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# LocalHealthGuide

Your source for health news for the Pacific Northwest

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## Posts

- [Big hair? Bald? How much difference your hair really makes to keep you cool or warm](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/15/11223/) - Theresa Larkin, University of Wollongong We have millions of hair follicles on our body, including around 100,000 on our scalp. This might sound like a lot of hair, yet humans are described as “hairless”. We have evolved to be the only mammals with a relatively hairless body, but still with scalp hair. So how does
- [Snooping in Medical Records by Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital Security Guards Leads to $240,000 HIPAA Settlement](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/15/snooping-in-medical-records-by-yakima-valley-memorial-hospital-security-guards-leads-to-240000-hipaa-settlement/) - Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital in Washington settles breach that affected 419 people From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement with Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, a not-for-profit community hospital located in Yakima, Washington resolving an investigation under
- [Wildfire smoke forecasted to impact Washington again this season](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/12/wildfire-smoke-forecasted-to-impact-washington-again-this-season/) - From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – As our climate changes, the threat of wildfires looms larger every year. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is urging the public to prepare now for smoke that can make air unhealthy to breathe. Smoke Ready Week, observed June 12-16, is an opportunity to take proactive
- [Mpox update from Public Health — Seattle & King County:](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/09/mpox-update-from-public-health-seattle-king-county/) - WHY A SECOND VACCINATION IS IMPORTANT NOW Public Health Insider What happened to mpox? Mpox—previously known as monkeypox—hasn’t made headlines lately like it did last summer, but new cases have been reported in the United States, including right here in King County. Unvaccinated people and people who have not received both doses may still be at
- [How the Mixed Messaging of Vaccine Skeptics Sows Seeds of Doubt](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/08/how-the-mixed-messaging-of-vaccine-skeptics-sows-seeds-of-doubt/) - By Darius TahirKaiser Health News It was a late-spring House of Representatives hearing, where members of Congress and attendees hoped to learn lessons from the pandemic. Witness Marty Makary made a plea. “I want to thank you for your attempts at civility,” Makary, a Johns Hopkins Medicine researcher and surgeon, said softly. Then his tone changed.
- [Local resources for those with drug use disorders](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/07/local-resources-for-those-with-drug-use-disorders/) - PROVIDING SUPPORT AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER: TREATMENT ACCESS IN KING COUNTY Guest Blogger for Public Health-Seattle & King County Republished from Cultivating Connections, the blog of the King County Department of Community & Human Services In recent years, the pandemic has had a profound effect on mental health and substance use, with
- [New drugs that melt away pounds present more questions than answers but could be key tools in reducing the obesity epidemic](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/07/drugs-that-melt-away-pounds-still-present-more-questions-than-answers-but-ozempic-wegovy-and-mounjaro-could-be-key-tools-in-reducing-the-obesity-epidemic/) - Wesley Dudgeon, College of Charleston In the past five years, several new drugs have been brought to market that could lead to a profound, if not revolutionary, change in how health care providers – and the public – view weight loss. Three drugs in particular – sold under the brand names Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro
- [Climate Crisis Is on Track to Push One-Third of Humanity Out of Its Most Livable Environment](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/07/climate-crisis-is-on-track-to-push-one-third-of-humanity-out-of-its-most-livable-environment/) - by Abrahm LustgartenProPublica Climate change is remapping where humans can exist on the planet. As optimum conditions shift away from the equator and toward the poles, more than 600 million people have already been stranded outside of a crucial environmental niche that scientists say best supports life. By late this century, according to a study
- [Hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog? Here’s what we know about phytoestrogens for menopausal symptoms](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/07/hot-flushes-night-sweats-brain-fog-heres-what-we-know-about-phytoestrogens-for-menopausal-symptoms/) - Caroline Gurvich, Monash University; Jane Varney, Monash University, and Jayashri Kulkarni, Monash University While some women glide through menopause, more than 85% experience one or more unpleasant symptoms, which can impact their physical and mental health, daily activities and quality of life. Hot flushes and night sweats are the most common of these, affecting 75%
- [It’s time to bust the ‘calories in, calories out’ weight-loss myth](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/07/its-time-to-bust-the-calories-in-calories-out-weight-loss-myth/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, there’s a good chance you’ve been told it all comes down to a simple “calories in, calories out” formula: burn more calories than you consume, and the pounds will disappear. And it’s easy to see the appeal of breaking weight loss down into
- [Should you wash your prewashed lettuce?](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/07/29/14229/) - An infectious disease expert explains how to eat your greens safely during the cyclospora outbreak Lisa Cuchara, Quinnipiac University Salads – along with other fresh produce – are some of the healthiest foods you can eat. Leafy greens are rich in vitamins A, C and K, folate, potassium and magnesium. They also contain lots of fiber,
- [Nation faces emergency blood shortage -- Red Cross](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/07/28/nation-faces-emergency-blood-shortage-red-cross/) - From the Red Cross Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening the emergency shortage and threatening patient care News Summary: The American Red Cross has declared its second-ever national blood supply crisis after blood donations fell to a four-year summer low. Red Cross is now limiting distributions of type O blood to
- [Cyclosporiasis sickens some people worse – why your diarrhea could be more explosive than others](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/07/28/14218/) - Azadeh Nasuhidehnavi, Binghamton University, State University of New York and Wesley Kufel, Binghamton University, State University of New York As you may have seen in news headlines or social media memes, there’s explosive diarrhea going around. Understanding how the immune system responds to the parasite that causes the unfortunate disease called cyclosporiasis can help explain
- [Vaccine mis‑ and disinformation isn’t just a threat to public health, but also to our autonomy](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/07/28/vaccine-mis-and-disinformation-isnt-just-a-threat-to-public-health-but-also-to-our-autonomy/) - Kari Pahlman, University of Sydney and Diego S. Silva, University of Sydney A previously eliminated disease — measles — is resurgent in Canada amid declining vaccination rates It’s occurring at a time, post COVID-19, of increasing polarization with respect to vaccine policies. Meanwhile, overly simplistic notions of autonomy and personal choice are becoming familiar refrains
- [How Trump’s “America First” Administration Could Shut U.S. Scientists Out of the Next Nobel-Worthy Discovery](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/07/27/how-trumps-america-first-administration-could-shut-u-s-scientists-out-of-the-next-nobel-worthy-discovery/) - by Lisa Song, ProPublica July 27, 2026 ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. For decades, physicists wrestled with a fundamental mystery of the universe. They wanted to know why certain particles — like the protons in atoms — have mass, while particles
- [How vaccine skeptics use storytelling effectively to create powerful but medically inaccurate messaging](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/07/27/how-vaccine-skeptics-use-storytelling-effectively-to-create-powerful-but-medically-inaccurate-messaging/) - Katherine Shwetz, Rice University; University of Toronto As long as there have been vaccines, there have been people who doubted their science and safety. Back in 19th-century England, people rioted against a mandatory smallpox vaccine, claiming that it violated civil rights and was an affront to human bodily integrity. In the United States, organizations dedicated
- [No evidence mobile phones cause brain cancer – new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/07/21/no-evidence-mobile-phones-cause-brain-cancer-new-study/) - Sarah Diepstraten, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) and John (Eddie) La Marca, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) Electromagnetic waves are everywhere. They’re the reason you can hear music when you turn on the radio, use wi-fi, find your way using satellite navigation, and make calls on a
- [Breakthrough drug nearly doubles survival with advanced pancreatic cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/06/03/breakthrough-drug-nearly-doubles-survival-with-advanced-pancreatic-cancer/) - An oncologist explains how daraxonrasib overcame an ‘undruggable’ disease Christopher Lieu, University of Colorado Anschutz For a long time, the likelihood of surviving pancreatic cancer has been extremely low. For patients who were diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer between 2015 and 2021, about 97% died within five years of their diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer is so
- [There are different types of fitness. An exercise expert explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/06/02/there-are-different-types-of-fitness-an-exercise-expert-explains/) - Hunter Bennett, Adelaide University You probably have at least one “super fit” friend. Maybe they’re a marathon runner, a footy player or a keen hiker. To keep themselves healthy, they may stick to a strict exercise regimen and only eat certain foods. But in most cases, these people would likely struggle to play a sport
- [GLP‑1 drugs like Ozempic show promise for more than weight loss. But what’s science vs hype?](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/06/02/glp-1-drugs-like-ozempic-show-promise-for-more-than-weight-loss-but-whats-science-vs-hype/) - Paul Joyce, Adelaide University You’ve probably heard of Ozempic or Wegovy. These are the injectable drugs that have become household names for weight loss and diabetes. Now, researchers are investigating whether these medications known as GLP-1 agonists or GLP-1 drugs could treat everything from cancer and brain disease to depression, addiction and endometriosis. Some findings
- [How drowning risk is different since the 2025 floods: What you need to know before heading to the river](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/06/02/how-drowning-risk-is-different-since-the-2025-floods-what-you-need-to-know-before-heading-to-the-river/) - Fred MariscalPublic Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County En Español Preventable drowning deaths have been rising over the past several years. In 2025, there were 25 drowning deaths, part of a steady increase since 2018, More than half happened in our open-water rivers and lakes where conditions can change quickly and hazards are
- [Unpacking the fight over telehealth access to abortion medication](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/05/11/unpacking-the-fight-over-telehealth-access-to-abortion-medication/) - by Kelcie Moseley-Morris and Sofia Resnick, StatelineMay 7, 2026 Advocates and opponents of abortion access say they’re wondering what happens next in a critical telehealth medication case that created chaos and confusion over the past week after an appeals court blocked nationwide access to the drug and, days later, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito
- [Doctors Warn of a Deadly Complication From Measles Outbreaks](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/05/11/doctors-warn-of-a-deadly-complication-from-measles-outbreaks/) - By Rae Ellen Bichell, KFF Health News Mar 13, 2026 The first sign came when Deepanwita Dasgupta was 5 and started stumbling more while playing at her home in Bangalore in southern India. The girl was always up to something, so her parents figured extra bumps and bruises were just symptoms of an active childhood.
- [Recent measles cases in Washington raise concern about undetected community spread](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/04/30/recent-measles-cases-in-washington-raise-concern-about-undetected-community-spread/) - Health officials encourage vaccination and staying home when sick to help reduce spread OLYMPIA – Measles cases continue to increase in Washington this year, including three recent cases with no known source of exposure. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is urging people to watch for symptoms, stay home and contact their health care provider if they
- [Why you shouldn’t drink raw milk](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/04/30/why-you-shouldnt-drink-raw-milk/) - Story by Valeria Ricciulli, Public Good NewsApril 27, 2026 What you need to know Raw milk, also known as unpasteurized milk, is animal milk that has not gone through pasteurization—the heating process that kills harmful bacteria and other germs. Consuming raw milk and its products can expose you to dangerous germs that can cause food
- [Americans More Confident in Career Scientists at U.S. Health Agencies Than Leaders](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/06/stark-divide-americans-more-confident-in-career-scientists-at-u-s-health-agencies-than-leaders/) - From the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Public confidence that career scientists at federal health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are providing the public with trustworthy information about matters concerning public health
- [What to know about shingles, a painful infection that vaccination can prevent](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/31/what-to-know-about-shingles-a-painful-infection-that-vaccination-can-prevent/) - Arushan Arulnamby, Toronto Metropolitan University and Samir Kumar Sinha, Toronto Metropolitan University NBA star Tyrese Haliburton was recently diagnosed with shingles. The news drew attention to an illness that many people rarely talk about but is far more common than many realize. In Canada, 130,000 people develop shingles each year. The infection can cause a
- [Strongest evidence yet that vaping likely causes cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/31/strongest-evidence-yet-that-vaping-likely-causes-cancer/) - Bernard Stewart, UNSW Sydney As early as the 1880s, there was evidence that smoking tobacco damaged your lungs. But it took almost 100 years to definitively show that smoking causes lung cancer. So, what about vapes? Until now, most research that has looked at the cancer risk for people using vapes, also known as electronic
- [Should I take vitamin C to ward off colds, lower blood pressure or reduce cancer risk?](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/19/should-i-take-vitamin-c-to-ward-off-colds-lower-blood-pressure-or-reduce-cancer-risk/) - Nial Wheate, Macquarie University; Ian Jamie, Macquarie University, and Wai-Jo Jocelin Chan, UNSW Sydney; University of Sydney Vitamin C is one of the most iconic nutrients in popular health culture, often credited with preventing colds, boosting immunity and even fighting serious diseases. But while it’s essential for our bodies to function, its benefits are often
- [What does the appendix do, anyway?](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/12/what-does-the-appendix-do-anyway/) - Biologists explain the complicated evolution of this inconvenient organ Phil Starks, Tufts University and Lilia Goncharova, Tufts University Most people know only two things about the appendix: You don’t need it – and if it bursts, you need surgery fast. That basic story traces back at least to Charles Darwin, the English naturalist who developed the
- [Report: Loss of Hospital-Based Obstetrics Care Prevalent in Rural Counties](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/11/report-loss-of-hospital-based-obstetrics-care-prevalent-in-rural-counties/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily Yonder March 9, 2026 Residents in rural communities across the United States continue to lose access to hospital-based obstetrics services, with the least populated counties in our country losing access at a more rapid rate, according to a recent research report. The University of Minnesota’s Rural Health Research Center released
- [GLP‑1 drugs may fight addiction across every major substance, according to a study of 600,000 people](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/10/glp-1-drugs-may-fight-addiction-across-every-major-substance-according-to-a-study-of-600000-people/) - Ziyad Al-Aly, Washington University in St. Louis A patient of mine, a veteran who had tried to quit smoking for over a decade, told me that after he started a GLP-1 drug for his diabetes, he lost interest in cigarettes. He didn’t use a patch. He didn’t set a quit date. He simply lost interest.
- [Measles remains a growing concern in Washington as U.S. surpasses 1,100 cases in 2026](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/05/measles-remains-a-growing-concern-in-washington-as-u-s-surpasses-1100-cases-in-2026/) - MMR vaccine remains the most effective tool to prevent further spread Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed 26 measles cases across four counties this year, marking an increase from the three cases reported in a single county January 16. The 26 measles cases reported during the first two months of 2026
- [Rural Healthcare Is in the Red as Trump Withholds Medicaid Payments to Minnesota](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/04/rural-healthcare-is-in-the-red-as-trump-withholds-medicaid-payments-to-minnesota/) - By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder March 4, 2026 Editor’s Note: This post is from our data newsletter, the Rural Index, headed by Sarah Melotte, the Daily Yonder’s geographer. Subscribe to get a weekly map or graph straight to your inbox. If I’ve learned anything from my reporting on rural communities, it’s that governmental action
- [How to live a long and healthy life, according to the ancients](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/03/how-to-live-a-long-and-healthy-life-according-to-the-ancients/) - Konstantine Panegyres, The University of Western Australia Just like in the modern world, people in ancient times wanted to know how to live a long and healthy life. Greeks and Romans heard fantastic tales of far-away peoples living to well beyond 100. Greek essayist Lucian (about 120–180 CE) writes: Indeed, there are even whole nations
- [States try ‘public option’ Obamacare plans to reduce coverage costs](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/03/02/states-try-public-option-obamacare-plans-to-reduce-coverage-costs/) - by Shalina Chatlani, StatelineMarch 2, 2026 Nearly two decades ago, progressives fought to include a so-called public option — a government-run health plan — in the broad health care overhaul known as Obamacare. That effort failed, defeated by heavy lobbying from the insurance industry and opponents who decried it as a government takeover of health
- [Chlorine Dioxide, Raw Camel Milk: The FDA No Longer Warns Against These and Other Ineffective Autism Treatments](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/02/19/chlorine-dioxide-raw-camel-milk-the-fda-no-longer-warns-against-these-and-other-ineffective-autism-treatments/) - The FDA has taken down a webpage warning about therapies and products making “false claims” of treating autism. It’s part of a series of actions the agency has taken under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discredit long-established science. by Megan O’MatzProPublica The warning on the government website was stark. Some products and remedies claiming to
- [Can a psychedelic-induced mystical experience really improve your mental health?](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/02/18/can-a-psychedelic-induced-mystical-experience-really-improve-your-mental-health/) - Michiel van Elk, Leiden University Mystics once spent years meditating in caves in search of transcendence. Today, a growing number of people believe something similar can be reached in a single afternoon with the help of a psychedelic drug. Swallow a capsule of psilocybin or take a carefully supervised dose of LSD and you may
- [Colorectal cancer is increasing among young people, as James Van Der Beek’s death reminds us – cancer experts explain ways to decrease your risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/02/18/14102/) - Christopher Lieu, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Andrea Dwyer, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus An increasing number of people are dying of colorectal cancer at a young age, including those as young as 20. Actor James Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023, died at age 48 on
- [How a Croatian Lab Spawned a Buzzy Peptide Now Popular With MAHA](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/02/11/how-a-croatian-lab-spawned-a-buzzy-peptide-now-popular-with-maha/) - February 3, 2026 by Sara TalposUndark Magazine In the spring of 2024, Flynn McGuire started to notice glowing references online to an unapproved drug that proponents claimed could help the body heal more quickly. McGuire is a chief medical resident at University of Utah Health, where he works with patients rehabilitating from cancer and injuries,
- [ChatGPT Health promises to personalise health information. It comes with many risks](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/27/chatgpt-health-promises-to-personalise-health-information-it-comes-with-many-risks/) - Julie Ayre, University of Sydney; Adam Dunn, University of Sydney, and Kirsten McCaffery, University of Sydney Many of us already use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT for health advice. They give quick, confident and personalised answers, and the experience can feel more private than speaking to a human. Now, several AI companies
- [Taking acetaminophen in pregnancy doesn’t increase your baby’s risk of autism or ADHD – new review](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/21/taking-paracetamol-in-pregnancy-doesnt-increase-your-babys-risk-of-autism-or-adhd-new-review/) - Anya Arthurs, Flinders University If you’ve been pregnant in the past few months, you may have faced a dilemma. You wake up with a fever, a pounding headache or back pain – and then pause. Is it safe to take paracetamol? That hesitation isn’t surprising. In September last year, the United States government sowed widespread
- [Viral outbreaks are always on the horizon – here are the viruses an infectious disease expert is watching in 2026](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/16/viral-outbreaks-are-always-on-the-horizon-here-are-the-viruses-an-infectious-disease-expert-is-watching-in-2026/) - Patrick Jackson, University of Virginia A new year might mean new viral threats. Old viruses are constantly evolving. A warming and increasingly populated planet puts humans in contact with more and different viruses. And increased mobility means that viruses can rapidly travel across the globe along with their human hosts. As an infectious diseases physician
- [Exercise snacks: the best bursts of activity to incorporate into your day](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/16/exercise-snacks-the-best-bursts-of-activity-to-incorporate-into-your-day/) - Jack McNamara, University of East London Your fitness tracker might be telling you that you need 10,000 steps, 30 minutes of cardio or even an hour at the gym every day. But what if you could improve your health in just a few minutes a day? A growing body of research suggests you can. “Exercise
- [New variant of the flu virus is driving surge of cases across the US and Canada](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/16/new-variant-of-the-flu-virus-is-driving-surge-of-cases-across-the-us-and-canada/) - Zachary W. Binder, UMass Chan Medical School After a sharp uptick in flu cases in mid-December 2025, flu activity across the U.S. and Canada remains high. Although cases are trending downward in Canada as of Jan. 9, 2026, the season has yet to peak in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease
- [How low can you go (and still build muscle)? Why strength training matters at any age](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/16/how-low-can-you-go-and-still-build-muscle-why-strength-training-matters-at-any-age/) - Tom Janssen, McMaster University and Matthew Lees, McMaster University Getting out of a chair shouldn’t be a struggle. Yet for many older adults, simple everyday movements like this become increasingly difficult as our muscles break down and weaken with age, a process called sarcopenia. The consequences build quietly: trouble climbing stairs, more hospital visits and,
- [Prioritising protein? What the new US dietary guidelines get right – and wrong – according to 2 nutrition experts](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/16/14072/) - Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch, Southern Cross University Last week, United States health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr released the government’s revamped dietary guidelines for 2025 to 2030. These recommendations on healthy eating are updated every five years and help shape food policy and education for millions of Americans. Under the
- [States go their own way as RFK Jr. shifts federal vaccine policy](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/13/states-go-their-own-way-as-rfk-jr-shifts-federal-vaccine-policy/) - by Tim Henderson, Stateline January 13, 2026 New federal guidance to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for all children from 17 vaccines down to 11 comes as states already are charting their own courses on vaccine policy. The new federal guidelines mention a directive issued by President Donald Trump in December calling to align
- [RFK Jr. guts the US childhood vaccine schedule despite its decades-long safety record](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/07/rfk-jr-guts-the-us-childhood-vaccine-schedule-despite-its-decades-long-safety-record/) - Jake Scott, Stanford University The Trump administration’s overhauling of the decades-old childhood vaccination schedule, announced by federal health officials on Jan. 5, 2026, has raised alarm among public health experts and pediatricians. The U.S. childhood immunization schedule, the grid of colored bars pediatricians share with parents, recommends a set of vaccines given from birth through
- [West Coast Health Departments Reject CDC's New Vaccine Guidance](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/06/west-coast-health-departments-reject-cdcs-new-vaccine-guidance/) - The West Coast Health Alliance continues to recommend vaccination in alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule OLYMPIA – On January 5, 2026, the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed a decision memorandum to revise the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule and significantly reduce the number
- [What is ‘oatzempic’? Does it actually work for weight loss?](https://localhealthguide.com/2026/01/05/what-is-oatzempic-does-it-actually-work-for-weight-loss/) - Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch, Southern Cross University If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you may have seen people blending oats with water or juice and calling it “oatzempic.” The name is a nod to Ozempic, a prescription medication used primarily for type 2 diabetes that also
- [No gym or regular routine? Here’s how to stay fit over the holiday break](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/22/14050/) - Joanna Nicholas, Edith Cowan University The festive season can throw our exercise routines out the window. You might be staying somewhere different, with no access to a gym. Maybe your yoga studio is closed or social sport is on a break. Or you might just be too flat out with social events to find the
- [Severe storms and cold, windy weather threaten health across Washington](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/17/severe-storms-and-cold-windy-weather-threaten-health-across-washington/) - DOH offers health resources, safety tips, and ways to help Washington communities Washington State Department of Health – Communities across Washington continue to cope with the effects of recent flooding and severe storms, with additional hazardous weather expected this week. Families have been displaced, access to services disrupted, and recovery efforts continue in many parts of
- [The United States CDC has abandoned science in its new advice about vaccines and autism](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/16/the-united-states-cdc-has-abandoned-science-in-its-new-advice-about-vaccines-and-autism/) - Hassan Vally, Deakin University The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its long-standing guidance about vaccines and autism. The guidance once stated clearly and correctly that the evidence shows no link between vaccines and the development of autism. Now it claims “studies supporting a link [between vaccines and autism] have
- [My prescription costs what?!](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/16/my-prescription-costs-what/) - Sujith Ramachandran, University of Mississippi and Adam Pate, University of Mississippi Even when Americans have health insurance, they can have a hard time affording the drugs they’ve been prescribed. About 1 in 5 U.S. adults skip filling a prescription due to its cost at least once a year, according to KFF, a health research organization.
- [Leading Medical Associations disagree with CDC's Hepatitis B Vaccine Advice.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/08/leading-medical-associations-disagree-with-cdcs-hepatitis-b-vaccine-advice/) - WCHA disagrees with CDC’s Advisory Committee’s change to decades-long vaccine recommendation that has reduced pediatric hepatitis B infections by 99 percent Washington State Department of Health – The West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA) strongly supports that hepatitis B vaccination continue to be routinely offered to all newborns, with the first dose of the vaccine given within
- [Americans are unprepared for the expensive and complex process of aging](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/08/americans-are-unprepared-for-the-expensive-and-complex-process-of-aging/) - This article was written by Kahli Zietlow, Physician and Clinical Associate Professor of Geriatrics & Internal Medicine, University of Michigan. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in February 2025. Hackman had been living with Alzheimer’s and depended on Arakawa
- [Commentary: The Cost of Care in the Land of Plenty](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/03/commentary-the-cost-of-care-in-the-land-of-plenty/) - by Andrew Tait, The Daily Yonder December 2, 2025 I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really costs to stay alive in this country. Not in the spiritual sense – in the literal one. The bills. The trade-offs. The quiet math families do when pain meets the price tag. When I was 20, I
- [Online harassment is silencing Canada’s health experts — institutions need to do more to protect them](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/02/online-harassment-is-silencing-canadas-health-experts-institutions-need-to-do-more-to-protect-them/) - Heidi J. S. Tworek, University of British Columbia; Chris Tenove, University of British Columbia, and Netheena Neena Mathews, University of British Columbia Canada has lost the measles elimination status it has held since 1998. To regain that status, one crucial factor is hearing from researchers who speak about vaccine safety in public. Canada can’t afford
- [Taking a drug like Ozempic? What you need to know about risks of suicidal thoughts and contraception failure](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/12/02/taking-a-drug-like-ozempic-what-you-need-to-know-about-risks-of-suicidal-thoughts-and-contraception-failure/) - Nial Wheate, Macquarie University The rise of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro has been nothing short of meteoric. Originally developed to treat diabetes, these drugs are now widely used for weight loss and have become household names. But alongside headlines of dramatic transformations are reports of an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and
- [Making GLP-1 weight loss drugs cheaper isn’t enough to address America’s obesity problem – here’s why](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/28/making-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-cheaper-isnt-enough-to-address-americas-obesity-problem-heres-why/) - David B. Sarwer, Temple University The Trump administration is making a significant effort to reduce the cost of weight loss drugs. Its agreement with pharmaceutical giants, announced Nov. 6, 2025, will reduce the monthly prices of these medications by hundreds of dollars. For the past 25 years, I have treated people with obesity and have
- [Kennedy Sharpens Vaccine Attacks, Without Scientific Backing](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/25/kennedy-sharpens-vaccine-attacks-without-scientific-backing/) - By Céline Gounder As the federal government prepares for the next meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has intensified his attacks on aluminum vaccine components used in many shots to boost the body’s immune response. Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist before seeking public office,
- [First human bird-flu death from H5N5 – what you need to know](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/25/first-human-bird-flu-death-from-h5n5-what-you-need-to-know/) - Ed Hutchinson, University of Glasgow H5N1 bird flu has infected growing numbers of people worldwide in recent years, but this week saw something new: the first recorded human case of an H5N5 avian influenza virus. What is this virus and how concerned about it should we be? What happened? In early November, a resident of
- [Don’t stress out about overeating during the holidays – a dietitian explains how a day of indulgence won’t harm your overall health](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/20/dont-stress-out-about-overeating-during-the-holidays-a-dietitian-explains-how-a-day-of-indulgence-wont-harm-your-overall-health/) - Bryn Beeder, Miami University For many, holidays are synonymous with quality time and long-standing traditions. Typically laden with delicious foods, it’s not uncommon to eat more during the holidays than you usually would. You likely know that feeling of being too stuffed – the point when you’re pleasantly satisfied one moment and uncomfortably full the
- [AI vs. AI: Patients deploy bots to battle health insurers that deny care](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/20/ai-vs-ai-patients-deploy-bots-to-battle-health-insurers-that-deny-care/) - by Anna Claire Vollers, StatelineNovember 20, 2025 As states strive to curb health insurers’ use of artificial intelligence, patients and doctors are arming themselves with AI tools to fight claims denials, prior authorizations and soaring medical bills. Several businesses and nonprofits have launched AI-powered tools to help patients get their insurance claims paid and navigate
- [Why men need more exercise than women to see the same heart benefits](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/17/why-men-need-more-exercise-than-women-to-see-the-same-heart-benefits/) - Jack McNamara, University of East London Exercise is like medicine for the heart, and just like with medication, you need the right “dose” for it to be effective. But a recent study suggests that the dose might not be the same for everyone. Researchers found that men need roughly twice as much exercise as women
- [The U.S. wants healthier children. So why is it scaling back its nutrition programs? ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/17/the-u-s-wants-healthier-children-so-why-is-it-scaling-back-its-nutrition-programs/) - This story was originally reported by Chabeli Carrazana of The 19th. Meet Chabeli and read more of her reporting on gender, politics and policy. When the Trump administration released its Make America Healthy Again report in May, it lifted up the Women, Infants and Children supplemental food program, known as WIC, as a shining example
- [Five lifestyle changes that might help you live longer and slow down ageing](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/14/five-lifestyle-changes-that-might-help-you-live-longer-and-slow-down-ageing/) - Henry Chung, University of Essex and Charlotte Gowers, Anglia Ruskin University Society is fascinated with health, fitness and longevity. This obsession has spawned a multi-million pound industry centred around pushing the latest cutting-edge science, lifestyle modifications and products that claim to prevent ageing and live as long as possible. But the secret to a long
- [Canada loses its official ‘measles-free’ status – and the US will follow soon, as vaccination rates fall](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/14/canada-loses-its-official-measles-free-status-and-the-us-will-follow-soon-as-vaccination-rates-fall/) - Kathryn H. Jacobsen, University of Richmond In the wake of a measles outbreak in Canada that has infected thousands of people over the past year, an international health agency revoked the country’s measles-free status on Nov. 10, 2025. The Pan American Health Organization, which serves as the World Health Organization’s regional office for the Americas,
- [Grays Harbor County resident tests preliminarily positive for avian influenza](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/13/grays-harbor-county-resident-tests-preliminarily-positive-for-avian-influenza/) - If confirmed, this would be the first human case of avian influenza reported in Washington in 2025 From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – A Grays Harbor County resident has tested preliminarily positive for avian influenza, also known as bird flu. Confirmatory testing through the Washington State Public Health Laboratories is pending. Health
- [Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/12/want-to-make-america-healthy-again-stop-fueling-climate-change/) - Jonathan Levy, Boston University; Howard Frumkin, University of Washington; Jonathan Patz, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Vijay Limaye, University of Wisconsin-Madison If you’ve been following recent debates about health, you’ve been hearing a lot about vaccines, diet, measles, Medicaid cuts and health insurance costs – but much less about one of the greatest threats to global
- [Why does your doctor seem so rushed and dismissive?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/11/06/why-does-your-doctor-seem-so-rushed-and-dismissive/) - Marisha Burden, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus We’ve all been there: You wait 45 minutes in the exam room when the doctor finally walks in. They seem rushed. A few questions, a quick exam, a glance at the clock and then a rapid-fire plan with little time for discussion – and you leave feeling
- [SNAP DISRUPTIONS EXPECTED TO DRIVE DEMAND AT KING COUNTY FOOD PANTRIES ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/31/snap-disruptions-expected-to-drive-demand-at-king-county-food-pantries/) - Public Health Insider Leer en español As November unfolds, many families in King County may face an unexpected challenge: a lapse in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments due to the government shutdown. This disruption directly impacts food security for over 200,000 people in King County who receive SNAP assistance, with over 30% of them
- [Health headlines can be confusing - these 3 questions can help you evaluate them](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/31/health-headlines-can-be-confusing-these-3-questions-can-help-you-evaluate-them/) - Kimberly Johnson, Washington University in St. Louis and Amy Eyler, Washington University in St. Louis Every week of 2025 seems to bring a new health headline, whether it’s about climbing autism rates, changing vaccination recommendations or unexpected cancer risks. For people trying to make informed choices about their own health and that of their families,
- [Racial health disparities could widen as states grapple with Trump cuts, experts warn](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/28/racial-health-disparities-could-widen-as-states-grapple-with-trump-cuts-experts-warn/) - By Nada Hassanein, StatelineOctober 28, 2025 Racial health disparities may widen as states, universities and nonprofits grapple with federal funding cuts to programs that were aimed at filling gaps in care, public health experts say. As part of its federal restructuring and crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, the Trump administration has been
- [Fancy dress contact lenses can cause infections, ulcers and even blindness. Here’s how to keep your eyes safe this Halloween](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/27/fancy-dress-contact-lenses-can-cause-infections-ulcers-and-even-blindness-heres-how-to-keep-your-eyes-safe-this-halloween/) - Sofía Rendo González, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela; Justo Arines, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, and Nery García Porta, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela With Halloween just around the corner, thousands will be shopping for fancy dress contact lenses to go with their costume. The appeal is clear, as their endless colours and shapes allow
- [Understanding autism: 10 things to know](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/24/understanding-autism-10-things-to-know/) - By Beata MostafaviMichigan Medicine Health Lab Autism spectrum disorder has recently been in the headlines due to disputed claims about possible risk factors, including the use of Tylenol during pregnancy. But experts caution that the science doesn’t back those claims – and that many persistent myths about autism continue to fuel misunderstanding. Sarah Mohiuddin, M.D., a
- [Antioxidants help stave off a host of health problems – but figuring out how much you’re getting can be tricky](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/23/antioxidants-help-stave-off-a-host-of-health-problems-but-figuring-out-how-much-youre-getting-can-be-tricky/) - Nathaniel Johnson, University of North Dakota When it comes to describing what an antioxidant is, it’s all in the name: Antioxidants counter oxidants. And that’s a good thing. Oxidants can damage the structure and function of the chemicals in your body critical to life – like the proteins and lipids within your cells, and your
- [Your gluten sensitivity might be something else entirely, new study shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/23/your-gluten-sensitivity-might-be-something-else-entirely-new-study-shows/) - Jessica Biesiekierski, The University of Melbourne Social media and lifestyle magazines have turned gluten – a protein in wheat, rye and barley – into a dietary villain. Athletes and celebrities have promoted gluten-free eating as the secret to better health and performance. But our review in The Lancet published today challenges that idea. By examining
- [What is ductal carcinoma in situ breast cancer?  ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/23/what-is-ductal-carcinoma-in-situ-breast-cancer/) - Johanna Younghans BakerMichigan Medicine Health Lab Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, known usually as DCIS, is a very early stage of breast cancer. In DCIS, abnormal cells are found in the lining of the breast’s milk ducts, but these cells have not spread beyond the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue. “The word ‘in situ’ means
- [MPOX CASES ON THE RISE IN KING COUNTY](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/22/mpox-cases-on-the-rise-in-king-county/) - Public Health Insider Leer en español Cases of mpox (formerly known as “monkeypox”) are on the rise in the Puget Sound region, including here in King County. Public Health is encouraging those who are eligible to get the two-shot mpox vaccine series. Local spread of mpox In September of this year, 45 new cases of
- [Washington Department of Health Launches Measles Exposure Map](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/21/washington-department-of-health-launches-measles-exposure-map/) - Map shows live, real-time updates during active measles exposures From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has created a new online tool to help people see where measles exposures may have occurred in the state. The Measles Exposure Location Tracker shows public places where a person with contagious measles
- [Shutdown leaves gaps in states’ health data, possibly endangering lives](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/20/shutdown-leaves-gaps-in-states-health-data-possibly-endangering-lives/) - BT Tim Henderson, StatelineOctober 20, 2025 As the federal shutdown continues, states have been forced to fall back on their own resources to spot disease outbreaks — just as respiratory illness season begins. The shutdown has halted dashboards and expert analysis from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which monitors indicators such as
- [Can you catch shingles? A GP explains what people get wrong about this common virus](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/16/can-you-catch-shingles-a-gp-explains-what-people-get-wrong-about-this-common-virus/) - Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol The idea that you can “catch” shingles is one of the more common misconceptions I hear from patients who arrive worried they’ve got it. Often, they’ve recently been near a child with chickenpox or someone else with shingles, and are understandably anxious they’ve picked it up. As a GP, I
- [Some US protein powders contain high levels of lead. Can I tell if mine is safe?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/16/some-us-protein-powders-contain-high-levels-of-lead-can-i-tell-if-mine-is-safe/) - Evangeline Mantzioris, University of South Australia This week, the United States non-profit Consumer Reports released its investigation testing 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes from popular brands to see if they contained heavy metals. More than two-thirds of the products contained more lead in a recommended serving size serving than the Californian guidlines recommend in
- [Stethoscope, meet AI – helping doctors hear hidden sounds to better diagnose disease](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/16/stethoscope-meet-ai-helping-doctors-hear-hidden-sounds-to-better-diagnose-disease/) - Valentina Dargam, Florida International University and Joshua Hutcheson, Florida International University When someone opens the door and enters a hospital room, wearing a stethoscope is a telltale sign that they’re a clinician. This medical device has been around for over 200 years and remains a staple in the clinic despite significant advances in medical diagnostics
- [Trump’s new $100K visa fee could worsen state doctor shortages, experts say](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/16/trumps-new-100k-visa-fee-could-worsen-state-doctor-shortages-experts-say/) - By Nada Hassanein, StatelineOctober 16, 2025 In Kentucky, patients drive up to two hours to see Dr. Manikya Kuriti, one of the few endocrinologists who serve the rural communities surrounding Louisville. Kuriti’s husband, a pulmonologist, drives from Louisville to small hospitals an hour south and north, in Indiana, to help small teams treat critically ill
- [Study: Mobile Health Clinics Offer Alternative Access to Care](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/15/study-mobile-health-clinics-offer-alternative-access-to-care/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily Yonder October 14, 2025 A new report found that mobile health clinics can provide rural communities with access to healthcare in areas where healthcare facilities and healthcare workers may be scarce. The report from the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reform looked at more than 160 studies about mobile
- [Your body can be a portable gym: how to ditch membership fees and expensive equipment](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/13/your-body-can-be-a-portable-gym-how-to-ditch-membership-fees-and-expensive-equipment/) - Dan van den Hoek, University of the Sunshine Coast and Jackson Fyfe, Deakin University You don’t need a gym membership, dumbbells, or expensive equipment to get stronger. Since the beginning of time, we’ve had access to the one piece of equipment that is essential for strength training – our own bodies. Strength training without the
- [How alcohol contributes to the epidemic of liver disease](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/13/how-alcohol-contributes-to-the-epidemic-of-liver-disease/) - Timothy Naimi, University of Victoria Research has revealed a steep increase in liver disease in recent years. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence of health harms from alcohol, including drinking at levels that were previously considered “moderate.” These developments make a persuasive case for viewing alcohol consumption from a public health perspective. As an internal medicine
- [How employers can promote physical activity among workers: 3 messages based on research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/13/how-employers-can-promote-physical-activity-among-workers-3-messages-based-on-research/) - Aviroop Biswas, University of Toronto We all know about the benefits of physical activity — not just to reduce the risks of chronic disease and physical injuries but also to improve mental health and productivity at work. But many people just don’t get as much physical activity as they should. The World Health Organization’s physical
- [Wings, booze and heartbreak – what my research says about the hidden costs of sports fandom](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/13/wings-booze-and-heartbreak-what-my-research-says-about-the-hidden-costs-of-sports-fandom/) - Aaron Mansfield, Merrimack College Being from Buffalo means getting to eat some of the best wings in the world. It means scraping snow and ice off your car in frigid mornings. And it means making a lifelong vow to the city’s NFL franchise, the Bills – for better or worse, till death do us part.
- [Rural Health Transformation Program Won’t Make Up for Federal Budget Cuts, Experts Agree](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/10/08/rural-health-transformation-program-wont-make-up-for-federal-budget-cuts-experts-agree/) - By Liz Carey, The Daily Yonder October 6, 2025 A new program touted to give $50 billion in federal funding to rural hospitals won’t necessarily keep rural hospitals from closing, according to several experts in rural health. The funding is part of a compromise made in Congress to help rural communities after H.R. 1, the
- [Prediabetes remission possible without dropping pounds, our new study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/29/prediabetes-remission-possible-without-dropping-pounds-our-new-study-finds/) - Andreas L. Birkenfeld, University of Tübingen and Reiner Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg, University of Tübingen There’s a long-held belief in diabetes prevention that weight loss is the main way to lower disease risk. Our new study challenges this. For decades, people diagnosed with prediabetes – a condition affecting up to one in three adults depending on age
- [HOW TO GET THE COVID VACCINE IN KING COUNTY](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/26/how-to-get-the-covid-vaccine-in-king-county/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County Getting a COVID shot this fall might look a little different from state to state, but here in Washington, it’s pretty simple: all people ages 6 months and up can get the updated (2025-26) COVID vaccine. Here’s what you need to know. Who should get a
- [What parents need to know about Tylenol, autism and the difference between finding a link and finding a cause in scientific research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/26/what-parents-need-to-know-about-tylenol-autism-and-the-difference-between-finding-a-link-and-finding-a-cause-in-scientific-research/) - Mark Louie Ramos, Penn State Claims from the Trump White House about links between use of the painkiller acetaminophen – often sold under the brand name Tylenol in the U.S. – during pregnancy and development of autism have set off a deluge of responses across the medical, scientific and public health communities. As a father
- [More Americans meet criteria for high blood pressure under new guidelines](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/25/more-americans-meet-criteria-for-high-blood-pressure-under-new-guidelines/) - William Cornwell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure – a condition called hypertension. Hypertension is the No. 1 risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In addition, hypertension increases risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Heart disease, stroke and dementia are the first-, fourth- and sixth-leading
- [‘You’re Going to See Very Severe Things and Dangerous Things’: Medicaid Cuts in Rural Idaho](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/25/youre-going-to-see-very-severe-things-and-dangerous-things-medicaid-cuts-in-rural-idaho/) - By Madeline de Figueiredo, The Daily Yonder September 22, 2025 In the early hours of the morning, Amy Klingler, a primary care physician assistant in Stanley, Idaho, answered a call from a panicked patient. The woman was experiencing severe lower abdominal pain and had been vomiting for hours. She said she feared she might be
- [Amid Rise of RFK Jr., Officials Waver on Drinking Water Fluoridation — Even in the State Where It Started](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/19/13894/) - By Anna Clark ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Reporting HighlightsMomentum for Skeptics: Fluoridation has long been heralded as a public health triumph, but skeptics increasingly hold sway in government.Public Left in the Dark: Customer notice requirements are
- [‘Fat but fit’: what the latest study reveals](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/18/fat-but-fit-what-the-latest-study-reveals/) - Rachel Woods, University of Lincoln Being slightly overweight might not shorten your life, but being very thin might. A large Danish study tracking more than 85,000 adults has found that people with a BMI below 18.5 were nearly three times more likely to die early than those in the middle to upper end of the
- [An AI Assistant Can Interpret Those Lab Results for You](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/17/an-ai-assistant-can-interpret-those-lab-results-for-you/) - By Kate RuderKFF Health News When Judith Miller had routine blood work done in July, she got a phone alert the same day that her lab results were posted online. So, when her doctor messaged her the next day that her overall tests were fine, Miller wrote back to ask about the elevated carbon dioxide
- [More states protect access to the COVID shot as feds restrict eligibility](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/17/more-states-protect-access-to-the-covid-shot-as-feds-restrict-eligibility/) - by Shalina Chatlani, StatelineSeptember 17, 2025 At least 17 states have taken steps to ensure broader access to the COVID-19 vaccine since last month, when the federal government significantly restricted eligibility for the shot. Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and
- [SHIELD: A simple, memorable model to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/17/shield-a-simple-memorable-model-to-help-prevent-alzheimers-disease-and-dementia/) - Donald Weaver, University of Toronto Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is on track to become one of the defining public health challenges of our time. Every three seconds, somewhere in the world, someone is diagnosed with dementia, and it’s usually Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, approximately 50 million people worldwide have AD. By 2050, this number will exceed 130
- [Denmark close to wiping out leading cancer-causing HPV strains after vaccine roll-out](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/10/denmark-close-to-wiping-out-leading-cancer-causing-hpv-strains-after-vaccine-roll-out/) - A nationwide study suggests infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 have been virtually eliminated since vaccination began in 2008 – protecting even unvaccinated women. By Linda GeddesVaccinesWork Denmark has effectively eliminated infections with the two biggest cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) since the vaccine was introduced in 2008, data suggests. The
- [What does Florida's decision to end vaccine mandates mean for the US and other countries?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/05/13874/) - Katie Attwell, The University of Western Australia; Julie Leask, University of Sydney, and Nancy Baxter, University of Sydney When it comes to the future of childhood immunisations, all eyes are on Robert F. Kennedy Jr, US Secretary of Health and Human Services, and his audacious attempt to discredit vaccinations with misinformation and dodgy “science”. But
- [Washington State DOH order allows most residents to get COVID vaccine without prescription](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/05/washington-state-doh-order-allows-most-residents-to-get-covid-vaccine-without-prescription/) - OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issued a Standing Order for the COVID-19 vaccine, making it easier for Washington residents to get vaccinated. The order comes as DOH reaffirms its guidance that everyone 6 months and older, including pregnant people, should stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and
- [How RFK Jr.’s misguided science on mRNA vaccines is shaping policy − a UW vaccine expert examines the false claims](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/05/how-rfk-jr-s-misguided-science-on-mrna-vaccines-is-shaping-policy-−-a-uw-vaccine-expert-examines-the-false-claims/) - Deborah Fuller, University of Washington Although Kennedy agreed that Operation Warp Speed, President Donald Trump’s signature initiative to produce COVID-19 vaccines in nine months, was a tremendous achievement, he also maintained that COVID-19 vaccines cause widespread and serious harm, including death, particularly in young people – a claim for which there is no evidence. At
- [Trump’s new law will limit payments to hospitals that treat low-income patients](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/05/trumps-new-law-will-limit-payments-to-hospitals-that-treat-low-income-patients/) - By Shalina Chatlani, StatelineSeptember 5, 2025 President Donald Trump’s new tax and spending law will likely force more than half the states to reduce payments to doctors and hospitals that treat Medicaid patients, a change critics warn will be particularly harmful to rural hospitals struggling to stay afloat. Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance program
- [As Florida plans to end all vaccine mandates, Western states form vaccine alliance](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/04/as-florida-plans-to-end-all-vaccine-mandates-western-states-form-vaccine-alliance/) - By Nada Hassanein, Washington State StandardSeptember 3, 2025 The Democratic governors of California, Oregon and Washington said Wednesday they are forming an alliance to coordinate vaccine recommendations for their states. Meanwhile, Florida announced plans to become the first state to phase out all vaccine mandates, including ending requirements that kids be vaccinated against dangerous diseases
- [At CDC, Worries Mount That Agency Has Taken Anti-Science Turn](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/03/at-cdc-worries-mount-that-agency-has-taken-anti-science-turn/) - By Stephanie Armour September 3, 2025 Public health and access to lifesaving vaccines are on the line in a high-stakes leadership battle at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to fire CDC director Susan Monarez is more than an administrative shake-up. The firing marks
- [American kids are less likely to reach adulthood than foreign peers](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/03/american-kids-are-less-likely-to-reach-adulthood-than-foreign-peers/) - By Anna Claire Vollers, Washington State Standard Babies and children in the United States are nearly twice as likely to die before reaching adulthood compared with their peers in other wealthy countries, according to a new study. The health of U.S. children has deteriorated since the early 2000s across a range of measures, researchers from
- [Washington, California and Oregon to offer independent immunization recommendations](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/03/washington-california-and-oregon-to-offer-independent-immunization-recommendations/) - From the Office of the Governor of Washington State Washington, California and Oregon to launch new West Coast Health Alliance to uphold scientific integrity in public health as Trump destroys CDC’s credibility WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: In response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the
- [What happens if I eat too much protein?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/03/what-happens-if-i-eat-too-much-protein/) - Margaret Murray, Swinburne University of Technology The hype around protein intake doesn’t seem to be going away. Social media is full of people urging you to eat more protein, including via supplements such as protein shakes. Food companies have also started highlighting protein content on food packages to promote sales. But is all the extra
- [BATS AND RABIES IN KING COUNTY](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/09/02/bats-and-rabies-in-king-county/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County Leer en Español Warmer weather means bats come out of hibernation. Bats are most active and visible in the Pacific Northwest from March through November. Bats can be infected with rabies and can spread that infection to humans who have bare skin contact with bats or
- [As Measles Exploded, Officials in Texas Looked to CDC Scientists. Under Trump, No One Answered.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/29/as-measles-exploded-officials-in-texas-looked-to-cdc-scientists-under-trump-no-one-answered/) - By Amy Maxman, August 25, 2025KFF Health News As measles surged in Texas early this year, the Trump administration’s actions sowed fear and confusion among CDC scientists that kept them from performing the agency’s most critical function — emergency response — when it mattered most, an investigation from KFF Health News shows. The outbreak soon
- [COVID VACCINES FOR THIS FALL: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/29/covid-vaccines-for-this-fall-what-we-know-so-far/) - From Public Health — Seattle & King County COVID-19 vaccine recommendations will likely look different this fall, but some fundamental truths about COVID-19 remain unchanged. To learn more, we spoke with Dr. Eric Chow, Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Immunization for Public Health – Seattle & King County. Trying to keep up with the
- [Pediatricians’ association recommends COVID-19 vaccines for toddlers and some older children, breaking with CDC guidance](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/29/pediatricians-association-recommends-covid-19-vaccines-for-toddlers-and-some-older-children-breaking-with-cdc-guidance/) - David Higgins, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus For 30 years, vaccine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have aligned closely with those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP. But on Aug. 19, 2025, the AAP published new vaccine recommendations that diverge from those of the CDC. The pediatrician association’s
- [Research: Policies to Keep Rural Maternity Units Open Not Working](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/27/research-policies-to-keep-rural-maternity-units-open-not-working/) - By Liz Carey, The Daily YonderAugust 25, 2025 A new study from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found that access to obstetric care across the country has declined, and that those closures have hit rural communities the hardest. New data includes the four years from 2018 to 2022, when the national policy
- [How stripping diversity, equity and inclusion from health care may make Americans sicker](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/27/how-stripping-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-from-health-care-may-make-americans-sicker/) - Abigail Folberg, University of Nebraska Omaha and Brittany Givens Rassoolkhani, University of Kentucky President Donald Trump’s administration has dramatically reshaped health and medical research by rolling back federal funding from institutions that have diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and by cutting federal funding for research projects that the administration considers related to DEI. As of
- [The growing fad of ‘microdosing’ mushrooms is leading to an uptick in poison control center calls and emergency room visits](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/21/the-growing-fad-of-microdosing-mushrooms-is-leading-to-an-uptick-in-poison-control-center-calls-and-emergency-room-visits/) - Joshua Kellogg, Penn State Imagine you purchase a bag of gummies labeled nootropic – a term used to describe substances that claim to enhance mental ability and function, or “smart drugs.” However, within hours of consuming them, your heart starts racing, you’re nauseated and vomiting. Then you begin convulsing and have a seizure, resulting in
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/21/13831/) - Pediatricians’ association recommends COVID-19 vaccines for toddlers and some older children, breaking with CDC guidance David Higgins, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus For 30 years, vaccine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have aligned closely with those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP. But on Aug. 19, 2025, the AAP
- [RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/20/rfk-jr-vowed-to-find-the-environmental-causes-of-autism-then-he-shut-down-research-trying-to-do-just-that/) - by Sharon Lerner ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Reporting Highlights Slashed Autism Funding: RFK Jr. promised to identify the causes of autism but has eliminated parts of his agency actively investigating them and has cut millions in
- [Research in Context: Mitochondria](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/19/research-in-context-mitochondria/) - Mitochondria and health Uncovering the many roles that mitochondria play in health and disease By Sharon Reynolds, National Institutes of Health Your cells’ mitochondria produce almost all the energy your body needs to survive. They also play a role in many other vital cellular functions. This Research in Context feature looks at how insights about
- [Despite federal shift, state health officials encourage COVID vaccines for pregnant women](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/18/despite-federal-shift-state-health-officials-encourage-covid-vaccines-for-pregnant-women/) - by Nada Hassanein, StatelineAugust 18, 2025 Heading into the respiratory illness season, states and clinicians are working to encourage pregnant patients to get COVID-19 vaccinations, even though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services no longer recommends that they should. Along with being older and having an underlying health condition, pregnancy itself is a
- [People who move to more walkable cities walk more](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/14/people-who-move-to-more-walkable-cities-walk-more/) - From the University of Washington Study after study shows that walking is very good for those who are able, and generally more is better. A 2023 study found that even 4,000 steps a day improves all-cause mortality risk. (The U.S average is 4,000 to 5,000.) For each 1,000 extra daily steps, risk decreased by 15%. Walk Scores have been
- [An excellent source of protein: Health, hype and hard truths](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/14/an-excellent-source-of-protein-health-hype-and-hard-truths/) - James McKendry, University of British Columbia Protein is having its moment: From grocery store shelves to Instagram feeds, high-protein foods are everywhere. Food labels shout their protein content in bold, oversized fonts, while social media overflows with recipes promising to pack more protein into your favourite dishes. And according to the International Food Information Council’s
- [The FDA Let Substandard Factories Ship These Medications to the U.S.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/12/the-fda-let-substandard-factories-ship-these-medications-to-the-u-s/) - by Debbie Cenziper and Megan Rose, ProPublica, and Katherine Dailey, Medill Investigative Lab ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: Rx Roulette:The FDA’s Dangerous Gamble on America’s Drugs More in this series For more than a dozen years,
- [Veterans’ Care at Risk Under Trump as Hundreds of Doctors and Nurses Reject Working at VA Hospitals](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/08/08/veterans-care-at-risk-under-trump-as-hundreds-of-doctors-and-nurses-reject-working-at-va-hospitals/) - by David Armstrong, Eric Umansky and Vernal Coleman ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Veterans hospitals are struggling to replace hundreds of doctors and nurses who have left the health care system this year as the Trump administration
- [Are you really allergic to penicillin? There’s a good chance you’re not](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/31/are-you-really-allergic-to-penicillin-theres-a-good-chance-youre-not/) - Are you really allergic to penicillin? A pharmacist explains why there’s a good chance you’re not − and how you can find out for sure Elizabeth W. Covington, Auburn University Imagine this: You’re at your doctor’s office with a sore throat. The nurse asks, “Any allergies?” And without hesitation you reply, “Penicillin.” It’s something you’ve said
- [A Las Vegas Festival Promised Ways to Cheat Death. Two Attendees Left Fighting for Their Lives.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/30/a-las-vegas-festival-promised-ways-to-cheat-death-two-attendees-left-fighting-for-their-lives/) - ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. by Anjeanette Damon They went to a Las Vegas conference this month that promised pathways to an “unlimited lifespan.” But at least two attendees left in ambulances and were hospitalized in critical
- [Older adults who follow healthy diets accumulate chronic diseases more slowly – new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/30/older-adults-who-follow-healthy-diets-accumulate-chronic-diseases-more-slowly-new-study/) - Adrián Carballo Casla, Karolinska Institutet; Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga, Karolinska Institutet, and David Abbad Gomez Imagine two people in their 70s. Both are active, live independently and enjoy life. But over the next 15 years, one of them develops two or three chronic illnesses – heart disease, diabetes, depression – while the other remains relatively healthy. What
- [State public health departments fear looming federal cuts in Trump’s next budget](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/28/state-public-health-departments-fear-looming-federal-cuts-in-trumps-next-budget/) - by Shalina Chatlani, StatelineJuly 28, 2025 Between 2016 and 2022, as congenital syphilis cases rose nationally and especially in the South, Mississippi saw a one thousand percent increase — from 10 to 110 — in the number of newborn babies who were hospitalized after contracting the disease, known to cause developmental issues, intellectual disabilities, and
- [RFK Jr’s Vaccine Policies Could Undermine Coverage — and Trust](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/28/rfk-jrs-vaccine-policies-could-undermine-coverage-and-trust/) - July 24, 2025 by Joshua Cohen In June, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ousted all 17 members of a panel that makes vaccine recommendations to the U.S. government. “A clean sweep is necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science,” said Kennedy, who accused the panel members of,
- [Student loan caps might worsen the national doctor shortage, critics worry](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/25/student-loan-caps-might-worsen-the-national-doctor-shortage-critics-worry/) - by Shalina Chatlani, StatelineJuly 25, 2025 Twenty-eight-year-old Michaela Bonner has been working 12-hour shifts as an emergency medical technician in Norfolk, Virginia, for the past four years, while attending and paying for college to finish her prerequisites for medical school. But now that President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending law bars students from borrowing
- [Single-food ‘mono diets’: are they effective, pointless, or just plain dangerous?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/24/single-food-mono-diets-are-they-effective-pointless-or-just-plain-dangerous/) - Ana Montero Bravo, Universidad CEU San Pablo With summer in full swing, many people will be tempted by supposedly miraculous dieting tricks to lose those excess kilos that prevent them from enjoying the perfect physique. Among them are so-called “mono diets”: restrictive regimes that consist of exclusively eating one type of food for a period
- [Sweet spot for daily steps is lower than often thought, new study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/24/sweet-spot-for-daily-steps-is-lower-than-often-thought-new-study-finds/) - Jack McNamara, University of East London Your fitness tracker might be lying to you. That 10,000-step target flashing on your wrist? It didn’t come from decades of careful research. It came from a Japanese walking club and a marketing campaign in the 1960s. A major new study has found that 7,000 steps a day dramatically
- [Report: More Rural Maternity Departments Facing Closure](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/24/report-more-rural-maternity-departments-facing-closure/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily YonderJuly 21, 2025 The number of rural hospitals that won’t be delivering babies has increased this year, and without change, that number will continue to grow, according to a new report. The report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform (CHQPR) found that since the end of 2020,
- [How germy is the public pool?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/23/how-germy-is-the-public-pool/) - How germy is the public pool? An infectious disease expert weighs in on poop, pee and perspiration – and the deceptive smell of chlorine Lisa Cuchara, Quinnipiac University On hot summer days, few things are more refreshing than a dip in the pool. But have you ever wondered if the pool is as clean as that
- [Medicaid cuts are likely to worsen mental health care in rural America](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/22/medicaid-cuts-are-likely-to-worsen-mental-health-care-in-rural-america/) - by Nada Hassanein, StatelineJuly 22, 2025 Across the nation, Medicaid is the single largest payer for mental health care, and in rural America, residents disproportionately rely on the public insurance program. But Medicaid cuts in the massive tax and spending bill signed into law earlier this month will worsen mental health disparities in those communities,
- [Dogs are helping people regulate stress even more than expected, research shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/21/dogs-are-helping-people-regulate-stress-even-more-than-expected-research-shows/) - Kevin Morris, University of Denver and Jaci Gandenberger, University of Denver In a 2022 survey of 3,000 U.S. adults, more than one-third of respondents reported that on most days, they feel “completely overwhelmed” by stress. At the same time, a growing body of research is documenting the negative health consequences of higher stress levels, which
- [Measles isn’t just dangerous – it may erase your immune system](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/17/measles-isnt-just-dangerous-it-may-erase-your-immune-system/) - Antony Black, University of Westminster Blindness, pneumonia, severe diarrhoea and even death – measles virus infections, especially in children, can have devastating consequences. Fortunately, we have a safe and effective defence. Measles vaccines are estimated to have averted more than 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023. Yet despite this success, measles cases are rising
- [How 17M Americans enrolled in Medicaid and ACA plans could lose their health insurance by 2034](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/17/how-17m-americans-enrolled-in-medicaid-and-aca-plans-could-lose-their-health-insurance-by-2034/) - Simon F. Haeder, Texas A&M University The big tax and spending package President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025, will cut government spending on health care by more than US$1 trillion over the next decade. Because the final version of the legislation moved swiftly through the Senate and the House, estimates regarding
- [How weather changes cause migraines – a neurologist explains the triggers and what you can do to ease the pain](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/16/how-weather-changes-cause-migraines-a-neurologist-explains-the-triggers-and-what-you-can-do-to-ease-the-pain/) - Danielle Wilhour, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus “Is it just me, or is there a storm coming?” If you are one of the 39 million Americans in the U.S. living with migraines, there’s a good chance an intense headache will begin when the weather shifts. You aren’t alone. Studies find 30% to 50% of
- [Back-to-School Reminder: Keep Washington Kids Healthy with Required Immunizations ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/14/back-to-school-reminder-keep-washington-kids-healthy-with-required-immunizations/) - From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA - As families across the state prepare for back to school, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is reminding parents and caretakers to make sure their children are up to date on all required immunizations before classes resume. Children entering school, child care, or other early learning programs must
- [Don’t let food poisoning crash your picnic – six tips to keep your spread safe](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/14/dont-let-food-poisoning-crash-your-picnic-six-tips-to-keep-your-spread-safe/) - Edward Fox, Northumbria University, Newcastle Nothing says summer quite like a picnic. Whether you’re lounging on a beach towel, stretched out in a park, or unpacking a hamper in your garden, picnics are a beloved way to enjoy good food in the great outdoors. In the UK alone, the picnic food market is worth over
- [Even a day off alcohol makes a difference](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/13/even-a-day-off-alcohol-makes-a-difference/) - Our timeline maps the health benefits when you stop drinking Nicole Lee, Curtin University and Katinka van de Ven, UNSW Sydney Alcohol has many negative effects on our health, some of which may surprise you. These include short-term impacts such as waking up with a pounding head or anxiety, to long-term effects including cancer. If you
- [HHS Eliminates CDC Staff Who Made Sure Birth Control Is Safe for Women at Risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/13/hhs-eliminates-cdc-staff-who-made-sure-birth-control-is-safe-for-women-at-risk/) - By Rachana Pradhan, KFF Health News For Brianna Henderson, birth control isn’t just about preventing pregnancy. The Texas mother of two was diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal heart condition after having her second child. In addition to avoiding another pregnancy that could be life-threatening, Henderson has to make sure the contraception she uses
- [Wildfire smoke can make your outdoor workout hazardous to your health – an exercise scientist explains how to gauge the risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/10/13733/) - John C. Quindry, University of Montana As the summer’s sunny days take hold, many people turn to outdoor exercise. But in parts of North America, pleasant weather often aligns with wildfire season. As summers get drier, both the frequency and the intensity of wildfires have grown, producing more polluting smoke. A fire’s smoke can spread
- [Why Washington faces huge fallout from the Medicaid cuts in Trump’s megabill](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/10/why-washington-faces-huge-fallout-from-the-medicaid-cuts-in-trumps-megabill/) - by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard July 9, 2025 A rural central Washington hospital is warning of devastating consequences from the Medicaid cuts the Republican-led Congress passed last week. For years, Astria Health has worked to find a path forward for its hospital in Toppenish on the Yakama Reservation. But the drastic downsizing of federal
- [Governor Ferguson: Washington will cover gap caused by federal attempt to defund of Planned Parenthood](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/09/governor-ferguson-washington-will-cover-gap-caused-by-federal-attempt-to-defund-of-planned-parenthood/) - President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ bans all Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood for a year From the Office of the Governor SEATTLE — Governor Bob Ferguson announced today that Washington state will cover the gap caused by the federal government’s defunding of Planned Parenthood. On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,”
- [Suicide Rates Remain Higher in Rural Areas, Study](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/09/suicide-rates-remain-higher-in-rural-areas-study/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily Yonder July 7, 2025 A new study has found that suicide rates in rural communities continues to be higher than those in urban areas, largely due to challenges with accessing mental health resources. Rural residents face more challenges than just access when it comes to mental health, according to the
- [Spokane was one of hundreds of cities expecting federal funds to help manage rising heat wave risk – then EPA ended the grants](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/09/spokane-was-one-of-hundreds-of-cities-expecting-federal-funds-to-help-manage-rising-heat-wave-risk-then-epa-ended-the-grants/) - Brian G. Henning, Gonzaga University In June 2021, a deadly heat wave pushed temperatures to 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) in Spokane, Washington, a northern city near the Idaho border where many homes weren’t built with central air conditioning. As the heat lingered for over a week, 19 people died in Spokane County and about
- [Online therapy as effective as in-person therapy, finds large study](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/08/online-therapy-as-effective-as-in-person-therapy-finds-large-study/) - Fabian Lenhard, Karolinska Institutet When COVID arrived early in 2020, pandemic restrictions made in-person mental health care difficult or impossible. Both therapists and patients had to adapt almost overnight. For many in the field, it felt like a gamble: could this screen-based format offer the same level of support for people struggling with depression, anxiety
- [FDA Layoffs Could Compromise Safety of Medications Made at Foreign Factories, Inspectors Say](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/07/fda-layoffs-could-compromise-safety-of-medications-made-at-foreign-factories-inspectors-say/) - by Victoria Malis, Katherine Dailey and Sadie Leite, Medill Investigative Lab, and Debbie Cenziper and Megan Rose, ProPublica ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: Rx Roulette:The FDA’s Dangerous Gamble on America’s Drugs More in this series Inspectors
- [Republican Megabill Will Mean Higher Health Costs for Many Americans](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/07/republican-megabill-will-mean-higher-health-costs-for-many-americans/) - By Phil Galewit and Julie Appleby, KFF News, a Renuka Rayasam and Bernard J Wolfson The tax and spending legislation the House voted to send to President Donald Trump’s desk on Thursday, enacting much of his domestic agenda, cuts federal health spending by about $1 trillion over a decade in ways that will jeopardize the
- [Idaho banned abortion. Three years later, minors and seniors struggle to get routine care](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/07/idaho-banned-abortion-three-years-later-minors-and-seniors-struggle-to-get-routine-care/) - by Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Washington State Standard July 6, 2025 Editor’s note: This report examines the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down the federal right to abortion three years ago. Of all the outcomes Rachel Castor could have predicted from Idaho’s abortion ban, her teenage son being denied hospital admission during an
- [Proposed Federal Cuts Put Rural Behavioral Health Resources on the Line ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/02/proposed-federal-cuts-put-rural-behavioral-health-resources-on-the-line/) - by Madeline de Figueiredo, The Daily Yonder July 2, 2025 Ten years ago, Nancy Winmill’s son survived an opioid overdose. In her search for support, she found almost nothing available in her Burley, Idaho community. “I had no idea what to do or where to go. I had no help. I had no resources,” Winmill
- [Health tips for a safe 4th of July](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/02/health-tips-for-a-safe-4th-of-july/) - Stars, Stripes, and Safety From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA - Summer is here, and as temperatures rise, so do seasonal health and safety risks. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day and enjoy the outdoors, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) urges everyone to stay aware, stay cool, and stay safe. Air
- [Home test kits boost screening for cervical cancer ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/02/home-test-kits-boost-screening-for-cervical-cancer/) - At a Glance Women who used at-home test kits were more than twice as likely to complete screening for cervical cancer than women who received only telephone reminders. The findings suggest that ready access to self-testing kits might help reduce obstacles to regular screening for this often-preventable cancer. From the National Institutes of Health Cervical
- [Your summer burn survival guide: from sunburn to BBQ mishaps](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/07/01/your-summer-burn-survival-guide-from-sunburn-to-bbq-mishaps/) - Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping – and the UK’s appetite for barbecues has left supermarket shelves stripped of burgers and sausages. Unfortunately, this BBQ frenzy has already claimed its first casualties, at least in my friendship circle. Over the weekend, a mate of mine, fuelled by
- [Five prescription drugs that can make it harder to cope with the heat](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/30/five-prescription-drugs-that-can-make-it-harder-to-cope-with-the-heat/) - Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University As temperatures rise, so does the risk of heat-related illness – especially for people taking certain prescription drugs. The body uses several mechanisms to regulate temperature: sweating, blood flow to the skin and fluid balance. But some commonly prescribed drugs interfere with these processes, making it harder to stay cool. Here
- [From sore muscles to smartwatches and stubborn belly fat: answers to six of the most common fitness questions](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/30/from-sore-muscles-to-smartwatches-and-stubborn-belly-fat-answers-to-six-of-the-most-common-fitness-questions/) - Paul Hough, University of Westminster In a world flooded with fitness fads and “quick-fix” workout plans, solid evidence can often get drowned out. Yet the science is clear: jogging for just five to ten minutes a day can lower your risk of dying from heart disease and even reduce your overall risk of dying from
- [My shins hurt after running. Could it be shin splints?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/30/my-shins-hurt-after-running-could-it-be-shin-splints/) - Krissy Kendall, Edith Cowan University and Caitlin Fox-Harding, Edith Cowan University If you’ve started running for the first time, started again after a break, or your workout is more intense, you might have felt it. A dull, nagging ache down your shins after you exercise. Should you push through? Or could it be the sign
- [TOXIC CHEMICALS MAY BE HIDING IN MAKEUP – A DISCOVERY MADE THANKS TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN LOCAL RESEARCH ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/26/toxic-chemicals-may-be-hiding-in-makeup-a-discovery-made-thanks-to-community-engagement-in-local-research/) - Public Health Insider, Public Health — Seattle & King County Originally published by the Hazardous Waste Management Program. New research out of the Hazardous Waste Management Program (Haz Waste Program) in King County finds dangerously high levels of lead in traditional eyeliners. The study, published in PLOS Global Public Health on June 25, found lead levels in traditional eyeliners
- [A preservative removed from childhood vaccines 20 years ago is still causing controversy today − a WSU drug safety expert explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/26/a-preservative-removed-from-childhood-vaccines-20-years-ago-is-still-causing-controversy-today-−-a-drug-safety-expert-explains/) - Terri Levien, Washington State University An expert committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines is meeting for the first time since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly replaced the committee’s 17 members with eight hand-picked ones on June 11, 2025. The committee, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,
- [Older adults now outnumber children in 11 states](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/26/older-adults-now-outnumber-children-in-11-states/) - by Tim Henderson, Washington State Standard June 26, 2025 Montana, Oregon and Pennsylvania have joined the ranks of states where older people outnumber children, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates to be released Thursday morning. The ratio of people older than 65 to children younger than 18 grew in every state, according to a Stateline
- [Congress Is Pushing for a Medicaid Work Requirement. Here’s What Happened When Georgia Tried It.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/26/congress-is-pushing-for-a-medicaid-work-requirement-heres-what-happened-when-georgia-tried-it/) - by Margaret Coker, The Current ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: Broken Pathways:How a Medicaid Work Requirement Program Fails Georgians More in this series Congressional Republicans, looking for ways to offset their proposed tax cuts, are seeking
- [Washington faces major lag in state inspections of hospitals](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/24/washington-faces-major-lag-in-state-inspections-of-hospitals/) - By Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State Standard June 24, 2025 Washington state inspectors are way behind in their examinations of hospitals and fail to investigate when hospitals report errors they made in caring for patients. That’s the word from a preliminary report recently published by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. Nearly three-quarters of acute
- [How artificial intelligence controls your health insurance coverage](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/20/13641/) - Jennifer D. Oliva, Indiana University Over the past decade, health insurance companies have increasingly embraced the use of artificial intelligence algorithms. Unlike doctors and hospitals, which use AI to help diagnose and treat patients, health insurers use these algorithms to decide whether to pay for health care treatments and services that are recommended by a
- [Family and friends shoulder the real cost of dementia − $224B in unpaid care](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/19/family-and-friends-shoulder-the-real-cost-of-dementia-−-224b-in-unpaid-care/) - Amy Lastuka, University of Washington About 5.5 million Americans live with dementia, requiring US$53 billion in annual medical spending on doctor visits, hospitalizations, medications, home health aides and nursing homes. But the true cost of dementia care in the U.S. is far higher because it relies heavily on unpaid care from family and friends. I
- [Federal Judge Deems Trump Administration’s Termination of NIH Grants Illegal](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/18/federal-judge-deems-trump-administrations-termination-of-nih-grants-illegal/) - by Annie Waldman, ProPublica ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. What Happened: A federal judge ruled on Monday that the Trump administration’s termination of hundreds of grants by the National Institutes of Health was “void and illegal,” ordering
- [Covering health misinformation: What journalists need to rethink](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/18/13626/) - By Naseem S. Miller, The Journalist's ResourceJune 17, 2025 Debunking health misinformation isn’t just about correcting false claims. It’s about building trust, choosing words with care, and meeting people where they are, without compromising the facts, according to the panelists of a workshop held at the Association of Health Care Journalists’ annual conference in Los
- [Threat in Your Medicine Cabinet: The FDA’s Gamble on America’s Drugs](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/17/threat-in-your-medicine-cabinet-the-fdas-gamble-on-americas-drugs/) - by Debbie Cenziper, Megan Rose, Brandon Roberts and Irena Hwang ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Reporting HighlightsRisky Medications: The FDA has given more than 20 foreign factories a special pass to continue sending drugs to the U.S.
