"Have You Heard?" 2009

Unintentional poisoning is second only to motor vehicle crashes as a leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States. The poisoning death rate has been rising in recent years and more than doubled between 1999 and 2006. Ninety-five percent of poisoning deaths are a result of drug poisoning – and most of them involve prescription drugs. Thankfully, everyone can take steps to protect someone they care about from being poisoned and help them live to their full potential. >> learn more

Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease, caused by a type of bacteria called Legionella, in the U.S. The bacteria got its name in 1976, when many people who went to a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion suffered from an outbreak of this disease, a type of pneumonia or lung infection. A milder infection caused by the same type of Legionella bacteria is called Pontiac Fever.>> learn more

Newborn screening identifies conditions that can affect a child's long-term health or survival. Early detection, diagnosis, and intervention can prevent death or disability and enable children to reach their full potential. Each year, millions of babies in the U.S. are routinely screened, using a few drops of blood from the newborn's heel, for certain genetic, endocrine, and metabolic disorders, and are also tested for hearing loss prior to discharge from a hospital or birthing center. >> learn more

Two-thirds of people in the United States weigh more than they should and nearly three-quarters don’t get the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity on most days. Because many adults spend 20, 30, or 40 hours or more a week at work, adding physical activity to employee’s workdays may be one way to help working Americans become healthier.
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Jaundice is the yellow color seen in the skin of many newborns. It happens when a chemical called bilirubin builds up in the baby's blood. Jaundice can occur in babies of any race or ethnicity, regardless of skin color. Low levels of bilirubin are not a problem, but a few babies have too much jaundice. If not treated, high levels of bilirubin can cause brain damage and a life-long condition called kernicterus.
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About 10 percent of people will experience a seizure sometime during their lifetime and about 3 percent will have had a diagnosis of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures, by age 80. Nearly 150,000 new cases of epilepsy will be diagnosed in the United States in 2009.
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There are approximately 1.7 million beds in 16,100 nursing homes in the United States. Of those beds, 1.5 million are occupied for an average stay of 835 days. Nearly half of the people living in nursing homes were staying with a family member before being admitted. CDC has developed a guide for caregivers (PDF) as well as health tips for older adults.
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More than 46 million Americans live with arthritis, the term used to describe more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues which surround the joint and other connective tissue. Most forms of arthritis are diagnosed using patient′s history or a physical examination rather than a specific test and can be treated with pain medications, physical activity, weight loss (if overweight), and self-management education. >> learn more

Tobacco use is one of the major preventable causes of premature death and disease in the world. According to the World Health Organization approximately 5.4 million deaths per year can be attributed to tobacco use (or one in 10 deaths among adults worldwide), a number expected to exceed 8 million per year by 2030. Celebrate World No Tobacco Day May 31st by learning the consequences of secondhand smoke, understanding health disparities and find information on how to quit. >> learn more

Each day, nearly 12,000 babies are born in the United States who will need to be immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases before age two. Vaccine-preventable diseases are at an all-time low in the United States. But because of the success of vaccines in preventing disease in the U.S., parents are often unaware that their children are at risk for so many serious and life-threatening diseases. Celebrate National Infant Immunization Awareness week by finding out the latest recommendations from CDC. >> learn more

As many as 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. The potential for concussions is greatest in athletic environments where collisions are common, though the potential for a concussion can occur in any organized or unorganized sport or recreational activity. CDC developed factsheets and educational materials for coaches, parents and players. Make sure you’re staying safe on the court and in the yard. >> learn more

