logo
Dallas County outpaces U.S. in key health measures

Dallas County outpaces U.S. in key health measures

Axios07-04-2025

Dallas County is one of the healthiest counties in the state and ranks better than the average county in the U.S., according to an annual County Health Rankings report.
Why it matters: Health factors aren't just what's happening inside the doctor's office — social, economic and physical environment are also determinants, and in many of these, Dallas County is performing better than the rest of the country.
Driving the news: The 2025 report, published annually by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, looks at 30 different measures including birth weights, insurance rates, vaccination rates, mental health and levels of obesity.
State of play: Compared with the rest of the state, Dallas County residents are above average for high school completion and college education attainment.
They also have lower child poverty rates and fewer preventable hospital stays and severe housing problems.
Between the lines: Dallas County residents' physical health also fares better than the rest of the state's and country's averages, according to the report.
Much of the population is younger and less likely to face chronic illnesses, Abigail Coder, Dallas County's community health administrator, tells Axios.
The county is the fastest-growing in the state, with a median age of 36, compared with 39 years old statewide, according to census data.
Median household income is also higher — around $102,200, compared with $71,700 statewide, according to the report.
Two-thirds of the county's population live within West Des Moines, Waukee, Urbandale and Clive, where wealthier and younger populations are more likely to live.
Yes, but: Rural Dallas County residents are dealing with health challenges that are often overlooked.
Zoom in: 14% of Dallas County residents who identify as non-white or Hispanic don't have health insurance, compared with less than 10% of the county's white, non-Hispanic population, according to the county's 2023-25 health improvement plan.
Rural residents were more likely to report fair or poor mental health status.
Perry adults were also more likely to sleep less than seven hours a day.
69% of Dallas County adults were overweight or obese, and rural residents are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The intrigue: The county health department is trying to address the inequalities by providing transportation services for rural residents to health care appointments and getting more specialists in Perry.
Zoom out: Neighboring Polk County is also performing better than average compared with other U.S. counties.
The bottom line: "We love that folks are doing really well here," Abigail Coder, Dallas County's community health administrator, tells Axios.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Researchers sound alarm about common yard product after discovering potential link to cancer in dogs: 'Highly toxic'
Researchers sound alarm about common yard product after discovering potential link to cancer in dogs: 'Highly toxic'

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Researchers sound alarm about common yard product after discovering potential link to cancer in dogs: 'Highly toxic'

An animal welfare organization warned pet owners to be on their guard after multiple studies suggested that a lawn treatment raises the cancer risk for dogs. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the culprit is "the most dangerous pesticide you've never heard of" — and it's still widely used. In 2023, Humane World for Animals broke down how the herbicide 2,4-D raised the alarm among researchers after a 1991 study found that dogs whose owners used 2,4-D had up to a 200% higher risk of developing malignant lymphoma. While a follow-up study (with links to the chemical industry) refuted the findings, another study in 2012 supported the first study's claims. Dr. Lauren Trepanier, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, suggested there may be one reason our furry friends could be particularly at risk compared with humans. "We're not all going out and rolling on our lawns after we put herbicides on it," Trepanier said. On the other hand, dogs roll around, sniff, dig, and pick up debris with their mouths. In 2016, Kristi Pullen, a staff scientist in NRDC's health program, warned in an article from the nonprofit that rising rates of 2,4-D use could "create a perfect storm of hazard and exposure coming together." 2,4-D can linger in the environment and harm biodiversity, contributing to food insecurity and economic losses. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the chemical can be "highly toxic to fish and other aquatic life" relied upon by millions for food and income. The International Agency for Research on Cancer also classifies 2,4-D as "possibly carcinogenic" to humans, per the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Several studies found that farm workers and professional herbicide applicators had an increased risk of certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, after high levels of exposure. Despite the aforementioned findings, 2,4-D is still widely used to treat turf lawns, food crops, aquatic and forestry sites, and more, according to the EPA, which decided in 2004 and 2014 that it didn't have enough data to discontinue 2,4-D. Do you worry about pesticides in your food? All the time Sometimes Not really I only eat organic Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Researchers are still investigating 2,4-D's connection to cancer, but NRDC senior scientist Jennifer Sass advised in 2016 that it is "better to take precautions to prevent possible cancers than to wait for more evidence." Dr. Barbara Hodges, program director of advocacy and outreach for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, has a similar mindset. "I advise my clients about the risks of cancer from these products and recommend that they not use lawn chemicals — for the sake of their pets and the human animals in their families, and also for the sake of wildlife species and the overall environment," Hodges, a practicing veterinarian, told Humane World for Animals. Planting trap crops is one effective method of chemical-free pest control in gardens, while choosing cost-effective native plants reduces the need for pesticides overall. Trepanier also cautioned pet owners to be wary of walking their dogs in vibrant green parks during hot, dry seasons, as those parks likely used chemical herbicides and pesticides. If you supplement your dog's diet with fruits and vegetables that aren't homegrown and guaranteed to be pesticide-free, also make sure to wash the produce first (while, of course, keeping in mind that some fruits and veggies, such as grapes and onions, aren't safe for your pets). Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

