Ongoing Canadian wildfires color skies in northern U.S. regions
1 of 2 | The sky shows colors of red and orange as the sun is blocked by clouds behind the Statue of Liberty after sunrise in New Jersey on this past Thursday, March 29. Parts of the Northeast were blocked by clouds from seeing a partial solar eclipse Saturday morning. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
June 2 (UPI) -- Several states across the American landscape were expected Monday to see and feel the effects of smoke that has billowed outward from wildfires that continue to burn across Canada, such as in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The effect was already evident in Montana, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Michigan on Saturday, as skies grew hazy over some of the states that line up along the United States' northern border. However, by Sunday morning the smoke traveled around a thousand miles, over Illinois, Ohio and Indiana to South Carolina, which led to a sunrise that was hued red.
The smoke is expected to continue its spread throughout the week. Weather forecasters expect hazy sunsets Monday in East Coast cities such as Boston and New York due to its lofty presence.
In addition to smoky skies, air quality alerts have been issued in many impacted locations. According to the American Lung Association, where such alerts have been issued, "It is unhealthy to breathe and can be especially harmful to sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
We're Oklahoma doctors. Here's the truth about vaccines.
The goal of medical science is to improve our quality of life. In the past century, relatively few things have more fully demonstrated this goal than the antiviral and antibacterial vaccines that have protected our most vulnerable populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in the last 50 years, immunizations have saved the lives of over 150 million children. Almost nothing illustrates the transformative power of vaccination better than the 1955 arrival of Jonas Salk's polio vaccine. No longer was American society helpless before a seasonal plague of paralysis that claimed 15 to 20 thousand victims annually. Polio vaccines were followed by measles vaccines and then mumps, German measles and varicella vaccines. The scope of this blessing has continued to expand with immunizations for pneumococcus, meningococcus, rotavirus and other infectious diseases. And while these childhood vaccines have been overwhelming successes, society has forgotten the tragedies of past diseases and instead embraced new fears that threaten all the progress we've made. One of these fears is the unsupported link between vaccination and autism. Opinion: When autism is painted with a broad brush, it fuels stigma, discrimination It's understandable that the increasing number of cases of childhood autism, whether enhanced by more vigilance or expanded definitions, has begged for an explanation. Unfortunately, this desire for an answer has spawned some poorly executed medical studies. Notorious among these articles was the February 1998 paper published by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in The Lancet. Upon scrutiny, it was revealed that Dr. Wakefield had conflicts of interest that included serving as a clearing house for plaintiff attorneys while promoting his own alternative vaccine and manipulating the data to obtain the conclusions he desired. The Lancet later retracted the article, and Dr. Wakefield lost his medical license ― though not before lasting damage was done. In fact, despite 24 studies refuting the association between vaccines and autism, some individuals continue to embrace skepticism. The net result of this unfortunate tide of mistrust is that vaccination rates have begun to fall dramatically in some areas of the US, resulting in a loss of herd immunity. If measles resurrects itself through flagging vaccination rates, other afflictions from our past are sure to follow. It is only a matter of time before polio, mumps and other vaccine-preventable infections find their footing. While it is hard to predict exact numbers, it is easy to conclude that each case of serious illness or death from a preventable disease is a tragedy. The truth is that vaccines are safe, and the legitimate questions about vaccine-related autism or other harms can be answered. The truth is, public health is a team sport. If we can't play according to specific rules, loss is inevitable in what is anything but a game. Nevertheless, to win, we have to contain the disease. Even though many vaccines protect at rates greater than 90%, protection is not perfect if the disease is widespread. It will be difficult to change the minds of some. However, for those searching for the truth, the answers are available and as clear as good science can make them. The Oklahoma State Medical Association recommends that Oklahomans discuss any questions or concerns about vaccination with a pediatrician or other trusted physician. While there may be distrust of organizational expertise, it is our hope that faith in the doctor-patient relationship remains intact. The stakes couldn't be higher. Sumit Nanda, M.D., is a board-certified ophthalmologist with INTEGRIS Health in Oklahoma City. He is president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association. James Kirk, M.D., is an Oklahoma City-based infectious disease specialist with more than 40 years of expertise. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OK doctors like us know vaccines don't cause autism | Opinion
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Needs Teeth—Literally
The White House's Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment covers an array of chronic health concerns from obesity to diabetes, but it is missing the most common chronic childhood disease—cavities. Left unchecked, cavities impact academic, economic, and social outcomes, including lost school and work hours, lower self-esteem, and difficulty getting a job. With the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement charting its course, we cannot ignore the critical relationship between oral health and overall health and wellness. Tooth decay is roughly five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever, affecting nearly 46 percent of American kids. And it is entirely preventable. Without proper treatment and care, children are at higher risk for developmental impairment, chronic pain, disfiguration, and social isolation, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Untreated dental disease can even be life threatening, as in the case of Deamonte Driver, who died at age 12 after bacteria spread from an untreated tooth abscess to his brain. His death could have been prevented with a tooth extraction. