July 23, 2025

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Persistent Barriers Block Women’s Health Services

Across the U.S., women encounter mounting hurdles in accessing vital health services—from mammograms to prenatal care and menopause treatment. Ohio State Rep. Jean Schmidt’s new BEST Act aims to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for supplemental breast cancer screenings after surveys showed many still face high bills. In Tennessee, the Medical Ethics Defense Act empowers providers to refuse prenatal care for objections based on marital status, prompting at least one woman to cross state lines for care. Meanwhile, rural Ohio hospitals warning of Medicaid funding cuts threaten the last remaining maternity wards in some counties, and NC’s 12-week abortion ban, coupled with mandatory counseling laws, has some women postponing or foregoing pregnancy altogether.

Persistent gaps in provider training and policy compound these obstacles. Medical schools’ limited menopause curriculum means many perimenopausal women are misdiagnosed and prescribed antidepressants instead of hormone therapy, delaying relief. On the global front, U.S.-funded contraceptives worth nearly $10 million sit unused in Belgium, slated for incineration under restrictive aid policies, depriving low-income nations of critical reproductive supplies.

Colorado Measles Exposure and Florida Vibrio Warning

Colorado health officials have confirmed a measles case in an out-of-state visitor and identified two potential exposure sites: Taylor Park Trading Post in Almont on July 12 (monitor through August 2) and Gunnison Valley Health Hospital July 16–17 (monitor through August 8). Anyone who visited these locations should watch for fever, cough, red eyes and rash for 21 days and call ahead before visiting a healthcare provider.

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Health reports at least five fatalities and nearly a dozen illnesses linked to Vibrio vulnificus, a rare “flesh-eating” bacterium thriving in warm Gulf Coast waters. Beachgoers—especially those with open wounds or compromised immune systems—are urged to avoid salt or brackish water, cook seafood thoroughly, cover cuts with waterproof bandages and seek immediate treatment for any signs of infection.

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Exercise Extremes: Heart Scarring Risks and Diabetic Benefits

New studies underscore the divergent cardiac impacts of exercise extremes.

Nearly 47% of male cyclists and triathletes over 50 who train 10+ hours weekly develop scar tissue in their left ventricle, elevating dangerous arrhythmia risk by 4.7-fold.

Adults with diabetes who condense 150 minutes of weekly moderate exercise into one or two “weekend warrior” sessions cut all-cause mortality by 21% and cardiovascular death by 33%.

While veteran athletes should seek regular cardiac screening, diabetic patients can be reassured that flexible workout schedules still deliver significant health benefits.

Pantry Shortages Rise as Oklahoma Moves to Ban Junk Foods from SNAP

In Montgomery County, Indiana, FISH Food Pantry is scrambling as food bank stocks dwindle—only canned green beans remain this week, forcing full-price purchases of cereal and pasta at local markets. \n\nAcross the Plains, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have petitioned the USDA to bar SNAP beneficiaries from buying carbonated soft drinks and candy under the "Make Oklahoma Healthy Again" campaign. \n- Critics call the waiver’s definitions confusing. \n- SNAP-Ed funding was cut in the recent federal Big Beautiful Bill Act, raising concerns that families won’t get the nutrition guidance they need.

Study Finds Urgent Care Overprescribes Antibiotics, Steroids and Opioids

Urgent care clinics are frequently prescribing medications that offer no benefit for common conditions, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers reviewed 22.4 million visits from 2018–2022 and found:

12% of visits resulted in an antibiotic prescription

9% in steroids and 1% in opioids

Inappropriate use was widespread—antibiotics for bronchitis and urinary symptoms, steroids for sinus and respiratory infections, and opioids for muscle strains. Experts call for urgent‐care drug stewardship programs and better clinical support to curb resistance, addiction risks and patient harm.

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Women Face Rising Barriers to Mammograms, Prenatal & Menopause Care Nationwide