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

Latest From The Los Angeles Post

Health

The aftermath of mass shootings infiltrates every corner of survivors’ lives

More than a year after 11-year-old Mayah Zamora was airlifted out of Uvalde, Texas, after being critically injured in the Robb Elementary school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers, the family is still reeling. Knocks on the door startle Mayah into a panic. The family is skipping Fourth of July celebrations to avoid booming fireworks. An outing to the Little Mermaid movie requires noise-canceling headphones. Since 2016, thousands of Americans have been wounded in mass shootings, and tens of thousands by gun violence, with that number continuing to grow, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The aftermath of mass shootings infiltrates every corner of survivors’ lives
Health

Are you confronting a big medical bill? Attack it with a plan — and these tips

An enormous medical bill can trigger a wave of panic, but try to resist. That startling invoice that arrived in the mail may not be what you wind up paying. Errors or slow insurance payments may have inflated the total. Even if it’s accurate, financial aid or other assistance might help pare it. Sometimes a simple phone call clears up a problem. Other times, reinforcements are necessary. Debt experts say patients should attack medical bills with a plan. Here are key steps to take. CHECK THE NUMBERS Don’t stash the bill in a pile of mail and hope it goes

Are you confronting a big medical bill? Attack it with a plan — and these tips
Health

What to know about Fourth of July holiday origins and traditions

The Fourth of July is Americana at its core: parades and cookouts and cold beer and, of course, fireworks. Those pyrotechnics also make it an especially dangerous holiday, typically resulting in more than 10,000 trips to the emergency room. Yet fireworks remain at the center of Independence Day, a holiday 247 years in the making. Here are five things to know about July Fourth, including the origin of the holiday and how fireworks became part of the tradition. WHAT’S THE ORIGIN OF INDEPENDENCE DAY? The holiday celebrates the Second Continental Congress’ unanimous adoption of the Declaration

What to know about Fourth of July holiday origins and traditions
Health

Australia is the first nation to let patients with depression or PTSD be prescribed psychedelics

Australia is now the first country to allow psychiatrists to prescribe certain psychedelic substances to patients with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Beginning Saturday, Australian physicians can prescribe doses of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, for PTSD. Psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, can be given to people who have hard-to-treat depression. The country put the two drugs on the list of approved medicines by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Scientists in Australia were surprised by the move, which was announced in February but took effect July 1. One scientist said it puts Australian “at the forefront

Australia is the first nation to let patients with depression or PTSD be prescribed psychedelics
Health

Morning-after pill vending machines gain popularity on college campuses post-Roe

Need Plan B? Tap your credit card and enter B6. Since last November, a library at the University of Washington has featured a different kind of vending machine, one that’s become more popular on campuses around the country since the U.S. Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion last year. It’s stocked with ibuprofen, pregnancy tests and the morning-after pill. With some states enacting abortion bans and others enshrining protections and expanding access to birth control, the machines are part of a push on college campuses to ensure emergency contraceptives are cheap, discreet and widely available. There

Morning-after pill vending machines gain popularity on college campuses post-Roe
Health

Minnesota saw 20% jump in abortions last year, partly due to patients from restrictive states

Minnesota recorded a 20% jump in abortions in 2022, partly because more patients are traveling from states that have banned or limited the procedure since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to an annual report released Friday. The report by the Minnesota Department of Health said more than 16% of the 12,175 abortions performed last year involved women from elsewhere, with 1,714 patients traveling from states bordering Minnesota and 290 coming from distant ones such as Texas. That’s the highest proportion since at least 1980. And the number of abortions involving women

Minnesota saw 20% jump in abortions last year, partly due to patients from restrictive states
Health

Cheaper competition for Humira is hitting the market, but savings will depend on your insurance

Patients who take the autoimmune disease treatment Humira may see some price relief when several lower-cost, biosimilar versions of the AbbVie drug reach the U.S. market in July. But lower pharmacy bills may not happen right away — or at all — for some patients. That’ll depend largely on your insurance coverage. Here’s a closer look. WHAT IS HUMIRA? It’s an injectable biologic drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients usually take it twice a month. Biologic drugs are made from living cells instead of by mixing chemicals and have led to major advances in

Cheaper competition for Humira is hitting the market, but savings will depend on your insurance
Health

Parents of transgender youth are suing to block Georgia's gender-affirming care ban

Parents of four transgender children have filed a lawsuit challenging a Georgia law set to take effect Saturday that bans most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender people under 18, their lawyers said. The lawsuit, which the lawyers said was filed Thursday night, asks a judge to immediately prevent enforcement of the law while the legal challenge plays out. The law passed along party lines this year by the Republican-majority General Assembly and signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp was hotly contested, with Democrats, parents and medical providers making impassioned arguments against it. Georgia is

Parents of transgender youth are suing to block Georgia's gender-affirming care ban
Health

