Health/Fitness

COUNTY EXTENDS EMERGENCY OVER HEPATITIS A, DECLINES TO TEST SAN DIEGO RIVER WATER

 

East County News Service

October 24, 2017 (San Diego) — County Supervisors voted Tuesday to again extend the public health emergency declaration over Hepatitis A for two more weeks.  As of Oct. 18, 516 cases have been diagnosed, including 19 fatalities.


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NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY OCT. 28

 

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff's Department

October 24, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Looking to get rid of unwanted and expired prescription drugs?  The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will collect and dispose of these medicines during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  


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AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH PLAN ENROLLMENT NOV. 1-DEC. 15

 

East County News Service

October 23, 2017 (San Diego) - Open enrollment to get coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for 2018 begins on November 1st and ends December 15th.  Many Americans aren’t getting this important information, since the Trump administration has taken the following steps to sabotage getting word out and discouraging people from signing up.


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LA MESA WOMAN’S CORNUCOPIA SITE OFFERS GIFTS TO NOURISH BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN BODY AND SOUL

 

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

October 21, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Friends and family of breast cancer patients going through chemotherapy might start with pink scarves, pink hats, and pink t-shirts as gifts of support.  La Mesa resident A. Michelle Herrmann launched Cornucopia LLC, available online at www.CornucopiaBox.com, to offer “nourishment for an abundant life,” including recipes nutritionally tailored for cancer patients as well as personal care items for women battling breast cancer and more.


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CA ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEKS EMERGENCY INJUNCTION TO HALT TRUMP FROM CANCELING HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDIES

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 19, 2017 (San Francisco) — President Donald Trump’s executive order to cancel cost-sharing subsidy payments required by the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress is being challenged in court by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.  Becerra has filed a motion asking the court to compel the federal government to “follow the law and pay the subsidies that millions of Americans rely on to lower the out-of-pocket costs in their insurance plans,” according to a press release issued by his office.



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60 TO 80% OF MIGRANT WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE RAPED ON WAY TO U.S., STUDIES FIND, BUT TRUMP ADMINSTRATION BLOCKS ABORTIONS FOR DETAINEES

 

Federal judge rules action violates Constitutional rights of detained immigrants

By Miriam Raftery

October 19, 2017 (San Diego) – A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that the Trump administration has violated the rights of a 17-year-old undocumented immigrant detained in Texas by refusing to allow her to have an abortion.  The Trump administration has appealed.  “Failure to comply with this order may result in a finding of contempt,” wrote D.C. Circuit Judge Tanya Chutkan.


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THERAPISTS PROVIDE TIPS ON HOW TO DISCUSS NEWS OF TRAGIC EVENTS WITH CHILDREN

 

East County News Service

October 19, 2018 (San Diego) - In the days and weeks following a high-profile tragedy, violent confrontations, mass shootings, or natural disasters, news stories may cause stress and anxiety for the younger audience. It is normal for adults and kids to feel anxious after a devastating event, but there are ways to help minimize the stress and maintain a sense of normalcy.

“With the pervasiveness and invasiveness of TV news and social media, children today have more access to disturbing news and images than ever before. The most common reason I’m seeing for children being referred to therapy (even as young as 4) in the last several years is excessive, and sometimes debilitating, anxiety,” said Susan Kelsey, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in mental health services for children and adolescents.

Here are a few suggestions for parents to help reduce their child’s risk of becoming overly anxious during trying times:


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LA MESA HEALTH CARE LIBRARY TO HOST FREE MEETING ON EATING A FIBER-RICH DIET

 

East County News Service

 

October 19, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Eating a Fiber Rich Diet,” a free program on the benefits of a fiber rich diet, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25. 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, including tasting samples of a fiber rich recipe. Advance RSVP is not necessary.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS


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BIPARTISAN HEALTHCARE DEAL ANNOUNCED IN SENATE

 

By Jonathan Goetz

October 17, 2017 (Washington, D.C.) – Days after President Donald Trump announced cancellation of Affordable Care Act subsidies to insurance companies, an action critics contended would destabilize the health insurance marketplace, Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington have announced a plan to fund healthcare cost-sharing reduction payments until 2019 and offer states more flexibility in healthcare regulation.


