Cigarette Smoking Among Pregnant Women During the Perinatal Period
Cigarette smoking has wide-ranging adverse health consequences. When it occurs during pregnancy, there are increased risks of pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes for infants. According to the May 2, 2024 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, in 2021, among women with a recent live birth, 12.1% reported smoking before pregnancy, 5.4% reported smoking during pregnancy, and 7.2% reported doing so during the postpartum period. Smoking behaviors varied by demographic characteristics and jurisdiction. Overall, 73.7%, 93.7%, and 57.3% of women reported being asked about smoking by a health care provider at any health care visit before pregnancy, at any prenatal visit, and at a postpartum checkup, respectively. An implication is that routine assessment of smoking behaviors among pregnant and postpartum women can guide the development and implementation of evidence-based tobacco control measures.
The Re-emerging Suicide Crisis In The U.S.: Patterns, Causes And Solutions
The suicide rate in the U.S. has risen nearly 40% since 2000, which is puzzling because rates had been falling for decades at the end of the 20th century. A paper in the Spring 2024 issue of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management has a review of important facts about the changing rate. General trends do not tell the story of important differences across groups. Suicide rates rose substantially among middle-aged persons between 2005 and 2015, but have fallen since. Among youth, rates began a rapid rise after 2010 that has not abated. The economic hardship caused by the Great Recession played an important role in rising suicide among prime-aged Americans. Among those under 25, nearly all the increase in suicide mortality during the 2010s can be explained by an increase in the prevalence of depression. Bullying victimization of LGBTQ youth also could account for part of the rise in suicide. The evidence that access to firearms or opioids are major drivers of recent suicide trends is less clear.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY CORNER
A Machine-Learning-Enabled Smart Neckband For Monitoring Dietary Intake
The increasing need for precise dietary monitoring across various health scenarios has led to innovations in wearable sensing technologies, however, continuously tracking food and fluid intake during daily activities can be complex. These devices must be able to distinguish eating and drinking from similar movements, such as speaking and walking. A machine-learning-powered smart neckband that features wireless connectivity and a comfortable, foldable design is described in a study that was published on May 7, 2024 in PNAS Nexus. Initially considered beneficial for managing conditions, such as diabetes and obesity by facilitating dietary control, the device's utility extends beyond these applications. Initially considered beneficial for managing those conditions by facilitating dietary control, utility extends beyond these applications. Smart neckbands have proved to be valuable for sports enthusiasts, individuals focused on diet control, and general health monitoring.
Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure And Health Outcomes Due To Combustion By U.S. Stoves
Gas and propane stoves emit nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution indoors, but the exposures of different U.S. demographic groups are unknown. These household implements increase long-term NO2 exposure 4.0 parts per billion volume on average across the United States, which is 75% of the World Health Organization’s exposure guideline. According to an article published on May 3, 2024 in the journal Science Advances, this increased exposure likely causes ~50,000 cases of current pediatric asthma from long-term NO2 exposure alone. Short-term NO2 exposure from typical gas stove use frequently exceeds both WHO and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency benchmarks. Individuals living in residences <800 ft2 in size incur four times more long-term NO2 exposure than inhabitants of residences >3000 ft2 in size. American Indian/Alaska Native and Black and Hispanic/Latino households incur 60% and 20% more NO2 exposure, respectively, than the national average.