New research sheds light on health effects of wildfire smoke
A new UCLA study found that more people that previously counted die each year in California from long-term wildfire smoke exposure. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, found that inhaling fine particulate matter from wildfires contributed to as many as 55,700 deaths between 2008-2018. KTVU's Heather Holmes and Alex Savidge discuss the findings with UCLA professor of environmental health sciences and senior author of the study, Michael Jerrett.
Expanding mental health practices for LGBTQ+
Beyond the celebrations, Pride Month is also a time to raise awareness about mental health issues in the LGBTQ community. KTVU's Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes speak with Joy Alafia, Executive Director of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists for more on the progress being made to expand mental health practices in the LGBTQ+ community.
Surfrider issues 2023 clean water report
Volunteers hit the beaches in several states to take water samples and test the health of ocean waters, and now the 2023 results are in. KTVU's Heather Holmes discusses the findings with Mara Dias, Senior Manager of the Surfrider Foundation's Clean Water Initiative.
COVID cases driven by "flirt" subvariants on the rise
New data indicates COVID cases are on the rise in California, driven by a series of new strains of the virus known as "flirt" subvariants. As we head towards summer, those more transmissible subvariants have now overtaken the previous winter strain. KTVU's Alex Savidge speaks with Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease expert at UCSF about effective our current COVID vaccines are against the new strains.
Lung cancer prevalence among Asian Americans
Asian Americans have become the first racial ethnic group in the U.S. for whom cancer is the leading cause of death, but they are also the least likely group to be screened. Lung cancer, is of particular concern. Studies show lung cancer rates among non-smoking Asian American men and women are on the rise, increasing 2% each year. KTVU's Greg Lee discusses the ongoing health issue and potential solutions with Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Jeff Velotta.
Daily marijuana use surpasses daily drinking in US, study finds
For the first time, more Americans use marijuana daily or nearly every day than those who drink alcohol that frequently, a shift 40 years in the making as recreational pot use has become mainstream and legal in nearly half of U.S. states.
Managing mental health for older adults
KTVU's Alex Savidge is joined by Dr. Alicia English, Licensed Clinical Psychologist with the Center for Elders' Independence for more on the unique mental health challenges adults over 60 face and the best strategies to support anyone in your life who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Matthew Perry death: LAPD investigating how 'Friends' star obtained ketamine
Local and federal authorities Tuesday were investigating how "Friends" actor Matthew Perry obtained the prescription drug ketamine, which contributed to his death in October.
Jon Wysocki, drummer and founding member of Staind, dies at 53
Jon Wysocki, the drummer and founding member of the rock band Staind, has died, according to the band’s official X, formerly known as Twitter, account. He was 53 years old.
Local health experts call on city leaders to address drug crisis
Today a group of doctors, public health experts and community organizations joined together to call on San Francisco city leaders to do more to address the drug overdose crisis. They held a news conference outside of the medical examiner's office to highlight the more than 3000 people who've died from overdoses in the city since the beginning of 2020. KTVU's Alex Savidge discusses some of the data-driven strategies the group is suggesting the city implement with Laura Thomas, Director of Harm Reduction Policy at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Stroke Awareness Month: Recognizing the signs
It's one of the leading causes of death in the United States and during this American Stroke Month, organizations like the American Stroke Association want to raise awareness about the warning signs and the increased risks you face once you've already had a stroke. KTVU's Heather Holmes is joined by Deb Shaw, President and Founder of Champion the Challenges and three-time stroke survivor and her husband Bob Shaw to talk about what strokes can look and feel like for someone experiencing or witnessing one.
Prioritizing mental health services in the AAPI community
Asian Health Services is a community organization with clinics across Oakland. Since the start of the pandemic, the organization has seen two and a half times as many patients coming in for mental health visits. This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month the group is also spotlighting the unique mental health challenges facing the AAPI community. KTVU's Alex Savidge is joined by Thu Quach, Mon Wong and Tera Eng to discuss the services they offer.
Prince William says Kate Middleton’s 'doing well’ after cancer diagnosis
On March 22, Kate Middleton announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Jelly Roll completes first 5k run amid his weight loss journey
Country star Jelly Roll revealed in January that he was participating in comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura's 2 Bears 5K.
Survey: Americans see major gap between physical vs mental healthcare
A new survey from West Health and Gallup finds that Americans see a major difference in approach when it comes to physical healthcare versus mental healthcare in the U.S. The same survey also found that more than 80% of Americans are seeing a rise in mental health issues over the last 5 years. KTVU's Cristina Rendon discusses the findings with Timothy Lash, President of West Health Institute, which spearheaded this survey.
Marijuana could be reclassified as "less dangerous" drug in U.S.
In a major shift, marijuana could soon be reclassified as a less dangerous drug in the U.S. Last fall, federal health officials had recommended to reschedule marijuana and now, the U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement plans to move forward with reclassifying. Changing its status from a Schedule One drug to a Schedule Three drug could have a ripple effect across the country. KTVU's Heather Holmes discusses the possible change with Tamar Todd, Lecturer of marijuana law and policy at UC Berkeley.
Deadly Risk: Sedation and Restraint
A new investigative report is shining a light on the number of people dying in police custody after being given sedatives. Those drugs, administered by paramedics, are meant to calm people who are agitated or combative during an arrest. The AP collaborated with PBS's Frontline and The Howard Center of Investigative Journalism to dig into the numbers. They found between 2012 and 2021, more than 1,000 people died following police restraint and nearly 10% of those who died, were sedated by injection. KTVU's Alex Savidge and Heather Holmes discuss the report with Carla K. Johnson, a medical journalist with the Associated Press and one of the lead reporters involved in this investigation.
California buying generic version of Narcan at reduced price
Today Governor Newsom announced the state is buying a generic version of overdose-reversal drug Narcan at a reduced price to boost supply across California and combat the rising number of opioid-related deaths. KTVU's Alex Savidge speaks with Michael Snow from The HIV Education and Prevention Project of Alameda County (HEPPAC) about the impact of this purchasing agreement and how the Naloxone Distribution Program aims to fight the opioid epidemic.
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention: What you need to know
April marks National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month. KTVU's Alex Savidge sits down with Dr. Naomi Adler, Emergency Room physician at Kaiser Permanente to talk about the obstacles survivors face, and the available resources for healing.
Black Maternal Health Week
KTVU's Jana Katsuyama speaks with Kaiser Permanente East Bay OBGYN Dr. Carla Wicks about some of the steps we can take to correct racial bias and disparity in women's healthcare.