Health care

Rates of sexually transmitted diseases continue to rise in Washington

Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continues to rise in Washington, and across the country. Pregnant women experience some of the worst outcomes from untreated STDs, including from congenital syphilis, which is a growing problem in Washington. From 2014 to 2018,…

Questions and answers about Alzheimer’s

Recently, mental health has been an important topic that many have been researching, for both themselves and their loved ones. With this in mind, people have been learning more about brain-related illnesses and overall brain health, especially as it relates to dementia and Alzheimer’s, and prevention steps they can take. Unfortunately, the Alzheimer’s Association reports…

Free, hands-only CPR training at Edmonds CC Sept. 30

Premera Blue Cross and American Red Cross have partnered to provide South Snohomish County residents with four opportunities for free Community Hands-only CPR training. Edmonds Community College will sponsor the events, to be held Monday, Sept. 30, on campus. Sessions will be held at 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. A session in Spanish…

Sponsor spotlight: Stay in the game – two fall sports injuries to avoid

Fall sports are back on the calendars of athletes, parents, coaches, and trainers. No matter whose team you are on, everyone wins when athletes stay injury-free. Each season, I team up with Edmonds high school athletic trainers on the sidelines to evaluate players on the field. I also see injured athletes in my clinic when additional…

Community Life Center to host mental health community outreach event Oct. 13

The Community Life Center will host a community outreach event Sunday, Oct. 13 on issues surrounding mental health. The event will run from 10 a.m.-noon. Representatives from industry professional organizations will answer questions and provide help in making resources available to people struggling with anxiety, depression, addition or thoughts of suicide. Participants include: Lahai Health…

Latest opioid overdose survey tracks incidents in Snohomish County

During one week in July, 27 people in Snohomish County overdosed because of opioids, according to the data released Monday by the Snohomish Health District. Two of those overdoses were located in Edmonds, two were in Mountlake Terrace and one was in Lynnwood. Two overdoses — both were fatal, That information comes from the third…

State Health Department: First West Nile virus case of year reported

A human case of West Nile virus has been reported by Benton-Franklin Health District — the first case of the virus in Washington state this year. Health officials advise people to take action to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes as West Nile Virus is currently circulating in several counties in Washington. In addition to the…

State health officials make it easier to access overdose reversal drug

The Washington State Health Department ehas made it easier for people and organizations to get naxolone, which reverses an opioid overdose. Washington State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy on Wednesday signed a statewide standing order for naloxone. The standing order works like a prescription and allows any person or organization in the state to get…

Sponsored: 3 Best Sobriety Apps for Addiction Recovery

“Sometimes I thought about my liver but my liver never spoke up, it never said, “Stop it, you’re killing me and I’m going to kill you!” If we had talking livers, we wouldn’t need A.A.” – Charles Bukowski, author of “Pulp” Now there’s a thought – talking livers… Any part of our anatomies that suddenly…

Elected officials join Swedish Edmonds workers on informational picket line

An estimated 60 health care workers from Swedish-Edmonds took to the streets on Thursday to publicly air their claims, chief among them that providing the best quality care is no longer the organization’s top priority, having been replaced by executive pay, profits and expansion. The workers are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and…

Sponsored: 5 Ways to Get Your Sober Fun in Seattle

I got sober in Seattle. Best thing I ever did (please don’t let my wife see this, as she thinks the “best thing I ever did” happened on our wedding day…) But it was. The best thing. Getting sober, and becoming (and then, remaining) 100% abstinent from any alcohol of any kind changed my life…

Swedish Edmonds nurse to speak at Seattle health care town hall

Edmonds resident and award-winning Swedish Edmonds nurse Stefan Torres will be a panelist at the Future of Nursing 2030 Seattle Town Hall, set for Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the University of Washington’s Kane Hall. “Our city’s theme is ‘High Tech to High Touch,’ so I’ll be discussing and proposing recommendations to the committee based on…

City of Lynnwood hosting blood drive June 27

The City of Lynnwood is partnering with Bloodworks NW to host a blood drive from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Lynnwood Fire Station training room, 18800 44th Ave. W. To make an appointment, visit schedule.bloodworksnw.org/DonorPortal/GroupLanding.aspx?s=0834. For further questions about eligibility or to call and schedule an appointment by phone, contact BloodworksNW at 1-800-398-7888.  

