Deaths by suicide and drug overdose significantly increased in the aftermath of the August 2023 Maui wildfire, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study, led by Alex Ortega, dean of the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, and Keawe‘aimoku Kaholokula, chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health, in the John A. Burns School of Medicine, both at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, along with Jonathan Purtle, associate professor at New York University’s School of Global Public Health, is one of the first to show that wildfires can lead to immediate deaths from suicide and drug overdose.

Taking more steps, even below the recommended daily target of 10,000 steps, and walking faster, significantly lowers the risk of major problems of the heart and blood vessels in people with high blood pressure. 

Every 1,000 extra steps daily, up to 10,000, was associated with a 17% reduction in overall risk. 

These extra daily steps were linked to a 22% reduction in heart failure, 9% reduction in risk of heart attack, and 24% reduction in risk of stroke. 

Any physical activity is beneficial and the faster you walk, the better. 

French fries were associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), while other forms of potatoes—including baked, boiled, and mashed—were not, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study also found that swapping any form of potato for whole grains may lower the risk of T2D.

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have found that better access to technology can go a long way toward achieving equity in healthcare for African Americans in the United States. According to Sharon Tettegah and Ebenezer Larnyo, both researchers at UCSB’s Center for Black Studies Research (CBSR), leveraging health technology is a promising strategy for addressing longstanding healthcare disparities “by enhancing access to care, improving its quality and reducing inequities.”

Researchers at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health recently partnered with Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health to design and implement programs to help prevent substance use among high school students.