Vitiligo in Children Linked to Higher Hearing Loss
Vitiligo in Children Linked to Higher Hearing Loss

Medscape

time7 hours ago

  • Medscape

Vitiligo in Children Linked to Higher Hearing Loss

Children with vitiligo showed higher risks for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and mixed hearing loss compared with matched peers in a study, but not with ocular conditions. METHODOLOGY: The study analyzed data on pediatric patients with vitiligo from 89 healthcare organizations in the US through the TriNetX Research Network between 2016 and 2024. There were 21,833 pediatric patients with vitiligo (mean age, 9.6 years; 50.1% boys) and an equal number of matched children without vitiligo. Nearly 45% of participants in both groups were White, about 27% were Hispanic or Latino, about 14% were Black, and 6.6% were Asian. The primary outcomes were hearing loss and ocular disorders. TAKEAWAY: Children with vitiligo showed significantly higher risks for SNHL (hazard ratio [HR], 1.86; 95% CI, 1.38-2.51) and mixed hearing loss (HR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.29-3.44) compared with children without vitiligo. No significant difference was observed for conductive hearing loss between the two groups. SNHL risk increased with time after the first year of follow-up, with an HR of 2.03 (95% CI, 1.21-3.41) for 1-3 years, and 2.56 (95% CI, 1.55-4.22) for follow-up periods longer than 3 years. The risk for mixed hearing loss was elevated only in the first year (HR, 4.87; 95% CI, 1.65-14.4). Researchers found an elevated risk for retinal and choroidal disorders (HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.06-2.31), but this was not consistent in sensitivity analyses. There were no significant differences in the risks for vision impairment, dry eye, uveitis, or glaucoma between the two groups. IN PRACTICE: 'Our observation of increased SNHL risk, particularly after the first year of follow-up, aligns with the theory that hearing loss develops progressively through cumulative cochlear damage, correlating with disease duration and extent,' the study authors wrote. 'Further prospective studies are needed to illuminate the mechanisms underlying these associations and guide clinical practice,' they added. SOURCE: This study was led by Serena Yun-Chen Tsai, MD, MMSc, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and was published online on June 11 in JAMA Dermatology . LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its retrospective design; reliance on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification codes; and the absence of data regarding vitiligo severity, phenotypes, location, audiometry findings, and visual function measurements. Dermatologist diagnoses or referrals were not verified, and the rarity of some outcomes could have introduced bias. DISCLOSURES: This study's funding source was not disclosed. One author reported receiving grants, personal fees, and consulting fees from multiple pharmaceutical companies, including Incyte, Barinthus Biotherapeutics, Alys Pharmaceuticals, and AbbVie; being a founder and owning stocks in Alys Pharmaceuticals and Incyte; and serving as chief innovation officer for Alys Pharmaceuticals. Another author reported serving on the advisory board for Sanofi and receiving a salary from a Weston Career Development Award from the Society for Pediatric Dermatology and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance.

