Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Northwest Heat Wave Prompts Hundreds Of ER Visits, 60 Deaths
CNN: Northwest Heat Wave: Hundreds Of Emergency Room Visits And Dozens Of Linked Deaths
Hundreds of people have visited emergency departments or urgent-care clinics in the Pacific Northwest since Friday -- and as many as 60 deaths have been reported -- as an excruciating heat wave smashed all-time temperature records in Oregon, Washington and Canada. Portland set record-high temperatures three days in a row, topping out at 116 degrees on Monday. Seattle hit 108 degrees, a new record. At least two locations in Washington reached 118 degrees, which, if confirmed, would tie the state temperature record that dates back to 1928. (Fritz, Hassan and Colon, 6/29)
The Oregonian: Oregon Farmworker Dies At Worksite During Heat Wave
An Oregon farmworker died at a worksite in St. Paul on Saturday as the state entered an unprecedented heat wave. Aaron Corvin, a spokesperson for the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health division, said that the agency has opened investigations into Ernst Nursery and Farms and Brother Farm Labor Contractor in connection with the death. The state workplace safety agency, known as Oregon OSHA, reported the death in its online database, listing the preliminary incident description as “heat.” (Goldberg, 6/29)
In other public health news —
Fox News: Excessive Screen Time Linked To Obesity In US Preteens, Study Finds
A study published Monday suggests a link between screen time and weight gain in American preteens. Researchers, who published their findings in Pediatric Obesity, found that each additional hour spent on screen time was associated with a higher body mass index in 9-10-year-olds one year later. What’s more, researchers said, is that the weight gain may not just be the result of sedentary behavior, but also that exposure to social media and "unattainable body ideals," could lead to subsequent overeating. (Hein, 6/29)
AP: Mental Health Toll From Isolation Affecting Kids On Reentry
After two suicidal crises during pandemic isolation, 16-year-old Zach Sampson feels stronger but worries his social skills have gone stale. Amara Bhatia has overcome her pandemic depression but the teen feels worn down, in a state of “neutralness.″ Virginia Shipp is adjusting but says returning to normal “is kind of unnormal for me.” After relentless months of social distancing, online schooling and other restrictions, many kids are feeling the pandemic’s toll or facing new challenges navigating reentry. (Tanner, 6/29)
The Oregonian: A New Weight-Loss Device Locks The Mouth Shut, Drawing Comparison To ‘Medieval Torture’ Tools
A new device developed for use in the fight against the “global obesity epidemic” prevents its user from opening their mouth wide enough to eat solid foods. According to a Fox News report, the new weight-loss tool uses “magnetic devices with unique custom-manufactured locking bolts that can be fitted to the upper and lower back teeth.” The tool, developed by researchers from the United Kingdom and the University of Otago in New Zealand, stops a person’s jaw from opening wide enough to eat solid foods. (Hasco, 6/29)
Axios: CDC: 30% Of Women At Risk Of Pregnancy Are Not Using Contraceptives
Nearly a third of women of child-bearing age in U.S. did not always use contraceptives during sexual encounters, a new CDC analysis shows, and it was often due to gaps in access to effective birth control. About half of the pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, which is linked to adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, per the agency. (Fernandez, 6/30)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Pa. Seniors Long Have Faced Higher Risks Of Dying In Falls. The Pandemic May Have Made It Worse.
COVID-19 may have been the leading concern for older adults’ health in 2020, but a long-time silent killer lurked in its shadow: falls. According to provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month, the rate of fall-related deaths among Pennsylvanians over age 65 reached near-highs in 2020: an estimated 76.3 fatalities per 100,000 people between July and September, a 9% jump from the previous year. (Nathan, 6/28)
Philadelphia Inquirer: The Future Of Human Cat Allergy Treatment May Be In Changing Cats With Food, Vaccines Or Gene Editing
Solutions for people who want to be around cats despite allergies are labor-intensive, of questionable value, and sometimes defy common sense. How many emergency department trips would ensue if we all tried to give our cats frequent baths? This predicament has triggered the imagination of researchers, who see a lucrative market for better solutions in a country that has more than 50 million cats in more than 20 million homes. Some scientists are now taking a different approach to human pet allergies. Rather than trying to change allergic humans or their environment, they’re trying to change cats. (Burling, 6/29)
The New York Times: How To Wash Fruits And Vegetables
To minimize the risk of food poisoning, you really do need to wash produce before eating it, though no special produce washes are required. Wash your hands before handling any produce, then rinse the foods under cold, running tap water. Five to 10 seconds is typically sufficient, so long as you’re covering the full surface of the produce item. Rinsing removes debris and dirt and any microbial contaminants they may contain. Washing also helps remove some of the surface pesticides that may be present, though guidelines are generally the same for organic produce as for conventional produce. (Egan, 6/29)
