Medical Lake City Council Position 1
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Brain-eating amoebas are rare. But hot weather increases the risk.
High temperatures send many of us straight to the nearest source of water to cool off, whether that’s a pool, beach, lake or backyard splash pad. But if you’ve heard reports about a “brain-eating” amoeba that lives in fresh water, you might be questioning how safe it really is to go for that dip.
Ask the doctors: Lifting heavy weights may be beneficial for older adults
Dear Doctors: I enjoy lifting heavy weights. It makes me stronger and helps me feel energized. The trainer at my gym says that, because I’m 84 years old, it’s not a good idea. He’s been after me to switch to lighter weights. Is there any science to back me up that this is OK, or is he right?
Ask the doctors: Sprained ankles need time to heal
Dear Doctors: I twisted my ankle playing soccer, and the coach said it’s sprained. I got it taped and sat out for a few days. It felt better, so I asked to play, but he said no, it still needed time to heal. What happens if I go back too soon?
Ask the doctors: Training for old age
Dear Doctors: I heard an interesting talk about training to prepare for old age. Is this an established theory or just someone’s random idea? The person said there are certain things you can focus on to age well. I am 62 years old, and I’m especially interested in staying strong.
Ask the doctors: Liquid biopsies offer more nuanced profile of cancer
Dear Doctors: My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I’m helping with her medical appointments. Her oncologist says she needs a liquid biopsy. She has already had a biopsy – that’s how they found the cancer. Why would she need another one?
The surprising ways food packaging is exposing us to microplastics
At this point, most people know that microplastics are everywhere. Scientists have shown that tiny particles, amounting to the weight of a plastic spoon, can be found in our brains; hundreds of fragments of plastic are in each breath we take.
Ask the doctors: Readers respond
Hello, readers, and welcome to a bonus letters column! You are keeping our mailboxes full, so we will get right to your letters.
Ask the doctors: Wear treated clothing to prevent tick bites
Dear Doctors: We live in Wisconsin, and this year we’re seeing a lot of news about ticks carrying Lyme disease and a few other kinds I hadn’t heard of before. They don’t fly around like mosquitoes, so why is it so easy for them to bite you? Are there bug sprays that are good against ticks?
Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation unveils new, bigger facility
Jun. 20—MOSES LAKE — The Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation finally has some breathing room. “We were really shoved into a little box,” said Community Relations Coordinator Amanda Carpenter. “We made it work, and it was great for the time we had it, but this space works so much better for us. It’s a lot more comfortable for our clients and comfortable for us. We’re not climbing on top of each …
Ask the doctors: Long-term symptoms indicate post-concussion syndrome
Dear Doctors: I was in a pretty bad car accident. I thought I was lucky I got away with just a concussion, but now I have headaches and see an aura when I look at lights at night. I’m told it may be post-concussion syndrome. Can you please talk about what that is and whether it can be cured?
DHS Secretary Noem taken to hospital after allergic reaction
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem was taken to a hospital on Tuesday after suffering an allergic reaction, a department spokesperson told The Washington Post.
Ask the doctors: 333 rule is helpful during bouts of anxiety
Dear Doctors: I am beginning to have problems with anxiety, and recently I had trouble catching my breath. My sister says that’s one of the things that happens in a panic attack. She talked to me about the “333 rule,” and I wonder if you think it can help?
Ask the doctors: Potassium-sodium ratio important to blood pressure management
Dear Doctors: My blood pressure is on the edge of the normal range. My doctor wants me to think about something called the DASH diet. What is that? I want to stay healthy, but I know myself: If I can’t have a diet that is enjoyable, I’m not going to be able to stick with it for long.
Ask the doctors: Readers respond
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to our monthly letters column. With lengthening days and warming weather, outdoor activities beckon.
Ask the doctors: Age is a factor in diminished lung capacity
Dear Doctors: I recently started going to a yoga class at our community center. We were doing deep breathing, and it felt like my lungs weren’t filling up as much as they used to. Do your lungs get less elastic when you get older? Can that be reversed?
Ask the doctors: PANDAS symptoms mimic those of OCD
Dear Doctors: Our 8-year-old son got sick with strep throat and had to miss a family camping trip. When my sister called to check on him, she asked me if I knew strep throat can cause obsessive-compulsive disorder. Is that really true? The strep was cured with antibiotics, and our son seems fine.
Ask the doctors: Fatty fish provide key omega-3 fatty acids to diet
Dear Doctors: Why is it that fish is so good for you? My husband and I have been thinking about adding more of it to our diets, but we keep hearing stories in the news about people getting sick from contaminated seafood. How do you eat fish and stay safe?
Homeless, sick and aging: Pierce County faces worsening crisis in 2025
Homeless-service providers in Pierce County are sounding the alarm on the need for healthcare among those living unhoused. During the Pierce County Council’s Health and Human Services Committee meeting June 3, a panel of homeless-outreach workers, healthcare specialists and social workers painted a picture of the high number of elderly and disabled people experiencing homelessness and the lack …
Ask the doctors: Vasectomy can be reversed in vasovasostomy
Dear Doctors: I am 40 years old and the father of three boys. My wife and I don’t plan on having more children. I’m considering a vasectomy, but I worry about what the surgery is like and how permanent it is. Is surgery to reverse a vasectomy difficult?
Health care forum in Stevens County addresses impact of proposed Medicaid cuts in rural communities
CHEWELAH – Proposed cuts to Medicaid could harm health care provided in rural northeastern Washington, a group of medical leaders warned in a forum last week.