In the news
Household Air Cleaners Improve Heart Health Among Individuals with COPD, Researchers Find
Sarath Raju, MD MPH and Meredith McCormack, MD MPH report on the CLEAN AIR study. Their research explored the relationship between COPD, indoor air pollution, and portable air purifiers in the home.
2022 State of Lung Cancer Report
The American Lung Association has released its 2022 State of Lung Cancer Report.
Explore the report here.
Medicine for the Greater Good Interns Measure Baltimore’s Blood Pressure
Medicine for the Greater Good (MGG) is a program that strives to connect health care professionals with the Baltimore community. During a community outreach event for medical students, MGG interns were able to diagnose a Baltimore resident, ensure that he received treatment, and escorted him home.
Johns Hopkins doctors inspire future generations with school lessons
When Dr. Galiatsatos entered a Baltimore City classroom to teach about health, he hoped to instill a love of science in the children and also inspired a teacher to pursue her dream of attending medical school. Read more here.
Inaccurate pulse oximeter measurements delayed COVID treatment for people of color
Ayesha Rascoe from NPR speaks to Dr. Ashraf Fawzy about a study that shows how inaccurate measurements by pulse oximeters lead to delays in COVID treatment for people of color.
Read or listen to the interview here.
How Wildfires Impact Our Health, As Well As The Environment
Dr. Meredith McCormack explains that wildfires create intense air pollution made up of particulate matter, air toxins, carbon monoxide, and other harmful substances. People at risk of experiencing the most harmful effects of the wildfire pollution include those with preexisting pulmonary and cardiovascular illnesses, and pregnant people. Dr. McCormack urges summer travelers to "listen to public health authorities" to avoid areas with the greatest risk, protect yourself, and come up with a plan in the event of a wildfire.
Saharan dust cloud over the Atlantic may reach Gulf Coast by weekend
Dr. Meredith McCormack weighs in on how a dust cloud from Africa's Sahara Desert may impact the health of those who are living in its path. If the cloud of dust reaches land, the fine particles that it brings with it could irritate people's eyes, noses, and throats, or even increase the chances of asthma attacks or COPD flare-ups. Some weather monitoring services predict that the dust cloud will reach the Gulf Coast, others are showing that the cloud will bypass most of the United States altogether.
Image: AccuWeather predicted path of Saharan dust cloud
Growing evidence links air pollution exposure and covid-19 risks
Air pollution exposure may now be added to the list of covid-19 risk factors alongside older age, obesity, and immunocompromised status. Dr. Meredith McCormack notes that exposure to air pollution may lead to a more severe viral response by increasing oxidative stress, impairing your immune response, or possibly allowing the virus to travel farther into the body's cells.
Better ventilation in schools could reduce covid risks and boost learning. Why aren’t we doing it?
“When we can improve indoor air quality in schools, we’re improving it for a community of children.” Dr. Meredith McCormack comments on how properly filtering air in schools can improve children's health and academic success. The air quality in schools, where children spend a large portion of their day, can have either a positive or negative influence on their lung development and risk for asthma attacks.
Menu for Easier Breathing
Dr. Hansel is embarking on a new research study to learn if there is a link between diet and pulmonary disease symptoms, like COPD. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may be the key to alleviating disease flare-ups, but these foods may be harder to come by for those living in Baltimore City, where the new study is taking place.
The smog covering Beijing, China, may prove to be detrimental to Olympians
Dr. Meredith McCormack weighs in on how the smog and pollution covering Beijing, China, may impact the performance and lung health of athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Those who will perform at high altitudes or who have pre-existing conditions, like asthma, may be especially at risk.
Image by Thomas Peter/Reuters
How to Combat Urban Heat Islands
Doctors Meredith McCormack and Darryn Waugh are leading a pilot project in Baltimore to calculate dangerously hot areas across the city in the summer months. They hope this heat map will lead to environmental innovations that will help alleviate the symptoms of pulmonary disorders that are often triggered by the heat and humidity.
Hot off the presses
2022 State of Lung Cancer
COMING NOVEMBER 1, 2022.
2022 State of the Air Report
The American Lung Association has released their "State of the Air" report for 2022. Search your state and ZIP code to see how your city measures up against others for High Ozone Days, Particle Pollution, and Groups at Risk. You can also view "Report Cards" on the cleanest cites or the most polluted cities in the country.
2022 State of Tobacco Control
The American Lung Association has released their "State of Tobacco Control" to provide statistics on how tobacco use and secondhand smoke impact health, the ways in which tobacco prevention methods have been implemented and to what degree they've been proven effective, and how your state measures up against others for various tobacco-related variables.
2022 Asthma and Allergy Report
Allergy Capitals has released their 2022 Asthma and Allergy Report. In this edition, you can find information on how to improve your quality of life if you suffer from seasonal allergies, how COVID-19 impacted those with allergies, the annual state allergy ranking, and more.