The Nation is growing more diverse and the related health and healthcare needs of its population are changing. The percentage of the population that is of Hispanic or Asian origin has more than double since 1980. Between 1970 and 2004, the percentage of the U.S. population that was foreign-born also more than double. CDC′s Office of Minority Health works to lessen health disparities based on race.
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A new campaign to refocus national attention on the HIV epidemic in the United States was launched at the White House on Tuesday, April 7. Act Against AIDSis a five-year, multi-faceted communication campaign, with an initial phase to directly address complacency by reminding all Americans of the significant health threat of HIV in their own country. “9½ minutes” is the theme, and the message is simple: Right here in the United States, every 9½ minutes, someone’s brother, mother, sister, father, or neighbor is infected with HIV.
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American travelers may not realize the flu season in Argentina and Australia and other countries south of the equator runs April through September. Influenza is the most frequently acquired vaccine-preventable disease among travelers to tropical and subtropical countries. See CDC updated recommendations for those traveling abroad.
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According to a recent report, the rate of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as autism, increases with maternal and parental age. ASDs are developmental disabilities that can cause mild to severe impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, find out more about learning the signs and how you can act early to help your child reach his or her full potential.
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The transmission of onchocerciasis or river blindness has been stopped in Escuintla, Guatemala, one of the largest endemic areas in the Western Hemisphere to date to stop the transmission of the parasitic disease. The findings, published March 31st in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, detail the lack of ocular lesions and the absence of infections in school children as well as in the black fly which spreads the disease.
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Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer—cancer of the colon or rectum—is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colorectal cancer also is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States.  The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with advancing age. More than 90% of cases occur in people aged 50 or older.
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A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. Of the 1.4 million who sustain a TBI each year in the United States: 50,000 die; 235,000 are hospitalized; and 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
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Kidney disease causes almost 50,000 deaths per year and is the No. 9 leading cause of death for men and women. As a disease multiplier, meaning that it can contribute to the cause of death in people with diabetes and hypertension, kidney disease is a serious public health threat.
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According to the recently released Health U.S. 2008, women live 5.2 years longer than men. Celebrate Women’s History Month finding out what women around you do to help live longer and healthier lives. Perhaps they are good at balancing calories, keeping their bones strong, or strength training.» learn more

It′s important to indulge every now and then, but knowing the basics of nutrition is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Find information on food groups, water, dietary fat, carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals along with other resources outside of CDC. » learn more

The 2008 State of CDC has just been released! The summary report provides an overview of the CDC’s recent science and public health efforts as well as highlights significant accomplishments in science, partnership and emergency preparedness. The report also identifies some of the important challenges facing public health in 2009. » learn more

In 2007, only 21.4% of high school students reported eating fruits and vegetables five or more times daily (when fried potatoes and potato chips are excluded) during the past 7 days. And as research shows, prevalence of obesity among children has doubled in the last 30 years. Fruits and vegetables are part of a healthy lifestyle and you can find out how many servings you need and how they can help you manage your weight. >> learn more

An update on Hib Disease and Hib Vaccines for parents and providers is available here.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hib/providers-parents.htm

As the list of recalled products associated with the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak continues to grow, CDC encourages the public to check the FDA′s list of recalled products. For information about the outbreak and salmonella symptoms please visit CDC′s salmonella web site.

The U.S. spends more than $2 trillion on health care every year, but we are ranked 30th among the worlds healthiest nations. Find out more about what CDC is doing to make the U.S. a healthiest nation. » learn more

Cardiovascular disease caused about a death a minute among women in 2004. That translates to more deaths due to heart disease and stroke than cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, Alzheimer′s disease, accidents and diabetes combined. CDC′s WISEWOMAN program seeks to build a world where any woman can access preventive health services and gain the wisdom to improve her health. » learn more

Salmonella, a group of bacteria that can cause diarrheal illness, are microscopic living creatures that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. For more information on the ongoing, multistate salmonella outbreak, click here.

Neural tube defects (NTDs), major birth defects of a baby’s brain or spine such as spina bifida and anencephaly, are preventable. Affecting 3,000 pregnancies a year, NTDs can be prevented by taking B vitamin folic acid before and during pregnancy.  Help CDC celebrate National Folic Acid Awareness Week » Learn more