Health Advice
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Race is often used as medical shorthand for how bodies work. Some doctors want to change that
Several months ago, a lab technologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital mixed the blood components of two people: Alphonso Harried, who needed a kidney, and Pat Holterman-Hommes, who hoped to give him one.
The goal was to see whether Harried’s body would instantly see Holterman-Hommes’ organ as a major threat and attack it before surgeons could ...Read more

Healthy food is hard to come by in South L.A. These 3 activists are changing that
LOS ANGELES — It starts with an Instagram DM.
That's where you'll find Straight Up Fast Food and its menu of organic smoothies and cold-pressed juices every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Once you've selected your drink (the Jefferson, filled with blackberries, açaí, apples and more, will never let you down), just shoot the page a message with ...Read more

Ask the Pediatrician: What exactly is Tourette syndrome?
Q: I’ve been told my son may have Tourette syndrome. What exactly is this and how worried should I be?
A: Tourette syndrome is a nervous system disorder. It causes people to have repetitive movements or sounds they can't control. These are known as tics, and they typically start in childhood. There are two types: motor tics and vocal tics. ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Minute: Why it's important to help kids who identify as LGBTQ and may be struggling
It's not uncommon for teens to experience mental health issues like anxiety. It's believed 1 in 5 young people experiences some type of mental health issue during their teen years. For LGBTQ youth, the statistics are alarming. A recent national survey showed 45% expressed serious suicidal ideation.
If the teen in your life identifies as LGBTQ ...Read more

Consumer Health: What do you know about headaches?
June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn more about headaches.
Headache is pain in any region of the head. Headaches may occur on one or both sides of the head, be isolated to a certain location, radiate across the head from one point, or have a viselike quality. A headache may appear as a sharp pain,...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q and A: How does diabetes affect the heart?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 42 and recently was diagnosed with diabetes. My doctor said I could manage the condition with diet and exercise for now but suggested I follow up with a cardiologist. As far as I know, my heart is fine. What is the connection between diabetes and heart health?
ANSWER: The number of people worldwide with diabetes is rising...Read more

Veterans toxic exposure bill stalls as lawmakers head home
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan bill to expand veterans health care and disability benefits will not make it to President Joe Biden’s desk until after the July Fourth congressional recess because of a minor tax provision.
The House is supposed to originate tax bills under the Constitution. So when the Senate passed the bill last week with the tax...Read more

Commentary: Why is it so hard to get health care as a trans cancer patient?
Nobody can know what it is like to be a cancer patient without actually having cancer. Before I was diagnosed, I had proximity to cancer patients and experiences in health care that I thought gave me insight. In some ways they did. Yet although I had previously experienced discrimination for being transgender, nothing could have prepared me for ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Minute: Reducing dementia risks
More than 55 million people worldwide are believed to be living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization. And women are likely to be twice as affected by dementia as men.
Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities. It's not one disease. And Alzheimer's disease is the ...Read more

Medi-Cal will cover doulas at more than twice California's initial proposed rate
California will cover doula services for low-income residents at more than twice the state’s initial proposed rate under a spending plan lawmakers passed last week.
Some advocates welcomed the new benefit in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid health insurance program, as a step toward professionalizing this group of nonmedical birth workers. ...Read more

CDC: Historic outbreak of meningococcal disease among LGBTQ men in Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. — At least six people in Florida have died in what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday called “one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in U.S. history,” with state and health officials and LGBTQ+ groups scrambling to alert the public about the deadly disease.
As ...Read more

'Blue slip' problem hangs up veterans toxic exposure bill
WASHINGTON — A Senate-passed bill to expand health care and disability benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits or other toxic substances during their service has run into a constitutional objection from the House.
The bill, which would make it easier for veterans to access benefits by presuming that certain types of cancer and respiratory ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q and A: Biggest benefits of exercise for teens
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: When my daughter was young, she spent hours playing outside and running around. That happens a lot less now that she is a teen. I'm worried that she is not getting enough exercise. How much does she need each week, and do you have tips to motivate her to get moving?
ANSWER: As our children grow, many parents find it a ...Read more

4 hospitals united to tackle one of Sacramento's toughest problems. Here's what they did
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento’s four hospital systems teamed up with WellSpace Health to tackle a longstanding challenge for the region’s homeless residents: Where can they go to get the conditions needed to recuperate after a hospital visit?
As of this year, the answer is a spacious, well-lit center at 4990 Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento....Read more

Mayo Clinic Minute: Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
As the temperature rises in the summer, so does the risk of heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Over the past 30 years, extreme heat has claimed more lives in America than any other weather-related hazard, including flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes or lightning, according to the National Weather Service.
Experts at Mayo ...Read more

Consumer Health: Gentlemen, are you doing your Kegels?
June is Men's Health Month, which makes this a good time to learn more about the benefits of Kegels for men.
Kegel exercises, also known as pelvic floor muscle training, can prevent or control urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor problems. For women, Kegel exercises may be suggested for some incontinence problems, including during ...Read more

Californians brace for increased health care premiums if federal subsidies expire
SACRAMENTO — For the last two years, Syd Winlock has had a major burden lifted from his surgically repaired shoulder.
Federal subsidies passed as part of a temporary pandemic relief package have drastically cut how much he pays in health care premiums, allowing the Sacramento-area small-business owner to purchase an insurance plan during the ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Minute: Pregnancy is no picnic when it comes to listeria
Food safety is important for everybody, but it is especially important if you're expecting. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can change a pregnant person's immune system, making her more susceptible to contracting foodborne illness.
In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases expert, discusses...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q and A: Tips for reducing risk of hearing loss
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently realized that I often ask people to repeat themselves, and I must turn up the volume on the TV louder than before. How do I know if I have hearing loss? I am 46. Aren't I too young for hearing loss? Can I take steps to prevent future hearing loss?
ANSWER: The ears are an important part of the body, and damage to the...Read more

Ask the Pediatrician: How can parents of children with autism prepare for telehealth appointments?
Q: How can I help my daughter, who has autism, prepare for a telehealth appointment?
A: Telehealth visits can be a helpful part of your child's ongoing medical care. Because regular visits and therapy may require time away from work and school, using a video or phone call can be a beneficial, convenient and fun way to check in from almost ...Read more
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