Luján Leads Veterans Listening Session In Gallup
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján listening to a veteran regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs’ recommendation to close the Gallup Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
GALLUP — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) led a community listening session Tuesday with New Mexico veterans regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs’ recommendation to close the Gallup Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
The Senator met with Gallup-area veterans, their families, and local, state, and Tribal leaders to discuss the importance of these clinics and continue his advocacy Read More
Governor Establishes Prescription Drug Price Task Force
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Thursday signed an executive order creating a Prescription Drug Task Force directed to identify ways to expand access and affordable pricing for medications.
“This administration is committed to taking every step possible to lighten the load for New Mexico’s families and seniors,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We’ve already taken great strides to create new pathways for affordable health care, and this task force will build upon that progress to find additional solutions that lessen the burden of prescription drug prices for New Mexicans across Read More
Chart 652: Majority Of New Mexico Counties Yellow, Two Red On CDC Map
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released today its weekly update to the COVID-19 community level map. The CDC framework designates community level based on diagnoses and hospitalization levels (link). Masks are recommended for all in counties at the highest, red, risk level. Masks are recommended for at-risk individuals in counties at the intermediate, yellow, risk level. Source: CDC. Map: mapchart.net. Created by Eli Ben-NaimJune Is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month: 5 Ways To Help Reduce Risk Of Cognitive Decline
Alzheimer’s Association News:
ALBUQUERQUE — June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, the perfect opportunity to have important conversations about our brain health.
During this month, the Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging all Americans, including those in this state, to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors that may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
There are currently more than 6 million Americans age 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, 1 in 3 seniors age 85 and older will have Alzheimer’s Read More
Gruninger: Surrender Pose Of The Month – Child’s Pose
Child’s pose. Courtesy photo
By JACCI GRUNINGER, MS, C-IAYT, ERYT500
Los Alamos
Child’s Pose is another of the poses that can help us turn inside and surrender. It is also not always as easy as it looks. Luckily, as always, there are ways to modify the posture.
In addition to surrender, Child’s Pose:
- Calms your mind and relieves stress.
- Helps release tension in your lower back.
- Stretches the muscles in your lower back, hips, and legs.
- Allows you to rest and rejuvenate.
- Enables you to feel the sensations of breathing into the back side of your body.
What you might not know about Child’s Pose is its story. Read More
Leonard: Not Your Average Fitness Tracker – Innovative Smart Health Technology That Will Blow Your Mind … Literally
By LAURA LEONARD
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
Recent advances in wearable technology go way beyond steps, calories and heart rate. These devices read brainwaves and claim to improve cognitive function with rewards for creating focused brainwaves in the form of badges and points.
Does this sound like science fiction, a little like mind control? Not exactly, these devices are actually quite simple in function and not much different than fitness tracking watches. Worn as a sensing band around the head, these devices monitor brainwaves instead of pulse rate and steps. The fancy term for Read More
Clovis Dairy Forced To Euthanize 3,665 Contaminated Cows
Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney
NMED News:
SANTA FE — A fourth generation New Mexico dairy farmer who lost his entire herd as a result of contamination from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is on the path to recovery after receiving assistance from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED).
Highland Dairy in Clovis is a prime example of how the U.S. Department of Defense failed the communities around Cannon Air Force Base. PFAS-contaminated groundwater from Cannon Air Force Base migrated offsite and resulted in contamination of thousands of cows at Highland Read More
Chart 651: Los Alamos Top County In COVID-19 Diagnoses, Bottom In Hospitalizations In New Mexico
This scatter plot shows the current number of hospitalizations per 100,000 people versus the current average number of daily diagnoses per 100,000 people by county. Statewide and countywide figures are highlighted in red. Los Alamos County ranks first in diagnoses and last in hospitalizations. Los Alamos County also has the highest test positivity rate in the state. Source: New York Times. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
Masks Required At Senior Centers Through June 17
LARSO News:
Masks will stay in place through June 17 at the Los Alamos and White Rock senior centers.
LARSO will consult the weekly data to determine status as Los Alamos cases were up 97 percent last week.
The senior centers are open but Indoor dining will not be implemented until the numbers go down.
Seniors are welcome to take meals to eat outside at the picnic tables or local parks.
Those too afraid to invite friends into their home can understand that is the reason LARSO is taking these extra precautions.
LARSO understands that these precautions may make some people angry, but staff has been exposed Read More
Los Alamos County COVID-19 Committee Clarifies Difference Between PCR And Rapid Tests
COUNTY News:
With an increase in positive COVID-19 cases emerging across Los Alamos County, more individuals and families are faced with the need to test for the virus.
