Morning Breakouts

Latest California Healthline Stories

Officials Try To Find Ways To Alleviate Firefighters’ Emotional Trauma Following Stressful Battle Against Wildfires

“The culture’s always been, you know, suppress, suppress, suppress,” says Cal Fire captain Kevin Malloy. “We’re good and go on to the next call.” But firefighters experience PTSD at rates similar to what’s seen in combat veterans, and are at high risk of suicide. Many are trying to combat the stigma within the field about seeking help. Media outlets look at the aftermath of the fires, with stories about evacuees’ living conditions, survivors returning to their homes and addiction treatment patients whose rehab was interrupted.

As Wildfires Become More Common, Risks From Poor Air Quality Will Continue To Plague Californians

White masks and apocalyptic fog have been common-place sights in California since the wildfires began. Research into the long-term health effects is still new, but a growing body of science shows how inhalation of minuscule particles from wood fires can nestle in the folds of lung tissue and do harm to the human immune system.

The Battle Quietly Brewing Over Privatization Of Veterans’ Health Care

President Donald Trump is an enthusiastic supporter of moving veterans into private care. But many experts, veterans groups and lawmakers have warned that it will cost the taxpayers a lot of money and veterans will get worse care. Meanwhile, technological failures are leaving some veterans without GI Bill money.

FDA Cracks Down On Tobacco Products, But Steps Back From Ban On Selling Flavored E-Cigarettes In Stores

The agency is allowing sales of flavored products in stores as long as their in an age-restricted section or areas inside stores that are not accessible to people under 18. Earlier versions of the proposal had contained a ban on the sales completely. But, in one of its most aggressive actions to date, the FDA did announce it would implement a ban on menthol products.

‘Medicare For All’ Has Become A Litmus Test For Progressive Dems. But Carrying Through On Promise Also Holds Big Risk.

Calif. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom ran in part on his support for a single-payer system in his state, but no matter how he moves forward he’s bound to anger a section of his base. His situation is emblematic of the dilemma the rest of the party faces as the 2020 campaign starts up.