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johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
@johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
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The @jhu.edu Bloomberg School of Public Health

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/
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johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
illustration of an older person talking with a doctor. Text reads: How would these changes to the ACA impact Americans? There’s a concern that many people will be priced out of their plans and drop out. As prices rise, many people can’t afford to pay for health insurance when they have to pay rent and buy food and clothes. People without these subsidies are going to have to make a really difficult choice. Illustration of a hospital. Text reads: The increases have implications beyond just what the individual seeking care is facing. They will also affect hospitals, physicians, drug companies, and everybody else in the health care system. For example: Hospitals are required to treat people that go to the emergency department, regardless of their ability to pay for care. Especially in rural areas, that debt can become a loss for the hospital which could force them to close.
November 6, 2025 at 5:43 PM
johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
illustration of a person breastfeeding. Text reads: THC sticks around. The main active component in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can be found in breastmilk for at least six days after consumption. THC is stored in body fat, and slowly released over time. The more someone consumes, the more THC accumulates in breastmilk’s high fat content. This means an infant could be exposed to an unknown amount and for an extended period. No matter how cannabis is consumed (smoking, vaping, ingesting, etc.), its byproducts can be found in the breast milk. Illustration of a person breastfeeding. Text reads: Current recommendations: The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American Academy of Pediatrics encourage quitting and/or reducing use of cannabis use during breastfeeding. Mothers who continue to use cannabis and wish to breastfeed should discuss the risks and benefits with their medical provider. Illustration of a person breastfeeding. Text reads: short-term impacts: Some observational evidence has shown that using cannabis while breastfeeding can lead to drowsier babies. Lethargic babies may eat less often, which could result in poor weight gain and a need to supplement with formula. Other studies have shown that THC can: Affect breast milk composition by decreasing immunoglobulins and increasing lactose. Inhibit milk supply and the duration of lactation. illustration of a person breastfeeding. Text reads: long-term consequences: Some evidence suggests cannabis use during breastfeeding could raise the potential risk of long-term health effects to infant development, including: Impaired motor development, Cognitive deficits, and Hyperactivity. However: More research is needed on the both the long- and short-term effects of cannabis use during lactation.
November 4, 2025 at 4:26 PM
johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
Illustration of grocery receipt. Text reads: It’s not just SNAP recipients who will feel the sting. Without SNAP, food banks will be asked to do even more. Without funds to purchase groceries, SNAP recipients will need to turn to other resources like food banks or faith-based organizations. These organizations will then need additional community support, and may not be able to fill the gaps. Additionally, every dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity. Loss of benefits could hurt businesses where people spend SNAP dollars, including grocery stores and farmers who grow, supply, and sell those foods. This could mean a rise in food prices. How can you help: As food prices continue to rise and federal support shrinks, communities are filling the gap. Donate Smart. Shelf-stable proteins like beans, canned fish, peanut butter, and cooking oil are always in demand. Spices and whole grains go a long way. Financial donations are even more effective, because they allow food banks to buy in bulk. Volunteer. Help pack food boxes, tend a community garden, or serve after-school meals. Food banks depend on a network of hands-on support. advocate. Advocate for targeted policy changes.
October 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
Illustration of a checklist with vegetables in front of it. Text reads: What is SNAP? SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) helps an average of 41.7 million Americans per month. That’s 1 in 8 people. The program is funded by the federal government, but is administered by the states. After a family or individual is approved for SNAP, they receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card. Benefit amounts are determined using the USDA Thrifty Food Plan, a calculation based on what a family of four would need to have three low-cost, healthy meals a day. The money cannot be spent on tobacco, alcohol, nonfood items, or, in most cases, prepared foods. Illustration of family eating at a table. Text reads: Who does SNAP serve? SNAP serves the most vulnerable households including those with children, an elderly individual, or a nonelderly individual with a disability. Participants who apply must meet certain eligibility standards based on their income, assets, household size, immigration status, and proof of employment. “Families rely on SNAP benefits to help them have enough food; without those benefits, we risk a hunger crisis that the emergency food system will struggle to address,” says BSPH faculty member Julia Wolfson. Illustration of a person looking something up on the computer. Text reads: SNAP in the news: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that SNAP participants won’t receive checks starting November 1, and contingency funding will be withheld, due to the government shutdown. “In the past, states have picked up the benefits when government shutdowns impacted SNAP, but there was a guarantee that the states would get that money back,” says BSPH faculty member Susan Gross. But as of now, there’s no provision for them to be reimbursed. Recipients should check with their state regarding SNAP funding and other resources that are available to them. Illustration of empty grocery cart. Text reads: What happens without SNAP? Without SNAP, there could be a public health crisis of food insecurity and hunger that could have long-term negative health impacts for millions of Americans, says Wolfson. Loss of SNAP benefits often means a shift in household spending. People need to decide where the money they have goes. For example: utilities, housing, health care, or food. And hunger doesn’t stay at home; it follows kids to school. Children who are hungry can’t focus on learning, and often struggle with emotional regulation.
October 29, 2025 at 7:19 PM
johnshopkinssph.bsky.social
What is mpox? Mpox is a virus in the smallpox family. There are two types of mpox, clade I and clade II. Clade II mpox, which is less deadly, has been circulating at low levels in the U.S. since 2022. Clade I typically leads to a higher rate of severe illness or death. It’s transmitted through: animals who carry the disease, close sexual or intimate contact, household contacts, and contaminated objects. What are the symptoms? One of the more common symptoms associated with mpox is a rash. Other symptoms include: fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and sore throat. While most people recover within two to four weeks, children, pregnant people, and those who are immunocompromised are most at risk of serious illness or death. The public health emergency: In 2024, there was an uptick of calde I mpox cases in the DRC. This outbreak showed the first evidence of human-to-human sexual transmission of this more lethal version of the virus. This version, specifically clade Ib, quickly drove more than 19,000 known cases and at least 601 deaths in an area where it was difficult to deploy public health tools like surveillance and vaccines. What you need to know: Until last week, there were no known cases of locally acquired clade Ib mpox in the U.S. The recent detection of three cases in California, with no known travel history, is concerning. Experts will be watching for signs of household or community transmission, monitoring for severe outcomes, and working to expand access to mpox vaccines, according to Khalifa. People who have symptoms should seek medical care and can be vaccinated.
October 27, 2025 at 7:57 PM