Top Health Stories of 2012As we approach the end of the year, here are some compilations of the most important health stories of 2012 - both in the US and around the world:
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Image: Flickr/Mononukleoza
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Image: Flickr/Sherrie Thai
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The Global Burden of DiseaseThe largest-ever study of disease, death, and injuries around the world has just been published by The Lancet. Titled the Global Burden of Disease, this is the third iteration of this massive study, which involved nearly 500 researchers in 50 countries, and took 5 years to complete.
The good news from the study is that life expectancy has been lengthened by roughly 10 years for both men and women, and child mortality for children under age five has substantially declined by 60%. People are dying less from infectious diseases, maternal and child illness and malnutrition. The bad news is that more adults are dying and suffering from non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and stroke, and there is a greater burden from disability. One of the most surprising findings was that mental health was the most neglected disease in global health. For more information, see the complete issue at The Lancet. For summarized news reports, read: |
“This will set, or more accurately re-set, the agenda for the priorities and the politics of international health. Many won’t like that … which is why there have been a lot of skirmishes over this study already, even before the findings have been reported.” |
Gun Control: How Japan, Australia, and Mexico Reduced Shooting Deaths
In the aftermath of the horrific shooting of 20 children and 6 adults that recently occurred in Newton, CT, there has been a huge public outcry here in the US to enact strong gun control laws. As we all know, this is a very complicated, controversial issue, and there are many political and cultural reasons why the US has been unable and unwilling to take action on this issue in the past (see below) - and realistically, may be unlikely to pass legislation in the future that will dramatically change our current policies. This will undoubtedly result in more tragedies.
I thought it would be worth looking at the success that some other countries - namely, Japan, Australia, and Mexico - have had in reducing, or in some cases, virtually eliminating, shooting deaths by passing tough gun laws. Although these are not necessarily blueprints for action in the US - each country has its own unique culture - there are positive elements in each case that deserve consideration.
I thought it would be worth looking at the success that some other countries - namely, Japan, Australia, and Mexico - have had in reducing, or in some cases, virtually eliminating, shooting deaths by passing tough gun laws. Although these are not necessarily blueprints for action in the US - each country has its own unique culture - there are positive elements in each case that deserve consideration.
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Dangers of 'Whoonga': Abuse Of AIDS Drugs Stokes ResistanceIn South Africa, drug users are crushing HIV medications and mixing them with marijuana, heroin and other illicit drugs. Public health workers worry that people who smoke so-called whoonga are helping to fuel the rise of drug-resistant HIV.
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