fresh fruits and vegetables in a natural environment means that there are possibilities for contamination to occur. We need to be mindful of this and take reasonable steps to make eating these fresh produce items both healthy and enjoyable.

Fresh produce is grown in dirt. We want to wash our hands and wash our produce under running water to remove any dirt that may be present. We want to be sure that knives and cutting boards are cleaned and sanitized to prevent cross-contamination from raw meat or poultry. Finally, we want to serve cut produce items promptly, or refrigerate them, to prevent the growth of potentially harmful bacteria.

We don't have any particular reason to be concerned about home-grown or locally produced tomatoes, and they are certainly not part of the nationwide outbreak of Salmonella infections that has been going on. But we do need to realize that all fresh produce is grown in environments that may contain potentially harmful bacteria from time to time. We all share responsibility for keeping the food we eat safe.

The Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Institute at the University of Minnesota has funded a multidisciplinary research and outreach project to work with local producers on produce safety and Good Agricultural Practices. This project is headed up by Dr. Francisco Diez, from the College of Food, Agriculture and Nutrition with collaborators from the School of Public Health and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

We anticipate that this study will help us better understand potential threats to locally grown produce, and how to prevent them.

Thanks,

Craig Hedberg

Feel free to send us your comments by e-mail (sphpod@umn.edu) or click on Comments at the bottom of each entry.

Hospitals prepared for Republican convention

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:30:10 -0600

MPR reports that Twin Cities hospitals are prepared for a worst-case scenario when the Republican National Convention opens in St. Paul later this summer.

But a recent federal report questioned whether local emergency rooms have the capacity for a large-scale disaster, particularly an act of terrorism.

Michael T. Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, says that the biggest concern is a terrorist attack involving explosives or chemicals.

“Our health care system in Minnesota, like the rest of the country, has been gnawed to the bone, and frankly we've been sucking calcium. We have no real excess capacity,” he says, adding that additional federal funds for medical equipment and personnel will help.

More about convention preparedness from MPR

Tomatoes and Salmonella

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:51:31 -0600

About 280 people in 28 states have become ill during the recent Salmonella outbreak involving contaminated tomatoes.

Craig Hedberg, a University of Minnesota expert in food-borne disease, provides some perspective on this outbreak and offers advice to consumers. For example, he says that in general people are eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, which is good, but also puts us more at risk of acquiring a food-borne disease.

“Our message is that we're working with industry, we're working with growers to try to minimize the opportunities for contamination and to identify which strategies may be in place to minimize contamination after it occurs,” Hedberg said.

He also states that irradiation offers promise to prevent future outbreaks.

Listen to Hedberg discuss this issue

Repelling the attack of the tainted tomatoes

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:08:29 -0600

Irradiation of food is an important, safe and effective tool that has been vastly underused, largely due to opposition from the organic food lobby and to government over-regulation, writes Henry I. Miller in the Chicago Tribune.

In fact, technology such as irradiation could help prevent the outbreak of food-borne disease such as Salmonella Saintpaul—which contaminated raw tomatoes and is tied to at least 160 cases of illness in 16 states, writes Miller.

Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, agrees.

"If even 50 percent of meat and poultry consumed in the United States were irradiated, the potential impact of food-borne disease would be a reduction [of] 900,000 cases and 300 deaths [a year]," he says.

More about Salmonella and tomatos in the Chicago Tribune

Researchers to keep miners informed

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:27:34 -0600

The research team looking into a rare cancer on Minnesota's Iron Range says it wants to meet often with mine workers and retirees.

Fifty-nine men in northeastern Minnesota have died of mesothelioma, which strikes the lining of the lung.

The University of Minnesota's School of Public Health is leading the $5 million investigation, drawing on a database of 72,000 miners. One part of the complicated effort is figuring out just how much rock dust to which workers have been exposed.

A good night's sleep can help keep you alive

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:14:38 -0600

As men age, they need their sleep if they want to live long. That's according to a health study from the University of Minnesota. Disrupted sleep somehow manages to kill off even men who are in apparently good health.

Beginning in 2003, researchers followed about 3,000 healthy men age 67 and older. By January 2008, 180 of the men were dead. The men with poor sleep patterns were the most likely to die.

“Waking early, staying up late, and severely disturbed sleep patterns may have a detrimental impact on health in older men, especially since this group was generally in good health,” Misti Paudel, who led the study, told the Ottawa Citizen. “A good night's sleep is important.”

More on the benefits of Family Meals

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:11:30 -0600

A University of Minnesota study that documents the benefits of family meals was featured in the June 10 Orlando Sentinel. What was the study's key finding? That teens who frequently ate meals with their family during adolescence were more likely to eat healthier as young adults.

