health

Pro-Eating Disorder Propaganda Proliferates On The Internet

The Conversation with Ross Reynolds — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:25:43 +0000

Experts are increasingly concerned about pro-eating disorder content, which is proliferating on the Internet, including Twitter hashtags like #thinspiration and #pro-ana.

KUOW’s Ross Reynolds talks with Dr. Jillian Lampert, senior director at The Emily Program, about the role of the Internet and other factors that contribute to the problem of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.

Seattle Study Shows Cancer Can Lead To Bankruptcy

Ruby de Luna — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:15:11 +0000

Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, according to a study published online today in the journal Health Affairs. There are plenty of anecdotes of people who have used up their savings, borrowed from friends or filed for bankruptcy following a serious illness like cancer. Now researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have documented exactly how great the risk of bankruptcy is for cancer patients.

Who Should Get A Genetic Test For Breast Cancer?

Sara Lerner — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:55:48 +0000

Now, the public knows about Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy. She wrote in the New York Times that, thanks to genetic testing, she believed there was an 87 percent chance she’d get breast cancer, so she went for it.
Tuesday, Dr. Julie Gralow, director of breast medical oncology at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance spoke with KUOW's Sara Lerner. Dr. Gralow says, “The majority of breast cancer in the United States is not gene-mutation cancer.”

The Elements Of Cooking With Michael Pollan

The Conversation with Ross Reynolds — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:18:38 +0000

Fire, air, water and earth; or as author Michael Pollan experienced it: barbeque, bread, braise and beer. In his latest book, “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation,” Pollan challenges himself to master the basic technologies that have allowed people to turn raw into cooked.
The impetus of his journey was to highlight the possibility and importance of mastering the preparation of personal meals. His book explores the cultural shift of food responsibility from the home to corporation via packaged or prepared foods, and how this directly correlates with the rise in American obesity issues.

Washington Exemption For Faith-Based Employers Challenged

Ruby de Luna — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:49:59 +0000

The State Supreme Court today heard arguments in a case that could decide whether faith-based employers in Washington have some exemption from the state’s anti-discrimination law.

How You Should Plan For The Costs Of Dementia

The Conversation With Ross Reynolds — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:09:02 +0000

Dementia care expenses totaled $109 billion in 2010, more than either cancer or heart disease. The research, conducted by the RAND Corporation, predicts dementia costs and the number of people with dementia will more than double by 2040.
Ross sits down with Dr. Jim Leverenz, investigator at the University of Washington’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, to talk about how families can plan.

Seattle Scientists Identify Cells That Could Lead To Herpes Vaccine

Ruby de Luna — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:14:48 +0000

Scientists at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have found a class of cells they think suppresses herpes. This could explain why some people have no symptoms or lesions when the virus is reactivated. It also changes the way scientists understand how the virus works.

Why Are More People Committing Suicide In The US?

the conversation with ross reynolds — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:01:14 +0000

A new report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that suicide deaths have surpassed car deaths in the United States. According to the same report, suicide rates rose 15% from 1999 to 2010, with an even more dramatic rise among the 35-64 age group. Washington state has seen similar increases. Ross Reynolds speaks with Dr. Thomas Simon, a researcher at the CDC’s Injury Center in Atlanta about why the suicide rate is growing.

How Common Is Weight Discrimination In Washington State?

The Conversation With Ross Reynolds — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:44:51 +0000

A new study from Johns Hopkins University finds that overweight patients are treated with less warmth than thinner patients by doctors. That kind of discrimination is not limited to the doctor’s office. Many overweight people say they face discrimination, mistreatment and bias in their daily lives.

Seattle To Launch Gun Violence Study

Ruby de Luna — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:46:38 +0000

The City of Seattle is about to embark on a new study that hasn’t been done in other American cities—to look at gun violence from a public health standpoint.