- [‘MAGA’ Backers Like Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ — Until They Learn of Health Consequences](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/17/maga-backers-like-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-until-they-learn-of-health-consequences/) - By Phil Galewitz, KFF Health News Nearly two-thirds of adults oppose President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” approved in May by the House of Representatives, according to a KFF poll released Tuesday. And even Trump’s most ardent supporters like the legislation a lot less when they learn how it would cut federal spending on
- [When you lose your health insurance, you may also lose your primary doctor – and that hurts your health](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/17/when-you-lose-your-health-insurance-you-may-also-lose-your-primary-doctor-and-that-hurts-your-health/) - Jane Tavares, UMass Boston and Marc Cohen, UMass Boston When you lose your health insurance or switch to a plan that skimps on preventive care, something critical breaks. The connection to your primary care provider, usually a doctor, gets severed. You stop getting routine checkups. Warning signs get missed. Medical problems that could have been
- [WA doctor among those fired in RFK Jr.’s purge of vaccine panel](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/17/wa-doctor-among-those-fired-in-rfk-jr-s-purge-of-vaccine-panel/) - By Jake Goldstein-StreetWashington State StandardJune 12, 2025 Dr. Helen Chu gained attention early in the COVID-19 pandemic as her repurposed flu research project identified the first case of coronavirus spreading person-to-person in the United States. She and her colleagues carried out this work in defiance of the federal government. And her efforts to accelerate the
- [Guns kill more US children than other causes, but state policies can help, study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/17/guns-kill-more-us-children-than-other-causes-but-state-policies-can-help-study-finds/) - By Nada Hassanein, StatelineJune 17, 2025 More American children and teens die from firearms than any other cause, but there are more deaths — and wider racial disparities — in states with more permissive gun policies, according to a new study. The study, published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics last week, analyzes trends in
- [RFK Jr’s shakeup of vaccine advisory committee raises worries about scientific integrity of health recommendations](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/16/rfk-jrs-shakeup-of-vaccine-advisory-committee-raises-worries-about-scientific-integrity-of-health-recommendations/) - Santosh Kumar Gautam, University of Notre Dame On June 11, 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a slate of eight new members to serve on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on national vaccine policy. The announcement, made on the social media platform X,
- [Wearable fitness trackers can make you seven times more likely to stick to your workouts – new research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/16/wearable-fitness-trackers-can-make-you-seven-times-more-likely-to-stick-to-your-workouts-new-research/) - Matthew Cocks, Liverpool John Moores University and Katie Hesketh, University of Birmingham The hardest part of any workout regime is sticking with it. Around half of those who start an exercise programme stop within six months. But our recent study found that using wearables (such as a smartwatch) not only makes people more likely to
- [The leading risk factor for cancer isn’t what you think](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/16/the-leading-risk-factor-for-cancer-isnt-what-you-think/) - Kristen Haase, University of British Columbia and Shabbir Alibhai, University of Toronto If you were to ask most people what causes cancer, the answer would probably be smoking, alcohol, the sun, hair dye or some other avoidable element. But the most important risk factor for cancer is something else: aging. That’s right, the factor most
- [Washington sees 25-fold increase in whooping cough cases in 2024 compared to previous year ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/13/washington-sees-25-fold-increase-in-whooping-cough-cases-in-2024-compared-to-previous-year/) - Vaccination coverage rates among 19-35-month-olds decreased from 73% in 2019 to 65% in 2024 From the Washington State Department of Health Olympia - Washington state experienced a dramatic surge in whooping cough cases in 2024, with 2,261 confirmed and probable cases reported – a staggering 25-fold increase from 87 cases recorded in 2023, according to preliminary
- [Measles cases are in 34 states with North Dakota now the focus](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/13/measles-cases-are-in-34-states-with-north-dakota-now-the-focus/) - by Tim Henderson, StatelineJune 13, 2025 As super-contagious measles continues to spread and nears a six-year U.S. record, cases in its original epicenter of West Texas may be subsiding as hesitant residents become more concerned and willing to vaccinate, while North Dakota is a new focus with the highest rate of any state. The reality
- [‘Expensive and complicated’: Most rural hospitals no longer deliver babies](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/11/expensive-and-complicated-most-rural-hospitals-no-longer-deliver-babies/) - By Anna Claire Vollers, StatelineJune 11, 2025 Nine months after Monroe County Hospital in rural South Alabama closed its labor and delivery department in October 2023, Grove Hill Memorial Hospital in neighboring Clarke County also stopped delivering babies. Both hospitals are located in an agricultural swath of the state that’s home to most of its
- [US health care is rife with high costs and deep inequities, and that’s no accident](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/10/13576/) - Zachary W. Schulz, Auburn University A few years ago, a student in my history of public health course asked why her mother couldn’t afford insulin without insurance, despite having a full-time job. I told her what I’ve come to believe: The U.S. health care system was deliberately built this way. People often hear that health
- [Japanese walking: the benefits of this fitness trend](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/10/japanese-walking-the-benefits-of-this-fitness-trend/) - Sean Pymer, University of Hull A fitness trend known as Japanese walking is capturing attention online, promising major health benefits with minimal equipment and time. Based on interval-style bursts of fast and slow walking, Japanese walking was developed by Professor Hiroshi Nose and Associate Professor Shizue Masuki at Shinshu University in Matsumoto, Japan. It involves
- [Why won’t my cough go away?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/10/why-wont-my-cough-go-away/) - David King, The University of Queensland A persistent cough can be embarrassing, especially if people think you have COVID. Coughing frequently can also make you physically tired, interfere with sleep and trigger urinary incontinence. As a GP, I have even treated patients whose repetitive forceful coughing has caused stress fractures in their ribs. So, why
- [Dementia risk depends on more than lifestyle factors. Overstating this can cause stigma and blame](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/15/dementia-risk-depends-on-more-than-lifestyle-factors-overstating-this-can-cause-stigma-and-blame/) - Joyce Siette, Western Sydney University and Gilbert Knaggs, University of Sydney As public awareness of dementia grows, so too does the appetite for prevention. Global headlines tout the benefits of exercise, diet, brain training and social activity in reducing dementia risk. In recent years, medical journals have amplified this message to encourage people to take
- [Get ready for wildfire smoke season: Smoke Ready Week starts Monday](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/05/get-ready-for-wildfire-smoke-season-smoke-ready-week-starts-monday/) - From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – With summer just around the corner, now is the time to prepare for what could be a long, dry, and smoky season for much of Washington state. Starting Monday, June 9, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the National Weather Service, and other local and regional agencies
- [Gluten intolerance and coeliac disease can both cause nausea, bloating and pain. What’s the difference?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/04/gluten-intolerance-and-coeliac-disease-can-both-cause-nausea-bloating-and-pain-whats-the-difference/) - Yasmine Probst, University of Wollongong and Olivia Wills, University of Wollongong Around one in ten Australians say they follow a gluten-free diet. This means eliminating common foods – such as bread, pasta and noodles – that contain gluten, a protein found mainly in wheat, barley and rye. Not everyone who follows a gluten-free diet has
- [‘Big Beautiful Bill’ dings states that offer health care to some immigrants here legally](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/06/03/big-beautiful-bill-dings-states-that-offer-health-care-to-some-immigrants-here-legally/) - By Tim Henderson, Stateline June 3, 2025 The Republican budget bill the U.S. House approved last month includes a surprise for the 40 states that have expanded Medicaid: penalties for providing health care to some immigrants who are here legally. Along with punishing the 14 states that use their own funds to cover immigrants who
- [The Price of Remission](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/28/the-price-of-remission/) - by David Armstrong, ProPublica ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. The pain jolted me awake. It was barely dawn, a misty February morning in 2023. My side felt as if I’d been stabbed.I had been dealing with pain
- [How can I improve my running? 5 top tips for every runner, from a biomechanics expert](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/27/how-can-i-improve-my-running-5-top-tips-for-every-runner-from-a-biomechanics-expert/) - Anthony Blazevich, Edith Cowan University Humans and our ancestors have been running for millions of years. Back then, it helped us capture – or avoid becoming – prey. Now, we do it to keep fit, boost mental health, unwind in nature, or play our favourite sport. But while many of us were taught how to
- [King County officials urge caution around lakes, rivers and Puget Sound as high rates of drownings continue.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/23/king-county-officials-urge-caution-around-lakes-rivers-and-puget-sound-as-high-rates-of-drownings-continue/) - Summary Citing continued high rates of preventable drowning deaths, King County officials urge caution around water this summer. Over half of recent drowning deaths occurred in open water, where temperatures remain dangerously cold and rivers can have swift currents and submerged obstacles. From Public Health — Seattle & King County With summer activities kicking off
- [FDA will approve COVID-19 vaccine only for older adults and high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/22/fda-will-approve-covid-19-vaccine-only-for-older-adults-and-high-risk-groups-a-public-health-expert-explains-the-new-rules/) - Libby Richards, Purdue University On May 20, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration announced a new stance on who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The agency said it would approve new versions of the vaccine only for adults 65 years of age and older as well as for people with one or more risk factors
- [What vaccine opponents get wrong about autism rates and vaccines](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/22/what-vaccine-opponents-get-wrong-about-autism-rates-and-vaccines/) - By Aisha Abdullah, Public Good News May 12, 2025 A recent CDC study found that one in 31 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by age 8 in 2022. The study set off a wave of false and misleading claims about the so-called “autism epidemic” and vaccines. But a closer examination of the data
- [Whatever happened to Barbie’s feet? Podiatrists studied 2,750 dolls to find out](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/16/whatever-happened-to-barbies-feet-podiatrists-studied-2750-dolls-to-find-out/) - Cylie Williams, Monash University and Helen Banwell, University of South Australia What do you get when a group of podiatrists (and shoe lovers) team up with a Barbie doll collector? A huge opportunity to explore how Barbie reflects changes in the types of shoes women wear. It all started with the blockbuster Barbie movie in
- [‘A New Era’ of Cancer Therapies](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/16/a-new-era-of-cancer-therapies/) - May 12, 2025 by Claudia López Lloreda In 2012, clinicians at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia treated Emily Whitehead, a 6-year-old with leukemia, with altered immune cells from her own body. At the time, the treatment was experimental, but it worked: The cells targeted the cancer and eradicated it. Thirteen years later, Whitehead is still
- [Report: Rural Patients Losing Access to Independent Physicians and Medical Practices](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/14/report-rural-patients-losing-access-to-independent-physicians-and-medical-practices/) - By Liz Carey, The Daily Yonder May 12, 2025 A new analysis has found that access to independent physicians and medical practices is falling in rural areas. Between 2019 and 2024, the number of independent physicians in rural areas fell by 43%, according to a study commissioned by the Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI). The study
- [How 7,000 steps a day could help reduce your risk of cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/14/how-7000-steps-a-day-could-help-reduce-your-risk-of-cancer/) - Mhairi Morris, Loughborough University Physical inactivity costs the UK an estimated £7.4 billion each year — but more importantly, it costs lives. In today’s increasingly sedentary world, sitting too much is raising the risk of many serious diseases, including cancer. But could something as simple as walking offer real protection? It turns out the answer
- [Why do cuts to Medicaid matter for Americans over 65? Two experts on aging explain why lives are at stakeWhy do cuts to Medicaid matter for Americans over 65?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/14/why-do-cuts-to-medicaid-matter-for-americans-over-65-two-experts-on-aging-explain-why-lives-are-at-stakewhy-do-cuts-to-medicaid-matter-for-americans-over-65/) - Jane Tavares, UMass Boston and Marc Cohen, UMass Boston Republicans in Congress intend to cut about US$880 billion in federal health care spending. One of their primary targets is Medicaid. That government program covers 82 million Americans with health insurance. Most of the people enrolled in the program are low income, have disabilities, or both.
- [As Rates of Some Cancers Increase in Younger People, Researchers Search for Answers](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/14/as-rates-of-some-cancers-increase-in-younger-people-researchers-search-for-answers/) - May 14, 2025, by Carmen PhillipsNational Cancer Institute Maybe it was already there when he was at Disney World. Sitting in his office on a late-winter morning, wearing jeans and a hooded sweatshirt adorned on the front with a teddy bear in a business suit, Ryan O’Grady, Ph.D., said he couldn’t rule out the possibility.
- [Type 5 diabetes is a newly recognised disease – here are all the types of diabetes you need to know about](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/14/13510/) - Craig Beall, University of Exeter Type 5 diabetes has just been recognised as a distinct form of diabetes by the International Diabetes Federation. Despite the name, there are more than a dozen different types of diabetes. The classification isn’t quite as tidy as the numbering suggests. Here’s a clear guide to the different types, including
- [Children’s health services could see trims even under scaled-back Medicaid cuts](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/12/childrens-health-services-could-see-trims-even-under-scaled-back-medicaid-cuts/) - By Shalina Chatlani, StatelineMay 12, 2025 Even as Republicans in Congress walk back their most aggressive proposal to slash federal Medicaid spending, they are weighing other options that could force states to cut services for children and other vulnerable populations. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters last week that his caucus won’t reduce the
- [Book Review: A Clear-Eyed Look at the Risks of ‘Diagnosis Creep’](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/09/book-review-a-clear-eyed-look-at-the-risks-of-diagnosis-creep/) - May 9, 2025 by Lola Butcher By the time neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan met a patient she calls Darcie, the 20-year-old woman was experiencing daily seizures so disabling she had barely left her home for a year. Darcie expected to add epilepsy to her already long list of other diagnoses: migraine, anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, autism,
- [Why do some people get a curved back as they age and what can I do to avoid it?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/06/why-do-some-people-get-a-curved-back-as-they-age-and-what-can-i-do-to-avoid-it/) - Jakub Mesinovic, Deakin University and David Scott, Deakin University As we age, it’s common to notice posture changes: shoulders rounding, head leaning forward, back starting to curve. You might associate this with older adults and wonder: will this happen to me? Can I prevent it? It’s sometimes called “hunchback” or “roundback”, but the medical term
- [Biden wanted Medicaid to pay for weight-loss drugs. Trump just said it doesn’t have to.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/05/biden-wanted-medicaid-to-pay-for-weight-loss-drugs-trump-just-said-it-doesnt-have-to/) - By Shalina Chatlani, Stateline April 28, 2025 The Trump administration this month scrapped a Biden-era proposal that would have required state Medicaid programs and allowed federal Medicare to pay for some GLP-1s for obesity treatment. Instead, state Medicaid programs will retain the choice of whether to cover the high-priced medications for their residents. The drugs,
- [Teachers and librarians are among those least likely to die by suicide − public health researchers offer insights on what this means for other professions](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/05/13488/) - Jordan Batchelor, Arizona State University; Charles Max Katz, Arizona State University, and Taylor Cox, Arizona State University Where you work affects your risk of dying by suicide. For example, loggers, musicians and workers in the oil and gas industries have much higher rates of suicide than the rest of the population. But on the flip
- [Wildfire smoke and extreme heat can occur together: Preparing for the combined health effects of a hot, smoky future](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/05/wildfire-smoke-and-extreme-heat-can-occur-together-preparing-for-the-combined-health-effects-of-a-hot-smoky-future/) - Stephanie Cleland, Simon Fraser University In recent years, Canadians have been subjected to both severe wildfire smoke and extreme heat events, as evidenced by the record-breaking 2023 wildfire season and the 2021 heat dome. Western Canada in particular has a long history of wildfires and heat waves, and with climate change, communities have experienced an
- [23andMe users’ genetic data is at risk, state AGs warn](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/02/23andme-users-genetic-data-is-at-risk-state-ags-warn/) - By Anna Claire Vollers, StatelineMay 2, 2025 The fate of more than 15 million customers’ genetic data remains in limbo after popular DNA testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March. The data is up for sale, stoking fears about how it might be used and prompting attorneys general from more than a dozen states
- [The MMR vaccine doesn’t contain ‘aborted fetus debris’, as RFK Jr has claimed. Here’s the science](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/02/the-mmr-vaccine-doesnt-contain-aborted-fetus-debris-as-rfk-jr-has-claimed-heres-the-science/) - Hassan Vally, Deakin University Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the United States’ top public health official, recently claimed some religious groups avoid the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine because it contains “aborted fetus debris” and “DNA particles”. The US is facing its worst measles outbreaks in years with nearly 900 cases across the country and
- [When it comes to health information, who should you trust? 4 ways to spot a dodgy ‘expert’](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/05/01/when-it-comes-to-health-information-who-should-you-trust-4-ways-to-spot-a-dodgy-expert/) - Hassan Vally, Deakin University When it comes to our health, we’re constantly being warned about being taken in by misinformation. Yet for most of us what we believe ultimately comes down to who we trust, including which “experts” we trust. The problem is that not everyone who presents themselves as an expert is actually an
- [Forming new habits can take longer than you think. Here are 8 tips to help you stick with them](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/29/forming-new-habits-can-take-longer-than-you-think-here-are-8-tips-to-help-you-stick-with-them/) - Ben Singh, University of South Australia and Ashleigh E. Smith, University of South Australia If you’ve ever tried to build a new habit – whether that’s exercising more, eating healthier, or going to bed earlier – you may have heard the popular claim that it only takes 21 days to form a habit. It’s a
- [Why sitting down – and getting back up – might be the most important health test you do today](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/28/why-sitting-down-and-getting-back-up-might-be-the-most-important-health-test-you-do-today/) - Catherine Norton, University of Limerick If you or someone you love finds it difficult to stand up from the toilet without using your hands, it might seem like a small issue. But in health and ageing, this movement – known as the “sit-to-stand” – can be a red flag. It’s one of the strongest indicators
- [Commentary: Rural Americans Need the Trump Administration to Provide an Additional Path to Fight Obesity](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/25/commentary-rural-americans-need-the-trump-administration-to-provide-an-additional-path-to-fight-obesity/) - By Debera Gau, The Daily Yonder April 24, 2025 I spent over seven hours in the car driving one way to my most recent doctor’s appointment. For many Americans, this may be shocking, but for those of us who live in rural areas, it’s a way of life. Far too often, rural Americans have been
- [Popcorn lung: how vaping can scar your lungs for life](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/25/popcorn-lung-how-vaping-can-scar-your-lungs-for-life/) - By Donal O'Shea, professor of chemistry, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Gerry McElvaney, professor of medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences A US teenager was recently reported to have developed the oddly named medical condition “popcorn lung” after vaping in secret for three years. Officially known as bronchiolitis obliterans, popcorn lung is a
- [Rural Hospitals and Patients Are Disconnected From Modern Care](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/24/13455/) - By Sarah Jane Tribble, KFF Health News and Holly K. Hacker and Caresse Jackman, InvestigateTV If you regularly experience connection issues, click here to read a version of this story designed to open faster in low-signal areas. EUTAW, Ala. — Leroy Walker arrived at the county hospital short of breath. Walker, 65 and with chronic
- [Washington Health Officials Urge Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccines amidst national outbreak](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/24/washington-health-officials-urge-measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccines-amidst-national-outbreak/) - Childhood immunization rates in Washington state have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, putting communities at risk for outbreaks From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – As the measles outbreak in the United States surpasses 800 confirmed casesacross 24 states, including a fifth case reported this week in Washington state, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is urging parents and caregivers
- [Five reasons why young-onset dementia is often missed](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/24/five-reasons-why-young-onset-dementia-is-often-missed/) - Molly Murray, University of the West of Scotland Around 57 million people worldwide have dementia. While most cases of dementia are diagnosed in older adults, about 7% of cases occur in people under 65. This number may be even higher as young-onset dementia continues to be under-recognised. This means many people may be missing out
- [Jeffing: how this run-walk method could help you train for a marathon](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/24/jeffing-how-this-run-walk-method-could-help-you-train-for-a-marathon/) - James Thie, Cardiff Metropolitan University Even if you’re a runner, you may not have heard the term “Jeffing” before. It’s a method of alternating between running and walking and it’s become a popular way to train for long-distance races. It’s particularly timely, as we appear to be in the middle of a second running boom,
- [Are New Immune-Based Treatments for Kidney and Pancreatic Cancer on the Horizon?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/23/13439/) - April 23, 2025, by Carmen PhillipsNational Cancer Institute New immune-based treatments for kidney and pancreatic cancer have shown promising results in two small clinical trials. In both trials, the treatments appeared to prevent cancer from returning in patients who had successful surgery to remove their tumors. The treatments are called therapeutic cancer vaccines because they
- [Low iron is common in teenage girls – with vegans and vegetarians at greatest risk, according to our research in Sweden](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/23/low-iron-is-common-in-teenage-girls-with-vegans-and-vegetarians-at-greatest-risk-according-to-our-research-in-sweden/) - Moa Wolff, Lund University and Anna Stubbendorff, Lund University Teenage girls who avoid meat in favour of a plant-based diet are at higher risk of developing an iron deficiency, according to our latest research. Our study confirmed that iron deficiency is common among teenage girls, with 38% of participants affected. We also found that risk
- [Measles Misinformation Is on the Rise — And Americans Are Hearing It, Survey Finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/23/measles-misinformation-is-on-the-rise-and-americans-are-hearing-it-survey-finds/) - By Arthur Allen, KFF Health News While the most serious measles epidemic in a decade has led to the deaths of two children and spread to 27 states with no signs of letting up, beliefs about the safety of the measles vaccine and the threat of the disease are sharply polarized, fed by the anti-vaccine
- [Cutting Edge: The Cautious Optimism for Psychiatric Brain Surgery](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/18/cutting-edge-the-cautious-optimism-for-psychiatric-brain-surgery/) - April 14, 2025 by Frieda Klotz Up until a couple years ago, an attorney in his late 30s used to repeatedly check his vehicle for signs that he might have injured a pedestrian. The man had no reason to think he had actually hit someone, but his obsessive-compulsive disorder made him fearful. “I spent hours
- [Trump’s War on Measurement Means Losing Data on Drug Use, Maternal Mortality, Climate Change and More](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/18/trumps-war-on-measurement-means-losing-data-on-drug-use-maternal-mortality-climate-change-and-more/) - by Alec MacGillis ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: A Closer Look:Examining the News More in this series More children ages 1 to 4 die of drowning than any other cause of death. Nearly a quarter of
- [How bird flu differs from seasonal flu − an infectious disease researcher explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/15/how-bird-flu-differs-from-seasonal-flu-−-an-infectious-disease-researcher-explains/) - Hanna D. Paton, University of Iowa The flu sickens millions of people in the U.S. every year, and the past year has been particularly tough. Although infections are trending downward, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called the winter of 2024-2025 a “high severity” season with the highest hospitalization rate in 15 years.
- [Washington Hospitals warn Legislature’s budget plans would deal them a financial hit](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/09/washington-hospitals-warn-legislatures-budget-plans-would-deal-them-a-financial-hit/) - by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero, Washington State StandardApril 9, 2025 Washington hospitals are raising alarm that taxes and insurance payment caps proposed in the state Legislature could jeopardize their finances and undermine patient care. The House and Senate are both looking at putting new limits on the reimbursement rates that health insurance plans for state workers
- [Rural Pharmacies Are Transforming to Take on More Healthcare Responsibilities](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/09/rural-pharmacies-are-transforming-to-take-on-more-healthcare-responsibilities/) - By Liz Carey, The Daily YonderApril 9, 2025 As rural pharmacies are striving to provide more services to their communities, East Tennessee State University is working to get more pharmacists into rural communities. For the past 20 years, ETSU’s Gatton College of Pharmacy has educated pharmacists in northeastern Tennessee. Recently, the pharmacy program received $2.5
- [A fifth of Americans are on Medicaid. Some of them have no idea.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/09/a-fifth-of-americans-are-on-medicaid-some-of-them-have-no-idea/) - by Anna Claire Vollers, StatelineApril 9, 2025 Some Americans who rely on Medicaid to pay for their health care don’t realize their insurance is funded by that very program, which congressional Republicans are looking to shrink. One reason is that state programs aren’t always called “Medicaid.” Many states have rebranded their programs with consumer-friendly names
- [Here’s a simple, science-backed way to sharpen your thinking and improve your memory](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/08/heres-a-simple-science-backed-way-to-sharpen-your-thinking-and-improve-your-memory/) - Ben Singh, University of South Australia and Ashleigh E. Smith, University of South Australia Many of us turn to Sudoku, Wordle or brain-training apps to sharpen our minds. But research is increasingly showing one of the best ways to boost memory, focus and brain health is exercise. Our new research reviewed data from more than
- [Some measles response plans crash to a halt after Trump cuts](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/08/some-measles-response-plans-crash-to-a-halt-after-trump-cuts/) - by Tim Henderson, StatelineApril 8, 2025 Cities and states fighting a historic measles outbreak find themselves undermined by the Trump administration as they struggle to provide crucial vaccinations and overcome disinformation. As of this week, cases were nearing 650 in 22 states, on track to reach a 34-year high. A second unvaccinated child died of
- [Slowing Sarcopenia](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/07/slowing-sarcopenia/) - Keep Your Muscles Healthy as You Age From the National Institutes of Health Starting at age 30, our bodies naturally start to lose muscle mass. We lose about 3–5% every 10 years. You might not notice the effects at first. But over time, the reduced muscle mass leads to decreased strength. After a while, it
- [New guidelines aim to improve cystic fibrosis screening](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/07/new-guidelines-aim-to-improve-cystic-fibrosis-screening/) - From the University of Washington All states should adopt updated screening protocols so more newborns with cystic fibrosis can be diagnosed in the first weeks of life, when interventions can have the greatest benefit, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation guidelines published April 2 in the International Journal of Neonatal Screening. Current newborn screening protocols vary across
- [Trump’s research cuts threaten to set off a wave of university brain drain](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/07/trumps-research-cuts-threaten-to-set-off-a-wave-of-university-brain-drain/) - by Donna Gordon Blankinship, Washington State StandardApril 4, 2025 Emma McDonnell has one of those jobs it takes a few minutes to explain. She’s a biomedical informatics researcher in the University of Washington School of Medicine. But that doesn’t really explain what she does, even if you know what informatics is. Her research is centered
- [Measles can ravage the immune system and brain, causing long-term damage – a virologist explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/07/measles-can-ravage-the-immune-system-and-brain-causing-long-term-damage-a-virologist-explains/) - Peter Kasson, Georgia Institute of Technology The measles outbreak that began in west Texas in late January 2025 continues to grow, with 400 confirmed cases in Texas and more than 50 in New Mexico and Oklahoma as of March 28. Public health experts believe the numbers are much higher, however, and some worry about a
- [Republicans in Congress are eyeing cuts to Medicaid. But what does Medicaid actually do?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/07/republicans-in-congress-are-eyeing-cuts-to-medicaid-but-what-does-medicaid-actually-do/) - By Shalina Chatlani, StatelineApril 7, 2025 Republicans in Congress are eyeing $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid, the joint federal-state government health care program for lower-income people. Depending on how states respond, a Republican proposal that would slash the 90% federal contribution to states’ expanded Medicaid programs would end coverage for as many as 20
- [Protein is being added to yoghurt, bread and even coffee – but is it really good for our health?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/04/protein-is-being-added-to-yoghurt-bread-and-even-coffee-but-is-it-really-good-for-our-health/) - Aisling Pigott, Cardiff Metropolitan University Protein intake dominates fitness advice. Whether you want to build muscle, improve your fitness or watch your weight, the common advice handed out by everyone from fitness influencers to doctors is that we need more protein. But while protein does play an essential role in maintaining our muscle mass and
- [Is TikTok right? Do I need to eat more protein?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/03/is-tiktok-right-do-i-need-to-eat-more-protein/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney In the ever-changing wellness industry, one diet obsession has captured and held TikTok’s attention: protein. Whether it’s sharing snaps of protein-packed meals or giving tutorials to boost your intake, the message is clear: maximum protein consumption is essential for weight management and wellness. Supermarkets have fed this obsession, stacking the
- [Midlife eating patterns tied to health decades later](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/01/midlife-eating-patterns-tied-to-health-decades-later/) - At a Glance People who ate healthier diets in midlife were more likely to live into their 70s without major chronic disease. The results suggest that a variety of healthful eating patterns can promote healthy aging in later years. By Vicki Contie, National Institutes of Health As the U.S. population ages, there’s growing interest in
- [Bird flu could be on the cusp of transmitting between humans − but there are ways to slow down viral evolution](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/01/13373/) - Ron Barrett, Macalester College Disease forecasts are like weather forecasts: We cannot predict the finer details of a particular outbreak or a particular storm, but we can often identify when these threats are emerging and prepare accordingly. The viruses that cause avian influenza are potential threats to global health. Recent animal outbreaks from a subtype
- [More than 5M could lose Medicaid coverage if feds impose work requirements](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/04/01/more-than-5m-could-lose-medicaid-coverage-if-feds-impose-work-requirements/) - By Shalina Chatlani, StatelineApril 1, 2025 Under an emerging Republican plan to require some Medicaid recipients to work, between 4.6 million and 5.2 million adults ages 19 to 55 could lose their health care coverage, according to a new analysis. The study, conducted by Urban Institute researchers with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,
- [Social factors help explain worse cardiovascular health among adults in rural vs. urban communities](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/31/social-factors-help-explain-worse-cardiovascular-health-among-adults-in-rural-vs-urban-communities/) - From the National Institute of Health Adults living in rural areas were more likely than those living in large cities to have heart disease (7% vs. 4%), high blood pressure (37% vs. 31%), high cholesterol (29% vs. 27%), obesity (41% vs. 30%), and diabetes (11% vs. 10%), a new NIH-funded study has found. Across all
- [Massive cuts to Health and Human Services’ workforce signal a dramatic shift in US health policy](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/31/massive-cuts-to-health-and-human-services-workforce-signal-a-dramatic-shift-in-us-health-policy/) - Simon F. Haeder, Texas A&M University On March 27, 2025, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced plans to dramatically transform the department. HHS is the umbrella agency responsible for pandemic preparedness, biomedical research, food safety and many other health-related activities. In a video posted that afternoon, Kennedy said the
- [How viruses blur the the boundaries of life](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/31/how-viruses-blur-the-the-boundaries-of-life/) - Heshmat Borhani, University of Nottingham When people talk about the coronavirus, they sometimes describe this invisible entity as if it has a personality and even a conscience. If you ask a biology or medical student what a virus is, they will tell you that a virus is not a living organism, or at most that
- [Doctor shortages have hobbled health care for decades − and the trend could be worsening](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/31/doctor-shortages-have-hobbled-health-care-for-decades-−-and-the-trend-could-be-worsening/) - Rochelle Walensky, Harvard Kennedy School and Nicole McCann, Boston University Americans are increasingly waiting weeks or even months to get an appointment to see a health care specialist. This delay comes at a time when the population of aging adults is rising dramatically. By 2050, the number of adults over 85 is expected to triple,
- [The CDC Buried a Measles Forecast That Stressed the Need for Vaccinations](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/28/the-cdc-buried-a-measles-forecast-that-stressed-the-need-for-vaccinations/) - By Patricia Callahan, ProPublica ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered staff this week not to release their experts’ assessment that found the risk of catching measles is high
- [Chronic kidney disease often goes undiagnosed, but early detection can prevent severe outcomes](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/28/chronic-kidney-disease-often-goes-undiagnosed-but-early-detection-can-prevent-severe-outcomes/) - Eleanor Rivera, University of Illinois Chicago For a disease afflicting 35.5 million people in the U.S., chronic kidney disease flies under the radar. Only half the people who have it are formally diagnosed. The consequences of advanced chronic kidney disease are severe. When these essential organs can no longer do their job of filtering waste
- [Cuts to science research funding cut American lives short − federal support is essential for medical breakthroughs](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/28/cuts-to-science-research-funding-cut-american-lives-short-−-federal-support-is-essential-for-medical-breakthroughs/) - Deborah Fuller, University of Washington and Patrick Mitchell, University of Washington Nearly every modern medical treatment can be traced to research funded by the National Institutes of Health: from over-the-counter and prescription medications that treat high cholesterol and pain to protection from infectious diseases such as polio and smallpox. The remarkable successes of the decades-old
- [With Few Dentists and Fluoride Under Siege, Rural America Risks New Surge of Tooth Decay](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/27/with-few-dentists-and-fluoride-under-siege-rural-america-risks-new-surge-of-tooth-decay/) - By Brett Kelman, KFF Health News In the wooded highlands of northern Arkansas, where small towns have few dentists, water officials who serve more than 20,000 people have for more than a decade openly defied state law by refusing to add fluoride to the drinking water. For its refusal, the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water
- [Medetomidine is replacing xylazine in Philly street fentanyl − creating new hurdles for health care providers and drug users](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/27/medetomidine-is-replacing-xylazine-in-philly-street-fentanyl-−-creating-new-hurdles-for-health-care-providers-and-drug-users/) - Kory London, Thomas Jefferson University and Karen Alexander, Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia’s street opioid supply – or “dope” market – is constantly changing. As health care workers and researchers who care for people who use drugs in our community, we have witnessed these shifts firsthand. New adulterants are frequently added to the mix. They bring
- [Do any non-drug treatments help back pain? Here’s what the evidence says](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/27/do-any-non-drug-treatments-help-back-pain-heres-what-the-evidence-says/) - Rodrigo Rossi Nogueira Rizzo, Neuroscience Research Australia and Aidan Cashin, Neuroscience Research Australia Jason, a 42-year-old father of two, has been battling back pain for weeks. Scrolling through his phone, he sees ad after ad promising relief: chiropractic alignments, acupuncture, back braces, vibrating massage guns and herbal patches. His GP told him to “stay active”,
- [Daily physical activity, even at light intensities, linked to lower cancer risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/26/daily-physical-activity-even-at-light-intensities-linked-to-lower-cancer-risk/) - NIH study finds number of steps taken daily may be more important for cancer risk than the intensity of activity. From the National Institutes of Health In a prospective cohort study of more than 85,000 adults in the United Kingdom, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and University of Oxford found that individuals
- [Going to the dentist is expensive. Here are 3 things you can do to protect your oral health – and 3 things to avoid](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/26/going-to-the-dentist-is-expensive-here-are-3-things-you-can-do-to-protect-your-oral-health-and-3-things-to-avoid/) - Dileep Sharma, University of Newcastle Most oral and dental diseases are preventable, if you take care of your teeth and mouth. In-between visits to the dentist, here’s what you can do to avoid preventable issues – and blow-out dental costs. What causes diseases in your mouth? More than 1,000 species of microbes live in the
- [The paradox of weight loss: why losing pounds may not always lead to better health](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/26/the-paradox-of-weight-loss-why-losing-pounds-may-not-always-lead-to-better-health/) - Barbara Pierscionek, Anglia Ruskin University One of the lasting memories from my teenage years is what I now recognise as an obsession with weight control. Thin was in, and magazines promoted a variety of diets, each claiming effectiveness, often accompanied by images of beautiful, slim models. Not much has changed. Diets, intermittent fasting, weight-loss surgery,
- [Maintaining mobility with aging means planning ahead](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/26/maintaining-mobility-with-aging-means-planning-ahead/) - Brenda Vrkljan, McMaster University Winter weather makes it hard for everyone to get around. But for many, especially older people, the whole world can feel like an icy sidewalk every day of the year, particularly if they already have problems with their mobility that puts them at higher risk of falling. For people who have
- [States try to rein in health insurers’ claim denials, with mixed results](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/25/states-try-to-rein-in-health-insurers-claim-denials-with-mixed-results/) - By Shalina Chatlani, Stateline March 25, 2025 Health insurance companies are under increasing scrutiny for allegedly using artificial intelligence bots and algorithms to swiftly deny patients routine or lifesaving care — without a human actually reviewing their claims. The high-profile killing late last year of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has focused even more attention on
- [Heeding the lessons of COVID-19 in the face of avian influenza](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/25/heeding-the-lessons-of-covid-19-in-the-face-of-avian-influenza/) - Matthew S Miller, McMaster University Infectious disease outbreaks have a bad habit of piling on at the worst possible times. The 1918 flu pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, caught the world by surprise just as the First World War was coming to an end. It was responsible for killing three to five per
- [NIH Ends Future Funding to Study the Health Effects of Climate Change](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/24/nih-ends-future-funding-to-study-the-health-effects-of-climate-change/) - by Annie Waldman and Sharon Lerner ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. The National Institutes of Health will no longer be funding work on the health effects of climate change, according to internal records reviewed by ProPublica.The guidance,
- [A brief guide to vitamin and mineral supplements – when too much of a good thing can become toxic](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/24/a-brief-guide-to-vitamin-and-mineral-supplements-when-too-much-of-a-good-thing-can-become-toxic/) - Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University Around half of UK adults currently take a food supplement – but vitamins and minerals are usually only needed in small amounts and too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits and risks of some of the most common
- [How to assess your risk for breast cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/20/how-to-assess-your-risk-for-breast-cancer/) - Many incorrectly estimate their risk, which affects their options for risk reduction University of Michigan Health Lab Aurhtor: Ananya Sen One in eight American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. A combination of factors can influence your risk. Some are unmodifiable, such as age, having dense breasts and a family history of breast
- [Combatting the measles threat means examining the reasons for declining vaccination rates](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/19/combatting-the-measles-threat-means-examining-the-reasons-for-declining-vaccination-rates/) - Catherine Carstairs, University of Guelph and Kathryn Hughes, University of Guelph Measles was supposedly eradicated in Canada more than a quarter century ago. But today, measles is surging. Public Health Ontario recently announced that there have been 195 cases in the province in the past two weeks and 372 cases since autumn 2024. Many cases
- [Second measles case identified in Washington state](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/19/second-measles-case-identified-in-washington-state/) - From Public Health — Seattle & King County Public Health – Seattle & King County and Snohomish County Health Department are investigating a positive case of measles, identified on March 17, 2025, in an adult resident of Snohomish County. This case is linked to the first measles case identified in late February in King County. This
- [Flu deaths rise as anti-vaccine disinformation takes root](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/18/flu-deaths-rise-as-anti-vaccine-disinformation-takes-root/) - By Tim Henderson, StatelineMarch 18, 2025 As vaccine skepticism gains a greater foothold in the Trump administration and some statehouses, some Americans may already be paying the price, with deaths from influenza on the rise. Flu-related deaths hit a seven-year high in January and February, the two months that usually account for the height of
- [How long will you live? New evidence says it’s much more about your choices than your genes](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/17/how-long-will-you-live-new-evidence-says-its-much-more-about-your-choices-than-your-genes/) - Hassan Vally, Deakin University One of the most enduring questions humans have is how long we’re going to live. With this comes the question of how much of our lifespan is shaped by our environment and choices, and how much is predetermined by our genes. A study recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine
- [Short-term dietary changes can lead to obesity, shows research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/14/short-term-dietary-changes-can-lead-to-obesity-shows-research/) - Stephanie Kullmann, University of Tübingen After a long, stressful day at work, or when pressed for time, the temptation to have a quick, satisfying snack – like crisps or a chocolate bar – can be strong. Research shows that these ultra-processed, high-calorie foods play a significant role in the development of obesity, but the lasting
- [‘Pandemic babies’ turn 5: Here’s what research tells us about their development and remarkable resilience](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/14/pandemic-babies-turn-5-heres-what-research-tells-us-about-their-development-and-remarkable-resilience/) - Gerald Giesbrecht, University of Calgary; Catherine Lebel, University of Calgary, and Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, University of British Columbia Early brain development lays the foundation for lifelong health and success. But disruptions to a child’s early environment can leave a long-lasting imprint on their development and success. For example, research shows that babies who are born during
- [Generative AI and deepfakes are fuelling health misinformation.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/13/generative-ai-and-deepfakes-are-fuelling-health-misinformation/) - Here’s what to look out for so you don’t get scammed Lisa M. Given, RMIT University False and misleading health information online and on social media is on the rise, thanks to rapid developments in deepfake technology and generative artificial intelligence (AI). This allows videos, photos and audio of respected health professionals to be manipulated –
- [Less than half of parents think they have accurate information about bird flu ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/13/less-than-half-of-parents-think-they-have-accurate-information-about-bird-flu/) - By Beata Mostafavi, University of Michigan Health Lab With soaring egg prices and ongoing bird flu headlines, many parents are uncertain about the risks and facts surrounding the virus, a national poll suggests. Most parents say they don’t know if there have been cases of bird flu in their state, and less than half feel
- [The most likely Medicaid cuts would hit rural areas the hardest](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/12/the-most-likely-medicaid-cuts-would-hit-rural-areas-the-hardest/) - By Scott S. Greenberger, StatelineMarch 12, 2025 Working-age adults who live in small towns and rural areas are more likely to be covered by Medicaid than their counterparts in cities, creating a dilemma for Republicans looking to make deep cuts to the health care program. About 72 million people — nearly 1 in 5 people
- [Retired Doctors Step Up in the Face of a Rural Health Care Crisis](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/12/retired-doctors-step-up-in-the-face-of-a-rural-health-care-crisis/) - By Pat Raia, The Daily Yonder March 11, 2025 Four years ago, family practitioner Dr. Jeff Chappell retired from his post as medical director of the Wayne Community Health Center in Bicknell, Utah. He was excited to undertake a new medical mission, through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to South America where
- [UW researchers develop test to predict preeclampsia](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/11/uw-researchers-develop-test-to-predict-preeclampsia/) - Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have developed an approach that can predict preeclampsia in pregnant women as early as the first trimester by using cell-free DNA in blood samples. Such a screening test could enable earlier interventions and help prevent the severe
- [National Cancer Institute Employees Can’t Publish Information on These Topics Without Special Approval](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/10/national-cancer-institute-employees-cant-publish-information-on-these-topics-without-special-approval/) - by Annie Waldman and Lisa SongProPublica ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Employees at the National Cancer Institute, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, received internal guidance last week to flag manuscripts, presentations or other
- [King Holmes, who led pioneering research in sexually transmitted diseases, dies](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/10/king-holmes-who-led-pioneering-research-in-sexually-transmitted-diseases-dies/) - From the University of Washington Infectious disease specialist Dr. King Kennard Holmes, who is credited with bringing the previously ignored field of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to the forefront of medical research, died Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Seattle after a long illness. He was 87. Nearly single-handedly, he instigated and led the STI field
- [NIH funding cuts will hit red states, rural areas and underserved communities the hardest](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/08/nih-funding-cuts-will-hit-red-states-rural-areas-and-underserved-communities-the-hardest/) - Prakash Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina The National Institutes of Health is the largest federal funder of medical research in the U.S. NIH funds drive research and innovation, leading to better understanding and treatment of diseases and improved health outcomes. The NIH provided more than US$35 billion in
- [Daylight saving time and early school start times cost billions in lost productivity and health care expenses](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/08/daylight-saving-time-and-early-school-start-times-cost-billions-in-lost-productivity-and-health-care-expenses/) - Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, University of Pittsburgh Investigations into the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster revealed that key decision-makers worked on little sleep, raising concerns that fatigue impaired their judgment. Similarly, in 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill resulted in a massive environmental catastrophe. The official investigation revealed the third mate, in charge of steering the ship,
- [Flu kills two area children](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/07/flu-kills-two-area-children/) - Public Health reports first pediatric flu deaths of the 2024-25 flu season From Public Health — Seattle & King County Public Health has learned that two children in King County have died from complications of the flu. The first was an elementary-age child who passed away on February 14, 2025. The second was a preschool-age
- [Is alcohol good or bad for you? Yes.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/06/is-alcohol-good-or-bad-for-you-yes-2/) - by Kenneth Mukamal and Eric R. Rimm, The Journalist's Resource August 29, 2024 This article originally appeared in Harvard Public Health magazine. It’s hard to escape the message these days that every sip of wine, every swig of beer is bad for your health. The truth, however, is far more nuanced. We have been researching
- [GOP lawmakers push to charge women with homicide for seeking abortions](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/06/gop-lawmakers-push-to-charge-women-with-homicide-for-seeking-abortions/) - By Anna Claire Vollers, StatelineMarch 6, 2025 As state legislative sessions grind on, conservative lawmakers have filed a new batch of bills that would grant legal rights to fetuses and fertilized embryos. Lawmakers in at least eight states — Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas — have considered bills to
- [Eating disorders don’t just affect teen girls. The risk may go up around pregnancy and menopause too](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/03/13221/) - Gemma Sharp, The University of Queensland; Amy Burton, University of Technology Sydney, and Megan Lee, Bond University Eating disorders impact more than 1.1 million people in Australia, representing 4.5% of the population. These disorders include binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. Meanwhile, more than 4.1 million people (18.9%) are affected by body dissatisfaction,
- [As flu cases break records this year, vaccine rates are declining, particularly for children and 65+ adults](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/03/03/as-flu-cases-break-records-this-year-vaccine-rates-are-declining-particularly-for-children-and-65-adults/) - Annette Regan, University of California, Los Angeles In February 2025, flu rates spiked to the highest levels seen in at least 15 years, with flu outpacing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified this flu season as having
- [Where Did U.S. Public Health Go Wrong?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/28/where-did-u-s-public-health-go-wrong/) - The field’s failure to integrate medical services in the mid-20th century set the stage for its current troubles. February 27, 2025 by Eric Coles I chose a career in public health because of its power to improve lives, as the field did in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by
- [Vaccination rates are declining. They might get worse as states relax rules.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/28/vaccination-rates-are-declining-they-might-get-worse-as-states-relax-rules/) - By Shalina Chatlani, StatelineFebruary 28, 2025 More states are loosening vaccine mandates, scaling back vaccine promotion efforts and taking other steps likely to lower vaccination rates — even as a major measles outbreak spreads in Texas. Meanwhile, public health experts worry that the confirmation of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the
- [Measles: 10 things to know about immunization and prevention](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/28/measles-10-things-to-know-about-immunization-and-prevention/) - February 28, 2025 11:22 AM By Leona FalconerUniversity of Michigan Health Lab This story was published on Feb. 28, 2024 and updated on Feb. 25, 2025. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but clusters of cases have begun popping up across the country. The latest: A recent outbreak in Texas and New Mexico is
- [As bird flu spreads, feds might undercut states by firing scientists, removing data](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/26/as-bird-flu-spreads-feds-might-undercut-states-by-firing-scientists-removing-data/) - By Nada Hassanein, StatelineFebruary 26, 2025 As bird flu cases inundate more poultry and dairy farms, state officials worry that the Trump administration’s firings of federal scientists and other actions will undermine efforts to track the virus and protect Americans. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rushed to rehire workers who were involved in
- [If scratching is bad for you, why does it feel so good?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/25/if-scratching-is-bad-for-you-why-does-it-feel-so-good/) - By Brian Doctrow, Ph.D.National Institutes of Health Many skin diseases, such as dermatitis, feature a prolonged itching sensation. This sensation encourages scratching, which can bring temporary relief but may also promote skin inflammation and more itching. This prompts further scratching, leading to a vicious cycle of worsening disease. Yet scratching is an automatic response to itch
- [Smart is sexy – new study on fish doing puzzles hints intelligence partly evolved via sexual selection](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/25/smart-is-sexy-new-study-on-fish-doing-puzzles-hints-intelligence-partly-evolved-via-sexual-selection/) - Ivan Vinogradov, Australian National University We humans often underestimate the intelligence of other animals. You’ve probably seen videos of monkeys, ravens or parrots solving puzzles. But fish also possess impressive problem-solving skills, despite the notorious slander that goldfish have a three-second memory. The intelligence of animals can be a useful tool when testing various ideas
- [Trump Froze Out Project 2025 in His Campaign. Now Its Blueprint Is His Health Care Playbook.](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/24/13198/) - By Stephanie Armour, KFF Health News Few voters likely expected President Donald Trump in the first weeks of his administration to slash billions of dollars from the nation’s premier federal cancer research agency. But funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health were presaged in Project 2025’s “Mandate for Leadership,” a conservative plan for governing
- [Gout used to be an affliction of royalty but is now a disease of the masses](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/24/gout-used-to-be-an-affliction-of-royalty-but-is-now-a-disease-of-the-masses/) - Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol “The Queen’s had an attack of gout! Hurry!” So exclaimed the crotchety Mrs Meg in Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Favourite, in which Olivia Colman plays a moribund and overweight Queen Anne. The queen was afflicted with, among many other conditions, gout – a disorder which causes joint inflammation and severe pain.
