6 Public Health Issues to Know in 2024 + Jobs Handling Them

Public health professionals work to improve the overall health and well-being of the public. Whether preventing diseases or addressing pre-existing conditions, they seek to provide the highest quality of care to the largest number of people.

What issues should you know about if you want to enter the field?  

In this article, you'll discover six pressing public health issues in America today, learn about common professions working to remedy them and find suggested online courses to help you explore this vital career further. 

6 current public health issues you should know about

The world has no shortage of crucial public health issues worth tackling. Here are six current public health issues in the United States if you’re considering a career. 

1. Cardiovascular disease 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease accounted for one in every five deaths in the United States in 2022, making it one of the leading causes of death and a top public health issue in the country. In total, the CDC estimates that approximately 702,880 people in the United States died from heart disease that year, amounting to approximately one death every 33 seconds [1]. 

Common causes of heart disease in the US include coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attacks. 

2. HIV/AIDS

Despite significant medical and health advances in recent years, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a persistent public health issue in America and worldwide.

HIV attacks white blood cells, leading to a weakened immune system. If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which can have a more severe impact on an individual’s immune system, susceptibility to contracting illness, and life expectancy. According to the CDC, an estimated 31,800 people received an HIV diagnosis in 2022 [2]. 

Although medical professionals can now help patients manage HIV and AIDS with appropriate treatments, their spread continues to be a concern for public health professionals.  

3. Obesity 

Excessive body weight significantly impacts the overall health of individuals and the general public.

While what constitutes a healthy weight can vary considerably from one person to another, excess weight can open the door to a wide range of health conditions. Obesity, for example, has been tied to such potentially life-threatening conditions as stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer. 

Key factors in weight management include nutrition and physical fitness. These can help individuals maintain healthy weights, decreasing their likelihood of developing a life-threatening condition. 

4. Substance abuse: Prescription drugs and alcohol

Substance abuse—particularly through the misuse of prescription drugs and excessive alcohol consumption—is a prevalent public health problem in the US and worldwide.

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), approximately 16.3 million Americans misuse prescription drugs over a 12-month period [3]. The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), meanwhile, identified approximately 28.9 million Americans ages 12 and older as having an alcohol use disorder (AUD) [4].

5. Cancer

Cancer, a disease that causes harmful cells to multiply uncontrollably, has become increasingly common. Unfortunately, while various treatments exist for many types of cancer, scientists haven’t found a cure.

After evaluating past data and using statistical analysis, The American Cancer Society anticipates 2,001,040 new cancer cases in the US in 2024, projecting 611,720 cancer-related deaths [5]. Unfortunately, the chances of developing cancer keep rising. According to researchers at Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the odds of someone under 50 developing cancer have increased with each generation [6].

6. Mental health and suicide

In addition to having a profound impact on emotional and psychological health, mental health can also impact physical health. 

Though mental health disorders can be challenging to see from the outside, a large percentage of the population deals with mental health problems every day. According to Mental Health America, 23 percent of American adults—or nearly 60 million people—experienced some form of mental illness between 2021 and 2022 [7]. Additionally, data from the American Psychiatric Association suggests an increase in mental health challenges, with 43 percent of American adults reporting feeling more anxious than they did the year before. That figure represents a 6 percent increase from 2023 and an 11 percent increase compared to 2022 [8].

Unfortunately, many mental illnesses don’t get treated, which can lead to attendant issues like suicidal thoughts. As the 11th leading cause of death among Americans, suicide claimed 49,476 lives in 2022 [9]. 

What are current public health issues?

According to a 2023 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change presents one of the greatest challenges to public health. The WHO estimates that one in four human deaths result from environmental factors made worse by climate change [10]. Other current public health issues include COVID-19, mental and physical disability, and environmental health.

Public health jobs to consider 

The field of public health tackles a host of significant health care challenges. Thankfully, many skilled public health professionals focus on resolving these problems. Whether you enjoy working with people or researching in a lab, public health has something for you. 

Some common public health positions you might consider pursuing include: 

• Epidemiologist

• Virologist 

• Biostatistician 

• Public health educator

• Public health analyst

• Social and community services manager 

• Public health policy maker 

• Public health consultant

Read more: 7 Public Health Careers (+ How to Get Started)

Prepare for a public health career on Coursera.

Public health professionals help solve the critical health problems that plague our communities daily. Work toward a future career in public health by enrolling in a cost-effective online program on Coursera today.

In Imperial College London’s Foundations of Public Health Practice Specialization, you’ll gain a thorough introduction to the principles underpinning public health and how to apply appropriate health interventions to improve public health programs. 

In Johns Hopkins’ Epidemiology in Public Health Practice Specialization, you'll delve into the core epidemiologic toolset to measure population health, assess interventions, collect and analyze data, and investigate outbreaks and epidemics.