Cities, towns and counties are starting to plan for a future with climate change. Now, the Tri-Cities area is asking people about regional hazards and historical trends. (Credit: Simon Foot […]Read More
Hospitalman Yenifer Gutierrez, left, and Hospitalman Brashea Ojeda treat COVID patients in the ICU Aboard USNS Comfort in April of 2020. Influenza deaths surpassed COVID-19 deaths for this first time […]Read More
The Washington state Department of Health reported on March 20th that influenza activity reached its highest levels in seven years, with the most flu-related deaths since the 2017-2018 flu season.Read More
Fire crews spray water on rubble at the Lineage Logistics fire in Finley, Wash. The fire started on April 21. (Credit: Benton County Fire District #1) Listen (Runtime 1:06) Read […]Read More
A health residency program in central Washington aims to make primary care more accessible for rural Hispanic and Latino/x/e communities.Read More
Huckleberries are considered a culturally important first food for some Northwest tribes. (Credit: David Baron / Flickr Creative Commons) Listen (Runtime 1:05) Read For the Nez Perce Tribe, connections to […]Read More
For the past three years, Richland resident Judy Alder has crocheted tiny hats for newborns and very sick babies in the NICU. So far this year, she’s made at least […]Read More
Hotspots at the Lineage Logistics fire in Finley, Washington, flared up Tuesday because of high winds. The fire has been burning for seven weeks. (Credit: Benton County Fire District 1) […]Read More
Fire crews spray water on rubble at the Lineage Logistics fire in Finley, Washington. The fire started on April 21. (Credit: Benton County Fire District 1) Listen (Runtime 1:00) Read […]Read More
Three new medical residents will be joining Pullman Regional Hospital’s Family Medicine program in June. Read More
Smallmouth bass are good indicators of methylmercury exposure to humans and wildlife because they are a common, popular sport fish and eat a variety of food during their lifetime. (Credit: […]Read More
Researchers at Washington State University found that over 41 percent of American women between the ages of 15 and 49 don’t have access to an abortion provider within a 30-minute drive. Read More
Many blood banks have dangerously low supplies. Rachel Sun reports.Read More
Blue-green algae seen behind Lower Granite dam on the Snake River. (Credit: Courtney Flatt) Listen (Runtime 1:02) Read From the air above Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, a […]Read More
More gay and bisexual men are now eligible to donate blood. Health reporter Rachel Sun explains that’s thanks to updated screening questions that are used for all patients, regardless of sexuality. Read More
A haze of smoke over Pullman is visible from the top floor of Jackson Hall at Washington State University Tuesday. Photo by Rachel Sun Listen (Runtime 1:03) Read As smoke […]Read More
An analysis of county-by-county data in Idaho showed over the course of 10 years, 39 out of 44 counties saw at least some increase in obesity.Read More
Washington and Oregon rank in the top ten states for the longest life expectancy, according to new numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The high rankings come with the caveat that the pandemic has thrown lengthening human lifespans into reverse across the U.S.Read More
Benton Franklin Recovery Coalition Board Listen (Runtime 2:25) Read For over four years the Benton Franklin Recovery Coalition has been working to get a detox facility in Eastern Washington. The […]Read More
Studies of COVID in wastewater can help predict outbreaks Listen Rachel Sun reports on how scientists at the University of Idaho are tracking COVID through wastewater / Runtime – 1:46 […]Read More
As states from Oregon to New York announce plans to end mask mandates, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced that he’s lifting outdoor masking requirements and plans to announce next week a date when the face-covering rules for public indoor spaces and schools will be lifted.Read More
A group of labor organizations, farmworker advocates and health experts are sending a letter to the Governors of Washington, Oregon and California with their recommendations on permanent rulemaking for heat and smoke protections for farmworkers.Read More
Over the past year, wildfire smoke has made the air quality in the Yakima Valley, Eastern Washington and parts of Oregon some of the worst in the country, and even in the world. When the air quality is bad, experts recommend people stay indoors, but that isn’t an option for outdoor laborers, like farmworkers.Read More
A literature review from Washington State University of 296 studies shows that access to nature can significantly benefit children’s health, especially for kids in marginalized communities.Read More
The overcrowded hospitals we've been telling you about for weeks are having ripple effects out into the community -- some you could predict and some which are a little more startling. Take for example a fire that gutted a house in Ocean Shores, expensive airlifts from Leavenworth, Washington, and slow response times for ambulance transports in Portland.Read More
June 3 marks a year since COVID-19 blasted through my immune system. I have never figured out how I got it. And my recovery has come in fits and starts. But mostly it’s just been incredibly, snail-slow. Read More
Gay and transgender people will be protected from discrimination in health care, the Biden administration announced Monday, effectively reversing a Trump-era rule that went into effect last year.Read More