- [More people are asking generative AI questions about their health. But the wrong answer can be risky](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/20/13172/) - Julie Ayre, University of Sydney; Erin Cvejic, University of Sydney, and Kirsten McCaffery, University of Sydney More people are turning to generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help them in their daily and professional lives. ChatGPT is one of the most well-known and widely available generative AI tools. It gives tailored, plausible answers to any question
- [Why do skiers sunburn so easily on the slopes? A snow scientist explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/22/why-do-skiers-sunburn-so-easily-on-the-slopes-a-snow-scientist-explains/) - Steven R. Fassnacht, Colorado State University It’s extremely easy to get sunburned while you’re skiing and snowboarding in the mountains, but have you ever wondered why? While it’s true that you’re slightly closer to the Sun when you’re high in the mountains, that isn’t the reason. If you go up 1 mile (1.6 km), about
- [GOP Takes Aim at Medicaid, Putting Enrollees and Providers at Risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/21/gop-takes-aim-at-medicaid-putting-enrollees-and-providers-at-risk/) - By Phil Galewitz, KFF Health News Medicaid is under threat — again. Republicans, who narrowly control Congress, are pushing proposals that could sharply cut funding to the government health insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, as a way to finance President Donald Trump’s agenda for tax cuts and border security. Democrats, hoping to block
- [Texas Banned Abortion...](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/20/texas-banned-abortion/) - Then Sepsis Rates Soared. by Lizzie Presser, Andrea Suozzo, Sophie Chou and Kavitha Surana ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: Life of the Mother: How Abortion Bans Lead to Preventable Deaths Pregnancy became far more dangerous in
- [CDC layoffs strike deeply at its ability to respond to the current flu, norovirus and measles outbreaks and other public health emergencies](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/20/cdc-layoffs-strike-deeply-at-its-ability-to-respond-to-the-current-flu-norovirus-and-measles-outbreaks-and-other-public-health-emergencies/) - Jordan Miller, Arizona State University In just a few short weeks, the Trump administration has brought drastic changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health. Beginning with the removal of websites and key public health datasets in January 2025, the Trump administration has taken actions to dismantle established public health infrastructure
- [Many gluten-free foods are high in calories and sugar, low on fiber and protein, and they cost more − new research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/19/many-gluten-free-foods-are-high-in-calories-and-sugar-low-on-fiber-and-protein-and-they-cost-more-−-new-research/) - Sachin Rustgi, Clemson University U.S. consumers often pay more for gluten-free products, yet these items typically provide less protein and more sugar and calories compared with gluten-containing alternatives. That is the key finding of my new study, published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. This study compared gluten-free products with their gluten-containing counterparts,
- [3 statistical stuff-ups that made everyday items look healthier (or riskier) than they really are](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/19/3-statistical-stuff-ups-that-made-everyday-items-look-healthier-or-riskier-than-they-really-are/) - Adrian Esterman, University of South Australia Conducting scientific studies is never easy, and there are often major disasters along the way. A researcher accidentally spills coffee on a keyboard, destroying the data. Or one of the chemicals used in the analysis is contaminated, and the list goes on. However, when we read the results of
- [Are eggs good or bad for our health?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/13/are-eggs-good-or-bad-for-our-health/) - Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland and Karly Bartrim, The University of Queensland You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health. Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and again, and again – largely debunking the claim. A new study suggests that, among
- [Rural Americans don’t live as long as those in cities − new research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/12/rural-americans-dont-live-as-long-as-those-in-cities-−-new-research/) - Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, University of Southern California; Bryan Tysinger, University of Southern California, and Jack Chapel, University of Southern California Rural Americans – particularly men – are expected to live significantly shorter, less healthy lives than their urban counterparts, according to our research, recently published in the Journal of Rural Health. We found that a 60-year-old
- [State lawmakers embrace RFK Jr.’s health policies](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/12/state-lawmakers-embrace-rfk-jr-s-health-policies/) - By Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline February 12, 2025 Republican state legislators across the country are filing a flurry of bills to advance the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda promoted by activist lawyer and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s in line to be the next U.S. health secretary. Under the MAHA banner, state
- [Decluttering can be stressful − a clinical psychologist explains how personal values can make it easier](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/11/decluttering-can-be-stressful-−-a-clinical-psychologist-explains-how-personal-values-can-make-it-easier/) - Mary E. Dozier, Mississippi State University I recently helped my mom sort through boxes she inherited when my grandparents passed away. One box was labeled – either ironically or genuinely – “toothpick holders and other treasures.” Inside were many keepsakes from moments now lost to history – although we found no toothpick holders. My favorite
- [Stay safe in freezing temperatures with these winter weather tips  ](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/11/stay-safe-in-freezing-temperatures-with-these-winter-weather-tips/) - From the Washington State Department of Health Temperatures dropping statewide, cold weatheradvisory in effect OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) urges residents to take precautions to stay safe this week, as our state experiences the first serious cold snap this winter. The National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory through Wednesday. Most of the state will experience dangerously low temperatures that can lead
- [House Cats With Bird Flu Could Pose a Risk to Public Health](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/10/house-cats-with-bird-flu-could-pose-a-risk-to-public-health/) - By Sarah Boden, KFF Health NewsFEBRUARY 10, 2025 More than 80 domestic cats, among many other types of mammals, have been confirmed to have had bird flu since 2022 — generally barn cats that lived on dairy farms, as well as feral cats and pets that spend time outdoors and likely caught it by hunting diseased rodents or wild birds.
- [Health insurance for millions could vanish as states put Medicaid expansion on chopping block](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/10/health-insurance-for-millions-could-vanish-as-states-put-medicaid-expansion-on-chopping-block/) - by Anna Claire Vollers, StatelineFebruary 10, 2025 Republican lawmakers in several states have Medicaid expansion in their crosshairs, energized by President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and a GOP-controlled Congress set on reducing spending on the public health insurance program for low-income people. As the feds consider cuts to Medicaid, some states are
- [Washington AG sues over Trump order seeking to restrict care for trans youth](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/10/washington-ag-sues-over-trump-order-seeking-to-restrict-care-for-trans-youth/) - by Jake Goldstein-Street, Washington State StandardFebruary 7, 2025 Washington Attorney General Nick Brown on Friday sued the Trump administration over an executive order threatening to stop federal funding for gender-affirming care for transgender youth. President Donald Trump’s Jan. 28 executive order, entitled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” states “it is the policy of
- [US dodged a bird flu pandemic in 1957 thanks to eggs and dumb luck](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/06/us-dodged-a-bird-flu-pandemic-in-1957-thanks-to-eggs-and-dumb-luck-with-a-new-strain-spreading-fast-will-americans-get-lucky-again/) - Alexandra M. Lord, Smithsonian Institution In recent months, Americans looking for eggs have faced empty shelves in their grocery stores. The escalating threat of avian flu has forced farmers to kill millions of chickens to prevent its spread. Nearly 70 years ago, Maurice Hilleman, an expert in influenza, also worried about finding eggs. Hilleman, however,
- [Want to live longer and save money? Online app can help calculate your benefits from cutting back on alcohol](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/05/want-to-live-longer-and-save-money-online-app-can-help-calculate-your-benefits-from-cutting-back-on-alcohol/) - Timothy Naimi, University of Victoria and Peter Butt, University of Saskatchewan Dry January is a time when many people think about taking a break from alcohol and giving their liver a rest. But what does that look like in terms of individual benefits? What if you knew how many minutes of life you could potentially
- [Some vegetables are pretty low in fibre. So which veggies are high-fibre heroes?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/05/some-vegetables-are-pretty-low-in-fibre-so-which-veggies-are-high-fibre-heroes/) - Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch, Southern Cross University Many people looking to improve their health try to boost fibre intake by eating more vegetables. But while all veggies offer health benefits, not all are particularly high in fibre. You can eat loads of salads and vegetables and still fall short of
- [Is no amount of alcohol safe? Understanding risks and public health guidelines](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/03/13115/) - Scott Lear, Simon Fraser University The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks
- [Why the WHO has recommended switching to a healthier salt alternative](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/02/03/why-the-who-has-recommended-switching-to-a-healthier-salt-alternative/) - Xiaoyue (Luna) Xu, UNSW Sydney and Bruce Neal, George Institute for Global Health This week the World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidelines recommending people switch the regular salt they use at home for substitutes containing less sodium. But what exactly are these salt alternatives? And why is the WHO recommending this? Let’s take a
- [‘A scarlet letter’: States aim to end stigma of doctors seeking mental health care](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/31/a-scarlet-letter-states-aim-to-end-stigma-of-doctors-seeking-mental-health-care/) - by Nada Hassanein, StatelineJanuary 31, 2025 Medical doctors face higher rates of burnout and depression, and are twice as likely to die by suicide compared with the general population. The risks were magnified during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the problem existed long before the pandemic — and it remains. More than 40%
- [Reading the Tea Leaves for Trump-Era Health Policy](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/31/reading-the-tea-leaves-for-trump-era-health-policy/) - Trump’s Early Health Moves Signal Intent To Erase Biden’s Legacy. What’s Next Is Unclear. By Julie Appleby and Stephanie ArmourUPDATED JANUARY 23, 2025ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 23, 2025 President Donald Trump’s early actions on health care signal his likely intention to wipe away some Biden-era programs to lower drug costs and expand coverage under public insurance programs. The orders
- [Race and place can contribute to shorter lives, research suggests](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/30/race-and-place-can-contribute-to-shorter-lives-research-suggests/) - The findings come as the Trump administration attacks equity programs. by Tim Henderson, StatelineJanuary 30, 2025 There’s growing evidence that some American demographic groups need more help than others to live longer, healthier lives. American Indians in Western and Midwestern states have the shortest life expectancy as of 2021, 63.6 years. That’s more than 20
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/28/13096/) - Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience Aimee Pugh Bernard, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated a vast landscape of misinformation about many topics, science and health chief among them. Since then, information overload continues unabated, and many people
- [Exercise does increase calorie burn – but probably not as much as you might hope](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/28/exercise-does-increase-calorie-burn-but-probably-not-as-much-as-you-might-hope/) - Dylan Thompson, University of Bath and Javier Gonzalez, University of Bath It’s generally accepted that exercise is a key element of losing weight. But this long-held view has been called into question in recent years – with no shortage of articles and podcasts claiming it’s a myth that exercise increases your metabolism and helps you
- [Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs may lower risk of 42 health conditions, but also pose risks](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/28/ozempic-and-similar-weight-loss-drugs-may-lower-risk-of-42-health-conditions-but-also-pose-risks/) - Ziyad Al-Aly, Washington University in St. Louis Several years ago, a little-known drug named Ozempic – previously used only to treat diabetes – emerged as a promising new drug for weight management. The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Ozempic in 2021 for weight loss treatment ushered in a new era for the class of
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/27/13084/) - Wood-burning stoves are a serious problem for your health – and the environment Asit Kumar Mishra, University College Cork and John Wenger, University College Cork There is something cosy and appealing about settling down next to a roaring fire in winter but, every year, nearly 61,000 premature deaths in Europe are caused by air pollution as
- [Lawmaker proposes turning Evergreen State College into UW Health Sciences campus](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/25/lawmaker-proposes-turning-evergreen-state-college-into-uw-health-sciences-campus/) - By Carleen Johnson | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, wants to transform The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., into a University of Washington Health Sciences campus. Braun has proposed Senate Bill 5424 would redirect state resources “toward producing the intermediate health-care workers needed to respond to the ‘Silver Tsunami’
- [Forget BMI – there’s a 2,000 year-oldtechnique for measuring body fat that’s more useful](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/17/forget-bmi-theres-a-2000-year-oldtechnique-for-measuring-body-fat-thats-more-useful/) - By Christian YatesSenior Lecturer in Mathematical Biology, University of Bath It’s the start of another year and the body mass index (BMI) is being criticised again. This time a Lancet-commissioned group of experts is denouncing it as a diagnostic tool for obesity. They say that doctors should look at the overall health of a patient when diagnosing obesity, not just
- [Maternal death reviews get political as state officials intrude](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/15/maternal-death-reviews-get-political-as-state-officials-intrude/) - by Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline January 15, 2025 Every state has a committee of medical and public health experts tasked with investigating deaths that occur during and after pregnancy. But as data paints a clearer picture of the impact that state policies such as abortion bans and Medicaid expansion can have on maternal health, leaders
- [How we diagnose and define obesity is set to change – here’s why, and what it means for treatment](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/15/how-we-diagnose-and-define-obesity-is-set-to-change-heres-why-and-what-it-means-for-treatment/) - Louise Baur, University of Sydney; John B. Dixon, Swinburne University of Technology; Priya Sumithran, Monash University, and Wendy A. Brown, Monash University Obesity is linked to many common diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver disease and knee osteoarthritis. Obesity is currently defined using a person’s body mass index, or BMI. This
- [Bowel cancer is on the rise in under-50s – here’s what might explain the trend](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/14/bowel-cancer-is-on-the-rise-in-under-50s-heres-what-might-explain-the-trend/) - Sarah Allinson, Lancaster University Almost 2 million people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. Also known as colorectal cancer, it’s the third most common cancer worldwide. While the majority of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are over 50, recent years has seen an alarming increase in the number of young people being diagnosed with
- [Want to ward off the winter blues? Start by counting your steps – new research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/14/want-to-ward-off-the-winter-blues-start-by-counting-your-steps-new-research/) - Bruno Bizzozero Peroni, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha Over 330 million people currently suffer from depression worldwide, though the complexity of diagnosis and the heterogeneity of this condition mean that such a figure can only ever be a conservative estimate. Depressive disorders are a major cause of disability, and affect multiple aspects of a person’s quality
- [With more Americans able to access legalized marijuana, fewer are picking up prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications – new research](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/14/with-more-americans-able-to-access-legalized-marijuana-fewer-are-picking-up-prescriptions-for-anti-anxiety-medications-new-research/) - Ashley Bradford, Georgia Institute of Technology In states where both medical and recreational marijuana are legal, fewer patients are filling prescriptions for medications used to treat anxiety. That is the key finding of my recent study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open. I am an applied policy researcher who studies the economics of risky
- [E-bike popularity is booming. But are they as safe as regular bikes?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/09/e-bike-popularity-is-booming-but-are-they-as-safe-as-regular-bikes/) - Milad Haghani, UNSW Sydney The popularity of e-bikes has soared over the past decade. Shared electric bikes for rent have become a common sight in major cities worldwide, while private ownership is also rising. Since 2020, both sales and import of e-bikes have nearly tripled in Australia. In Germany, nearly half of all bike sales
- [Create and Keep a Medication List for Your Health](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/08/create-and-keep-a-medication-list-for-your-health/) - From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration A medication list is a tool to help you keep track of all the prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins and supplements that you take. Keeping a medication list helps health care professionals know about your current health and minimize medication errors and adverse drug interactions. It can
- [Why seeing the same doctor could save your life](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/07/why-seeing-the-same-doctor-could-save-your-life/) - James Goodwin, Loughborough University Seeing the same primary care provider each time has its advantages, and it is more important than it may seem. A milestone review examining 1.4 million patients worldwide found that those who do not see the same doctor regularly are more likely to die within a certain period. This consistent relationship
- [New Study Links Millions of Diabetes and Heart Disease Cases Globally to Sugary Drinks](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/06/new-study-links-millions-of-diabetes-and-heart-disease-cases-globally-to-sugary-drinks/) - ​ By Julie RaffertyTufts University A new study from researchers at Tufts University estimates that 2.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes and 1.2 million new cases of cardiovascular disease occur each year globally due to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. The scientists reported their findings today in the journal iNature Medicine. In developing countries,
- [Five healthy diet staples that may interact with prescription drugs](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/06/five-healthy-diet-staples-that-may-interact-with-prescription-drugs/) - Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University One of the most popular new year’s resolutions is making a commitment to healthier eating. Whether that’s eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting down on meat consumption or even becoming a vegetarian or vegan a few days a week. While there are many benefits that can come from following a healthier
- [Stimulant Users Are Caught in Fatal ‘Fourth Wave’ of Opioid Epidemic](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/03/stimulant-users-are-caught-in-fatal-fourth-wave-of-opioid-epidemic/) - By Lynn ArditiThe Public's Radio In Pawtucket, Rhode Island, near a storefront advertising “free” cellphones, J.R. sat in an empty back stairwell and showed a reporter how he tries to avoid overdosing when he smokes crack cocaine. KFF Health News is identifying him by his initials because he fears being arrested for using illegal drugs.
- [New year, new norovirus outbreaks: Let’s add ‘hand washing’ to the resolution list!](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/03/13032/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County If you’ve been following the news in recent weeks, you may have seen stories about outbreaks of norovirus – a highly contagious virus that causes rapid onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus is the most common cause of acute, or short-term, gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines)
- [Study: Obstetrics Units in Rural Communities Declining](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/03/13022/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily Yonder December 30, 2024 According to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of obstetric units across the country is falling. Without them, the health and life of rural mothers and infants is in danger, said Katy Kozhimannil, lead author for the study and
- [Economists: Rural Uninsured Rates Likely to Rise if ACA Premium Tax Credits Expire](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/03/13019/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily Yonder December 31, 2024 The number of rural residents who aren’t covered by health insurance is likely to rise if the premium tax credits associated with the Affordable Care Act expire at the end of 2025. Researchers with the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that those
- [Even small diet tweaks can lead to sustainable weight loss – here’s how](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/03/even-small-diet-tweaks-can-lead-to-sustainable-weight-loss-heres-how/) - Alexandra Cremona, University of Limerick It’s a well-known fact that to lose weight, you either need to eat less or move more. But how many calories do you really need to cut out of your diet each day to lose weight? It may be less than you think. To determine how much energy (calories) your
- [Mixed Lessons from Intentionally Infecting People with Covid-19](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/03/mixed-lessons-from-intentionally-infecting-people-with-covid-19/) - January 1, 2025 by Claudia López Lloreda When the Covid-19 pandemic first struck, Christopher Chiu and other researchers wondered: Should they inject healthy people with the virus that caused the pandemic? The idea sounded counterintuitive, but by carefully dosing individuals with SARS-CoV-2 in a controlled setting — like Chiu had been doing for more than
- [Just two hours of exercise a week can bring you huge cardiovascular health benefits](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/03/just-two-hours-of-exercise-a-week-can-bring-you-huge-cardiovascular-health-benefits/) - Peter Swoboda, University of Leeds There’s no question that exercise is good for the heart. Regular exercise lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and reduces the chances of having a heart attack or stroke. But sometimes it can be hard to find the time (and motivation) to exercise. So, what’s the least amount of exercise you
- [Why your spin bike has become a clothes rack – and what you can do about it, according to behavioral science](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/02/why-your-spin-bike-has-become-a-clothes-rack-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-according-to-behavioral-science/) - Swee-Hoon Chuah, University of Tasmania and Robert Hoffmann, University of Tasmania Chances are that the end of the year has made you assess some of your 2024 New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you, like us, bought a home spin bike or rowing machine in January. Most likely by March, you realised you’ve used it a lot
- [Hallucinogens approved for treating psychiatric disorders: what does the science say?](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/02/hallucinogens-approved-for-treating-psychiatric-disorders-what-does-the-science-say/) - Florian Naudet, Université de Rennes 1 - Université de Rennes Once sidelined in the 1970s, psychedelic substances – ranging from esketamine (a ketamine derivative) and psilocybin (the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms) to MDMA – are being reintroduced as potential therapies for severe psychiatric disorders. Psychedelic antidepressants approved Esketamine-based antidepressants have been approved in countries such
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/02/12994/) - Most adults will gain a pound this year – and every year. Here’s how to stop ‘weight creep’ Nick Fuller, University of Sydney As we enter a new year armed with resolutions to improve our lives, there’s a good chance we’ll also be carrying something less helpful: extra kilos. At least half a kilogram [1.1 lb.],
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/02/12991/) - Aging may change some brain cells more than others From the National Institutes of Health Based on new brain mapping research, scientists have discovered that not all cell types in the brain age in the same way. They found that some cells, such as a small group of hormone-controlling cells, may undergo more age-related changes
- [For Many Rural Women, Finding Maternity Care Outweighs Concerns About Abortion Access](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/02/for-many-rural-women-finding-maternity-care-outweighs-concerns-about-abortion-access/) - By Lillian Mongeu HughesKFF Health News BAKER CITY, Ore. — In what has become a routine event in rural America, a hospital maternity ward closed in 2023 in this small Oregon town about an hour from the Idaho border. For Shyanne McCoy, 23, that meant the closest hospital with an obstetrician on staff when she
- [Five ways to cut your risk of cancer – by an oncologist](https://localhealthguide.com/2025/01/01/five-ways-to-cut-your-risk-of-cancer-by-an-oncologist/) - Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University Cancer is a complex disease with many causes – and sometimes none. For some patients, getting cancer is down to plain bad luck. As an oncology consultant, I see many cases where patients are otherwise perfectly healthy and have followed a healthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, research has shown there are several
- [Weight loss drugs help with fat loss – but they cause bone and muscle loss too](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/30/weight-loss-drugs-help-with-fat-loss-but-they-cause-bone-and-muscle-loss-too/) - Jennifer James, University of Liverpool For a long time, dieting and exercise were the only realistic options for many people who wanted to lose weight, but recent pharmaceutical advances have led to the development of weight loss drugs. These are based on natural hormones from the intestine that help control food intake, such as GLP
- [What if you could rank food by ‘healthiness’ as you shopped?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/31/what-if-you-could-rank-food-by-healthiness-as-you-shopped/) - Christopher Damman, University of Washington Imagine a world where food on grocery store shelves is ranked by its healthiness, with simple, research-backed scores. In some countries, that world already exists. Nutrient profiling systems, or NPSs, support clear front-of-package labels that assess food quality based on nutrient content. Nutri-Score in France is a rainbow-colored system grading
- [Junk food and drug use cut into life expectancy gains for states](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/31/junk-food-and-drug-use-cut-into-life-expectancy-gains-for-states/) - By Tim Henderson, StatelineDecember 24, 2024 After large drops during the pandemic, life expectancy in the United States should recover to 2019 levels this year nationally and in 26 states — but not as fast as it should compared with similar countries, according to a new study. Bad habits such as junk food, smoking and
- [Why do disinfectants only kill 99.9% of germs? Here’s the science](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/30/why-do-disinfectants-only-kill-99-9-of-germs-heres-the-science/) - Hassan Vally, Deakin University Have you ever wondered why most disinfectants indicate they kill 99.9% or 99.99% of germs, but never promise to wipe out all of them? Perhaps the thought has crossed your mind mid-way through cleaning your kitchen or bathroom. Surely, in a world where science is able to do all sorts of
- [There’s a link between walking speed and ageing well. Here’s how you can improve your pace](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/27/theres-a-link-between-walking-speed-and-ageing-well-heres-how-you-can-improve-your-pace/) - Andrés Ráfales Perucha, Universidad San Jorge and Pablo Gargallo Aguarón, Universidad San Jorge For decades, we have known that the way you walk, in particular your walking speed, is tied to your health. One study has even proposed that it be considered a vital sign, much like heart rate and blood pressure. Various studies have
- [Why winter makes you more vulnerable to colds – a public health nurse explains the science behind the season](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/27/why-winter-makes-you-more-vulnerable-to-colds-a-public-health-nurse-explains-the-science-behind-the-season/) - Libby Richards, Purdue University You’ve probably heard “Don’t go outside in the winter with your hair wet or without a coat; you’ll catch a cold.” That’s not exactly true. As with many things, the reality is more complicated. Here’s the distinction: Being cold isn’t why you get a cold. But it is true that cold
- [You could be stress eating these holidays – or eating your way to stress. 5 tips for the table](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/26/you-could-be-stress-eating-these-holidays-or-eating-your-way-to-stress-5-tips-for-the-table/) - Saman Khalesi, CQUniversity Australia; Charlotte Gupta, CQUniversity Australia, and Talitha Best, CQUniversity Australia The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it can also be an emotional and stressful period. This stress can manifest in our eating habits, leading to what is known
- [How America Lost Control of the Bird Flu, Setting the Stage for Another Pandemic](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/26/how-america-lost-control-of-the-bird-flu-setting-the-stage-for-another-pandemic/) - By Amy MaxmenKFF Health News Keith Poulsen’s jaw dropped when farmers showed him images on their cellphones at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin in October. A livestock veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin, Poulsen had seen sick cows before, with their noses dripping and udders slack. But the scale of the farmers’ efforts to treat
- [5 of the most frustrating health insurer tactics and why they exist](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/17/5-of-the-most-frustrating-health-insurer-tactics-and-why-they-exist/) - Monica S. Aswani, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Paul Shafer, Boston University The U.S. has made great progress in getting more people insured since the Affordable Care Act took effect in 2014. The share of uninsured Americans ages 18 to 64 fell from 18% before the ACA to 9.5% in 2022. And preexisting conditions
- [Response to CEO killing reveals antipathy toward health insurers − but entire patchwork system is to blame for ill feeling](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/16/response-to-ceo-killing-reveals-antipathy-toward-health-insurers-−-but-entire-patchwork-system-is-to-blame-for-ill-feeling/) - Simon F. Haeder, Texas A&M University The U.S. health care system leaves much to be desired. It is convoluted, fragmented, complex and confusing. Experts have also raised concerns about quality, and disparities are rampant. And, of course, it is excessively costly – far more so than in any other developed nation. Given these failings, it
- [Been drinking and your heart’s fluttering? You may have ‘holiday heart’](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/13/been-drinking-and-your-hearts-fluttering-you-may-have-holiday-heart/) - Caleb Ferguson, University of Wollongong and Sabine Allida, University of Wollongong It’s the time of year for workplace Christmas parties, and gatherings with family and friends. Maybe you’ll drink a lot in one go. Then you feel your heart beating fast or irregularly. Maybe there’s a flutter in your chest or neck. Maybe you feel
- [Getting an IUD? Here’s what to know](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/12/getting-an-iud-heres-what-to-know/) - By Valerie GoodwinMichigan Medicine Health Lab. Intrauterine devices, more commonly known as IUDs, are great birth control option for patients of many ages and gender identities. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends IUDs as one of the first line options for contraception in teens and young adults. IUDs are also often recommended for postmenopausal women
- [Work Requirements for Medicaid Could Be Returning as Republicans Take Back the Power](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/11/work-requirements-for-medicaid-could-be-returning-as-republicans-take-back-the-power/) - By Christopher Chavis, The Daily Yonder December 10, 2024 On January 20th, Donald Trump will take office as the 47th President of the United States and become the first President since Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms. While there are a lot of unknowns about the coming four years, there are some battles that
- [Millions will see rise in health insurance premiums if federal subsidies expire](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/11/millions-will-see-rise-in-health-insurance-premiums-if-federal-subsidies-expire/) - BY: SHALINA CHATLANI Stateline Deutsch, who has been mayor since 2018, is paid $1 per year for the job. Her annual income, from Spot’s – The Place for Paws and her investments, is about $50,000. The 57-year-old, who is diabetic, pays $638.38 per month for health care coverage — about half of the $1,272.38 she’d owe without
- [Avian flu virus has been found in raw milk − a reminder of how pasteurization protects health](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/06/avian-flu-virus-has-been-found-in-raw-milk-−-a-reminder-of-how-pasteurization-protects-health/) - Kerry E. Kaylegian, Penn State As the H5N1 avian flu virus continues to spread in poultry flocks and dairy cattle, consumers may worry about whether the U.S. milk supply is safe to drink. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the answer is yes, as long as the milk is pasteurized. In late November
- [Five things young women need to know about the menopause](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/06/five-things-young-women-need-to-know-about-the-menopause/) - Megan Arnot, UCL If you’re under 40, the menopause might seem like the least of your worries right now. But for some women, this transition can happen earlier than they might expect – even as early as their 30s, in rare cases. And you almost certainly know a family member, friend or colleague who’s going
- [From 1975 to 2020, prevention, screening and care have averted 4.75m deaths in the U.S., study](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/05/from-1975-to-2020-prevention-screening-and-care-have-averted-4-75m-deaths-in-the-u-s-study/) - From the National Cancer Institute Improvements in cancer prevention and screening have averted more deaths from five cancer types combined over the past 45 years than treatment advances, according to a modeling study led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study, published Dec. 5, 2024, in JAMA Oncology, looked at deaths from
- [Light exercise can yield significant cognitive benefits, new research shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/05/light-exercise-can-yield-significant-cognitive-benefits-new-research-shows/) - Jonathan G. Hakun, Penn State Everyday physical activity, like going for a short walk or playing with the kids, may provide short-term benefits for cognitive health, equivalent to reversing four years of cognitive aging. That was a key finding for my colleagues and me in our new study, which was published in the journal Annals
- [How mother’s diet affects baby’s health: What insights from different cultures can tell us](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/05/12914/) - Sandi Azab, McMaster University and Sonia Anand, McMaster University What happens in the womb and during the first 1,000 days of life is critical to shaping a baby’s future health, a fact that is becoming ever more apparent as research dives deeper into this period. A glaring example is gestational diabetes, a temporary form of
- [Healthspan versus lifespan: The vital role of muscle in successful aging](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/04/healthspan-versus-lifespan-the-vital-role-of-muscle-in-successful-aging/) - Matthew Lees, McMaster University We’d all like to live longer; at least, I would. But what about enjoying the time we have while we’re here and living healthier? Over the past century, human life expectancy has dramatically increased for a variety of reasons. Chief among these are our advances in sanitation, public health, nutrition and
- [Many people don’t measure their blood pressure properly at home – here’s how to get accurate readings](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/04/many-people-dont-measure-their-blood-pressure-properly-at-home-heres-how-to-get-accurate-readings/) - Niamh Chapman, University of Sydney; Dean Picone, University of Sydney, and Eleanor Clapham, University of Tasmania Measuring your blood pressure at home means you can take readings over several days to get a better picture of your health, instead of one-off measurements at the doctor’s clinic. It’s important you follow specific steps to get an
- [Elton John loses sight after eye infection – how to avoid them and what to do if you get one](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/12/02/elton-john-loses-sight-after-eye-infection-how-to-avoid-them-and-what-to-do-if-you-get-one/) - Charlotte Codina, University of Sheffield Sir Elton John recently revealed on ABC’s Good Morning America that he lost the sight in his right eye after suffering from an eye infection. With poor vision in his left eye too, John said. “It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see.” Reassuringly, the most
- [208 million Americans are obese or overweight, study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/27/12891/) - Marie Ng, University of Washington Nearly half of adolescents and three-quarters of adults in the U.S. were classified as being clinically overweight or obese in 2021. The rates have more than doubled compared with 1990. Without urgent intervention, our study forecasts that more than 80% of adults and close to 60% of adolescents will be
- [Wildfire smoke exposure linked to increased dementia risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/25/wildfire-smoke-exposure-linked-to-increased-dementia-risk/) - By Alden Woods & Kiyomi TaguchiUniversity of Washington New research led by the University of Washington in Seattle has found that long-term to wildfire smoke exposure was associated with a significant increase in the odds that a person would be diagnosed with dementia. The researchers presented their findings at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in July and published
- [Study: Rural residents more likely to struggle with medical debt](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/25/study-rural-residents-more-likely-to-struggle-with-medical-debt/) - By Daily Yonder, North Carolina Health News November 23, 2024 By Liz Carey The Daily Yonder According to new research from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, rural residents are not significantly more likely to be worried about their medical bills than their urban counterparts, but they are more likely to have trouble
- [LONG POWER OUTAGES AND ROAD CLOSURES: HOW TO STAY SAFE](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/22/long-power-outages-and-road-closures-how-to-stay-safe/) - Ken AndersonPublic Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County En español: Clima de Invierno: cómo mantenerse seguro y planificar las necesidades médicas After high winds earlier this week, many people across King County still do not have power – and more strong winds are forecast between 10pm tonight (Thursday) and 10am Friday morning. Read and
- [What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder? And how is it different to PMS?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/21/what-is-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-and-how-is-it-different-to-pms/) - Eveline Mu, Monash University and Jayashri Kulkarni, Monash University Periods can feel like an unwanted guest for many women and gender diverse people who menstruate, bringing cramps, mood swings and exhaustion. But how do you know if what you are experiencing is standard premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or something more severe? Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and
- [Does Fluoride Cause Cancer, IQ Loss, and More? Fact-Checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Claims](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/19/does-fluoride-cause-cancer-iq-loss-and-more-fact-checking-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-claims/) - By Samantha Putterman, PolitiFact President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration could try to remove fluoride from drinking water, according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who was tapped last week by Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, called fluoride an “industrial waste” and linked it to cancer and other diseases and disorders
- [Younger men are turning to testosterone therapy in hopes of boosting mood and muscles – but there are risks of harm](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/18/younger-men-are-turning-to-testosterone-therapy-in-hopes-of-boosting-mood-and-muscles-but-there-are-risks-of-harm/) - Daniel Kelly, Sheffield Hallam University The phenomenon of younger men turning to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to boost their “T levels” has been in the spotlight recently thanks to media reports and social media influencers. Testosterone is a hormone critical to male health, influencing muscle mass, mood, cognition, libido and energy levels. Artificially raising testosterone
- [Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including significant drops in IQ scores](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/18/mounting-research-shows-that-covid-19-leaves-its-mark-on-the-brain-including-significant-drops-in-iq-scores/) - Ziyad Al-Aly, Washington University in St. Louis From the very early days of the pandemic, brain fog emerged as a significant health condition that many experience after COVID-19. Brain fog is a colloquial term that describes a state of mental sluggishness or lack of clarity and haziness that makes it difficult to concentrate, remember things
- [Measles cases surge worldwide, infecting 10.3 million people in 2023](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/15/measles-cases-surge-worldwide-infecting-10-3-million-people-in-2023/) - From the World Health Organization 14 November 2024 | Atlanta / Geneva – Worldwide, there were an estimated 10.3 million cases of measles in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022, according to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Inadequate immunization coverage globally is
- [In hundreds of communities across the US, finding a dentist is like pulling teeth − but in 14 states, dental therapists are filling the gap](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/15/in-hundreds-of-communities-across-the-us-finding-a-dentist-is-like-pulling-teeth-−-but-in-14-states-dental-therapists-are-filling-the-gap/) - Donald Chi, University of Washington For more than 50 million Americans, finding a dentist is a difficult – in some cases, impossible – proposition. Many rural communities don’t have a dentist. People of color and those with disabilities often lack access, and only about one-third of dentists accept Medicaid. That’s why dental therapists – professionals
- [Scientists Fear What’s Next for Public Health if RFK Jr. Is Allowed To ‘Go Wild’](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/15/scientists-fear-whats-next-for-public-health-if-rfk-jr-is-allowed-to-go-wild/) - By Arthur AllenKFF Health News Many scientists at the federal health agencies await the second Donald Trump administration with dread as well as uncertainty over how the president-elect will reconcile starkly different philosophies among the leaders of his team. Trump announced Thursday he’ll nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be secretary of the Health and Human
- [6 things to do if your child’s weight is beyond the ideal range – and 1 thing to avoid](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/14/6-things-to-do-if-your-childs-weight-is-beyond-the-ideal-range-and-1-thing-to-avoid/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney One of the more significant challenges we face as parents is making sure our kids are growing at a healthy rate. To manage this, we take them for regular check-ups with our GP or nurse, where vital measurements, including their weight and height, are captured and compared to an “ideal”
- [New study suggests weight loss drugs like Ozempic could help with knee pain. Here’s why there may be a link](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/14/new-study-suggests-weight-loss-drugs-like-ozempic-could-help-with-knee-pain-heres-why-there-may-be-a-link/) - Giovanni E. Ferreira, University of Sydney and Christina Abdel Shaheed, University of Sydney The drug semaglutide, commonly known by the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, was originally developed to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. However, researchers have discovered it may help with other health issues, too. Clinical trials show
- [Brain-training games remain unproven, but research shows what sorts of activities do benefit cognitive functioning](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/14/brain-training-games-remain-unproven-but-research-shows-what-sorts-of-activities-do-benefit-cognitive-functioning/) - Ian McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York and Michael Dulas, Binghamton University, State University of New York Some 2.3 million of U.S. adults over 65 – more than 4% – have a diagnosis of dementia. But even without a diagnosis, a certain amount of cognitive decline is normal as age sets in. And
- [Can you die from long COVID? The answer is not so simple](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/12/can-you-die-from-long-covid-the-answer-is-not-so-simple/) - Rose (Shiqi) Luo, RMIT University; Catherine Itsiopoulos, RMIT University; Kate Anderson, RMIT University; Magdalena Plebanski, RMIT University, and Zhen Zheng, RMIT University Nearly five years into the pandemic, COVID is feeling less central to our daily lives. But the virus, SARS-CoV-2, is still around, and for many people the effects of an infection can be
- [Eight reasons why ADHD diagnoses are increasing](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/08/eight-reasons-why-adhd-diagnoses-are-increasing/) - Sven Bölte, Karolinska Institutet For a long time it was assumed that somewhere between 5 and 6% of children have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But the rates, in practice, are often higher. The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the prevalence at 11.4% in children in 2022. The Swedish Board of Health and
- [Washington state sees steep increase in whooping cough cases  ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/07/washington-state-sees-steep-increase-in-whooping-cough-cases/) - From the Washington State Department of Health Nearly 1,200 cases reported to date: vaccination keyto preventing severe illness OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is alerting residents to a significant increase in reported cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. As of November 2, 1,193 cases have been reported statewide, a sharp increase from just 51 cases reported this
- [Why has COVID been so much worse this summer? The health belief model has the answer](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/06/why-has-covid-been-so-much-worse-this-summer-the-health-belief-model-has-the-answer/) - Jaigris Hodson, Royal Roads University If you think COVID-19 was suddenly in the news a lot over the summer, you’re probably right. Throughout August, outlets in both Canada and the United States ran headlines about high COVID levels, the summer surge of cases, timing of booster shots and reviving the use of face masks. As
- [Bird flu detected in pigs – here’s why virologists are concerned](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/06/bird-flu-detected-in-pigs-heres-why-virologists-are-concerned/) - By Ed Hutchinson The Conversation H5N1 influenza has now been detected in pigs. This was something virologists had been worrying about ever since this highly pathogenic strain of bird flu started its rapid global spread in 2020. But why were we worrying specifically about pigs? And does this case – detected on a farm in Oregon on October
- [Study analyzes bird flu that infected a farm worker](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/05/study-analyzes-bird-flu-that-infected-a-farm-worker/) - By Brian Doctrow, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health At a Glance An H5N1 flu virus from an infected farm worker could transmit through airborne droplets and was lethal in mice and ferrets. The findings emphasize the risks from the current H5N1 outbreak and the need for continued monitoring and testing. A highly pathogenic avian influenza
- [The evolutionary benefits of being forgetful](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/05/the-evolutionary-benefits-of-being-forgetful/) - Sven Vanneste, Trinity College Dublin and Elva Arulchelvan, Trinity College Dublin Forgetting is part of our daily lives. You may walk into a room only to forget why you went in there – or perhaps someone says hi on the street and you can’t remember their name. But why do we forget things? Is it
- [As Nuns Disappear, Many Catholic Hospitals Look More Like Megacorporations](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/05/as-nuns-disappear-many-catholic-hospitals-look-more-like-megacorporations/) - By Samantha Liss, KFF Health Hews. ST. LOUIS — Inside the more than 600 Catholic hospitals across the country, not a single nun can be found occupying a chief executive suite, according to the Catholic Health Association. Nuns founded and led those hospitals in a mission to treat sick and poor people, but some were
- [Osteoporosis, the silent disease, can shorten your life − here’s how to prevent fractures and keep bones healthy](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/05/osteoporosis-the-silent-disease-can-shorten-your-life-−-heres-how-to-prevent-fractures-and-keep-bones-healthy/) - Because there are typically no symptoms until the first fracture occurs, osteoporosis is considered a silent disease. Some call it a silent killer. Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by decreased bone density and strength, leading to fragile, brittle bones that increase the risk of fractures, especially in the spine, hips and wrists. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that more than
- [CDC Recommends Second Dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine for People 65 Years and Older and for People Who are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/11/04/cdc-recommends-second-dose-of-2024-2025-covid-19-vaccine-for-people-65-years-and-older-and-for-people-who-are-moderately-or-severely-immunocompromised/) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends people 65 years and older and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised to receive a second dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine six months after their first dose. The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults and those
- [First case of bird flu in pig discovered on small Oregon farm](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/31/first-case-of-bird-flu-in-pig-discovered-on-small-oregon-farm/) - By Lynne Terry, Washington State StandardOctober 31, 2024 State officials announced Wednesday that a severe form of bird flu has been detected for the first time in a pig on a small farm in Crook County in central Oregon. The farm, which was not identified, is a noncommercial operation that had an outbreak of bird
- [Deaths linked to chatbots show we must urgently revisit what counts as ‘high-risk’ AI](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/31/deaths-linked-to-chatbots-show-we-must-urgently-revisit-what-counts-as-high-risk-ai/) - Henry Fraser, Queensland University of Technology Last week, the tragic news broke that US teenager Sewell Seltzer III took his own life after forming a deep emotional attachment to an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on the Character.AI website. As his relationship with the companion AI became increasingly intense, the 14-year-old began withdrawing from family and
- [Americans own guns to protect themselves from psychological as well as physical threats](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/31/americans-own-guns-to-protect-themselves-from-psychological-as-well-as-physical-threats/) - Nick Buttrick, University of Wisconsin-Madison Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Tim Walz and JD Vance all have something in common. All four of them, along with an estimated 42% of American adults, have lived in a home with at least one gun. Gun ownership in the United States is widespread and cuts across all sorts of
- [A Woman Died After Being Told It Would Be a “Crime” to Intervene in Her Miscarriage at a Texas Hospital](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/30/a-woman-died-after-being-told-it-would-be-a-crime-to-intervene-in-her-miscarriage-at-a-texas-hospital/) - Josseli Barnica is one of at least two pregnant Texas women who died after doctors delayed emergency care. She’d told her husband that the medical team said it couldn’t act until the fetal heartbeat stopped by Cassandra Jaramillo and Kavitha Surana ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter
- [What you need to know about clonazepam, the drug found in Liam Payne’s hotel room](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/29/what-you-need-to-know-about-clonazepam-the-drug-found-in-liam-paynes-hotel-room/) - Michael Cole, Anglia Ruskin University Early toxicology reports suggest that former One Direction singer Liam Payne had several drugs in his system when he fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. These include pink cocaine (which comprises several drugs), cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack. While the type of benzodiazepine wasn’t mentioned
- [Playing in mud and dirt can boost your child’s immune system – here’s how](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/28/playing-in-mud-and-dirt-can-boost-your-childs-immune-system-heres-how/) - Samuel J. White, York St John University and Philippe B. Wilson, York St John University With the popularity of CleanTok on social media, we’re constantly being reminded about how dirty everything around us is. But while you might feel you should disinfect every surface in your home or send your child off to school with
- [What are house dust mites and how do I know if I’m allergic to them?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/28/what-are-house-dust-mites-and-how-do-i-know-if-im-allergic-to-them/) - Deryn Lee Thompson, University of South Australia People often believe they are allergic to house dust. But of the 20% of Australians suffereing with allergies, a number are are actually allergic to microscopic house dust mites. House dust mites belong to the same family as spiders and ticks. They measure just 0.2-0.3 mm, with 50
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/25/health-news-headlines-27/) - Bird Flu Cases Rise to 31, But CDC Says No Person-To-Person Transmission The number of people infected with bird flu in the U.S. has risen to at least 31, federal health officials said Thursday, but there is no evidence of human-to-human spread after blood tests confirmed health workers in Missouri caring for a hospitalized patient
- [Caregiving 101: Worksheets, resources, and suggestions from the National Institute on Aging](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/24/caregiving-101-worksheets-resources-and-suggestions-from-the-national-institute-on-aging/) - From the National Institute on Aging Being a caregiver or care partner is a big undertaking. Caregivers don’t just manage someone else’s health care, daily tasks, financial decisions, and other logistics. They also have their own schedules and responsibilities to balance. It can be hard to know where to begin! Whether you’re new to caregiving or
- [CDC confirms two human cases of avian influenza in Franklin Co.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/24/cdc-confirms-two-human-cases-of-avian-influenza-in-franklin-co/) - All cases were poultry workers exposed to infected birds, no evidence of human-to-human transmission From Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that two people who had presumptive positive tests run by WA-DOH earlier in the week have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
- [Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: sales pitches are often from biased sources, the choices can be overwhelming and impartial help is not equally available to all](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/24/medicare-vs-medicare-advantage-sales-pitches-are-often-from-biased-sources-the-choices-can-be-overwhelming-and-impartial-help-is-not-equally-available-to-all/) - Grace McCormack, University of Southern California and Melissa Garrido, Boston University The 67 million Americans eligible for Medicare make an important decision every October: Should they make changes in their Medicare health insurance plans for the next calendar year? The decision is complicated. Medicare has an enormous variety of coverage options, with large and varying
- [Health insurance premiums to rise for WA small businesses by about 12% ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/24/health-insurance-premiums-to-rise-for-wa-small-businesses-by-about-12/) - By Grace Deng, Washington State StandardOctober 21, 2024 Health insurance costs in Washington for small businesses and their employees will increase an average of 11.9% in 2025, according to the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner. This marks the highest increase for small employers in the last decade. Nearly 220,000 people will be affected by
- [How light helped shape our skin colour, eyes and curly hair](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/24/how-light-helped-shape-our-skin-colour-eyes-and-curly-hair/) - Welcome to our ‘Light and health’ series, where we look at how light affects our physical and mental health in sometimes surprising ways. Mike Lee, Flinders University For most of our evolutionary history, human activity has been linked to daylight. Technology has liberated us from these ancient sleep-wake cycles, but there is evidence sunlight has
- [Are cats good for our health?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/23/are-cats-good-for-our-health/) - Susan Hazel, University of Adelaide Cats have lived with humans for thousands of years. And long before cat memes and viral TikToks took over the internet, they’ve been comforting us with their purrs and making us laugh with their weird antics. But what does the research say – are cats good for us? Living with
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/23/health-news-headlines-26/) - One dead in multi-state E coli outbreak tied to US McDonald’s Quarter Pounders CDC reports 49 cases and says 10 people hospitalized from sandwich-related outbreak that spans 10 states … The company is temporarily taking off the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in areas such as Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Wyoming, and parts of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri,
- [Brain waste-clearance system shown in people for first time](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/22/brain-waste-clearance-system-shown-in-people-for-first-time/) - From the National Institutes of Health At a Glance A study in five volunteers undergoing surgery confirmed the existence of channels that may help drain waste from the brain. The results highlight the importance of ongoing research to boost the functioning of this waste-clearance system, called the glymphatic system. Though less well-known than the body’s blood
- [Standing desks are bad for your health – new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/22/standing-desks-are-bad-for-your-health-new-study/) - Jack McNamara, University of East London The global market for standing desks is booming, projected to reach US$12.6 billion by 2032 (£9.7 billion). These desks have been hailed as a simple fix for the health risks associated with sitting all day. However, recent research suggests that standing might not be the health booster many hoped
- [Chris Hoy reveals that he has terminal cancer – here’s how to spot early signs of prostate cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/22/chris-hoy-reveals-that-he-has-terminal-cancer-heres-how-to-spot-early-signs-of-prostate-cancer/) - Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University Eleven-time world champion and a six-time Olympic champion cyclist, Sir Chris Hoy has just revealed he has terminal prostate cancer aged just 48 years old. It’s easy to assume that prostate cancer is a disease that only affects older men. But it can strike at any age, including younger and
- [Women are at a higher risk of dying from heart disease − in part because doctors don’t take major sex and gender differences into account](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/22/women-are-at-a-higher-risk-of-dying-from-heart-disease-−-in-part-because-doctors-dont-take-major-sex-and-gender-differences-into-account/) - Amy Huebschmann, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Judith Regensteiner, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus A simple difference in the genetic code – two X chromosomes versus one X chromosome and one Y chromosome – can lead to major differences in heart disease. It turns out that these genetic differences influence more than
- [Health News Headlins](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/22/health-news-headlins/) - New Guidance for Stroke Prevention Includes Ozempic, Other Weight Loss Drugs Experts this week identified new risks and issued updated recommendations for preventing strokes, a leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. It's the first time in a decade that health experts at the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have
- [1 million+ patients lose coverage as insurers, hospitals drop Medicare Advantage](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/21/1-million-patients-lose-coverage-as-insurers-hospitals-drop-medicare-advantage/) - BY: ANNA CLAIRE VOLLERSStateline HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Libby and Andrew Potter usually ignore the avalanche of Medicare Advantage ads that land in the mailbox at their home in Huntsville, Alabama, each fall as Medicare’s open enrollment period begins. Libby, a retired middle school librarian, has what she considers good health insurance through the state employee health
- [Four farm workers in Washington appear to test positive for bird flu](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/21/four-farm-workers-in-washington-appear-to-test-positive-for-bird-flu/) - BY: BILL LUCIA - OCTOBER 20, 2024Washington State Standard Four agricultural workers in southeast Washington have preliminarily tested positive for bird flu after working around an infected poultry flock at a commercial egg farm. The cases, if confirmed, would be the first time people in Washington have contracted the virus since officials began tracking a notable rise
- [Dietary restriction or good genes: new study tries to unpick which has a greater impact on lifespan](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/21/dietary-restriction-or-good-genes-new-study-tries-to-unpick-which-has-a-greater-impact-on-lifespan/) - Bradley Elliott, University of Westminster As people who research ageing like to quip: the best thing you can do to increase how long you live is to pick good parents. After all, it has long been recognised that longer-lived people tend to have longer-lived parents and grandparents, suggesting that genetics influence longevity. Complicating the picture,
- [Do IUDs cause breast cancer? Here’s what the evidence says](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/21/do-iuds-cause-breast-cancer-heres-what-the-evidence-says/) - Brett Montgomery, The University of Western Australia A new study has found a link between hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and breast cancer. The research is important, but media reports of a large increase in risk may be causing unnecessary worry. Let’s put the findings in perspective for people who use IUDs. What are IUDs? IUDs
- [The mosquito-borne virus ‘triple E’ continues its spread, worrying state health officials](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/16/the-mosquito-borne-virus-triple-e-continues-its-spread-worrying-state-health-officials/) - by Nada HassaneinStateline Mosquito-borne illnesses are a growing concern in Northeastern states, with health officials monitoring cases and advising residents to avoid outdoor activities near standing water and other environments prone to mosquito spread. Of particular concern is eastern equine encephalitis, a rare disease that can lead to serious and fatal illness, caused by mosquitoes
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/16/12710/) - Trying to lose weight? Here’s why your genetics could be just as important as your exercise regime Henry Chung, University of Essex; Chris McManus, University of Essex, and Sally Waterworth, University of Essex Weight loss is a complicated process. There are so many factors involved including your diet, how much sleep you get each night and
- [Medicare Open Enrollment Period Begins Today](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/15/medicare-open-enrollment-period-begins-today/) - Medicare's Open Enrollment Period begins today. Visit Medicare.gov now through December 7 to compare all your coverage options. You could save money, find better coverage, or both! If you decide to enroll in a different option, your new coverage will start January 1. Compare Coverage Options Good news! Starting in 2025, all Medicare plans will include a $2,000 cap
- [Alzheimer’s disease may damage the brain in two phases](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/15/alzheimers-disease-may-damage-the-brain-in-two-phases/) - From the National Institutes of Health Alzheimer’s disease may damage the brain in two distinct phases, based on new research using sophisticated brain mapping tools. According to researchers who discovered this new view, the first, early phase happens slowly and silently — before people experience memory problems — harming just a few vulnerable cell types.
