Today: October 06, 2024
Today: October 06, 2024

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Health

Short naps can improve memory, increase productivity, reduce stress and promote a healthier heart

Short naps at the right time of day can benefit alertness and overall health in myriad ways. Tara Moore/Digital Vision via Getty Images Napping during the day is an ancient custom that is practiced worldwide. While some people view napping as a luxurious indulgence, others see it as a way to maintain alertness and well-being. But napping can come with drawbacks as well as benefits. As an orofacial pain specialist, I have extensive education in sleep medicine and how sleep impacts wellness, due mostly to the relationship between sleep and painful conditions such as headaches and facial pain. My training

Short naps can improve memory, increase productivity, reduce stress and promote a healthier heart
Health

Many big US cities now answer mental health crisis calls with civilian teams -- not police

Christian Glass was a geology geek, a painter and a young man beset by a mental health crisis when he called 911 for help getting his car unstuck in a Colorado mountain town last year. When sheriff’s deputies arrived, he refused to get out of the car after saying that supernatural beings were after him, body camera video shows. The officers shouted, threatened and coaxed. Glass made heart shapes with his hands and prayed: “Dear Lord, please, don’t let them break the window.” They did, and the 22-year-old grabbed a small knife. Then he was hit with

Many big US cities now answer mental health crisis calls with civilian teams -- not police
Health

Workers exposed to extreme heat have no consistent protection in the US

Santos Brizuela spent more than two decades laboring outdoors, persisting despite a bout of heatstroke while cutting sugarcane in Mexico and chronic laryngitis from repeated exposure to the hot sun while on various other jobs. But last summer, while on a construction crew in Las Vegas, he reached his breaking point. Exposure to the sun made his head ache immediately. He lost much of his appetite. Now at a maintenance job, Brizuela, 47, is able to take breaks. There are flyers on the walls with best practices for staying healthy — protections he had not been

Workers exposed to extreme heat have no consistent protection in the US
Health

Yale and a student group are settling a mental health discrimination lawsuit

Yale University and a student group announced Friday that they’ve reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit that accused the Ivy League school of discriminating against students with mental health disabilities, including pressuring them to withdraw. Under the agreement, Yale will modify its policies regarding medical leaves of absence, including streamlining the reinstatement process for students who return to campus. The plaintiffs had argued the process was onerous, discouraging students for decades from taking medical leave when they needed it most. The settlement is a “watershed moment” for the university and mental health patients, said 2019 graduate Rishi Mirchandani, a

Yale and a student group are settling a mental health discrimination lawsuit
Health

Texas ban on gender-affirming health care for minors blocked, Missouri ban allowed to take effect

A judge on Friday blocked Texas’ ban on gender-affirming health care for minors while a separate judge in Missouri allowed a similar ban to take effect, underscoring the mixed verdict in courtrooms across the U.S. this year over a historic wave of restrictions aimed at transgender youth. More than 20 states have adopted laws to ban some gender-affirming care for minors, although some are not yet in effect or have been put on hold by courts. Many of them prevent transgender minors from accessing hormone therapies, puberty blockers and transition surgeries, even though medical experts say

Texas ban on gender-affirming health care for minors blocked, Missouri ban allowed to take effect
Health

See which states are poised to rule next on transgender health care restrictions

Courts nationwide are delivering a mixed verdict on the future of state laws restricting gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, as legal battles ramp up over the historic wave of bans enacted this year. Alabama was allowed to enforce its ban on providing care to young people, a day after Georgia ‘s ban was partially blocked. New rulings may be imminent on bans in at least three more states in the coming week. Here’s a look at recent developments in the cases and where laws on transgender health care stand: THE LATEST RULINGS The 11th

See which states are poised to rule next on transgender health care restrictions
Health

In Iowa and elsewhere, bans on LGBTQ+ ‘conversion therapy’ become a conservative target

