Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Fueling Your Day With Coffee Is OK — If You Brew It The Right Way, American Heart Association Says
The Wall Street Journal: Five Cups Of Coffee A Day Is Fine For Most Adults, Heart Association Says
There is good news for coffee drinkers: Up to five cups of the brew a day are safe for most adults and may even have benefits for heart health, according to a new scientific statement by the American Heart Association. (Petersen, 7/20)
On children's health —
CNN: Drowning Deaths Among Young Kids Are Up. Here’s How To Prevent
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, and it’s getting worse. After years of declining rates, child drowning deaths have increased since the Covid-19 pandemic, perhaps because of disruptions to swimming lessons and public pool access. This trend has renewed concern among pediatricians and parents. (Hetter, 7/18)
AP: Keeping Babies Safe In The Summer Heat
Infants, toddlers and young children need outdoor activity to build strong bodies and minds, but they also require extra care in the heat. In the summer months, those twin imperatives can make parents anxious. How long should kids be out? How do I know they’re OK? What should I avoid? (7/20)
On HIV and aging —
San Francisco Chronicle: HIV Care Controls The Virus But Fails To Keep Some Patients Alive
Wanda Demus, 72, has lived with HIV for more than half of her life. She’s also lived with complex PTSD, a particularly disabling form of chronic post-traumatic stress, and has battled addiction for decades. She’s been unhoused for long periods and is a victim of domestic violence and sex trafficking. All of those factors have been life-threatening at times. And in many ways, HIV has been the least of her concerns. But the way people with HIV are cared for in the United States often prioritizes the infection and ignores those other issues, say Demus’ care providers at UCSF. (Allday, 7/19)
San Francisco Chronicle: Could The Body’s Immune ‘Trash Trucks’ Point To A Way To Slow Aging?
The immune system is made up of all kinds of cells with different functions. Among them are macrophages, which are basically tiny garbage collectors. Macrophages primarily haul out dead cells, hundreds of billions of them every day. And almost all of those dead cells are neutrophils, which are like the first responders of the immune system. Neutrophils are constantly circulating in the blood looking out for pathogens and other enemies to attack, and they’re constantly dying — neutrophils only live about half a day. (Allday, 7/18)