- [Vaccine uptake influenced by politics, socioeconomics](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/14/vaccine-uptake-influenced-by-politics-socioeconomics/) - From the University of Michigan COVID-19 vaccination rates have varied significantly based on partisanship and socioeconomic factors, with Democrats getting vaccinated faster and at higher percentages than Republicans and Independents. A University of Michigan study published at NPJ Vaccines also revealed that vaccine uptake was lowest among Black Americans, individuals with incomes below $30,000 and
- [Stem cell therapy reverses type 1 diabetes in world first](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/14/stem-cell-therapy-reverses-type-1-diabetes-in-world-first/) - Stéphane Berneau, University of Central Lancashire A groundbreaking discovery has recently brought hope to millions of people living with type 1 diabetes around the world. In a world first, scientists have successfully used stem cell therapy to reverse type 1 diabetes in a woman. This achievement is being hailed as a major medical breakthrough, as
- [Buyer beware: Off-brand Ozempic, Zepbound and other weight loss products carry undisclosed risks for consumers](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/14/buyer-beware-off-brand-ozempic-zepbound-and-other-weight-loss-products-carry-undisclosed-risks-for-consumers/) - C. Michael White, University of Connecticut In just a few years, brand-name injectable drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound have rocketed to fame as billion-dollar annual sellers for weight loss as well as to control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. But the price of these injections is steep:
- [Abortion Emerges as Most Important Election Issue for Young Women, Poll Finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/14/abortion-emerges-as-most-important-election-issue-for-young-women-poll-finds-2/) - By Alex Wayne and Rebecca AdamsKFF Health News Abortion has emerged as the most important issue in the November election for women under 30, according to a survey by KFF — a notable change since late spring, before Vice President Kamala Harris entered the presidential race. Nearly 4 in 10 women under 30 surveyed in
- [Happiness class is helping clinically depressed school teachers become emotionally healthy − with a cheery assist from Aristotle](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/11/happiness-class-is-helping-clinically-depressed-school-teachers-become-emotionally-healthy-−-with-a-cheery-assist-from-aristotle/) - Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching. John Sommers-Flanagan, University of Montana Title of Course Evidence-Based Happiness for Teachers What prompted the idea for the course? I was discouraged. For nearly three decades, as a clinical psychologist, I trained mental health professionals on suicide assessment. The work
- [What is pelvic organ prolapse and how is it treated?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/11/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated/) - Jennifer King, University of Sydney As a urogynaecologist I care exclusively for women with pelvic floor problems. These are the women with leaking bladders and weak supporting tissues allowing the vaginal walls to bulge outside. Pelvic organ prolapse can be distressing or embarrassing and interfere with everyday activities. But it’s also common. For many women
- [Abortion Emerges as Most Important Election Issue for Young Women, Poll Finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/11/abortion-emerges-as-most-important-election-issue-for-young-women-poll-finds/) - By Alex Wayne and Rebecca AdamsKFF Health News Abortion has emerged as the most important issue in the November election for women under 30, according to a survey by KFF — a notable change since late spring, before Vice President Kamala Harris entered the presidential race. Nearly 4 in 10 women under 30 surveyed in
- [Fentanyl 101](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/10/fentanyl-101/) - From the National Institute on Drug Abuse Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic (lab-made) opioid. Prescription fentanyl is FDA -approved to treat severe pain related to surgery or complex pain conditions. Over the past decade, fentanyl that is made and distributed illegally has become increasingly common in the illegal drug supply and has contributed to a surge in
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/09/health-news-headlines-25/) - Harris Proposes Expanding Medicare to Cover In-Home Senior Care Vice President Kamala Harris is proposing to provide federal funding to cover home care costs for older Americans, aiming to help the “ sandwich generation " of adults caring for aging parents while raising their children at the same time. Appearing Tuesday on ABC’s “The View,”
- [Jaw Problems Linked to Bone-Modifying Drugs Not as Rare as Once Thought](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/09/12660/) - By Nadia JaberNational Cancer Institute If cancer spreads to the bone, patients are often given medicines to lessen bone problems like pain and broken bones. But those medicines can sometimes cause parts of the jawbone to break down and die—a problem called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ was thought to be a rare side effect
- [Asian Health Center Tries Unconventional Approach to Counseling](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/09/asian-health-center-tries-unconventional-approach-to-counseling/) - By Sarah KwonKFF Health News In her first months as a community health worker, Jee Hyo Kim helped violent crime survivors access supportive services and resources. When a client with post-traumatic stress disorder sought a therapist, she linked him to one that fit his needs. She helped clients afraid to leave their homes obtain food delivery
- [UW Biochemist David Baker receives Nobel Prize](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/09/uw-biochemist-david-baker-receives-nobel-prize/) - From University of Washington Computational biologist David Baker, professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine and director of the UW Medicine Institute for Protein Design, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for computational protein design. He shares the Nobel Prize with Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper of DeepMind, who were honored
- [Poppy Seed Brew Triggers Morphine Overdose, Drawing Attention of Lawmakers](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/09/12643/) - By David Hilzenrath, KFF Health News It sounds like a joke: poppy seeds infused with opioids. Indeed, it was a plotline on the sitcom Seinfeld. But for some it has been a tragedy. People have died after drinking tea brewed from unwashed poppy seeds. And after eating lemon poppy seed bread or an everything bagel,
- [Why women are still being underdiagnosed with heart disease](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/08/why-women-are-still-being-underdiagnosed-with-heart-disease/) - Benedicta Quaye, Lancaster University Women in the UK continue to be underdiagnosed and under-treated for cardiovascular diseases, a recent statement from the British Cardiovascular Societies has concluded. While there are many reasons for this, part of the problem is that cardiovascular disease is still seen as a “man’s condition”. This is troubling, as cardiovascular diseases
- [Why heart patients have trouble sticking to a healthy diet, and 3 things that help them eat better](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/08/why-heart-patients-have-trouble-sticking-to-a-healthy-diet-and-3-things-that-help-them-eat-better/) - Gabriela Ghisi, University of Toronto and Camila Kümmel Duarte, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and managing it effectively requires more than just medical intervention: what you eat plays a crucial role in your heart’s health. For cardiac patients, following nutritional recommendations isn’t just a suggestion;
- [MicroRNA is the Nobel-winning master regulator of the genome – researchers are learning to treat disease by harnessing how it controls genes](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/08/microrna-is-the-nobel-winning-master-regulator-of-the-genome-researchers-are-learning-to-treat-disease-by-harnessing-how-it-controls-genes/) - Andrea Kasinski, Purdue University When Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered a new molecule they called microRNA in the 1980s, it was a fascinating diversion from what for decades had been called the central dogma of molecular biology. Recognized with the 2024 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, Ambros and Ruvkun had identified a new
- [Medicare Open Enrollment Opens Next Week](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/08/medicare-open-enrollment-opens-next-week/) - Medicare Open Enrollment starts next week! It's your chance to review or change your prescription drug and health coverage for next year. Get a head start by previewing your 2025 options to see if there's a better fit for your needs and budget. Preview Coverage Options You have 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage —
- [What’s New and What To Watch For in the Upcoming ACA Open Enrollment Period](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/08/whats-new-and-what-to-watch-for-in-the-upcoming-aca-open-enrollment-period/) - By Julie Appleby, KFF Health News It’s that time of year again: In most states, the Affordable Care Act’s annual open enrollment season for health plans begins Nov. 1 and lasts through Jan. 15. Current enrollees who do not update their information or select an alternative will be automatically reenrolled in their current plan or,
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/08/health-news-headlines-24/) - CDC will start screening travelers from Rwanda to the US for Marburg virus …Marburg is an orthomarburgvirus, a virus that naturally occurs in fruit bats. It’s in the same family as the Ebola virus. Marburg can spread from human to human when someone comes into contact with bodily fluids from a person who’s been infected. People can
- [Washington advocates push for state ban on flavored vapes](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/03/washington-advocates-push-for-state-ban-on-flavored-vapes/) - Two lawmakers plan to introduce legislation next year to prohibit the nicotine product. By Grace DengWashington Standard A broad coalition of Washington educators, doctors, researchers and social justice advocates has launched a campaign to ban flavored nicotine vapes in the state, citing the product’s contribution to youth addiction. “We want to create a generation that
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/03/health-news-headlines-23/) - It’s Time to Get Flu and Covid-19 Shots Respiratory virus season has arrived in the United States and health officials say that October is a prime time to get vaccinated. Vaccines for Covid-19, flu and RSV are available now. While the respiratory virus season tends to peak between December and March, getting vaccinated in the
- [Fungal infections known as valley fever could spike this fall - 3 epidemiologists explain how to protect yourself](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/02/fungal-infections-known-as-valley-fever-could-spike-this-fall-3-epidemiologists-explain-how-to-protect-yourself/) - Jennifer Head, University of Michigan; Alexandra K. Heaney, University of California, San Diego, and Simon Camponuri, University of California, Berkeley As the climate warms, the southwestern U.S. is increasingly experiencing weather whiplash as the region swings from drought to flooding and back again. As a result, the public is hearing more about little-known infectious diseases,
- [Health risks are rising in mountain areas flooded by Hurricane Helene and cut off from clean water, power and hospitals](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/02/health-risks-are-rising-in-mountain-areas-flooded-by-hurricane-helene-and-cut-off-from-clean-water-power-and-hospitals/) - Jennifer Horney, University of Delaware Hurricane Helene’s flooding has subsided, but health risks are growing in hard-hit regions of the North Carolina mountains, where many people lost access to power and clean water. More than 150 deaths across the Southeast had been attributed to Hurricane Helene within days of the late September 2024 storm, according
- [What pathogen might spark the next pandemic? How scientists are preparing for ‘disease X’](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/02/what-pathogen-might-spark-the-next-pandemic-how-scientists-are-preparing-for-disease-x/) - Allen Cheng, Monash University Before the COVID pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) had made a list of priority infectious diseases. These were felt to pose a threat to international public health, but where research was still needed to improve their surveillance and diagnosis. In 2018, “disease X” was included, which signified that a pathogen
- [Workplace wellbeing programs often don’t work – but here’s how to make them better](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/01/workplace-wellbeing-programs-often-dont-work-but-heres-how-to-make-them-better/) - Jolanta Burke, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences The World Health Organization (WHO) has just published alarming statistics showing that employee mental health issues result in a US$1 trillion (£747 billion) loss in productivity each year. The WHO has called on employers to take urgent action by introducing comprehensive wellbeing programmes to tackle the
- [The role alcohol plays in new cancer cases – landmark new report](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/01/the-role-alcohol-plays-in-new-cancer-cases-landmark-new-report/) - Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University A little bit of alcohol was once thought to be good for you. However, as scientific research advances, we’re gaining a clearer picture of alcohol’s effect on health – especially regarding cancer. The complex relationship between alcohol and cancer was recently highlighted in a new report from the American Association
- [200+ women faced criminal charges over pregnancy in year after Dobbs, report finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/01/200-women-faced-criminal-charges-over-pregnancy-in-year-after-dobbs-report-finds/) - 6 states accounted for the majority of cases documented by researchers. BY: ANNA CLAIRE VOLLERS STATELINE In the year after the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022, more than 200 pregnant women faced criminal charges for conduct associated with their pregnancy, pregnancy loss or birth, according to a new report. The report was
- [Can you change your personality? Psychology research says yes, by tweaking what you think and do](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/01/can-you-change-your-personality-psychology-research-says-yes-by-tweaking-what-you-think-and-do/) - Shannon Sauer-Zavala, University of Kentucky Have you ever taken a personality test? If you’re like me, you’ve consulted BuzzFeed and you know exactly which Taylor Swift song “perfectly matches your vibe.” It might be obvious that internet quizzes are not scientific, but many of the seemingly serious personality tests used to guide educational and career
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/10/01/health-news-headlines-22/) - California Sues Hospital for Denying Patient an Emergency Abortion The state said that despite a doctor’s recommendation and state law, a Catholic hospital declined to provide an abortion because fetal heart tones were present. …In a statement, the hospital said, “Providence is deeply committed to the health and wellness of women and pregnant patients and
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/30/health-news-headlines-21/) - US Investigating Potential Human-To-Human Bird Flu Transmission Health authorities in the US are studying seven people who developed influenza symptoms after being exposed to a Missouri bird flu patient, raising the possibility of the first human-to-human transmission of the infection. None have tested positive for avian influenza and work is underway to see if they
- [Will abortion swing the first post-Roe presidential election?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/26/will-abortion-swing-the-first-post-roe-presidential-election/) - By Sofia Resnick, StatelineSeptember 26, 2024 Editor’s note: This five-day series explores the priorities of voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as they consider the upcoming presidential election. With the outcome expected to be close, these “swing states” may decide the future of the country. 7 States + 5 Issues
- [Delirium: this common and frightening syndrome looks like dementia, but comes on much faster](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/26/delirium-this-common-and-frightening-syndrome-looks-like-dementia-but-comes-on-much-faster/) - Laura Zaurín Paniagua, Universidad San Jorge “During the day he’s completely calm, but at night he gets very agitated.” “Tonight she hasn’t stopped calling out for her mother, who passed away many years ago. But she’s been asleep all day, and it was almost impossible to wake her up.” These testimonies will be relatable to
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/26/health-news-headlines-20/) - Washington State's Abortion Pill Stockpile Is Insurance Against Trump Win, Governor Says Washington state's first-in-the-nation stockpile of abortion drugs will serve as insurance against future lawsuits seeking to ban the procedure nationwide or a second presidential term for Republican Donald Trump, Governor Jay Inslee said. Last year, with a federal lawsuit seeking to restrict access
- [Loneliness may not make you ill after all, says new study – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t tackle it](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/24/loneliness-may-not-make-you-ill-after-all-says-new-study-but-that-doesnt-mean-we-shouldnt-tackle-it/) - Louise Arseneault, King's College London and Bridget Bryan, King's College London When was the last time that you felt lonely? It’s an uncomfortable question, but for 3.83 million people in the UK, 7.1% of the population, the answer is probably “right now”. Loneliness has become a worrying public health matter because it is common and
- [New cancer diagnoses did not rebound as expected following pandemic](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/24/new-cancer-diagnoses-did-not-rebound-as-expected-following-pandemic/) - From the National Institutes of Health Cancer incidence trends in 2021 largely returned to what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, there was little evidence of a rebound in incidence that would account for the decline in diagnoses in 2020, when
- [Florida’s New Covid Booster Guidance Is Straight-Up Misinformation](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/23/floridas-new-covid-booster-guidance-is-straight-up-misinformation/) - By Arthur Allen and Daniel Chang and Sam WhiteheadKFF Health News In what has become a pattern of spreading vaccine misinformation, the Florida health department is telling older Floridians and others at highest risk from covid-19 to avoid most booster shots, saying they are potentially dangerous. Clinicians and scientists denounced the message as politically fueled scaremongering that also weakens
- [Maybe She’s Just Tired, Maybe It’s Undiagnosed Iron Deficiency](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/23/maybe-shes-just-tired-maybe-its-undiagnosed-iron-deficiency/) - August 26, 2024 by Lourdes MedranoUndark Magazine About three years ago, Soumya Rangarajan struggled day after day with exhaustion, headaches, and heart palpitations. As a frontline hospital doctor during the Covid-19 pandemic, she first attributed her symptoms to the demands of an unprecedented health care crisis. But a social media post got Rangarajan thinking about
- [Could an Old Drug Protect Against a New Pandemic?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/23/could-an-old-drug-protect-against-a-new-pandemic/) - September 23, 2024 by Teresa CarrUndark Magazine Since reports emerged earlier this year that dairy cows across the country had been infected with H5N1 bird flu, the prospect that the virus could evolve to spark another pandemic has stoked serious concern. But unlike Covid-19, the flu is an old, well-known foe. And health authorities have
- [Calisthenics: five ways this bodyweight workout can benefit your fitness](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/23/calisthenics-five-ways-this-bodyweight-workout-can-benefit-your-fitness/) - Jen Wilson, Nottingham Trent University and Athalie Redwood-Brown, Nottingham Trent University Calisthenics, a workout routine that has existed for centuries, has seen a major resurgence in recent years – partly due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Celebrities including Chris Hemsworth and Jamie Foxx swear by this style of training, which has been used since at
- [‘The data on extreme human ageing is rotten from the inside out’ – Ig Nobel winner Saul Justin Newman](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/23/the-data-on-extreme-human-ageing-is-rotten-from-the-inside-out-ig-nobel-winner-saul-justin-newman/) - Saul Justin Newman, UCL From the swimming habits of dead trout to the revelation that some mammals can breathe through their backsides, a group of leading leftfield scientists have been taking their bows at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the 34th annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony. Not to be confused with the actual Nobel
- [45 Degrees North: The Rural Cancer Commute ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/20/12544/) - By Donna Kallner, The Daily Yonder September 20, 2024 When my friend Lynn was instructed to produce a 24-hour urine collection for analysis, the materials were provided in a discreet tote bag with clear instructions about what to save (everything) and how to store it (chilled). What the instructions didn't address was how to manage
- [Health plan floated by JD Vance could weaken protections for pregnant people ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/20/health-plan-floated-by-jd-vance-could-weaken-protections-for-pregnant-people/) - Vance revealed more details about the “concepts of a plan,” which include weakening the Affordable Care Act’s protections for preexisting conditions. Shefali Luthr, 19th Reproductive Health ReporterOriginally published by The 19th Your trusted source for contextualizing health and Election 2024 news. Sign up for our daily newsletter. A health care proposal suggested by Republican vice
- [I think my child’s weight is affecting their health. How can I best support them?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/19/i-think-my-childs-weight-is-affecting-their-health-how-can-i-best-support-them/) - Natalie Lister, University of Sydney and Hiba Jebeile, University of Sydney Weight fluctuation and change in body composition with growth is a normal part of development. Apart from the first year of life, teenage years experience the most rapid increase in growth and development. Your health-care provider will consider your child’s weight status as part
- [How to improve your flexibility – the body’s secret weapon for staying healthy and active](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/18/how-to-improve-your-flexibility-the-bodys-secret-weapon-for-staying-healthy-and-active/) - Athalie Redwood-Brown, Nottingham Trent University and Jen Wilson, Nottingham Trent University Flexibility might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about health and fitness, but it’s one of the most important aspects of maintaining your body’s overall wellbeing. Simply put, flexibility is all about how easily your muscles and joints
- [What is ‘health at every size’ lifestyle counseling?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/18/what-is-health-at-every-size-lifestyle-counseling/) - Clare Collins, University of Newcastle; Erin Clarke, University of Newcastle; Jordan Stanford, University of Newcastle, and María Gómez Martín, University of Newcastle Health at every size (or HAES) is a lifestyle counselling approach that promotes mindful eating and lifestyle behaviours to pursue health and wellness, without focusing on weight loss. Weight loss is seen as
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/18/health-news-headlines-19/) - U.S. Sees A Sudden and Unexpected Drop In Fatal Overdoses For the first time in decades, public health data shows a sudden and hopeful drop in drug overdose deaths across the U.S. "This is exciting," said Dr. Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], the federal laboratory charged with studying addiction.
- [X-chromosome inactivation may reduce autism risk, UW study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/19/x-chromosome-inactivation-may-reduce-autism-risk-uw-study-finds/) - By Michael McCarthyLocalHealthGuide A study in mice suggests how chromosome inactivation may protect women from autism disorder inherited from their father’s X chromosome. Females inherit two copies of the X chromosome, one from their mothers and one from their fathers. Because cells do not need two copies, the cells inactivate one copy early in embryonic
- [Health News Headlines.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/12/health-news-headlines-18/) - Millions of US women don’t have access to maternity care, report warns More than 2.3 million women of reproductive age don’t have access to birthing facilities or obstetric doctors, report says More than a third of US counties do not have a single medical birthing facility or the services of an obstetric clinician, causing health
- [At Catholic Hospitals, a Mission of Charity Runs Up Against High Care Costs for Patients](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/12/at-catholic-hospitals-a-mission-of-charity-runs-up-against-high-care-costs-for-patients/) - By Rachana PradhanKFF Heatlh News When Jessica Staten’s kidney stones wouldn’t pass, she said, her doctor suggested a procedure to “blow ’em up.” She went to have it done last November at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Washington, one of nine hospitals that the Catholic health system PeaceHealth operates in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
- [‘Dismayed, but Not Surprised:’ Health Gap Between Urban and Rural America Is on the Rise](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/11/dismayed-but-not-surprised-health-gap-between-urban-and-rural-america-is-on-the-rise/) - By Taylor Sisk, The Daily YonderSeptember 11, 2024 When Janice Probst read a report released in March by the federal Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service confirming that the health disparities gap between rural and urban Americans is widening, substantially, she was dismayed but not surprised. According to the report, between 1999 and 2019 the
- [Think you’re too busy for strength training at work? Try this quick and easy guide](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/10/think-youre-too-busy-for-strength-training-at-work-try-this-quick-and-easy-guide/) - Ashley Gluchowski, University of Salford Do you sit at a desk all day and then find you’re exhausted, your back aches and exercise is the last thing on your mind? I hear you. But desk jobs can be killers, so taking regular strength breaks during the working day is essential to your health and wellbeing.
- [Breast density and mammograms: New FDA rule will ensure all women have more information after cancer screenings](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/10/breast-density-and-mammograms-new-fda-rule-will-ensure-all-women-have-more-information-after-cancer-screenings/) - Nancy Kressin, Boston University; Christine M. Gunn, Dartmouth College; Priscilla J. Slanetz, Boston University, and Tracy A. Battaglia, Yale University The Food and Drug Administration implemented a rule to go into effect on Sept. 10, 2024, requiring mammography facilities to notify women about their breast density. The goal is to ensure that women nationwide are
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/09/health-news-headlines-17/) - Are Some Ultraprocessed Foods Worse Than Others? A new study may offer the biggest clues yet. … Of the 10 ultraprocessed food categories they looked at, two were clearly associated with greater risk: sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda and fruit punch) and processed meat, poultry and fish (like bacon, hot dogs, breaded fish products, chicken sausages and
- [With TV Drug Ads, What You See Is Not Necessarily What You Get](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/09/with-tv-drug-ads-what-you-see-is-not-necessarily-what-you-get/) - By Elisabeth RosenthalKFF Health News. Triumphant music plays as cancer patients go camping, do some gardening, and watch fireworks in ads for Opdivo+Yervoy, a combination of immunotherapies to treat metastatic melanoma and lung cancer. Ads for Skyrizi, a medicine to treat plaque psoriasis and other illnesses, show patients snorkeling and riding bikes — flashing their
- [DNA from Ancient Viruses Helps Many Cancers Grow](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/06/dna-from-ancient-viruses-helps-many-cancers-grow/) - September 6, 2024 By Nadia Jaber, National Cancer Institute Cancer cells use all sorts of tricks and trades to aid their growth and survival. Now a new study shows that many kinds of cancer pull an unusual card to support their growth: DNA left over from ancient viruses. In the new study, funded in part
- [Elle Macpherson’s breast cancer: when the media reports on celebrity cancer, are we really getting the whole story?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/06/elle-macphersons-breast-cancer-when-the-media-reports-on-celebrity-cancer-are-we-really-getting-the-whole-story/) - Brooke Nickel, University of Sydney; Claire Hooker, University of Sydney, and Katy Bell, University of Sydney Celebrity supermodel Elle Macpherson disclosed in an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly earlier this week that seven years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Media coverage around the world said Macpherson had rejected some “conventional” treatments for
- [Is alcohol good or bad for you? Yes.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/05/is-alcohol-good-or-bad-for-you-yes/) - by Kenneth Mukamal and Eric R. RimmThe Journalist's Resource This article originally appeared in Harvard Public Health magazine. It’s hard to escape the message these days that every sip of wine, every swig of beer is bad for your health. The truth, however, is far more nuanced. We have been researching the health effects of
- [HOW TO REDUCE EXPOSURES TO TOXIC CHEMICALS IN YOUR HOME ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/04/how-to-reduce-exposures-to-toxic-chemicals-in-your-home/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County En español Homes are often our places of comfort. Yet many household items can contain toxic chemicals, including cleaning products, personal care products, pesticides, insecticides, and paints. Reducing exposure to toxic chemicals makes homes a much healthier place to be. That’s why the Lead and Toxics
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/04/health-news-headlines-16/) - ‘A ton of Covid out there’: US summer wave not taken seriously enough – experts Epidemiologists push newly approved booster vaccines as current virus strain threatens at-risk groups … Notably, the Covid viral activity in wastewater in August in the United States was almost twice as high as the same time last year and about the
- [Mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer, according to a major review of 28 years of research](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/03/mobile-phones-are-not-linked-to-brain-cancer-according-to-a-major-review-of-28-years-of-research/) - Sarah Loughran, University of Wollongong and Ken Karipidis, Monash University A systematic review into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure has shown mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer. The review was commissioned by the World Health Organization and is published today in the journal Environment International. Mobile phones are often held
- [Rabid Bat Found in Renton](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/03/rabid-bat-found-in-renton/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County Public Health has continued the investigation and determined that the bat was found on Aug 29th at 415 Rainier Ave N in Renton (in front of several businesses). A rabid bat was found in Renton at 415 Rainier Ave N. on August 29, 2024. Anyone who
- [How did polio reemerge in Gaza after a quarter of a century? Q&A with a virologist](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/03/how-did-polio-reemerge-in-gaza-after-a-quarter-of-a-century-qa-with-a-virologist/) - Lee Sherry, University of Glasgow A ten-month-old boy in the Gaza Strip was recently paralysed by poliovirus – the first such case in the region this century. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a limited ceasefire to allow 640,000 children in the enclave to be vaccinated against the virus. We asked a virologist to explain
- [How parents and school communities can support autistic children as they head back to class](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/09/03/how-parents-and-school-communities-can-support-autistic-children-as-they-head-back-to-class/) - Emma G Duerden, Western University and Elizabeth Kuenzel, Western University Returning to school can present new opportunities along with concerns and challenges. As families with autistic children prepare for the new school year, their concerns could include determining that necessary accommodations and supports are in place at school, helping children transition from a summer routine
- [Is ‘coaching’ a shortcut to mental health care? Not so fast − here are key differences](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/30/is-coaching-a-shortcut-to-mental-health-care-not-so-fast-−-here-are-key-differences/) - Emily Hemendinger, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Life coach, wellness coach, business coach, weight loss coach, breakup coach – the list goes on and on. All are different titles for similar jobs, with the same limitation: Anyone can claim to be an expert. Health “coaching” alone is a US$7.6 billion market in the United
- [More children are getting ACL injuries – here’s what could be done to prevent them](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/30/more-children-are-getting-acl-injuries-heres-what-could-be-done-to-prevent-them/) - Michael Duncan, Coventry University; Jason Tallis, Coventry University, and Theresa Heering, Coventry University There’s no doubt that for children and teenagers, taking part in physical activity and sport is hugely beneficial. It improves their health and wellbeing, creates opportunities for social interaction and builds resilience and leadership skills for life. However, playing sport can also
- [What is eastern equine encephalitis? Two mosquito researchers explain what’s behind the latest outbreaks](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/30/12460/) - Cameron Webb, University of Sydney and Andrew van den Hurk, The University of Queensland Health authorities in the United States are issuing warnings and closing public parks due to a rare but potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease. This week, a resident of the US state of New Hampshire died after being hospitalised with eastern equine encephalitis.
- [Is chocolate milk a good recovery drink after a workout? A dietitian reviews the evidence](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/29/is-chocolate-milk-a-good-recovery-drink-after-a-workout-a-dietitian-reviews-the-evidence/) - Evangeline Mantzioris, University of South Australia Whether you enjoy chocolate milk regularly, as a weekend treat, or as an occasional dose of childhood nostalgia, it probably wouldn’t be the first option you think of for post-workout recovery. Unless you’re on TikTok, perhaps. According to many people on the social media platform, chocolate milk is not
- [Cannabis and hallucinogen use among adults remained at historic highs in 2023](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/29/cannabis-and-hallucinogen-use-among-adults-remained-at-historic-highs-in-2023/) - From the National Institutes of Health Vaping among younger adults and binge drinking among mid-life adults also maintained historically high levels, NIH-supported study shows. Past-year use of cannabis and hallucinogens stayed at historically high levels in 2023 among adults aged 19 to 30 and 35 to 50, according to the latest findings(link is external) from the Monitoring the Future
- [Climate change poses health risks. But it’s hard to fight when state policy ignores it.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/29/climate-change-poses-health-risks-but-its-hard-to-fight-when-state-policy-ignores-it/) - by Nada Hassanein, Stateline August 29, 2024 ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida is the hottest state in the contiguous United States, and its residents suffer the most heat-related illness. Older people are most susceptible to the heat, and nearly 4.7 million Floridians — 1 in 5 residents — are older than 65. The peninsula has 8,436
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/29/health-news-headlines-15/) - 60% of baby and toddler food doesn’t meet nutrition standards, study finds Researchers noted that 1 in 4 products did not meet calorie requirements and that 1 in 5 exceeded recommended sodium levels. About 60 percent of packaged baby food sold in the United States doesn’t meet nutritional standards established by the World Health Organization,
- [Accidental falls in the older adult population: What academic research shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/28/accidental-falls-in-the-older-adult-population-what-academic-research-shows/) - by Naseem S. Miller, The Journalist's ResourceAugust 28, 2024 Accidental falls are among the leading causes of injury and death among adults 65 years and older worldwide. As the aging population grows, researchers expect to see an increase in the number of fall injuries and related health spending. Falls aren’t unique to older adults. Nealy
- [Data Shows Rural Disparities in Traffic Deaths](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/28/data-shows-rural-disparities-in-traffic-deaths/) - By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder Rural counties experience more traffic deaths per capita compared to their urban counterparts, due in part to slower emergency response times, higher speed limits, and risky driving behavior like not wearing seatbelts. Six lane interstates and city streets in densely developed urban areas aren’t more dangerous than open stretches
- [Avian flu has infected dairy cows in more than a dozen states – a microbiologist explains how the virus is spreading](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/28/avian-flu-has-infected-dairy-cows-in-more-than-a-dozen-states-a-microbiologist-explains-how-the-virus-is-spreading/) - Jenna Guthmiller, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus The current strain of avian flu, H5N1, is responsible for the culling of millions of domestic birds and has sickened more than a dozen farmworkers in 2024, most recently in Colorado. The Conversation U.S. asked immunologist and microbiologist Jenna Guthmiller from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical
- [Microplastics are in our brains. How worried should I be?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/28/microplastics-are-in-our-brains-how-worried-should-i-be/) - Sarah Hellewell, Curtin University; Anastazja Gorecki, University of Notre Dame Australia, and Charlotte Sofield, University of Notre Dame Australia Plastic is in our clothes, cars, mobile phones, water bottles and food containers. But recent research adds to growing concerns about the impact of tiny plastic fragments on our health. A study from the United States
- [Full-body scans to look for hidden disease are a bad idea – here’s why](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/27/full-body-scans-to-look-for-hidden-disease-are-a-bad-idea-heres-why/) - Adam Taylor, Lancaster University For a not insubstantial fee, many private clinics in the UK offer full-body MRI scans to detect disease and abnormalities at the earliest stage. Kim Kardashian and Kate Hudson are fans. (Other celebrity endorsements are available.) So how do these scans work and are they “life saving”, as Kardashian suggests? MRI
- [Health News Headlines.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/27/health-news-headlines-14/) - Lilly Slashes Prices On Two Lowest Doses Of Zepbound — If You're Willing To Give Up Injector Pen Drugmaker Eli Lilly is significantly lowering the prices of the two lowest doses of its blockbuster weight loss drug Zepbound, it said Tuesday, in a move to expand access and ease supply constraints. Two key changes to
- [People with physical and mobility disabilities need to work out, but there are a lot of obstacles in their way](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/26/people-with-physical-and-mobility-disabilities-need-to-work-out-but-there-are-a-lot-of-obstacles-in-their-way/) - Alexandra Jamieson, University of Texas at Arlington Although wheelchair users, visually impaired people and others with mobility and physical disabilities need consistent exercise, it’s often hard for them to work out. In many cases, they can’t get access to “adaptive” exercise and sports equipment – meaning machines, weights and other devices that have been modified
- [Is white rice bad for me? Can I make it lower GI or healthier?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/26/is-white-rice-bad-for-me-can-i-make-it-lower-gi-or-healthier/) - Emma Beckett, UNSW Sydney Rice is a culinary staple in Australia and around the world. It might seem like a given that brown rice is healthier than white and official public health resources often recommend brown rice instead of white as a “healthy swap”. But Americans definitely prefer white rice over brown. So, what’s the
- [The New Covid Vaccine Is Out. Why You Might Not Want To Rush To Get It.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/26/the-new-covid-vaccine-is-out-why-you-might-not-want-to-rush-to-get-it/) - By Arthur Allen and Eliza Fawcett, Healthbeat and Rebecca Grapevine, Healthbeat The FDA has approved an updated covid shot for everyone 6 months old and up, which renews a now-annual quandary for Americans: Get the shot now, with the latest covid outbreak sweeping the country, or hold it in reserve for the winter wave? The new vaccine should provide some
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/26/health-news-headlines-13/) - Debate rages over Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab as UK limits approval The medicine is being assessed by agencies including the European Union regulator, but the community is divided on its efficacy and safety. . . . One reason for this difference in perspective lies in how people look at the data, says Sebastian Walsh, a public-health
- [Being a ‘weekend warrior’ could be as good for brain health as exercising throughout the week, new study shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/23/being-a-weekend-warrior-could-be-as-good-for-brain-health-as-exercising-throughout-the-week-new-study-shows/) - Matthew Ahmadi, University of Sydney and Emmanuel Stamatakis, University of Sydney With the responsibilities of adulthood, free time can be a rare commodity. Many of us find ourselves asking, “I barely have time to cook dinner. How can I find time to exercise regularly during the week?” The health benefits of exercise – which include
- [Does eating ham, bacon and beef really increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/23/does-eating-ham-bacon-and-beef-really-increase-your-risk-of-developing-type-2-diabetes/) - Duane Mellor, Aston University That lunchtime staple, the humble ham sandwich, has come in for a bashing in the press recently. According to many reports, eating two slices of ham a day can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But what’s the science behind these headlines? The research offers a more complex picture.
- [Expert: The Impact of Climate Change on Global Nutrition Is a National Security Issue](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/23/expert-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-global-nutrition-is-a-national-security-issue/) - by Kristi Eaton, The Daily Yonder The links between climate change, farmers and nutrition in low-income countries is a matter of national security in the United States, said an official with the Farm Journal Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that released a new report. “If you're hungry, you're going to do just about anything you
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/23/health-news-headlines-12/) - FDA Approves Updated Covid Vaccines As Virus Surges Shots To Be Available Within Days The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, putting the new shots on track to reach most Americans in the coming days amid a summer surge of the virus. The jabs target a strain called
- [Washington elementary school kids are guaranteed recess](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/22/washington-elementary-school-kids-are-guaranteed-recess/) - En Español By Guest Blogger Linnea WesterlindCo-chair, King County Play Equity Coalition Advocacy Team Beginning this school year, students across Washington State will have more time for their favorite part of the school day—recess! Thanks to a new law signed into law in 2023 by the Governor, all students in grades K-5 are now guaranteed recess to support
- [Seattle study findings may help explain why we keep getting colds](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/22/seattle-study-findings-may-help-explain-why-we-keep-getting-colds/) - From UW Medicine The most common cause of the common cold, the rhinovirus, increases its chances of infecting someone who lacks immunity by simultaneously circulating many versions of itself, according to new research from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. “With viruses like SARS-CoV-2 or influenza, one variant will dominate for a
- [Politicians step up attacks on the teaching of scientific theories in US schools](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/22/12394/) - Ryan Summers, University of North Dakota Scientific theory has had a rough time in America’s public schools. Almost 100 years ago, science teacher John Scopes was convicted of violating a Tennessee law that prohibited teaching the theory of evolution. Although his conviction was overturned on a technicality in 1927, laws banning classes on Darwin’s theory
- [Infectious diseases spike when kids return to school − here’s what you can do about it](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/22/infectious-diseases-spike-when-kids-return-to-school-−-heres-what-you-can-do-about-it/) - Libby Richards, Purdue University Ready or not, back-to-school season is here, and kids will be bringing home more than homework. They’ll be carrying germs, too. These viruses and bacteria will be agents that cause the common cold, influenza, norovirus, COVID-19, strep throat and more. There’s a reason why boxes of tissues and sanitizing wipes show
- [From the cinnamon challenge to ‘dragon’s breath’ – here’s what you need to know about social media’s most dangerous trends](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/22/from-the-cinnamon-challenge-to-dragons-breath-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-social-medias-most-dangerous-trends/) - Adam Taylor, Lancaster University Social media challenges can range from bizarre, hilarious to downright dangerous – it seems there’s no limit to what some people will do for likes. Take the “gallon challenge”, for instance. Social media influencers encouraged their followers to consume a gallon (3.78L in the UK) of milk in 60 minutes without
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/22/health-news-headlines-11/) - Pregnant people and fetuses not being protected from wildfire risks – report Researchers say public health officials not doing enough to share warnings and safety information with health workers Wildfires pose serious risks to pregnant people and their developing fetuses, including low birth weight and preterm birth. But public health officials are not doing nearly
- [Wildfire smoke is a health risk for pregnant people — both physically and mentally](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/22/wildfire-smoke-is-a-health-risk-for-pregnant-people-both-physically-and-mentally/) - Originally published by The 19th As the West’s wildfire season worsens, a new Human Rights Watch report urges policymakers to address the toll it's taking on pregnancy and birth outcomes.By Jessica KutzThe 19th's's Gender, climate and sustainability reporter In the midst of yet another hazy summer, as over 50 large fires burn in the West,
- [Who dies in a heat wave? How to help protect the vulnerable in our communities](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/19/who-dies-in-a-heat-wave-how-to-help-protect-the-vulnerable-in-our-communities/) - Myles David Sergeant, McMaster University Extreme heat is a silent killer. From time to time, we hear about shocking cases of football players and other athletes who die suddenly while exerting themselves on hot days. Those deaths are certainly tragic, but statistically they are very rare. Most deaths from extreme heat are in older people,
- [How much does your phone’s blue light really delay your sleep? Relax, it’s just 2.7 minutes](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/21/how-much-does-your-phones-blue-light-really-delay-your-sleep-relax-its-just-2-7-minutes/) - Chelsea Reynolds, Flinders University It’s one of the most pervasive messages about technology and sleep. We’re told bright, blue light from screens prevents us falling asleep easily. We’re told to avoid scrolling on our phones before bedtime or while in bed. We’re sold glasses to help filter out blue light. We put our phones on
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/21/health-news-headlines-10/) - Georgia Reports Another Measles Case As Oregon Outbreak Hits 30 The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) yesterday reported a measles infection in an Atlanta resident who wasn't fully vaccinated, marking the state's fifth case of the year, according to a statement. The DPH said the patient was exposed to the virus during international travel,
- [How accurate are wearable fitness trackers? Less than you might think](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/20/how-accurate-are-wearable-fitness-trackers-less-than-you-might-think/) - Cailbhe Doherty, University College Dublin Back in 2010, Gary Wolf, then the editor of Wired magazine, delivered a TED talk in Cannes called “the quantified self”. It was about what he termed a “new fad” among tech enthusiasts. These early adopters were using gadgets to monitor everything from their physiological data to their mood, and
- [Do you have knee pain from osteoarthritis? You might not need surgery. Here’s what to try instead](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/20/do-you-have-knee-pain-from-osteoarthritis-you-might-not-need-surgery-heres-what-to-try-instead/) - Belinda Lawford, The University of Melbourne; Giovanni E. Ferreira, University of Sydney; Joshua Zadro, University of Sydney, and Rana Hinman, The University of Melbourne Most people with knee osteoarthritis can control their pain and improve their mobility without surgery, according to updated treatment guidelines from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
- [Self-adjusting brain pacemaker may help reduce Parkinson’s disease symptoms](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/20/self-adjusting-brain-pacemaker-may-help-reduce-parkinsons-disease-symptoms/) - From the National Institutes of Health Small NIH-funded trial shows the promise of personalized medicine. A small feasibility study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that an implanted device regulated by the body’s brain activity could provide continual and improved treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in certain people with
- [Harris Did Not Vote to ‘Cut Medicare,’ Despite Trump’s Claim](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/20/harris-did-not-vote-to-cut-medicare-despite-trumps-claim/) - By Jacob GardenswartzKFF Health News “Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to cut, as you know, Medicare by $273 billion. She cast a vote to cut Medicare.” — Former President Donald Trump at a July 24 campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. During a July 24 campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, former President Donald Trump
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/20/health-news-headlines-9/) - A New Treatment for Severe Allergic Reactions — Without the Needle A nasal spray can tamp down potentially fatal reactions, a boon to the many patients in crisis who fear using EpiPens. … The device, Neffy, administers epinephrine, the drug in the EpiPen, through a nasal spray rather than a needle…the company intended to cap out-of-pocket
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/19/health-news-headlines-8/) - FDA May Greenlight Updated Covid-19 Vaccines as Soon as This Week, Sources Say The US Food and Drug Administration is poised to sign off as soon as this week on updated Covid-19 vaccines targeting more recently circulating strains of the virus, according to two sources familiar with the matter, as the country experiences its largest summer
- [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder causes debilitating periods. Here’s what we know about how to treat it.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/19/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-causes-debilitating-periods-heres-what-we-know-about-how-to-treat-it/) - Sneha Chenji, University of Regina For people with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), every month involves a struggle: feeling low and hopeless, navigating a minefield of intrusive thoughts and emotions, feeling so tired and overwhelmed that they are reduced to tears. The symptoms — which can also include depressed mood, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, sleep disturbances,
- [4 ways to cut down on meat when dining out – and still make healthy choices](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/16/4-ways-to-cut-down-on-meat-when-dining-out-and-still-make-healthy-choices/) - Laura Marchese, Deakin University and Katherine Livingstone, Deakin University Many of us are looking for ways to eat a healthier and more sustainable diet. And one way to do this is by reducing the amount of meat we eat. That doesn’t mean you need to become a vegan or vegetarian. Our recent research shows even
- [Health News Headlines.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/16/health-news-headlines-7/) - U.S. has lowest life expectancy among rich, English-speaking countries, study says In the U.S., the average life expectancy for men is 76.5 while the average for women is about 81.5 years. In Australia, on the other hand, women lived nearly four more years and men five more years than men and women America. The study
- [U.S. Has Lowest Life Expectancy Among Rich, English-Speaking Countries: Study](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/16/u-s-has-lowest-life-expectancy-among-rich-english-speaking-countries-study/) - Penn State University Despite being home to some of the world’s most dangerous animals, Australia has led the English-speaking world in life expectancy for the last three decades. As for other high-income Anglophone countries, the Irish saw the largest gains in life expectancy, while Americans have finished dead last since the early 1990s, according to
- [Ovarian cancer is hard to detect. Focusing on these 4 symptoms can help with diagnosis](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/15/ovarian-cancer-is-hard-to-detect-focusing-on-these-4-symptoms-can-help-with-diagnosis/) - Jenny Doust, The University of Queensland Ovarian cancers are often found when they are already advanced and hard to treat. Researchers have long believed this was because women first experienced symptoms when ovarian cancer was already well-established. Symptoms can also be hard to identify as they’re vague and similar to other conditions. But a new
- [No, your aches and pains don’t get worse in the cold. So why do we think they do?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/15/no-your-aches-and-pains-dont-get-worse-in-the-cold-so-why-do-we-think-they-do/) - Manuela Ferreira, George Institute for Global Health and Leticia Deveza, University of Sydney It’s cold and wet outside. As you get out of bed, you can feel it in your bones. Your right knee is flaring up again. That’ll make it harder for you to walk the dog or go to the gym. You think
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/15/health-news-headlines-6/) - Medicare Negotiated Discounts On 10 Widely Used Prescribed Drugs Older Americans on Medicare who take 10 widely prescribed drugs such as Xarelto or Eliquis will get a break on the medications' list prices beginning in 2026. The Biden administration on Thursday announced Medicare negotiated discounts with pharmaceutical companies on 10 drugs prescribed to treat blood
- [What is mpox? A microbiologist explains what’s known about this smallpox cousin](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/15/what-is-mpox-a-microbiologist-explains-whats-known-about-this-smallpox-cousin/) - Rodney E. Rohde, Texas State University On Aug. 14, 2024, the World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern. There have been over 15,600 cases and over 530 deaths reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries in Africa. The disease had previously caused a global outbreak from
- [Report: ​​Rural Women See Drops in Health and Reproductive Care](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/14/report-rural-women-see-drops-in-health-and-reproductive-care/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily YonderAugust 14, 2024 New research has found that rural women are seeing more negative health outcomes as a result of state policy choices that limit their access to health and reproductive care. The study found that differences in Medicaid coverage – whether it is in the 10 states that have
- [Fluid keeps your brain from crushing itself and shields your spine from shock – a neurologist explains what happens when it stops working](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/14/fluid-keeps-your-brain-from-crushing-itself-and-shields-your-spine-from-shock-a-neurologist-explains-what-happens-when-it-stops-working/) - Danielle Wilhour, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, is a clear, colorless liquid that plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of your central nervous system. It cushions the brain and spinal cord, provides nutrients and removes waste products. Despite its importance, problems related to CSF often go
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/14/health-news-headlines-5/) - Human parvovirus is on the rise: What to know about the seasonal illness The CDC issued an advisory for the United States after its European counterpart reported high numbers of parvovirus cases in 14 countries. A highly contagious seasonal respiratory virus known as parvovirus B19 is on the rise in the United States, the Centers for Disease
- [Mpox cases are soaring in Africa – what must be done to prevent a global pandemic](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/14/mpox-cases-are-soaring-in-africa-what-must-be-done-to-prevent-a-global-pandemic/) - Cheryl Walter, University of Hull Alarmed by the surge in mpox cases, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has taken the unprecedented step of declaring the outbreak sweeping through African countries a continental public health emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also meeting to decide whether to trigger its highest global alert
- [Health Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/13/health-headlines/) - More Than Half of US States Reporting 'Very High' COVID Activity Levels: CDC More than half of U.S. states are reporting "very high" levels of COVID activity as the virus continues to spread and increase in many parts of the country, according to the latest wastewater data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- [Endometriosis types and ovarian cancer risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/13/endometriosis-types-and-ovarian-cancer-risk/) - At a Glance Researchers found that women with certain types of severe endometriosis are at significantly increased risk of ovarian cancer. Further research in large, diverse populations is needed to confirm these findings and help guide improved ovarian cancer screening and prevention strategies. By Brian Doctrow, Ph.D.NIH Research Matters A study suggests a link between
- [IBS: What you need to know](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/13/ibs-what-you-need-to-know/) - From NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) refers to a group of symptoms that occur together and cause pain in the abdomen. They also cause changes in your bowel movements. The type of IBS you have depends on whether you have constipation, diarrhea, or both. Other symptoms may include abdominal cramping, bloating, or whitish
- [Telehealth abortion still on the rise, especially in states with shield laws, report shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/09/telehealth-abortion-still-on-the-rise-especially-in-states-with-shield-laws-report-shows/) - By Kelcie Moseley-MorrisWashington State Standard August 8, 2024 Both the overall number of abortions and the use of telehealth abortion care continue to increase in the United States, according to the latest #WeCount report released Wednesday. Telehealth made up 20% of all abortion care in the first three months of 2024, and the monthly total of
- [HIIT workouts linked with better brain health, research finds – even five years later](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/12/hiit-workouts-linked-with-better-brain-health-research-finds-even-five-years-later/) - Felicity Spencer, University of Birmingham and Richard Elsworthy, University of Birmingham It’s long been known that exercise is not only good for the body, it’s also good for the brain. Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise helps protect and preserve brain function throughout life. A recent study has now revealed that one particular type
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/12/health-news-headlines-4/) - I.V.F. Threats in Alabama Drive Clinics to Ship Out Embryos A court ruling that deemed frozen embryos “children” has motivated some patients and clinics to move embryos out of red states. … The embryo migration is most striking in Alabama, where the State Supreme Court ruled in February that embryos were “unborn children.” Since then, at
- [Castor oil is all the rage among health influencers – what you need to know about this alternative remedy](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/09/castor-oil-is-all-the-rage-among-health-influencers-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-alternative-remedy/) - Veronique Seidel, University of Strathclyde Castor oil, which was once used by fascists in Italy as punishment because of its quick-acting laxative effect, is now a weight-loss trend on TikTok. Not drinking it, but rubbing it on your belly. Influencers are also pouring it in their belly buttons and wrapping towels soaked in it around
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/09/12269/) - You’ve Lost Weight Taking New Obesity Drugs. What Happens if You Stop? Many patients are eager to discontinue Wegovy or Zepbound when their weight loss plateaus. But doctors say it’s difficult to go cold turkey. … Dr. David Cummings, a weight-loss specialist at the University of Washington, has been asked this question by many patients. He explains
- [The Incidental Economist Takes an In-Depth Look at America’s Opioid Crisis](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/08/the-incidental-economist-takes-an-in-depth-look-at-americas-opioid-crisis/) - This compilation is a deep dive on the opioid crisis, thanks in part to funding by the NIHCM. Explore the history of opioids, the science of opioids, and learn about how and why attitudes and US policy regarding addiction treatment and opioid control need to change.
- [How to know when it’s time to start therapy](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/08/how-to-know-when-its-time-to-start-therapy/) - How to know when it’s time to start therapy Simon Sherry, Dalhousie University People go to therapy for many reasons. A challenging life event, trauma, volatile emotions, relationship problems, poor mental health: all can prompt someone to seek it out. Whatever the reason, it can be difficult to decide when and if therapy is right for
- [Sarcopenic obesity can rob people of their strength – but even brief bursts of exercise help a lot](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/08/sarcopenic-obesity-can-rob-people-of-their-strength-but-even-brief-bursts-of-exercise-help-a-lot/) - Justin Keogh, Bond University and Carla Prado, University of Alberta It’s no secret old age can rob us of our strength. This age-related muscle wastage – known as sarcopenia – can eventually lead to more falls, more hospital stays, difficulty with walking or toileting and less independence. Eventually, it can mean needing residential aged care.
- [Small-Town Patients Face Big Hurdles as Rural Hospitals Cut Cancer Care](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/08/small-town-patients-face-big-hurdles-as-rural-hospitals-cut-cancer-care/) - By Charlotte HuffKFF News The night before her chemotherapy, Herlinda Sanchez sets out her clothes and checks that she has everything she needs: a blanket, medications, an iPad and chargers, a small Bible and rosary, fuzzy socks, and snacks for the road. After the 36-year-old was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in December, she
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/08/health-news-headlines-3/) - 1 In 5 US Abortions Are Now Through Telehealth More women in the US are seeking abortion care through telehealth than before the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, according to a new report. One in five clinician-provided abortions performed in the first quarter of 2024 were obtained through telehealth services, the analysis from
- [HEPATITIS C: A ONCE INCURABLE INFECTION CAN NOW BE CURED WITH 8 WEEKS OF MEDICATION](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/07/hepatitis-c-a-once-incurable-infection-can-now-be-cured-with-8-weeks-of-medication/) - Hilary N. KaraszPublic Health InsiderPublic Health - Seattle & King County En español Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C (“hep C”) virus. Left untreated, hep C can severely damage the liver, causing illnesses like cirrhosis and liver cancer. The good news is that hep C can be completely cured. We
- [COVID infections spreading in Oregon, Washington and California](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/06/covid-infections-spreading-in-oregon-washington-and-california/) - By Lynne Terry, Washington State StandardAugust 1, 2024 Another COVID outbreak is sweeping parts of the country, with infections increasing on the West Coast. The summer spread has become a yearly trend as temperatures rise, fostering the spread of the virus, which thrives in steamy, hot conditions. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- [Measles outbreak in Oregon continues to spread](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/06/measles-outbreak-in-oregon-continues-to-spread/) - The outbreak of 23 measles cases coincides with spreading cases of whooping cough, which have surpassed 400 this year By Lynne Terry, Washington State StandardAugust 5, 2024 The measles outbreak that started in mid-June in Marion County, Oregon, where the state capital of Salem is located, has spread to at least 23 residents in three
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/06/health-news-headlines-2/) - Millions of people became uninsured as Medicaid programs cut coverage, new data show . . . Overall, more than 27 million people had no form of health insurance as of March 2024, compared with more than 25 million people at the same time in 2023, the CDC reported Tuesday. The data come from the CDC’s
- [Inside Project 2025: Former Trump Official Outlines Hard Right Turn Against Abortion](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/06/inside-project-2025-former-trump-official-outlines-hard-right-turn-against-abortion/) - By Stephanie ArmourKFF Health News From his perch in the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services, Roger Severino made a controversial name for himself, working to shield health workers who declined to perform medical procedures including abortion on religious grounds. After President Donald Trump left office, Severino helped the conservative Heritage Foundation develop a
- [Menstrual cycle is a vital sign and important indicator of overall health − 2 reproductive health experts explain](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/06/menstrual-cycle-is-a-vital-sign-and-important-indicator-of-overall-health-−-2-reproductive-health-experts-explain/) - Evelina Sterling, Kennesaw State University and Margaret Louisa Stubbs, Chatham University “When was your last period?” For anyone who menstruates, this is a routine question during any visit to your doctor. Health care providers generally ask this to determine whether their patient is concerned about a menstrual problem, or a possible pregnancy, or whether menopause
- [Vaccines tell a success story that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Trump forget – here are some key reminders](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/05/vaccines-tell-a-success-story-that-robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-trump-forget-here-are-some-key-reminders/) - Mark R. O'Brian, University at Buffalo Vaccinations have provided significant protection for the public against infectious diseases. However, there was a modest decrease in support in 2023 nationwide for vaccine requirements for children to attend public schools. In addition, the presidential candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading critic of childhood vaccination, has given
- [Todays health news headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/05/todays-health-news-headlines-2/) - Here's who is most at risk from wildfire smoke and how to protect yourself . . . If you hear about wildfires in the news, or if the sky looks hazy, check the Air Quality Index at AirNow.gov or PurpleAir.com. If the AQI is above 100, avoid outdoor exercise. If it’s above 150, wear a tight-fitting N95 mask when
- [As wildfires become more frequent and intense, how will persistent smoke exposure affect long-term health?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/05/as-wildfires-become-more-frequent-and-intense-how-will-persistent-smoke-exposure-affect-long-term-health/) - Stephanie Cleland, Simon Fraser University and Ryan W. Allen, Simon Fraser University Wildfire smoke has become a common feature of Canadian summers, fuelled by bigger, more intense and more frequent wildfires. In 2023, Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with many communities contending with weeks of hazy, orange skies and frequent air quality
- [Food and exercise can treat depression as well as a psychologist – and it’s cheaper](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/02/food-and-exercise-can-treat-depression-as-well-as-a-psychologist-our-study-found-and-its-cheaper/) - Adrienne O'Neil, Deakin University and Sophie Mahoney, Deakin University Around 3.2 million Australians live with depression. At the same time, few Australians meet recommended dietary or physical activity guidelines. What has one got to do with the other? Our world-first trial, published this week, shows improving diet and doing more physical activity can be as
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/02/health-news-headlines/) - Wildfire smoke expected in Seattle Smoke from Oregon and eastern Washington wildfires is expected to be in Seattle by early Friday, according to local meteorologists. On Thursday, smoke from eastern Washington could be seen on satellite drifting over the Cascade Mountains . . . a shift in wind direction is predicted to bring several days of
- [Since Fall of ‘Roe,’ Self-Managed Abortions Have Increased](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/02/since-fall-of-roe-self-managed-abortions-have-increased/) - Sarah Varney, KFF Health News The percentage of people who say they’ve tried to end a pregnancy without medical assistance increased after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. That’s according to a study published Tuesday in the online journal JAMA Network Open. Tia Freeman, a reproductive health organizer, leads workshops for Tennesseans on how
- [COVID-19 deaths are declining, but some people face greater risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/01/covid-19-deaths-are-declining-but-some-people-face-greater-risk/) - By Ro White, Public Good News Leer en español What you need to know An analysis of California data found that older adults are most likely to die from COVID-19. Improved vaccination coverage in Latino communities has led to declining deaths in that population. COVID-19 is less deadly now than it was in 2020, but
- [Bird Flu Cases Are Going Undetected, New Study Suggests. It’s a Problem for All of Us.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/01/bird-flu-cases-are-going-undetected-new-study-suggests-its-a-problem-for-all-of-us/) - By Amy MaxmenKFF Health News A new study lends weight to fears that more livestock workers have gotten the bird flu than has been reported. “I am very confident there are more people being infected than we know about,” said Gregory Gray, the infectious disease researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch who led
- [Hospital-acquired infections are rising – here’s how to protect yourself in health care settings](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/01/hospital-acquired-infections-are-rising-heres-how-to-protect-yourself-in-health-care-settings/) - Nasia Safdar, University of Wisconsin-Madison A new study from the National Institutes of Health shows a jump in both hospital-acquired infections and resistance to the antibiotics used to treat them. The findings are based on data gathered at 120 U.S. hospitals from January 2018 to December 2022, a five-year period that included the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [Older adults want to cut back on medication, but study shows need for caution](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/01/older-adults-want-to-cut-back-on-medication-but-study-shows-need-for-caution/) - By Kara GavinUniversity of Michigan Health Lab. More than 82% of Americans age 50 to 80 take one or more kinds of prescription medication, and 80% of them say they’d be open to stopping one or more of those drugs if their health care provider gave the green light, a University of Michigan study shows.
