Health/Fitness

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RELEASES STRINGENT NEW LIMITS ON CHILDREN'S ADDED SUGAR CONSUMPTION

 

East County News Service

August 24, 2016 (Davis, Ca.) - With its new guidelines, the American Heart Association has definitively taken a stand against added sugars, stating that no child should consume more than six teaspoons – or 100 calories – worth a day.


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PROPOSITION 61 WOULD LET STATE OF CALIFORNIA NEGOTIATE FOR LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS

 

East County News Service

August 23, 2016 (Sacramento) - Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act, on the November ballot aims to limit price-gouging on drug prices by pharmaceutical companies.  Some drug prices have skyrocketed for no valid reason, only corporate greed. For instance, the cost of an Epi-pen, which delivers life-saving medication for people suffering severe allergic reactions, has recently gone up 800%.


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TRAVELED TO AN AREA WITH ZIKA? USE BUGSPRAY AFTER COMING HOME

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 21, 2016 (San Diego) – California health officials are warning travelers coming home from Zika-infected places to use insect repellant and practice safe sex for several weeks after coming home—even if you’ve had no symptoms of the virus. Here’s why.

The mosquitoes that can transmit Zika are found in San Diego and other parts of our state.  So far, the local mosquitoes haven’t been found to carry the Zika virus. But if a local mosquito bites a recent traveler with Zika virus in their blood and then bites other people, the virus can spread, causing outbreak here.  Zika virus can also be transmitted via sex for up to six months.


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HEALTH CARE LIBRARY IN LA MESA WILL HOST MEETING ABOUT VITAMIN D

 

East County News Service

 

August 19, 2016 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free program on “The ABCs of Vitamin D” from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28. 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.


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WATER AGENCIES RESPOND TO MERCURY CONCERNS IN RESERVOIRS: TESTS FOCUSED ON FISH

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 19,2016 (San Diego’s East County) – State and local water agency representatives have offered more information for the public following a recent report revealing that 150 reservoirs statewide are “mercury impaired,” including10 in San Diego County, as ECM reported

A key clarification is that the term “mercury impaired reservoirs” referred to testing of fish in those waters,  not testing of water for drinking.  Drinking water can test with no detectable mercury levels, yet still have high, unsafe concentrations of mercury in fish, particularly larger fish that have consumed smaller fish.  This problem raises a new issue: the need for new testing methods to detect low levels of mercury that while not unsafe in drinking water,  can result in unsafe levels in fish living in those waters.


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WELL-KNOWN NAMES IN GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT RACE

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 16, 2016 (La Mesa) -- Six candidates are running for three seats on the Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors.  In addition to incumbents Bob Ayres and Michael Emerson, four other candidates have filed papers to run—including some prominent challengers.


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SAN DIEGANS GET FREE GPS DEVICES THROUGH ALZHEIMER’S SAN DIEGO WANDERING PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM

 

East County News Service

August 16, 2016 (San Diego, CA)San Diegans living with Alzheimer’s received free GPS devices under a Wandering Prevention Pilot Program started by Alzheimer’s San Diego and funded by the County of San Diego.


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U.S. DECLARES HEALTH EMERGENCY IN PUERTO RICO, WHERE OVER 10,000 CASES OF ZIKA ARE REPORTED

 

Crisis comes after Congress adjourned without funding emergency Zika expenditures

By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Today, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell declared a public health emergency for Puerto Rico, where the rapid spread of Zika virus poses a significant threat to public health particularly for children born to women who contract Zika virus while pregnant, since it causes serious birth defects including brain damage.  Over 10,000 cases of Zika virus have been confirmed in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.


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DEA REFUSES TO EASE RESTRICTIONS ON MARIJUANA, STILL A CLASS I CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 11, 2016 (Washington D.C.) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has turned down requests from governors ease federal restrictions on marijuana.  DEA director Chuck Rosenberg stated, “This decision is based on whether marijuana, as determined by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is a safe and effective medicine, and it’s not,” NPR reports.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS


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HEALTH CARE LIBRARY IN LA MESA WILL DISCUSS PREVENTIVE CARE WITH ACUPUNCTURE

 

East County News Service

 

August 8, 2016 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Preventive Care with Acupuncture,” a free presentation about how acupuncture can treat a variety of health issues, from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24. 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.


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AL SHABRAWY AND BAROODY BRAND MEATS SOLD IN CALIFORNIA RECALLED DUE TO ALLERGENS NOT LISTED ON LABELS





East County News Service

August 6, 2016 (Washington D.C.) - Al Shabrawy Meat Inc. is recalling meat and poultry products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Some of the products contain pistachio nut and soy, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label. The products include salami, bologna, mortadella, sausage, soujouk and makanek meats.


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EL CAJON WOMAN DIAGNOSED WITH WEST NILE VIRUS

 

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications

August 3, 2016 (San Diego) -- A 51-year-old El Cajon woman has been confirmed as the first locally acquired human case of West Nile virus this year, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.



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BACK TO SCHOOL? NOT IF YOUR CHILD ISN’T VACCINATED

 

East County News Service

August 3, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Besides stocking up on back-to-school supplies for your children, you’d best make sure their vaccinations are up to date.


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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT SUPPORTING ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE’S CENTER

 

East County News Service

Photo: The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently recognized St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC). From left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac and Gloria Chadwick; SMSC nurse Stephanie Perkins, CEO Debra Emerson and board secretary Toni Petruzzo; GHD board members Robert “Bob” Ayres, Betty Stieringer and Michael Emerson.

