Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Young Adults' Stroke Rates Have Nearly Doubled Since 1993: Study
CNN: Stroke Rates Among Young Adults Nearly Doubled In 3 Decades
Most people don’t worry about their cardiovascular health until they get older. But strokes, one type of cardiovascular disease, in young adults are steadily on the rise — and have nearly doubled in the last three decades, according to a new study. (Nicioli, 9/23)
More health and wellness news —
San Francisco Chronicle: Walmart To Pay $16M Over Expired Infant Formula, Drugs In California
Walmart will pay $16 million to settle a California law enforcement investigation into allegations that its stores offered expired infant formula and over-the-counter drugs for sale, Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced Wednesday. The settlement, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, bars Walmart from selling infant formula past its “use by” date and expired over-the-counter drugs at its California stores. It also requires the retailer to establish an enhanced program for checking inventories, removing expired products and training employees. (Vaziri, 9/23)
HealthDay: Replacement Joints Might Affect A Person's Brain, Study Finds
A knee or hip replacement can be a lifesaver for someone in chronic pain from arthritis, but they might have a hidden effect on the brain, a new study says. Cobalt particles from a person’s replacement joint can travel to their brain and lodge there, researchers reported recently in the journal Acta Biomaterialia. The cobalt particles did not appear to cause any cognitive decline among patients, but were associated with brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, researchers said. (Thompson, 9/23)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Can A Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Reduce Forever Chemicals In The Blood?
More than a year after finding high levels of PFAS, or so-called “forever chemicals,” in the blood of many northwest Georgians, Emory University researchers have launched a new study to test if anything can be done to treat the problem. Researchers from Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health on Tuesday announced the launch of a clinical trial in the towns of Rome and Calhoun, where decades of use of stain-resistant chemicals by the region’s multi-billion carpet industry has contributed to a contamination crisis. (Jackson, 9/22)
KFF Health News: Black Lung Disease Remains A Threat, But Federal Officials Delay Effort To Address It
Each day at New River Health in Oak Hill, Lisa Emery finds disheartening signs of what she describes as a slow-motion repeat of the Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster. Emery is director of New River’s Breathing Center and chair of the National Coalition of Black Lung and Respiratory Disease Clinics. (Sisk, 9/24)
KFF Health News: Listen To The Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
Jackie Fortiér reads the week’s news: Many small businesses say they can no longer afford to offer their staff health insurance. Plus, when friends and neighbors act as informal caregivers, they’re unlikely to receive protection for time spent away from work. (9/24)
In recalls —
NBC News: Over 160,000 Pounds Of Meat Recalled With False USDA Label: See Full List
Star Meat Delivery Inc. of Lucama, North Carolina, is recalling approximately 167,639 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat products, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement posted Tuesday. The items were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, meaning they weren’t confirmed to be “safe, wholesome and properly labeled” by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). (Siclait, 9/23)
HealthDay: Organic Applesauce Recalled Over High Levels Of Mold Toxin
Wakefern Food Corp. has recalled jars of its Wholesome Pantry Organic Unsweetened Apple Sauce after federal testing turned up high levels of patulin, a toxin made by mold. The patulin levels are above food safety limits and don't meet the company's own quality standards, so the applesauce shouldn't be eaten, Wakefern said. No illnesses have been reported. (Vohnoutka, 9/23)