“We no longer live in a world where the mother stays home and cooks,” says Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, a University of Minnesota expert on nutrition, obesity, and disordered eating. “So if we’re going to have more family meals, we need to find creative ways of making it happen.”

Neumark-Sztainer's study is part of Project Eat (Eating Among Teens).

The key to a happy old age

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:34:27 -0600

Author Dan Buettner has scoured the Earth—not for the fabled Fountain of Youth—but for the key to a happy old age. In his book, “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest,” Buetnner interviews several experts on aging, including the University of Minnesota's Robert Kane (pictured).

In an excerpt from the book, Kane offers advice for adding good years: "Rather than exercising for the sake of exercising, try to make changes to your lifestyle. Ride a bicycle instead of driving. Walk to the store instead of driving. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. ..."

Internet, tolerance spark change in urban gay communities

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:08:17 -0600

Gay communities—such as clubs, bars, events and neighborhoods—appear to be changing worldwide in light of several key factors, including Internet dating and achievement of civil rights, according to new University of Minnesota research by Simon Rosser.

“With the exception of London and possibly New York, gay bars and culture are changing. On almost all measures, we’re seeing the same trend: decreasing number of gay bars/clubs, decreased attendance at gay events, less volunteerism in gay or HIV/AIDS organizations and, less gay media, resulting in an overall decline in gay visibility,�? said Rosser, a professor in the School of Public Health’s Division of Epidemiology and Community Health. "The biggest reason for these changes, we think, is the Internet."

With HIV cases on the increase, Rosser says the Internet could be used to promote HIV prevention.

Listen to Rosser discuss his study
More from the news release

Air particulate tests begin on Iron Range

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:17:09 -0600

The Duluth News Tribune reported today that researchers have collected their first batch of filters from a particle-sampling machine that sits atop Virginia City Hall.

In the coming months, three of these machines will be operating across the Iron Range, helping to assess what airborne particles are found in the shadow of the region’s mines.

“This is an exciting opportunity to look at dust in the air and find out how the background changes from east to west across the Range,�? Tamara Diedrich, a research associate for the UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), told the News Tribune.

The NRRI and the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health are spearheading a five-year $4.9 million study to investigate whether dust from mines poses health risks to miners.

More about particle-sampling machines from the News Tribune

Parents not helping overweight children to eat a healthy diet

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:49:43 -0600

If your teenager is overweight, don't tell him or her to go on a diet—it can make matters worse, according to a new University of Minnesota study led by Dianne Neumark-Sztainer (at right).

Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers found that overweight teens, especially girls, who were encouraged by their parents to diet for weight control were more likely to remain overweight five years later, compared with their peers whose parents did not encourage dieting.

“Our findings suggest that less emphasis should be placed on informing parents that their children are overweight, and more emphasis should be placed on providing parents with the information, tools, and support to help their children make healthier eating and physical activity choices," said Neumark-Sztainer.

Listen to Neumark-Sztainer discuss the findings of her study (4:25)

More about the Project Eat Study

More about the study in the Star Tribune.

High Protein Levels May Signal Lower Lung Function

Thu, 29 May 2008 21:23:55 -0600

Higher levels of proteins called ICAM-1 (intracellular adhesion molecule) are associated with lower lung function. That’s according to a study co-authored by David Jacobs, Mayo Professor of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.

The protein exists in endothelial cells that line the arteries and help initiate the immune system's inflammatory response to “invaders” such as cholesterol deposits.

“We found a fairly substantial decline in lung function in people with the highest levels of ICAM, compared with people with lower levels, regardless of their weight,” Jacobs told Florida’s Sun Sentinel.

The study used data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) observational cohort.

Asthma Awareness

Thu, 29 May 2008 08:46:00 -0600

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that affects about 20 million Americans. And since the early 1980s Asthma has been on the rise, although researchers and health professionals are not sure why.

John Adgate, an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota, says that the causes of asthma are not clear. But he says that there are prevention steps that people can take to reduce their risk of asthma.

These include keeping your home clean—encasing your pillows and mattresses, for example—and not smoking. Indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander can trigger attacks in people with asthma.

For more, listen to Adgate by clicking play below:

Percent of kids overweight has stabilized

Wed, 28 May 2008 15:56:13 -0600

The rate of obesity in U.S. children has remained stable since 1999, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers reported that the about 32 percent of U.S. children were overweight or obese in 2006—the same as in 1999.

It's not clear why the obesity rate has remained stable and the rate remains high. Yet the news provides hope to public health researchers that awareness efforts may be making a difference.

"Parents, governments, schools, businesses and communities are really working hard to do something about obesity. It shows obesity is not an unstoppable force," said Mary Story, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist.

