Health

Health

What to know about the flu this season

Two years of COVID masking and distancing have left our immune systems out of practice fighting other viruses. And now the flu is spreading rapidly. Seattle Times reporter Elise Takahama is here to talk about the spread of flu and how healthcare providers and people are managing it.

Science

Brain technology is moving forward, but are ethical standards up to speed?

When you’re experimenting with human brains, or even monkey brains, you’re experimenting with the organ that keeps a creature alive. It’s our brains, with all their synapses and neurons, that makes us who we are. So how do you experiment with brain technology ethically?

When homeless people seek treatment or shelter, where do their pets go?

When people experiencing homelessness need to go into residential treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, finding a place for their pet to stay can be a big barrier.

Government

Soda tax-funded programs largely safe, despite lower pandemic revenue

When Seattle started taxing soda and sugary drinks in 2018, part of the intent was to reduce consumption. The good news: people drank less soda. The bad news: it meant reduced funds for programs that help vulnerable communities. As the city council prepares to vote on the 2023 budget, it made some changes to avoid deep cuts. But it’s a short-term fix.

Health

Health officials urge caution as holidays near

Holiday season is right around the corner, the third since the Covid-19 pandemic began. And, once again, health officials are nervous about how the health care system will fare as people gather and viruses spread.

Health

RSV is on the rise among children, but figuring out where is complicated

Emergency rooms at children's hospitals are seeing dramatic increases in admissions because of RSV and other respiratory viruses. But there are complications to tracking the virus in rural communities especially.

Health

Pace of work leads to injury at Amazon warehouses

Amazon has built its business on speedy delivery. But getting your package from point A to point B in a day requires Amazon warehouse employees to work at high speeds. And this fast, repetitive work can result in injury according to findings from Washington state. Insider reporter Katherine Long is here to tell us about the impact of Amazon warehouse work on employees.

Health

Breathing the world’s worst air

Western Washington currently has some of the world’s dirtiest air due to smoke from wildfires in the Cascade Mountains. Fires have been burning for weeks, but people living close to the fire line say these past few days have been the worst conditions so far this year.

Environment

Wildfire smoke continues to blanket much of the Puget Sound region

Dr. Cora Sack is a University of Washington Assistant Professor. She has expertise in lung disease, and the health effects of air pollution and wildfire smoke.