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COUNTY RELEASES MAP OF HEPATITIS CASES BY ZIP CODE

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 17, 2017 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego has released a map showing the number of Hepatitis A cases by zip code.

By far the largest share of the county’s 490 cases have occurred in San Diego’s 92101 zip code, which has had 81 people diagnosed.   But cases have been diagnosed across the region, and some East County communities have high clusters of the contagious illness. 


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SHERIFF STING OF MARIJUANA DELIVERY SERVICES IN SANTEE DRAWS COMPLAINT, CALLS FOR REFORMS FROM MEDICAL CANNABIS ADVOCATES

 

Supporters of medical marijuana delivery invited to Oct. 16 meeting

By Miriam Raftery

October 15, 2017 (Santee) – On October 12th, the San Diego County Sheriff’s department targeted medical marijuana delivery services in a sting operation.  Six arrests were made, including one driver who was a registered sex offender, the Sheriff’s department reports. The Santee station’s COPPS unit ordered purchases through online sources using delivery drivers within Santee’s city limits, a violation of the city’s municipal code.


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SHORTAGE OF HEPATITIS A VACCINES LEADS GOV. BROWN TO DECLARE STATEWIDE EMERGENCY

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2017 (San Diego) — Governor Jerry Brown today issued an emergency proclamation to allow California to increase its supply of the hepatitis A vaccine in order to control the growing outbreak. 


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WILL TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER UNDERMINE HEALTH-INSURANCE MARKETS?

 

 

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

October 13, 2017 (Sacramento) --  Some California groups are predicting that President Donald Trump's new executive order on health care could undermine health-insurance markets and lead to higher premiums for many people. The order, issued Thursday, directs federal agencies to loosen regulations, to allow small businesses to band together and offer low-cost plans across state lines that don't meet the minimum coverage standards of the Affordable Care Act.



Rachel Linn Gish, communications director for the California nonprofit group, Health Access, warns these plans will be similar to those outlawed by the ACA as "junk insurance," that cover very little in the event of a serious injury or illness.


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FATAL ELEPHANT TRANQUILIZER FOUND IN COUNTERFEIT PAINKILLER PILLS

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 11, 2017 (San Diego) – Carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer drug 5,000 times stronger than heroin, is turning up in street drugs marketed as opoid  narcotic painkillers such as Oxycodone, as well as in tainted heroin.  

The drug is so deadly that just a couple of granules the size of salt crystals will cause death, even with medical intervention, authorities warn. It’s turning up in street drugs locally and nationally, including drugs sold by dealers and on the Internet’s dark web—and deaths are skyrocketing as a result.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS


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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR THE CHALLENGE CENTER IN LA MESA

 

East County News Service

October 10, 2017 (La Mesa) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of the Challenge Center, a nonprofit facility in La Mesa where people with disabilities receive long-term physical therapy rehabilitation and fitness services.


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FIRST WEST NILE VIRUS OF 2017 PROMPTS MOSQUITO WARNING

 

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 6, 2017 (San Diego) - A 49-year-old woman from Spring Valley has been confirmed as the first person in San Diego County in 2017 to test positive for West Nile virus, County Health and Human Services Agency announced Friday.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS


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CONGRESS LETS CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE PROGRAM FOR NINE MILLION POOR KIDS EXPIRE: CHIP FUNDS ALSO COVERED MATERNITY CARE

 

Meanwhile, Congress weighs bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks, but robs babies of healthcare at birth

By Miriam Raftery

October 3, 2017 (Washington D.C. ) – Nine million children in low-income families and poor  pregnant mothers are losing healthcare nationwide due to the Republican-led Congress failing to allow a vote on renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), letting  it expire on September 30th, the Washington Post reports.