Wildfire smoke drives traditional summer camp activities indoors

The Canadian wildfires that have shrouded much of the nation in smoky haze are making it much harder for American kids to enjoy one of the staples of summer camp: fresh country air. As a result, many camps in the Midwest and the East have been moving activities indoors, seeking advice from medical professionals and hoping the air quality improves soon so campers can get back to hiking, playing tetherball and waging games of capture the flag. “There’s certainly a concern, considering that we take children from the cities,” Mark Zides, chairman of the Pennsylvania Camp Association, said Thursday. “Coming

Wildfire smoke drives traditional summer camp activities indoors
Health

Locally transmitted malaria in the US could be a harbinger of rising disease risk in a warming climate – 5 questions answered

Some evidence suggests that malaria mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides. Paul Starosta/Stone via Getty Images The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on June 26, 2023, that five cases of locally transmitted malaria had been identified – four in Florida and one in Texas – since May 2023. These are the first cases of locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria in the U.S. since 2003. The Conversation spoke with Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury, a global health expert from Florida International University, about the significance of these cases and why they’re appearing now. 1. What is malaria and how did these people

Locally transmitted malaria in the US could be a harbinger of rising disease risk in a warming climate – 5 questions answered
Health

Older Americans can get RSV vaccine this fall after consulting their doctor, CDC says

Americans 60 and older can get a new RSV vaccine but should discuss it with their doctor first, U.S. health officials recommended Thursday. The newly approved vaccines are expected to be ready in the fall, a time when flu shots and updated COVID-19 shots also will be available. Those eligible for the RSV vaccine should talk with their doctor to see if it is right for them, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. The CDC said adults with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems and those living in long-term care facilities are at

Older Americans can get RSV vaccine this fall after consulting their doctor, CDC says
Health

Mexico acknowledges 112 heat-related deaths so far this year, almost triple the figures in 2022

Mexican health authorities say there have been at least 112 heat-related deaths so far this year, acknowledging the deadliness of a recent heat wave that the president previously said was being overblown by alarmist journalists. The report, released late Wednesday, also shows a significant spike in heat-related fatalities in the last two weeks. So far this year, the overall heat-related deaths are almost triple the figures in 2022. The Health Department normally issues a report on heat-related fatalities each week, but in June — at the height of the heat wave — it skipped a week,

Mexico acknowledges 112 heat-related deaths so far this year, almost triple the figures in 2022
Health

Deadly germ behind infant formula shortage joins CDC watchlist of bad bugs

U.S. health officials will start formally tracking infections caused by the rare but potentially deadly germ that sickened babies and triggered a nationwide shortage of infant formula last year. A group that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed Thursday to add infections caused by cronobacter to the list of serious conditions reported to the agency. There are about 120 infections and diseases on the national watchlist. States will be asked, but not required, to notify the CDC about cronobacter infections, although they usually comply. Such infections are required to be reported now in only two states, Minnesota

Deadly germ behind infant formula shortage joins CDC watchlist of bad bugs
Health

$2.9 million gene therapy for severe hemophilia is approved by FDA

U.S. officials on Thursday approved drugmaker BioMarin’s gene therapy for the most common form of hemophilia, a $2.9 million infused treatment that can significantly reduce dangerous bleeding problems. The Food and Drug Administration approved Roctavian for adult patients with severe cases of hemophilia A, the inherited blood-clotting disorder that can lead to bleeding after minor injuries or scrapes. It’s the first gene therapy for those patients. The IV therapy is a long-awaited alternative to current treatments, including weekly doses of a protein needed to help blood clot. Some patients take a newer, longer-acting biotech drug that replaces

$2.9 million gene therapy for severe hemophilia is approved by FDA
Health

North Carolina measure limiting LGBTQ+ curriculum heading to governor's desk

North Carolina lawmakers on Thursday finalized legislation touted by Republicans as giving parents greater authority over their children’s public school education and health care, with limits on LGBTQ+ instruction in early grades a key provision. The Senate, which passed the measure the day after the House pushed through some alterations, now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is expected to veto it. The bill also would require public school teachers in most circumstances to alert parents before they call a student by a different name or pronoun. The provision prohibiting instruction about gender identity and

North Carolina measure limiting LGBTQ+ curriculum heading to governor's desk
Health

Here's how to keep cool and stay safe during a heat wave

Scorching heat across the U.S. already has caused more than a dozen deaths in Texas alone and led to mounting misery for millions of people from the Pacific Northwest to the South. And the official end of summer is still months away. Here’s a guide on how to keep cool and stay safe in the punishing temperatures as the latest heat wave ravaging the country spreads east. WHY IS EXTREME HEAT DANGEROUS? Heat kills more Americans than any other weather event, including tornadoes and flooding, even though most heat-related deaths are preventable through outreach and intervention,

Here's how to keep cool and stay safe during a heat wave
Health

New Mexico regulators fine oil producer $40 million for burning off vast amounts of natural gas