One of Iowa’s largest cities repealed its ban on “conversion therapy” — the discredited practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling — after a Christian organization threatened legal action, part of a deepening national movement to challenge protections for LGBTQ+ kids. The city council in Waterloo voted this week to remove its restrictions after Liberty Counsel warned in a letter June 30 that it would “take further action” if the city did not repeal the ordinance by August 1. It was enacted in May. The organization, which is

In Iowa and elsewhere, bans on LGBTQ+ ‘conversion therapy’ become a conservative target
Health

West Virginia can restrict abortion pill sales, judge rules, despite FDA approval that it's safe

West Virginia can restrict the sale of the abortion pill, despite federal regulators’ approval of it as a safe and effective medication, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Chambers determined Thursday that the near-total abortion ban signed by Republican Gov. Jim Justice in September 2022 takes precedence over approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “The Supreme Court has made it clear that regulating abortion is a matter of health and safety upon which States may appropriately exercise their police power,” Chambers wrote in a decision dismissing most challenges brought

West Virginia can restrict abortion pill sales, judge rules, despite FDA approval that it's safe
Health

Screen time is contributing to chronic sleep deprivation in tweens and teens – a pediatric sleep expert explains how critical sleep is to kids' mental health

When teens can’t sleep, they often scroll online well into the night, which only exacerbates the problem. ljubaphoto/E+ via Getty Images With the start of a new school year comes the inevitable battle to get kids back into a healthy bedtime routine. In many cases, this likely means resetting boundaries on screen use, especially late in the evenings. But imposing and enforcing those rules can be easier said than done. A growing body of research is finding strong links between sleep, mental health and screen time in teens and tweens – the term for pre-adolescent children around the ages of

Screen time is contributing to chronic sleep deprivation in tweens and teens – a pediatric sleep expert explains how critical sleep is to kids' mental health
Health

South Carolina abortion ban with unclear 'fetal heartbeat' definition creates confusion, doctors say

When the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld a ban on most abortions this week, the majority wrote that they were leaving “for another day” a decision on when, exactly, the “fetal heartbeat” limit begins during pregnancy. Doctors practicing under the strict law cannot similarly punt on that question. Physicians say the statute’s unclear guidance is already chilling medical practice at the few abortion clinics that operate in the conservative state. With potential criminal charges hanging in the balance, most abortions are being halted as doctors wrestle with the murky legal definitions. “These medical definitions they tried

South Carolina abortion ban with unclear 'fetal heartbeat' definition creates confusion, doctors say
Health

Backers blast approved ballot language for Ohio's fall abortion amendment as misleading

The Ohio Ballot Board approved language Thursday for a fall measure seeking to establish abortion access as a fundamental right, but one Democratic member blasted it as “rife with misleading and defective language.” Key among opponents’ objections is language developed by Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, an abortion opponent, amid warnings the language could face a legal challenge even before the proposal goes before Ohio voters in November. Among the new language, the word “fetus” in the Democrats’ proposal was changed to “unborn child” in the ballot measure. The original summary language seeks to assure

Backers blast approved ballot language for Ohio's fall abortion amendment as misleading
Health

Canadian wildfires led to spike in asthma ER visits, especially in the Northeast

The smoke from Canadian wildfires that drifted into the U.S. led to a spike in people with asthma visiting emergency rooms — particularly in the New York area. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published two studies Thursday about the health impacts of the smoke, which shrouded city skylines with an orange haze in late spring. A medical journal also released a study this week. When air quality worsens, “an asthmatic feels it before anyone else,” said Dr. Adrian Pristas, a pulmonologist based in Hazlet, New Jersey, who remembered a flood of calls from

Canadian wildfires led to spike in asthma ER visits, especially in the Northeast
Health

Scores of women and girls were sexually assaulted after peace deal in Ethiopia's Tigray, study shows

