Have you ever asked yourself what routine auto repairs can teach us about how we think of our investment in public health? Listen in on our latest Contagious Conversations podcast as host Claire Stinson uncovers the answers and details how quick action quashed a recent outbreak of an illness long considered to be eliminated in the United States.

In this episode, “The Costs of Getting Sick,” we explore the overlap between public health and the health of our economy with guests Dr. Dan Filardo of CDC, Dr. Michael Osterholm of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and Dr. Alexander Sloboda of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Join us!

Episode Quotes

“Obviously, the rash, the fever, cough, red, itchy eyes, runny nose are the symptoms commonly you get with measles, but it can also be very dangerous, and it can be deadly sometimes.”

— Dr. Alexander Sloboda, Medical Director of Immunization and Emergency Preparedness Programs, Chicago Department of Public Health

“Because this case was in a large congregate setting, we were really in communication with Chicago right off the bat, anticipating that there might be an outbreak.”

— Dr. Dan Filardo, a medical officer with CDC’s measles team

“You have outbreaks in schools with these vaccine-preventable diseases, you interrupt education substantially. Now, what's the cost of that? What does that mean? What happens when kids fall behind? What happens when the teachers can't teach? And, unfortunately, we don't have a lot of these things qualified or quantified in terms of what they really mean, economically.”

— Dr. Michael Osterholm, author and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy

Thanks to Our Guests

Dr. Dan Filardo, a medical officer with the measles team at CDC

Dr. Alexander Sloboda of the Chicago Department of Public Health

Dr. Michael Osterholm, author and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy

For more information and full episode transcripts, go to Contagious Conversations.

Host Claire Stinson welcomes you to a special year-end episode of Contagious Conversations focused on highlights from the 2023 season! Listen to selections from the year’s episodes on topics as diverse as heath threats facing Black women; training the next generation of public health professionals; and the respiratory triple threat posed by COVID-19, influenza and RSV.

Highlights featured include the groundbreaking vaccination approach that led to the eradication of smallpox in 1980; how investigators zeroed in on the cause of an outbreak of a drug-resistant strain of pseudomonas aeruginosa found in contaminated eye drops; the health threats most common to women, and the particular challenges faced by Black women; a conversation with new CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen; and more.

For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations.

Key Takeaways:

[3:09] Dr. Laura Evans discusses the triple threat of COVID-19, influenza and RSV, and shares with the audience her thoughts on how to stay healthy and the importance of vaccines against respiratory threats.

[4:37] April was National Minority Health Month and for that occasion Dr. Judy Monroe spoke with Dr. Melody McCloud, an Atlanta-based obstetrician/gynecologist, who shared her insight into the most common health threats women face.

[6:22] CDC epidemiologist Dr. Danielle Rankin talks about her role investigating the cause of the outbreak of a drug resistant strain of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

[7:21] CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen speaks with Dr. Judy Monroe about the experience she brings to her position and CDC’s priorities going forward.

[8:59] Drs. Ezekiel Emanuel and Jerome Adams discuss hypertension in America and the risks it poses to almost half of U.S. adults. In this episode, Dr. Adams highlights the ethnic inequities in diagnosing and controlling this silent killer.

Doctors have long known that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Yet today, nearly half of all adults in the United States have hypertension, creating a silent public health threat.

Host Dr. Judy Monroe is joined by Dr. Jerome Adams and Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel. Dr. Adams is a former U.S. Surgeon General of the United States and now serves as the executive director of Purdue University’s Health Equity Initiatives. Dr. Emanuel is vice provost for global initiatives and the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, the doctors discuss the health risks posed by hypertension, reasons why it is so prevalent in the U.S. and the steps we can all take to stay healthy.

For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations.

Key Takeaways:

[1:46] Why is hypertension so prevalent? 

[2:20] Dr. Emanuel discusses the lack of exercise as a contributing factor to high hypertension rates in the U.S. adult population.

[2:52] Dr. Emanuel addresses the issues of poor diet, processed food and high sodium intake as they relate to hypertension.

[3:13] Obesity is a major factor for hypertension.

[3:50] Alcohol consumption as a contributor to high rates of hypertension.

[4:23] Dr. Adams highlights the impact of poor hypertension control among those impacted. 

[7:14] What steps can Americans take to address the higher impact of hypertension among the Black community?

[8:53] Dr. Adams discusses systemic racism and its impact on hypertension control.

[9:30] Dr. Emanuel emphasizes what he calls ‘huge’ health inequities in hypertension.

[10:44] The lack of awareness regarding hypertension is part of the problem.

[12:50] During the pandemic, more people were lost each year to hypertension than to COVID-19.

[13:06] Dr. Adams explains the three goals of the Surgeon General’s call to action.
 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Surgeon General’s Call to Action