New Mexico oilfield and air quality regulators on Thursday announced unprecedented state fines against a Texas-based oil and natural gas producer on accusations that the company flouted local pollution reporting and control requirements by burning off vast amounts of natural gas in a prolific energy-production zone in the southeast of the state. The New Mexico Environment Department announced a $40.3 million penalty against Austin, Texas-based Ameredev, alleging the burning caused excessive emissions in 2019 and 2020 at five facilities in New Mexico’s Lea County near the town of Jal. Regulators raised concerns about the excess

New Mexico regulators fine oil producer $40 million for burning off vast amounts of natural gas
Health

In rural India, summer's heat can be deadly. Ambulance crews see the toll up close

Siren blaring, Sunil Kumar Naik’s ambulance tore across a dry and rocky countryside blasted by dangerous midday heat, rushing to check on a vomiting and dizzy 30-year-old man with possible heat stroke. As soon as they reached the man’s village, Naik’s paramedic partner guided the stricken man into the ambulance, then checked his pulse and oxygen levels as Naik sped back to the public hospital. With barely a moment to drink some water and splash their faces, the men were dispatched again, this time to pick up a pregnant woman who had gone into labor as

In rural India, summer's heat can be deadly. Ambulance crews see the toll up close
Health

Heat waves like the one that's killed 14 in the southern US are becoming more frequent and enduring

Heat waves like the one that engulfed parts of parts of the South and Midwest and killed more than a dozen people are becoming more common, and experts say the extreme weather events, which claim more lives than hurricanes and tornados, will likely increase in the future. A heat dome that pressured the Texas power grid and killed 13 people there and another in Louisiana pushed eastward Thursday and was expected to be centered over the mid-South by the weekend. Heat index levels of up to 112 degrees (44 Celsius) were forecast in parts of Florida over

Heat waves like the one that's killed 14 in the southern US are becoming more frequent and enduring
Health

Ringworm fungal infections are common in the US and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment – 6 questions answered

Ringworm is often easy to spot with its characteristic red rings on the skin. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images 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 Health reported two cases of severe tinea, a contagious type of ringworm infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later reported that they were caused by a species of

Ringworm fungal infections are common in the US and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment – 6 questions answered
Health

A trauma-focused therapy is helping Ukrainian children besieged by war – a clinical psychologist explains how it could bring resilience to kids around the world

In Lviv, Ukraine, a 15-year-old girl recovers from injuries sustained in the war. Scott Peterson via Getty Images Childhood trauma is a global health problem. Every year, up to 1 billion children worldwide experience some form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse. More than two-thirds of children report at least one traumatic event by age 16. Without early intervention, these experiences may deeply infiltrate the minds of children, who may reenact their original trauma by entering toxic relationships that repeat the dynamics of parental abuse. Or they might engage in high-risk behaviors, including unsafe sexual relationships, delinquency or substance abuse.

A trauma-focused therapy is helping Ukrainian children besieged by war – a clinical psychologist explains how it could bring resilience to kids around the world
Health

BMI alone will no longer be treated as the go-to measure for weight management – an obesity medicine physician explains the seismic shift taking place

Body mass index has been the standard measure to classify obesity and overweight for decades. kaipong/iStock via Getty Images 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 role of body mass index, or BMI, in clinical practice. The statement by the AMA, the nation’s largest association representing physicians, signals a significant shift in how clinicians regard BMI as

BMI alone will no longer be treated as the go-to measure for weight management – an obesity medicine physician explains the seismic shift taking place
Health

One year later, the Supreme Court's abortion decision is both scorned and praised

Activists and politicians are marking the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned a nationwide right to abortion by both bashing and celebrating it. Rallies on both sides were scheduled for Saturday in Washington and across the country. In a statement, President Joe Biden pledged to protect access and decried the court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The court’s conservative majority on June 24, 2022, overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, which had been in place for nearly a half-century. “States have imposed extreme and dangerous abortion bans that put the health and lives

One year later, the Supreme Court's abortion decision is both scorned and praised
Health

Arizona executive order safeguards abortion seekers and providers from prosecution

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs on Friday signed a sweeping executive order to protect anyone involved with a legally obtained abortion from prosecution. The order bans local prosecutors from bringing abortion-related charges and state agencies from assisting in any criminal investigations without a court order. In addition, Arizona will not honor any extradition requests for people wanted for assisting, providing or seeking an abortion. Only Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, will be able to oversee abortion-related prosecutions. “I will not allow extreme and out of touch politicians to get in the way of the fundamental right

Arizona executive order safeguards abortion seekers and providers from prosecution
Health

After a historic wave of anti-LGBTQ laws, focus now shifts to legal fights

A judge’s ruling that struck down Arkansas’ first-in-the-nation ban on gender-affirming care for minors is offering hope to transgender people, families and providers after a historic wave of restrictions on trans people’s lives sailed through Republican statehouses this year. The 80-page ruling comes on the heels of other decisions blocking similar bans, which have been enacted by at least 20 states. LGBTQ+ advocates call it a sign of what to expect as a growing number of challenges to laws that limit transgender youth access to medical care, sports teams and bathrooms work their way through

After a historic wave of anti-LGBTQ laws, focus now shifts to legal fights

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