Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Some Nevada Counties Report Worst Air Quality Ever, Due To Wildfires
The Hill: Wildfire Smoke Leads To Worst Air Quality On Record In Nevada Counties
Wildfires continuing to spread across California have pushed smoke across to neighboring states, with several Nevada counties reporting their worst air quality index (AQI) levels on record this week. The Air Quality Management Division of Nevada’s Washoe County, home to Reno, on Tuesday reported an AQI number of 289, falling within the range of government agencies consider to be “very unhealthy.” The county shared images on Twitter of the same area in Reno, with one taken last month showing a clear mountain view, and the other taken Tuesday showing it darkened and clouded with smoke. (Castronuovo, 8/24)
In mental health news —
AP: US Open Offering Tennis Players Access To Mental Health Pros
Players at the U.S. Open will have access to licensed mental health providers and quiet rooms as part of an initiative announced Tuesday by the U.S. Tennis Association. The USTA said it seeks to “ensure that a comprehensive and holistic approach will be taken with all aspects of player health, including mental health.” “Our goal is to make mental health services as readily available to athletes as services for a sprained ankle — and with no stigma attached,” said Dr. Brian Hainline, a USTA first vice president. “We will provide an environment that fosters wellness while providing the necessary resources to readily allow mental health care seeking.” (8/25)
NPR: More Americans Would Like Mental Health Support But Can't Afford It
For many Americans who, like Parrish, live with a mood disorder, cost remains a major hurdle to accessing mental health care, according to a survey on mood disorders published this week by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Over half of the survey's respondents (which included people living with mood disorders and their caregivers) said that cost prevents them from trying a treatment they're interested in, says psychiatrist Ken Duckworth, NAMI's chief medical officer. (Chatterjee, 8/24)
The New York Times: How Exercise May Help Keep Our Memory Sharp
An intriguing new study shows how exercise may bolster brain health. The study was in mice, but it found that a hormone produced by muscles during exercise can cross into the brain and enhance the health and function of neurons, improving thinking and memory in both healthy animals and those with a rodent version of Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier research shows that people produce the same hormone during exercise, and together the findings suggest that moving could alter the trajectory of memory loss in aging and dementia. (Reynolds, 8/25)
In news on disease surges —
CIDRAP: Two US Salmonella Outbreaks Linked To Italian-Style Meats
Two US outbreaks of Salmonella, one S Typhimurium and the other S Infantis, have been linked to Italian-style meats, although none are connected to a specific product or brand yet, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation notice today. A total of 36 people across 17 states are affected. The S Typhimurium outbreak began May 30 and has thus far affected 23, hospitalizing 9 patients, and the S. Infantis outbreak began May 9 and has thus far affected 13 people, hospitalizing 3 patients. (8/24)
Houston Chronicle: Syphilis In Newborns Is Up 250% During Pandemic. Experts Blame Lack Of Education, Stigma Around STIs.
In April, the department reported a marked increase in fetal deaths linked to congenital syphilis during the pandemic, up from four in 2019 to 14 in 2020 — an increase of 250 percent. Since 2019, all fetal deaths linked to syphilis in Harris County were among either Black or Latino fetuses, according to the department. That year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,870 cases of congenital syphilis across the U.S. (Garcia, 8/24)
Also —
Axios: Dental Care Surges From Pandemic Lows
People are back to cleaning and fixing their teeth. The coronavirus almost completely halted the operations of dentists and orthodontists last spring. But since then, sales of dental equipment and supplies have doubled over the past year as more people got vaccinated and returned to their dentists' offices. (Herman, 8/24)
NBC News: Unfriendly Skies: FAA Releases PSA After Thousands Of Unruly Passengers Are Reported
Unruly passengers aboard commercial flights are making the skies anything but friendly, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. In its effort to curb what it has described as a dramatic increase in unruly or dangerous behavior aboard passenger airplanes, the FAA released a public service announcement Tuesday with a simple message: "Unruly behavior doesn't fly." The 33-second video depicts pilots speaking over airwaves to relay messages like "We've got a disruptive customer in the back," "We'd like to divert" and "We need to get off the airplane." Shouts and sounds of commotion are heard while ominous music plays. (Planas, 8/24)
In news on the health risks of a new viral meme —
The Washington Post: The Viral Milk Crate Challenge Has Left People Injured. Doctors Are Begging Them To Stop
“It’s the biggest thing that’s going on in every neighborhood right now,” said Derek, a 38-year-old social media personality based on Long Island and better known as Itsbizkit who preferred not to give his last name, for privacy reasons. “You go to any park or public place right now and you’ll see crates there.” But many see the Milk Crate Challenge as taking up where the Tide Pod Challenge left off — as a viral meme that has become a public health hazard. Some doctors are also warning that the injuries from the challenge are putting more stress on hospitals at a time when emergency rooms nationwide are overwhelmed because of the surge in coronavirus infections. (Bella, 8/24)
On the addiction crisis —
KHN: From Uber Vouchers To Patient Advocates: What It Takes To Increase ER Addiction Treatment
For years, Kayla West watched the opioid epidemic tear through her eastern Tennessee community. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she treated people with mental illness but felt she needed to do more to address addiction. So in 2020, when the state created a position to help hospitals improve addiction care in the emergency room, West jumped at the opportunity. She knew that many people with substance use disorders land in the ER, and that starting medications for opioid use — like buprenorphine (often known by the brand name Suboxone) — could double a person’s chance of staying in treatment a month later. (Pattani, 8/25)
