HealthNews Dozen: States Boost Health Budgets Despite Economic Woes

The U.S. financial crisis has affected every part of the federal budget with a special focus on state and local budgets. Spending has been cut almost across the board when it comes to state and local issues, and federal subsidies have been available but spread thin. While public health has been as much on the chopping block as any other sector of the states’ budgets, many have reduced spending in other areas in order to sustain health programs, while some have even increased spending in this area because of its vital importance to the American people.

National Birth Defects Prevention Month

Every January we celebrate the New Year by toasting and cheering and spending time with family and friends. A lot of us even make a resolution—whether it’s finally cleaning out the garage, quitting smoking, going to that Pilates class every week, or just trying to be more positive. January is all about rejuvenation and rebirth. As a sign of rebirth, January ushers in a new date and with that in mind, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and The National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) declared January National Birth Defects Prevention Month.

Acupuncture Effective in Easing Breast Cancer Treatment Symptoms

Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, and the second leading cause of death in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that the chance of a woman getting breast cancer at some point during her life is slightly less than 1 in 8, and the chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35. However, as a result of early detection and vast improvements in treatment over the past two decades, breast cancer death rates have been decreasing. Today in America, there are more than 2.5 million survivors.