Health category, Page 102
Excela chief medical officer discusses coronavirus testing, protecting medical personnel, worst-case scenarioVideo
As covid-19 cases continue to increase in Western Pennsylvania, the Tribune-Review spoke with Excela Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox about some of the questions we have about the new coronavirus. The text of this interview has been edited for length and clarity. Question: When should patients call for...
Millions in San Francisco area cope with virus restrictions
SAN FRANCISCO — Millions in the San Francisco Bay Area found empty highways, shuttered stores and vacant streets Tuesday as officials began enforcing an order for residents to stay at home and only leave for “essential” reasons in a desperate attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Miguel Aguirre,...
Influenza deaths increase in history-setting season, state reports
Ten more people died from influenza in Pennsylvania in the last week, increasing the total number of flu deaths this season to 93, the state Department of Health reported Tuesday. As of the week ending March 14, most of the people who died — 64 — were 65 or older....
The startling inequality gap that emerges after age 65
In an era when “deaths of despair” — from substance abuse and suicide — are on the rise among middle-aged Americans, those who reach age 65 are living longer than ever. But there’s a catch: Seniors in urban areas and on the coasts are surviving longer than their counterparts in...
Does your child have diabetes? Symptoms to watch for
Cases of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are on the rise among those 20 and under in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Ana Creo, a Mayo Clinic pediatric endocrinologist, explains what signs and symptoms parents should be aware...
Quinn on Nutrition: Full fat dairy … really?
A column I wrote last May about whole milk dairy foods generated quite a response from a reader in Illinois: “Wow. Telling people that high fat foods are good for their heart is a travesty. The one study you mentioned is greatly flawed. Hundreds of other studies show the exact...
Taking strides to better cardiovascular health
Running a marathon may sound overwhelming, but it could be the key to better health. First-time marathon runners significantly improved their cardiovascular health during training for a 26.2-mile race, according to a recent study. “This study showed participants had improvements in overall cardiovascular health, but particularly related to the stiffness...
Treating gout involves combination of lifestyle changes, medication
Dear Mayo Clinic: Years ago, I had gout in my toe, but I didn’t need medication other than ibuprofen. After it went away, I never had any other issues. But over the past few weeks, it has come back and is painful. Is there anything that I can do to...
Coronavirus vaccine test opens with 1st dosesVideo
SEATTLE — U.S. researchers gave the first shots in a first test of an experimental coronavirus vaccine Monday, leading off a worldwide hunt for protection even as the pandemic surges. With careful jabs in the arms of four healthy volunteers, scientists at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Research Institute in Seattle...
Here are some tips to healing your hands from excessive handwashing
Frequent handwashing, while necessary as protection from the coronavirus that causes covid-19, can lead to dry skin and irritation. “I’ve been noticing it myself,” said Dr. Laura Ferris, a UPMC dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh. It’s especially a problem for people who work in...
Allegheny County records 4th coronavirus case; 1 person hospitalized
A fourth case of coronavirus has been recorded in Allegheny County, the county’s Department of Health announced Sunday afternoon. The revelation came about an hour after the state Health Department announced a third case in the county. The two latest patients are adults, both in their 60s, according to a...
9 things to know about coronavirus spreading, testing and symptoms
The medical impact of the new coronavirus is coming into sharper focus as it continues its spread in what is now officially recognized as a pandemic. Its true fatality rate isn’t yet known, but it seems 10 times higher than the flu, which kills hundreds of thousands around the world...
Q&A: An explanation of ‘community spread’
The spread of the novel coronavirus is reaching communities across the country and experts say the cases of covid-19 will spike exponentially. What does community spread mean, and how do you stop it? Here’s what you need to know: Q: What is community spread? A: Community spread means that someone...
UPMC develops coronavirus test, will begin screenings next weekVideo
UPMC on Tuesday will begin testing patients for the novel coronavirus in a secure facility in Pittsburgh’s South Side, officials announced Saturday, the same day public health authorities revealed the first two positive tests in Allegheny County. Dr. Donald Yealy, UPMC’s chair of emergency medicine, called the federal testing capabilities...
Tampons, pads and politics mesh in new push for access to menstrual supplies
DENVER — Geoff Davis’ gray Kia sedan is chock-full of tampons and maxi pads. Davis, 50, volunteers as executive director of Period Kits, a Colorado nonprofit that provides a three-month bag of tampons and pads to people in need. On lunch breaks from his full-time job in community relations or...
3 new flu deaths reported in Allegheny County
The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday reported three new deaths in the county from flu complications. Two of the people were in their early 70s. The third person was in his or her early 60s. All of them had underlying medical conditions, according to a statement from the health...
Allegheny Health Network limits visitation at hospitals
Allegheny Health Network is making changes to its visitation policy at area hospitals in response to the rising cases of the novel coronavirus across the United States. The temporary restrictions were announced Wednesday and limit the number of visitors for a patient to one person at a time in the...
Western Pennsylvania nursing homes restrict access amid coronavirus fears
Visitor access to at least two nursing homes in the Pittsburgh region has been restricted as a precaution against the potential spread of the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday. Wexford Healthcare Center in McCandless and Baldwin Health Center also are taking the temperatures of visitors who enter the home. A fever...
Pennsylvania reports 9 new flu deaths
The number of flu-related deaths in Pennsylvania this season has reached 83, up by nine in the past week, according to data the state Department of Health released Tuesday. Most of the deaths, 56, were in those age 65 and older. Six of the new deaths were in that age...
5 important things to know about coronavirus
1. How is the coronavirus different from the flu? Flu and the coronavirus are both respiratory viruses with similar signs and symptoms, according to Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious disease and critical care physician. Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. A stuffy nose is not common...
Heart to heart: West View man embraces a 2nd chance at life
Bob Lancia has felt heartache twice. One time the hurt was healed — with a heart transplant last year at UPMC Presbyterian in Oakland. But the other pain will ache for the rest his life — grieving the loss of his oldest son, Zach, 30, in 2017. Lancia of West...
Hit the street (or trail) and join ‘team walking’ program
Spring may not have quite sprung, but the days are longer and many of us are eager to resume outdoor recreational activities. In an effort to encourage people to ramp up the “active” in their activity, Penn State Extension is offering “Everybody Walk Across PA.” Individuals of all ages and...
Cold medicines for kids: What’s the risk?
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are the best way to help a child who has a cold feel better — right? Think again. Here’s practical advice from Dr. Jay L. Hoecker, an emeritus pediatrics specialist at Mayo Clinic. What’s the concern about cough and cold medicines for kids? Over-the-counter cough...
Reduce salt to improve heart health
Those with high blood pressure or who are at risk may want to consider simply saying no to sodium. Dr. Amy Pollak, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says 75% of the amount of salt you get in your day-to-day diet is from processed foods or going out to eat. A new...
Health Happenings: Week of March 9
Blood drives • American Red Cross will host these blood drives: — Noon-5 p.m. today , Westmoreland Manor, 2480 South Grande Boulevard, Hempfield — 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday , Trinity Lutheran Church, 331 Weldon St., Latrobe Appointments: 800-733-2767 or redcrossblood.org; walk-ins welcome Classes/programs • Tour of the Family Additions Maternity...
