Noncommunicable Diseases

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An artisanal miner climbs out of a gold mine with a bag of rocks broken off from inside a mining pit, at the unlicensed mining site of Nsuaem Top, in Ghana, on November 24, 2018.

Gold Prices Reach Record High, Poisoning Ghana's Land

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As gold demand grows, Ghana's rural families turn to riskier operations, worsened by lax regulations and porous supply chains

A line chart titled “Health Risks in LMICs” shows how the leading risk factors for disease burden change in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 1990 to 2023. In 1990, malnutrition ranks highest, followed by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), household air pollution, high blood pressure, dietary risks, tobacco, and high body-mass index. Over time, noncommunicable disease risks rise. By 2023, high blood pressure and dietary risks are the top contributors, while malnutrition and household air pollution decline in rank. Tobacco and high body-mass index increase modestly, and unsafe WASH drops to the lowest rank. The chart highlights a shift from communicable and environmental risks toward chronic disease risks in LMICs.

Does Pandemic Preparedness Depend on Confronting the Chronic Disease Crisis?

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An analysis looks at whether strategies to reduce the global burden of noncommunicable disease could aid pandemic preparedness

Why 1 in 3 People Worldwide Suffer From Headaches

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Pain medication misuse can stem from inadequate awareness around the global burden of headaches

A horizontal bar chart titled “Headaches Cause More Harm in Women.” The chart shows age-standardized years lived with disability (YLDs) per 100,000 people in 2023, comparing women (dark blue) and men (yellow). For all headache disorders, women experience roughly twice the YLDs of men. The gap is larger for migraine, with women showing substantially higher disability than men. For tension-type headache, disability levels are much lower overall but remain higher in women than men. Source: IHME; chart by CFR/Allison Krugman for Think Global Health.

A New Era for Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis

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Emerging biomarkers and digital tools are unlocking earlier and more accurate diagnosis

Teresa, 75, an Alzheimer's patient and former businesswoman, poses for a photograph inside the Alzheimer Foundation, in Mexico City, Mexico, on April 19, 2012.

The Economics of Lung Cancer and Drug Delays in Latin America

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A new analysis unpacks the extent of how slow regulatory approvals hamper cancer drug availability in Latin America

Norma del Carme Blandin, a cancer patient, sits in a wheelchair inside her bedroom, at the Casa-Albergue, in Managua, Nicaragua, on October 20, 2017.

The Mental Health Effects of Ozempic and GLP-1 Drugs

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As researchers decipher how GLP-1s affect mental health, experts worry access is outpacing the scientific investigation

Dawn Heidlebaugh, who experienced mental health concerns while using Ozempic, looks out of the window of her home, in Findlay, Ohio, on September 19, 2023.

To Tackle Obesity, India Needs More Than High Soda Taxes

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New taxes and policy target soft drinks, but they overlook other sugary beverages and the country's "obesogenic environment"

A vendor selling snacks and refreshment drinks waits for customers outside Alipore Zoological Garden, in Kolkata, India, on May 1, 2024.

Tobacco Control in Indonesia Hits Another Roadblock

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Faced with illicit cigarette trades and a low tobacco excise tax, Indonesia continues to struggle with its smoking epidemic

Tobacco Control in Indonesia Hits Another Roadblock

New Book Examines "Why Black Americans Die Sooner"

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Joseph L. Graves Jr. peels back the medical misconception that socially defined race can dictate disease prevalence

Bernita Jackson, 51, has her blood pressure measured at an event to inform people about the Affordable Care Act, in Los Angeles, California, on November 25, 2013.

How Medicaid Policies Shape County Health-Care Performance

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A new study explores the factors shaping strong health systems in the United States, including Medicaid expansion

How Medicaid Policies Shape County Health-Care Performance

How Ozempic and GLP-1s Are Changing Childhood and Teen Weight Management

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As GLP-1 drugs surge in popularity, more research is needed to establish guidelines for use among young people

Micah Peterson, 15, and his mother talk with Marilyn Day, director of a child and teen weight management program, during a counseling session at The Children's Hospital, in Aurora, Colorado, on July 8, 2010.

Declarations Without Delivery: Weighing UN Plans for NCD Medicine Access

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International commitments to expand access to noncommunicable disease medicines have been slow to create impact

Women receive free treatment for breast cancer at the Bertha Calderon Women's Hospital, in Managua, Nicaragua, on October 17, 2012.