Category Archives: Health

Why (or why not) that daily baby aspirin?

Ed note: After talking to a Cardiologist friend several years ago I asked him why he didn’t take a daily baby aspirin. He said he didn’t have any risk factors and felt the risk of a hemorrhage was greater than … Continue reading

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‘The right trousers’: Wallace and Gromit inspire artificial muscle clothing

Ed note: Frank Conlon writes: “Given that we have folks pursuing a goal of dynamic support clothing, the attached story from The Guardian of Sep. 11 might be of interest.” It will be interesting to see how/when/if this technology really … Continue reading

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Factfullness: Ten reasons we’re wrong about the world – and why things are better than you think

Ed note: Hans Rosling has written a fascinating book that Bill Gates called the most important book he’s ever read. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think. Rosling explains how and why our thinking … Continue reading

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Stories for Getting Back to Sleep with Diane Gillespie, author & psychologist

Skyline residents welcome Tuesday, September 25 7:30 PM, Anderson Hall Horizon House, 900 University Street Ever have trouble falling back to sleep in the middle of the night? Find yourself stuck in stories that make you anxious? Educational psychologist Diane … Continue reading

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Blame Emergency Rooms for the Out-of-Control Cost of Health Care

Ed Note: The article below about ER costs reinforced my bias against going to an ER unless we really have an emergency. Our medical system (if you can call it that) really breaks down in terms of urgent care after … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Health | 1 Comment

Preventing Muscle Loss (Sarcopenia) as We Age

Jane Brody is the personal health columnist, a position she has held since 1976. She has written more than a dozen books including the best sellers “Jane Brody’s Nutrition Book” and “Jane Brody’s Good Food Book.”  From the NYT: “Use … Continue reading

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Have you ever used a Canadian Pharmacy?

Have you ever thought of buying an expensive prescription drug from Canada? Actually it’s legal and not that difficult – and often there is free shipping. I have recently been able to purchase Prednisolone eye drops at 20% of the … Continue reading

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Fact check on Bernie Sander’s claim that Medicare for All (M4A) will save 2 trillion dollars

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4 ways the Trump administration wants to change Medicare

By Tami Luhby – Senior writer for CNN After unsuccessfully trying to overhaul Obamacare and Medicaid, the Trump administration is now trying to put its stamp on Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a slew of … Continue reading

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“You can breathe as long as you don’t inhale”

Ed note: Remember Tom Lehrer’s song called Pollution? Coming true? Seattle is now in the “unhealthy” range in terms of air quality – at least through tomorrow. Cliff Mass gives us some perspective (Beijing better than Seattle!) as reported in … Continue reading

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Warning! Stay inside due to unhealthy smoke haze

From the Seattle Times today: “Regional wildfires have made the air quality so bad that five public-health agencies are jointly warning the public to beware of the haze. “The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA), alongside Kitsap Public Health District, King … Continue reading

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Have you signed up for Smart 911?

Ed Note: Almost by definition when you dial 911 you are in a panic. You want the operator to understand the situation – but the operator needs to gather some data – name, location, medical history, medications, etc. Using Smart911 … Continue reading

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In a Haze About e-Cigarettes? 5 Things to Know

Ed note: The battery powered nicotine vaporizing delivery system called e-cigarettes is gaining in popularity. There are many unknowns. How much safer is it than cigarette smoking? How harmful is second hand “vape.” It’s one more addiction for our addiction prone … Continue reading

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Organ donation myths – by ZDoggMD

Ed note: ZDoggMD posts many satirical and funny videos about the medical scene. Working in the ER and ICU he has many experiences to relate. This one however is a serious commentary on organ donation. The oldest known donor, by … Continue reading

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The Terraces gets 5 star ratings in all categories

In the categories of health, quality, fire, staffing, etc. Skilled Nursing (floors 7 & 8) in the Terraces at Skyline scores in the top 10% in their evaluation on the Medicare.gov website. If you wish to look at the details … Continue reading

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Alan Alda tweets about his Parkinson’s and speaks on NPR

I decided to let people know I have Parkinson’s to encourage others to take action. I was Diagnosed 3 and a half years ago, but my life is full. I act, I give talks, I do my podcast, which I … Continue reading

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Fundraiser/Auction for Health Care for All

Mary Margaret Pruitt stopped by to drop off a flyer for a Health Care For All fundraiser being staged at Horizon House Saturday evening. Saturday, July 28, 7:00-10:00pm 415 Westlake Ave N Pramila Jayapal, David Frockt, Adam Smith and others. … Continue reading

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What causes my cough? Dr. Horan speaks today at 3PM in the MBR

Do you have that nagging cough. Is it allergy, viral or something more serious? Dr. Katie Horan, the daughter-in-law of Lidia and Basil Filonowich, is a pulmonary specialist who practices at Virginia Mason. She’ll be talking today at 3 PM … Continue reading

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NBC News and Lester Holt highlight care at home

From Leading Age: It’s not every day that a study from the Journal of General Internal Medicine makes it on to the evening news. But the story I saw on NBC Nightly News this week must have resonated with anchor Lester Holt because he … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Aging Sites, Health, Safety | 2 Comments

Viewing the electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS)

by Jennifer McClure, PhD, Senior Investigator and Director of Research, Faculty & Development, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute The American Cancer Society (ACS) announced recently that eliminating cancer caused by combustible tobacco use is its highest public health priority. This announcement recognizes the disproportionately … Continue reading

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Dance for your brain health!

“The breaking down of cerebral white matter is one of the neural changes that drives age-related declines in cognition. Researchers set out to determine if specific physical activity could result in positive neural changes in older adults. In a recent … Continue reading

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Herbal overdose

The call came from the ER doc just as I was sitting down to dinner. A young man I’ll call Jason was being admitted to the ICU who appeared to have overdosed on something – as yet unknown. The ER doc had … Continue reading

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Hearing Loop now in the MBR

Hearing loop technology is now in the MBR and Cascade Room. The Madrona Room is scheduled for next year and the hearing loop is also being considered for the Glacier Lounge. Here’s a video which explains this mode of hearing … Continue reading

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Paul Farmer: health as a human right

Paul Farmer has changed the world’s thinking on how to bring health care to the poor. With both a PhD in Anthropology and an MD board certified in Infectious Diseases, this Harvard University Professor has built successful hands-on programs in multiple … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Health, Social justice | 1 Comment

“Speaking of Dying” with Trudy James – Wednesday, at 3:30 PM

    Wednesday, at 3:30 PM Trudy James presented her film here. Trudy is a chaplain deeply committed to advocacy and education about end of life choices. After the 30 minute film Trudy, Jim deMaine, Elizabeth Graham and Jeannie Fessenden will … Continue reading

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