7 Public Health Issues We Must Solve in 2023

Public health issues affect the population. Chronic diseases like asthma, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease are among them. Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, measles, influenza, and COVID-19, also run through the populace. Keep in mind that resources are limited, so public health experts and professionals consider numerous factors to decide if a health matter should be regarded as a public health concern or not. Those factors include the prevalence of the condition, severity, communicability, preventability, control measures, surveillance types, and potential for an outbreak. If you’re curious about the health issues that the country must resolve next year, here are a few.

AIDS/ HIV

The AIDS epidemic in the 1980s infected 84 million people. On a global scale, about 40 million have lost their lives to the disease. Vaccines continue to be developed, but that hasn’t stopped AIDS. Funding, research, testing programs, and education continue in efforts to find an effective cure. If you want to be part of the efforts to find treatment for AIDS, consider a career in the medical field. Look for an online master public health program to find out what you need.

Obesity 

Obesity increases the risk of developing diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and more. Patients with obesity may also develop depression and cancer. Public health measures can help tackle obesity and improve the overall health of the citizens.

Heart Diseases

Stroke is the leading cause of death in the US. Public health programs can boost awareness and encourage people to exercise, reducing the risk of heart disease among the population. Public intervention campaigns can also help reduce salt intake for many households. High sodium levels are linked to high blood pressure. That’s an issue public health campaigns tackle.

Food Safety 

Contaminated food can result in food poisoning and death. Public health agencies monitor illnesses resulting from the consumption of contaminated or compromised food to determine causes and outbreaks. Those efforts help prevent death and ensure that people stay healthy.

COVID-19

More than a million Americans passed away from the pandemic. That number continues to rise today. While the government keeps rolling out vaccines and public health reminders and regulations, more virulent and transmissible variants develop. Many of the variants resist the vaccine. The data we have right now indicates that COVID-19 will remain a public health issue in 2023.

Opioid Crisis

In the United States, 760,000 people have passed away from opioid abuse since 1999.  Between July 2021 and July 2022, more than 100,000 people passed away from overdosing on drugs. The country must find ways to prevent the opioid crisis from getting worse.

Social Media Misinformation

Social media platforms are ideal for sharing information. However, with so many disinformation campaigns, public health professionals must also use these platforms to share correct and accurate data. The disinformation campaigns have made many hesitant about getting the COVID-19 vaccine when the evidence points to its effectiveness and general safety. That’s why the issue needs to be addressed. Public health professionals must fight against that misinformation. Otherwise, it can lead to bad practices, serious illness, and death.