Scores of women and girls in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region were sexually assaulted, often by multiple men alleged to be combatants, after a peace agreement last year ended the conflict there, according to a new study of medical records released on Thursday. The youngest girl raped was 8 years old. The Tigray conflict killed hundreds of thousands of people and left untold thousands of women and girls with the trauma of sexual assault. At least 128 sexual assaults occurred after the peace agreement was signed last November, according to the study, which looked at records from

Scores of women and girls were sexually assaulted after peace deal in Ethiopia's Tigray, study shows
Health

LGBTQ+ caregivers of people with dementia face unique stresses that lead to poorer physical and mental health

LGBTQ+ caregivers from racial minorities reported experiencing poorer family quality of life and higher depressive symptoms. FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images Caring for someone living with dementia can be a stressful experience that harms the physical and mental health of caregivers. Many caregivers experience depression and lower quality of life. LGBTQ+ caregivers face unique challenges that can magnify these strains. Around 8% of the estimated 50 million-plus caregivers of adults or children with special needs in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ+, with many caring for someone living with dementia. LGBTQ+ caregivers have experienced discrimination, isolation, stigma and other stressors related

LGBTQ+ caregivers of people with dementia face unique stresses that lead to poorer physical and mental health
Health

Hospital services in the UK come to a standstill as thousands of senior doctors strike again

Hospital care across England is expected to come to a standstill on Thursday as senior doctors launch another 48-hour strike amid an ongoing pay dispute between medics and the British government. Thousands of hospital doctors say they will only provide emergency care, and the National Health Service warned patients to expect major disruption during the two-day strike. Thursday’s action is the latest in a series of strikes staged by doctors, nurses and other clinical staff in recent months and part of a wave of disruptive industrial action by public sector workers to demand better pay amid the

Hospital services in the UK come to a standstill as thousands of senior doctors strike again
Health

South Carolina's new all-male highest court reverses course on abortion, upholding strict 6-week ban

South Carolina’s new all-male Supreme Court reversed course on abortion on Wednesday, upholding a ban on most such procedures after about six weeks of pregnancy. The 4-1 ruling departs from the court’s own decision earlier this year to strike down a similar law. The continued erosion of legal abortion access across the U.S. South comes after Republican state lawmakers replaced the lone female on the court, Justice Kaye Hearn. Writing for the new majority, Justice John Kittredge acknowledged that the 2023 law infringes on “a woman’s right of privacy and bodily autonomy,” but said the state

South Carolina's new all-male highest court reverses course on abortion, upholding strict 6-week ban
Health

Gender-affirming surgeries in the US nearly tripled before pandemic dip, study finds

The number of gender-affirming surgeries in the U.S. nearly tripled from 2016 to 2019 before dropping slightly in 2020, according to a study published Wednesday. The increase likely reflects expanded insurance coverage for transgender care after the Obama administration and some states actively discouraged discrimination based on gender identity, lead author Dr. Jason Wright of Columbia University said. The dip in 2020 can be attributed to the pandemic. About 48,000 patients underwent such surgeries during the five years studied, with about 13,000 procedures done in 2019, the peak year, and 12,800 in 2020. A little more than half the patients

Gender-affirming surgeries in the US nearly tripled before pandemic dip, study finds
Health

Acne bacteria trigger cells to produce fats, oils and other lipids essential to skin health – new research

There’s more to the bacterium _Cutibacterium acnes_ than meets the eye. Youngoldman/iStock via Getty Images Plus The skin is the largest organ of the body, and it plays a crucial role as the first line of defense against pathogens and insults from the external environment. It provides important functions like temperature regulation and moisture retention. And despite the misconception that lipids harm your skin by causing oiliness and acne, they actually play a vital role in maintaining the skin barrier. Lipids – organic compounds that include fats, oils, waxes and other types of molecules – are essential components of the

Acne bacteria trigger cells to produce fats, oils and other lipids essential to skin health – new research
Health

Most US nursing homes are understaffed, potentially compromising health care for more than a million elderly residents

Nursing homes in poorer neighborhoods tend to have more critical staffing issues. 10’000 Hours/Digital Vision via Getty Images More than 80% of U.S. nursing homes reported staffing shortages in early 2023. SciLine interviewed Dr. Jasmine Travers, a gerontological nurse practitioner and assistant professor of nursing at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, and asked her how the shortage affects health care for nursing home residents, if nursing homes in poorer neighborhoods have been hit harder by the shortages, and what can be done to fix the problem. Dr. Jasmine Travers discussed the impact when nursing homes are short-staffed.

