Category Archives: Health

Kennedy touts ultra-processed meals he once called ‘poison’

Health secretary backs company criticized for selling junk-laden meals to Medicaid patients on ‘Make America healthy again’ tour. Jessica Glenza in the Guardian (thanks to Bob P.) Robert F Kennedy Jr, promoted a company whose meals contain ultra-processed ingredients – … Continue reading

Posted in Food, Health | Comments Off on Kennedy touts ultra-processed meals he once called ‘poison’

Immigrants and the health care workforce crisis

Posted in Government, Health, Immigration | 1 Comment

This CDC Resignation Should Scare You

by Paul Offit (thanks to Ed M.) Fiona Havers resigned because she feared that RFK Jr. would suppress or manipulate CDC data. “A lot of Americans are going to die from vaccine-preventable diseases,” she warned.  On April 15, 2025, Dr. … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Health, Science and Technology, Vaccines | Comments Off on This CDC Resignation Should Scare You

Is There a Least Bad Alcohol?

By Caroline Hopkins Legaspi in the NYT If you’ve heard that red wine is better for you than beer or liquor, or that clear liquor like vodka or gin is less harmful than dark liquor like rum or whiskey, we have bad news. … Continue reading

Posted in drugs, Health | Comments Off on Is There a Least Bad Alcohol?

Harborview – towers and more are planned in 1.7 billion expansion and renovation project

Thanks to Mary M. “A man stopped by from Harborview yesterday with some handouts for the neighborhood that describe about the first step of their upcoming major construction. Apparently he is part of a group that will be keeping the … Continue reading

Posted in Health, In the Neighborhood | Comments Off on Harborview – towers and more are planned in 1.7 billion expansion and renovation project

The Irony of RFK Jr.’s Conflicts of Interest Gambit

RFK Jr. purged the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee claiming they were in the pocket of the pharmaceutical industry. But who is really conflicted? PAUL OFFIT JUN 24 (thanks to Ed M.) On June 9, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Crime, drugs, Health, Law, Vaccines | Comments Off on The Irony of RFK Jr.’s Conflicts of Interest Gambit

The Irony of RFK Jr.’s Conflicts of Interest Gambit

FK Jr. purged the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee claiming they were in the pocket of the pharmaceutical industry. But who is really conflicted? PAUL OFFIT JUN 24 (thanks to Ed M.) On June 9, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Vaccines | Comments Off on The Irony of RFK Jr.’s Conflicts of Interest Gambit

‘I Feel Like I’ve Been Lied To’: When a Measles Outbreak Hits Home

From a lone clinic in Texas to an entire school district in North Dakota, the virus is upending daily life and revealing a deeper crisis of belief. By Eli Saslow & Visuals by Erin Schaff in the NYT (thanks to Ed M.) … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Health, Vaccines | 1 Comment

Major vaccine decisions are upon us

A big vaccine policy meeting: What to expect, pre-bunking, and some answers to your questions Katelyn Jetelina Jun 20, from Your Local Epidemiologist Next week (June 25-26), ACIP—the external committee that sets vaccine policy in the U.S.—meets. Normally, these meetings … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Vaccines | Comments Off on Major vaccine decisions are upon us

RFK Jr.’s Letter to Congress

by Paul Offit (thanks to Ed M.) On May 27, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, made a surprise announcement in a video posted on X that he would no longer recommend Covid vaccines for healthy … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Comments Off on RFK Jr.’s Letter to Congress

Study finds strongest evidence yet that shingles vaccine helps cut dementia risk

Ed note: This is a possible unexpected benefit of the shingles vaccine. Hope you’ve talked to your medical provider to make sure you are up to date with all your vaccinations. Older adults in Wales who had the jab were … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Study finds strongest evidence yet that shingles vaccine helps cut dementia risk

A snapshot into how deportations affect health

Katelyn Jetelina in Your Local Epidemiologist As you may have heard, RFK Jr. has already revealed eight names for the new ACIP committee. As mentioned earlier, there was a spectrum of possibilities on who these names would be, going from “best case” … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Health, Immigration | Comments Off on A snapshot into how deportations affect health

Trump Bill’s Caps on Grad School Loans Could Worsen Doctor Shortage

The proposed limits on federal loans fall well below the costs of medical school. Critics say this could deter students from pursuing medicine. By Roni Caryn Rabin in the NYT (thanks to Ed M.) President Trump’s policy agenda would make deep … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Government, Health | Comments Off on Trump Bill’s Caps on Grad School Loans Could Worsen Doctor Shortage

