PORTLAND, Ore. — Kendra Sawyer spoke with her dad from the Deschutes County jail and told him she loved him. Six hours later, in the throes of opioid withdrawal, the 22-year-old took her own life. A year later, Sawyer’s father, Kent, is left wondering whether his daughter, troubled as she was, might still be alive … Read more
A Colorado man who died after getting bitten by a Gila monster was hardly alone in having the gnarly looking lizard for a pet. They’re legal to own in most states, easily found through breeders and at reptile shows, and widely regarded for their striking color patterns and typically easygoing personality. But while 34-year-old Christopher … Read more
Switching to electric vehicles by 2050 could prevent thousands of premature deaths, along with millions of asthma attacks and respiratory illnesses in children in the United States, reveals a new report. The American Lung Association (ALA) released the report Wednesday advocating for a widespread transition to zero-emission vehicles and electricity, emphasizing the substantial health improvements … Read more
While we all naturally shed a few strands of hair every day, serious hair loss can be upsetting and even embarrassing to those who experience it. Around two thirds of men will be affected by male pattern baldness in their lifetime. However, hair loss is not just limited to men, as 40 percent of women … Read more
By Kathleen Costello, MS, as told to Rachel Reiff Ellis Drugs don’t work in people who don’t take them. It sounds over-simplified, but it’s true. And it’s not an MS-specific problem — it’s a challenge in any ongoing condition. The World Health Organization has estimated that only 50% of people with a persistent illness continue … Read more
BOISE, Idaho. — More than 50 Idaho obstetricians have stopped practicing in the state since a near-total abortion ban took effect in August 2022, according to a newly released report. Data compiled by the Idaho Physician Well-Being Action Collaborative also shows that only two obstetricians moved to the state to practice in the last 15 … Read more
Smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels for medical purposes without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday. The caution applies to any watch or ring, regardless of brand, that claims to measure blood glucose levels in a noninvasive way, the … Read more
The Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, raising concerns about how the decision could affect in vitro fertilization, commonly known as IVF. The decision issued in wrongful death cases brought by couples who had frozen embryos destroyed in an accident could potentially leave clinics vulnerable to … Read more
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are very complicated, but one key part is the build-up of two substances inside the brain known as amyloid and tau. These can then … Read more
By Darbi Haynes-Lawrence, PhD, as told to Evan Starkman It’s been 13 years since my neurologist diagnosed me with relapsing-remitting MS, and I still forget that I’m disabled a lot. I’m 47, but in my brain I’m still a college track athlete who ran marathons on the weekends. I’ve always been a big goal-oriented person. … Read more
