| Issue of the Day Posts Tagged ‘Centers for Disease Control’ |
Progress Halting on Sexual Health and Reproduction of Teens and Young Adults
Published Thursday, July 30th, 2009 by Lacey Loftin
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the period of improvement in sexual and reproductive health of U.S. teens and young adults has flattened and may be worsening. The data is reported in the “Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons Aged 10-24 Years – United States, 2002-2007” and comes from various sources in order to get a clear picture of the trends. Some of the findings include the majority of the new diagnoses of HIV infection among adolescents and young adults occurred among those aged 20-24 years and among males. Furthermore, about 1 million adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years were reported to have chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis in 2006.
This report also details that the progress seen in later years has halted, such as teen birth rates increasing in 2006 and 2007 following large declines from 1991-2005. Also, syphilis cases among teens and young adults aged 15-19 and 20-24 years have increased in both males and females in recent years. Rates of AIDS cases among males aged 15-24 years increased during 1997-2006 (AIDS data reflects people with HIV who have already progressed to AIDS.) Additionally, rates of new HIV and AIDS diagnoses among young adults were highest among non-Hispanic black youth across all age groups.
Many Adults Lack Vaccinations That Could Save Their Lives
Published Monday, July 27th, 2009 by Lacey Loftin
A survey of adult vaccinations completed by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases reported that diseases which are easily preventable by adult vaccines kill more Americans, over 50,000 adults, each year than car wrecks, breast cancer, or AIDS. The surveys show that generally Americans are unaware or misinformed about the dangers and vaccines available for diseases like the flu, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal disease, Meningitis, Shingles, Human Papillomavirus, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough). One of the major problems is that Universal Coverage of vaccines stops at age 19. Plus, many adults think that vaccines are just for children, or they are concerned with vaccine safety. The CDC states that vaccines are among the safest medical products available. The result is that of the vaccines for adults are used no greater than 32% by high risk Americans baring the flu shot and tetanus shots.
Over the years of successful campaigns, the CDC has reported that over 95% of children have been vaccinated for various diseases. The CDC states that lack of awareness, resources and knowledge about adult vaccines, infrastructure, and access to health care are causes for low vaccination percentages among adults. The average annual health care expenditures per American has nearly tripled since 1990 to approximately $3,000 per annum. To compound the problem, nearly 15.3% of the population does not have health care insurance, which makes preventative care “unimportant” to some who believe they cannot afford non-emergency medicine.
Obesity Still Growing After CDC Warnings
Published Thursday, July 9th, 2009 by Lacey Loftin
The Centers for Disease Control has issued a report stating that obesity is still growing since last year’s reports of 25.6% adult obesity. The report suggests we have grown to 26.1% adult obesity in 2008. Topping the scale is Mississippi, which registered at 32.8%; Colorado weighed in at 18.5% obese, the only state to remain under 20%. The CDC report comes as a study calls for senior citizens to participate in progressive resistance training. Beyond the obvious need for us all to be more active, senior citizens who exercise build up muscle mass that is typically lost as they age. The clinical review saw a moderate to large improvement in doing simple to complex daily activities, in addition to less pain and osteoarthritis symptoms that also plague the obese.
In the 16 years that the CDC has tracked the obesity levels there has been a steady increase of 47.7% to 67.1% in adolescents and adults. The level of activity vary as much as 10 percentage points between major race groups as 50% of White and Non-Hispanics exercising, 40% black, and 43% Hispanic. Likewise, age groups follow the same pattern as 60% of 18-29 year olds, 47% of 30-74 year olds and 40% of 75 and older workout.