Nearly every day, you hear about the increased concern for public health. It's no surprise that you are concerned about public health issues like superbugs resistant to antibiotics.

You're curious about how experts determine what constitutes a threat to public health. What are the top public health issues you should be concerned about?

We examine what constitutes a public health concern, what trends are causing experts to worry and what you can contribute to make your community healthier.

How do experts identify public health threats?

Professionals in public health identify and prevent health issues that affect entire communities, populations or regions (such as those who live in poverty or children). They look at critical criteria to determine which topics are public health concerns.

According to Adriano Schneider, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of California San Diego, "a public health threat" is an illness that has public health

significance. This is a pathogen which can be spread between people. It also increases the risk of death and severe injury for a specific group of people.

De Bernardi Schneider explains that when looking for red flags, you should always be on the lookout to see if the disease's trend has changed. It is crucial to consider both the speed of a disease's spread and its behavior. Public health professionals will pay attention to a condition that becomes more aggressive.

Nevertheless, not all issues of public health are infectious diseases. Natural disasters, addiction and other issues can have a negative impact on large numbers of people. These issues are considered public health threats by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when they become the "leading cause of death and disability.".

Antibiotic-resistant Microbes

De Bernardi Schneider: "If I were to identify a single threat to public health not only in America, but around the globe, it would be antimicrobial resistant." The "superbugs", as they are called, have become more resistant to antibiotics after many years of them being prescribed for viral infections and other situations in which they were not necessary.

De Bernardi Schneider states that "the levels of drug resistance by bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi are continuing to rise, making the treatment for certain diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis more difficult each day." Antibiotics prescribed to patients are to be taken to the end in order to reduce microbial resistance.

Air pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO), which is the global health authority, has declared air pollution to be "the greatest risk environmental to

 in 2019". Air pollution can affect the lungs and heart and lead to cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular diseases. According to the WHO, 7 million people are estimated to die every year due to air pollution-related diseases.

The burning of fossil fuels in homes and businesses is a significant cause of air pollution. The CDC encourages people to minimize their exposure to air pollutants by checking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s air quality indicator prior to going outside.

Opioid epidemic

Opioids include fentanyl and heroin, as well as prescription painkillers such as oxycodone or morphine. Opioids have a high addiction rate, and their abuse and dependence have grown for decades. In 2017, the opioid epidemic was declared to be a public emergency. That year, opioids were responsible for 68 per cent of all drug overdose deaths.

The government, healthcare providers and pharmacies are working together now to reverse the crisis. The Department of Health and Human Services offers five guidelines for decreasing opioid abuse. These include increased access to rehab services, better ways of managing pain and the use of overdose-reversing medications.

Obesity

More than 93 million adults suffer from obesity, and over 13.7 million children.3 But obesity is more than being overweight. Obesity is a significant cause of premature deaths due to conditions such as type 2 diabetes and stroke.

The CDC acknowledges that obesity is a complicated issue with no easy solution. A number of factors, including genetics and physical activity, causes the obesity epidemic. It also has to do with the community's environment. The CDC provides educational tools that can help communities adopt healthier lifestyles, such as local resources to promote nutrition and fitness education.

Alcohol and tobacco use

Alcohol and tobacco use can have a long-lasting impact on public health. Tobacco is linked to cancer, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, as well as immune system problems. Alcohol abuse can have both short-term and long-term consequences, including alcohol poisoning, injuries and liver disease.

Alcohol and tobacco purchases are increasingly taxed and regulated, and public health campaigns that educate people about their dangers are being used to reduce consumption.

Influenza pandemic

Pandemics are caused when an illness quickly spreads across the globe and infects a large portion of the population. The most recent pandemic occurred in 2009. The WHO has listed this as a global health problem for 2019.4

Each state in the U.S. has its plan for keeping residents safe from this threat to public health in case of a flu outbreak. In order to prevent this public health risk, the WHO provides flu vaccines, as well as other resources, to countries around the world, particularly developing nations.

Motor vehicle accidents

Injuries from car crashes result in an additional 2.5 million emergency room visits per year.

Priority is given to education on distracted driving, seatbelt safety and teen driver safety in order to improve this public health problem. In an effort to improve road safety, more states have passed laws against distracted driving and are enforcing stricter regulations on new drivers. They also provide increased training for car seats and booster seats.