- [Today's health news](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/08/01/todays-health-news/) - COVID summer continues to heat up The summer's COVID-19 wave is continuing, with the latest wastewater surveillance data detecting "high" virus activity levels across the majority of the U.S. and "very high" levels in 19 states, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. . . . Hospitalizations remain low. However, the virus still poses
- [FDA Approves HPV Tests That Allow for Self-Collection in a Health Care Setting](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/fda-approves-hpv-tests-that-allow-for-self-collection-in-a-health-care-setting/) - From the National Institutes of Health By Sharon Reynolds On May 14, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the approvals of two tests that detect cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the cervix. Both tests are used as part of screening for cervical cancer. Under these expanded approvals, people can now be offered
- [The Fuzzy Science on Whether Fido Is Actually Good for You](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/the-fuzzy-science-on-whether-fido-is-actually-good-for-you/) - By Michael SchulsonUndark Magazine For more than a decade, in blog posts and scientific papers and public talks, the psychologist Hal Herzog has questioned whether owning pets makes people happier and healthier. It is a lonely quest, convincing people that puppies and kittens may not actually be terrific for their physical and mental health. “When
- [Looking for nursing home info?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/looking-for-nursing-home-infof/) - From Medicare Whether you're planning ahead or need to make an unexpected decision, there's a lot to think about when choosing the right nursing home for you or your loved one. Medicare.gov makes it easy to find and compare nursing homes in your area. Personalize your results by filtering for what matters most to you — like
- [Dental therapists, who can fill cavities and check teeth, get the OK in more states](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/dental-therapists-who-can-fill-cavities-and-check-teeth-get-the-ok-in-more-states/) - By Nada Hassanein, Washington State StandardJuly 18, 2024 During a game of Red Rover when she was 16 years old, Rochelle “Roz” Siuvuq Ferry lost a front tooth. Ferry, who is Inupiaq, remembers having to get on a plane to get from her remote Alaskan village to the city of Nome to start the tooth
- [Audit finds cracks in Washington’s egg inspection program](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/audit-finds-cracks-in-washingtons-egg-inspection-program/) - By Laurel Demkovich, Washington State StandardJuly 27, 2024 Washington’s Department of Agriculture failed to complete hundreds of required inspections of egg production and packing facilities in recent years, raising food safety concerns, according to a new state audit. The State Auditor’s Office found the department only completed 11 of the 548 inspections it was required
- [Today's Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/todays-health-news-headlines/) - Chatbots Crushed Medical Licensing Exam . . . To secure a medical license in the United States, aspiring doctors must successfully navigate three stages of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, with the third and final installment widely regarded as the most challenging. It requires candidates to answer about 60% of the questions correctly and, historically,
- [Looking for Long Covid: A Clash of Definition and Study Design](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/looking-for-long-covid-a-clash-of-definition-and-study-design/) - By Sara TalposUndark Magazine In January, the physician-scientist Ziyad Al-Aly delivered a harrowing message to a U.S. Senate committee. Eyes wide, eyebrows lifted above a tan face mask, he catalogued the body parts at risk of damage from long Covid: the brain, the heart, the gut, not to mention hormones and the immune system. The
- [Conservatives push to declare fetuses as people, with far-reaching consequences](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/conservatives-push-to-declare-fetuses-as-people-with-far-reaching-consequences/) - Fetal personhood laws could spill over into birth control, criminal justice and taxes. By Anna Claire VollersStateline When Missourians head to the polls in November, they may get to vote on whether to overturn their state’s near-total abortion ban and legalize abortions up to the point of fetal viability. But one lawmaker says the results
- [Why Millions Are Trying FDA-Authorized Alternatives to Big Pharma’s Weight Loss Drugs](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/31/12155/) - By Arthur Allen, KFF Health News July 23, 2024 Pharmacist Mark Mikhael has lost 50 pounds over the past 12 months. He no longer has diabetes and finds himself “at my ideal body weight,” with his cholesterol below 200 for the first time in 20 years. “I feel fantastic,” he said.Like millions of others, Mikhael
- [Health News Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/30/health-news-headlines-july-30-2023/) - Fewer than half of US adults under 50 can readily afford or access healthcare, analysis finds The share of Americans who were either “cost insecure” or “cost desperate” when it comes to healthcare have both increased since 2022, a Gallup and West Health survey found. Health Care Dive. Misdiagnosis Is A Big Problem For Older
- [Why Many Nonprofit (Wink, Wink) Hospitals Are Rolling in Money](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/30/why-many-nonprofit-wink-wink-hospitals-are-rolling-in-money/) - By Elizabeth RosenthalKFF Health News One owns a for-profit insurer, a venture capital company, and for-profit hospitals in Italy and Kazakhstan; it has just acquired its fourth for-profit hospital in Ireland. Another owns one of the largest for-profit hospitals in London, is partnering to build a massive training facility for a professional basketball team, and has launched and financed 80 for-profit start-ups. Another partners with a wellness
- [Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/30/confusion-clinic-closures-may-have-caused-big-declines-in-contraception-use-study-shows/) - By Kelcie Moseley-MorrisStateline Clinic closures in the wake of the Dobbs decision and questions about the legality of emergency contraceptives, including disinformation that some are abortion drugs, may have contributed to a sharp drop in the rate of prescriptions for contraceptives in states with the most restrictive abortion bans, according to a University of Southern California
- [Data privacy after Dobbs: Is period tracking safe?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/07/30/data-privacy-after-dobbs-is-period-tracking-safe/) - By Paige GrossStateLine After the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 and abortion was banned in the state of Tennessee, Dr. Danielle Kelvas quit using an app that tracked her menstrual cycle. “It frightened me. … I actually got frightened because it tracked me for, like, a week,” Kelvas said of
- [For healthy adults, taking multivitamins daily is not associated with a lower risk of death](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/26/for-healthy-adults-taking-multivitamins-daily-is-not-associated-with-a-lower-risk-of-death/) - Findings come from an NIH analysis of more than two decades of dietary data from 390,124 U.S. adults. From the National Institutes of Health A large analysis of data from nearly 400,000 healthy U.S. adults followed for more than 20 years has found no association between regular multivitamin use and lower risk of death. The
- [Walking can prevent low back pain, a new study shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/20/12124/) - Tash Pocovi, Macquarie University; Christine Lin, University of Sydney; Mark Hancock, Macquarie University; Petra Graham, Macquarie University, and Simon French, Macquarie University Do you suffer from low back pain that recurs regularly? If you do, you’re not alone. Roughly 70% of people who recover from an episode of low back pain will experience a new
- [States struggle to help patients navigate insurance hurdle known as ‘step therapy’](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/12/12112/) - Insurers often refuse to cover a specific drug until after the patient has tried cheaper alternatives. Shalina ChatlaniStateline Cassidy Yermal, 32, began experiencing debilitating migraines when she was 17 years old. As a teenager growing up in northeastern Pennsylvania, she saw numerous neurologists and tried a variety of medications before finding one that provided relief.
- [Four steps to stay safe from wildfire smoke this summer](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/12/four-steps-to-stay-safe-from-wildfire-smoke-this-summer/) - Ken AndersonPublic Health — Seattle & King County Breathing wildfire smoke can harm everyone’s lungs, heart, and overall health. And this year we’re expecting hotter weather and less rain—meaning more smoky days. Four steps can help you and your loved ones stay safe when wildfire smoke is in the air. 1. Check the Air Quality
- [Your favorite drink can cause breast cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/12/your-favorite-drink-can-cause-breast-cancer/) - Monica Swahn, Kennesaw State University and Ritu Aneja, University of Alabama at Birmingham Did you know that casual drinks with friends or having a “wine mom” moment to unwind could actually be nudging up your risk for breast cancer? It sounds like a buzzkill. But it’s a truth that many might not know: Alcohol actually
- [How the Paris Olympics could become a super-spreader event for dengue](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/12/how-the-paris-olympics-could-become-a-super-spreader-event-for-dengue/) - Mark Booth, Newcastle University In September 2023, several people came down with dengue fever in Paris, France. The presence of this mosquito-borne disease was notable for two reasons. It was the most northerly outbreak ever recorded, and none of the people had travelled recently. This demonstrated it is now possible for dengue to be transmitted
- [Menopause treatments can help with hot flashes and other symptoms – but many people aren’t aware of the latest advances](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/10/menopause-treatments-can-help-with-hot-flashes-and-other-symptoms-but-many-people-arent-aware-of-the-latest-advances/) - Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia; Bridget J. Crawford, Pace University , and Emily Gold Waldman, Pace University Menopause used to be a taboo topic in many quarters. Now, it’s frequently in the news. In March 2024, the White House announced an initiative to “Galvanize New Research on Women’s Midlife Health.” In May, Sen. Patty Murray
- [What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/10/whats-the-difference-between-alzheimers-and-dementia/) - Nikki-Anne Wilson, UNSW Sydney What’s the difference? is a new editorial product that explains the similarities and differences between commonly confused health and medical terms, and why they matter. Changes in thinking and memory as we age can occur for a variety of reasons. These changes are not always cause for concern. But when they
- [How can busy people also keep fit and healthy? Here’s what the ancient Greeks and Romans did](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/07/how-can-busy-people-also-keep-fit-and-healthy-heres-what-the-ancient-greeks-and-romans-did/) - Konstantine Panegyres, The University of Melbourne Many people today worry about how to find time to keep fit and healthy in the midst of their busy lives. Believe it or not, but this was also a problem in ancient times. So, how did ancient people deal with it? A universal problem The physician Galen, who
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/05/12098/) - With all this bird flu around, how safe are eggs, chicken or milk? Enzo Palombo, Swinburne University of Technology Recent outbreaks of bird flu – in US dairy herds, poultry farms in Australia and elsewhere, and isolated cases in humans – have raised the issue of food safety. So can the virus transfer from infected farm
- [From immunotherapy to mRNA vaccines – the latest science on melanoma treatment explained](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/05/from-immunotherapy-to-mrna-vaccines-the-latest-science-on-melanoma-treatment-explained/) - Sarah Diepstraten, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and John (Eddie) La Marca, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute More than 16,000 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma each year. Most of these will be caught early, and can be cured by surgery. However, for patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma, which has spread from the skin
- [Prenatal supplements fall woefully short in providing crucial nutrition during pregnancy – and most women don’t even know it](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/06/03/prenatal-supplements-fall-woefully-short-in-providing-crucial-nutrition-during-pregnancy-and-most-women-dont-even-know-it/) - Mary Scourboutakos, Eastern Virginia Medical School If there’s one thing doctors agree on, it’s that all of their pregnant patients should take prenatal supplements. As a result, about 3 in 4 expecting mothers follow their doctor’s advice. Prenatal supplements are not the insurance plan many doctors believe them to be. But even though they’re crucial
- [Eye exercises to improve sight – is there any science behind them?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/31/eye-exercises-to-improve-sight-is-there-any-science-behind-them/) - Benjamin Botsford, UMass Chan Medical School You may have seen advertisements claiming to eliminate the need for eyeglasses through vision therapy or vision training – basically, eye exercises. These exercises include putting pressure on or palming the eye; eye movement exercises; or straining to read by using the wrong prescription glasses to “train” the eyes.
- [Masks work, our comprehensive review has found](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/31/masks-work-our-comprehensive-review-has-found/) - Trish Greenhalgh, University of Oxford; C Raina MacIntyre, UNSW Sydney, and David Fisman, University of Toronto When a Texan farm worker caught bird flu from cattle recently, social media was abuzz with rumours. While bird flu is not a human pandemic, scientists and policymakers the world over are keen to prepare as best they can
- [Climate change and mental health: How extreme heat can affect mental illnesses](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/31/climate-change-and-mental-health-how-extreme-heat-can-affect-mental-illnesses/) - Peter Crank, University of Waterloo During heat waves, hospital admissions for mental health spike. The past 10 years were the hottest on record, and as we prepare for another scorcher of a summer, it’s time to take steps to increase our preparedness for extreme heat. The potential for heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke
- [What’s the difference between shyness and social anxiety?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/31/12074/) - What’s the difference? is a new editorial product that explains the similarities and differences between commonly confused health and medical terms, and why they matter. Kayla Steele, UNSW Sydney and Jill Newby, UNSW Sydney The terms “shyness” and “social anxiety” are often used interchangeably because they both involve feeling uncomfortable in social situations. However, feeling
- [High H5N1 influenza levels found in mice given raw milk from infected dairy cows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/24/high-h5n1-influenza-levels-found-in-mice-given-raw-milk-from-infected-dairy-cows/) - From the US National Institutes of Health Mice administered raw milk samples from dairy cows infected with H5N1 influenza experienced high virus levels in their respiratory organs and lower virus levels in other vital organs, according to findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results suggest that consumption of raw milk by
- [Nightmares could be an early warning sign of an autoimmune disease flare-up – new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/22/nightmares-could-be-an-early-warning-sign-of-an-autoimmune-disease-flare-up-new-study/) - Melanie Sloan, University of Cambridge Nightmares are unpleasant, but perfectly normal – for most. However, my colleagues and I have recently discovered that they can also presage autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. Our study, published in The Lancet’s eClinical Medicine journal, explored possible early warning signs of autoimmune disease flare-ups. We surveyed 676 patients with
- [Alcohol use disorder can be treated with an array of medications – but few people have heard of them](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/20/alcohol-use-disorder-can-be-treated-with-an-array-of-medications-but-few-people-have-heard-of-them/) - Joseph P. Schacht, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus More than 29.5 million Americans ages 12 and up had alcohol use disorder – the medical term for the disease commonly known as alcoholism – in 2022, when the most recent national data was published. The condition is characterized by a pattern of heavy alcohol consumption
- [Navel gazing: checking your belly button can tell you a lot about your health](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/15/navel-gazing-checking-your-belly-button-can-tell-you-a-lot-about-your-health/) - Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol Navels, belly buttons, innies or outies … whatever term you use, your umbilicus may have plenty to tell you about the state of your health. For some, they are the thing of nightmares – omphalophobia (the fear of belly buttons) is a real condition. For others, they are a fashion
- [12 Tips for Beach Safety: Safe Fun in the Sun, Sand and Sea from Pediatricians](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/14/12-tips-for-beach-safety-safe-fun-in-the-sun-sand-and-sea-from-pediatricians/) - Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics ITASCA, IL--When the weather's nice, many families love spending time near the water. Whether your favorite spot is near the ocean or the edge of a river or lake, it’s always best to prepare for your surroundings and make sure that health hazards don't spoil your good time.
- [Binge drinking is a growing public health crisis − a neurobiologist explains new research on alcohol use disorder](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/14/binge-drinking-is-a-growing-public-health-crisis-−-a-neurobiologist-explains-how-research-on-alcohol-use-disorder-has-shifted/) - Nikki Crowley, Penn State With the new Amy Winehouse biopic “Back to Black” in U.S. theaters as of May 17, 2024, the late singer’s relationship with alcohol and drugs is under scrutiny again. In July 2011, Winehouse was found dead in her flat in north London from “death by misadventure” at the age of 27.
- [The number of births continues to fall, despite abortion bans](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/14/the-number-of-births-continues-to-fall-despite-abortion-bans/) - But in states where abortion is most restricted, births to Hispanic women rose. BY: TIM HENDERSON - Stateline Births continued a historic slide in all but two states last year, making it clear that a brief post-pandemic uptick in the nation’s birth numbers was all about planned pregnancies that had been delayed temporarily by COVID-19.
- [Future pandemics will have the same human causes as ancient outbreaks](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/08/future-pandemics-will-have-the-same-human-causes-as-ancient-outbreaks/) - Future pandemics will have the same human causes as ancient outbreaks − lessons from anthropology can help prevent them Ron Barrett, Macalester College The last pandemic was bad, but COVID-19 is only one of many infectious diseases that emerged since the turn of this century. Since 2000, the world has experienced 15 novel Ebola epidemics, the
- [Arizona’s now-repealed abortion ban serves as a cautionary tale for reproductive health care across the US](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/08/arizonas-now-repealed-abortion-ban-serves-as-a-cautionary-tale-for-reproductive-health-care-across-the-us/) - Swapna Reddy, Arizona State University and Mary Saxon, Arizona State University When the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on April 9, 2024, that the state’s Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions was enforceable, it brought into stark reality the potential impacts of leaving reproductive rights up to the states to regulate, and the related consequences
- [Yes, adults can develop food allergies.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/08/yes-adults-can-develop-food-allergies/) - Clare Collins, University of Newcastle If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much more complicated. Preschoolers are about four times more likely to have a food allergy than adults and are more likely to
- [More than 321,000 U.S. children lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011 to 2021](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/08/more-than-321000-u-s-children-lost-a-parent-to-drug-overdose-from-2011-to-2021/) - From the National Institutes of Health Federal study shows lives lost from overdose crisis are felt across generations, emphasizing need to include children and families in support. An estimated 321,566 children in the United States lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011 to 2021, according to a study(link is external) published in JAMA Psychiatry. The rate of
- [Studies test possible treatments for long COVID](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/08/studies-test-possible-treatments-for-long-covid/) - NIH to open long COVID clinical trials to study sleep disturbances, exercise intolerance, and post exertional malaise From the National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will launch clinical trials to investigate potential treatments for long-term symptoms after COVID-19 infection, including sleep disturbances, exercise intolerance and the worsening of symptoms following physical
- [CDC warns of E. coli outbreak linked to organic walnuts sold in bulk](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/05/01/cdc-warns-of-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-organic-walnuts-sold-in-bulk/) - Almost all sick people purchased organic walnuts from bulk bins in food co-ops or natural food stores in California and Washington. A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of E. coli infections has been posted: Key Points: CDC has received reports of 12 people from 2 states who have been infected with this outbreak strain
- [Need a rapid health test? Try our kiosks.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/29/need-a-rapid-health-test-try-our-kiosks/) - From the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 and influenza may not be making headlines right now, but they’re not gone. Testing remains one of the best ways to promote safety with respiratory illnesses. But where can you conveniently find affordable tests? Although they’re available for purchase in many stores and pharmacies, DOH is expanding free access to
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/29/12010/) - Your AI therapist is not your therapist: The dangers of relying on AI mental health chatbots Zoha Khawaja, Simon Fraser University and Jean-Christophe Bélisle-Pipon, Simon Fraser University With current physical and financial barriers to accessing care, people with mental health conditions may turn to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots for mental health relief or aid. Although they
- [How bird flu virus fragments get into milk sold in stores, and what the spread of H5N1 in cows means for the dairy industry and milk drinkers](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/27/how-bird-flu-virus-fragments-get-into-milk-sold-in-stores-and-what-the-spread-of-h5n1-in-cows-means-for-the-dairy-industry-and-milk-drinkers/) - Noelia Silva del Rio, University of California, Davis; Richard V. Pereira, University of California, Davis; Robert B. Moeller, University of California, Davis; Terry W. Lehenbauer, University of California, Davis, and Todd Cornish, University of California, Davis The discovery of fragments of avian flu virus in milk sold in U.S. stores, including in about 20% of
- [CDC launches new online heat-risk resources](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/26/cdc-launches-new-online-heat-risk-resources/) - New Heat and Health Initiative, developed in response to increased health risks from heat exposure, aims to improve American’s ability to stay safe during heat events From the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Today, CDC, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS), launched a new Heat
- [AI inconsistently assesses cardiac risk from chest pain - UW study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/25/11998/) - From UW Medicine Tasked to interpret data associated with patient complaints of nontraumatic chest pain, the ChatGPT-4 large language model performed poorly against two standard tools that doctors use to predict risk of a cardiac event. Although the artificial intelligence software aligned generally with the two scoring models (TIMI and HEART), “its inconsistency when presented with identical
- [Fecal pollution threatens popular shellfish harvest areas ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/25/fecal-pollution-threatens-15-popular-shellfish-harvest-areas/) - From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – Fifteen of Washington’s 115 commercial shellfish growing areas may face harvest restrictions because of increased fecal bacteria levels in the water. Every year, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) evaluates the state’s commercial shellfish growing areas. DOH analyzes water sample data and assesses potential sources of pollution. A restriction is a change in harvest classification which could lead to a seasonal, environmental, or year-round closure. Based
- [The Lasting Impact of Exposure to Gun Violence](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/25/the-lasting-impact-of-exposure-to-gun-violence/) - April 24, 2024 by Rod McCullom On the evening of June 1, 2023, 14-year-old Pierre Johnson was shot and killed while sitting on a porch opposite his home in the Fuller Park community on Chicago’s South Side. According to police reports, four gunmen drove to the alley behind the building and went through the adjoining
- [Book Review: A New Chapter in the Quest for a Longer Life](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/25/11987/) - April 19, 2024 by Emily Cataneo In 2023, tech mogul Bryan Johnson revealed that he had been receiving blood plasma exchanges from his 17-year-old son, in the hope that siphoning his son’s young blood into his middle-aged body would help him combat aging and cheat death. Johnson might be an extreme outlier, but his quest
- [You’ve covered your copayment; now brace yourself for the ‘facility fee’](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/25/youve-covered-your-copayment-now-brace-yourself-for-the-facility-fee/) - States are going after the surprise charges tacked on by hospitals that own outpatient centers. By Anna Claire VollersStateline Even if you have health insurance, you might expect to be charged a copayment for some routine care, like office-based exams and consultations. But you probably don’t expect to receive a bill a few weeks later
- [Do implicit bias trainings on race improve health care?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/24/do-implicit-bias-trainings-on-race-improve-health-care/) - Not yet – but incorporating the latest science can help hospitals treat all patients equitably Nao Hagiwara, University of Virginia and Tiffany Green, University of Wisconsin-Madison There is increasing evidence that implicit bias – non-conscious attitudes toward specific groups – is a source of racial inequities in certain aspects of health care, and lawmakers are taking note.
- [Nearsightedness is at epidemic levels – and the problem begins in childhood](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/24/nearsightedness-is-at-epidemic-levels-and-the-problem-begins-in-childhood/) - Andrew Herbert, Rochester Institute of Technology Myopia, or the need for corrected vision to focus or see objects at a distance, has become a lot more common in recent decades. Some even consider myopia, also known as nearsightedness, an epidemic. Optometry researchers estimate that about half of the global population will need corrective lenses to
- [What if flat feet were…normal? Debunking a myth about injuries](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/23/what-if-flat-feet-werenormal-debunking-a-myth-about-injuries/) - Gabriel Moisan, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) For many decades, if not centuries, researchers, medical professionals and the general population have believed that people with flat feet are more prone to developing a variety of problems. Specifically, having flat feet was believed to predispose individuals to future pain and other musculoskeletal problems (i.e. to
- [Infections after surgery are more likely due to bacteria already on your skin than from microbes in the hospital − UW researchers find](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/22/infections-after-surgery-are-more-likely-due-to-bacteria-already-on-your-skin-than-from-microbes-in-the-hospital-−-uw-researchers-find/) - Dustin Long, University of Washington and Chloe Bryson-Cahn, University of Washington Health care providers and patients have traditionally thought that infections patients get while in the hospital are caused by superbugs they’re exposed to while they’re in a medical facility. Genetic data from the bacteria causing these infections – think CSI for E. coli –
- [Why you shouldn’t be afraid to start running after middle age](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/22/why-you-shouldnt-be-afraid-to-start-running-after-middle-age/) - Alister Hart, UCL As someone who started marathon running in mid-life, I know how many aches and pains (and doubts) you can have if you take on the challenge to start running at an older age. But as an orthopaedic surgeon who has replaced thousands of worn-out hips and knees throughout my career, I also
- [Type 2 diabetes is not one-size-fits-all: Subtypes affect complications and treatment options](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/22/type-2-diabetes-is-not-one-size-fits-all-subtypes-affect-complications-and-treatment-options/) - Lili Grieco-St-Pierre, Carleton University and Jennifer Bruin, Carleton University You may have heard of Ozempic, the “miracle drug” for weight loss, but did you know that it was actually designed as a new treatment to manage diabetes? In Canada, diabetes affects approximately 10 per cent of the general population. Of those cases, 90 per cent
- [Census change will lead to more data on health of Middle Eastern, North African people in US](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/19/census-change-will-lead-to-more-data-on-health-of-middle-eastern-north-african-people-in-us/) - For decades, MENA people in the United States have been classified by the government as ‘white.’ By Nada HassaneinStateline Before the successful, healthy birth of her son, recalls Germine Awad — an Egyptian American who is a psychologist at the University of Michigan — clinicians told her that her hormone levels were too high and
- [Scientists Link a Single Type of Bacteria to Colorectal Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/19/scientists-link-a-single-type-of-bacteria-to-colorectal-cancer/) - From the National Cancer Institute by Sharon Reynolds The human gut contains trillions of bacteria. Some play helpful roles, like helping to digest food. Others can be problematic, causing conditions like stomach ulcers. Tumors that arise in the lower intestines, which includes the colon and rectum, are constantly exposed to a wide range of gut
- [PUBLIC HEALTH MONITORING MEASLES EXPOSURE AMONG INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS VISITING SEATTLE ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/17/public-health-monitoring-measles-exposure-among-international-travelers-visiting-seattle/) - Public Health Insider - Public Health — Seattle & King County Leer en español Public Health was informed by Washington State Department of Health last week that a group of international travelers visiting Seattle were exposed to an individual with measles prior to arriving in Seattle. Currently, there are no cases of measles among the
- [Transgender regret? Research challenges narratives about gender-affirming surgeries](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/13/transgender-regret-research-challenges-narratives-about-gender-affirming-surgeries/) - Harry Barbee, Johns Hopkins University; Bashar Hassan, Johns Hopkins University, and Fan Liang, Johns Hopkins University You’ll often hear lawmakers, activists and pundits argue that many transgender people regret their decision to have gender-affirming surgeries – a belief that’s been fueling a wave of legislation that restricts access to gender-affirming health care. Gender-affirming care can
- [Psychedelics could make mental health worse in people with a personality disorder](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/12/psychedelics-could-make-mental-health-worse-in-people-with-a-personality-disorder/) - Pouya Movahed Rad, Lund University The interest in psychedelics is growing both in scientific circles and among the public. These are powerful substances capable of altering perception, mood and various mental processes. They also show promise for treating a wide range of mental health disorders. However, for their use to be safe and effective, it’s
- [Stop asking me if I’ve tried keto: Why weight stigma is more than just being mean to fat people](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/12/stop-asking-me-if-ive-tried-keto-why-weight-stigma-is-more-than-just-being-mean-to-fat-people/) - Megan Lindloff, Western University; Angela Meadows, University of Essex, and Rachel Calogero, Western University People may think weight stigma only manifests as rude comments, is harmless or can even do some good. At worst, it means overt discrimination, for example if somebody isn’t hired for a job because of their weight. But the reality is
- [Surgery won’t fix my chronic back pain, so what will?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/12/surgery-wont-fix-my-chronic-back-pain-so-what-will/) - Christine Lin, University of Sydney; Christopher Maher, University of Sydney; Fiona Blyth, University of Sydney; James Mcauley, UNSW Sydney, and Mark Hancock, Macquarie University This week’s ABC Four Corners episode Pain Factory highlighted that our health system is failing Australians with chronic pain. Patients are receiving costly, ineffective and risky care instead of effective, low-risk
- [Nitazenes found in 5 overdose deaths in Philly – here’s what they are and why they’re so deadly](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/12/nitazenes-found-in-5-overdose-deaths-in-philly-heres-what-they-are-and-why-theyre-so-deadly/) - Christopher P. Holstege, University of Virginia The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office found that nitazenes, a synthetic opioid up to 40 times more powerful than fentanyl, were connected to at least five overdose deaths in Philadelphia in the past two years. The nitazene deaths are just a small part of a much bigger problem. A record
- [What is metabolism? A biochemist explains how different people convert energy differently − and why that matters for your health](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/10/11922/) - Travis Nemkov, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus If you’ve spent any time scrolling through the health and wellness corners of social media, you’ve likely come across many products claiming to improve your metabolism. But what exactly is your metabolism? Everything you expose your body to – from lifestyle to an airborne virus – influences
- [Social media will tell you birth control causes mental health issues, weight gain and infertility – here are the facts](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/10/social-media-will-tell-you-birth-control-causes-mental-health-issues-weight-gain-and-infertility-here-are-the-facts/) - Christopher O'Sullivan, Manchester Metropolitan University Social media is full of bad advice when it comes to your health. With so much of this content created by influencers who don’t actually have medical qualifications, it’s no wonder that misinformation about health spreads so easily online. In recent years, there’s been a rise in misinformation about hormonal
- [Drugs like Ozempic won’t ‘cure’ obesity but they might make us more fat-phobic](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/09/drugs-like-ozempic-wont-cure-obesity-but-they-might-make-us-more-fat-phobic/) - Emma Beckett, UNSW Sydney Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about them? This month, The Conversation’s experts explore their rise, impact and potential consequences. Many have declared drugs like Ozempic could “end obesity” by reducing the appetite and waistlines of millions
- [Increasingly sophisticated AI systems can perform empathy, but their use in mental health care raises ethical questions](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/05/increasingly-sophisticated-ai-systems-can-perform-empathy-but-their-use-in-mental-health-care-raises-ethical-questions/) - A.T. Kingsmith, OCAD University In a world where technology is increasingly intertwined with our feelings, emotion-AI harnesses advanced computing and machine learning to assess, simulate, and interact with human emotional states. As emotion-AI systems become more adept at detecting and understanding emotions in real-time, the potential applications for mental health care are vast. Some examples
- [A natural deception: 3 marketing myths the supplement industry wants you to swallow](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/05/a-natural-deception-3-marketing-myths-the-supplement-industry-wants-you-to-swallow/) - Katie Suleta, George Washington University Americans seem to have quite a positive view of dietary supplements. According to a 2023 survey, 74% of U.S. adults take vitamins, prebiotics and the like. The business of supplements is booming, and with all the hype around them, it’s easy to forget what they actually are: substances that can
- [Leprosy cases are rising in the US – what is the ancient disease and why is it spreading now?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/04/leprosy-cases-are-rising-in-the-us-what-is-the-ancient-disease-and-why-is-it-spreading-now-2/) - Robert A. Schwartz, Rutgers University The word “leprosy” conjures images of biblical plagues, but the disease is still with us today. Caused by infectious bacteria, some 200,000 new cases are reported each year, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, leprosy has been entrenched for more than a century in parts of
- [Know Which Medication Is Right for Your Seasonal Allergies](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/04/know-which-medication-is-right-for-your-seasonal-allergies/) - From the US Food and Drug Administration The pollen count is sky-high. You’re sneezing, your eyes are itching, and you feel miserable. Seasonal allergies are real diseases that can interfere with your life. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, the medical term for seasonal allergies and hay fever, can also trigger or worsen asthma and lead to other health problems,
- [AI shown to dramatically speed protein engineering - UW study](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/02/ai-shown-to-dramatically-speed-protein-engineering-uw-study/) - From UW Medicine Protein engineering scientists have been able to design more efficient proteins using machine learning quickly, dramatically shortening a process that typically takes months to years of trial and error. Currently, researchers design proteins by introducing mutations into a protein’s amino acid sequence in the hope those mutations will give the protein a
- [Considering taking a weight-loss drug like Ozempic? Here are some potential risks and benefits](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/02/considering-taking-a-weight-loss-drug-like-ozempic-here-are-some-potential-risks-and-benefits/) - Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch, Southern Cross University Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about them? This month, The Conversation’s experts explore their rise, impact and potential consequences. After weight-loss drugs like Ozempic exploded onto the market,
- [Hospice care for those with dementia falls far short of meeting people’s needs at the end of life](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/01/hospice-care-for-those-with-dementia-falls-far-short-of-meeting-peoples-needs-at-the-end-of-life/) - Maria J Silveira, University of Michigan Jimmy Carter, who chose to forgo aggressive medical care for complications of cancer and frailty in February 2023, recently reached his one-year anniversary since enrolling in hospice care. During this time, he celebrated his 99th birthday, received tributes far and wide and stood by the side of his beloved
- [Heart rate zones aren’t a perfect measure of exercise intensity, but regularly getting your heart pumping is still important for fitness](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/04/01/heart-rate-zones-arent-a-perfect-measure-of-exercise-intensity-but-regularly-getting-your-heart-pumping-is-still-important-for-fitness/) - Jason Sawyer, Bryant University Aerobic exercise like jogging, biking, swimming or hiking is a fundamental way to maintain cardiovascular and overall health. The intensity of aerobic exercise is important to determine how much time you should spend training in order to reap its benefits. As an exercise science researcher, I support the American College of
- [King County launches 'bup' hotline.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/29/king-county-launches-bup-hotline/) - WHAT IS BUPRENORPHINE? A Q&A ABOUT KING COUNTY’S NEW BUP HOTLINE Ellis JohnsonPublic Health — Seattle & King County/Public Heatlh Insider Leer en español Thanks to a new 24/7 ‘bup’ prescribing hotline, it’s easier than ever for people in King County to get started on medication to treat opioid use disorder. In partnership with the UW
- [Cheers to health? Uncovering myths around the health benefits of moderate drinking](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/29/cheers-to-health-uncovering-myths-around-the-health-benefits-of-moderate-drinking/) - James M. Clay, University of Victoria and Tim Stockwell, University of Victoria The notion that enjoying a casual beer or sipping on your favourite wine could not only be harmless but actually beneficial to one’s health is a tantalizing proposition for many. This belief, often backed by claims of research findings, has seeped into social
- [Many travel nurses opt for temporary assignments because of the autonomy and opportunities − not just the big boost in pay](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/29/many-travel-nurses-opt-for-temporary-assignments-because-of-the-autonomy-and-opportunities-−-not-just-the-big-boost-in-pay/) - Ivan Gan, University of Houston-Downtown Travel nurses take short-term contracts that can require long commutes or temporarily living away from home. Time and again, they have to get used to new co-workers, new protocols and new workplaces. So why would staff nurses quit their stable jobs to become travel nurses? Well, for one, they get
- [Cardiovascular risks and COVID-19: New research confirms the benefits of vaccination](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/27/cardiovascular-risks-and-covid-19-new-research-confirms-the-benefits-of-vaccination/) - Glen Pyle, Dalhousie University COVID-19 is a respiratory disease. Yet, from the earliest days of the pandemic, the cardiovascular risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were clear: individuals with severe cases of COVID-19 often died from cardiovascular complications, and those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease were more likely to have severe illness or die. In short, the
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/27/11875/) - ‘Noisy’ autistic brains seem better at certain tasks. Here’s why neuroaffirmative research matters Pratik Raul, University of Canberra; Jeroen van Boxtel, University of Canberra, and Jovana Acevska, University of Canberra Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference associated with specific experiences and characteristics. For decades, autism research has focused on behavioural, cognitive, social and communication difficulties. These studies
- [ASK PUBLIC HEALTH: WHAT ARE THE LATEST RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STAYING AT HOME WHEN SICK?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/26/ask-public-health-what-are-the-latest-recommendations-for-staying-at-home-when-sick/) - Public Health — Seattle & King County's Public Health Insider Leer en español CDC and the Washington State Department of Health recently announced updated guidance for staying home and away from others when sick with any common respiratory illness, including influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The updated guidance is using the same recommendations for these
- [What are the health costs of air pollution, and what can we do about it?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/21/what-are-the-health-costs-of-air-pollution-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/) - From the National Institutes of Health Have you ever noticed the hazy smog that hangs over cities or the lingering smell of exhaust fumes from traffic? These are just a few noticeable signs of air pollution, a threat that can have a significant effect on our health and well-being. What is air pollution? Air pollution
- [Leprosy cases are rising in the US – what is the ancient disease and why is it spreading now?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/18/leprosy-cases-are-rising-in-the-us-what-is-the-ancient-disease-and-why-is-it-spreading-now/) - Robert A. Schwartz, Rutgers University The word “leprosy” conjures images of biblical plagues, but the disease is still with us today. Caused by infectious bacteria, some 200,000 new cases are reported each year, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, leprosy has been entrenched for more than a century in parts of
- [Washington streamlines guidance for COVID-19 and other  respiratory illnesses](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/18/washington-streamlines-guidance-for-covid-19-and-other-respiratory-illnesses/) - The new recommendations streamline guidance across multiple illnesses Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced updated guidance for what to do when someone is sick with COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses. While much of DOH’s new guidance is similar to recent updates announced by the Centers for Disease Control
- [Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill, will be on shelves soon − here are some key things to know](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/13/opill-the-first-over-the-counter-birth-control-pill-will-be-on-shelves-soon-−-here-are-some-key-things-to-know/) - Sarah Lynch, Binghamton University, State University of New York The Food and Drug Administration’s 2023 approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill, called Opill, broadened the options for people seeking to prevent pregnancy. On March 4, 2024, the pill’s manufacturer, Perrigo Company, announced that it has started shipping Opill and that consumers can expect
- [Beware online mental health chatbots, UW specialists warn](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/13/beware-online-mental-health-chatbots-uw-specialists-warn/) - From the University of Washington School of Medicine Although AI chatbots have potential to expand access to mental health care, the public should be wary of the mental health chatbots currently proliferating online, two University of Washington School of Medicine experts warn. “I’m very optimistic about the potential of AI in health care, but it
- [First Cancer TIL Therapy Gets FDA Approval for Advanced Melanoma](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/13/first-cancer-til-therapy-gets-fda-approval-for-advanced-melanoma/) - March 5, 2024, by Carmen PhillipsNational Cancer Institute In an event more than three decades in the making, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lifileucel (Amtagvi), the first treatment for cancer that uses immune cells called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or TILs. Announced on February 16, the agency’s decision also makes lifileucel the first cellular
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/13/11847/) - ctDNA May Guide Who Needs Chemo After Colorectal Cancer Surgery February 28, 2024, by Sharon Reynolds After surgery for colorectal cancer that’s started to spread beyond its initial location, many people go straight to treatment with chemotherapy. The idea behind this postsurgery, or adjuvant, treatment is to reduce the likelihood that the cancer will come
- [Some Medicines and Driving Don’t Mix](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/13/some-medicines-and-driving-dont-mix-2/) - From the US Food and Drug Administration If you’re taking a medication, is it safe to drive? Most likely, yes. Still, before driving or operating other heavy machinery, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises you to make sure it is safe to do. Although many medicines will not affect your ability to drive, some
- [Syphilis Is Killing Babies. The U.S. Government Is Failing to Stop the Disease From Spreading.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/05/syphilis-is-killing-babies-the-u-s-government-is-failing-to-stop-the-disease-from-spreading/) - by Anna Maria Barry-JesterProPublica Karmin Strohfus, the lead nurse at a South Dakota jail, punched numbers into a phone like lives depended on it. She had in her care a pregnant woman with syphilis, a highly contagious, potentially fatal infection that can pass into the womb. A treatment could cure the woman and protect her fetus,
- [The Powerful Constraints on Medical Care in Catholic Hospitals Across America](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/03/01/the-powerful-constraints-on-medical-care-in-catholic-hospitals-across-america/) - By Rachana Pradhan and Hannah Recht Kaiser Family Foundation Health News Nurse midwife Beverly Maldonado recalls a pregnant woman arriving at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Maryland after her water broke. It was weeks before the baby would have any chance of survival, and the patient’s wishes were clear, she recalled: “Why am I staying pregnant then? What’s the
- [Your heart changes in size and shape with exercise – this can lead to heart problems for some athletes and gym rats](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/29/your-heart-changes-in-size-and-shape-with-exercise-this-can-lead-to-heart-problems-for-some-athletes-and-gym-rats/) - William Cornwell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Exercise has long been recognized by clinicians, scientists and public health officials as an important way to maintain health throughout a person’s lifespan. It improves overall fitness, helps build strong muscles and bones, reduces the risk of chronic disease, improves mood and slows physical decline. Exercise can
- [Women may realize health benefits of regular exercise more than men](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/20/women-may-realize-health-benefits-of-regular-exercise-more-than-men/) - From the National Institutes of Health For all the health benefits of exercise for both groups, however, only 33% of women and 43% of men in the study met the standard for weekly aerobic exercise, while 20% of women and 28% of men completed a weekly strength training session. “Even a limited amount of regular
- [What is ‘fried rice syndrome’? A microbiologist explains this type of food poisoning – and how to avoid it](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/19/what-is-fried-rice-syndrome-a-microbiologist-explains-this-type-of-food-poisoning-and-how-to-avoid-it/) - Enzo Palombo, Swinburne University of Technology A condition dubbed “fried rice syndrome” has caused some panic online in recent days, after the case of a 20-year-old who died in 2008 was resurfaced on TikTok. “Fried rice syndrome” refers to food poisoning from a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which becomes a risk when cooked food is
- [Millions of older people don’t get enough nutrients – how to spot it and what to do about it](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/15/millions-of-older-people-dont-get-enough-nutrients-how-to-spot-it-and-what-to-do-about-it/) - Miriam Clegg, University College Cork and Rachel Smith, University of Reading By 2050, approximately a quarter of the UK population is expected to be over the age of 65. With this in mind, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has put “healthy ageing” on its agenda. This means finding ways to maintain health, wellbeing and functional
- [Several companies are testing brain implants – why is there so much attention swirling around Neuralink? Two professors unpack the ethical issues](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/15/several-companies-are-testing-brain-implants-why-is-there-so-much-attention-swirling-around-neuralink-two-professors-unpack-the-ethical-issues/) - Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington and Andrew Ko, University of Washington Putting a computer inside someone’s brain used to feel like the edge of science fiction. Today, it’s a reality. Academic and commercial groups are testing “brain-computer interface” devices to enable people with disabilities to function more independently. Yet Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink, has
- [Running or yoga can help beat depression, research shows – even if exercise is the last thing you feel like](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/15/running-or-yoga-can-help-beat-depression-research-shows-even-if-exercise-is-the-last-thing-you-feel-like/) - Michael Noetel, The University of Queensland At least one in ten people have depression at some point in their lives, with some estimates closer to one in four. It’s one of the worst things for someone’s wellbeing – worse than debt, divorce or diabetes. One in seven Australians take antidepressants. Psychologists are in high demand.
- [Oregon’s Drug Decriminalization Aimed to Make Cops a Gateway to Rehab, Not Jail. State Leaders Failed to Make It Work.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/14/oregons-drug-decriminalization-aimed-to-make-cops-a-gateway-to-rehab-not-jail-state-leaders-failed-to-make-it-work/) - by Tony Schick and Conrad Wilson, Oregon Public BroadcastingProPublica ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. It's a scene police say plays out all too frequently in downtown Portland. An officer hands someone a $100 ticket for possessing the
- [It’s time for a heart-to-heart about women’s cardiovascular health, unique risk factors and symptoms](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/13/its-time-for-a-heart-to-heart-about-womens-cardiovascular-health-unique-risk-factors-and-symptoms/) - Nabilah Gulamhusein, University of Calgary and Sandi Dumanski, University of Calgary Cardiovascular disease — also called heart disease — is a condition affecting the heart and blood vessels, and is the leading cause of death among women worldwide. In fact, a women dies of heart disease every 20 minutes in Canada. Although cardiovascular disease is
- [Governments can erase your medical debt for pennies on the dollar — and some are](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/13/governments-can-erase-your-medical-debt-for-pennies-on-the-dollar-and-some-are/) - Some states and cities will use federal money to forgive millions of dollars of their residents’ medical debt. By Michael OlloveStateline Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcies in the United States, and more than 2 in 5 American adults have some. In many cases, the money people owe to health care providers forces
- [Tuberculosis cases rise, but public health agencies say they lack the resources to keep up](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/07/tuberculosis-cases-rise-but-public-health-agencies-say-they-lack-the-resources-to-keep-up/) - U.S. tuberculosis cases rose 5% in 2022, disproportionately affecting communities of color. BY: NADA HASSANEINStateline Until COVID-19, tuberculosis was the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing about 1.5 million people annually. Contrary to public perception, the disease is still active in the United States. The number of TB cases in the U.S. briefly dropped at the start of
- [How much weight do you actually need to lose? It might be a lot less than you think](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/06/11785/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney If you’re one of the one in three Australians whose New Year’s resolution involved losing weight, it’s likely you’re now contemplating what weight-loss goal you should actually be working towards. But type “setting a weight loss goal” into any online search engine and you’ll likely be left with more questions
- [Dietary supplements and protein powders fall under a ‘wild west’ of unregulated products that necessitate caveats and caution](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/06/dietary-supplements-and-protein-powders-fall-under-a-wild-west-of-unregulated-products-that-necessitate-caveats-and-caution/) - Emily Hemendinger, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Katie Suleta, George Washington University Dietary supplements are a big business. The industry made almost US$39 billion in revenue in 2022, and with very little regulation and oversight, it stands to keep growing. The marketing of dietary supplements has been quite effective, with 77% of Americans
- [Telehealth makes timely abortions possible for many, research shows](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/02/02/telehealth-makes-timely-abortions-possible-for-many-research-shows/) - Leah Koenig, University of California, San Francisco and Ushma Upadhyay, University of California, San Francisco Access to telehealth abortion care can determine whether a person can obtain an abortion in the United States. For young people and those living on low incomes, telehealth makes a critical difference in getting timely abortion care. These are the
- [This salt alternative could help reduce blood pressure. So why are so few people using it?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/29/this-salt-alternative-could-help-reduce-blood-pressure-so-why-are-so-few-people-using-it/) - Xiaoyue Xu (Luna), UNSW Sydney; Alta Schutte, UNSW Sydney, and Bruce Neal, George Institute for Global Health One in three Australian adults has high blood pressure (hypertension). Excess salt (sodium) increases the risk of high blood pressure so everyone with hypertension is advised to reduce salt in their diet. But despite decades of strong recommendations
- [What the FDA Does Approve and What It Doesn't](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/26/what-the-fda-does-approve-and-what-it-doesnt/) - From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Is It Really "FDA Approved"? Maybe you’ve seen these words on a company’s website or in a commercial promoting a product or treatment. Here are some facts about products that are, and aren’t, FDA approved. Fact #1: Generic medicines work the same as brand-name medicines. FDA-approved generic medicines
- [Italian-style charcuterie meats linked to Salmonella infections in Washington ](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/19/italian-style-charcuterie-meats-linked-to-salmonella-infections-in-washington/) - State health-officials advise people not to eat Fratelli Beretta Antipasto Gran Beretta purchased from Costco OLYMPIA – As part of an ongoing outbreak investigation that includes 47 Salmonella cases in 22 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises people to stop eating the following charcuterie meats products and throw them out or return them
- [The Cost of Freeing Drinking Water from ‘Forever Chemicals’](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/18/the-cost-of-freeing-drinking-water-from-forever-chemicals/) - January 15, 2024 by Charles Schmidt Situated in a former sand and gravel pit just a few hundred feet from the Kennebec River in central Maine, the Riverside Station pumps half a million gallons of fresh groundwater every day. The well station processes water from two of five wells on either side of the river
- [Radiation therapy takes advantage of cancer’s poor DNA repair abilities – an oncologist and physicist explain how](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/18/radiation-therapy-takes-advantage-of-cancers-poor-dna-repair-abilities-an-oncologist-and-physicist-explain-how-2/) - Behzad Ebrahimi, University of Chicago and Mark Korpics, University of Chicago Nearly half of all cancer patients undergo radiation therapy as part of their care. Ionizing radiation, or the emission of high-energy waves or particles, works as a therapy by damaging a cancer cell’s DNA. It’s an effective tool for killing cancer cells because they
- [‘Shell game’: When private equity comes to town, hospitals can see cutbacks, closures](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/18/shell-game-when-private-equity-comes-to-town-hospitals-can-see-cutbacks-closures/) - by Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline January 18, 2024 Hollowed Out This story is the first in a series examining private equity’s impact on health care and the ways that states are responding. Peggy Malone walks the quiet halls of Crozer-Chester Medical Center, the Pennsylvania hospital where she’s worked as a registered nurse for the past
- [What happens to your liver when you quit alcohol](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/17/11750/) - Ashwin Dhanda, University of Plymouth According to Greek mythology, Zeus punished Prometheus for giving fire to humans. He chained Prometheus up and set an eagle to feast on his liver. Each night, the liver grew back and each day, the eagle returned for his feast. In reality, can a liver really grow back? The liver
- [Is economic growth good for our health?](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/17/is-economic-growth-good-for-our-health/) - Andrew C. Patterson, MacEwan University Is economic growth good for us? Put another way, we know that growing the economy is good for business and for creating jobs. But does it help everyone in society? One way to answer this question is to explore what it does for population health. Our health is one of
- [Reduce Radon for a Safer Home -](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/16/reduce-radon-for-a-safer-home/) - Washington State Department of Health Home, sweet home. You love it there. But did you know your house may be exposing you and your family to dangerous levels of radon? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. We can’t see it, taste it, or smell it, but it is the leading cause of lung cancer
- [Your body already has a built-in weight loss system that works like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro – food and your gut microbiome](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/16/your-body-already-has-a-built-in-weight-loss-system-that-works-like-wegovy-ozempic-and-mounjaro-food-and-your-gut-microbiome/) - Christopher Damman, University of Washington Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are weight loss and diabetes drugs that have made quite a splash in health news. They target regulatory pathways involved in both obesity and diabetes and are widely considered breakthroughs for weight loss and blood sugar control. But do these drugs point toward a root cause
- [Resources and emergency shelters available statewide to keep people safe and warm during dangerously cold winter weather](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/12/resources-and-emergency-shelters-available-statewide-to-keep-people-safe-and-warm-during-dangerously-cold-winter-weather/) - From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – Cities and counties across Washington state are ramping up emergency warming centers and other resources this week to help people cope with the extreme cold temperatures affecting our region. Cold weather can be very dangerous if you are not prepared, particularly for people without homes, the elderly, and
- [There’s a new pill for postpartum depression, but many at-risk women face hurdles](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/11/theres-a-new-pill-for-postpartum-depression-but-many-at-risk-women-face-hurdles/) - by Nada Hassanein, Stateline January 11, 2024 The first pill for postpartum depression approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now available, but experts worry that minority and low-income women, who are disproportionately affected by the condition, won’t have easy access to the new medication.About 1 in 8 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression,
- [As Zepbound dominates headlines as a new obesity-fighting drug, a nutritionist warns that weight loss shouldn’t be the only goal](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/11/as-zepbound-dominates-headlines-as-a-new-obesity-fighting-drug-a-nutritionist-warns-that-weight-loss-shouldnt-be-the-only-goal/) - Mandy Conrad, Mississippi State University If the buzz surrounding a medication could elevate it to celebrity status, then Zepbound is reaching Taylor Swift rank. Zepbound is the newest addition to the weight loss drug arena. In November 2023, it joined the list of obesity-fighting drugs – administered as an injection – to be approved by
- [GET READY FOR WINTER WEATHER, INCLUDING POWER OUTAGES AND ROAD CLOSURES](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/09/get-ready-for-winter-weather-including-power-outages-and-road-closures/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health - Seattle & King County En español: Clima invernal: planificación para necesidades médicas After a few weeks of relatively mild winter weather in King County, things are set to change this week. We’re expecting high winds and gusts starting in the early morning on Tuesday, January 9 and continuing through the day,
- [Older Americans Say They Feel Trapped in Medicare Advantage Plans.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/05/older-americans-say-they-feel-trapped-in-medicare-advantage-plans/) - Sarah Jane Tribble, KFF Health News January 5, 2024 In 2016, Richard Timmins went to a free informational seminar to learn more about Medicare coverage. “I listened to the insurance agent and, basically, he really promoted Medicare Advantage,” Timmins said. The agent described less expensive and broader coverage offered by the plans, which are funded
- [Viewpoint: Restricting Obese Women From IVF Is Discriminatory](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/05/viewpoint-restricting-obese-women-from-ivf-is-discriminatory/) - Restricting Obese Women From IVF Is Discriminatory January 4, 2024 by Becca Muir In the U.S., nearly 100,000 babies were born through assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization, in 2021, and as people postpone parenthood to older ages, such technologies are growing in demand. IVF has the potential to realize the dreams of
- [Cardio or weights first? A kinesiologist explains how to optimize the order of your exercise routine](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/03/cardio-or-weights-first-a-kinesiologist-explains-how-to-optimize-the-order-of-your-exercise-routine/) - Randal Claytor, Miami University When you enter the gym, which way should you head first? Toward the treadmills and spin studio to get your sweat on with a cardio session? Or toward the free weights and strength-training machines to do some resistance training? The American College of Sports Medicine suggests doing both types of exercise
- [Six ways to look after your eyes in 2024](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/03/11686/) - Shahina Pardhan, Anglia Ruskin University The World Health Organization estimates that over 80% of all vision impairment around the world can be prevented and even cured. Reducing the risk of eye diseases involves adopting a combination of lifestyle changes, protective measures, and regular eye care. Here are six ways to look after your eyes in
- [Resistance (exercise) is far from futile: The unheralded benefits of weight training](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/02/resistance-exercise-is-far-from-futile-the-unheralded-benefits-of-weight-training/) - Stuart Phillips, McMaster University Everyone can agree that exercise is healthy. Among its many benefits, exercise improves heart and brain function, aids in controlling weight, slows the effects of aging and helps lower the risks of several chronic diseases. For too long, though, one way of keeping fit, aerobic exercise, has been perceived as superior
- [Hate salad or veggies? Just keep eating them.](https://localhealthguide.com/2024/01/02/hate-salad-or-veggies-just-keep-eating-them/) - Emma Beckett, University of Newcastle Do you hate salad? It’s OK if you do, there are plenty of foods in the world, and lots of different ways to prepare them. But given almost all of us don’t eat enough vegetables, even though most of us (81%) know eating more vegetables is a simple way to
- [Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here’s what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/13/health-misinformation-is-rampant-on-social-media-heres-what-it-does-why-it-spreads-and-what-people-can-do-about-it/) - Monica Wang, Boston University The global anti-vaccine movement and vaccine hesitancy that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic show no signs of abating. According to a survey of U.S. adults, Americans in October 2023 were less likely to view approved vaccines as safe than they were in April 2021. As vaccine confidence falls, health misinformation continues
- [US birth rates are at record lows – even though the number of kids most Americans say they want has held steady](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/31/us-birth-rates-are-at-record-lows-even-though-the-number-of-kids-most-americans-say-they-want-has-held-steady-2/) - Sarah Hayford, The Ohio State University and Karen Benjamin Guzzo, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Birth rates are falling in the U.S. After the highs of the Baby Boom in the mid-20th century and the lows of the Baby Bust in the 1970s, birth rates were relatively stable for nearly 50 years. But
- [More than a third of people with dementia don’t know they have it – what to do if you suspect your partner has the condition](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/11/more-than-a-third-of-people-with-dementia-dont-know-they-have-it-what-to-do-if-you-suspect-your-partner-has-the-condition/) - Kate Irving, Dublin City University Around 36% of people in England with dementia are unaware they have the condition, according to a new report from the Dementia Commission. The report suggests things health and care professionals can do to improve spotting early signs of dementia. But what can you do if you think your partner
- [DOH launchers interactive tool to connect people to Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/11/doh-launches-interactive-tool-to-connect-people-to-women-infants-and-children-wic-nutritionprogram/) - The online WIC Clinic Locator aims to improve equitable access to the underutilized program OLYMPIA – The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program of Washington released an online tool to help people find their closest WIC clinic and apply for benefits. The new WIC Clinic Locator map showcases the more than 200 WIC clinics across the state and provides
- [Lifestyle changes can reduce dementia risk by maintaining brain plasticity — but the time to act is now](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/11/lifestyle-changes-can-reduce-dementia-risk-by-maintaining-brain-plasticity-but-the-time-to-act-is-now/) - Saskia Sivananthan, McGill University and Laura Middleton, University of Waterloo https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/lifestyle-changes-can-reduce-dementia-risk-by-maintaining-brain-plasticity-but-the-time-to-act-is-now Walk 10,000 steps a day, cut back alcohol, get better sleep at night, stay socially active — we’re told that changes like these can prevent up to 40 per cent of dementia cases worldwide. Given that dementia is still one of the most feared
- [Endometriosis: It’s time to change the pattern of pain, stigma and barriers to diagnosis and treatment](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/11/endometriosis-its-time-to-change-the-pattern-of-pain-stigma-and-barriers-to-diagnosis-and-treatment/) - Sarah Seabrook, University of Waterloo and Alana Cattapan, University of Waterloo Endometriosis is a debilitating disease that affects an estimated one million Canadians. It involves the overgrowth of tissue similar to endometrium tissue (the tissue that lines the uterus). For people with endometriosis, this tissue grows excessively, both inside and outside of the uterus, which
- [I’m trying to lose weight and eat healthily. Why do I feel so hungry all the time? What can I do about it?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/11/im-trying-to-lose-weight-and-eat-healthily-why-do-i-feel-so-hungry-all-the-time-what-can-i-do-about-it/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, famously said nothing is certain except death and taxes. But I think we can include “you’ll feel hungry when you’re trying to lose weight” as another certainty. The reason is basic biology. So how does this work – and
- [What does weight-inclusive health care mean?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/12/11/what-does-weight-inclusive-health-care-mean/) - A dietitian explains what some providers are doing to end weight stigma Lauren Butler, Texas State University Weight-inclusive health care means a focus on better health with no weight loss required. This includes practices such as eating for overall well-being rather than for the number of calories. It may also include prioritizing activities to reduce stress,
- [This Thanksgiving − and on any holiday − these steps will help prevent foodborne illness](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/21/11639/) - Kimberly Baker, Clemson University Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with friends and family around the dinner table. No one wants to cause their family or friends to get sick from a foodborne illness on this holiday or any other occasion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 6 Americans, or
- [Thinking of trying a detox? Here’s what you need to know first](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/22/thinking-of-trying-a-detox-heres-what-you-need-to-know-first/) - Clare Collins, University of Newcastle What is a “detox”? It’s a process that involves using particular products, diets or other detoxification methods to try and rid the body of so-called “toxins”. Detoxes are prevalent on social media and spruiked by brands offering detox products, celebrities and influencers. A documentary airing on Channel 10 this week
- [Immune health is all about balance – an immunologist explains why both too strong and too weak an immune response can lead to illness](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/20/immune-health-is-all-about-balance-an-immunologist-explains-why-both-too-strong-and-too-weak-an-immune-response-can-lead-to-illness/) - Aimee Pugh Bernard, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus For immune health, some influencers seem to think the Goldilocks philosophy of “just right” is overrated. Why settle for less immunity when you can have more? Many social media posts push supplements and other life hacks that “boost your immune system” to keep you healthy and
- [The ‘doctor of nursing practice’ will see you now](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/16/the-doctor-of-nursing-practice-will-see-you-now/) - As more nurse practitioners earn doctorates, physicians push to limit use of the ‘Dr.’ honorific. By Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline When Vernon Langford sees patients, he typically wears a white lab coat with his title — “Dr.” — and his credentials as a nurse practitioner stitched on the front. “My credentials are on any jackets
- [Meditation Is Big Business. The Science Isn’t So Clear.](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/12/meditation-is-big-business-the-science-isnt-so-clear/) - Meditation Is Big Business. The Science Isn’t So Clear. November 8, 2023 by Caren Chesler In 2019, Debra Halsch was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma, a rare blood and bone marrow disorder that can develop into a type of blood cancer. Her doctors recommended chemotherapy, she said, but she feared the taxing side effects the
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/12/11622/) - Understanding that chronic back pain originates from within the brain could lead to quicker recovery, a new study finds Yoni Ashar, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Most people with chronic back pain naturally think their pain is caused by injuries or other problems in the body such as arthritis or bulging disks. But our research
- [Your biological age predicts dementia and stroke regardless of your actual age – new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/12/your-biological-age-predicts-dementia-and-stroke-regardless-of-your-actual-age-new-study/) - Jonathan Ka Long Mak, Karolinska Institutet and Sara Hägg, Karolinska Institutet As we journey through life, the risk of developing chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders, increases significantly. However, while we all grow older chronologically at the same pace, biologically, our clocks can tick faster or slower. Relying solely on chronological age
- [Perimenopause usually begins in your 40s. How do you know if it has started?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/12/perimenopause-usually-begins-in-your-40s-how-do-you-know-if-it-has-started/) - Erin Morton, Flinders University More than half our population (50.7%) are born with ovaries and will experience perimenopause in midlife. This occurs as hormone levels decrease and ovaries slow their release of eggs. Perimenopause usually begins in the early to mid-40s. Some people even begin perimenopause earlier, due to premature ovarian insufficiency or medical treatments
- [How can I get some sleep? Which treatments actually work?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/03/how-can-i-get-some-sleep-which-treatments-actually-work/) - Alexander Sweetman, Flinders University; Jen Walsh, The University of Western Australia, and Nicole Grivell, Flinders University Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Do you stay awake for a long time at night? Do these sleep problems make you feel fatigued, strung-out, or exhausted during the day? Has this been happening for months? This article is
- [Amid Regulatory Gaps, Telehealth Prescribers Flourish](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/03/amid-regulatory-gaps-telehealth-prescribers-flourish/) - It’s easier than ever to get prescription drugs online. Should regulators be paying more attention? BY TERESA CARRUndark Magazine IT STARTED WITH A GOOGLE SEARCH for prescription medications I might get online. Almost immediately, ads from telehealth companies began chasing me around the internet, promising access to drugs to make me prettier, skinnier, happier, and hornier. Several
- [Modern medicine has its scientific roots in the Middle Ages](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/02/modern-medicine-has-its-scientific-roots-in-the-middle-ages-−-how-the-logic-of-vulture-brain-remedies-and-bloodletting-lives-on-today/) - Meg Leja, Binghamton University, State University of New York Nothing calls to mind nonsensical treatments and bizarre religious healing rituals as easily as the notion of Dark Age medicine. “The Saturday Night Live” sketch Medieval Barber Theodoric of York says it all with its portrayal of a quack doctor who insists on extracting pints of
- [Older adults want to ‘age in place,’ but their options are limited in most states](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/02/older-adults-want-to-age-in-place-but-their-options-are-limited-in-most-states/) - As America gets grayer, advocates are pushing for new types of housing. By Robbie Sequiera, Staff ReporterStateline As older adults begin to outnumber young people in the United States in the coming decade, advocacy groups are challenging states to shift away from single-family zoning in favor of housing solutions that allow older adults to “age
- [The roots of the North American opioid crisis, and 3 key strategies for stopping it](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/11/01/the-roots-of-the-north-american-opioid-crisis-and-3-key-strategies-for-stopping-it/) - By Rohan Anand, University of British Columbia and M. Eugenia Socias, University of British Columbia The Netflix series Painkiller recently depicted how the over-prescribing of the medicine OxyContin wreaked havoc on American society. Today the grim reality is that opioid-related deaths in North America reached a record level in 2022, with more than 109,000 fatalities
- [Can I actually target areas to lose fat, like my belly?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/31/can-i-actually-target-areas-to-lose-fat-like-my-belly/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney Spend some time scrolling social media and you’re all-but-guaranteed to see an ad promising to help you with targeted fat loss. These ads promote a concept known as “spot reduction”, claiming you can burn fat in a specific body area, usually the belly, with specially designed exercises or workouts. It’s
- [What is ‘fried rice syndrome’? A microbiologist explains this type of food poisoning – and how to avoid it](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/31/11583/) - Enzo Palombo, Swinburne University of Technology A condition dubbed “fried rice syndrome” has caused some panic online in recent days, after the case of a 20-year-old who died in 2008 was resurfaced on TikTok. “Fried rice syndrome” refers to food poisoning from a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which becomes a risk when cooked food is
- [Health insurance, now open to all; Enrollment starts Nov.1](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/30/health-insurance-now-open-to-all-enrollment-starts-nov-1/) - OPEN TO ALL: HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT STARTS NOV. 1 WITH EXPANDED ACCESS Public Health InsiderPublic Health - Seattle & King County Open enrollment for health insurance starts November 1, 2023, and now everyone who lives in Washington State can purchase health and dental insurance – regardless of their immigration status. Starting this year, Washington Healthplanfinder
- [How do stimulants actually work to reduce ADHD symptoms?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/30/how-do-stimulants-actually-work-to-reduce-adhd-symptoms/) - Mary Bushell, University of Canberra Stimulants are first-line drugs for children and adults diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But how do they actually work? First, let’s look at the brain ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means it affects how the brain functions. Medical imaging indicates people with ADHD may have slight differences in
- [Medical exceptions to abortion bans often exclude mental health conditions](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/23/medical-exceptions-to-abortion-bans-often-exclude-mental-health-conditions/) - By Nada HassaneinStateline More than a dozen states now have near-total abortion bans following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, with limited medical exceptions meant to protect the patient’s health or life. But among those states, only Alabama explicitly includes “serious mental illness” as an allowable exception. Meanwhile, 10 states with near-total abortion bans (Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio,
- [Naloxone now available over the counter in King County](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/20/naloxone-now-available-over-the-counter-in-king-county/) - By Fred Mariscal, Public Health — Seattle & King County The medication naloxone, brand name Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save lives, is now available over the counter (OTC). Improving access and increasing awareness of administering naloxone is critical for building a resilient community and mitigating the overdose crisis.