Tuesday, June 10 at 2:30pm – Health Care Lecture: Hospice and Palliative Care by Hope Wechkin, MD

Dr. Hope Wechkin is the medical director of Evergreen Health Home Health and Hospice Care, based in Kirkland, WA. A graduate of Yale College, the University of Washington School of Medicine, and a family physician by training, she has devoted … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Hospice | Comments Off on Tuesday, June 10 at 2:30pm – Health Care Lecture: Hospice and Palliative Care by Hope Wechkin, MD

MAHA report on chronic disease in US kids includes fake citations, other errors

thanks to Ed M. A Trump administration report outlining the potential factors related to the rise in chronic diseases in US children cites several studies that don’t exist, according to media reports. The Make Our Children Healthy Again report, issued last … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Comments Off on MAHA report on chronic disease in US kids includes fake citations, other errors

Waterfront 5K on Saturday – Skyline rocked!

from mutual friend Jody Foster Dear friends, Skyline should be proud!  I don’t have permission [now obtained], but I’m sending this anyway. (hoping she’ll forgive me 🤞) Your very own Barbara Rait (Olympic Tower) was the oldest (94) participant to … Continue reading

Posted in Fitness, happiness, Health | Comments Off on Waterfront 5K on Saturday – Skyline rocked!

What’s Behind the Gilded Doors of Aegis Senior Living?

Allegations of Labor Violations and Neglect, and the CEO at the Heart of it All Conor Kelley in The Stranger (thanks to Ed M.) Aegis Living in Laurelhurst. Joe Mabel If you’ve seen old folks’ homes with a certain Cheesecake Factory … Continue reading

Posted in Aging Sites, Business, Caregiving, end of life, Health | 2 Comments

Messing with science and COVID degrades public health

Ed note: As we heard from Dr. Paul Pottinger on Tuesday, our nation’s health is being placed at risk because of misguided and harmful directives coming from HHS. New variants of COVID are coming, but instead of tweaking the vaccine … Continue reading

Posted in Ethics, Government, Health | Comments Off on Messing with science and COVID degrades public health

The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

Ed note: Given the personal hygiene problems as we age, I have to wonder why these toilets aren’t universal. We’ve had one for 15 years. In fact we carried this removable bidet/seat combo to Skyline and purchased a second one … Continue reading

Posted in Business, environment, Health | Comments Off on The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

The Unfolding Catastrophe Emanating From DC and Its Implications for Everyone’s Health – Tuesday at 2:30 PM in the MBR

Paul Pottinger, MD, DTMH, FACP, FIDSA, is a board certified physician and Director of the Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine Clinic at UW Medical Center – Montlake and a Professor in UW School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine, Division of … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Health | Comments Off on The Unfolding Catastrophe Emanating From DC and Its Implications for Everyone’s Health – Tuesday at 2:30 PM in the MBR

Silencing the CDC

A recent study by the CDC showed how to prevent the most common cause of hospitalizations in babies. Why haven’t we heard about it? Paul Offit (thanks to Ed. M) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Government, Health | Comments Off on Silencing the CDC

Is There a Least Bad Alcohol?

We all know about the health risks of drinking. But if you’re going to partake, it’s natural to want to minimize the damage. By Caroline Hopkins Legaspi in the NYT Q: I’ve been trying to cut back on alcohol lately, but … Continue reading

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

Medicaid cuts proposed for 8.6 million people. Impact will differ across states.

From The Epidemiologist A recent study found that, since 2010, Medicaid expansion has reduced the mortality of the low-income adult population by 2.5%. In other words, Medicaid expansion saved more than 27,000 lives. Deaths fell not only among older enrollees (who are … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Health | Comments Off on Medicaid cuts proposed for 8.6 million people. Impact will differ across states.

Josh Hawley: Don’t Cut Medicaid

By Josh Hawley In the NYT. Mr. Hawley is a Republican senator from Missouri. Polls show Democrats down in the dumps at their lowest approval level in decades, but we Republicans are having an identity crisis of our own, and you can see … Continue reading

Posted in Government, Health, Insurance | 1 Comment

Design lab invents first-of-its-kind 3D-printed wheelchair for kids — and will give them away for free

from Good Good Good – thanks to Pam P. The average pediatric wheelchair can cost thousands of dollars. And when children grow and their needs evolve — or a wheelchair gets damaged — those costs multiply. So, the team at MakeGood … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Kindness | Comments Off on Design lab invents first-of-its-kind 3D-printed wheelchair for kids — and will give them away for free