Seeing that these developments in public health issues are making national news has you curious: How do experts decide what counts as a public health threat? What are the most pressing issues affecting public health that you ought to be aware of? We’re examining what qualifies as a public health concern, which public health trends have experts worried and what you can do to contribute to a healthier community.Health problems poster Images - Free Download on Magnific (formerly Freepik)

How do experts determine public health threats?
Public health professionals identify and prevent health problems that impact entire communities, regions or populations (such as children or those living in poverty). These experts look for key criteria when determining which issues qualify as public health concerns.
“A public health threat is an illness with public health significance”—that is, a pathogen that can be transmitted between people and that raises the risk of death or serious injury to a certain group of people, according to Adriano de Bernardi Schneider, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the department of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
“When on the lookout for red flags, you are always looking for a shift on the trend of the disease,” de Bernardi Schneider says. This includes both how quickly a disease is spreading as well as its behavior. Public health professionals will pay attention to a disease if it becomes more aggressive. However, not all problems affecting public health involve infectious diseases. Concerns like natural disasters and addiction can also have a negative effect on large groups of people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consider these types of issues to be public health threats when they become “leading causes of death and disability.”
7 concerns about public health in 2019 Experts are calling these the top public health concerns in 2019. Learn what you can do to make your community a healthier place by following their growth. 1. Antibiotic-resistant microbes
“If I had to name a single public health threat not only in America but in the world, I would say the antimicrobial resistance,” de Bernardi Schneider says. These “superbugs” have grown more resistant to treatment after years of antibiotics being frequently prescribed in situations where they may not be necessary, such as with viral illnesses.
“The levels of resistance to drugs by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi continue to climb, making treatment to certain diseases, such as tuberculosis, HIV and malaria, more challenging each day that passes,” de Bernardi Schneider says. Patients who are prescribed antibiotics are encouraged to take their full course in an effort to slow microbial resistance.
2. Air contamination Air pollution is a global public health concern, with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) calling it “the greatest environmental risk to health” in 2019. Air pollution affects the lungs, heart and brain and can lead to conditions like cancer, stroke and cardiovascular disease. The WHO estimates 7 million people die each year from diseases caused by air pollution.
Air pollution is caused by everyday activities in homes and businesses that burn fossil fuels. Though many parts of the world are working to reduce the emissions they put into the air, the CDC also encourages people to manage their exposure to air pollution by using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air quality indicator before spending time outside.
3. Opioid epidemic
Fentanyl, heroin, and prescription painkillers like oxycodone and morphine are all examples of opioids. Opioids are highly addictive, and dependence on and abuse of these drugs has been growing for decades. The opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency in 2017, the same year that opioid use was the cause of 68 percent of all deaths by drug overdose.1
Healthcare providers, pharmacies and government agencies are now working together to reverse this crisis. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers five guidelines to decrease opioid abuse, including increased access to rehabilitation services, developing better methods of pain management and using overdose-reversing drugs.2
4. Obesity
Obesity affects more than 93 million adults and more than 13.7 million children and adolescents.3 Obesity is about far more than just being overweight. It’s recognized as a leading cause of premature death through related conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges that obesity is a complex problem that does not have a straightforward solution. It stems from a variety of factors, including genetics, physical activity, access to proper nutrition and community environment. The CDC offers educational tools to help promote healthier lifestyles across communities, including local resources that promote nutrition and exercise education.
5. Alcohol and tobacco use
Alcohol and tobacco use have far-reaching effects that can have an impact on public health for years to come, despite the fact that they are not the most surprising things on this list. Tobacco use is associated with cancer, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes as well as increased problems with the immune system. Excessive alcohol use has short-term effects, such as alcohol poisoning and injuries, and long-term effects like liver disease, high blood pressure and certain mental health problems.