- [Many women can’t access miscarriage drug because it’s also used for abortions](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/20/many-women-cant-access-miscarriage-drug-because-its-also-used-for-abortions/) - By Caitlin Dewy, Stateline Since losing her first pregnancy four months ago, 32-year-old Lulu has struggled to return to her body’s old rhythms. Lulu, who asked to be identified by her first name to protect her privacy, bled for six full weeks after her miscarriage and hasn’t had a normal menstrual cycle since. Such disruptions
- [Fall Covid-19 Update](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/19/fall-covid-19-update/) - Sameer Elsayed, Western University It’s been almost four years since the first human cases of COVID-19 infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 were reported. Though the global health emergency was declared over on May 5, 2023, COVID-19 remains a major public health threat. As we enter the fall/winter respiratory virus season, it’s a good time to review
- [10 Medicaid holdout states scramble to improve health coverage](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/19/10-medicaid-holdout-states-scramble-to-improve-health-coverage/) - By Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline October 19, 2023 The Republican-led states that have refused to expand Medicaid are trying a variety of strategies to save struggling hospitals and cover more people without full expansion, which was one of the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.Georgia passed a partial expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides
- [Adele called herself a ‘borderline alcoholic’. But is that a real thing?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/19/adele-called-herself-a-borderline-alcoholic-but-is-that-a-real-thing/) - Nicole Lee, Curtin University British singer-songwriter Adele says she has quit drinking, describing herself as a “borderline alcoholic” when she was in her 20s. She joins a growing number of people who are trying to quit or reduce their drinking. But what does “borderline alcoholic” mean and is it a real thing? It’s not all-or-nothing
- [‘I’m not going to be cured’. How breast cancer awareness and support sidelines people with metastatic disease](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/17/im-not-going-to-be-cured-how-breast-cancer-awareness-and-support-sidelines-people-with-metastatic-disease/) - Sophie Lewis, University of Sydney; Andrea Smith, University of Sydney, and Katherine Kenny, University of Sydney There have been incredible advances in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in recent years. And stories about celebrities who have “beaten” breast cancer continue to be a source of inspiration for many people. However, this emphasis on fighting, beating
- [What to Know About Metastatic Breast Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/13/what-to-know-about-metastatic-breast-cancer/) - Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Part 2: What to Know About Metastatic Breast Cancer Washington State Department of Health In 2009, House and Senate resolutions unanimously established October 13 as a day to recognize and bring awareness to metastatic breast cancer. Even though a single day is not enough, it does mark a starting point for year-round
- [Steep physical decline with age is not inevitable – here’s how strength training can change the trajectory](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/13/steep-physical-decline-with-age-is-not-inevitable-heres-how-strength-training-can-change-the-trajectory/) - Zachary Gillen, Mississippi State University Raise your hand if you regularly find yourself walking up a flight of stairs. What about carrying heavy bags of groceries? How about picking up your child or grandchild? Most of us would raise our hands to doing at least one of those weekly, or even daily. As people age,
- [Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in King County spiked during pandemic, UW study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/12/out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrests-in-king-county-spiked-during-pandemic-uw-study-finds/) - From UW School of Medicine Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) rose by 19% and survival of those events fell by about 4% during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis of emergency medical services’ responses in Seattle and King County, Washington. But acute infections of the SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared not to
- [How to lower your risk of breast cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/12/how-to-lower-your-risk-of-breast-cancer/) - From the Washington State Department of Health Every October, pink ribbons begin to pop up in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Breast cancer goes beyond pink ribbons, though. It’s also important to understand your personal risk factors and when to start getting screened. Read on to learn more and for tips to lower your risk.What
- [What is the OMAD diet? Is one meal a day actually good for weight loss? And is it safe?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/11/what-is-the-omad-diet-is-one-meal-a-day-actually-good-for-weight-loss-and-is-it-safe/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney What do British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and singer Bruce Springsteen have in common? They’re among an ever-growing group of public figures touting the benefits of eating just one meal a day. As a result, the one meal a day (OMAD) diet is the latest attention-grabbing weight loss trend. Advocates
- [Insurers often shortchange mental health care coverage, despite a federal law](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/11/insurers-often-shortchange-mental-health-care-coverage-despite-a-federal-law/) - by Nada Hassanein, StatelineOctober 11, 2023 When she tried to find help for her daughter’s depression, Michelle Romero was frantic, panicked and heartbroken. She searched and searched for mental health clinicians within her daughter’s insurance coverage network. But the Houston-area mom of three couldn’t find a psychiatrist nor a psychotherapist who accepted her daughter’s health
- [Medicare enrollment begins October 15](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/04/medicare-enrollment-begins-october-15/) - From Medicare.gov Did you know you have choices in your Medicare prescription drug and health coverage? Medicare's Open Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7) is your chance to think about what matters most to you. Plans can change from year to year, and your health needs may change, too. So it's important to know your options.
- [Most people who think they are allergic to penicillin aren’t](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/04/most-people-who-think-they-are-allergic-to-penicillin-arent/) - Colin Michie, University of Central Lancashire About 6% of people in the UK are wrongly labelled on their medical records as being allergic to penicillin, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has warned. This figure is concerning because being labelled as allergic to this class of highly effective antibiotics is associated with an extra six deaths per
- [‘We could eradicate malaria by 2040’ says expert after revolutionary vaccine is approved by WHO](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/04/we-could-eradicate-malaria-by-2040-says-expert-after-revolutionary-vaccine-is-approved-by-who/) - Adrian Hill, University of Oxford The World Health Organization has approved a new vaccine that scientists argue will be a game-changer in the fight against malaria, which kills half a million people in Africa every year. Trials have shown that the R21/Matrix vaccine, developed by Oxford University together with the Serum Institute of India, reduces
- [SNOHOMISH COUNTY LOSING INFANTS TO UNSAFE SLEEP](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/02/snohomish-county-losing-infants-to-unsafe-sleep/) - CAREGIVERS ARE URGED TO LEARN AND PRACTICE SAFE SLEEP Snohomish County Health Department. – More infants are being lost to sleep-related deaths in Snohomish County than car crashes, drownings and other causes. From 2020 to 2022, Snohomish County lost 19 infants (babies younger than 12 months) because of unsafe sleep. During that same two-year period, zero infants
- [Nobel prize in medicine awarded to mRNA pioneers – here’s how their discovery was integral to COVID vaccine development](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/02/nobel-prize-in-medicine-awarded-to-mrna-pioneers-heres-how-their-discovery-was-integral-to-covid-vaccine-development/) - Alice Godden, University of East Anglia Billions of people around the world have received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The rapid development of these vaccines changed the course of the pandemic, providing protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But these vaccines would not have been possible it if weren’t for the pioneering work of this
- [Early indicators of dementia: 5 behaviour changes to look for after age 50](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/02/early-indicators-of-dementia-5-behaviour-changes-to-look-for-after-age-50/) - Daniella Vellone, University of Calgary Dementia is often thought of as a memory problem, like when an elderly person asks the same questions or misplaces things. In reality, individuals with dementia will not only experience issues in other areas of cognition like learning, thinking, comprehension and judgement, but they may also experience changes in behaviour.
- [Should you get your vitamin D levels checked?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/10/02/should-you-get-your-vitamin-d-levels-checked/) - Elina Hypponen, University of South Australia Australia has seen a surge in vitamin D testing of children, with similar trends reported for adults around the world. GPs are now being urged not to test for vitamin D unnecessarily. So when is low vitamin D a potential concern? And when might you need to get your
- [Can counting steps help you lose weight?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/29/can-counting-steps-help-you-lose-weight/) - Tracking daily step counts can be a useful tool for weight management – an exercise scientist parses the science Bob Buresh, Kennesaw State University Over the last decade, smartphones have become ubiquitous not just for sending texts and staying abreast of news, but also for monitoring daily activity levels. Among the most common, and arguably the
- [COVID-19 vaccine boosters are the best defence: Older adults shouldn’t rely on previous infection for immunity](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/01/11462/) - Dawn ME Bowdish, McMaster University and Andrew Costa, McMaster University https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/covid-19-vaccine-boosters-are-the-best-defence-older-adults-shouldnt-rely-on-previous-infection-for-immunity Despite researchers’ efforts to understand SARS-CoV-2, the virus continues to hold many secrets. As much as we’ve tried to shoehorn it into our thinking about how respiratory viruses work, it will simply not comply. Some thought the virus would settle into a strictly seasonal
- [Monitoring brainwaves to track how patients with depression respond the treatment](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/21/monitoring-brainwaves-to-track-how-patients-with-depression-respond-the-treatment/) - Depression recovery can be hard to measure − new research on deep brain stimulation shows how objective biomarkers could help make treatment more precise Christopher Rozell, Georgia Institute of Technology and Sankaraleengam Alagapan, Georgia Institute of Technology It can be challenging to create a treatment plan for depression. This is especially true for patients who aren’t
- [Federal shutdown should not immediately threaten food aid for WA mothers and kids](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/29/federal-shutdown-should-not-immediately-threaten-food-aid-for-wa-mothers-and-kids/) - By Bill Lucia, Washington State StandardSeptember 26, 2023 Food aid for mothers and young children in Washington will not be immediately disrupted in the event of a federal shutdown, the state’s Department of Health said on Tuesday. The Biden administration on Monday warned that funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
- [Do blue-light glasses really work? Can they reduce eye strain or help me sleep?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/29/do-blue-light-glasses-really-work-can-they-reduce-eye-strain-or-help-me-sleep/) - Laura Downie, The University of Melbourne Blue-light glasses are said to reduce eye strain when using computers, improve your sleep and protect your eye health. You can buy them yourself or your optometrist can prescribe them. But do they work? Or could they do you harm? We reviewed the evidence. Here’s what we found. What
- [Study Adds to Debate about Mammography in Older Women](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/27/study-adds-to-debate-about-mammography-in-older-women/) - By Sharon Reynolds, National Cancer InstituteSeptember 12, 2023 It has become widely accepted that it’s always best to find breast cancer as early as possible, when the cancer is less likely to have spread elsewhere in the body and less aggressive treatment may be needed. And studies have shown that routine screening mammography does reduce
- [Commonly prescribed antidepressants and how they work](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/21/commonly-prescribed-antidepressants-and-how-they-work/) - From the National Library of Medicine Antidepressants are among the most searched-for medications online. But there is a lot of information out there to sift through. We've pulled together some useful information about common types of these medications from MedlinePlus and the National Institute of Mental Health. What are they? Antidepressants are medications that help
- [CDC Recommends Updated COVID-19 Vaccine for Fall/Winter Virus Season](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/15/cdc-recommends-updated-covid-19-vaccine-for-fall-winter-virus-season/) - From the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will be available later this week. Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and
- [How Washington state is treating housing as health care](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/15/how-washington-state-is-treating-housing-as-health-care/) - By Laurel DemkovichStateline This story first appeared in the Washington State Standard. Washington state is trying something new when it comes to housing: treating it as health care. Apple Health and Homes is a multi-agency state program launched last year that focuses on providing housing to people with health and behavioral health challenges. What’s unique is that the
- [How Advance Care Planning Neglects Black Americans](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/12/how-advance-care-planning-neglects-black-americans/) - September 6, 2023 by Carina StorrsUndark Magazine When Kevin E. Taylor became a pastor 22 years ago, he never expected how often he’d have to help families make gut-wrenching decisions for a loved one who was very ill or about to die. The families in his predominantly Black church in New Jersey often didn’t have
- [Prescriptions for fruits and vegetables can improve the health of people with diabetes and other ailments, new study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/14/11478/) - Kurt Hager, UMass Chan Medical School and Fang Fang Zhang, Tufts University The health of people with diabetes, hypertension and obesity improved when they could get free fruits and vegetables with a prescription from their doctors and other health professionals. We found that these patients’ blood sugar levels, blood pressure and weight improved in our
- [Some states back hospital mergers despite record of service cuts, price hikes](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/08/some-states-back-hospital-mergers-despite-record-of-service-cuts-price-hikes/) - BY: ANNA CLAIRE VOLLERS - Stateline Some illnesses and injuries — say, a broken ankle — can send you to numerous health care providers. You might start at urgent care but end up in the emergency room. Referred to an orthopedist, you might eventually land in an outpatient surgery center. Four different stops on your road to
- [Activist Misuses Federal Data to Make False Claim That Covid Vaccines Killed 676,000](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/01/activist-misuses-federal-data-to-make-false-claim-that-covid-vaccines-killed-676000/) - By Tom Kertscher, PolitiFact SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 A blog post shared on Facebook claimed that covid-19 vaccines have killed some 676,000 Americans. The post was written by anti-vaccine activist Steve Kirsch, who has made other vaccine claims debunked by PolitiFact and other fact-checkers. Kirsch’s Aug. 6 post referred to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a federal database. “VAERS data is crystal clear,” the headline read. “The
- [Biden Administration Proposes New Standards to Boost Nursing Home Staffing](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/09/01/biden-administration-proposes-new-standards-to-boost-nursing-home-staffing/) - Jordan Rau, KFF Health News September 1, 2023 The nation’s most thinly staffed nursing homes would be required to hire more workers under new rules proposed on Friday by the Biden administration, the greatest change to federal nursing home regulations in three decades. The proposed standard was prompted by the industry’s troubled performance earlier in
- [Hantavirus Case Reported in King County](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/28/hantavirus-case-reported-in-king-county-2/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health — Seattle & King County Hantavirus can cause a rare but deadly disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). In Washington state, hantavirus is spread by deer mice. Public Health is currently investigating a case in a teenage King County resident. This person was hospitalized in early August and is now recovering.
- [There’s no age limit for politicians − as people live longer, should that change?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/28/theres-no-age-limit-for-politicians-−-as-people-live-longer-should-that-change/) - Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington President Joe Biden was “fine,” according to White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt, after tripping over a sandbag at a U.S. Air Force graduation ceremony on June 1, 2023. But his fall was caught on live camera – and people on social media speculated about what was behind it.
- [Virtual Clinics Embrace Allergy Drops as an Alternative to Shots](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/25/virtual-clinics-embrace-allergy-drops-as-an-alternative-to-shots/) - By Esther Landhuis, Undark Magazine. For as long as he can remember, Ken Pressey has had severe allergies to cats. They would trigger hives, runny nose, and watery eyes. Still, like many of the tens of millions of people in the United States who suffer from allergies, Pressey for years did not bother getting treated,
- [Thousands of People Moved to the Rural South During the First Year of the Pandemic. Where Did They Come From?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/25/thousands-of-people-moved-to-the-rural-south-during-the-first-year-of-the-pandemic-where-did-they-come-from/) - by Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder Out of all the people who moved from larger cities to rural areas in 2021, two-thirds wound up living in the rural South, a Daily Yonder analysis of IRS data shows. Southern rural counties attracted 65% of the people who moved from metropolitan to nonmetropolitan counties in 2021. The
- [Book Review: Two Critiques of America’s Ailing Health Care System](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/25/book-review-two-critiques-of-americas-ailing-health-care-system/) - By Lola Butcher, Undark Magazine. Ilana Yurkiewicz’s patient was in the emergency room and fading fast. Born with a severe kidney condition, the patient — she calls him Mitch Garter — required a perfectly timed medication regimen, including a high dose of potassium, to keep his electrolytes in balance. He had been hospitalized nearly 100
- [Our vagus nerves help us rest, digest and restore. Can you really reset them to feel better?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/24/our-vagus-nerves-help-us-rest-digest-and-restore-can-you-really-reset-them-to-feel-better/) - Theresa Larkin, University of Wollongong On social media and in wellbeing circles, people have been talking about the vagus nerve a lot. In fact, we have two vagus nerves – a left and a right – and their optimal functioning is essential for good physical and mental health. Many social media posts describe ways to
- [Aging with a healthy brain: How lifestyle changes could help prevent up to 40% of dementia cases](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/24/aging-with-a-healthy-brain-how-lifestyle-changes-could-help-prevent-up-to-40-of-dementia-cases/) - Stefanie Tremblay, Concordia University A 65-year-old woman repeatedly seeks medical help for her failing memory. She is first told it’s nothing to worry about, then, a year later, that it’s “just normal aging.” Until finally, the penny drops: “It’s Alzheimer’s. There is no cure.” Scenarios like this one are too common. Dementia remains largely underdetected,
- [Death counts remain high in some states even as COVID fatalities wane](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/23/death-counts-remain-high-in-some-states-even-as-covid-fatalities-wane/) - by Tim Henderson, StatelineAugust 23, 2023 Several months after President Joe Biden ended the national emergency for COVID-19, preliminary health data indicates the historic degree to which the pandemic increased death rates nationwide — not just because of the virus itself, but also through the pandemic’s reverberating effects on society. Deaths from vehicle crashes, homicides,
- [TIPS FOR CLEAN AIR INDOORS ON SMOKY DAYS: A PUBLIC HEALTH COMIC](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/21/tips-for-clean-air-indoors-on-smoky-days-a-public-health-comic/) - Comic by Meredith Li-VollmerPublic Health — Seattle & King County More information about protecting your health from wildfire smoke, including how to make a DIY box fan filter: kingcounty.gov/wildfire smoke
- [Risk of death related to pregnancy and childbirth more than doubled between 1999 and 2019 in the US, UW study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/18/risk-of-death-related-to-pregnancy-and-childbirth-more-than-doubled-between-1999-and-2019-in-the-us-uw-study-finds/) - Laura Fleszar, University of Washington; Allison Bryant Mantha, Harvard University; Catherine O. Johnson, University of Washington, and Greg Roth, University of Washington Black women were more likely to die during pregnancy or soon after in every year from 1999 through 2019, compared with Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific
- [The orgasm gap and why women climax less than men](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/16/the-orgasm-gap-and-why-women-climax-less-than-men/) - Laurie Mintz, University of Florida Imagine a steamy sex scene involving a woman and a man from your favourite television show or movie. It’s likely that both parties orgasm. But this doesn’t reflect reality. Because during heterosexual sexual encounters, women have far fewer orgasms than men. This is called the orgasm gap. And it has
- [How to create your online Medicare account](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/16/how-to-create-your-online-medicare-account/) - From Medicare.gov Now's the time to create your online Medicare account! It's a secure way to access your personal Medicare information anytime. It takes just a few minutes to create your account. Then you'll be able to: View your Original Medicare claims as soon as they're processed. Easily compare coverage options in your area, especially during Medicare's Open Enrollment
- [Act expands access to opioid use disorder treatment](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/16/act-expands-access-to-opioid-use-disorder-treatment/) - Experts: Mainstream Addiction Treatment Act Removes a Roadblock to Recovery By Taylor Sisk, The Daily YonderAugust 16, 2023 When it was announced in January that restrictions were being lifted on health care providers’ ability to prescribe buprenorphine – considered the gold standard of treatment for opioid use disorder – the nation’s drug czar, Dr. Rahul Gupta,
- [ACL injuries can lead to osteoarthritis later in life – here’s what you need to know](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/15/acl-injuries-can-lead-to-osteoarthritis-later-in-life-heres-what-you-need-to-know/) - Karl Morgan, University of Bath Between 25 and 30 players have missed out on the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. While ACL injuries are reasonably common in athletes, the rate of this type of injury is almost twice as high in females than in males. Yet this
- [Headlines](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/15/headlines/) - What to know as Western Washington enters heat wave this week With temperatures slated to reach into the 90s, Western Washington is under a heat advisory until 11 p.m. Wednesday evening. The heat wave will span Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with overnight lows struggling to dip into the 70s. Temperatures are expected to lower into the high
- [Running on empty: Female athletes’ health and performance at risk from not eating enough](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/15/11385/) - James McKendry, McMaster University and Mikkel Oxfeldt, Aarhus University https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/running-on-empty-female-athletes-health-and-performance-at-risk-from-not-eating-enough For athletes and highly physically active individuals, a well-planned and executed nutrition and exercise training regimen are critical to maximizing training and pursuing peak performance. Many people are aware that habitually consuming more calories than is expended can lead to weight gain. It also increases
- [Hottest temperatures of the year forecasted for Western Washington this week](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/14/hottest-temperatures-of-the-year-forecasted-for-western-washington-this-week/) - Washington State Department of health The National Weather Service is predicting “dangerously hot conditions” across much of Western Washington today through Thursday evening. Temperatures are forecasted to reach the high 90s and pass 100 degrees in some areas. This means it’s time for people to plan and take precautions to stay cool and safe, both
- [Skin cancer screening guidelines can seem confusing – three skin cancer researchers explain when to consider getting checked](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/14/skin-cancer-screening-guidelines-can-seem-confusing-three-skin-cancer-researchers-explain-when-to-consider-getting-checked/) - Enrique Torchia, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; Neil Box, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and Tamara Terzian, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Protecting oneself from the summer sun and its damaging ultraviolet rays is often not straightforward. And public health messaging around when and how to be screened for skin cancer has
- [COVID-19 vaccination and boosting during pregnancy benefits pregnant people and newborns](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/11/covid-19-vaccination-and-boosting-during-pregnancy-benefits-pregnant-people-and-newborns/) - From the National Institutes of Health Receiving a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine or booster during pregnancy can benefit pregnant people and their newborn infants, according to findings recently published in Vaccine. The paper describes results from the Multisite Observational Maternal and Infant Study for COVID-19 (MOMI-VAX), which was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
- [Women get far more migraines than men – a neurologist explains why, and what brings relief](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/09/women-get-far-more-migraines-than-men-a-neurologist-explains-why-and-what-brings-relief/) - Danielle Wilhour, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus A migraine is far more than just a headache – it’s a debilitating disorder of the nervous system. People who have migraines experience severe throbbing or pulsating pain, typically on one side of the head. The pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to
- [Vaccines covered by Medicare Part D](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/09/vaccines-covered-by-medicare-part-d/) - It's easier to stay up to date with your immunizations now that people with Medicare Part D pay nothing out of pocket for even more vaccines. This means more people with Medicare can get protection against disease and severe illness. Medicare Part D now covers these vaccines and more at no cost to you: Shingles RSV
- [More adults than ever have been seeking ADHD medications – an ADHD expert explains what could be driving the trend](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/08/more-adults-than-ever-have-been-seeking-adhd-medications-an-adhd-expert-explains-what-could-be-driving-the-trend/) - Margaret Sibley, University of Washington As a woman in my 30s who was constantly typing “ADHD” into my computer, I had something interesting happen to me in 2021. I started receiving a wave of advertisements beckoning me to get online help for ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. One was a free, one-minute assessment to find out
- [Planks and wall sits are best for lowering blood pressure – here are six more reasons they’re such great exercises](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/08/planks-and-wall-sits-are-best-for-lowering-blood-pressure-here-are-six-more-reasons-theyre-such-great-exercises/) - Alex Walker, University of East London and Jamie Edwards, University of East London If you were told to do more exercise to lower your blood pressure, you might think you’d need break out you running gear or hit the weights. But one of us (Jamie) recently published research that found exercises that you hold in
- [What is POTS? And how is it related to long COVID?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/08/what-is-pots-and-how-is-it-related-to-long-covid/) - Marie-Claire Seeley, University of Adelaide and Celine Gallagher, University of Adelaide POTS or “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome” is a poorly recognised condition we’ve been hearing more about recently. When people stand up, get out of bed or off the sofa, their heart races and they feel dizzy and fatigued, severely impacting their quality of life.
- [Prostate cancer treatment is not always the best option – a cancer researcher walks her father through his diagnosis](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/08/prostate-cancer-treatment-is-not-always-the-best-option-a-cancer-researcher-walks-her-father-through-his-diagnosis/) - By Luisel Ricks-Santi, University of Florida “Me encontraron càncer en la pròstata,” my father told me. They found cancer in my prostate. As a cancer researcher who knows very well about the high incidence and decreased survival rates of prostate cancer in the Caribbean, I anguished over these words. Even though I study cancer in
- [What actually is palliative care? And how is it different to end-of-life care?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/04/what-actually-is-palliative-care-and-how-is-it-different-to-end-of-life-care/) - Samar Aoun, The University of Western Australia Although it is associated with dying, palliative care is an approach focused on improving quality of life – or how people feel about and respond to facing a life-threatening illness. Palliative care aims to prevent and relieve physical, social, emotional, spiritual and existential distress. Palliative care also supports
- [Seven techniques to avoid weight regain, approved by experts](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/04/seven-techniques-to-avoid-weight-regain-approved-by-experts/) - Henrietta Graham, Loughborough University and Claire Madigan, Loughborough University Losing weight is challenging. But as anyone who has ever successfully lost weight knows, it’s avoiding weight re-gain that’s the real challenge. This is true no matter what method you follow to lose weight. For example, studies show that people who follow very low calorie diets
- [Immune cells that fight cancer become exhausted within hours of first encountering tumors – new research](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/04/immune-cells-that-fight-cancer-become-exhausted-within-hours-of-first-encountering-tumors-new-research/) - Mary Philip, Vanderbilt University and Michael Rudloff, Vanderbilt University A key function of our immune system is to detect and eliminate foreign pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Immune cells like T cells do this by distinguishing between different types of proteins within cells, which allows them to detect the presence of infection or disease.
- [Doctors Emerge as Political Force in Battle Over Abortion Laws in Ohio and Elsewhere](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/02/doctors-emerge-as-political-force-in-battle-over-abortion-laws-in-ohio-and-elsewhere/) - By Cassandra Jaramillo, ProPublica In her eight years as a pediatrician, Dr. Lauren Beene had always stayed out of politics. What happened at the Statehouse had little to do with the children she treated in her Cleveland practice. But after the Supreme Court struck down abortion protections, that all changed. The first Monday after the
- [Addressing obesity, smoking and workplace ergonomics could cut the burden of low back pain by 39%s](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/02/addressing-obesity-smoking-and-workplace-ergonomics-could-cut-the-burden-of-low-back-pain-by-39s/) - Jaimie Steinmetz, University of Washington and Manuela Ferreira, University of Sydney A Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in the world, with over 600 million people living with the condition. This is one of the key takeaways of our
- [Migraine: A common headache disorder that is underdiagnosed and undertreated](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/02/11326/) - Melina Albanese, University of Toronto Migraine is a common chronic health condition and a leading cause of disability globally. However, even in Canada, with a universal health-care system, migraine is underdiagnosed and undertreated. This is an important public health issue since migraine is associated with reduced quality of life, affecting social life and relationships, productivity
- [Australian study links holiday feasting to yo-yo weight gain](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/08/02/australian-study-links-holiday-feasting-to-yo-yo-weight-gain/) - Ty Ferguson, University of South Australia and Carol Maher, University of South Australia As we revel in much-cherished festive occasions and weekly get-togethers, Australians are unwittingly bearing an increasingly heavy cost – an expanding waistline. Our new study offers a new perspective on this. We asked 375 adults aged 18 to 65 years to wear
- [What is atrial fibrillation, the heart condition US President Joe Biden lives with?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/24/what-is-atrial-fibrillation-the-heart-condition-us-president-joe-biden-lives-with/) - Ritu Trivedi, University of Sydney; Clara Chow, University of Sydney, and Liliana Laranjo, University of Sydney US President Joe Biden has the heart condition atrial fibrillation. This increases his risk of having a stroke five-fold and doubles the risk of a heart attack or dementia. More than 37.5 million people globally also have atrial fibrillation,
- [Good news for 'weekend warriors’: people who do much of their exercise on a couple of days still get heart benefits](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/24/good-news-for-weekend-warriors-people-who-do-much-of-their-exercise-on-a-couple-of-days-still-get-heart-benefits/) - Emmanuel Stamatakis, University of Sydney; Matthew Ahmadi, University of Sydney, and Raaj Kishore Biswas, University of Sydney Physical activity has established benefits for health. The World Health Organization recommends adults do a minimum of 150–300 minutes of moderate or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity each week. This can include active transport from place-to-place, exercise for
- [States stiffen penalties for fentanyl, despite public health concerns](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/20/states-stiffen-penalties-for-fentanyl-despite-public-health-concerns/) - By AMANDA HERNÁNDEZStateline As they struggle to reduce drug overdose deaths, policymakers across the United States are embroiled in a heated debate over creating and increasing criminal penalties related to fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that’s up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Legislators pushing the new wave of criminal penalties say the laws
- [Women treated for breast cancer may age faster than cancer-free women](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/19/women-treated-for-breast-cancer-may-age-faster-than-cancer-free-women/) - From the National Institutes of Health NIH study finds radiation shows strongest association, less for surgery and endocrine treatments. Women diagnosed and treated for breast cancer have increased biological aging compared to women who remain free of breast cancer, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and their collaborators.
- [FDA approves first daily over-the-counter birth control pill, Opill – a pharmacist and public health expert explain this new era in contraception](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/14/fda-approves-first-daily-over-the-counter-birth-control-pill-opill-a-pharmacist-and-public-health-expert-explain-this-new-era-in-contraception/) - Lucas Berenbrok, University of Pittsburgh and Marian Jarlenski, University of Pittsburgh On July 13, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a drugmaker’s application for the first daily over-the-counter birth control pill for people seeking to prevent pregnancy. The pill, called Opill – the brand name for the tablet formulation of norgestrel – is
- [How to Prepare for an Early and Long 2023 Wildfire Season in King County](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/14/how-to-prepare-for-an-early-and-long-2023-wildfire-season-in-king-county/) - Public Health Insider Public Health — Seattle & King County Key messages Stay safe indoors and avoid outdoor exercise when the air quality index (AQI) is above 150. Check local AQI at PSCleanAir.org, and 5-day smoke forecasts at WAsmoke.blogspot.com. People with asthma, heart and lung conditions, or diabetes should move indoors when AQI is above 100, and
- [Stay Ahead of the Class: Ways to Get Your Family Caught Up on Vaccinations Before the New School Year Starts](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/13/stay-ahead-of-the-class-ways-to-get-your-family-caught-up-on-vaccinations-before-the-new-school-year-starts/) - Public Health Insider, Public Health — Seattle & King County Getting ready for school may be the last thing you want to do in the middle of the summer, but once August hits, doctors’ appointments often book up quickly. Now’s the perfect time to make sure your child has the vaccinations they’ll need to start
- [Ringworm fungal infections are common in the US and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment – 6 questions answered](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/10/ringworm-fungal-infections-are-common-in-the-us-and-are-becoming-increasingly-resistant-to-treatment-6-questions-answered/) - Rodney E. Rohde, Texas State University The World Health Organization considers antimicrobial resistance to be one of the most serious threats for global health. Similar to the way bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics, fungal infections throughout the world are becoming more drug-resistant and more deadly. In early 2023, the New York State Department of
- [Aspartame: popular sweetener could be classified as a possible carcinogen by WHO – but there’s no cause for panic](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/10/aspartame-popular-sweetener-could-be-classified-as-a-possible-carcinogen-by-who-but-theres-no-cause-for-panic/) - Gunter Kuhnle, University of Reading According to reports, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), is set to declare the artificial sweetener aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and is one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners. It’s
- [Fiber is your body’s natural guide to weight management, say UW expert](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/05/fiber-is-your-bodys-natural-guide-to-weight-management-say-uw-expert/) - Christopher Damman, University of Washington Fiber might just be the key to healthy weight management – and nature packages it in perfectly balanced ratios with carbs when you eat them as whole foods. Think unprocessed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. Research suggests that carbohydrates are meant to come packaged in nature-balanced ratios
- [Intermittent fasting and calorie counting about equal for weight loss – new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/05/intermittent-fasting-and-calorie-counting-about-equal-for-weight-loss-new-study/) - David Clayton, Nottingham Trent University The traditional approach to weight loss is to count calories and try to reduce the number consumed each day. This is a time-consuming and error-prone process – often with disappointing results. Intermittent fasting – and the popular version known as time-restricted eating – could be a simpler option for people
- [Preventive healthcare is effective – lessons from Finland, Japan and Singapore](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/05/11272/) - Francesca Lecci, Bocconi University If it’s true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, preventive healthcare might really save the embattled NHS – now celebrating its 75th anniversary. By promoting healthy lifestyles, early disease detection and timely treatment, the NHS could reduce chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease
- [Vaccination in pregnancy greatly reduces risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, and protects babies up to 6 months after birth](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/05/vaccination-in-pregnancy-greatly-reduces-risk-of-severe-illness-and-death-from-covid-19-and-protects-babies-up-to-6-months-after-birth/) - Sabina Vohra-Miller, University of Toronto From the early days of the pandemic, it has been evident that a COVID-19 infection in pregnancy can be serious. Hundreds of studies from around the world have consistently shown that a COVID-19 infection in pregnancy carries significantly higher risk for admission to intensive care units (ICU), invasive ventilation, preeclampsia
- [Dementia linked to repetitive brain trauma diagnosed in a female athlete for first time](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/05/dementia-linked-to-repetitive-brain-trauma-diagnosed-in-a-female-athlete-for-first-time/) - Stephen Townsend, The University of Queensland; Alan Pearce, La Trobe University, and Rebecca Olive, RMIT University Researchers at the Australian Sports Brain Bank have today reported the world’s first diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a female athlete. With the consent of her family, the diagnosis was made on the brain of Heather Anderson,
- [Do psychedelics really work to treat depression and PTSD? Here’s what the evidence says](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/07/05/do-psychedelics-really-work-to-treat-depression-and-ptsd-heres-what-the-evidence-says/) - Sam Moreton, University of Wollongong As of July 1, authorised psychiatrists have been allowed to prescribe MDMA (the chemical found in “ecstasy”) to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) to treat depression that hasn’t responded to other treatment. Psychedelic therapies have researchers excited because evidence suggests they might have lasting
- [BMI alone will no longer be treated as the go-to measure for weight management – an UW obesity expert explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/28/bmi-alone-will-no-longer-be-treated-as-the-go-to-measure-for-weight-management-an-uw-obesity-expert-explains-the-seismic-shift-taking-place/) - Scott Hagan, University of Washington Amid the buzz around weight loss drugs and rising rates of obesity worldwide, many health care professionals are questioning one of the key measures that has long been used to define obesity. On June 14, 2023, the American Medical Association adopted a new policy, calling on doctors to deemphasize the
- [Acetaminophen vs ibuprofen — which works best and when?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/27/acetaminophen-vs-ibuprofen-which-works-best-and-when/) - Tina Hinton, University of Sydney; Jessica Pace, University of Sydney, and Nial Wheate, University of Sydney In most cases, pain and fever relief is as simple as a trip to your local supermarket for some acetaminophen or ibuprofen. While both are effective at reducing pain, they work in different ways. So deciding which one you
- [Saving lives from extreme heat: Lessons from the deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/21/saving-lives-from-extreme-heat-lessons-from-the-deadly-2021-pacific-northwest-heat-wave/) - Jason Vogel, University of Washington and Brian G. Henning, Gonzaga University The heat dome that descended upon the Pacific Northwest in late June 2021 met a population radically unprepared for it. Almost two-thirds of households earning US$50,000 or less and 70% of rented houses in Washington’s King, Pierce and Snohomish counties had no air conditioning.
- [How wildfire smoke can harm human health, even when the fire is hundreds of miles away – a toxicologist explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/07/11160/) - Christopher T. Migliaccio, University of Montana Smoke from more than 200 wildfires burning across Canada has been turning skies hazy in North American cities far from the flames. We asked Chris Migliaccio, a toxicologist at the University of Montana who studies the impact of wildfire smoke on human health, about the health risks people can
- [How does your hospital measure up?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/01/how-does-your-hospital-measure-up/) - From Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Trying to find a hospital nearby with doctors that accept Medicare? Or, perhaps you're planning to have surgery or are thinking about your future needs. Visit Medicare.gov to find a hospital in your area that best meets your needs. Search for Hospitals Make the most out of your hospital search: Look
- [Cytomegalovirus lies dormant in most US adults and is the leading infectious cause of birth defects, but few have heard of it](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/06/01/cytomegalovirus-lies-dormant-in-most-us-adults-and-is-the-leading-infectious-cause-of-birth-defects-but-few-have-heard-of-it/) - Laura Gibson, UMass Chan Medical School “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this virus?” is a frequent response I hear from parents upon learning their newborn is infected with cytomegalovirus, or CMV. Although more than half of the U.S. population will be infected with CMV by the age of 40 and the disease is common
- [Body dysmorphic disorder: what to know about this mental health condition](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/30/body-dysmorphic-disorder-what-to-know-about-this-mental-health-condition/) - Viren Swami, Anglia Ruskin University Actress Megan Fox recently shared in an interview with Sports Illustrated that she has body dysmorphia. In the video interview, Fox said: “I don’t ever see myself the way other people see me. There’s never a point in my life where I loved my body.” Fox isn’t alone in her
- [It’s time to leave the Paleo Diet in the past: Recent studies have failed to support its claims](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/30/its-time-to-leave-the-paleo-diet-in-the-past-recent-studies-have-failed-to-support-its-claims/) - Mark Collard, Simon Fraser University and Amalea Ruffett, Simon Fraser University The Paleo Diet urges us to mimic our prehistoric ancestors’ food choices. In practice, this means eschewing dairy products, cereals, pulses and processed sugar, and consuming vegetables, fruit, nuts, pasture-raised meat and wild-caught seafood instead. The Paleo Diet’s proponents contend that by eating this
- [Hot Weather Precautions](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/30/hot-weather-precautions/) - From the Washington State Department of Health Severe heat may cause illness or even death. When temperatures rise to extreme highs, reduce risks by taking the following precautions. Stay indoors and in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible unless you're sure your body has a high tolerance for heat. Drink plenty of fluids but
- [In the “Wild West” of Outpatient Vascular Care, Doctors Can Reap Huge Payments as Patients Risk Life and Limb](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/24/in-the-wild-west-of-outpatient-vascular-care-doctors-can-reap-huge-payments-as-patients-risk-life-and-limb/) - By Annie Waldman, ProPublica In the suburbs of Maryland, Dr. Jeffery Dormu’s presence is hard to miss. He’s a regular on the local TV station, which has featured him and his practice five times over the past five years. And he smiles down from an electronic billboard outside a three-story vascular center he calls The
- [Pancreatic cancer: a personalised mRNA vaccine may boost effects of treatment](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/22/pancreatic-cancer-a-personalised-mrna-vaccine-may-boost-effects-of-treatment/) - Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer. This is largely due to the fact that pancreatic cancer symptoms typically don’t arise until the late stages of the disease, making many patients ineligible for the current best treatment method, which is surgery to remove any tumours. Even in
- [Brain signatures for chronic pain identified in a small group of individuals](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/22/brain-signatures-for-chronic-pain-identified-in-a-small-group-of-individuals/) - NIH-funded study shows preliminary results that could lead to new pain treatments. National Institutes of Health For the first time, researchers have recorded pain-related data from inside the brain of individuals with chronic pain disorders caused by stroke or amputation (phantom limb pain). A long sought-after goal has been to understand how pain is represented
- [Measles case in King County](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/20/measles-case-in-king-county/) - From Public Health — Seattle & King County Public Health – Seattle & King County is investigating a confirmed measles case in a King County child. The individual was at Aki Kurose Middle School, Pike Place Market, World Market, and HopeCentral Pediatrics & Behavioral Health in Seattle while infectious. Vaccination status of the individual is unknown, and the
- [Hospitals in Two States Denied an Abortion to a Miscarrying Patient. Investigators Say They Broke Federal Law.](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/20/hospitals-in-two-states-denied-an-abortion-to-a-miscarrying-patient-investigators-say-they-broke-federal-law/) - Series: Post-Roe America Abortion Access Divides the Nation By Kavitha SuranaProPublica Mylissa Farmer knew her fetus was dying inside of her. Her water broke less than 18 weeks into her pregnancy last August, and she was desperate for an abortion. But according to federal documents, during three emergency room visits over two days in Missouri
- [Climate change is changing public health](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/19/climate-change-is-changing-public-health/) - In Washington, a new team of epidemiologists is preparing for a hotter, smokier future. This article was originally published in High Country News Kylie Mohr, High Country News Eight years ago, the only worker explicitly focused on the intersection of climate change and public health at the Washington Department of Health was an intern. Since then,
- [Balance declines with age, but exercise can help stave off some of the risk of falling](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/19/balance-declines-with-age-but-exercise-can-help-stave-off-some-of-the-risk-of-falling/) - Evan Papa, Tufts University My wife and I were in the grocery store recently when we noticed an older woman reaching above her head for some produce. As she stretched out her hand, she lost her balance and began falling forward. Fortunately, she leaned into her grocery cart, which prevented her from falling to the
- [Am I too old to build muscle?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/17/am-i-too-old-to-build-muscle/) - What science says about sarcopenia and building strength later in life David Scott, Deakin University and Robin M. Daly, Deakin University Sarcopenia is the progressive and accelerated loss of muscle mass and strength as we age. The term was coined in the 1980s, and the condition has been recognised as a disease for less than a
- [Rural Health Clinics with ‘Head-to-Toe and Womb-to-Tomb’ Care](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/17/rural-health-clinics-with-head-to-toe-and-womb-to-tomb-care/) - By Taylor Sisk, The Daily YonderMay 17, 2023 At just 5 weeks old, Waylon Williams is a trailblazer. He’s the first baby born in Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky’s new women's residential center. The facility, called Beacons of Hope, offers temporary housing for women confronting substance use disorder. That recovery housing for women is
- [Health disparities cost to U.S. economy tops $450 billion a year](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/16/health-disparities-cost-u-s-economy-450-billion-in-208/) - NIH-funded study provides national and state-level estimates of the economic burden of health disparities by race and ethnicity and educational levels. From the U.S. National Institutes of Health New research shows that the economic burden of health disparities in the United States remains unacceptably high. The study, funded by the National Institute on Minority Health
- [Study Reveals Staggering Toll of Being Black in America: 1.6M Excess Deaths Over 22 Years](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/16/study-reveals-staggering-toll-of-being-black-in-america-1-6m-excess-deaths-over-22-years/) - By Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News Research has long shown that Black people live sicker lives and die younger than white people. Now a new study, published Tuesday in JAMA, casts the nation’s racial inequities in stark relief, finding that the higher mortality rate among Black Americans resulted in 1.63 million excess deaths relative to white Americans
- [One in five US adults report persistent, chronic pain, study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/16/one-in-five-us-adults-report-persistent-chronic-pain-study-finds/) - Data are the first nationwide estimates on the incidence of new chronic pain and new high impact chronic pain. Tuesday, May 16, 2023 U.S. National Institutes of Health — A study from the National Institutes of Health shows that new cases of chronic pain occur more often among U.S. adults than new cases of several
- [Going long: Viruses linger with lasting impact](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/12/going-long-viruses-linger-with-lasting-impact/) - By Diane MapesStaff writer at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Some viruses, like the common cold, are a flash in the pan. They infect us, our bodies fight back — which is what makes us sick — and then they’re gone, until the next variant rolls along. Other viruses linger. Once HIV gains a foothold in
- [‘Grotesque Catch-22’ – Sickest Rural Adults Are the Least Likely to Be Able to Pay for Healthcare](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/12/grotesque-catch-22-sickest-rural-adults-are-the-least-likely-to-be-able-to-pay-for-healthcare/) - by Liz Carey, The Daily YonderMay 11, 2023 Rural people who need medical care the most are the least likely to be able to pay for it, according to a new report from the University of Southern Maine. Research on cost barriers to health care found that rural adults were more likely than urban adults
- [<strong>Heat Advisory Issued this Weekend for Washington State</strong>](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/12/heat-advisory-issued-this-weekend-for-washington-state/) - Simple precautions will help to stay cool and safe' Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Washington state that goes into effect Saturday afternoon and ends on Monday. This means it’s time for people to plan and take precautions to stay cool and safe, both outdoors and
- [Obesity in children is rising dramatically, and it comes with major – and sometimes lifelong – health consequences](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/10/obesity-in-children-is-rising-dramatically-and-it-comes-with-major-and-sometimes-lifelong-health-consequences/) - Christine Nguyen, University of Southern California In the past two decades, children have become more obese and have developed obesity at a younger age. A 2020 report found that 14.7 million children and adolescents in the U.S. live with obesity. Because obesity is a known risk factor for serious health problems, its rapid increase during
- [FDA’s approval of the world’s first vaccine against RSV will offer a new tool in an old fight – 4 questions answered](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/10/fdas-approval-of-the-worlds-first-vaccine-against-rsv-will-offer-a-new-tool-in-an-old-fight-4-questions-answered/) - Annette Regan, University of San Francisco The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first vaccine to prevent the respiratory infection RSV, short for respiratory syncytial virus, on May 3, 2023. The new shot represents six decades of starts and stops in the hunt for a vaccine to curb one of the most common
- [The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ends May 11. What does that mean for you?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/08/the-federal-covid-19-public-health-emergency-declaration-ends-may-11-what-does-that-mean-for-you/) - Kaila Lafferty, Public Health — Seattle & King County When the COVID-19 pandemic first began here in the US, the federal government put in place special emergency declarations that allowed them to rapidly respond to the spread of COVID-19 as well as addressing financial barriers to COVID-19-related care. On May 11, 2023, the Federal Public
- [Ask a Chatbot: ‘What’s for Dinner?’](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/03/ask-a-chatbot-whats-for-dinner/) - By Tarena Lofton, Kaiser Health News Olivia Scholes, 28, of Vancouver, British Columbia, has polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. She is among the estimated 1 in 10 women globally who are diagnosed with this hormonal condition, which can cause multiple ovarian cysts, infertility, weight gain, and other issues. After being diagnosed with PCOS about 10 years ago, Scholes
- [Risk of rehospitalization in younger women after heart attack nearly double that of men](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/02/risk-of-rehospitalization-in-younger-women-after-heart-attack-nearly-double-that-of-men/) - From the US National Institutes of Health Tuesday, May 2, 2023 Women aged 55 years and younger have nearly double the risk of rehospitalization in the year immediately after a heart attack compared to men of similar age, according to a study supported by the National Institutes of Health. Higher rates of risk factors such
- [After Idaho’s Strict Abortion Ban, OB-GYNs Stage a Quick Exodus](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/02/after-idahos-strict-abortion-ban-ob-gyns-stage-a-quick-exodus/) - By Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News SANDPOINT, Idaho — At a brewery in this northern Idaho city, hundreds of people recently held a wake of sorts to mourn the closure of Sandpoint’s only labor and delivery ward, collateral damage from the state’s Republican-led effort to criminalize nearly all abortions. Jen Quintano, the event’s organizer and a
- [Acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of liver injury, but it is largely preventable](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/01/acetaminophen-overdose-is-a-leading-cause-of-liver-injury-but-it-is-largely-preventable/) - Kelly Grindrod, University of Waterloo; Eric Yoshida, University of British Columbia, and Trana Hussaini, University of British Columbia Larissa was a 21-year-old Canadian college student recovering from COVID-19 when she died from complications related to an accidental overdose of acetaminophen, a medication in probably every drug store and most medicine cabinets in the country. At
- [How good is ChatGPT at diagnosing disease? A doctor puts it through its paces](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/05/01/how-good-is-chatgpt-at-diagnosing-disease-a-doctor-puts-it-through-its-paces/) - Stephen Hughes, Anglia Ruskin University For years, many have feared that artificial intelligence (AI) will take over national security mechanisms, leading to human slavery, domination of human society and perhaps the annihilation of humans. One way of killing humans is medical misdiagnosis, so it seems reasonable to examine the performance of ChatGPT, the AI chatbot
- [Q & A on recent Klebsiella outbreak at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Center](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/28/q-a-on-recent-klebsiella-outbreak-at-virginia-mason-franciscan-health-medical-center/) - Public Health Insider, Public Health — Seattle & King County August 25, 2017 In response to questions about hospital related infections and the outbreak of bacterial infections at the downtown campus of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Center (VMMC), we are providing answers to some common questions. First, what is Klebsiella [kleb−see−ell−uh] and how does
- [Millions of Kids Could Lose Health Coverage as States Purge Medicaid Rolls](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/26/millions-of-kids-could-lose-health-coverage-as-states-purge-medicaid-rolls/) - By Christine Vestal, Stateline Millions of parents who take their children to the doctor this year will hear devastating news: “Your Medicaid coverage has been canceled.” That’s because all 50 states are undertaking the biggest reshuffling of health insurance coverage since the Affordable Care Act took effect in 2010. But instead of adding insurance options
- [Oral sex is now the leading risk factor for throat cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/26/oral-sex-is-now-the-leading-risk-factor-for-throat-cancer/) - Hisham Mehanna, University of Birmingham Over the past two decades, there has been a rapid increase in throat cancer in the west, to the extent that some have called it an epidemic. This has been due to a large rise in a specific type of throat cancer called oropharyngeal cancer (the area of the tonsils
- [Why you need to stop scrolling in the bathroom](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/26/why-you-need-to-stop-scrolling-in-the-bathroom/) - The dirty truth about your phone – and why you need to stop scrolling in the bathroom Primrose Freestone, University of Leicester We carry them everywhere, take them to bed, to the bathroom and for many people they’re the first thing they see in the morning – more than 90% of the world owns or uses
- [My scan shows I have thyroid nodules. Should I be worried?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/26/my-scan-shows-i-have-thyroid-nodules-should-i-be-worried/) - Brooke Nickel, University of Sydney; Anna Story, University of Sydney; Anthony Glover, University of Sydney, and Patti Shih, University of Wollongong The thyroid is a gland located at the base of the neck. It makes thyroid hormones, which control the way the body uses energy. A thyroid nodule is a solid or fluid-filled lump found
- [Washington state COVID-19 exposure app to end May 11](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/25/washington-state-covid-19-exposure-app-to-end-may-11/) - The smartphone technology served as a crucial tool to reduce transmission rates and save lives WA Notify—the Washington state's COVID-19 exposure notification app—is scheduled to sunset May 11 in tandem with the end of the Public Health Emergency. The smartphone application utilizes privacy-preserving Bluetooth technology to anonymously alert users they may have been exposed to someone
- [Free Dental, Vision and Medical Care Offered for People in Need](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/20/free-dental-vision-and-medical-care-offered-for-people-in-need/) - From Public Health — Seattle & King County Seattle/King County Clinic returns for an eighth year to Seattle Center, April 27 – 30, with free dental, medical, and eye care services for those who struggle to access or afford healthcare. Led by Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation, Seattle/King County Clinic brings together healthcare organizations,
- [Emergency contraception is often confused with abortion pills – here’s how Plan B and other generic versions work to prevent pregnancy](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/19/emergency-contraception-is-often-confused-with-abortion-pills-heres-how-plan-b-and-other-generic-versions-work-to-prevent-pregnancy/) - Amie Ashcraft, West Virginia University Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 and the end of constitutional protection for abortion, emergency contraception has become more difficult to obtain and – more than ever – shrouded in misinformation. Attempting to control inventory, Amazon, Rite Aid and Walmart have imposed purchase limits on the
- [Gun Deaths Drive Historic Spike in Child Mortality Rates](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/18/gun-deaths-drive-historic-spike-in-child-mortality-rates/) - Christine Vestal and Tim HendersonStaff Writers / Stateline After decades of steady improvement, the death rate of America’s children and teens shot up between 2019 and 2021 — and COVID-19 wasn’t the reason. Gun-related deaths represented the largest share of the increase — by far. According to an analysis of the most recent death certificate data from
- [After Nashville Shooting, Democratic States Push for New Gun Restrictions](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/17/after-nashville-shooting-democratic-states-push-for-new-gun-restrictions/) - Matt VasilogambrosStaff Writer, Stateline After a shooter killed three elementary school children and three faculty members in Nashville last month, hundreds of student activists flooded the Tennessee state Capitol to demand new gun restrictions. On the state House floor, three Democratic members disrupted proceedings by shouting through bullhorns, calling for a debate on firearm access.
