Across the United States, Asian women are grappling with a little-known health crisis: high rates of lung cancer despite never having smoked. At the forefront of addressing this concern is the Mount Sinai Health System’s Asian Thoracic Surgery Program, which has taken on a new mission to diagnose, treat, and investigate a phenomenon officially termed never-smoking lung cancer. This disease disproportionately impacts Asian women, creating unsettling racial and ethnic health disparities that are only starting to receive national attention. Researchers and clinicians at Mount Sinai report that their teams are encountering more cases of never-smoking lung cancer among Asian women…
Author: Disparity Matters
Across the United States, Asian women are grappling with a little-known health crisis: high rates of lung cancer despite never having smoked. At the forefront of addressing this concern is the Mount Sinai Health System’s Asian Thoracic Surgery Program, which has taken on a new mission to diagnose, treat, and investigate a phenomenon officially termed never-smoking lung cancer. This disease disproportionately impacts Asian women, creating unsettling racial and ethnic health disparities that are only starting to receive national attention. Researchers and clinicians at Mount Sinai report that their teams are encountering more cases of never-smoking lung cancer among Asian women…
A new study led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health reveals a troubling connection between structural racism and increased rates of heart disease, even as the agency itself faces criticism for downplaying such research. Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study found that neighborhoods with high levels of structural racism—measured through factors like education, housing, employment, and poverty—had significantly higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. “The people who live in that neighborhood, regardless of their race, are experiencing those outcomes,” said co-author Zachary Dyer. His index shows that living in areas shaped by racialized policies can negatively…
A new study led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health reveals a troubling connection between structural racism and increased rates of heart disease, even as the agency itself faces criticism for downplaying such research. Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study found that neighborhoods with high levels of structural racism—measured through factors like education, housing, employment, and poverty—had significantly higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. “The people who live in that neighborhood, regardless of their race, are experiencing those outcomes,” said co-author Zachary Dyer. His index shows that living in areas shaped by racialized policies can negatively…
Across the United States, Asian women are grappling with a little-known health crisis: high rates of lung cancer despite never having smoked. At the forefront of addressing this concern is the Mount Sinai Health System’s Asian Thoracic Surgery Program, which has taken on a new mission to diagnose, treat, and investigate a phenomenon officially termed never-smoking lung cancer. This disease disproportionately impacts Asian women, creating unsettling racial and ethnic health disparities that are only starting to receive national attention. Researchers and clinicians at Mount Sinai report that their teams are encountering more cases of never-smoking lung cancer among Asian women…
A powerful series by journalist Anissa Durham, titled “On Borrowed Time,” exposes the systemic barriers Black Americans face in accessing organ transplants. Through deeply reported stories, the series reveals how racism, outdated medical practices, and policy decisions have created life-threatening disparities. One article, “Is the Patient Black? Check this Box for Yes,” highlights how a race-based medical calculation long used by doctors prevented Black patients from qualifying for kidney transplants. This flawed formula, which factored race into kidney function estimates, effectively delayed or denied access to care for countless Black individuals. In “The Cruelest Kind of Heartbreak,” Durham reports that…
A new study from Brown University reveals that discrimination is a key driver of substance use risk among youth of color. While White adolescents historically reported higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use, recent data show that Black and Hispanic youth now surpass their White peers in substance use. Led by Robert Rosales, the study analyzed data from nearly 12,000 children aged 9 to 10 in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. It found that experiences of discrimination significantly increased the likelihood that young people would turn to substances as a coping mechanism. “Kids who experience discrimination are dealing…
For many Black Americans, moderate to severe eczema isn’t just a skin condition—it’s a daily struggle that often goes unseen and untreated. Atopic dermatitis (AD), the chronic form of eczema, can cause relentless itching, burning, and sleep loss. But in Black communities, the burden is heavier and the care less accessible.Research shows Black patients are more likely to suffer from severe eczema but less likely to be properly diagnosed. That’s because AD often looks different on melanin-rich skin. When healthcare providers aren’t trained to recognize these variations, diagnosis is delayed and treatment is ineffective. “Some may experience itching that never…
As temperatures soar across the U.S., a new study reveals how extreme heat is quietly endangering workers—especially those in jobs disproportionately held by Black and Brown Americans. From postal routes to construction sites, the heat isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s deadly.The study, published in Environmental Health, analyzed over 845,000 workplace injuries reported to OSHA in 2023 and matched them with local weather data. Researchers found that “heat exposure increases the overall risk of work injury,” affecting nearly every major industry, indoors and out. David Michaels, a coauthor and former OSHA head, explained, “It’s very clear that heat causes more than simply heat…
Prostate Cancer Rising Faster in Black Men new September 3, 2025 Prostate cancer diagnoses are climbing again in the U.S., and Black men are facing the steepest consequences. A recent report from the American Cancer Society shows a 3% annual increase in cases from 2014 to 2021, with the sharpest rise… Read More Politics Asian American and Pacific Islander Health Gaps Widen new September 1, 2025 Latino leaders launch health institute to fight research cuts news August 29, 2025 Black Infant Deaths Surge in Mississippi, state declares public emergency news August 25, 2025 Missed PSA Screenings Fuel Prostate Cancer Gap…