 

Aug. 2, 2016 (East County) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County, recently recognized St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), an El Cajon-based, non-profit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities.


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ZIKA VIRUS TRANSMITTED BY MOSQUITOES IN FLORIDA: CDC ISSUES TRAVEL WARNING

 

Health officials fault Congress for adjourning without approving Zika emergency funding

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2016 (Miami) — Today the Centers for Disease Control issued a travel warning urging pregnant women not to travel to Miami, Florida and additional advice for travelers who have recently visited the region due to the presence of mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

July 30, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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


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FDA UPDATES WARNINGS FOR FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIOBIOTICS

 

Limits use for acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and uncomplicated urinary tract infections

East County News Service

July 26, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved safety labeling changes for a class of antibiotics, called fluoroquinolones, to enhance warnings about their association with disabling and potentially permanent side effects and to limit their use in patients with less serious bacterial infections.


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MERCURY POISONING LINKED TO SKIN PRODUCTS, FDA WARNS

 

East County News Service

July 26, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- Whatever your complexion, it’s important to use products that will help your skin and not damage it. But as you wade through the beauty aisles, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautions that you should avoid skin creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps, and lotions that contain mercury.


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PASSAGES: PHILANTHROPIST CONRAD PREBYS PASSES AWAY AT 82

 

By Miriam Raftery, East County News Service

July 25, 2016 (San Diego) — Conrad Prebys, a generous philanthropist who supported numerous San Diego nonprofit organizations, health and education centers, died Sunday, July 24th of cancer at Scripps Mercy Hospital with his family at his side.


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MORE AT-RISK YOUTHS REPORT MARIJUANA AS FIRST DRUG THEY TRY; OVER HALF ALSO REPORT BINGE ALCOHOL DRINKING

 

Source: SANDAG

July 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- More than half (56 percent) of at-risk youth in the San Diego region reported marijuana was the first illicit substance they ever used, up from 34 percent in 2007, and they reported marijuana was even easier to obtain than tobacco, according to data compiled by the SANDAG Substance Abuse Monitoring (SAM) Program.


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ATTORNEY GENERAL KAMALA D. HARRIS JOINS U.S. AND 12 OTHER STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN FILING ANTITRUST LAWSUIT TO BLOCK MERGER OF INSURANCE COMPANIES ANTHEM AND CIGNA

 

Source:  California Department of Justice news release

July 21, 2016 (San Francisco) - Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced that California, along with 11 other states and the District of Columbia, has joined the United States Department of Justice in filing a civil antitrust lawsuit to block the proposed $48.3 billion merger of two major insurance companies, Anthem and Cigna.


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SHARP GROSSMONT HOSPITAL’S MONTHLY ELECTRICITY BILL FROM $180,000 TO ZERO

 

East County News Service

 

July 19, 2016 (La Mesa) – The lights are staying on for patients and medical staff at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa thanks to a new Central Energy Plant (CEP), the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) reports. And, the hospital’s normal electric bill to San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) of about $180,000 per month is now zero.


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LOCAL INFANT DIES FROM PERTUSSIS

 

A 5-week-old San Diego infant died on July 15 from pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.


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FDA APPROVES FIRST INTRAOCULAR LENS WITH EXTENDED RANGE OF VISION FOR CATARACT PATIENTS

 

Source:  FDA news release

July 16, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the first intraocular lens (IOL) that provides cataract patients with an extended depth-of-focus, which helps improve their sharpness of vision (visual acuity) at near, intermediate and far distances.


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COUNTY CONDUCTS MOSQUITO LARVICIDE DROP

 

July 12, 2016 (San Diego) -- San Diego County’s Department of Environmental Health is scheduled to drop mosquito-fighting larvicide for the fourth time this year on 48 local waterways Wednesday.


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BATCHES OF MOSQUITOES TESTING POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS

 

Source:  County News Service

July 12, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego County’s vector control program has already collected more batches of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes by the second week of July than it did in all of 2015.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR DINING--GOOD FOR HEALTH, GOOD FOR BUSINESS

Click here for a list of La Mesa smoke-free restaurants.

By Dani Womack

Pastor Dani Womack is the Community Life Pastor at Crosspointe Life Church and Chairperson of the La Mesa Collaborative.

July 11, 2016 (La Mesa)--Summer is finally here and what better place to enjoy being outdoors than San Diego County! La Mesa has invested millions to renovate their Downtown Village, putting a priority on outdoor seating in public spaces and local restaurants have joined in by growing their outdoor dining patios. Many cities throughout San Diego County and the state have passed local laws restricting smoking in outdoor areas such as parks, beaches, farmer’s markets, and outdoor dining patios.


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BLOOD DONOR SCHEDULED TO DONATE 10TH GALLON AT SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK JULY 9 IN EL CAJON

 

Source: San Diego Blood Bank

July 7, 2016 (San Diego) - A San Carlos woman has not only saved hundreds of lives with her volunteer blood donations, but has found a way to make it fun in the process. 


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CANNABINOIDS REMOVE PLAQUE-FORMING ALZHEIMER’S PROTEINS FROM BRAIN CELLS

 

Preliminary lab studies at the Salk Institute find THC reduces beta amyloid proteins in human neurons

Source: Salk Institute

Photo: David Schubert, Professor of Salk’s Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory

July 3, 2016 (San Diego) -- Salk Institute scientists have found preliminary evidence that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other compounds found in marijuana can promote the cellular removal of amyloid beta, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease.


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