Blood Donor Pool is Shrinking

Fri, 23 May 2008 21:05:35 -0600

There are significantly fewer blood donors available in the United States than previously estimated, according to a University of Minnesota study conducted by Dr. Jeffrey McCullough (Medical School) and William Riley (School of Public Health), pictured.

How to reduce your risk of stroke

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:10:45 -0600

May is American Stroke Month, a campaign to increase awareness to the risk factors of stroke.

About 780,000 Americans each year suffer a stroke. And stroke kills more than 150,000 people a year, making it the No. 3 cause of death behind heart disease and cancer.

Who is at risk? People with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, smokers, heavy drinkers, and those who are obese.

Dr. Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, a University of Minnesota neurologist and an adjunct professor of public health, explains what you should do to lower your risk.

Listen to Lakshminarayan on Public Health Moment. Click on the play button below:

Blood test could identify risk of heart disease

Wed, 21 May 2008 14:36:04 -0600

David Jacobs (right) and colleagues have discovered that people with high oxidation levels of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle that carries cholesterol throughout the blood are much more likely to develop metabolic syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome can lead to heart disease.

Listen to Jacobs discuss his findings

Ancel Keys makes Gourmet's top 25

Tue, 20 May 2008 16:31:34 -0600

Ancel Keys, who graced the cover of Time in 1961 and was dubbed "Mr. Cholesterol" for demonstrating the relationship between a fatty diet and heart disease, was included in Gourmet magazine's listing of "The 25 People Who Changed Food in America."

Keys, a renowned physiologist at the University of Minnesota, was also known for inventing K-Rations for the U.S. Army in World War II.

Go to the Gourmet slideshow

Learn more about Keys

Family meals a benefit for teens

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:09:34 -0600

Teens who regularly eat meals with their family have a healthier diet, according to Nicole Larson, a nutrition researcher at the University of Minnesota. The findings were part of the University of Minnesota's Project Eat study, or Eating Among Teens.

Larson was featured in a video news story on "Critical Mention," an online news source.

Watch the video

More about Project EAT

Are you ready for a pandemic?

Thu, 15 May 2008 22:38:59 -0600

Michael Osterholm warned Rochester, Minn. residents Wednesday that they should not count on the federal government for help should a pandemic flu break out.

"The current national disaster response system will collapse in a minute," Osterholm told more than 200 people at the third annual Noel R. Peterson Founders Lecture Series.

Local readiness, even personal readiness, will decide how things go, he said.

More about Osterholm from the Rochester Post-Bulletin

Comment on this story

Time to start that fitness routine

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:50:49 -0600

This month is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, an annual campaign sponsored by the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Melissa Nelson, a University of Minnesota expert in physical fitness, tells Public Health Moment how much fitness is enough. She also offers tips to parents on how to get kids more active.

Listen to Nelson on Public Health Moment

Learn more about Physical Fitness Month

Comment on this story

How long are we immune?

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:27:28 -0600

Measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox—childhood diseases against which many of us have been immunized.

But the new worry is that since there is no natural "booster" shot for these diseases, older adults may find themselves unexpectedly vulnerable to them. It seems no one knows for sure how long immunity from such diseases will last. That's according to a story at The Daily Gleaner.

University of Minnesota epidemiologist Michael T. Osterholm (pictured) says scientists should be doing long-term immunity studies—following groups of people for decades—in the way cancer researchers track groups of people to try to discern what causes cancer.

"That would help us understand at what point does the level of protection drop for a population. Not any one individual," he says.

More about immunity in the Daily Gleaner

Comment on this story

Is your baby's plastic bottle safe?

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:13:14 -0600

After hearing about potential developmental and reproductive problems associated with Bisphenol A (BPA)—a chemical that can leach out of hard, clear plastic containers such as a sippy cup—many parents are switching to alternatives.

Although no study has yet revealed direct BPA impact on humans, lab tests on rodents have shown adverse reproductive and developmental effects, such as onset of Type 2 diabetes or obesity.

That's according to William Toscano (pictured), head of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

More about BPA in the Star Tribune

Comment on this story

Study: Quitting smoking better than cutting back

Fri, 09 May 2008 02:55:53 -0600

Adolescent smokers who reduce their cigarette smoking are still inhaling considerable amounts of cancer-causing chemicals, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center.

Researchers say the goal should be to quit completely.

“These results suggest that reduction of smoking may be a way to engage adolescents who are unable or unwilling to quit, but quitting, not reduction, should be the end goal,�? said Karen Hanson, Ph.D., lead researcher on the study. “It further shows that smoking even a relatively few cigarettes a day is potentially harmful.�?

Read the news release

The Importance of Vitamin D

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:13:02 -0600

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.

