Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
In The Pandemic, Many Families Saw Incomes Rise — If They Were White
Reuters: U.S. Income Inequality Grew Through Pandemic Years, Fed Survey Shows
American families on average saw large gains in income and wealth from 2019 to 2022 and households became less fragile during a period marked by the severe disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and massive subsequent government spending, a Federal Reserve survey published Wednesday showed. But the income gains were largest among the highest-earning families, and fastest among white families, with income at the median actually registering small declines for both Hispanic and Black families, the Fed found in its latest Survey of Consumer Finances, conducted every three years. (Saphir, 10/18)
In other health and wellness news —
USA Today: Snoozing Your Alarm Might Not Be Bad For You, Study Finds
A new report published Wednesday in the Journal of Sleep Research found no evidence that using the snooze feature on your alarm negatively impacts sleep and cognitive processes. And while morning drowsiness and shorter sleep were more common in those who snoozed, it could even have benefits if used shortly. The research even found that a brief snooze period could alleviate sleep inertia, the disorientation and performance or mood decline that occurs when waking up, without drastically disturbing sleep. (Robledo, 10/18)
Fox News: Ultraprocessed Foods With ‘Feel-Good Chemicals’ Could Be As Addictive As Cigarettes And Drugs, Study Suggests
Could a craving for salty chips actually be a sign of addiction? A new study from the University of Michigan suggests that could be the case. Researchers reviewed 281 studies from 36 different countries, finding that 14% of adults and 12% of children showed signs of addiction to ultra-processed foods, according to the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). That’s close to the addiction levels seen for alcohol and tobacco, noted the study article, which was published in the journal BMJ. (Rudy, 10/19)
CBS News: How Screen Addiction Can Lead To Text Neck Syndrome And Eye Strain
Our electronic world is creating a lifetime of patients for orthopedic doctors and optometrists. They even have a name for it called text neck. ... "What you're talking about is hyperflexion of the neck. And if you roll your shoulders in and do that, which a lot of people do with media with the phones, then what can happen is the muscles fatigue, and you start to get that neck and upper back pain." Dr. Muzzonigro says that repetition could cause problems for the discs in the neck and upper back. (Shumway, 10/17)
CIDRAP: Investigation Links Salmonella Outbreak To Wild Songbirds
An outbreak of salmonellosis that sickened people in 12 states during winter 2020-21 has been linked to wild songbirds, researchers reported today in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The outbreak of illness caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was first identified by public health officials in eight people in Oregon and Washington state in February 2021. ... Of the 22 patients interviewed, 14 reported having a bird feeder on their property, 7 had contact with living or dead songbirds in the week before illness onset, 18 had pet dogs, and 7 had pet cats. (Dall, 10/18)
KFF Health News: Suzanne Somers’ Legacy Tainted By Celebrity Medical Misinformation
Before there was Gwyneth Paltrow or Jenny McCarthy or Dr. Oz, there was Suzanne Somers. Somers, who died from complications of breast cancer Oct. 15 at age 76, pioneered the role of celebrity wellness guru, using her sitcom television fame as a springboard to a second career as a self-professed health and beauty expert. (Szabo, 10/18)