Sponsor spotlight: Diabetes diagnosis? Here’s how to commit to success    

A new diabetes diagnosis can feel overwhelming. It is important for patients to become committed to the new self-care regimen that diabetes requires. This Q&A with offers some tips on how to get started. What is diabetes? How is it managed? Insulin, a hormone in our bodies, keeps our blood glucose (sugars in the blood)…

Sponsor spotlight: How platelet-rich plasma can improve sexual health

​Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections are a form of natural sexual health treatment that gathers platelets and growth factors from a sample of your own blood and re-injects it into your body. These injections are used to improve sexual function in both men and women and can serve as a very effective form of medical…

Alzheimer’s Association names new Washington state chapter executive director

The Alzheimer’s Association has appointed Jim Wilgus as the new executive director for the Washington State Chapter, which is based in Lynnwood. Wilgus joined the Alzheimer’s Association in 2010 and has previously served as a regional leader for nine states, including Washington. “It’s an honor to continue my work with the Alzheimer’s Association here at…

Sponsor spotlight: How to not miss critical health screenings

Preventive care is like tending a garden. As things grow and change, you need to step back, reassess and check in. Does a plant need thinning? Do others need more sunshine? Same thing with your health. It’s critical that you get the screenings and preventive care that’s right for your stage of life. A primary…

More accolades for Swedish Edmonds nurse Stefan Torres

Last summer, we wrote about  award-wining Swedish Edmonds nurse Stefan Torres, who runs Nurse Weekly, an educational video channel available for worldwide viewing on Facebook and YouTube. In particular, we highlighted the video he produced August 2018 — in honor of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month — on the benefits of breastfeeding. Turns out, since our last report…

Sponsor spotlight: Introducing a less-invasive form of fertility treatment

Seattle Sexual Health Centers, located just off Interstate 5 at Northgate, offers Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) — a common treatment option for a variety of fertility-related issues. IUI is considered a less-invasive form of fertility treatment. Although it does require human intervention, certain important steps of the pregnancy process are still expected to occur as they…

Sponsor spotlight: A holistic approach to ovulation induction

Ovulation induction in traditional medical practice uses hormonal therapy to stimulate the development and release of an egg. These drugs are designed to induce ovulation in women who did not ovulate on their own — typically women with irregular menstrual cycles. At Seattle Sexual Health Centers, we take a holistic approach to ovulation induction.  Infertility…

Snohomish County ranked third healthiest in Washington state

Snohomish County holds its spot as third healthiest county in Washington state for the second year in a row, according to the annual County Health Rankings. The 10th annual rankings were released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. They are meant to be a snapshot of health…

Sponsor spotlight: GAINSWave Technology aimed at improving men’s sexual health

Seattle Sexual Health Centers offers GAINSWave, a new, innovative trea protocol for men designed to improve sexual performance in a variety of ways. Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, and a variety of male sexual health issues could benefit from GAINSWave treatment. As men age and their bodies and sexual organs become less…

Swedish Edmonds earns nuclear cardiology reaccreditation

Swedish Edmonds has been granted a three-year term of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Nuclear Cardiology, the hospital announced Friday. “Nuclear Cardiology re-accreditation demonstrates our culture of a positive practice environment and excellent care is raising the bar in Snohomish County,” said Swedish Edmonds Chief Operating Officer Sarah Zabel. Cardiovascular diseases are…

‘The Power of Hearing Well’ program at Cedar Creek Memory Care March 5

hearing-e1551576871121.jpg”>Social gerontologist Benjamin Surmi will speak on “The Power of Hearing Well: The surprising connection between hearing well and dementia,” Tuesday, March 5 at Cedar Creek Memory Care 21006 72nd Ave. W., Edmonds. There will be two presentations — one at 2 p.m. and one at 6 p.m. Hearing may have just as much of…