December 6 News: America's health rankings, teen use of tobacco products, SNAP, measles increase and more

Public Health Newswire - America’s Health Rankings shares 30 years of public health progress

While the U.S. has made significant progress at improving health over the past three decades, longstanding issues and emerging challenges threaten those gains, a new report from America’s Health Rankings finds.

The New York Times - Nearly a third of teens use one or more tobacco products

Nearly 1 in 3 high school students has reported using a tobacco product recently, according to a new federal survey released on Thursday, evidence that concerns over nicotine addiction among teenagers are not limited to e-cigarettes.

The New York Times - 200,000 uninsured Americans to get free HIV-prevention drugs

With donated drugs and services provided by major pharmacy chains, 200,000 uninsured people in the U.S. will gain access to HIV-preventive medicines at no cost, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday.

The Washington Post - Trump administration tightens work requirements for SNAP

The Trump administration said Wednesday it had finalized a rule tightening work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could cut hundreds of thousands from food stamps.

Associated Press - Experts split sharply over experimental Alzheimer’s drug

A company that claims to have the first drug to slow mental decline from Alzheimer’s disease made its case to scientists Thursday but left them sharply divided over whether there’s enough evidence of effectiveness for the medicine to warrant federal approval.

Kaiser Health News - Black mothers get less treatment for postpartum depression than other moms

In March, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression, But those advances help only if women’s needs are identified which is difficult for women of color and low-income mothers, as they are several times more likely to suffer from postpartum mental illness but less likely to receive treatment than other mothers.

NPR – Measles numbers were bad in 2018. This year, they're even worse

The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say in a new report that there were nearly 10 million cases of measles last year, with outbreaks on every continent. And so far 2019 has been even worse.

NPR - Scientists find surprising age-related protein waves in blood

Researchers now report that they have identified hundreds of proteins in human blood that wax and wane in surprising ways as we age. The findings could provide important clues about which substances in the blood can slow aging.

The Hill - Planned Parenthood targets GOP senators in seven-figure ad campaign

Planned Parenthood is targeting Republican senators in a seven-figure ad campaign over the Trump administration's changes to a federally funded birth control program.