Viral tests are done one of two ways:
- via a rapid point-of-care test; or
- a laboratory test.
The County COVID-19 Committee explains the difference, as well as the pros and cons of each option.
A viral test (diagnostic test) tells you if you are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using samples that come from your nose or mouth.
The two methods:
- Rapid tests – can be performed in minutes and include Self-tests
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández Applauds Signing Of 2-year Extension Of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández during her floor speech today applauding the signing of a bill to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Screenshot/LADP
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) applauded the signing of a bill to extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
The Congresswoman led the House effort to pass the two-year extension through Congress with bipartisan support last month. The program was scheduled to sunset in July 2022.
Leger Fernández and U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens Read More
New Mexico Department Of Veterans Services Cabinet Secretary Smith Appointed To VA’s Research Advisory On Gulf War Vets Illnesses Committee
DVS Cabinet Secretary Sonya Smith
DVS News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) Cabinet Secretary Sonya Smith has been selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to serve on its Research Advisory on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Committee (RACGWVI).
The committee provides advice and makes recommendations to the VA secretary on proposed research studies, research plans, and research strategies relating to the health consequences of military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.
This region encompasses Iraq, Read More
Los Alamos COVID Impact: 144 New Cases For Week Ending June 6, 2022
COVID-19 statistics for the week ending June 6, 2022, show cases doubled over previous week in Los Alamos County:
-
825 tests
- 144 diagnoses (77 previous week) (105 in Los Alamos, 39 in White Rock)
- 0 deaths
Source: New Mexico Department of Health. By Eli Ben-Naim.
Chart 650: COVID Diagnoses Climbing In Los Alamos
This chart shows the seven-day average number of COVID-19 diagnoses in Los Alamos versus date. On a scale of 0 to 100, the diagnoses index quantifies the current level of diagnoses by using a comparison with daily levels since the start of the pandemic (the higher the index, the more severe the current state of the pandemic is). The current number of diagnoses is higher than 97% of preceding days. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimU.S. Sen. Heinrich Statement On Bipartisan Agreement On Toxic Exposure Legislation
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, issued the following statement on a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive legislation to deliver all generations of toxic-exposed veterans their earned health care and benefits under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the first time in the nation’s history:
“I am optimistic that this agreement means that soon, veterans who were exposed Read More
Leonard: Hurting All Over? Two Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Herbs Worth Trying
By LAURA LEONARD
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
Willow Bark is the active ingredient in willow tree bark is salicin, which was used in the 1800s to produce aspirin.
Salicin’s effects on pain take longer than aspirin to kick in, however some research points to the effects being longer lived.
Willow bark is considered a prodrug (metabolized to the active compound after ingestion) because it is converted in the lower intestine by intestinal bacteria to salicylic acid. Willow bark has been shown to reduce fevers, inflammation and pain.
“No serious adverse effects were reported from trials of Read More
Chart 649: Los Alamos & Neighboring Counties Remain Yellow On CDC Map
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released today its weekly update to the COVID-19 community level map. The CDC framework designates community level based on diagnoses and hospitalization levels (link). Masks are recommended for at-risk (for example, immunocompromised) individuals in counties at the intermediate, yellow, risk level. Source: CDC. Map: mapchart.net. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
County: Available Tools To Protect Against COVID-19
COUNTY News:
According to the New Mexico Department of Health, 95.5 percent of Los Alamos County residents have completed their COVID-19 vaccine primary series.
However, Los Alamos County officials remind the community that the COVID-19 virus has not disappeared, but continues to mutate and change in ways allowing community transmission to occur despite vaccine availability and a high prevalence of prior infections.
Highly transmissible variants of the Omicron variant continue to spread globally, and the US, including New Mexico and Los Alamos County, are now undergoing yet another Read More
Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow Bette Korber Honored By Caltech With Distinguished Alumni Award
Los Alamos National Laboratory fellow Bette Korber honored by her doctoral alma mater, the California Institute of Technology, as one of three distinguished alumni for 2022. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
Bette Korber, a Laboratory fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), has just been honored by her doctoral alma mater, the California Institute of Technology, as one of three distinguished alumni for 2022.
The Distinguished Alumni Award is Caltech’s highest honor, presented each year to a small number of alumni in recognition of personal and professional accomplishments that Read More
NACo Partners With National Council For Mental Wellbeing To Deliver First Aid Training To County Workforce
NACo News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the National Association of Counties (NACo) today announced a new partnership to make Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training available to county employees across the country.
MHFA at Work is a skills-based training that teaches participants to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance use challenges their colleagues and others may be facing.
While one in five adults in the U.S. report living with a mental health challenge, only 10 percent of employees feel their workplace is free of stigmas Read More
