WVON

More than 1.3 million people in the United States were living with melanoma of the skin in 2019, making it one of the top five most common cancers in the country. However, although there is significant data exist… highlighting the extent of health disparities, there is limited data specifically on dermatologic health disparities. Patients and providers often don’t recognize skin cancer on darker skin. In fact, dermatology is not emphasized in medical schools, with some medical schools devoting 10 curriculum hours or less to dermatology. Because of a lack of awareness of the risks of skin cancer among Black people and clinicians’ lack of experience diagnosing skin conditions in people with darker skin, melanoma for Black patients can go untreated far longer than when it’s identified for White patients. Providers need to know what to look for so they can diagnose as soon as possible.

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common complications that occur in pregnancy or in the first 12 months after delivery. Maternal mental health issues are common among Black mothers, in comparison to the United… States national estimates. Despite the negative effects on maternal, obstetric, birth, offspring, partner, and family outcomes, perinatal mental health disorders often remain underdiagnosed, and untreated or under-treated. Available evidence suggests that perinatal mental health issues are more common in low- and middle-income countries. A number of social determinants influence a woman’s risk of experiencing perinatal mental health issues and the likelihood that she will seek and receive adequate treatment. Providing high quality perinatal mental health services is particularly difficult in low-resource settings with limited health workforces.

Babies are born with protection against some diseases because their mothers pass proteins made by the body to fight disease to them before birth. Breastfed babies continue to get more antibodies in breast milk. But in… both cases, the protection is temporary. Vaccination is a way to create protection from some diseases. Some parents may hesitate to have their kids vaccinated. They have questions or worry that a child might have a serious reaction or get the illness the vaccine prevents. Vaccinations are one of the best ways to protect children from contagious diseases. They are one of the greatest public health achievements, preventing tens of thousands of deaths, millions of cases of disease, and saving billions of dollars per decade.

The American healthcare system must address the influence of psychological stress and the social contexts that lead to disparate health outcomes among the Black community. The Black community faces stressful experiences due to distinct socio-historical and… cultural racial-related experiences. Mind-body medicine can be used to treat the psychological, behavioral, and health damage caused by historical trauma, racism, and oppression. Mind-body medicine focuses on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior and the powerful ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors can directly affect health. It involves mindfulness meditation and breathwork to relieve pain, stress, and suffering. Mind-body techniques can be helpful for many conditions because they encourage relaxation, improve coping skills, reduce tension and pain, and lessen the need for medication. The field views illness as an opportunity for personal growth and transformation, and health care providers as catalysts and guides in this process.

Gun violence is a leading cause of premature death in the U.S. Guns kill more than 38,000 people and cause nearly 85,000 injuries each year. The number of gun deaths in 2021 climbed even higher and is approaching… the previous peaks in gun death rates in the early 1970s and early 1990s. In the United States, suicide accounts for roughly 2 of every 3 gun deaths, while the homicide-by-firearm rate is dramatically focused on the nation’s Black population. Although the massive mental health toll of the pandemic contributed in part to rises in emergency department visits for suicide attempts, violence, and mental health during the past 18 months, in July of 2020, gun sales to new owners in the United States hit record highs as individuals grappled with not just pandemic-induced stressors, but a national reckoning on racial justice and a fast-approaching and contentious presidential election. In addition to the danger firearm access poses to those with suicidal thoughts, increased access can also lead to higher rates of child or adolescent gun violence. Mass shootings, an all-too-common occurrence in the U.S., are exceedingly rare in peer countries — where governments have often been quick to pass gun reform in the wake of such tragedies.

Generally speaking, people in good health rarely need medications or have the need to see a specialist. So, it’s probably natural that most give little thought to selecting a primary care provider. At some point,… though, everyone is going to feel under the weather, which might call for a medical opinion. Primary care providers manage day-to-day health needs. A long-term relationship with one keeps you healthier and lowers medical costs. They can teach you ways to stay healthy, treat you when you’re sick and help you get more advanced care when you need it. The relationship you build with your primary care provider is one of the most important ones you’ll ever have.

Smoking and obesity are the two leading causes of death in the U.S. Two thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese, and approximately 9 million adults who are obese are smokers. Tobacco… use continues to be a major public health problem and the leading preventable cause of death. Unfortunately, most smokers will gain weight after quitting, and a significant minority of smokers will gain an excess amount which, may increase their chances for developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, some cancers and other chronic diseases. Furthermore, it has been estimated that people who are obese cost an average of $1,360 in additional health care expenses each year compared with the nonobese and that smokers require an average of $1,046 in additional health care expenses compared with nonsmokers. Quitting smoking or smoking cessation reduces the chances for developing major chronic diseases, increases life expectancy and improves quality of life.

COVID-19 pandemic’s social restrictions have prompted a surge in the mental health needs of children of all ages. Nationwide 4.3 million children/adolescents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of August 2021, and many of them have… returned to early childhood and school settings. Since the start of the pandemic, hospitals have seen more mental health emergencies among kids. Between March and October 2020, the percentage of emergency department visits for children with mental health emergencies rose by 24% for children ages 5-11 and 31% for children ages 12-17. There was also a more than 50% increase in suspected suicide attempt emergency department visits among girls ages 12-17 in early 2021 as compared to the same period in 2019. Even with the protection of the COVID-19 vaccines now available to children who are old enough for them, pandemic-related stress and traumas may have lasting effects on the developing minds of children and teens.

People who engage in drug use or high-risk behaviors associated with drug use put themselves at risk for contracting or transmitting viral infections, such as HIV and AIDS. Drug use and addiction have been linked with… HIV/AIDS since AIDS was first identified as a disease. Drugs also impair judgment and can cause people to make risky decisions, including having unprotected sex. Ongoing substance abuse can cause severe health problems over time, even in previously healthy individuals. With regard to HIV and AIDS, substance abuse plays a significant factor in infection and disease progression. Black Americans now account for about half of all new HIV infections in the United States, and nearly two-thirds of all cases among women. Injection drug use is the 2nd leading cause of HIV infection for Black women and the 3rd leading cause of infection for Black men. Black women’s HIV diagnosis rates are 15 times higher than White women and is among the leading causes of death among Black women in the US.

The COVID-19 outbreak was declared as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Doctors form an essential part of an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have critical roles in diagnosis, containment and treatment, and their commitment… to treat despite increased personal risks is essential for a successful public health response. Emerging threats of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 demand much more than doctors continue to work as normal. Pandemics may necessitate longer hours (and corresponding increased exposure to the virus), potential quarantines and assignments outside one’s normal specialty. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has left us with new and complicated health issues such as long haul COVID. Studies show that long-haul COVID-19 afflicts 1 in 4 COVID patients, regardless of severity.

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women, as well as the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Once a patient is diagnosed, they are considered a “Survivor”. Survivorship begins at diagnosis… and continues during treatment and through a person’s life. Because cancer treatments and overall journeys are different for everyone, survivorship is one the most complicated parts of having cancer.

All people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer regardless of who they are. Cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, but it doesn’t affect… everyone equally. Many barriers can impact a person’s ability to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. These barriers are because of deeply rooted, long-standing inequities at all levels of society that will take an intentional effort to address in order to have equal cancer outcomes. They are complex and have many social, economic, and cultural influences that intertwine and impact each other. Because many different factors can influence cancer treatment disparities, addressing them is not always simple or straightforward. Reducing or eliminating some cancer disparities in the pursuit of health equity will require policy changes to overcome systemic social, racial, and/or institutional inequalities.