After spending much of the past year tending to elderly patients, doctors are seeing a clear demographic shift: young and middle-aged adults make up a growing share of the patients in COVID-19 hospital wards.Read More
The Indian Health Service has been lauded for the success of its vaccination campaign. But not every Native American got to be part of that. Tribes that aren't recognized by the U.S. government have received none of the resources directed to Indian Country to help them survive the pandemic.Read More
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the blood clots are extremely rare but that it is reviewing the cases. The agency says it expects this pause to last for "a matter of days."Read More
A recent NPR/Marist poll found that one in four Americans said they would refuse a coronavirus vaccine outright if offered. Another 5% are "undecided" about whether they would get the shot. Although the numbers were highest for Republican men and residents of rural areas, there were still a significant number of people across all ages and demographic groups who claim they Read More
An out-of-state hospital is often the closest, most convenient option for patients and their families and can ensure patients get state-of-the-art care, since only a limited number of hospitals and physicians in the country have the skills and experience to best treat children with certain conditions.Read More
A study released this month in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, led by researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, found that across 44 children's hospitals, the number of pediatric patients hospitalized for respiratory illnesses is down 62%. Deaths have dropped dramatically too, compared with the last 10 years: The number of flu deaths among children is Read More
So-called long-haulers are people who survive COVID-19 but have symptoms – sometimes debilitating symptoms – many months later. As scientists scramble to explain what is going on and figure out how to help, disability advocates are also scrambling: They are trying to figure out whether long-haulers will qualify for disability benefits.Read More
The average U.S. life expectancy dropped by a year in the first half of 2020, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics, a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Read More
The damage caused by wildfires can be devastating, gutting structures and driving out people who live and work nearby. And researchers say the smoke from the annually recurring blazes also delivers economic damage to areas that were never touched by the flames.Read More
ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease after the New York Yankees first baseman who died of the disease in 1941, destroys motor neurons, causing people to lose control of their limbs, their speech and, ultimately, their ability to breathe. It's usually fatal in two to five years, though about 10% of people survive ten years or more.Read More
The first time it happened, it was a squeezing feeling. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My heart raced. At the hospital, I got an EKG and took a blood test. It wasn’t a heart attack. Just felt like one. Doctors are learning COVID-19 isn’t just a respiratory illness. Some of those who’ve had it, like me, end up with heart inflammation, heart rhythm problems or worse. Read More
The pandemic put a spotlight on health care workers and inspired many to pursue a career in medicine. The record number of applicants comes as the U.S. faces a projected shortage of physicians.Read More
Deaths from COVID-19 have jumped nearly 40% this week, and hospitals around the country are straining under their patient load. Here's what happened in the first week after Thanksgiving. Read More
An online survey conducted out of Whitman College found more than half of Washingtonians say they have delayed medical visits this year. The findings underscore widespread concerns about disruptions to health care during the pandemic.Read More
Whether you're looking for coverage online or through a broker, be sure to note the difference between a comprehensive health plan and a "junk" plan with limited benefits and coverage restrictions.Read More
The first COVID-19 vaccines to hit the market will not be approved for use in children. Researchers must figure out if the vaccines are safe and effective in kids. Read More
The medicine is one of the few to win regulatory approval as a treatment for the disease, but has fallen out of favor with the health authority. Read More
People who get more deep sleep appear less likely to develop Alzheimer's. That may be because this phase of sleep allows the brain to clear out waste products.Read More
Water fluoridation has been proposed – and rejected – before by Spokane residents. Supporters such as Dr. Elisabeth Warder believe it’s time to consider it again. The city council is considering a request by dentists to fluoridate the city’s water supply.Read More
A study released this week points to two passengers infected on a four-hour-plus flight. But there hasn't been a lot of documentation of transmission on planes. So how risky is flying?Read More
The company said demand has declined "fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product and a constant barrage of litigation advertising." Lawsuits allege the powder causes cancer. Read More
The report comes as the government announced all states must now meet federal reporting guidelines. The type of information gathered by states up to now has been inconsistent.Read More
Before the pill was approved by the FDA on May 9, 1960, there were few contraceptive options available to young women. It revolutionized family planning and the sex lives of millions of Americans.Read More
