Source: American Psychiatric Association

Photo: Hurricane Katrina damage

May 21, 2017 (San Diego) – Adolescents exposed to natural and environmental disasters show higher levels of alcohol misuse and emotional trauma than their peers, according to new research presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in San Diego. The findings indicate the importance of mental health services for youth that have experienced emotional trauma.

May 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• The painful truth about teeth (Washington Post)
• Heroin Epidemic Is Driving a Spike in Hepatitis C Cases, CDC Says (NPR)
• Plant chemicals hope for 'alternative contraceptives' (BBC)
• How to Do a Really Good Job Washing Your Hands (NPR)
• Doctors Who Are Moms Say They Face Discrimination at Work (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Global ‘Wana’ Ransomware Outbreak Earned Perpetrators $26,000 So Far (Krebs)
• Iguana chase wins Bafta for Planet Earth II (BBC)
• Tesla begins taking orders for its solar roof (CNN)
• Could these mini reactors replicate the power of the Sun? (BBC)
• It might be time to say goodbye to the MP3 - so let's look back at its life (BBC)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 18, 2017 (San Diego) -- Did you know that one in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health condition? Did you know one in 25 adults in the country lives with a serious mental illness?

Lakeside resident Dave Thomas among honorees feted for overcoming life-altering injuries

East County News Service

May 17, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Lakeside resident Dave Thomas will be among those honored at the 2017 “Victories of Spirit” event celebrating the power of rehabilitation and the strength of the human spirit.  The 27^th annual celebration held by Sharp Rehabilitation and Sharp HealthCare Foundation  will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, May 19, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.  The title sponsor is United Healthcare. The event will honor the power of rehabilitation and pay tribute to extraordinary individuals and community organizations for their inspirational achievements and contributions to others.

By Miriam Raftery

May 14, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - You’ve heard of Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Rabbit Fever—all diseases spread by ticks, and all have spread to our region after first starting elsewhere in the country.  But now there’s a tick-borne illness that’s much deadlier than those ailments.  It’s called Powassan, or Pow for short.

East County News Service

May 11, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Mothers across the country are telling their personal stories of drug war damage with stories, articles and interviews in honor of Mother’s Day. By sharing these powerful stories of losing loved ones to drug-prohibition-related violence, incarceration, overdose and addiction, they are bringing focus to what they believe is a need to reform our nation’s drug policies.  The effort is being led by Gretchen Burns Bergman of San Diego, whose two sons have struggled with addiction.

East County News Service

May 10, 2017 (La Mesa) - The volunteer citizens group monitoring the spending of millions of dollars in public funds for new and improved patient care facilities at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa has a new member. Lindsey Ryan, the hospital’s Manager of Nursing Education and Professional Development, has joined the Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (ICBOC).

East County News Service

Photo via Mike Mozart on Flickr

May 6, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - A New Jersey company is recalling Aunt Jemima frozen pancakes, waffles and French toast due to a listeria contamination.

Pinnacle Foods issued the recall Friday night.  It affects products distributed in the United States and Mexico, but does not include dry mixes and syrups.

Hunter and Issa cast deciding votes

East County News Service

May 5, 2017 (Washington D.C.) - On Monday, ECM reported that a bill that could repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was heading to a rushed vote in the House on Thursday.  That bill, the American Healthcare Act, passed yesterday narrowly.

The bill passed by a four-vote margin with San Diego Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa both voting in favor. Had they voted against, the vote would have been tied and the measure would not have passed.

By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – House Republican leadership is pushing for a rushed vote on a revised proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare and replace it – without bothering to wait for a nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis. But the American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest doctors’ organization, has sent a Tweet warning patients to contact their representatives and urge a no vote.

By Miriam Raftery

April 30, 2017 (Sacramento) – The state Senate Health Committee has approved 5-2 a bill that would provide free healthcare to all Californians, including medical, dental, vision, mental health, chiropractic, emergency and nursing home care.  

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our interview, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link, or scroll down for highlights.

April 27, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Gloria Chadwick is a registered nurse who has worked in the Veterans Administration (VA) hospital. She's been elected to serve five terms on the Grossmont Healthcare District Board.  The first woman elected nearly 20 years ago, she's currently Vice President of the healthcare district serving East County. 

At a town hall meeting held by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), she announced plans to challenge him for  his seat – and passed out a pill bottle with her remedy to fix Congress:  “restoring integrity, providing affordable healthcare, creating more jobs, and protecting Medicare and the rights of Veterans.”

Voters couldn’t ask for a greater contrast.  Hunter, at his town hall, said he doesn’t believe healthcare is a right, but merely believes in “access” for those with the ability to pay for it. Chadwick describes herself as a “nurse warrior” who has been a fierce advocate for her patients – and now wants to do battle for constituents across the 50^th Congressional District.  In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine aired on KNSJ, she shared her vision for reforming healthcare, strengthening services for veterans and military families, and protecting a clean, healthy environment.

April 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Report Shows Spike in San Diego County Babies Born with Drugs in Their Systems (KPBS)
• Lead Impacted Hundreds of San Diego Kids Even Before the Latest Scare (Voice of San Diego)
• About half of physicians support single-payer healthcare system, LinkedIn survey says (Healthcare Finance)
• What Doesn't Kill You Can Maim: Unexpected Injuries from Opioids (NPR)
• What Happens to a Congressman's Health Insurance if Obamacare Goes Down? (NPR)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• How a melting Arctic changes everything (Bloomberg)
• The fingerprint sensor on your smartphone might not be foolproof (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• ‘Star Wars’-style desert moisture farming: New tech brings it a step closer (CS Monitor)
• Electric Concrete at Airports Could Save Us All from Winter Flight Delays (Travel and Leisure)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

East County News Service

April 18, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “The Gift of My Life,” a free program on advance healthcare planning, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 26. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.

East County News Service

April 14, 2017 (Sacramento) -- In an interview this week with the Wall Street Journal this week, President Trump suggested he would hold hostage the cost-sharing subsidies that make it possible for low-income Americans to afford to seek medical care when they need it.