News
The Biden administration is alarmed as more women are drinking to excess and getting sick.
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on deaths from excessive drinking shows that rates among women are climbing faster than they are among men. The Biden administration considers this trend alarming, with one new estimate predicting women will account for close to half of alcohol-associated liver disease costs in the U.S. by 2040, a $66 billion total price tag.
Historically, alcohol use disorder has disproportionately affected men. But the growing trend of women drinking excessively has caught the attention of health officials. Women like Karla Adkins are a testament to the impact of alcohol abuse on their health. Nearly a decade ago, Adkins faced liver failure at the age of 36 due to heavy drinking. The prospect of staying sober was more terrifying to her than the health implications of her alcohol abuse.
More than 600,000 people in the U.S. died from causes related to alcohol from 1999 to 2020, positioning alcohol among the leading causes of preventable death in the country. The World Health Organization and various studies have found that no amount of alcohol is safe for human health, with even light drinking linked to health concerns like hypertension, coronary artery disease, and an increased risk of cancer.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated binge-drinking, especially among women who turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism. Marketing strategies for alcoholic beverages have increasingly targeted women, with the rise of products like rosé and low-calorie wines catering to female consumers. The emergence of “mommy wine culture” on social media has also normalized excessive drinking as a way to deal with the stress of motherhood.
Public health experts are concerned about the rising costs associated with alcohol-related liver disease among women. Women are projected to account for a significant portion of these costs by 2040, highlighting the need for interventions and awareness campaigns. National dietary guidelines recommend women to limit their alcohol consumption to one drink a day, but with the changing landscape of alcohol marketing and social norms, addressing excessive drinking among women remains a challenging task.
Stephanie Garbarino, a transplant hepatologist at Duke Health, notes that many patients are unaware of how their drinking habits impact their health. The prevalence of alcohol-related liver disease among young adults, including those in their 20s and 30s, is a growing concern for healthcare professionals.
As the Biden administration and public health agencies work towards addressing the issue of excessive drinking among women, individuals like Karla Adkins are advocating for change. Adkins now serves as a coach to help others quit drinking and hopes to change the narrative around alcohol consumption. Despite living with cirrhosis, she has been sober for close to a decade, inspiring others to seek help and make positive lifestyle changes.
KFF Health News is dedicated to producing in-depth journalism about health issues and is a core operating program at KFF – the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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