- [Anti-mifepristone court decisions rely on medical misinformation about abortion and questionable legal reasoning](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/17/anti-mifepristone-court-decisions-rely-on-medical-misinformation-about-abortion-and-questionable-legal-reasoning/) - Jamie Rowen, UMass Amherst and Tami S. Rowen, University of California, San Francisco An early April 2023 decision by a U.S. district judge in Texas to reverse 23 years of approval of the abortion pill mifepristone has sparked explosive debate. Mifepristone is a medicine that blocks the receptors for the hormone progesterone, which is needed
- [Planning for a baby? Why both men and women should consider quitting alcohol before and during pregnancy](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/17/11033/) - Lolita Alfred, City, University of London; Jayne Walker, University of Hull, and Lesley Smith, University of Hull When a couple is planning on having a baby, it’s often the woman who is seen as responsible for the health of the unborn child. In the UK, the chief medical officer’s drinking guidelines recommend that women should
- [The number of elderly dying of malnutrition in the US has more than doubled since 2018](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/13/the-number-of-elderly-dying-of-malnutrition-in-the-us-has-more-than-doubled-since-2918/) - The Rate of Older Californians Dying of Malnutrition Has Accelerated By Phillip Reese, KFFNews A growing number of California’s oldest residents are dying of malnutrition, a yearslong trend that accelerated during the covid pandemic. Deaths attributed to malnutrition more than doubled, from about 650 in 2018 to roughly 1,400 in 2022, according to preliminary death certificate
- [Public Health — Seattle & King County describes its efforts to reduce overdoses](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/13/public-health-seattle-king-county-describes-its-efforts-to-reduce-overdoses/) - Fred Mariscal, Public Health — Seattle & King County With the risk of fatal overdose from fentanyl, we want to ensure everyone in King County has access to tools to help reduce the risk of overdose deaths in our community. Naloxone, the medication to reverse an overdose, and fentanyl test strips are two of the
- [Most Americans Say They or a Family Member Has Experienced Gun Violence](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/11/most-americans-say-they-or-a-family-member-has-experienced-gun-violence/) - By Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News A majority of Americans say they or a family member has experienced gun violence, such as witnessing a shooting, being threatened by a person with a gun, or being shot, according to a sweeping new survey. The national survey of 1,271 adults conducted by KFF revealed the severe physical and psychological
- [What causes motion sickness?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/11/what-causes-motion-sickness/) - James Phillips, University of Washington My first experience with motion sickness was as a college student, standing on the back of a marine research vessel looking at interesting things dredged from the seafloor off the California coast. It was a day trip, the weather was good and the sea was calm. I was unaware of
- [The FDA’s rule change requiring providers to inform women about breast density could lead to a flurry of questions](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/11/11010/) - Wendie A. Berg, University of Pittsburgh The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized a regulation in early March 2023 that updates mammography reporting requirements. The new regulation goes into effect on Sept. 10, 2024, and will require that all women receive information about breast density following a mammogram. It will also require they be told
- [Why Finland is the happiest country in the world – an expert explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/10/why-finland-is-the-happiest-country-in-the-world-an-expert-explains/) - Danny Dorling, University of Oxford Finland has been the happiest country on earth for the past six years, according to the World Happiness Survey. This survey relies on the Cantril ladder life evaluation question: Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the
- [Eating disorders are deadly: What are they, who’s at risk, and what can be done about it](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/09/eating-disorders-are-deadly-what-are-they-whos-at-risk-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/) - Simon Sherry, Dalhousie University Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are serious health risks, and can be life-threatening. They are also common, especially among teenage girls. More than 100,000 Canadians over the age of 15 are diagnosed with an eating disorder each year. Onset usually occurs between ages 14
- [Does exercise help you lose weight?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/04/09/does-exercise-help-you-lose-weight/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney It’s no surprise exercise is one of the first things we turn to when we decide it’s time to lose weight. We readily sign up for that gym membership and commit to extra walks with the dog, believing if we exercise enough, the number on the scales will drop. Perhaps
- [Unconscious biases continue to hold back women in medicine, but research shows how to fight them and get closer to true equity and inclusion](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/31/unconscious-biases-continue-to-hold-back-women-in-medicine-but-research-shows-how-to-fight-them-and-get-closer-to-true-equity-and-inclusion/) - Jennifer R. Grandis, University of California, San Francisco If you work at a company, university or large organization, you’ve probably sat through a required training session meant to fight gender and racial discrimination in the workplace. Employers increasingly invest in efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion – commonly referred to as DEI policies. Yet
- [How Cigna Saves Millions by Having Its Doctors Reject Claims Without Reading Them](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/25/how-cigna-saves-millions-by-having-its-doctors-reject-claims-without-reading-them/) - by Patrick Rucker, Maya Miller and David ArmstrongProPublica and Capitol Forum When a stubborn pain in Nick van Terheyden’s bones would not subside, his doctor had a hunch what was wrong. Without enough vitamin D in the blood, the body will pull that vital nutrient from the bones. Left untreated, a vitamin D deficiency can
- [COVID origins debate: what to make of new findings linking the virus to raccoon dogs](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/24/covid-origins-debate-what-to-make-of-new-findings-linking-the-virus-to-raccoon-dogs/) - Connor G G Bamford, Queen's University Belfast The origin of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, has long been a topic of heated debate. While many believe SARS-CoV-2 spread to humans from an animal at Wuhan’s Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, others have argued the virus was accidentally leaked from a lab at the Wuhan Institute
- [Being ‘Socially Frail’ Comes With Health Risks for Older Adults](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/24/being-socially-frail-comes-with-health-risks-for-older-adults/) - By Judith Graham, KHN Consider three hypothetical women in their mid-70s, all living alone in identical economic circumstances with the same array of ailments: diabetes, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Ms. Green stays home most of the time and sometimes goes a week without seeing people. But she’s in frequent touch by phone with friends and
- [Federal Study Calls U.S. Stillbirth Rate “Unacceptably High” and Recommends Action](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/23/federal-study-calls-u-s-stillbirth-rate-unacceptably-high-and-recommends-action/) - by Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica Federal officials have released a bleak assessment of the country’s progress in understanding and preventing stillbirths, calling the rate “unacceptably high” and issuing a series of recommendations to reduce it through research and prevention. The National Institutes of Health report, titled “Working to Address the Tragedy of Stillbirth,” mirrored findings of
- [Breast cancer: progestogen-only and combined birth control both increase risk – here’s what you need to know](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/22/breast-cancer-progestogen-only-and-combined-birth-control-both-increase-risk-heres-what-you-need-to-know/) - Susan Walker, Anglia Ruskin University Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, with around 2.3 million women diagnosed with the disease every year. In the UK alone, it is estimated that one in seven women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. The biggest determinants for developing
- [<strong>Frozen Organic Strawberries and a Tropical Fruit Blend Recalled Because of Hepatitis A Risk</strong>](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/21/frozen-organic-strawberries-and-a-tropical-fruit-blend-recalled-because-of-hepatitis-a-risk/) - Residents urged to avoid certain frozen organic strawberries and a tropical fruit blend OLYMPIA – Several brands of frozen organic strawberries and one tropical fruit blend are being recalled following a hepatitis A outbreak that’s sickened at least five Washington residents. Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Ore. has announced a recall of frozen Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberries sold at
- [AI chatbots are still far from replacing human therapists](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/21/10961/) - Ghalia Shamayleh, Concordia University Imagine being stuck in traffic while running late to an important meeting at work. You feel your face overheating as your thoughts start to race along: “they’re going to think I’m a horrible employee,” “my boss never liked me,” “I’m going to get fired.” You reach into your pocket and open
- [3 ways to unlock the power of food to promote heart health](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/20/3-ways-to-unlock-the-power-of-food-to-promote-heart-health/) - Shannan M. Grant, Mount Saint Vincent University; Andrea J. Glenn, Harvard University, and Dayna Lee-Baggley, Dalhousie University Your diet — the foods and drinks you eat, not short-term restrictive programs — can impact your heart disease risk. Evidence-based approaches to eating are used by dietitians and physicians to prevent and treat cardiovascular (heart) disease. National
- [As bird flu continues to spread in the US and worldwide, what’s the risk that it could start a human pandemic? 4 questions answered](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/16/as-bird-flu-continues-to-spread-in-the-us-and-worldwide-whats-the-risk-that-it-could-start-a-human-pandemic-4-questions-answered/) - Sara Sawyer, University of Colorado Boulder; Emma Worden-Sapper, University of Colorado Boulder, and Sharon Wu, University of Colorado Boulder An outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza that started in 2021 has become the largest bird flu outbreak in history, both in the U.S. and worldwide. In the U.S. the virus has led to the destruction of
- [Ozempic helps weight loss by making you feel full. But certain foods can do the same thing – without the side-effects](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/20/ozempic-helps-weight-loss-by-making-you-feel-full-but-certain-foods-can-do-the-same-thing-without-the-side-effects/) - Emma Beckett, University of Newcastle You’ve probably heard about the medication Ozempic, used to manage type 2 diabetes and as a weight loss drug. Ozempic (and the similar drug Wegovy) has had more than its fair share of headlines and controversies. A global supply shortage, tweets about using it from Elon Musk, approval for adolescent
- [Are you a rapid ager?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/15/are-you-a-rapid-ager/) - Biological age is a better health indicator than the number of years you’ve lived, but it’s tricky to measure Aditi Gurkar, University of Pittsburgh Do you ever wake up some days and think, “When I was younger, I could survive on just four hours of sleep, but now it seems like I need 10”? Or have
- [](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/15/10942/) - Three years on, the COVID pandemic may never end – but the public health impact is becoming more manageable Michael Head, University of Southampton Three years ago, on March 11 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus first formally described COVID-19 as a pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on all aspects of society
- [HOW TO KEEP MEDICAID APPLE HEALTH INSURANCE AS POLICIES CHANGE](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/15/how-to-keep-medicaid-apple-health-insurance-as-policies-change/) - By Keith Seinfeld, Public Health - Seattle and King County Thousands of people who have health insurance through Medicaid (also known as Apple Health, in Washington) risk losing coverage in coming months. Public Health—Seattle & King County and its partners in the community are leading an effort to help them take action in time. For
- [Seattle group reports TB vaccine advance](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/14/seattle-group-reports-tb-vaccine-advance/) - Temperature-stable TB vaccine is safe and provokes immune response By Brian Doctrow, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health. An experimental tuberculosis vaccine that can be stored at room temperature was safe and provoked an immune response in a Phase 1 clinical trial. If proven effective in larger trials, the vaccine could make tuberculosis prevention more accessible
- [AI chatbots are still far from replacing human therapists](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/14/ai-chatbots-are-still-far-from-replacing-human-therapists/) - Ghalia Shamayleh, Concordia University https://narrations.ad-auris.com/widget/the-conversation-canada/ai-chatbots-are-still-far-from-replacing-human-therapists Imagine being stuck in traffic while running late to an important meeting at work. You feel your face overheating as your thoughts start to race along: “they’re going to think I’m a horrible employee,” “my boss never liked me,” “I’m going to get fired.” You reach into your pocket and
- [Is menopause making me put on weight? No, but it’s complicated](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/14/10925/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney It’s a question people ask often: does menopause cause weight gain? Women commonly put on weight as they enter menopause. Research shows women aged 46-57 gain an average of 2.1kg over five years. But like many things related to weight, all is not what it seems, and the relationship between
- [Pregnancy nose isn’t the only weird change your body may go through when you’re expecting](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/13/pregnancy-nose-isnt-the-only-weird-change-your-body-may-go-through-when-youre-expecting/) - Adam Taylor, Lancaster University There are certain changes people expect to experience when they get pregnant. Whether that’s unconventional food cravings, a “glowing” complexion or morning sickness. But some of the changes the body goes through during pregnancy can be a tad more unconventional. Recently, many women have taken to social media to share photos
- [How do you make a universal flu vaccine?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/13/how-do-you-make-a-universal-flu-vaccine/) - Deborah Fuller, University of Washington To everything there is a season, and for the flu, it’s wintertime. Flu cases peak between December and February, and the flu vaccine is your best defense. Getting the vaccine means you will be less sick even if you get a breakthrough infection. However, your immune system is in a
- [Texas Abortion Ruling Nears, But Blue States Aren't Waiting to Protect Pill Access](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/10/texas-abortion-ruling-nears-but-blue-states-arent-waiting-to-protect-pill-access/) - By Christine Vestal, Stateline A federal judge in Texas soon could make one of the two pills used in medication abortions harder to come by, even in blue states that support abortion rights. Officials and advocates in those states aren’t waiting for the judge to rule. They’re trying to ensure continued access to the drugs
- [Springing forward into daylight saving time is a step back for health – a neurologist explains the medical evidence, and why this shift is worse than the fall time change](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/08/springing-forward-into-daylight-saving-time-is-a-step-back-for-health-a-neurologist-explains-the-medical-evidence-and-why-this-shift-is-worse-than-the-fall-time-change/) - Beth Ann Malow, Vanderbilt University As people in the U.S. prepare to set their clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 12, 2023, I find myself bracing for the annual ritual of media stories about the disruptions to daily routines caused by switching from standard time to daylight saving time. About one-third of Americans say
- [Sexual and reproductive telehealth services now available in Washington state.](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/08/sexual-and-reproductive-telehealth-services-now-available-in-washington-state/) - Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has launched a new webpage and tool to find telehealth sexual and reproductive health care services in Washington. The new DOH webpage and tool offer information about 37 clinics in the Washington State Sexual and Reproductive Health Network that provide telehealth appointments. Available telehealth services include birth control refills, pregnancy options counseling, emergency contraceptives, and
- [Struggling to Survive, the First Rural Hospitals Line Up for New Federal Lifeline](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/07/struggling-to-survive-the-first-rural-hospitals-line-up-for-new-federal-lifeline/) - By Sarah Jane Tribble, KHN Just off the historic U.S. Route 66 in eastern New Mexico, a 10-bed hospital has for decades provided emergency care for a steady flow of people injured in car crashes and ranching accidents. It also has served as a close-to-home option for the occasional overnight patient, usually older residents with pneumonia
- [Eli Lilly is cutting insulin prices and capping copays at $35 – 5 questions answered](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/06/eli-lilly-is-cutting-insulin-prices-and-capping-copays-at-35-5-questions-answered/) - Dana Goldman, University of Southern California and Karen Van Nuys, University of Southern California Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is slashing the list prices for some of its most popular insulin products by 70% and capping insulin copays at US$35 for uninsured patients and those with private health insurance. These changes follow efforts by the federal
- [Where are we at in King County with COVID-19?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/03/where-are-we-at-in-king-county-with-covid-19/) - WHERE WE’RE AT WITH COVID-19: A CONVERSATION WITH DR. JEFF DUCHIN Public Health Insider Now that we’re through the thick of winter, what’s happening with COVID-19 locally? We asked our Health Officer, Dr. Jeff Duchin, to share his thoughts on what’s happening now in King County. Dr. Duchin, how is King County currently doing with
- [Masking requirements in healthcare, long-term care, and correctional facilities to end April 3 in Washington state.](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/03/masking-requirements-in-healthcare-long-term-care-and-correctional-facilities-to-end-april-3-in-washington-state/) - COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue downward trend nationwide Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA -- Effective April 3, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will end the Secretary of Health Mask Order, which currently requires universal masking in healthcare, long-term care, and adult correctional facilities for people age 5 and older. In Washington, COVID-19, RSV,
- [Exercise is even more effective than counselling or medication for depression. But how much do you need?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/03/exercise-is-even-more-effective-than-counselling-or-medication-for-depression-but-how-much-do-you-need/) - Ben Singh, University of South Australia; Carol Maher, University of South Australia, and Jacinta Brinsley, University of South Australia The world is currently grappling with a mental health crisis, with millions of people reporting depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. According to recent estimates, nearly half of all Australians will experience a mental health
- [Beware of Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and Treatments—FDA warns](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/03/01/beware-of-fraudulent-coronavirus-tests-vaccines-and-treatments-fda-warns/) - U.S. Food and Drug Administration While we remain vigilant to protect our families and communities from the spread of COVID-19, some might be tempted to buy or use questionable products that claim to help diagnose, treat, cure and even prevent coronavirus disease. Some people and companies are trying to profit from this disease by selling
- [Surprise-Billing Law Loophole: When ‘Out of Network’ Doesn’t Quite Mean Out of Network](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/28/surprise-billing-law-loophole-when-out-of-network-doesnt-quite-mean-out-of-network/) - By Harris Meyer, Kaiser Health News It was the first day of her family’s vacation in the San Juan Islands last June when Danielle Laskey, who was 26 weeks pregnant, thought she was leaking amniotic fluid. A registered nurse, Laskey called her OB-GYN back home in Seattle, who said to seek immediate care. Staff members at
- [80% of pregnancy-related deaths in Washington state were preventable, study](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/28/80-of-pregnancy-related-deaths-in-washington-state-were-preventable-study/) - From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has released its 2023 Maternal Mortality Review Report, with findings that behavioral health conditions, including suicide and overdose, remain the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths. The report is based on reviews conducted by DOH’s Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP). DOH publishes maternal mortality
- [One easy way to fight antibiotic resistance? Good hand hygiene](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/28/one-easy-way-to-fight-antibiotic-resistance-good-hand-hygiene/) - Kristofer Wollein Waldetoft, Georgia Institute of Technology Can washing your hands help stop the evolution of antibiotic resistance? Mathematically, it’s possible. Antibiotics save lives by killing bacteria that cause infections. But antibiotics don’t just kill infection-causing bacteria or stay in the area of the body where the infection is occurring. Instead, antibiotics spread across the
- [Considering going off antidepressants? Here’s what to think about first](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/27/considering-going-off-antidepressants-heres-what-to-think-about-first/) - Treasure McGuire, The University of Queensland Mental health is key to health and wellbeing. Yet two in five Australians aged 16 to 85 (44%) experience a mental illness during their lifetime, commonly anxiety or depression. And in Australia more than 32 million antidepressant prescriptions are dispensed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme each year for these
- [What is delirium?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/27/what-is-delirium/) - Christina Aggar, Southern Cross University Delirium is a sudden decline in a person’s usual mental function. It occurs when signals in the brain aren’t sending and receiving properly, causing confusion in thinking and altered behaviour or levels of consciousness. Delirium isn’t a disease – it’s a clinical syndrome or condition that is usually temporary and
- [Female football players are at much higher risk of career-ending ACL injuries – the science on why](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/25/female-football-players-are-at-much-higher-risk-of-career-ending-acl-injuries-the-science-on-why/) - Colin Ayre, University of Bradford; Paul Millington, University of Bradford, and Stephen Paul Guy, University of Leeds Women’s football is riding high. Not only are fans celebrating the success of the England team at the Arnold Clark Cup and Euro 2022, but this year will see the Fifa Women’s World Cup kick off in July.
- [Rejecting science has a long history – the pandemic showed what happens when you ignore this](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/24/rejecting-science-has-a-long-history-the-pandemic-showed-what-happens-when-you-ignore-this/) - Katrine K. Donois, Anglia Ruskin University Fear engulfed everyone during the pandemic. Yet when a vaccine became available, it was met with fierce resistance. Anti-vaccination crowds formed, and some of these groups argued this vaccine was against their religious beliefs. Many didn’t trust the scientists and their explanation for how they said the disease spread.
- [Addiction Treatment May Be Coming to a Pharmacy Near You](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/24/addiction-treatment-may-be-coming-to-a-pharmacy-near-you/) - By Christine Vestal, Stateline Surprising new results from a first-of-its-kind study in Rhode Island could hold a key to getting addiction medication to more people who need it: allowing patients to get prescriptions at their local pharmacy rather than a doctor’s office. The change would particularly help those with low incomes who lack housing and transportation, the
- [The fungus zombies in ‘The Last of Us’ are fictional, but real fungi can infect people, and they’re becoming more resistant](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/24/the-fungus-zombies-in-the-last-of-us-are-fictional-but-real-fungi-can-infect-people-and-theyre-becoming-more-resistant/) - Gerry Wright, McMaster University Many of the people watching The Last of Us are likely there for the zombies. I love the zombies too, but I’m really there for the fungus. I’ve been studying fungi since my PhD work in the 1980s, and I grow more fascinated by these amazing organisms with every passing year.
- [What is Tourette syndrome, the condition Lewis Capaldi lives with?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/24/what-is-tourette-syndrome-the-condition-lewis-capaldi-lives-with/) - Daryl Efron, The University of Melbourne You might have seen the news fans of singer Lewis Capaldi helped him finish a song at a concert this week, after symptoms of his Tourette syndrome suddenly flared up and temporarily prevented him from performing. So, what is Tourette syndrome and how is it managed? Here’s what you
- [Science Falls Behind as Syphilis Stages Another Comeback](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/24/science-falls-behind-as-syphilis-stages-another-comeback/) - By Bhargavi Duvvuri, Undark Magazine. Syphilis has long been difficult to eradicate — and it’s having another resurgence. In the United States alone, more than 171,000 cases of the sexually-transmitted infection were reported in 2021, up 68 percent since 2017, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Especially concerning, doctors
- [Mental Health Care Must Promote Wellness, Not Just Treat Illness](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/24/mental-health-care-must-promote-wellness-not-just-treat-illness/) - By Jeffrey Lam, Undark Magazine It has become a cliche to say the U.S. mental health care system is in crisis. But it’s true. Treatment options are limited, drugs are often ineffective, and there are too few providers to meet the ballooning demand for services. As a psychiatric resident physician who regularly diagnoses and treats
- [Texas Town Tries a New Model for Saving Rural Health Care](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/23/texas-town-tries-a-new-model-for-saving-rural-health-care/) - By David Montgomery, Stateline BOWIE, Texas — After sitting empty and exposed to thieves and vandals for more than two years, the one-story hospital that served Bowie for more than five decades is close to making a comeback — of sorts. Reflecting the struggles facing hospitals throughout rural America, Bowie Memorial Hospital has closed twice
- [Three in five long COVID patients have organ damage a year after infection](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/23/three-in-five-long-covid-patients-have-organ-damage-a-year-after-infection/) - Amitava Banerjee, UCL The latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggests that more than 1.2 million people in the UK report living with long COVID for 12 months or more. Several studies have confirmed that symptoms can persist in people with long COVID for more than a year after infection. And long COVID
- [Act fast if you feel you have COVID symptoms, Medicare urges](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/23/act-fast-if-you-feel-you-have-covid-symptoms-medicare-urges/) - From Medicare Feeling sick? If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, act fast!COVID-19 antiviral treatments can help reduce your symptoms and keep you out of the hospital, but you must take them as soon as possible. Follow these steps to reduce your chances of severe illness: Get tested as soon as possible. Medicare covers up to 8 over-the-counter
- [We can learn a lot about long COVID from years of diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/23/we-can-learn-a-lot-about-long-covid-from-years-of-diagnosing-and-treating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/) - Sarah Annesley, La Trobe University; Elisha Josev, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and Michelle Tavoletti, La Trobe University Long COVID reportedly affects about 10% of post-COVID patients, and describes a range of ongoing or new symptoms three months post-infection. Given the COVID pandemic has infected more than 750 million people worldwide, it’s clear long COVID will
- [Epigenetic and social factors both predict aging and health – but new research suggests one might be stronger](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/22/epigenetic-and-social-factors-both-predict-aging-and-health-but-new-research-suggests-one-might-be-stronger/) - Eileen Crimmins, University of Southern California and Jessica Faul, University of Michigan Can we objectively tell how fast we are aging? With a good measure, scientists might be able to change our rate of aging to live longer and healthier lives. Researchers know that some people age faster than others and have been trying to
- [We got some key things wrong about long COVID. Here are 5 things we’ve learnt](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/22/we-got-some-key-things-wrong-about-long-covid-here-are-5-things-weve-learnt/) - Peter Wark, University of Newcastle In late 2020 as we hid from COVID behind the moat of “fortress Australia”, we started to hear that in some people, COVID symptoms persisted for months. They were called “long haulers” or had “long COVID”. Contrary to what we’d expected, it wasn’t just affecting people’s lungs or breathing. Long
- [What’s the ‘weight set point’, and why does it make it so hard to keep weight off?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/22/whats-the-weight-set-point-and-why-does-it-make-it-so-hard-to-keep-weight-off/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney If you’ve ever tried to lose weight but found the kilos return almost as quickly as they left, you’re not alone. In fact, the challenge of maintaining weight loss is confirmed by research, including an analysis of 29 long-term weight loss studies that found more than half of the weight
- [Turning 50? Here are 4 things you can do to improve your health and well-being](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/21/turning-50-here-are-4-things-you-can-do-to-improve-your-health-and-well-being/) - Jay Maddock, Texas A&M University When the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve to mark the beginning of 2023, I came to grips with the fact that I would turn 50 years old this year. Entering a new decade is often a time to pause and reflect on our lives, particularly when reaching middle age.
- [Many Americans wrongly assume they understand what normal blood pressure is – and that false confidence can be deadly](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/20/many-americans-wrongly-assume-they-understand-what-normal-blood-pressure-is-and-that-false-confidence-can-be-deadly/) - Wändi Bruine de Bruin, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Mark Huffman, Washington University in St Louis Stunning as it may sound, nearly half of Americans ages 20 years and up – or more than 122 million people – have high blood pressure, according to a 2023 report from the American Heart
- [A nagging cough can hang on for weeks or months following a respiratory illness – and there is precious little you can do about it](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/15/a-nagging-cough-can-hang-on-for-weeks-or-months-following-a-respiratory-illness-and-there-is-precious-little-you-can-do-about-it/) - Kyle B. Enfield, University of Virginia When was the last time you walked into a public space and didn’t hear someone coughing? After three years of flinching at the sound, it can be disarming to hear so many people coughing – and embarrassing if it’s you. But take heart in knowing that you’re not alone.
- [Black and Hispanic Americans found to experience more long Covid symptoms](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/16/black-and-hispanic-americans-found-to-experience-more-long-covid-symptoms/) - NIH RECOVER research identifies potential long COVID disparities February 16, 2023, 9:00 AM EST From the U.S. National Institutes of Health NIH-supported studies show variations in symptoms and diagnostic experiences among different racial and ethnic groups Black and Hispanic Americans appear to experience more symptoms and health problems related to long COVID , a lay term that
- [Use of psychedelics to treat PTSD, OCD, depression and chronic pain – a researcher discusses recent trials, possible risks](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/15/use-of-psychedelics-to-treat-ptsd-ocd-depression-and-chronic-pain-a-researcher-discusses-recent-trials-possible-risks/) - Jennifer Mitchell, University of California, San Francisco New research is exploring whether psychedelic drugs, taken under strict medical supervision, might help in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. SciLine interviewed Dr. Jennifer Mitchell – a professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science in the School of Medicine
- [States, Cities Scramble to Combat Animal ‘Tranq’ in Street Drugs](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/13/states-cities-scramble-to-combat-animal-tranq-in-street-drugs/) - By Christine Vestal, Stateline As a dangerous new additive found in fentanyl and other street drugs surges from coast to coast, health officials in nearly every state are scrambling to track it. Xylazine, a large-animal tranquilizer not approved for human use, started showing up routinely in the drug supply in 2019, but didn’t take
- [Doctors Are Disappearing From Emergency Rooms as Hospitals Look to Cut Costs](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/13/doctors-are-disappearing-from-emergency-rooms-as-hospitals-look-to-cut-costs/) - By Brett Kelman and Blake Farmer, Nashville Public RadioKaiser Health News. Pregnant and scared, Natasha Valle went to a Tennova Healthcare hospital in Clarksville, Tennessee, in January 2021 because she was bleeding. She didn’t know much about miscarriage, but this seemed like one. In the emergency room, she was examined then sent home, she said. She went back
- [Faeces, urine and sweat – just how gross are hot tubs? A microbiologist explains](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/11/faeces-urine-and-sweat-just-how-gross-are-hot-tubs-a-microbiologist-explains/) - Primrose Freestone, University of Leicester For many centuries we have bathed in communal waters. Sometimes for cleanliness but more often for pleasure. Indeed, in ancient Greece, baths were taken in freshwater, or sometimes the sea – which was thought of as a sacred place dedicated to local gods and so was considered an act of
- [A journey from work to home is about more than just getting there – the psychological benefits of commuting that remote work doesn’t provide](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/10/a-journey-from-work-to-home-is-about-more-than-just-getting-there-the-psychological-benefits-of-commuting-that-remote-work-doesnt-provide/) - Matthew Piszczek, Wayne State University and Kristie McAlpine, Rutgers University For most American workers who commute, the trip to and from the office takes nearly one full hour a day – 26 minutes each way on average, with 7.7% of workers spending two hours or more on the road. Many people think of commuting as
- [Genetics might explain why some people have never had COVID](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/10/genetics-might-explain-why-some-people-have-never-had-covid/) - . . . but we shouldn’t be too focused on finding out Lindsay Broadbent, University of Surrey It’s been over three years since the first known COVID infection. Since then, we’ve seen hundreds of millions of cases around the globe. You’ve probably had it – at least once, if not multiple times – as has nearly
- [Medication abortion could get harder to obtain – or easier: There’s a new wave of post-Dobbs lawsuits on abortion pills](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/09/medication-abortion-could-get-harder-to-obtain-or-easier-theres-a-new-wave-of-post-dobbs-lawsuits-on-abortion-pills/) - Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia and Sonia Suter, George Washington University Medication abortion now accounts for more than half of all abortions in the United States. Typically, patients take a two different pills: first mifepristone, then misoprostol. Even though this option has been legally available for more than two decades, two recent events have raised
- [States Strive to Reverse Shortage of Paramedics, EMTs](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/09/states-strive-to-reverse-shortage-of-paramedics-emts/) - By Marsha MercerStateline Low wages, a lack of work-life balance and burnout are among factors driving emergency medical services personnel around the country to quit ambulance duty. Last year, the turnover rate for full-time emergency medical technicians, known as EMTs, was 36% and for full-time paramedics, it was 27%, according to an American Ambulance Association
- [The science of holding your breath: How could Kate Winslet stay underwater for over 7 minutes in Avatar 2?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/08/the-science-of-holding-your-breath-how-could-kate-winslet-stay-underwater-for-over-7-minutes-in-avatar-2/) - Anthony Bain, University of Windsor Kate Winslet reportedly held her breath for seven minutes and 15 seconds on set for Avatar: The Way of Water. Some of the movie’s scenes were filmed underwater. It’s a remarkable feat; anyone (including professional freedivers) would acknowledge that a breath hold over seven minutes is extremely difficult. Most professional
- [Lung cancer rates have risen among nonsmokers and young women — why?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/07/lung-cancer-rates-have-risen-among-nonsmokers-and-young-women-why/) - Lung cancer rates have decreased for the Marlboro Man, but have risen steeply for nonsmokers and young women – an oncologist explains why Estelamari Rodriguez, University of Miami When many people think of an average lung cancer patient, they often imagine an older man smoking. But the face of lung cancer has changed. Over the past 15
- [Rare genetic disease may protect Ashkenazi Jews against tuberculosis – new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/07/rare-genetic-disease-may-protect-ashkenazi-jews-against-tuberculosis-new-study/) - Lalita Ramakrishnan, University of Cambridge and Laura Whitworth, University of Cambridge Tuberculosis, humanity’s greatest infectious killer, is caused by bacteria that usually affect the lungs but can also affect many other organs in the body. In 2021, around 10.6 million people worldwide fell ill with tuberculosis (TB) and 1.6 million people died from the disease.
- [Artificial tears product linked serious eye infections, health officials warn](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/01/artificial-tears-product-linked-serious-eye-infections-health-officials-warn/) - EzriCare Artificial Tears linked to antibiotic-resistant infections From the Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – Washington State’s Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a cluster of antibiotic-resistant infections that may be linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears. The infections have been caused by a variant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a
- [King County and the City of Seattle will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/06/king-county-and-the-city-of-seattle-will-no-longer-require-proof-of-vaccination-against-covid-19-as-a-condition-of-employment/) - From Seattle & King County, Seattle and King County guidance, Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Bruce Harrell announced today that King County and the City of Seattle will no longer require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment effective today. Throughout the pandemic, King County and the City of Seattle have used
- [Yes, masks reduce the risk of spreading COVID, despite a review saying they don’t](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/06/yes-masks-reduce-the-risk-of-spreading-covid-despite-a-review-saying-they-dont/) - C Raina MacIntyre, UNSW Sydney; Abrar Ahmad Chughtai, UNSW Sydney; David Fisman, University of Toronto, and Trish Greenhalgh, University of Oxford The question of whether and to what extent face masks work to prevent respiratory infections such as COVID and influenza has split the scientific community for decades. Although there is strong evidence face masks
- [Native Americans have experienced a dramatic decline in life expectancy during the COVID-19 pandemic – but the drop has been in the making for generations](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/02/03/10734/) - Allison Kelliher, University of North Dakota Six and one-half years. That’s the decline in life expectancy that the COVID-19 pandemic wrought upon American Indians and Alaska Natives, based on an August 2022 report from the National Center for Health Statistics. This astounding figure translates to an overall drop in average living years from 71.8 years
- [COVID-19 conspiracy theories that spread fastest focused on evil, secrecy—WSU study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/30/covid-19-conspiracy-theories-that-spread-fastest-focused-on-evil-secrecy-wsu-study-finds/) - From Washington State University In the early pandemic, conspiracy theories that were shared the most on Twitter highlighted malicious purposes and secretive actions of supposed bad actors behind the crisis, according to an analysis of nearly 400,000 posts. In the study, researchers identified commonalities in five of the most popular conspiracy theories: those related to
- [We tested the wastewater from planes to detect COVID among travellers – here’s what we found](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/24/we-tested-the-wastewater-from-planes-to-detect-covid-among-travellers-heres-what-we-found/) - Kata Farkas, Bangor University and Davey Jones, Bangor University Small traces of many pathogens, such as viruses we may be infected with, are excreted when we go to the toilet. Ultimately, these agents find their way to municipal wastewater treatment plants where sewage samples can be taken and the levels of these pathogens measured. This
- [NEW CASE OF MEASLES IN KING COUNTY](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/24/new-case-of-measles-in-king-county-3/) - Public Health InsiderPublic Health - Seattle & King County Public Health – Seattle & King County is investigating a confirmed measles case in a King County resident, an adult female. The individual was at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Providence Swedish First Hill while infectious. Anyone who was at these locations within the time span that this
- [Washington State Launches Investigation of Private Special Education Schools](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/20/washington-state-launches-investigation-of-private-special-education-schools/) - By Mike Reicher and Lulu Ramadan, The Seattle Times This story was originally published by ProPublica. Washington education officials have launched an investigation into the state’s largest network of privately run schools for students with disabilities, following a series of stories by The Seattle Times and ProPublica that documented poor conditions at the schools, the
- [Stop hating on pasta – it actually has a healthy ratio of carbs, protein and fat](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/20/stop-hating-on-pasta-it-actually-has-a-healthy-ratio-of-carbs-protein-and-fat/) - Emma Beckett, University of Newcastle New year, new you, new diet. It’s a familiar refrain. One popular dieting technique is to create a food blacklist. Quitting “carbs” or packaged foods is common, which can mean avoiding supermarket staples like pasta. But do we really need to ban pasta to improve our diets? This is what
- [Kicking off the new year by cleansing your body with a detox diet? A dietitian unpacks the science behind these fads](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/20/kicking-off-the-new-year-by-cleansing-your-body-with-a-detox-diet-a-dietitian-unpacks-the-science-behind-these-fads/) - Taylor Grasso, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Detox diets are often touted as a way to cleanse the body after the excess food and drinks that come with the holidays. These diets promise quick results and can particularly entice people around the new year, when there tends to be a renewed focus on health
- [Marriage provides health benefits – and here’s why](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/20/marriage-provides-health-benefits-and-heres-why/) - Libby Richards, Purdue University; Melissa Franks, Purdue University, and Rosie Shrout, Purdue University The new year is traditionally a time when many people feel a renewed commitment to create healthy habits, such as exercising regularly, drinking more water or eating more healthfully. It turns out that when it comes to health, married people have an
- [AMA offers 10 health recommendations for new year](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/20/ama-offers-10-health-recommendations-for-new-year/) - From the American Medical Association As the new year approaches, the American Medical Association (AMA) is offering 10 recommendations to help Americans make the most impactful, long-lasting improvements to their health in 2023 and beyond. “Many people kick off the start of each new year with big-picture health resolutions—ambitious, immediate lifestyle changes that are very
- [Websites Selling Abortion Pills Are Sharing Sensitive Data With Google](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/18/websites-selling-abortion-pills-are-sharing-sensitive-data-with-google/) - By Jennifer Gollan, ProPublica Online pharmacies that sell abortion pills are sharing sensitive data with Google and other third parties, which may allow law enforcement to prosecute those who use the medications to end their pregnancies, a ProPublica analysis has found. Using a tool created by the Markup, a nonprofit tech-journalism newsroom, ProPublica ran checks
- [Why it's hardest to lose those last few pounds](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/16/why-its-hardest-to-lose-those-last-few-pounds/) - Nick Fuller, University of Sydney Anyone who has tried to lose weight will be familiar with these nine frustrating words: the last five kilos are the hardest to lose. You’re just about to hit your target weight, but suddenly the scales won’t budge – even though you’re still following the same healthy diet, lifestyle habits
- [Sitting all day is terrible for your health – now, a new study finds a relatively easy way to counteract it](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/16/sitting-all-day-is-terrible-for-your-health-now-a-new-study-finds-a-relatively-easy-way-to-counteract-it/) - Keith Diaz, Columbia University The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea To reduce the harmful health effects of sitting, take a five-minute light walk every half-hour. That’s the key finding of a new study that my colleagues and I published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports
- [Child Vaccination Rates, Already Down Because of COVID, Fall Again](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/13/child-vaccination-rates-already-down-because-of-covid-fall-again/) - By Christine VestalStateline Child vaccination rates dipped into dangerous territory during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools were shuttered, and most doctors were only seeing emergency patients. But instead of recovering after schools reopened in 2021, those historically low rates worsened, according to new data from the federal Centers for Disease Control
- [US birth rates are at record lows – even though the number of kids most Americans say they want has held steady](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/12/us-birth-rates-are-at-record-lows-even-though-the-number-of-kids-most-americans-say-they-want-has-held-steady/) - Sarah Hayford, The Ohio State University and Karen Benjamin Guzzo, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Birth rates are falling in the U.S. After the highs of the Baby Boom in the mid-20th century and the lows of the Baby Bust in the 1970s, birth rates were relatively stable for nearly 50 years. But
- [How to look up the immunizations rate at your neighborhood school and in King County](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/12/how-to-look-up-the-immunizations-rate-at-your-neighborhood-school-and-in-king-county/) - Debra Berliner, Public Health - Seattle & King County What percentage of children in your child’s school are vaccinated against measles? How does your school district compare to others in King County? How have student immunization rates changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic? Find this and more on Public Health’s School Immunizations Data Dashboard,
- [More States Are Doing What They Can to Cap Insulin Costs](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/12/more-states-are-doing-what-they-can-to-cap-insulin-costs/) - By Michael Ollove, Stateline In her early 20s, Karisa Hunt learned the hard lesson of what happens when someone rations life-preserving medication. Hunt was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a 4 year old and has been on insulin since then to help control her blood sugar levels. But while in college and feeling guilty
- [Are gas stoves bad for your health?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/11/10659/) - Here’s why the federal government is considering new safety regulations. Jonathan Levy, Boston University Cooks love their gadgets, from countertop slow cookers to instant-read thermometers. Now, there’s increasing interest in magnetic induction cooktops – surfaces that cook much faster than conventional stoves, without igniting a flame or heating an electric coil. Some of this attention
- [Washington’s homelessness challenge focus of Inslee’s State of the State address](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/11/washingtons-homelessness-challenge-focus-of-inslees-state-of-the-state-address/) - By Brett Davis | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee called on lawmakers to deal with the state’s challenges – first and foremost among them: homelessness – with “ambition and audacity” during his State of the State speech on Tuesday, the second day of the legislative session. This year’s
- [Experts Debate the Risks of Made-to-Order DNA](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/10/experts-debate-the-risks-of-made-to-order-dna/) - By Michael SchulsonUndark Magazine In November 2016, virologist David Evans traveled to Geneva for a meeting of a World Health Organization committee on smallpox research. The deadly virus had been declared eradicated 36 years earlier; the only known live samples of smallpox were in the custody of the United States and Russian governments. Evans, though,
- [Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest shows need for CPR training and emergency defibrillators in public spaces](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/09/damar-hamlins-cardiac-arrest-shows-need-for-cpr-training-and-emergency-defibrillators-in-public-spaces/) - Adam Pyle, University of Toronto Football — a sport that involves violent collisions — came under shocking scrutiny on Jan. 2 when Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed from a cardiac event immediately following an on-field collision. Most fans already knew the sport was dangerous, often leading to broken limbs, torn ligaments and life-altering concussions.
- [China’s COVID situation is dire – but it shouldn’t pose a big risk to other countries](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/09/chinas-covid-situation-is-dire-but-it-shouldnt-pose-a-big-risk-to-other-countries/) - Paul Hunter, University of East Anglia China is currently in the midst of a severe wave of COVID infections and deaths. We don’t know exactly how bad it is because of significant gaps in official reporting, but by all indications, things are dire. News reports suggest hospitals and mortuaries are overflowing. So how did China
- [What caused Damar Hamlin's heart to stop?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/08/what-caused-damar-hamlins-heart-to-stop/) - Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during ‘Monday Night Football’ could be commotio cordis or a more common condition – a heart doctor answers 4 questions Wendy Tzou, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed on the field during a Monday night football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan.
- [Alcohol use is widely accepted, but even moderate consumption is associated with many harmful effects](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/06/alcohol-use-is-widely-accepted-but-even-moderate-consumption-is-associated-with-many-harmful-effects/) - Christina Mair, University of Pittsburgh This month, millions of Americans are taking part in “Dry January” in an effort to forgo alcohol for a month and cleanse themselves of the excesses of the holiday season. Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the world, including in the U.S. In 2020, nearly 70% of people
- [Most long COVID cases had mild initial infections, UW study finds](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/05/most-long-covid-cases-had-mild-initial-infections-uw-study-finds/) - Long COVID stemmed from mild cases of COVID-19 in most people, according to a new multicountry study Sarah Wulf Hanson, University of Washington and Theo Vos, University of Washington The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Even mild COVID-19 cases can have major and long-lasting effects on people’s health.
- [Spot reduction: why exercise probably can’t help you target fatty areas of the body](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/05/spot-reduction-why-exercise-probably-cant-help-you-target-fatty-areas-of-the-body/) - Christopher Gaffney, Lancaster University Many people who want to lose weight have a particular area of their body that they wish they could lose fat from most – whether that’s their stomach, arms or thighs. But while there’s no shortage of videos and guides online talking about how to best “blast fat” from these so-called
- [What happens to your body on a long-haul flight?](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/05/what-happens-to-your-body-on-a-long-haul-flight/) - Tony Schiemer, University of Adelaide If crowded airports are a sign, Australians are keen to get back into the skies. And if you’re flying long haul, in a few years you could have an even longer option. Qantas has announced from late 2025, it will fly passengers on non-stop flights from Australia’s east coast to
- [COVID and your gut: how a healthy microbiome can reduce the severity of infection – and vice versa](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/03/covid-and-your-gut-how-a-healthy-microbiome-can-reduce-the-severity-of-infection-and-vice-versa/) - Samuel J. White, Nottingham Trent University and Philippe B. Wilson, Nottingham Trent University A vast combination of microorganisms live in our gut, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Collectively, we refer to this as the the microbiome. Despite their tiny size, these microbes have significant effects on our health and wellbeing. In fact, the microbiome is
- [COVID in 2023 and beyond – why virus trends are more difficult to predict three years on](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/03/covid-in-2023-and-beyond-why-virus-trends-are-more-difficult-to-predict-three-years-on/) - Duncan Robertson, Loughborough University In 2020, we knew very little about the novel virus that was to become known as COVID-19. Now, as we enter 2023, a search of Google Scholar produces around five million results containing the term. So how will the pandemic be felt in 2023? This question is in some ways impossible
- [It’s OK to aim lower with your new year’s exercise resolutions](https://localhealthguide.com/2023/01/01/its-ok-to-aim-lower-with-your-new-years-exercise-resolutions/) - Just a few minutes a day can improve your muscle strength Ken Nosaka, Edith Cowan University One of the most popular new year’s resolutions is to exercise more. Many of us set ambitious goals requiring a big, regular commitment, but then abandon them because they’re too much to fit in. Plans to exercise more in the
- [Public Health - Seattle & King County report assesses its COVID response](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/30/public-health-seattle-king-county-report-assesses-its-covid-response/) - PUBLIC HEALTH REFLECTS ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM COVID-19 RESPONSE IN SUMMARY REPORT Public Health InsiderPublic Health - Seattle & King County Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) is excited to share an After-Action Report summarizing key information from the first two years (January 2020 – January 2022) of PHSKC’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The After-Action Report
- [Future Surge in Diabetes Could Dramatically Impact People Under 20 in U.S.](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/30/future-surge-in-diabetes-could-dramatically-impact-people-under-20-in-u-s/) - From the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The number of young people under age 20 with diabetes in the United States is likely to increase more rapidly in future decades, according to a new modeling study published today in Diabetes Care. Researchers forecasted a growing number of people under age 20 newly diagnosed with diabetes during
- [That annoying ringing, buzzing and hissing in the ear – a hearing specialist offers tips to turn down the tinnitus](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/29/that-annoying-ringing-buzzing-and-hissing-in-the-ear-a-hearing-specialist-offers-tips-to-turn-down-the-tinnitus/) - Bradley Kesser, University of Virginia Not a week goes by when I don’t see someone in my clinic complaining of a strange and constant phantom sound in one of their ears, or in both ears. The noise is loud, distracting and scary – and it doesn’t go away. The kind of sound varies from patient
- [Heavy periods are common. What can you do, and when should you seek help?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/28/heavy-periods-are-common-what-can-you-do-and-when-should-you-seek-help/) - Phoebe Holdenson Kimura, University of Sydney and Bianca Cannon, University of Sydney Around one in four women of reproductive age experience heavy periods, also known as heavy menstrual bleeding. Periods are a very personal experience and women (and people with uteruses) who have had heavy periods for a long time will often consider this normal,
- [Get help paying for prescriptions](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/28/get-help-paying-for-prescriptions/) - From the Washington State Health Care Authority Many Washington residents need help paying for prescription drugs. The Washington Prescription Drug Program (WPDP) offers a state-sponsored program to provide savings to Washingtonians. Washington residents who do not have prescription drug insurance coverage, or have limited coverage, can enroll in the ArrayRx Card program to purchase their medications at a discounted price.
