Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with a virus, known as monkeypox virus (MPXV). This virus is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox is not related to chickenpox. View our “Mpox Fact Sheet” in English or Spanish and let’s dive deeper into mpox and how frontline healthcare workers can minimize the spread of this infectious disease!
Who is at Risk for Mpox? Anyone who has been in close, personal contact with a person or an animal that has mpox over a period of time is at risk.
How Does Mpox Spread? Close contact with a person with mpox, including sexual and intimate contact.
Direct contact with mpox-infected animals.
Direct contact with mpox-contaminated materials.
Passing from a pregnant person with ...
Physical activity is an important key to overall health. For example, studies have shown that dance can improve memory retention and even 10 minutes of physical activity can help destroy cancer cells. But what happens after you are physically active? Studies also found that increased physical activity was often followed by extended rest, which may reduce long-term benefits. Now, a recent research study has found that replacing rest between exercise sessions with additional ecologically relevant physical activities may help improve cognitive decline among Spanish-speaking Latino adults. Let’s dig deeper into this study and how it impacts older people.
What is Ecological Momentary Intervention?
Dr. Ulf G. Bronas at the Columbia School of Nursing and his research team ...
Alcohol use is the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, behind only tobacco and obesity, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths each year. Consuming alcohol increases the risk of developing at least 7 types of cancer including: Mouth (oral cavity)
Esophagus
Breast (for women)
Liver
Throat (Pharynx)
Voice Box (Larynx)
Colon and Rectum Let’s dig deeper into this issue and what actions can be taken to decrease the risk!
Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages
With the many health risks that come with alcohol consumption, the U.S. Surgeon General has called for updating alcoholic beverage labels to include a warning about the risk of cancer associated with alcohol consumption. “Pursue changes to label ...
The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) at UT Health San Antonio and the UTSA College for Health, Community, and Policy (HCaP) wants to fund a new batch of one-year Community Engagement Small Project Grants. The grants aim to help promote, develop, and expand community and scholarly research partnerships that benefit science and clinicians, according to the 2025 funding announcement. Last year’s grants enabled five teams of researchers to translate scientific findings to benefit public health in San Antonio. These projects covered topics such as HIV/AIDS, faith’s impact on criminal rehabilitation, artistic influence on young brain development, and more. Now your team could be the next ones to improve community health by applying for a ...
What is your New Year’s Resolution? One of the most popular resolutions is engaging in more physical activity. Moving matters for your health in many ways, so it’s no wonder that increasing physical activity makes it to the top of the goal list for many people every year. However, being more physically active is easier said than done. Let’s explore some of the health benefits of physical activity and go over some ways to keep you motivated throughout the year.
Physical Activity Benefits Against Cancer
There is a slew of reasons that exercise is good for ... well, everything. Countless studies have shown that getting your recommended weekly exercise can greatly reduce your risk for at least eight types of cancer, including bladder, breast, colon, ...
Did you know that smoking one single cigarette can burn 20 minutes off of your life expectancy? This is according to a UK-based study, which also found that smokers lose about the same number of healthy years as they do total years of life. “Thus smoking primarily eats into the relatively healthy middle years rather than shortening the period at the end of life, which is often marked by chronic illness or disability,” according to the study. While the study focused on the UK, life expectancy and smoking are big issues in the US, too. Today, there are over 480,000 US deaths each year caused by smoking and smoke exposure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Let’s dig deeper into this issue.
Smoking and Life Expectancy
In the UK, ...
Norovirus, also known as the stomach bug, is surging across the United States. Outbreaks of the virus spiked from 69 to 91 the week of December 5, 2024, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a significant rise considering the same reporting period over the last several years showed 65 or less outbreaks per week. However, there are a growing number of cases that haven't been reported, adding to the potential for spreading the virus. With outbreaks and cases on the rise, there are several things you should know about the norovirus surge and measures you can take to protect yourself and loved ones from getting sick.
1. Norovirus is a Foodborne Illness
While norovirus is classified as a “stomach bug” or ...
Tis the season for coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, and sore throats. That’s right, it’s winter. The time when illnesses and viruses, from influenza (flu) to COVID-19 to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), run rampant. When left unchecked, these viruses can cause serious adverse health effects, especially for immune compromised individuals, children, the elderly, and expectant mothers. Luckily, there are vaccinations that can significantly reduce risks for these illnesses. The best way to protect yourself and loved ones against these threats is to stay updated on recommended vaccinations, such as COVID-19 and the flu. Salud America! is partnering with CVEEP to get the word out about the importance of staying vaccinated during the winter ...
More than 2 million people in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year. No two among them will experience cancer exactly the same way. Even so, certain groups of people will share similar cancer experiences. Latinos face higher rates of cervical, liver, and stomach cancers. Black women with ovarian cancer don’t live as long as White women with the disease. People living in rural areas are less likely to get regular cancer screenings than those who live in cities. And people who live in areas where poverty has been the norm for decades are more likely to die of cancer than those living in more affluent areas. These patterns of worse outcomes among specific groups of people are called cancer differences. Although biological differences can contribute to ...