Colorado just raised the bar on paid leave for NICU parents—and every state should be paying attention
Colorado just raised the bar on paid leave for NICU parents—and every state should be paying attention

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Colorado just raised the bar on paid leave for NICU parents—and every state should be paying attention

When your newborn is in the NICU, the rest of the world fades. Monitors beep. Nurses whisper. You count the minutes between updates. What most parents don't have, though, is the one thing they need most: time. Now, that's starting to change. Colorado just made history as the first state in the U.S. to offer paid NICU leave. As Axios reports, Governor Jared Polis has signed a bill expanding the state's paid family and medical leave program to include an additional 12 weeks of leave for parents whose infants are hospitalized in neonatal intensive care. The new leave goes into effect on January 1, 2026. The law builds on the state's broader paid leave benefit, which voters approved in 2020 and launched in January 2024. offering up to 12 weeks of paid time off for medical or caregiving needs. Colorado's program is part of a growing movement among states to provide paid leave through publicly funded insurance systems—separate from the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which protects some workers' jobs but doesn't guarantee income. Related: When the baby is in the NICU, who's caring for the mom? A new model is changing that The bill acknowledges what science has long confirmed: babies thrive when their parents can be present in the NICU. A study published in JAMA Network Open assessed the outcomes following close collaboration with parents in NICUs. The study found that family-centered care—where parents are directly, daily involved with the hands-on care of their NICU newborns—led to better outcomes for both infants and parents. Babies gained more weight, and parents reported lower stress levels and greater satisfaction with care. But presence comes at a cost. Without paid leave, many parents are forced to make an impossible choice: stay by their critically ill newborn's side—or hold onto their job. One of the bill's sponsors, Colorado State Rep. Yara Zokaie, knows that struggle firsthand, She described her own experience working remotely from the hospital while her baby was in intensive care. As she told Axios, 'Having a child in the NICU is one of the most terrifying moments as a parent, and the last thing they should be worried about is having to choose between spending time with their child in the hospital and keeping their jobs.' To be clear, Colorado's new provision makes it the only state to specifically extend paid leave for NICU hospitalization. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have broader paid family leave laws, but they vary widely in duration, eligibility, and funding. And federally? The U.S. still offers zero weeks of guaranteed paid family leave. That means NICU outcomes—like so much in parenting—are increasingly shaped by your zip code. In contrast, Colorado's law recognizes that care is not a private inconvenience—it's a public good. And it builds on evidence that paid leave improves both health and economic outcomes for families. As reported by Axios, advocates see this move as proof that Colorado's family leave program is working well enough to expand. Paid NICU leave isn't just smart public health. It's long-overdue recognition that the burden of care work—especially during medical crises—has too often fallen silently on mothers. In most households, caregiving during a medical emergency still defaults to the mother. As we've previously covered, moms are often expected to 'make it work'—balancing crisis caregiving with professional obligations, all without the systemic support their roles demand Colorado's new law doesn't fix all of that. But it sets a precedent. One that says parents in crisis deserve more than platitudes. They deserve policies that meet them where they are: beside a hospital bed, holding the tiniest hand they've ever seen. Related: Moms don't need a baby bonus—they need paid leave, childcare, and real support Sources: SENATE BILL 25-144. Colorado Government. SENATE BILL 25-144. NICU outcomes. JAMA Network Open. Outcomes Following Close Collaboration With Parents Intervention in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. State Paid Family Leave Laws Across the U.S. January 202. Bipartisan Policy Centrer. State Paid Family Leave Laws Across the U.S. Paid family and medical leave. January 2025. American Progress. The State of Paid Family and Medical Leave in the U.S. in 2025. Colorado expands paid leave for NICU parents. June 2025. Axios. Colorado expands paid leave for NICU parents.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store