Most US nursing homes are understaffed, potentially compromising health care for more than a million elderly residents
Health

Alabama can enforce ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children, court says

A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Alabama can enforce a ban outlawing the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender children, the second such appellate victory for gender-affirming care restrictions that have been adopted by a growing number of Republican-led states. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a judge’s temporary injunction against enforcing the law. The judge has scheduled trial for April 2 on whether to permanently block the law. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall called the ruling a “significant victory for our country, for children, and

Alabama can enforce ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children, court says
Health

Teva to pay $225M to settle cholesterol drug price-fixing charges

The generic drug maker Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed Monday to pay $225 million to settle price-fixing charges related to sales of a major cholesterol-lowering drug. The U.S. Department of Justice said the agreement also requires Teva to divest its business making and selling the drug, pravastatin, a generic version of the brand-name medicine Pravachol. Another generic drug maker, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, agreed to pay a $30 million criminal penalty and to divest its pravastatin business as well. In a statement, the U.S. arm of Israel-based Teva blamed a single former employee for striking agreements with Teva competitors that limited

Teva to pay $225M to settle cholesterol drug price-fixing charges
Health

FDA approves RSV vaccine for moms-to-be to guard their newborns

U.S. regulators on Monday approved the first RSV vaccine for pregnant women so their babies will be born with protection against the scary respiratory infection. RSV is notorious for filling hospitals with wheezing babies every fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration cleared Pfizer’s maternal vaccination to guard against a severe case of RSV when babies are most vulnerable — from birth through 6 months of age. The next step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must issue recommendations for using the vaccine, named Abrysvo, during pregnancy. (Vaccinations for older adults, also at high risk,

FDA approves RSV vaccine for moms-to-be to guard their newborns
Health

Judge blocks Georgia ban on hormone replacement therapy for transgender minors

A federal judge has blocked the state of Georgia from enforcing part of a new law that bans doctors from starting hormone therapy for transgender people under the age of 18. In a ruling issued Sunday, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Geraghty granted a preliminary injunction sought by several transgender children, parents and a community organization in a lawsuit challenging the ban. “The imminent risks of irreparable harm to Plaintiffs flowing from the ban — including risks of depression, anxiety, disordered eating, self-harm, and suicidal ideation — outweigh any harm the State will experience from the injunction,”

Judge blocks Georgia ban on hormone replacement therapy for transgender minors
Health

A decade after a sarin gas attack in a Damascus suburb, Syrian survivors lose hope for justice

One summer night a decade ago, the al-Shami family was woken up by a roaring sound or rockets but it wasn’t followed by the usual explosions. Instead, the family members started having difficulty breathing. Ghiad al-Shami, 26, remembers how everyone tried to run to the rooftop of their apartment building in eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb that at the time was held by opposition fighters trying to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad. Al-Shami’s mother, three sisters and two brothers died that night — victims of the Aug. 21, 2013 sarin gas attack that killed hundreds and

A decade after a sarin gas attack in a Damascus suburb, Syrian survivors lose hope for justice
Health

Can you cry underwater?

Tears prevent your eyes from drying out and protect them from irritation and infection. Vizerskaya/E+ via Getty Images Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. Can you cry underwater? – Rosie, age 17, Bedford, New Hampshire Your eyes are constantly coated by tears, made of oil, water and mucus. When someone is emotional, their eyes make extra tears to let people know they are unhappy, hurting or even overjoyed. Crying releases natural chemicals in the body like endorphins that produce feelings of

Can you cry underwater?

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