- [Chronic pain: An invisible disease whose sufferers are unfairly stigmatized](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/28/chronic-pain-an-invisible-disease-whose-sufferers-are-unfairly-stigmatized/) - Marimée Godbout-Parent, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) Imagine living with pain every day for months, or even years — pain that is so intrusive, it disrupts every day of your life. Unfortunately, this is the daily reality of millions of people living with chronic pain. And all too often, they find their condition being
- [Sports journalist Grant Wahl died of an aortic aneurysm — here’s what it is](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/27/sports-journalist-grant-wahl-died-of-an-aortic-aneurysm-heres-what-it-is/) - Adam Taylor, Lancaster University American journalist Grant Wahl, who died while reporting on a match during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, is said to have suffered from a ruptured aortic aneurysm. This happens when bulging in the aorta (the main blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body)
- [As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/27/as-viral-infections-skyrocket-masks-are-still-a-tried-and-true-way-to-help-keep-yourself-and-others-safe/) - Emily Toth Martin, University of Michigan and Marisa Eisenberg, University of Michigan The cold and flu season of 2022 has begun with a vengeance. Viruses that have been unusually scarce over the past three years are reappearing at remarkably high levels, sparking a “tripledemic” of COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. This
- [What causes stuttering?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/27/what-causes-stuttering/) - What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder Xiaofan Lei, University of Minnesota What comes to mind when you think of someone who stutters? Is that person male or female? Are they weak and nervous, or powerful and heroic? If you have a choice, would you like
- [What is the 'stiff-person' syndrome affecting Celine Dion?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/26/what-is-the-stiff-person-syndrome-affecting-celine-dion/) - Celine Dion’s diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome brought a rare neurological diagnosis into the public eye – two neurologists explain the science behind it Bhavana Patel, University of Florida and Torge Rempe, University of Florida The announcement by celebrated singer Celine Dion in early December 2022 that she has stiff-person syndrome – a rare neurological disorder –
- [Are You an Optimist? Could You Learn to Be? Your Health May Depend on It.](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/14/are-you-an-optimist-could-you-learn-to-be-your-health-may-depend-on-it/) - By Judith GrahamKaiser Health News When you think about the future, do you expect good or bad things to happen? If you weigh in on the “good” side, you’re an optimist. And that has positive implications for your health in later life. Multiple studies show a strong association between higher levels of optimism and a reduced
- [Most Healthplanfinder enrollees can find a cheaper plan with the same coverage—if they shop around.](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/12/most-healthplanfinder-enrollees-can-find-a-cheaper-plan-with-the-same-coverage-if-they-shop-around/) - 80% of Washington state residents who are enrolled in a plan through Washington Healthplanfinder can shop around and save From Washington Healthplanfinder OLYMPIA, Wash. – The majority of Washington state residents who buy their health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder can find lower-cost plans that offer them the same level of coverage they had in 2022. An average of 80% of Washington
- [‘Significant investments’: Gov. Inslee previews legislative ask on behavioral health](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/12/significant-investments-gov-inslee-previews-legislative-ask-on-behavioral-health/) - By Brett Davis | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, speaking from the University of Washington Medical Center Northwest in Seattle at a Friday morning press conference, mentioned in broad terms five behavioral health policy proposals he would be asking of lawmakers during next year’s legislative session that is a
- [Local health officials and health system leaders in Washington state urge public to wear masks while in indoor spaces, keep up-to-date on vaccines](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/09/local-health-officials-and-health-system-leaders-in-washington-state-urge-public-to-wear-masks-while-in-indoor-spaces-keep-up-to-date-on-vaccines/) - Health officials in a dozen counties and leaders of more than a score of Washington state health systems today urged state residents to were masks while in indoor spaces. "Communities across our state and around the U.S. are experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral respiratory illnesses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and COVID-19.," they
- [As Overdose Deaths Rise, Few Emergency Rooms Offer Addiction Help](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/09/as-overdose-deaths-rise-few-emergency-rooms-offer-addiction-help/) - By Christine VestalStateline CHARLESTON, S.C. — Even in this easygoing, subtropical city, the onset of winter and the stress of the holidays can test the mettle of anyone trying to quit opioids. “As soon as temperatures start to drop and it gets chilly in the mornings, we see more people coming into the emergency
- [The longer you can avoid Covid, the better](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/08/the-longer-you-can-avoid-covid-the-better/) - COVID treatments and prevention are still improving – so the longer you can avoid it the better Christina Pagel, UCL and Christian Yates, University of Bath There have been enough COVID infections in the UK since March 2020 for every person to have been infected between 1.3 and two times, according to mathematical modelling. Of course,
- [With Stool Testing, Fewer Americans May Delay Colon Screening](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/07/with-stool-testing-fewer-americans-may-delay-colon-screening/) - December 5, 2022 by Charlotte HuffUndark Magazine The test arrived in a compact envelope along with illustrated instructions: Lay the tissue paper in the toilet so it can catch the stool. Then, use the finger-length probe to collect a portion of that stool and place it in the sample bottle. Label the sample bottle, wrap
- [China could face a catastrophic COVID surge as it lifts restrictions – here’s how it might play out](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/07/china-could-face-a-catastrophic-covid-surge-as-it-lifts-restrictions-heres-how-it-might-play-out/) - Francois Balloux, UCL China is the only major country which, until now, has continued to enforce a zero-COVID strategy. Other countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, also sought to eliminate COVID entirely earlier in the pandemic. But all eventually abandoned this approach because of the mounting social and economic costs and the realisation that
- [Strep A: three doctors explain what you need to look out for](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/07/strep-a-three-doctors-explain-what-you-need-to-look-out-for/) - Chrissie Jones, University of Southampton; Anastasia Theodosiou, University of Southampton, and Elizabeth Whittaker, Imperial College London There has been a significant increase in the number of children with strep A infections in the UK over the past month compared with the same period in previous years. Sadly, nine children have died as a result of
- [Pandoravirus: the melting Arctic is releasing ancient germs – how worried should we be?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/06/pandoravirus-the-melting-arctic-is-releasing-ancient-germs-how-worried-should-we-be/) - Paul Hunter, University of East Anglia Scientists have recently revived several large viruses that had been buried in the frozen Siberian ground (permafrost) for tens of thousands of years. The youngest virus to be revived was a sprightly 27,000 years old. And the oldest – a Pandoravirus – was around 48,500 years old. This is
- [More than 4 in 5 pregnancy-related deaths are preventable in the US, and mental health is the leading cause](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/06/more-than-4-in-5-pregnancy-related-deaths-are-preventable-in-the-us-and-mental-health-is-the-leading-cause/) - Rachel Diamond, Adler University Preventable failures in U.S. maternal health care result in far too many pregnancy-related deaths. Each year, approximately 700 parents die from pregnancy and childbirth complications. As such, the U.S. maternal mortality rate is more than double that of most other developed countries. The Department of Health and Human Services declared maternal
- [The ethics of brain-computer interfaces lag behind the science, write a philosopher and a neurosurgeon from UW.](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/12/02/brain-computer-interfaces-could-allow-soldiers-to-control-weapons-with-their-thoughts-and-turn-off-their-fear-but-the-ethics-of-neurotechnology-lags-behind-the-science/) - Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington and Andrew Ko, University of Washington Brain-computer interfaces could allow soldiers to control weapons with their thoughts and turn off their fear, but the ethics of neurotechnology lags behind the science Imagine that a soldier has a tiny computer device injected into their bloodstream that can be guided with a
- [Women are often told their fertility ‘falls off a cliff’ at 35, but is that right?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/30/10534/) - Karin Hammarberg, Monash University It’s a fact women’s fertility declines as they age. But the common description of fertility decline after age 35 as a “cliff” is more anxiety-provoking than factual. If you want children, it’s important to understand the biology of fertility. This can help those who have a choice about timing to decide
- [Cannabis is no better than a placebo for treating pain – new research](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/29/cannabis-is-no-better-than-a-placebo-for-treating-pain-new-research/) - Filip Gedin, Karolinska Institutet Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. While there are only a few countries where cannabis is legal for recreational use, many more countries have legalised the use of cannabis for medical reasons. Reducing pain is one of the most common reasons people report using medical
- [Sexually active women 45 and under who have not been tested for syphilis since Jan. 2021 should be tested, say King County health officials](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/28/sexually-active-women-45-and-under-who-have-not-been-tested-for-syphilis-since-jan-2021-should-be-tested-say-king-county-health-officials/) - New Public Health recommendations make a syphilis test routine for women 45 and under Hilary N. KaraszPublic Health - Seattle & King County All sexually active women 45 and under in Washington state who have not had a syphilis test since January 2021 are being advised to test for syphilis. This is according to a
- [Scientists Debate the Role of a Virus in Multiple Sclerosis](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/28/scientists-debate-the-role-of-a-virus-in-multiple-sclerosis/) - A recent study offers the strongest evidence yet of the link between Epstein-Barr virus and MS. Not everyone is convinced. By Elizabeth PrestonUndark Magazine Ryan Grant was in his 20s and serving in the military when he learned that the numbness and tingling in his hands and feet, as well as his unshakeable fatigue, were
- [Supreme Court Case Could Curtail Rights of Medicaid Patients](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/28/supreme-court-case-could-curtail-rights-of-medicaid-patients/) - By Michael Ollove, Stateline Gorgi Talevski did not live long enough to see his case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court this month. A Macedonian-born resident of Indiana, Talevski operated a crane for three decades, raised a family and loved to dance before his dementia deepened, and he died last year. But the court’s decision,
- [Endgame: How the Visionary Hospice Movement Became a For-Profit Hustle](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/28/endgame-how-the-visionary-hospice-movement-became-a-for-profit-hustle/) - By Ava Kofman, ProPublica Over the years, Marsha Farmer had learned what to look for. As she drove the back roads of rural Alabama, she kept an eye out for dilapidated homes and trailers with wheelchair ramps. Some days, she’d ride the one-car ferry across the river to Lower Peach Tree and other secluded hamlets
- [King County reports first child flu death of the 2022-2023 flu season](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/23/king-county-reports-first-child-flu-death-of-the-2022-2023-flu-season/) - From Public Health - Seattle & King County Public Health has learned that a child in King County has died from complications of flu. The elementary-school-aged child passed away on November 13, 2022. This is the first reported flu death this season in King County and in Washington state. This is also the first pediatric
- [Free at-home COVID-19 tests available in Washington state through the end of the year](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/23/free-at-home-covid-19-tests-available-in-washington-state-through-the-end-of-the-year/) - From the Washington State Department of Health DOH encourages community to take advantage of free tests while supplies last OLYMPIA – Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will continue to provide free COVID-19 home test kits to residents at least through the end of 2022, despite the end of federal financial support for testing programs. With upper respiratory
- [What is ethical animal research? A scientist and veterinarian explain](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/23/what-is-ethical-animal-research-a-scientist-and-veterinarian-explain/) - Lana Ruvolo Grasser, National Institutes of Health and Rachelle Stammen, Emory University A proposed measure in Switzerland would have made that country the first to ban medical and scientific experimentation on animals. It failed to pass in February 2022, with only 21% of voters in favor. Yet globally, including in the United States, there is
- [Weight loss treatments are not a permanent fix – that doesn’t mean they ‘don’t work’](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/23/weight-loss-treatments-are-not-a-permanent-fix-that-doesnt-mean-they-dont-work/) - Amy Ahern, University of Cambridge and Giles Yeo, University of Cambridge It is often said that 95% of weight-loss measures don’t work. Only, it’s not true. Advances in behavioural treatments (such as cognitive behavioural therapy) for obesity and weight-loss drugs mean there are lots of approaches that help people lose weight. In fact, weight loss
- [Health Harms of Mass Shootings Ripple Across Communities](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/23/health-harms-of-mass-shootings-ripple-across-communities/) - By: Michael OlloveStateline A grim and familiar pattern has followed the parade of mass shootings across America. In their aftermath, the nation’s attention focuses on the direct victims of the attacks, the dead and injured, their families and friends, and the witnesses. But a growing body of research reveals that the negative effects of mass
- [Study challenges “good” cholesterol’s role in universally predicting heart disease risk](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/21/study-challenges-good-cholesterols-role-in-universally-predicting-heart-disease-risk/) - From the National Institutes of Health A National Institutes of Health-supported study found that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, often called the “good cholesterol,” may not be as effective as scientists once believed in uniformly predicting cardiovascular disease risk among adults of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The research, which published in the Journal of the American
- [Post-‘Roe,’ Contraceptive Failures Carry Bigger Stakes](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/21/post-roe-contraceptive-failures-carry-bigger-stakes/) - By Sarah VarneyCalifornia Healthline 'Birth control options have improved over the decades. Oral contraceptives are now safer, with fewer side effects. Intrauterine devices can prevent pregnancy 99.6% of the time. But no prescription drug or medical device works flawlessly, and people’s use of contraception is inexact. “No one walks into my office and says, ‘I plan
- [Endometriosis: 9 facts to know about the puzzling disease](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/18/10482/) - Rene Wisely, Michigan Medicine It’s a good thing Sawsan As-Sanie, M.D., M.P.H., likes puzzles. Endometriosis is one she works with daily. As director of the Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Consultative Clinic and co-director of the Gynecology Division at the University of Michigan Health Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, she finds herself helping newly diagnosed patients understand the chronic disease in
- [COVID-19, RSV and the flu are straining health care systems – two epidemiologists explain what the ‘triple threat’ means for children](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/18/covid-19-rsv-and-the-flu-are-straining-health-care-systems-two-epidemiologists-explain-what-the-triple-threat-means-for-children/) - Rebecca S.B. Fischer, Texas A&M University and Annette Regan, University of San Francisco Every fall and winter, viral respiratory illnesses like the common cold and seasonal flu keep kids out of school and social activities. But this year, more children than usual are ending up at emergency departments and hospitals. In California, the Orange County
- [Washington launches first 988 crisis line for American Indian and Alaska Native people](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/17/washington-launches-first-988-crisis-line-for-american-indian-and-alaska-native-people/) - Washington State Department of Health OLYMPIA – Washington’s Native and Strong Lifeline is now live –the first program of its kind in the nation dedicated to serving American Indian and Alaska Native people. Calls are answered by Native crisis counselors who are tribal members and descendants closely tied to their communities. The Native and Strong Lifeline
- [Fentanyl drives jump in overdose deaths in King County, Public Health - Seattle & King County](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/17/fentanyl-drives-jump-in-overdose-deaths-in-king-county-public-health-seattle-king-county/) - Updated dashboard shows continued devastation caused by fentanyl and disparities in overdose deaths Public Health InsiderPublic Health - Seattle & King County Since 2019, the number of overdose deaths in King County has grown exponentially, jumping by 20% between 2019 and 2020 and 39% between 2020 and 2021. By October 15, 2022, 710 overdose deaths
- [Why South Asians are at increased risk for diabetes: A complex interplay of genetics, diet and history](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/16/why-south-asians-are-at-increased-risk-for-diabetes-a-complex-interplay-of-genetics-diet-and-history/) - Lahari Basu, Carleton University and Jennifer Bruin, Carleton University In 2021, there were 537 million adults living with diabetes, of which approximately 90 per cent had Type 2 diabetes. When someone has Type 2 diabetes, specialized cells within the pancreas known as “beta cells” produce insufficient amounts of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that travels
- [<a href="https://khn.org/news/tag/waistlines-bottom-lines/">WAISTLINES AND BOTTOM LINES</a>](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/16/waistlines-and-bottom-lines/) - Patients Complain Some Obesity Care Startups Offer Pills, and Not Much Else By Darius TahirKaiser Health News Many Americans turn to the latest big idea to lose weight — fad diets, fitness crazes, dodgy herbs and pills, bariatric surgery, just to name a few. They’re rarely the magic solution people dream of. Now a wave of
- [How to reduce risk of COVID-19 by improving ventilation at your holiday gatherings](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/16/how-to-reduce-risk-of-covid-19-by-improving-ventilation-at-your-holiday-gatherings/) - BY KRISTINE LIAO, PGN This story was originally published by PGN The COVID-19 landscape is looking somewhat stable as we enter our third pandemic-era holiday season. But being careful, especially during travel and gatherings, is still important. New Omicron subvariants seem to be better at evading immunity, and both flu and RSV case trends indicate
- [Her Child Was Stillborn at 39 Weeks. She Blames a System That Doesn’t Always Listen to Mothers.](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/15/her-child-was-stillborn-at-39-weeks-she-blames-a-system-that-doesnt-always-listen-to-mothers/) - By Duaa EldeibProPublica This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: Stillbirths When Babies Die Before Taking Their First Breath The day before doctors had scheduled Amanda Duffy to give birth, the
- [Concussions can cause disruptions to everyday life in both the short and long term – a neurophysiologist explains what to watch for](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/11/concussions-can-cause-disruptions-to-everyday-life-in-both-the-short-and-long-term-a-neurophysiologist-explains-what-to-watch-for/) - David Howell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus The repeat concussions suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa less than a week apart in September 2022 have brought the seriousness of traumatic brain injury back into the public eye and triggered scrutiny of the NFL’s concussion protocols. And the upcoming World Cup soccer competition, which
- [For Many Disabled Patients, the Doctor Is Often Not In](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/09/for-many-disabled-patients-the-doctor-is-often-not-in/) - By Emma YasinskiUndark Ben Salentine, associate director of health sciences managed care at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, hasn’t been weighed in more than a decade. His doctors “just kind of guess,” his weight, he said, because they don’t have a wheelchair-accessible scale. He’s far from alone. Many people with disabilities
- [What is inflammation?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/09/what-is-inflammation/) - Prakash Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina When your body fights off an infection, you develop a fever. If you have arthritis, your joints will hurt. If a bee stings your hand, your hand will swell up and become stiff. These are all manifestations of inflammation occurring in the
- [What long-term opioid use does to your body and brain](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/09/what-long-term-opioid-use-does-to-your-body-and-brain/) - Rob Poole, Bangor University In his new autobiography, Matthew Perry reveals that his colon burst as a result of his addiction to opioid painkillers. The 53-year-old actor, who played Chandler Bing in Friends, was in a coma for two weeks following the incident and had to wear a colostomy bag for nine months. Many people
- [COVID, flu, RSV – how this triple threat of respiratory viruses could collide this winter](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/09/covid-flu-rsv-how-this-triple-threat-of-respiratory-viruses-could-collide-this-winter/) - Adam Kleczkowski, University of Strathclyde As the days get shorter and the weather colder in the northern hemisphere, health officials have warned of a perfect storm of infectious respiratory diseases over the winter months. Outbreaks of seasonal diseases like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are already putting pressure on the overburdened NHS. If surges
- [Should autism be redefined?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/09/should-autism-be-redefined/) - From deficits to a spectrum, thinking around autism has changed. Now there are calls for a ‘profound autism’ diagnosis Andrew Whitehouse, The University of Western Australia A heated debate about autism was reignited after the recent publication of an article advocating for use of the term “profound autism”. This term is not an official part of
- [Cannabis holds promise for pain management, reducing the need for opioid painkillers – UW neuropharmacology expert explains how](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/02/cannabis-holds-promise-for-pain-management-reducing-the-need-for-opioid-painkillers-uw-neuropharmacology-expert-explains-how/) - Benjamin Land, University of Washington Drug overdose deaths from opioids continue to rise in the U.S. as a result of both the misuse of prescription opioids and the illicit drug market. But an interesting trend has developed: Opioid emergency room visits drop by nearly 8% and opioid prescriptions are modestly lower in states where marijuana
- [Colonoscopy is still the most recommended screening for colorectal cancer, despite conflicting headlines and flawed interpretations of a new study](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/01/colonoscopy-is-still-the-most-recommended-screening-for-colorectal-cancer-despite-conflicting-headlines-and-flawed-interpretations-of-a-new-study/) - Franklin G. Berger, University of South Carolina A recently published study in a high-profile medical journal appeared to call into question the efficacy of colonoscopy, a proven and widely utilized strategy for the screening and prevention of colorectal cancer. News headlines were striking: “Disappointing results on colonoscopy benefits”; “New study suggests benefits of colonoscopies may
- [Hospital Investigated for Allegedly Denying an Emergency Abortion After Patient’s Water Broke](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/11/01/hospital-investigated-for-allegedly-denying-an-emergency-abortion-after-patients-water-broke/) - By Harris MeyerKaiser Health News The federal government has launched its first confirmed investigation of an alleged denial of an abortion to a woman experiencing a medical emergency. In late October, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services opened an investigation at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri, under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and
- [A blood test that screens for multiple cancers at once promises to boost early detection](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/31/a-blood-test-that-screens-for-multiple-cancers-at-once-promises-to-boost-early-detection/) - Colin Pritchard, University of Washington Detecting cancer early before it spreads throughout the body can be lifesaving. This is why doctors recommend regular screening for several common cancer types, using a variety of methods. Colonoscopies, for example, screen for colon cancer, while mammograms screen for breast cancer. While important, getting all these tests done can
- [RSV: A pediatric disease expert answers 5 questions about the surging outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/27/rsv-a-pediatric-disease-expert-answers-5-questions-about-the-surging-outbreak-of-respiratory-syncytial-virus/) - Jennifer Girotto, University of Connecticut Respiratory syncytial virus, more commonly known as RSV, sends thousands of children to the hospital every year in the U.S. But during September and October 2022, health professionals across the country have watched an unprecedented spike in the number of cases of this usually mild, but occasionally dangerous, respiratory infection
- [A New Paramedic Policy May Guide Overdose Patients Into Treatment](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/26/a-new-paramedic-policy-may-guide-overdose-patients-into-treatment/) - By Christine VestalStateline As the number of opioid overdose deaths continues to surge across the United States, some experts stress the urgency of providing the addiction treatment medication buprenorphine to drug users as soon as possible, on the scene of an overdose. Not only does buprenorphine help people with an opioid use disorder resist cravings and stay away
- [Research Brief: How unhealthy is red meat? And how beneficial is it to eat vegetables?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/24/research-brief-how-unhealthy-is-red-meat-and-how-beneficial-is-it-to-eat-vegetables/) - Aleksandr Aravkin, University of Washington; Christian Razo, University of Washington, and Jeffrey Stanaway, University of Washington The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea We developed a new method for assessing health risks that our research suggests should make it a lot easier for people to determine which health
- [Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/24/video-gaming-may-be-associated-with-better-cognitive-performance-in-children/) - From the National Institutes of Health A study of nearly 2,000 children found that those who reported playing video games for three hours per day or more performed better on cognitive skills tests involving impulse control and working memory compared to children who had never played video games. Published today in JAMA Network Open, this
- [Newly available over-the-counter hearing aids offer many benefits, but consumers should be aware of the potential drawbacks](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/24/newly-available-over-the-counter-hearing-aids-offer-many-benefits-but-consumers-should-be-aware-of-the-potential-drawbacks/) - Bradley Kesser, University of Virginia U.S. retailers began selling over-the-counter hearing aids on Oct. 17, 2022, a long-awaited move that some experts predict could be a game-changer in making these devices accessible and affordable. A prescription is no longer needed, nor is a visit to a doctor or even a fitting appointment with a hearing
- [After breast cancer: 5 changes you can make to stay healthy](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/23/after-breast-cancer-5-changes-you-can-make-to-stay-healthy/) - Marina Reeves, The University of Queensland; Caroline Olivia Terranova, The University of Queensland; Kelly D'cunha, The University of Queensland, and Sandra Hayes, Griffith University Every year, more than 20,000 Australians – mostly women – are diagnosed with breast cancer. If you’re one of them or know someone who is, the great news is that 92
- [Viral shedding ebbs over time with HSV-1 genital infections, UW study finds.](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/22/viral-shedding-ebbs-over-time-with-hsv-1-genital-infections/) - From the University of Washington People with genital infection with the “cold sore” herpes virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), frequently shed the virus in the first months after infection, raising the risk they might spread the virus to their sexual partners during this time, but the rate of shedding declines rapidly during the
- [HOW DID COVID-19 IMPACT PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES?](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/18/how-did-covid-19-impact-people-living-with-disabilities/) - Public Health Insider/ Public Health - Seattle & King County Nicole Turcheti, Assessment, Policy Development and EvaluationGuest Blogger The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to slow its spread brought a number of social, economic and overall health impacts for communities throughout King County. Public Health – Seattle & King County, in partnership with the Disability Empowerment Center and Lifelong
- [Proliferating Wildfires Threaten Health Across the Country](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/17/proliferating-wildfires-threaten-health-across-the-country/) - By Matt VasilogambrosStateline As wildfires continue to burn in parts of the United States, state public health officials and experts are increasingly concerned about residents’ chronic exposure to toxin-filled smoke. This year has seen the most wildfires of the past decade, with more than 56,000 fires burning nearly 7 million acres nationwide, according to the
- [Say What? Hearing Aids Available Over-the-Counter for as Low as $199, and Without a Prescription](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/17/say-what-hearing-aids-available-over-the-counter-for-as-low-as-199-and-without-a-prescription/) - By Phil GalewitzKaiser Health News Starting Monday, consumers will be able to buy hearing aids directly off store shelves and at dramatically lower prices as a 2017 federal law finally takes effect. Where for decades it cost thousands of dollars to get a device that could be purchased only with a prescription from an audiologist or
- [Five things to do in your 20s and 30s to reduce your risk of preventable cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/09/five-things-to-do-in-your-20s-and-30s-to-reduce-your-risk-of-preventable-cancer/) - Sarah Allinson, Lancaster University Most of us don’t think about cancer when we’re in our 20s and 30s. But recent research has shown that people born after 1990 are more likely to develop cancer before the age of 50 than any other generation before. While there are some things we can’t change when it comes
- [Many Patients Can’t Afford Health Costs Even With Insurance](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/09/many-patients-cant-afford-health-costs-even-with-insurance/) - Michael OlloveStateline The number of Americans with health insurance has climbed to historic highs during the COVID-19 pandemic, but within that silver lining is a darker hue. Many Americans have policies that only provide limited financial protection, to the point that many patients report forgoing needed medical care or prescriptions to avoid being hit with
- [Book Review: How We Make Sense of Mental Illness](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/06/book-review-how-we-make-sense-of-mental-illness/) - By Elizabeth SvobodaUndark Magazine. At 6 years old, Rachel Aviv entered the hospital because she refused to eat. Six weeks later, her doctors discharged her, and she went on to have a mostly normal childhood. But decades on, her sojourn through the mental health treatment universe continued to haunt her. Her doctors had given her
- [Gonorrhea became more drug resistant while attention was on COVID-19 – a molecular biologist explains the sexually transmitted superbug](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/06/gonorrhea-became-more-drug-resistant-while-attention-was-on-covid-19-a-molecular-biologist-explains-the-sexually-transmitted-superbug/) - Kenneth Keiler, Penn State COVID-19 has rightfully dominated infectious disease news since 2020. However, that doesn’t mean other infectious diseases took a break. In fact, U.S. rates of infection by gonorrhea have risen during the pandemic. Unlike COVID-19, which is a new virus, gonorrhea is an ancient disease. The first known reports of gonorrhea date
- [The COVID-19 Booster’s Public Relations Problem](https://localhealthguide.com/2022/10/05/the-covid-19-boosters-public-relations-problem/) - Series: Vaccines Vaccinating America By Robin FieldsProPublica With the rollout this month of a new coronavirus booster, U.S. public health leaders once more face the challenge of persuading Americans that they should roll up their sleeves and get another, possibly better, shot targeted at the omicron strain. This has become tougher with each successive vaccination

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- [Medical Devices](https://localhealthguide.com/medical-devices/)
- [HPV](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/sexually-transmitted-disease/hpv/)
- [Diet](https://localhealthguide.com/nutrition/diet/)
- [Fungal Infections](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/fungal-infections/)
- [Sleeping Pills](https://localhealthguide.com/drugs/sleeping-pills/)
- [Anatomy](https://localhealthguide.com/anatomy/)
- [Travel Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/travel-medicine/)
- [Sexual Health](https://localhealthguide.com/sexual-health/)
- [Ears and Hearing](https://localhealthguide.com/ears-and-hearing/)
- [Pancreatic Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/)
- [Emergency Preparedness](https://localhealthguide.com/emergency-preparedness/)
- [Newborn and Infant Health](https://localhealthguide.com/newborn-and-infant-health/)
- [Rural Hospitals](https://localhealthguide.com/rural-hospitals/)
- [Fertility](https://localhealthguide.com/fertility/)
- [Aging](https://localhealthguide.com/aging/)
- [Occupational Heatlh](https://localhealthguide.com/occupational-heatlh/)
- [University of Washington](https://localhealthguide.com/hospitals/university-of-washington/)
- [Lyme Disease](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/lyme-disease/)
- [Prostate Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/prostate-cancer/)
- [Prostate Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/prostate-cancer-cancer/)
- [Vaping](https://localhealthguide.com/tobacco/vaping/)
- [High Blood Pressure](https://localhealthguide.com/cardiology/high-blood-pressure/)
- [Medical Tests](https://localhealthguide.com/medical-tests/)
- [Endometrial Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/endometrial-cancer/)
- [Rural Health](https://localhealthguide.com/rural-health/)
- [VA](https://localhealthguide.com/hospitals/va/)
- [Rheumatoid Arthritis](https://localhealthguide.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/)
- [Poisoning](https://localhealthguide.com/poisoning/)
- [Meningioma](https://localhealthguide.com/brain-and-nervous-system/meningioma/)
- [Skin Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/skin-cancer/)
- [Melanoma](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/skin-cancer/melanoma/)
- [Tuberculosis/TB](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/tuberculosis-tb/)
- [Cervical Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/cervical-cancer/)
- [Caregiving](https://localhealthguide.com/caregiving/)
- [Musculoskeletal](https://localhealthguide.com/musculoskeletal/)
- [Nurses](https://localhealthguide.com/healthcare-providers/nurses/)
- [Sleep Apnea](https://localhealthguide.com/sleep/sleep-apnea/)
- [Coronavirus](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/coronavirus/)
- [Teeth](https://localhealthguide.com/teeth/)
- [Menstruation](https://localhealthguide.com/womens-health/menstruation/)
- [Consumer Safety](https://localhealthguide.com/consumer-safety/)
- [Forensic Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/forensic-medicine/)
- [Nursing Homes](https://localhealthguide.com/nursing-homes/)
- [Blood and Hematology](https://localhealthguide.com/blood-and-hematology/)
- [Parasites](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/parasites/)
- [Laboratory Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/laboratory-medicine/)
- [Harborview Medical Center](https://localhealthguide.com/hospitals/harborview-medical-center/)
- [Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center](https://localhealthguide.com/hospitals/fred-hutchinson-cancer-research-center/)
- [Native American/Alaska Native](https://localhealthguide.com/musculoskeletal/native-american-alaska-native/)
- [Pharmacists](https://localhealthguide.com/healthcare-providers/pharmacists/)
- [Animal Health](https://localhealthguide.com/animal-health/)
- [Ear, Nose and Throat](https://localhealthguide.com/ear-nose-and-throat/)
- [Politics](https://localhealthguide.com/politics/)
- [History of Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/history-of-medicine/)
- [Technology](https://localhealthguide.com/technology/)
- [Law](https://localhealthguide.com/law/)
- [Ovarian Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/ovarian-cancer/)
- [Global Health](https://localhealthguide.com/global-health/)
- [Sex](https://localhealthguide.com/sex/)
- [Swedish Hospital](https://localhealthguide.com/hospitals/swedish-hospital/)
- [COVID](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/coronavirus/covid/)
- [Physician Assistants](https://localhealthguide.com/physician-assistants/)
- [Physician Assistants](https://localhealthguide.com/healthcare-providers/physician-assistants-healthcare-providers/)
- [Health Communication](https://localhealthguide.com/health-communication/)
- [Autoimmune Diseases](https://localhealthguide.com/autoimmune-diseases/)
- [Endocrine](https://localhealthguide.com/endocrine/)
- [Men's Health](https://localhealthguide.com/mens-health/)
- [Gum Disease](https://localhealthguide.com/dentistry/gum-disease/)
- [Dermatology](https://localhealthguide.com/dermatology/)
- [Fentanyl](https://localhealthguide.com/drugs/painkillers/opioids/fentanyl/)
- [Patients](https://localhealthguide.com/patients/)
- [Monkeypox](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/monkeypox/)
- [Polio](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/polio/)
- [Herpes Simplex Virus - HSV](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/herpes-simplex-virus-hsv/)
- [Respiratory Syncytial Virus / RSV](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/)
- [Gastroenterology](https://localhealthguide.com/gastroenterology/)
- [Epstein-Barr Virus](https://localhealthguide.com/epstein-barr-virus/)
- [Streptococcus](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/streptococcus/)
- [Wellness](https://localhealthguide.com/wellness/)
- [Media](https://localhealthguide.com/media/)
- [Native American Health](https://localhealthguide.com/minorities/native-american-health/)
- [Lung Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/lung-cancer/)
- [Colon Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/colon-cancer/)
- [Stillbirth](https://localhealthguide.com/womens-health/pregnancy/stillbirth/)
- [Throat Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/throat-cancer/)
- [Cytomegaloviru](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/cytomegaloviru/)
- [Hair](https://localhealthguide.com/hair/)
- [Headache](https://localhealthguide.com/brain-and-nervous-system/headache/)
- [Attention Deficit Disorder](https://localhealthguide.com/brain-and-nervous-system/attention-deficit-disorder/)
- [Ebola](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/ebola/)
- [Mammography](https://localhealthguide.com/radiology/mammography/)
- [Oncology](https://localhealthguide.com/oncology/)
- [Radiation Oncology](https://localhealthguide.com/oncology/radiation-oncology/)
- [Microbiology](https://localhealthguide.com/microbiology/)
- [Economics](https://localhealthguide.com/economics/)
- [Melanoma](https://localhealthguide.com/melanoma-2/)
- [Melanoma](https://localhealthguide.com/cancer/melanoma-cancer/)
- [Society](https://localhealthguide.com/society/)
- [Podiatry](https://localhealthguide.com/podiatry/)
- [Reproductive Care](https://localhealthguide.com/reproductive-care/)
- [Parkinson's Disease](https://localhealthguide.com/brain-and-nervous-system/parkinsons-disease/)
- [Rhinovirus](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/rhinovirus/)
- [Osteoporosis](https://localhealthguide.com/orthopedics/osteoporosis/)
- [Rheumatology](https://localhealthguide.com/rheumatology/)
- [Gout](https://localhealthguide.com/gout/)
- [Arthritis](https://localhealthguide.com/rheumatology/arthritis/)
- [influenza](https://localhealthguide.com/influenza/)
- [Fraud](https://localhealthguide.com/fraud/)
- [Feet](https://localhealthguide.com/podiatry/feet/)
- [Whooping Cough](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/whooping-cough/)
- [Patient Safety](https://localhealthguide.com/patient-safety/)
- [Veterams](https://localhealthguide.com/veterams/)
- [Chickenpox](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/chickenpox/)
- [Autism](https://localhealthguide.com/brain-and-nervous-system/autism/)
- [Shingles](https://localhealthguide.com/infectious-disease/shingles/)

## Tags

- [Suicide](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/suicide/)
- [Mental Health](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mental-health/)
- [Health Insurance](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-insurance/)
- [Hospitals](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hospitals/)
- [Medicare](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medicare/)
- [Medicaid](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medicaid/)
- [Pain](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pain/)
- [Guns](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/guns/)
- [ER](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/er/)
- [Opioids](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/opioids/)
- [Insurance](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/insurance/)
- [Seniors](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/seniors/)
- [Dementia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dementia/)
- [Aging](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aging/)
- [Heart Disease](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/heart-disease/)
- [Stroke](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/stroke/)
- [Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cancer/)
- [Orthopedics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/orthopedics/)
- [End-of-Life Care](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/end-of-life-care/)
- [heart](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/heart/)
- [Zika](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/zika/)
- [Pregnancy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pregnancy/)
- [Miscarriage](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/miscarriage/)
- [Nurses](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nurses/)
- [Alcohol](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/alcohol/)
- [Pedestrians](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pedestrians/)
- [Traffic](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/traffic/)
- [Prevention](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prevention/)
- [Measles](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/measles/)
- [Loneliness](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/loneliness/)
- [Bats](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bats/)
- [Rabies](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/rabies/)
- [Vaccine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vaccine/)
- [Doctors](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/doctors/)
- [Genetic Testing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/genetic-testing/)
- [Pre-exisiting Conditions](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pre-exisiting-conditions/)
- [Depression](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/depression/)
- [Flu](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/flu/)
- [Influenza](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/influenza/)
- [Pandemic](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pandemic/)
- [CDC](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cdc/)
- [Salmonella](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/salmonella/)
- [Product Recall](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/product-recall/)
- [Food Poisoning](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/food-poisoning/)
- [Nursing Homes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nursing-homes/)
- [Longterm Care](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/longterm-care/)
- [FDA](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fda/)
- [Scams](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/scams/)
- [Drugs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/drugs/)
- [Prescription](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prescription/)
- [IVF](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ivf/)
- [Genetics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/genetics/)
- [Skin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/skin/)
- [Tattoos](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tattoos/)
- [Safety](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/safety/)
- [CAR-T](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/car-t/)
- [Immunotherapy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/immunotherapy/)
- [Addiction](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/addiction/)
- [Benzodiazepines](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/benzodiazepines/)
- [Asthma](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/asthma/)
- [Air Pollution](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/air-pollution/)
- [Wildfire](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/wildfire/)
- [Smoke](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/smoke/)
- [Supplements](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/supplements/)
- [Disabled](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/disabled/)
- [prebiotics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prebiotics/)
- [synbiotics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/synbiotics/)
- [probiotics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/probiotics/)
- [Immigrants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/immigrants/)
- [Ethics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ethics/)
- [Chickens](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/chickens/)
- [Turkey](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/turkey/)
- [Heat Stroke](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/heat-stroke/)
- [Heat](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/heat/)
- [Privacy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/privacy/)
- [Data](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/data/)
- [Diet](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/diet/)
- [Food](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/food/)
- [Nutrition](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nutrition/)
- [Purdue](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/purdue/)
- [Oxycontin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/oxycontin/)
- [Goldfish](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/goldfish/)
- [Drug Prices](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/drug-prices/)
- [Health Care Costs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-care-costs/)
- [Obesity](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/obesity/)
- [Weight](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/weight/)
- [BMI](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bmi/)
- [Vibrio](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vibrio/)
- [Seafood](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/seafood/)
- [Medigap](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medigap/)
- [Hospice](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hospice/)
- [Death and Dying](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/death-and-dying/)
- [Diabetes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/diabetes/)
- [Pharmaceutical Companies](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pharmaceutical-companies/)
- [Pharma](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pharma/)
- [Surgery](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/surgery/)
- [Arthritis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/arthritis/)
- [Fraud](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fraud/)
- [Vegan](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vegan/)
- [Vegetarianism](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vegetarianism/)
- [U=U](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/uu/)
- [HIV](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hiv/)
- [AIDS](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aids/)
- [Cyclospora](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cyclospora/)
- [Painkillers](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/painkillers/)
- [Hurricane](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hurricane/)
- [Disaster Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/disaster-medicine/)
- [Weight Loss](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/weight-loss/)
- [Parenting](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/parenting/)
- [Hydration](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hydration/)
- [Fluids](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fluids/)
- [Sports Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sports-medicine/)
- [Long-term Care Insurance](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/long-term-care-insurance/)
- [Shellfish](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/shellfish/)
- [Chris Collins Indicted On Insider Trading Charges](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/chris-collins-indicted-on-insider-trading-charges/)
- [Air Quality](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/air-quality/)
- [Emphysema](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/emphysema/)
- [COPD](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/copd/)
- [Birth Defects](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/birth-defects/)
- [TASS](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tass/)
- [Eye](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/eye/)
- [Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/toxic-anterior-segment-syndrome/)
- [Vision](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vision/)
- [C-section](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/c-section/)
- [Caregivers](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/caregivers/)
- [Ambulatory Surgery](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ambulatory-surgery/)
- [Surgery Centers](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/surgery-centers/)
- [Dialysis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dialysis/)
- [Restaurants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/restaurants/)
- [SEIU](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/seiu/)
- [Home Health Aides](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/home-health-aides/)
- [Leprosy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/leprosy/)
- [Animals](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/animals/)
- [Preeclampsia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/preeclampsia/)
- [Disability](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/disability/)
- [Vitamins](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vitamins/)
- [Vitamin D](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vitamin-d/)
- [Malaria](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/malaria/)
- [Global Health](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/global-health/)
- [Fish](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fish/)
- [Mercury](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mercury/)
- [Pollution](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pollution/)
- [PCB](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pcb/)
- [Allergy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/allergy/)
- [Contraception](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/contraception/)
- [HIV/AIDS](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hiv-aids/)
- [Sex Education](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sex-education/)
- [Overdoses](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/overdoses/)
- [Prescription Drugs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prescription-drugs/)
- [Health Costs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-costs/)
- [Elderly](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/elderly/)
- [Medical School](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medical-school/)
- [Xanax](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/xanax/)
- [Marijuana](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/marijuana/)
- [Pot](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pot/)
- [Fitness](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fitness/)
- [Exercise](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/exercise/)
- [Election](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/election/)
- [Democrats](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/democrats/)
- [Code](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/code/)
- [CPR](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cpr/)
- [Resuscitation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/resuscitation/)
- [Hepatitis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hepatitis/)
- [Transplantation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/transplantation/)
- [West Nile](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/west-nile/)
- [Mosquitos](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mosquitos/)
- [Breast Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/breast-cancer/)
- [Dieting](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dieting/)
- [Drug Abuse](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/drug-abuse/)
- [Coffee](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/coffee/)
- [California](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/california/)
- [Intermittent Fasting](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/intermittent-fasting/)
- [Time-restricted Eating](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/time-restricted-eating/)
- [TRE](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tre/)
- [Healthcare Costs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/healthcare-costs/)
- [Bikes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bikes/)
- [Cycling](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cycling/)
- [Bicycles](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bicycles/)
- [ADD](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/add/)
- [ADHD](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/adhd/)
- [Attention Deficit](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/attention-deficit/)
- [Antibiotic Resistance](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/antibiotic-resistance/)
- [Superbugs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/superbugs/)
- [ACA](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aca/)
- [Affordable Care Act](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/affordable-care-act/)
- [Anorexia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/anorexia/)
- [Bulimia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bulimia/)
- [Eating Disorders](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/eating-disorders/)
- [Medical Bills](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medical-bills/)
- [Healthcare](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/healthcare/)
- [Endometriosis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/endometriosis/)
- [Periods](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/periods/)
- [Honey Smacks](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/honey-smacks/)
- [Sepsis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sepsis/)
- [Stillbirths](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/stillbirths/)
- [Pregancy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pregancy/)
- [Insulin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/insulin/)
- [Raw Milk](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/raw-milk/)
- [E coli](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/e-coli/)
- [Conflicts of Interest](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/conflicts-of-interest/)
- [Epidemic](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/epidemic/)
- [Vaccines](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vaccines/)
- [Patients](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/patients/)
- [Regulation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/regulation/)
- [Hep A](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hep-a/)
- [Natural Disasters](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/natural-disasters/)
- [STIs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/stis/)
- [STI](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sti/)
- [STD](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/std/)
- [STDs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/stds/)
- [Gc](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gc/)
- [Oregon](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/oregon/)
- [Research](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/research/)
- [Program boosts hepatitis C screening and treatment](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/program-boosts-hepatitis-c-screening-and-treatment/)
- [CRISPR](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/crispr/)
- [How biobanks can gain patient trust](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/how-biobanks-can-gain-patient-trust/)
- [Prescriptions](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prescriptions/)
- [Clinical Trials](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/clinical-trials/)
- [Rural Health](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/rural-health/)
- [Homeless](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/homeless/)
- [Cannabis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cannabis/)
- [Sleep](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sleep/)
- [Insomnia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/insomnia/)
- [College](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/college/)
- [Memory](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/memory/)
- [Learning](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/learning/)
- [Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/memorial-sloan-kettering-cancer-center/)
- [Paige.AI](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/paige-ai/)
- [Hangovers](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hangovers/)
- [Emergency Room](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/emergency-room/)
- [Wellness](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/wellness/)
- [Organ Transplants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/organ-transplants/)
- [Paid Sick Leave](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/paid-sick-leave/)
- [Hep C](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hep-c/)
- [Falls](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/falls/)
- [Fall Prevention](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fall-prevention/)
- [Agism](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/agism/)
- [Trauma](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/trauma/)
- [Emergency Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/emergency-medicine/)
- [Costco](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/costco/)
- [Airlift](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/airlift/)
- [Air Ambulance](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/air-ambulance/)
- [Pulse Nightclub](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pulse-nightclub/)
- [Mass Shootings](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mass-shootings/)
- [Contraceptives](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/contraceptives/)
- [Stoicism](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/stoicism/)
- [Happiness](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/happiness/)
- [Sugar](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sugar/)
- [Latte](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/latte/)
- [Starbucks](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/starbucks/)
- [Teens](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/teens/)
- [Biotechnology](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/biotechnology/)
- [FitBit](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fitbit/)
- [High-deductible plans](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/high-deductible-plans/)
- [Narcan](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/narcan/)
- [Naloxone](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/naloxone/)
- [Seattle](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/seattle/)
- [Kind County](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/kind-county/)
- [Elder Orphans](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/elder-orphans/)
- [Solo Agers](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/solo-agers/)
- [Vaccination](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vaccination/)
- [Fetal Research](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fetal-research/)
- [Abortion](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/abortion/)
- [Medicare Advantage](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medicare-advantage/)
- [Urgent Care](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/urgent-care/)
- [Walk-in Clinics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/walk-in-clinics/)
- [Acute Flaccid Paralysis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/acute-flaccid-paralysis/)
- [Open Enrollment](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/open-enrollment/)
- [Virome](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/virome/)
- [Microbiome](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/microbiome/)
- [Bacteria](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bacteria/)
- [Viruses](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/viruses/)
- [Prescriptions Drugs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prescriptions-drugs/)
- [SHIBA](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/shiba/)
- [Obamacare](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/obamacare/)
- [Life Expectancy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/life-expectancy/)
- [Politics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/politics/)
- [Neural Tube Defects](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/neural-tube-defects/)
- [Gene Editing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gene-editing/)
- [Fentanyl](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fentanyl/)
- [Health Apps](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-apps/)
- [Mobile](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mobile/)
- [Telemedicine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/telemedicine/)
- [Infections](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/infections/)
- [DUI](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dui/)
- [Drunk Driving](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/drunk-driving/)
- [Medicare-for-All](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medicare-for-all/)
- [Maternal Deaths](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/maternal-deaths/)
- [Tacoma](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tacoma/)
- [Pierce County](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pierce-county/)
- [Multiple Sclerosis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/multiple-sclerosis/)
- [MS](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ms/)
- [Retirement](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/retirement/)
- [HealthPlanFinder](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/healthplanfinder/)
- [Apple Health](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/apple-health/)
- [Health Records](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-records/)
- [EHR](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ehr/)
- [Sedatives](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sedatives/)
- [Lead Poisoning](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/lead-poisoning/)
- [Should your kids get tested for lead?](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/should-your-kids-get-tested-for-lead/)
- [Polio](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/polio/)
- [WNV](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/wnv/)
- [West NIle Virus](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/west-nile-virus/)
- [Allergies](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/allergies/)
- [Precision Medicine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/precision-medicine/)
- [Network Plans](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/network-plans/)
- [Incontinence](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/incontinence/)
- [Vascepa](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vascepa/)
- [Immigration](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/immigration/)
- [Heart Attacks](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/heart-attacks/)
- [Meat](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/meat/)
- [Spam](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/spam/)
- [VA](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/va/)
- [Salt](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/salt/)
- [High Blood Pressure](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/high-blood-pressure/)
- [Medicaid Expansion](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medicaid-expansion/)
- [Fish Oil](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fish-oil/)
- [Omega-3](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/omega-3/)
- [Chlamydia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/chlamydia/)
- [Gonorrhea](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gonorrhea/)
- [Acute Flaccid Myelitis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/acute-flaccid-myelitis/)
- [AFM](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/afm/)
- [Obama](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/obama/)
- [Vaping](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vaping/)
- [E-cigarettes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/e-cigarettes/)
- [Tobacco](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tobacco/)
- [Statins](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/statins/)
- [Warfarin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/warfarin/)
- [St. John's Wort](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/st-johns-wort/)
- [Calcium](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/calcium/)
- [Lettuce](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/lettuce/)
- [Speed](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/speed/)
- [Meth](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/meth/)
- [Methamphetamine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/methamphetamine/)
- [Drug Costs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/drug-costs/)
- [Climate Change](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/climate-change/)
- [Global Warming](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/global-warming/)
- [Children](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/children/)
- [Coverage](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/coverage/)
- [Ecstasy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ecstasy/)
- [Sales Reps](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sales-reps/)
- [King County](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/king-county/)
- [Screening](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/screening/)
- [Diarrhea](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/diarrhea/)
- [Apple Watch](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/apple-watch/)
- [Transplants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/transplants/)
- [Overdose](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/overdose/)
- [Alzheimer's](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/alzheimers/)
- [Health Care Ministries](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-care-ministries/)
- [Medical Journals](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medical-journals/)
- [Antibiotics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/antibiotics/)
- [Earaches](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/earaches/)
- [Otitis Media](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/otitis-media/)
- [Implants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/implants/)
- [Breast Implants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/breast-implants/)
- [Insuline](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/insuline/)
- [Sex](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sex/)
- [Health Insurace](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-insurace/)
- [Subsidies](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/subsidies/)
- [Syphilis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/syphilis/)
- [Medical Devices](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medical-devices/)
- [Aides](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aides/)
- [Dentisty](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dentisty/)
- [Surprise Billing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/surprise-billing/)
- [Out-of-Network Care](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/out-of-network-care/)
- [Firearms](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/firearms/)
- [Motor Vehicle Accidents](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/motor-vehicle-accidents/)
- [Driving](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/driving/)
- [Ski](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ski/)
- [Skiing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/skiing/)
- [Genes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/genes/)
- [Baratela-Scott Syndrome](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/baratela-scott-syndrome/)
- [Death](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/death/)
- [Homicide](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/homicide/)
- [911](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/911/)
- [Prehab](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prehab/)
- [Colds](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/colds/)
- [Harm Reduction](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/harm-reduction/)
- [Blood](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/blood/)
- [Bleeding](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bleeding/)
- [Injury](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/injury/)
- [Public Option](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/public-option/)
- [Food Allergies](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/food-allergies/)
- [Peanuts](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/peanuts/)
- [Soda](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/soda/)
- [Pop](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pop/)
- [Health Policy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/health-policy/)
- [Gun Violence](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gun-violence/)
- [GoFundMe](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gofundme/)
- [Tech](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tech/)
- [Education](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/education/)
- [Gallup Poll](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gallup-poll/)
- [Psychosis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/psychosis/)
- [UW](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/uw/)
- [Charity](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/charity/)
- [Donations](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/donations/)
- [Smoking](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/smoking/)
- [Nicotine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nicotine/)
- [Mumps](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mumps/)
- [Whooping Cough](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/whooping-cough/)
- [HPV](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hpv/)
- [Sackler](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sackler/)
- [Cost](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cost/)
- [Herbicides](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/herbicides/)
- [Pesticides](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pesticides/)
- [Electronic Health Records](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/electronic-health-records/)
- [Pancreatic Cancer](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pancreatic-cancer/)
- [The trend has a big impact on states](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/the-trend-has-a-big-impact-on-states/)
- [Pollen](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pollen/)
- [Teen Suicide](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/teen-suicide/)
- [Radiation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/radiation/)
- [Vape](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vape/)
- [Hormone Replacement Therapy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hormone-replacement-therapy/)
- [HRT](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hrt/)
- [Hearing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hearing/)
- [Deafness](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/deafness/)
- [hydroxychloroquine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hydroxychloroquine/)
- [Clinical Trial](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/clinical-trial/)
- [Antimalarial](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/antimalarial/)
- [COVID-19](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/covid-19/)
- [Chloroquine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/chloroquine/)
- [Coronavirus](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/coronavirus/)
- [SARS-CoV-19](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sars-cov-19/)
- [Washington](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/washington/)
- [Quarantine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/quarantine/)
- [COVID](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/covid/)
- [Mask](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mask/)
- [SARS-CoV-2019](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sars-cov-2019/)
- [The government has released little information about the spread of coronavirus in Navajo schools. Now](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/the-government-has-released-little-information-about-the-spread-of-coronavirus-in-navajo-schools-now/)
- [Genome](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/genome/)
- [Transcriptome](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/transcriptome/)
- [Illumina](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/illumina/)
- [Brotman Baty Institute](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/brotman-baty-institute/)
- [Plasma](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/plasma/)
- [Antibodies](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/antibodies/)
- [headache](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/headache/)
- [Smell](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/smell/)
- [Scent](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/scent/)
- [Senses](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/senses/)
- [Neurons](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/neurons/)
- [Facemask](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/facemask/)
- [Face Mask](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/face-mask/)
- [Surveillance](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/surveillance/)
- [Contact Tracing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/contact-tracing/)
- [The chemical irritants in tear gas can damage the body in ways that promote the spread the coronavirus and increase the severity of COVID-19](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/the-chemical-irritants-in-tear-gas-can-damage-the-body-in-ways-that-promote-the-spread-the-coronavirus-and-increase-the-severity-of-covid-19/)
- [Yakima](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/yakima/)
- [Spokane](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/spokane/)
- [Franklin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/franklin/)
- [Benton](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/benton/)
- [IHME](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ihme/)
- [Modelling](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/modelling/)
- [OCD](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ocd/)
- [Obsessive-compulsive](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/obsessive-compulsive/)
- [Anxiety](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/anxiety/)
- [Sports](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sports/)
- [Teams](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/teams/)
- [Familial Mediterrranean Fever](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/familial-mediterrranean-fever/)
- [Isolcation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/isolcation/)
- [Variants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/variants/)
- [P.1](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/p-1/)
- [Brazil](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/brazil/)
- [B.1.1.7](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/b-1-1-7/)
- [Masks](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/masks/)
- [Jail](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/jail/)
- [Prison](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prison/)
- [Prisoners](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/prisoners/)
- [Long Covid](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/long-covid/)
- [Long-term care](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/long-term-care/)
- [India](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/india/)
- [Double Mutatant](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/double-mutatant/)
- [Superspreader](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/superspreader/)
- [Cowlitz](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cowlitz/)
- [Ferry](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ferry/)
- [Whitman](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/whitman/)
- [Pierce](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pierce/)
- [Telehealth](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/telehealth/)
- [Drinking](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/drinking/)
- [Binge](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/binge/)
- [Child Development](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/child-development/)
- [Patents](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/patents/)
- [Intellectual Property](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/intellectual-property/)
- [Swimming](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/swimming/)
- [Water Safety](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/water-safety/)
- [Sunstroke](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sunstroke/)
- [Population](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/population/)
- [Smallpox](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/smallpox/)
- [Benjamin Franklin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/benjamin-franklin/)
- [Overdiagnosis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/overdiagnosis/)
- [Trees](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/trees/)
- [Protein Design](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/protein-design/)
- [Institute for Protein Design](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/institute-for-protein-design/)
- [Risk](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/risk/)
- [Nutriceuticals](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nutriceuticals/)
- [Wearables](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/wearables/)
- [Pacific](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pacific/)
- [Micronesia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/micronesia/)
- [Polynesia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/polynesia/)
- [Melanesia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/melanesia/)
- [Brain Fog](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/brain-fog/)
- [ODs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ods/)
- [OD](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/od/)
- [Boosters](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/boosters/)
- [Libido](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/libido/)
- [Vyleesi](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/vyleesi/)
- [Testosterone](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/testosterone/)
- [Flibanserin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/flibanserin/)
- [Fatigue](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fatigue/)
- [MSE](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mse/)
- [CFS](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cfs/)
- [Mandates](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mandates/)
- [HIIT](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hiit/)
- [Fomites](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fomites/)
- [Handwashing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/handwashing/)
- [AED](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aed/)
- [Cardiac Arrest](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cardiac-arrest/)
- [Public Employees](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/public-employees/)
- [Polyps](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/polyps/)
- [Colonoscopy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/colonoscopy/)
- [Wildfires](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/wildfires/)
- [Breathing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/breathing/)
- [Malpractice](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/malpractice/)
- [Medical Errors](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/medical-errors/)
- [Booster Shots](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/booster-shots/)
- [Unvaccinated](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/unvaccinated/)
- [Chicken](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/chicken/)
- [Common Cold](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/common-cold/)
- [Cold Remedies](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cold-remedies/)
- [Rapid Testing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/rapid-testing/)
- [Listeria](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/listeria/)
- [N95](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/n95/)
- [KN95](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/kn95/)
- [Missouri](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/missouri/)
- [Autism](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/autism/)
- [Gum Disease](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gum-disease/)
- [Embryogenesis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/embryogenesis/)
- [Genomics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/genomics/)
- [scRNA-seq](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/scrna-seq/)
- [Arthroscopy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/arthroscopy/)
- [Spinal Fusion](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/spinal-fusion/)
- [facemasks](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/facemasks/)
- [Alopecia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/alopecia/)
- [Hair Loss](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hair-loss/)
- [Baldness](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/baldness/)
- [Hypertension](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hypertension/)
- [Gender](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gender/)
- [Transgender](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/transgender/)
- [Recombination](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/recombination/)
- [Hybrid Variants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hybrid-variants/)
- [Stress](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/stress/)
- [Relaxation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/relaxation/)
- [Aduhelm](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aduhelm/)
- [Biogen](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/biogen/)
- [Bend](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bend/)
- [Testing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/testing/)
- [Rare Diseases](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/rare-diseases/)
- [Rare Disorder](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/rare-disorder/)
- [Human Pangenome Project](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/human-pangenome-project/)
- [Human Genome Project](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/human-genome-project/)
- [Aging in Place](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aging-in-place/)
- [Geriatrics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/geriatrics/)
- [Bias](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bias/)
- [Cutting](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cutting/)
- [Snacking](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/snacking/)
- [Cars](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cars/)
- [Accidents](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/accidents/)
- [In Vitro Fertilization](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/in-vitro-fertilization/)
- [Fertility](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fertility/)
- [Paxlovid](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/paxlovid/)
- [Lagevrio](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/lagevrio/)
- [molnupiravir](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/molnupiravir/)
- [Roe vs. Wade](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/roe-vs-wade/)
- [SSRIs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ssris/)
- [Serotonin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/serotonin/)
- [SSRI](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ssri/)
- [Antidepressants](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/antidepressants/)
- [Heat Exhaustion](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/heat-exhaustion/)
- [Heatwave](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/heatwave/)
- [Weather](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/weather/)
- [Sunscreen](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sunscreen/)
- [Tanning](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tanning/)
- [Sunburn](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sunburn/)
- [Schools](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/schools/)
- [O157-H7](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/o157-h7/)
- [White Mulberry](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/white-mulberry/)
- [Herbal](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/herbal/)
- [Menses](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/menses/)
- [Menstruation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/menstruation/)
- [Period](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/period/)
- [Longevity Diet](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/longevity-diet/)
- [Diets](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/diets/)
- [Herpes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/herpes/)
- [HSV-1](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hsv-1/)
- [HSV-2](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hsv-2/)
- [Pakistan](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pakistan/)
- [Indian](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/indian/)
- [Pakistani](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pakistani/)
- [Bangladesh](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bangladesh/)
- [Bengali](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bengali/)
- [Cholesterol](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cholesterol/)
- [LDL](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ldl/)
- [HDL](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hdl/)
- [Lipids](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/lipids/)
- [Animal Research](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/animal-research/)
- [At-home testing](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/at-home-testing/)
- [Buprenorphine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/buprenorphine/)
- [Aneurysms](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/aneurysms/)
- [Gut](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gut/)
- [Air Travel](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/air-travel/)
- [Airplanes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/airplanes/)
- [DVT](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dvt/)
- [Blood Clots](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/blood-clots/)
- [Bioweapons](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bioweapons/)
- [Google](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/google/)
- [Marriage](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/marriage/)
- [Detox](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/detox/)
- [Pasta](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pasta/)
- [Northwest School of Innovative Learning](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/northwest-school-of-innovative-learning/)
- [Northwest SOIL](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/northwest-soil/)
- [xylazine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/xylazine/)
- [tranq](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tranq/)
- [Cough](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/cough/)
- [Psychelics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/psychelics/)
- [Epigenetics](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/epigenetics/)
- [Neurodiverse](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/neurodiverse/)
- [Tourettes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/tourettes/)
- [Methadone](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/methadone/)
- [Misinformation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/misinformation/)
- [ACL](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/acl/)
- [Anterior Cruciate Ligament](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/anterior-cruciate-ligament/)
- [Knee Injury](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/knee-injury/)
- [Women's Sports](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/womens-sports/)
- [Daylight Savings](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/daylight-savings/)
- [Diversity](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/diversity/)
- [Equity](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/equity/)
- [Inclusion](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/inclusion/)
- [DEI](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dei/)
- [Malnutrition](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/malnutrition/)
- [Men's Health](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mens-health/)
- [Chatbot](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/chatbot/)
- [AI](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ai/)
- [Artificial Intrelligence](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/artificial-intrelligence/)
- [Disparities](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/disparities/)
- [Muscle](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/muscle/)
- [Dobbs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/dobbs/)
- [Megan Fox](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/megan-fox/)
- [Ozempic](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ozempic/)
- [Wegovy](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/wegovy/)
- [Mounjaro](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mounjaro/)
- [HIPAA](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hipaa/)
- [Ketamine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ketamine/)
- [Psychedelic](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/psychedelic/)
- [MDMA](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mdma/)
- [Atrial Fibrillation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/atrial-fibrillation/)
- [Palpitations](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/palpitations/)
- [Afib](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/afib/)
- [Migraine](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/migraine/)
- [Back Pain](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/back-pain/)
- [Low Back Pain](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/low-back-pain/)
- [Metastatic](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/metastatic/)
- [History](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/history/)
- [insomina](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/insomina/)
- [Zepbound](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/zepbound/)
- [GLP-1](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/glp-1/)
- [Postpartum Depression](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/postpartum-depression/)
- [Yoga](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/yoga/)
- [Running](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/running/)
- [nitazenes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nitazenes/)
- [Psilocybin](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/psilocybin/)
- [Trans](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/trans/)
- [Bones](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bones/)
- [Joints](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/joints/)
- [Arthritist](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/arthritist/)
- [Feet](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/feet/)
- [Flat Feet](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/flat-feet/)
- [Myopia](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/myopia/)
- [Nearsightedness](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nearsightedness/)
- [ChatGPT](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/chatgpt/)
- [Recall](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/recall/)
- [Antropology](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/antropology/)
- [Avian Influenza](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/avian-influenza/)
- [H5N1](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/h5n1/)
- [Immunotherapy works by boosting the power of a patient’s immune system to help kill cancer cells.](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/immunotherapy-works-by-boosting-the-power-of-a-patients-immune-system-to-help-kill-cancer-cells/)
- [walking](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/walking/)
- [semaglutide](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/semaglutide/)
- [Rybelsus](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/rybelsus/)
- [Castor Oil](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/castor-oil/)
- [mpox](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mpox/)
- [Monkypox](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/monkypox/)
- [Austism](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/austism/)
- [Neurodiversity](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/neurodiversity/)
- [CommonSpirit](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/commonspirit/)
- [St. Joseph Medical Center](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/st-joseph-medical-center/)
- [PeaceHealth](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/peacehealth/)
- [Catholic Health Services](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/catholic-health-services/)
- [Providence](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/providence/)
- [Bisphosphonates](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bisphosphonates/)
- [Pelvic organ prolapse](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pelvic-organ-prolapse/)
- [IUD](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/iud/)
- [glymphatic](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/glymphatic/)
- [Bird Flu](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bird-flu/)
- [Bone density](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bone-density/)
- [Osteoporosis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/osteoporosis/)
- [Fractures](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fractures/)
- [Forgetting](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/forgetting/)
- [Pertussis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/pertussis/)
- [GLP-1 receptor agonists](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/glp-1-receptor-agonists/)
- [Habits](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/habits/)
- [Resolutions](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/resolutions/)
- [Hoarding](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/hoarding/)
- [Clutter](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/clutter/)
- [Eggs](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/eggs/)
- [Gluten](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/gluten/)
- [Sprue](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/sprue/)
- [Deep Fakes](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/deep-fakes/)
- [Protein](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/protein/)
- [Kyphosis](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/kyphosis/)
- [Drowning](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/drowning/)
- [Celiac Disease](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/celiac-disease/)
- [Disinformation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/disinformation/)
- [Mitochondria](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/mitochondria/)
- [NIH](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/nih/)
- [National Institutes of Health](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/national-institutes-of-health/)
- [Flouride](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/flouride/)
- [Fluoridation](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/fluoridation/)
- [Bodyweight Exercise](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/bodyweight-exercise/)
- [IBS](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/ibs/)
- [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://localhealthguide.com/tag/irritable-bowel-syndrome/)