A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

KY Center for Smoke-free Policy seeks nominations of advocates award in honor of Dr. David Stevens

The Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy is accepting nominations for local smoke-free advocates who deserve to be recognized for their dedication to improving smoke-free policy and secondhand smoke education in Kentucky. Self-nominations are welcome. The winners will be honored at the 2024 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference, to be held April 23-24. One of the advocates will be awarded the Dr....

Two legislators file bill to undo a law that bans gender affirming care for transgender minors

By Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern Two Kentucky Democrats filed a bill this week seeking to undo a law that bans gender affirming medical care for transgender minors. Senate Bill 150 passed the general assembly in 2023. Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill, but the Republican supermajority overruled his veto, and the bill became law. As a result, Kentucky now bans treatments like hormones for transgender...

KY youth speak to lawmakers about mental health, drug epidemic during Children’s Advocacy Week

By Nadia Ramlagan Public News Service Protecting, supporting and listening to Kentucky’s kids is the focus of Children’s Advocacy Week. As events at the Capitol in Frankfort wrapped up, advocates outlined critical policy recommendations they say will help shape better lives for kids. Alicia Whatley, policy and advocacy director for Kentucky Youth Advocates, pointed to House Bill 275, aimed...

St. E. Healthy Headlines: The ins and outs of heart health during frigid temperatures

It’s one of the most dreaded parts of winter: shoveling snow out in the cold. But can the cold weather and shoveling cause a heart attack? Dr. Saadeddine Dughman, an Interventional Cardiologist with the Florence Wormald Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, weighs in on the debate. Photo provided by St. Elizabeth “Cold weather alone can affect your heart – add in the physical exertion...

Health – Elham Ghahari: Glaucoma awareness — prevention, symptoms, and treatment

By Dr. Elham Ghahari University of Kentucky Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve that can cause vision loss. It is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. What is glaucoma and what causes it? Glaucoma is the leading cause of global irreversible blindness, and 111.8 million people worldwide will have glaucoma by the year 2040. Dr....

University of Kentucky study focuses on child sex trafficking prevention in Kentucky middle schools

By Lindsay Travis University of Kentucky A team of researchers at the University of Kentucky continues to advance strategies to prevent child sex trafficking (CST) across the Commonwealth through a training program for middle school staff. Strong risk factors for CST include a dysfunctional family environment characterized by violence and parental substance use. In Kentucky, familial sex trafficking...

KY Organ Donor Affiliates marks record-breaking 2023 with 693 lives saved through donations

For the sixth consecutive year, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) has eclipsed its previous records in saving lives and expanding the donor registry. In 2023, the gift of life from 299 organ donors translated into a remarkable 729 transplants, the most in KODA history. Thousands more individuals were impacted through tissue donation. This marks a notable 25% increase in organ donation and a 20%...

Kentucky leads nation in use of new class of drugs that fight diabetes, obesity, though questions persist

Kentucky Health News Kentucky has the nation’s highest rate of dispensed prescriptions for a new class of diabetes and obesity medications, according to the analytics company PurpleLab and published by Axios. “For every 1,000 people in Kentucky, roughly 21 were prescribed a drug that belongs to a buzzy class of diabetes and anti-obesity medications last year,” Tina Reed of...

Navagating Aging: America’s health system isn’t ready for the surge of seniors with disabilities

By Judith Graham KFF Health News The number of older adults with disabilities — difficulty with walking, seeing, hearing, memory, cognition, or performing daily tasks such as bathing or using the bathroom — will soar in the decades ahead, as baby boomers enter their 70s, 80s, and 90s. But the health care system isn’t ready to address their needs. That became painfully obvious during the covid-19...

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in U.S., make testing your home a new year’s resolution

By Dr. Stacy Stanifer University of Kentucky This time of year, many of us make resolutions aimed at improving our health. January also happens to be National Radon Action Month, making it a great time to prioritize the health of those in your household by testing for the presence of radon gas. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and the leading cause of lung cancer among...

‘Momnibus’ legislation aimed at improving Kentucky maternal health introduced in House by Moser

By Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern FRANKFORT — The “Momnibus” legislation introduced Wednesday in the Kentucky legislature grew out of an informal working group of Republican and Democratic women lawmakers who met throughout the summer. Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, introduced legislation dubbed “Momnibus” that is aimed at helping mothers in the state. (Photo provided) The bipartisan, 40-page...

City of Dayton recognized by Breathe Easy Coalition, NKY ASAP for adoption of smoke-free ordinance

In recognition of its passage of a smoke-free ordinance, the Dayton City Council was honored at its January 16 meeting by the Breathe Easy Coalition and the Northern Kentucky Agency on Substance Abuse Policy (NKY ASAP). “Dayton’s leadership showed true dedication to community health when its council voted late in 2022, to pass a city-wide ordinance that prohibited smoking on Dayton city property,...

First Opioid Abatement meeting under new leader draws big crowd, largely to support ibogaine study

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Nearly 130 people attended the first Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission meeting under the group’s new executive director, by all indications in support of the former director’s plan to fund research to help legalize a psychedelic drug as a possible treatment for opioid addiction. “This is very high attendance for our meetings,” Commission...

St. E. Healthy Headlines: Early detection in cervical cancer proven to improve survival rates

St. Elizabeth Healthcare Cervical cancer is a significant health concern, mainly for women over the age of 30. The most recent statistics, according to the World Health Organization, show that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with about 600,000 new cases in 2020 alone. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, about 14,100 women will be diagnosed...

Are you having a ‘Blue Monday’? It may be a myth, but seasonal affective disorder is not

By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Monday, Jan. 15, is considered by some to be “Blue Monday,” the most naturally depressing day of the year as people feel “blue” from holiday bills, bleak weather and forsaking their New Year resolutions, says Hackensack Meridian Health of New Jersey in a press release. It’s common for all these factors to have a compounding effect on mental health, but...