Category: Public Health

Awareness, Public Health, Safety
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Falls in Older Adults

As I approach 70 years old, I find myself being more careful going down stairs and reaching out more often to catch my balance. Although I have not had a significant fall — unless I count when I’m mountain biking — I still worry about it like most older adults. More than 25% of adults aged 65 years or older fall each year, with one out of five falls resulting in a serious injury such as fractures of the hip, wrist, humerus, and pelvis, head and brain injury, chronic disabilities, and even death (36,000 in 2020). The risk increases with […]

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Health, Public Health, Vaccinations
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus

As a pediatrician I am very familiar with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In infants and young children RSV infection results in a sometimes frightening seasonal illness called bronchiolitis. The virus affects the smallest airways, called the bronchioles, and results in wheezing and trouble breathing. There is no effective antiviral medication, only supportive treatment. The illness is especially severe in premature infants. In June 1998 one of the first monoclonal antibody drugs palivizumab was approved as a preventative measure given to premature infants at high risk for severe infection. In July 2023 another monoclonal antibody drug named nirsevimab-alip was approved for […]

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Awareness, Public Health
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National Public Health Week 2023

Public health is “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting human health through organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.” Analyzing the health of a population and the threats it faces is the basis for public health. Public health professionals work to prevent problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services, and conducting research. Public health also works to limit health disparities by promoting healthcare equity, quality, and accessibility. You can look at public health narrowed down to any population — from a neighborhood, […]

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About Us

Welcome to the NeedyMeds Voice! We look forward to presenting you with timely, provocative pieces on healthcare reform, patient advocacy, medication and healthcare access, and other health-related news. Our goals are to educate, enlighten, and elucidate; together, we will try to make sense of the myriad and ongoing healthcare-related changes in the U.S. today.