The University of Iowa on Wednesday announced the launch of a statewide research initiative aimed at understanding how environmental exposures may be causing a range of dire health problems experienced by people around the state. With initial funding of $6 million and a goal for $10 million, the university said it will gather and analyze […]
Health
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Report: Iowa’s rate of new lung cancer cases ‘significantly higher’ than national average
Iowans are used to reports on cancer rates containing bad news for the state. Annual reports from the Iowa Cancer Registry and the National Cancer Institute have documented Iowa’s remarkably high rate of new cancers. Only tobacco-heavy Kentucky has a higher rate of new cases. Now, a report from the American Lung Association (ALA) published […]
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Iowa Republicans advance bill with a ban on Medicaid funding for all forms of gender-affirming care
On Wednesday, Iowa Senate Republicans advanced a bill with a provision that would cut off funding for medical treatments for people with gender dysphoria, despite testimony pointing to a medical consensus that stopping access to such treatments can increase the risk of suicide among transgender people. This is the first piece of anti-trans legislation Iowa […]
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Vaccine bill advances in Senate, despite medical community’s opposition
A bill that eliminates a minor’s legal right to consent to vaccinations against sexually transmitted infections has advanced in the Iowa Senate despite united opposition from Iowa’s medical community. SF 2064 would revise an existing state law that gives minors the legal capacity to provide the necessary consent for them to receive medical care related […]
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Complaints pile up as Iowa ranks 49th among states in nursing home inspectors
A federal report suggests Iowa has one of the nation’s worst ratios of nursing home inspectors to care facilities, and that the state’s use of private contractors to inspect homes is extraordinarily costly to taxpayers. The report, published earlier this year by the majority staff of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, highlights some […]
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On a mission: Iowa woman hopes to bring multiple sclerosis documentary to IC
Faced with a debilitating inflammatory disease, one Iowa woman is working hard to bring a relevant documentary to the Iowa City area for one night only…
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Health: The phenomenon known as After Singing Syndrome
Although this particular diagnosis cannot be found in medical textbooks, the syndrome’s effects are very real. My former accompanist and vocal coach, Marcelina Turcano, first coined this phrase during a vocal competition where five sopranos, including myself, were giggling, screaming and yammering at a mile a minute: “You are just being an ass,” she said, “You have after singing syndrome.”
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Health: Winter Yogaland
Winter is a time of deep stillness and inner reflection. Yet for the first months of the season, we often end up feeling anxious, sick or depressed. Some attribute these feelings to holiday stress, or to a lack of vitamin D. Others say it is a lack of motivation to stay active throughout the chillier […]
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Do it for your head: de-stress
Stress is rough. Between home and work, there are countless things to be responsible for doing, knowing and staying on top of. Outside of that are demands from family, friends and other relationships. All those stresses are enough to make one’s head spin. Sometimes stress is a symptom, and it’s important to learn to deal […]
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Health: On the Run
I have lived in Iowa City for three years now. Each end of April brings the River Run 5K. This is the third year that I have sworn that I would do it. But unlike those other two years, this year I’m actually doing it. I have goals, a plan, and this is the year […]
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Health: Easy Riders
My thighs burned as I pushed the pedals up another asphalt-covered hill. Each climb was harder than the last and a personal battle, which was to be followed by a spectacular view of snow-patched cornfields as far as the eye could see–-and a nice long coast. These rolling hills of Iowa guide the joyrides for […]
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Health: Will Work For Food
Alright, I have a confession to make. I’m currently taking a nutrition class and have been wandering around the mypyramid.gov site. At my age, size and activity level, I should stick to a 2000 calorie diet. (This is to maintain my current weight.) That means that after all the actual nutrients I need daily, I’m […]
