Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
More Bad News For Diet Drinks
CNN: Diet Drinks Linked To Heart Issues, Study Finds
If your heart goes pitter-patter for diet beverages, it may not be due to love. Artificially sweetened beverages, a new study has found, may be just as bad for your heart as the sugar-laden kind. (LaMotte, 10/26)
Fox News: Listeria Outbreak In Deli Meats Linked To Hospitalizations, 1 Death
A recent rash of illnesses involving contaminated deli meats has resulted in at least 10 hospitalizations and one death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The health agency said that 10 infected adults had been hospitalized as of Oct. 22 after ingesting listeria bacteria in New York, Florida and Massachusetts. The death involved a patient in Florida. (Rivas, 10/26)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Women Turning To Cannabis To Manage Menopause Symptoms
Recent studies have shown more older adults using cannabis to treat ailments, and it seems they aren’t the only ones. A study presented at the virtual annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society in September showed more women are turning to cannabis to manage hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and other menopause symptoms. (Clanton, 10/26)
AP: New Guidelines Address Rise In Opioid Use During Pregnancy
Opioid use in pregnancy has prompted new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, aimed at improving care for women and newborns affected by their mothers’ drug use. The number of affected women and infants has increased in recent years but they often don’t get effective treatment, and the pandemic may be worsening that problem, said Dr. Stephen Patrick, lead author of the academy report released Monday. (Tanner, 10/26)
GMA: For People With Down Syndrome, The Best Medical Information Is Now Automated
At 28 years old, Cristina Sanchez is living the life. She shares an apartment with her best friend Gracie and has a job she loves at the local Panera Bread. She's adored by her two sisters and her parents. She lives in a safe, walkable community in Austin, Texas, where people with disabilities live independently among the typically developing population. Sanchez told "Good Morning America" her independence is "a good thing." (Shaw Brown, 10/27)
In pediatric news —
The Hechinger Report: What Kindergarten Struggles Could Mean For A Child’s Later Years
Kindergarten is designed for young children, who learn best by doing. And while pre-literacy and math skills are covered, building block towers, playing make-believe and mastering the playground equipment are also key elements of this critical grade. (Mongeau, 10/27)
CNN: Halloween Safety During Covid-19: Q&A With Dr. Leana Wen
Dr. Leana Wen and her husband have their hands full this Halloween in a time of pandemic. Wen spends a lot of her time talking about social distancing, wearing masks and socializing outside to reduce the risk of catching the virus... Wen hasn't given up on Halloween and doesn't think you should either. Here are her recommendations for reducing your risk while still having a fun Halloween season. (Hetter, 10/26)
CNN: YouTube Influencers Are Marketing Junk Food To Kids
Kid influencers on YouTube are marketing junk food and sugary beverages to their fellow kids, and they're racking up billions of page views, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. The study demonstrates how advertisers are seeking to take advantage of new avenues to market their wares to children. (Prior, 10/26)
Also —
The Wall Street Journal: Why The Time Change Is Trickier When Working From Home
After clocks turn back an hour Nov. 1, David K. Welsh, who works from home, plans a few changes. “I will make more of an effort to see daylight in the morning,” says Dr. Welsh, who studies the body’s internal clock as a professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Center for Circadian Biology at the University of California, San Diego. His reasoning? Going outside to take advantage of the extra hour of sunlight earlier in the morning can boost alertness and help synchronize circadian rhythms. The first clock shift since the pandemic’s arrival in earnest in the U.S. is coming at 2 a.m. Nov. 1—and for those no longer working in offices, the effects could be more intense than usual. (Smith, 10/26)
USA Today: Los Angeles Lakers Title Run May Have Contributed To COVID-19 Surge
The Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Finals coincided with a spike in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County, and it’s "highly likely" watch parties held by Lakers fans and the victory celebration outside of Staples Center contributed to the spike, the L.A. County Department of Public Health said. That has fueled concerns of another potential spike in COVID-19 transmission rates because the Los Angeles Dodgers are one victory away from winning their first World Series title in 32 years. (Peter, 10/26)
Detroit Free Press: Herd Immunity And COVID-19: Why It's Not A Viable Option
As COVID-19 case numbers continue to go up and up and up — in Michigan and nationally — a debate is brewing about whether it's time to abandon efforts to contain the spread of the virus and instead embrace a strategy of trying to reach herd immunity through infection. With other diseases, such as smallpox, polio and measles, vaccines helped the U.S. reach herd immunity, which occurs when the vast majority of a population is immune to a disease, making the likelihood of its spread to vulnerable people less likely. (Shamus, 10/27)
The Wall Street Journal: How Covid-Safe Is Dining In A Restaurant’s Outdoor Tent?
As restaurants try to keep business afloat, many are putting up exterior structures for patrons. But dining tents and other temporary outdoor setups offer a false sense of security and pose just as many risks as indoor eating, professors say. Poor air circulation, proximity to other unmasked diners and time in a poorly ventilated enclosed outdoor space can heighten Covid risks. On the other hand, the transmission risk is higher inside a restaurant than in outdoor structures that are heated yet partially open, or in separate igloos for patrons. (Dizik, 10/26)