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 2025. ALLISON ROBBERT/AFP via Getty Images In establishing the MAHA commission, the administration outlined the movement's focus on reducing chronic disease incidence and improving cost efficiency, with a specific emphasis on ending childhood chronic disease. This work is increasingly necessary as our health system grows more complex and chronic disease incidence worsens. And oral health is an important piece of this puzzle. Notably, one of the areas addressed in the MAHA Assessment is environmental drivers of chronic disease. The environment starts shaping the oral microbiome—the makeup of bacteria and organisms in our mouths—as soon as we are born. Research shows the oral microbiome links to systemic health issues including heart disease and diabetes. Chronic stress and poor diet are two additional important factors addressed in the report that directly impact oral health and the oral microbiome. The report authors also rightly point out that chronic disease threatens our military readiness. Did you know untreated cavities or severe gum disease can disqualify you from enlisting? Oral health is one of the medical/physical eligibility tests along with mental health and obesity, which the Assessment categorizes as two of the primary reasons for why "over 75% of American youth (aged 17-24) are ineligible for military service." Tooth decay may not seem like a particularly important chronic disease to address on its surface, especially considering most people don't think about cavities as a disease. But when we dig into the widespread impact of chronic conditions, as the White House did in this report, we can't ignore the impact of oral health across our health outcomes, economy, and military readiness. It's clear that oral health is intimately connected to what MAHA calls "the stark reality of American children's declining health." The commission plans next to create a strategy to study dietary impacts and environmental exposures, changing policies to promote healthy food options and increasing research funding on the long-term effects of kids' medications. Let's encourage the administration to remember the importance of oral health and the significance of being able to prevent chronic dental disease so children can grow up with the best chance of optimal health and wellness. David Healy is president of Sun Life U.S. Dental, which includes DentaQuest, the largest Medicaid and CHIP dental benefits administrator in the U.S., by membership. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
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Nearly 130 million Americans are estimated to have at least one form of chronic disease, which could be heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity or hypertension, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts told Newsweek that, while the Trump administration's ambition to "defeat" the "epidemic" is clear, whether its policies will help or hinder chronic-disease patients remains to be seen. On one hand, Kennedy Jr.'s recent MAHA report, which detailed what the administration believed to be the leading causes of chronic disease in children, indicated the aim was to reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions through public education and research. On the other hand, the proposed cuts to Medicaid funding and work requirements for eligibility to the benefits, which are set to come as part of the broader GOP budget bill, could leave many with chronic disease without access to vital care. As many as three in four adults enrolled in Medicaid report having one or more chronic conditions, and many are unable to work the hours needed to meet the new eligibility requirements, according to nonprofit health policy research and news organization, KFF. So, while some may be medically exempt, others will lose their health coverage, meaning their conditions could worsen without access to care. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via email on Tuesday. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Tackling Chronic Disease Since he became health secretary, Kennedy Jr. has promised to increase research in the root causes of illness and ensure the American diet is full of high-quality foods, while limiting access to ultra-processed food and certain chemicals, which he believes are contributors to chronic disease. The report states that consumption of ultra-processed foods "has gone up at an exponential rate as share of the American diet." Earlier in the year, Kennedy, had described products from companies like Kellogg's and McDonald's as "mass poison to children." Prioritizing research on the issue is crucial, Kenneth E. Thorpe, a professor of health policy at Emory University, Georgia, and honorary chair of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), told Newsweek. "Renewed focus on chronic disease and the impact that the U.S. diet has on it—focusing on artificial or chemical ingredients in food, particularly the impact of ultra processed foods—is important," he said. He added that this was because of the fact diet has "a direct impact on the growing rates of chronic conditions like obesity and obesity-related comorbidities such diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers and many more." "I applaud the Trump administration's focus on addressing the number one cause of death and disability in the U.S.—chronic, non-communicable disease," said Thorpe, who has been an advocate of chronic disease prevention in the U.S. for over 30 years. "We have more people with more chronic diseases, with just 5 percent of the population accounting for 50 percent of the costs in health care." He added that it is estimated that from 2016 to 2030 the cost of chronic disease will be in excess of $42 trillion. "The time is now to focus on the prevention and better management of chronic disease," Thorpe added. What Should the Trump Administration Do While it's too early to tell if the Trump administration is heading down the right path to lower chronic disease prevalence, Dr. Adrian Hernandez, director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute at the Duke University School of Medicine, told Newsweek that "leading indicators appear to be going the wrong way." He said this was partly because of the changes being proposed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A proposal for the HHS, most of which was reported on in April, reduces by almost 40 percent its budget for 2026 and reveals major funding cuts for the NIH, according to CNN. Newsweek has contacted the NIH via email on Tuesday. Hernandez added that changes, such as the proposed cuts in federal funding, to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were also going down the wrong path. Rather than cuts to these federal health agencies, Hernandez said tackling chronic disease will require "an investment" in science and health. He said that the same was needed for health care delivery models like Medicaid and Medicare—rather than making cuts to the programs, the administration should "invest in preventative health." The GOP budget bill, which is progressing through the legislative ranks, instructs the committee to reduce the Department of Health and Human Services budget by $880 billion over 10 years, which would include cuts to Medicaid alongside other measures such as implementing work requirements. Ross Brownson, director of the Prevention Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, told Newsweek that Medicaid cuts would "likely have a detrimental effect on chronic disease risk among the most vulnerable populations," adding Medicaid-enrolled adults have significantly higher rates of chronic disease than individuals privately insured. "The drive to defeat chronic disease stalls if Medicaid patients are placed in the backseat," Thorpe said. "Today, the federal program is far from perfect, but it is a lifeline for those who need it," Thorpe added, saying it was "often the only pathway to care" for many with chronic disease. 'A Long-Term Challenge' Experts insist that chronic disease is a deeply complex issue that requires long-term solutions and attention. Brownson noted that there has been "sparse attention to physical inactivity and tobacco use," as major risk factors for chronic disease. "This is a two-edged sword," Brownson told Newsweek. He said that while "on one hand, labeling this issue a crisis implies a sense of urgency and may mobilize action." Ultimately "the jury is still out on whether they will solve the chronic disease crisis." "We often have a short attention span and with this crisis label, policy makers may think the problem can be solved quickly and then move on to a new issue. We need to think of this as a long-term challenge in need of attention," he added.
