Governor Reynolds will sign a state proclamation March 14, 2018, recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in Iowa. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Iowa, and one of the most preventable types of cancer.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds parents the key to a lifelong, healthy smile is early preventive care. Beginning regular dental visits by the age of 1 year, using fluoridated water and brushing twice a day can help prevent painful cavities from forming in a child’s mouth.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is recruiting individuals interested in issues related to newborn screening for inherited conditions. The project coordinated through the IDPH Center for Congenital and Inherited Disorders will bring together a diverse and representative group of Iowans for a weekend to help determine future policy for the state’s newborn screening program.

Earlier this month, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a “Vital Signs” report indicating that after decades of decline, progress in preventing stroke deaths has slowed. The report found stroke death declines have stalled in three out of every four states. Only 13 states saw stroke death rates continue to decrease steadily from 2000 to 2015. Iowa is one of those states.

CDC data released today show the proportion of Iowa adults with obesity has fallen slightly, from 32.1 percent in 2015 to 32.0 percent in 2016. Of the 54 U.S. states and territories included in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) report, Iowa is one of 16 that showed a decline in self-reported obesity.