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Researching Health ...

Sewage Overflows Caused By Sandy
Superstorm Sandy caused 11 billion gallons of partially or untreated sewage - the equivalent of Central Park stacked 41 feet high - to leak into rivers, lakes, and waterways, according to this report by Climate Central. New York City reported six sewage spills larger than 100,000,000 gallons, and 28 larger than 1 million gallons. New York authorities estimate it will cost nearly $2 billion to repair flood damaged sewage treatment facilities. Sewage overflow is common in the city, although not on this scale, and climate change will only make things worse, the group warns: "Climate change is making sewage treatment plants more vulnerable to major failures and overflows due to rising seas, more intense coastal storms, and increasingly heavy precipitation events." (April 30, 2013)

Childhood lead poisoning drops
Childhood lead poisoning cases dropped 17 percent in 2011, achieving a new low in New York City, according to this Health Department report. The number of lead poisoning cases in young children has declined 56 percent since 2005. (October 5, 2012)

Heath care savings from drop in obesity rates
If New York were to reduce its body mass index by 5 percent by 2030, it could save $40 billion in health care costs, according to this report by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. But if the state continues on its current trajectory, it could have an adult obesity rate of 51 percent by that time. (September 19, 2012)

Cost of Public-Sector Retiree Health Benefits
This report by the Empire Center estimates that New York’s state and local governments combined unfunded liability for public-sector retiree health insurance comes to nearly $250 billion. (September 18, 2012)

Pedestrian and cyclist deaths
Crash data analyzed by Transportation Alternatives revealed that most city pedestrians and cyclists killed during a 14-year span died because drivers broke an enforceable traffic law. (August 15, 2012)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Health, prevention, disease information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Includes health alerts (including West Nile info), information on restaurant sanitary conditions and information on various health-promotion programs. There are also many divisions, such as the childcare division that details the childcare industry in the city. The sites give health ratings and put inspection records into the hands of city residents.
Medscape
This site, aimed at doctors, allows you to search Medline, the database of medical journals, for free. Abstracts of most journal articles are available for free as well. Once you have some basic knowledge about a condition you are researching, you can look here to get a sense of what is going on in terms of study in the area. There is a companion consumer-focused site, CBSHealthWatch, which is linked.
The State Of Health In New York
Trust for America's Health looks at percentage and number of New Yorkers with certain diseases (asthma, diabetes,AIDS) compared to the United States as a whole.
New York State Department of Health
More health data for New Yorkers including information on how to sign up for Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus-- the insurance programs for those who are presently not covered by other plans