Hepatitis C, weight gain, football and more

Hep C deaths at all-time high

19,659: Number of U.S. deaths related to the hepatitis C virus in 2014, the highest number in history. The number of acute HCV cases hit 2,194 in 2014, more than 2.5 times the number in 2010.

Increased testing and increased access to treatment are considered the best ways to reverse the trend.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 4, 2016

Putting on the pounds at work

55% of American workers feel they are overweight.

44% say they’ve gained weight at their job.

25% say they’ve gained more than 10 pounds.

Top 3 reasons why:

            • “Sitting at the desk most of the day.”

            • “Too tired from work to exercise.”

            • “Eating because of stress.”

Source: Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder, April 2016

More med students

21,434: Number of first-year medical school students expected in 2017-18.

That’s a 30% increase since 2002.

20 new U.S. medical schools have been established since 2002.

Source: Association of American Medical Colleges, May 2016

Nothing to cheer about

More than 40% of retired National Football League players in a recent MRI study showed signs of traumatic brain injury, according to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in April. The study included tests of thinking skills and found about 50% had significant problems with executive function, 45% with learning or memory, 42% with attention and concentration and 24% with spatial and perceptual function.

Source: Francs X. Conidi, M.D., Florida Center for Headache and Sports Neurology and Florida University College of Medicine, April 2016