HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

July 8, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Why some doctors are recommending Apple Watches to manage health conditions (CBS)
• Palomar Health Medical Group's computer systems still down nearly 2 months after 'suspicious activities' (KPBS)
• US Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence ‘a Public Health Crisis’ (KFF Health News)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• AI could help spread false and misleading information on Holocaust, UNESCO report warns  (AP)   
• In 'Warming Up,' the sports world's newest opponent is climate change  (Science News)
• Hurricane Beryl Isn’t a Freak Storm—It’s the Exact Nightmare Meteorologists Predicted (Wired)

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

HEALTH

Why some doctors are recommending Apple Watches to manage health conditions (CBS)

Apple watches and other wearable devices may be more useful to your long term health goals than you think. Some doctors are recommending them as a medical tool to help diagnose and manage certain conditions, including heart disease monitoring and post-surgery recovery. 

Palomar Health Medical Group's computer systems still down nearly 2 months after 'suspicious activities' (KPBS)

Palomar Health Medical Group's (PHMG) phones and computer system are still down after "suspicious activities" nearly two months ago. Palomar Health said it ... quickly took those systems offline to prevent the spread of possible malware...Sabbir Hasan, however, said Palomar has been less than forthcoming with information about what happened. He only found out the issue when he took his parents to see their doctors last month and was told the office "didn't have any medical records" whatsoever...Adding to the frustration was the difficulty getting his parents' prescription filled.  

US Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence ‘a Public Health Crisis’ (KFF Health News)

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared firearm violence a public health crisis, as gun deaths and injuries punctuate daily life in America.  On nearly every day of 2024 so far, a burst of gunfire has hit at least four people somewhere in the country. Some days, communities have endured four or five such shootings.

SCIENCE AND TECH

AI could help spread false and misleading information on Holocaust, UNESCO report warns  (AP)

A report published Tuesday by UNESCO concludes that AI could result in false and misleading claims about the Holocaust spreading online…One of the biggest concerns is that AI could be used to create so-called deepfakes of the Holocaust — realistic images or videos that could be used to suggest the Holocaust didn’t happen or was exaggerated. 

In 'Warming Up,' the sports world's newest opponent is climate change  (Science News)

In her debut book, Madeleine Orr presents authoritative account of climate change’s impact on sports, and how the industry can fight back.

Hurricane Beryl Isn’t a Freak Storm—It’s the Exact Nightmare Meteorologists Predicted (Wired)

A hot ocean provides the energy hurricanes need to grow—and can limit the cooling that happens in their wake, making it likelier that the storms that follow will be powerful ones.