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INVASIVE AEDES MOSQUITOES FOUND AT 273 TRAPS ACROSS REGION, INCLUDING MANY EAST COUNTY COMMUNITIES

 

Residents in La Mesa, Mount Helix, and other local neighborhoods complain of swarms biting during daylight hours

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2017 (Mt. Helix) – After numerous residents on the Mt. Helix Next Door forum complained of swarms of small, aggressive mosquitoes biting during daylight hours and often, indoors, East County Magazine contacted County Vector Control. We learned that the invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been found in 273 traps at 23 different locations between January 1st and September 21st this year.  View map.


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HEPATITIS OUTBREAK PROMPTS VACCINATIONS IN JAIL SYSTEM

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2017 (San Diego) – The countywide hepatitis outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people includes several cases contracted in San Diego County jails.

That prompted criticism from Dave Meyers, a candidate running against Sheriff Bill Gore in 2018. Meyers, in an email sent to those on his distribution list, states, “Sheriff Bill Gore has ignored basic CDC standards for sanitation and disease prevention in the county jails and has managed them as if they are a solution to homelessness.  As a result, the county jails have served as an incubator for this epidemic.”


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COUNTY LAUNCHES FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

 

 

Nearly 100 people got immunized today at a clinic where the County Health and Human Services Agency officially kicked off the 2017 flu vaccination campaign.

This is the 14th year in a row the County has worked with the San Diego Black Nurses Association to vaccinate people in San Diego’s southeastern community at no cost.


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TWO WAYS TO GET YOUR MEDICARE BENEFITS

 

By Greg Dill, Regional Medicare Administrator

 

October 1, 2017 (San Diego) -- At a family reunion last month, my Aunt Abby and Uncle Glen got into a squabble over the best way to get their Medicare benefits.

 

Uncle Glen is an Original Medicare man, and has been for nearly a decade. Aunt Abby prefers Medicare Advantage, which is similar to a health plan she had before enrolling in Medicare last spring.


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11 HEPATITIS CASES IN SANTEE: CITY RESPONDS TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

 

By Miriam Raftery

September 26, 2017 (Santee) – Today, County Communications specialist Gig Conaughton reported that 11 cases of Hepatitis A have been diagnosed in Santee.

In response to a request from East County Magazine, the city of Santee responded that it has been working closely with the County Health and Human Services Agency to address the Hepatitis A virus outbreak by taking preventative measures to protect local residents.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS


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REPUBLICAN AUTHORS OF HEALTHCARE REPEAL BILL, GRAHAM AND CASSIDY, DEBATED INDEPENDENT SANDERS AND DEMOCRAT KLOBUCHAR ON FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot, CNN debate

September 26, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- In a lively debate on the future of healthcare in America hosted by CNN last night, Republicans Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) authors of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) sought to defend their measure while admitting they lack enough votes for passage. 


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LA MESA TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS HEPATITIS OUTBREAK

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap is an important step you can take to prevent spread of Hepatitis A.

September 25, 2017 (La Mesa) – After the County’s emergency declaration over Hepatitis A,  ECM learned that eight cases have been reported in La Mesa and at least six cases in Santee. So we asked both cities what steps they are taking to  address this public health problem.


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LA MESA HEALTH CARE LIBRARY TO HOST FREE MEETING ON AGING AND INDEPENDENCE SERVICES

 

East County News Service

 

September 25, 2017 (La Mesa) – Among the 3.3 million San Diego County residents, 13.4 percent are over age 65, and that number is expected to steadily increase. To serve this growing population segment, Aging and Independence Services (AIS), a County of San Diego social services agency, offers nearly 30 programs and services to older adults, people with disabilities and their family members.


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HOW TO AVOID CONTRACTING HEPATITIS A

 

East County News Service

September 24, 2017 (San Diego) – As San Diego County’s hepatitis A outbreak continues to grow, here are some helpful fact sheets from the County’s Health and Human Services agency to help you learn more about how to stay safe and minimize your chances of contracting the potentially dangerous disease, including clean-up tips for sanitizing your home or office. 


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