The percentage could be higher in Minnesota and other northern climates because exposure to the sun is one way that our body generates vitamin D. But, obviously, sun exposure in northern climates such as Minnesota is in limited supply.

But given that this is National Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, University of Minnesota nutritionist Kim Robien recommends against sun exposure and instead offers advice on how to boost your vitamin D level through diet and/or supplements. She also explains the importance of vitamin D to our health.

Listen to Robien on Public Health Moment from the University of Minnesota

Minnesota lawmakers may mandate sex education in schools

Tue, 06 May 2008 18:46:30 -0600

An increase in the number of Minnesota teens having sex has prompted state legislators to push for a statewide mandate for sex education in public schools.

The latest survey of school kids by the education department found that for the first time in more than a decade, more kids say they're having sex. And more of them are engaging in sex without birth control.

"Teachers are getting more afraid, or at least unsure, of what they can and cannot teach, and some of the most contentious topics, like homosexuality, how to use a condom, are not being taught much at all," Lynn Bretl, a University of Minnesota epidemiologist, told Minnesota Public Radio. "Because a lot of the abstinence-only rhetoric at the federal level, it's really making people unsure of what they can teach," she says.

More about sex education from Minnesota Public Radio

'Biggest Loser' contest a hit with U of M Police

Mon, 05 May 2008 17:00:43 -0600

Police officers with the University of Minnesota are competing to see who can lose the most weight or body fat as part of a "Biggest Loser" contest co-organized by officer Katie Seitz. Seitz is also enrolled in the School of Public Health.

Seitz said she started thinking about the idea after writing papers on obesity among police officers.

"Our entire community in the United States is overweight," she said. "I don't think police are exempt from it."

Cost of health insurance outpaces income

Fri, 02 May 2008 21:41:18 -0600

Americans who get health insurance for their families through their jobs have seen their premiums increase 10 times faster than their income in recent years, according to a new analysis of government data by the University of Minnesota.

Nationwide, the amount employees pay for family coverage increased 30 percent from 2001 to 2005, while family policyholders’ income increased just three percent over the same period.

The study shows that the proportion of insurance premiums that workers pay for family coverage has remained constant over the years, but the dollar amount that workers contribute has substantially increased.

Best Practices in Pandemic Preparedness

Fri, 02 May 2008 21:24:39 -0600

This week's Public Health Moment from the University of Minnesota highlights a website that is designed to share best practices in preparing for a pandemic. The practices highlighted on the Web include planning efforts at state and local health departments around the United States.

On Public Health Moment, Jill DeBoer, director of the University’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, explained more about the site, called Promising Practices: Pandemic Preparedness Tools.
Visit the Promising Practices website

The website, Promising Practices: Pandemic Preparedness Tools, was created by CIDRAP, in collaboration with the Pew Center on the States. Led by Michael Osterholm, CIDRAP aims to prevent illness and death from infectious diseases through epidemiologic research and the rapid translation of scientific information into real-world practical applications and solutions. Its award-winning website is updated daily with information ranging from bioterrorism to food safety to pandemic influenza.

Visit CIDRAP's website

Listen to Public Health Moment by clicking play below:

Teens and TVs in the Bedroom

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:40:04 -0600

Daheia J. Barr-Anderson, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, has found that two-thirds of youths who had a television in their bedroom watched more TV, engaged in less physical activitiy, had poorer diets, and earned lower grades than those without one.

Legislature OKs $5 million for cancer research

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:07:56 -0600

The Minnesota Legislature has overwhelmingly approved $4.9 million for a School of Public Health study on a rare and deadly form of cancer called mesothelioma that has been diagnosed in 58 Iron Range miners.

As reported in the Minnesota Daily, the House of Representatives passed the bill 121-1 after the Senate unanimously passed the bill Monday. The bill now goes to Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The University's research would begin as soon as Pawlenty signs the bill, said Jeffrey Mandel (pictured above), an occupational physician in the School of Public Health.

Breakfast keeps teens lean

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:41:28 -0600

Teens who regularly eat breakfast tend to weigh less, exercise more, and eat a more healthful diet than teens who skip breakfast.

That's according to a study led by University of Minnesota epidemiologist Mark Pereira.

"What we found in the study was that kids who eat breakfast frequently, and especially every day, they're more healthy overall in terms of their lifestyle," Pereira said in an article distributed by Reuter’s.

Read the entire article

Why Do Midwesterners Drive Drunk?

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:28:08 -0600

That was the featured topic on WCCO-TV's "Good Question" segment, which featured our very own Traci Toomey (pictured), an associate professor of epidemiology.

Here's why:

In states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, Toomey told 'CCO, there is evidence of higher rates of alcohol consumption. And the working theory is that there's a cultural acceptance of alcohol in those states.

Read and watch the segment on WCCO's website