Leonard: Effect On Your Health Of Giving Thanks
By LAURA LEONARD
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
Gratitude is one of those core emotions that has a big impact on us psychologically and physiologically. We are bombarded with negative news stories, commercialism and drama for good reason.
These things are addictive and our primitive need to survive makes our brain tune to these things with ease. Developing an attitude of gratitude takes conscious creation and a willingness to become aware of what we consistently turn our attention towards.
With awareness comes the ability to redirect our mind to things that reduce stress, increase contentment Read More
Governor Lujan Grisham Tests Positive For COVID-19
From the Office of the Governor:DEA Laboratory Testing Reveals 6 Out Of 10 Fentanyl-Laced Fake Prescription Pills Contain Potentially Lethal Dose Of Fentanyl
DEA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is alerting the public of a sharp nationwide increase in the lethality of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills.
The DEA Laboratory has found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, six out of ten now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. This is an increase from DEA’s previous announcement in 2021 that four out of ten fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills were found to contain a potentially lethal dose.
“More than half of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills being trafficked Read More
Los Alamos JJAB Hosts Youth Mental Health Class
Youth Mental Health First Aid class group photo Nov. 16, 2022. Courtesy/JJAB
JJAB News:
Twenty participants—employees of County, School and Library—completed a Youth Mental Health First Aid class Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Youth Mental Health First Aid, a five-hour training (plus 2 hours of pre-work) is designed to teach how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Attending this workshop were employees with the county, schools, and the library.
Kristine Coblentz was the workshop facilitator, JJAB organized the event, UNM-LA Read More
Waitlist For NMDVR Services Opens To All Categories
DVR News:
SANTA FE — There is no longer a wait for vocational rehabilitation services in New Mexico for anyone determined eligible.
The waitlist for New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation services—which as recently as fall 2021 was more than 1,300 individuals—has been cleared.
“We could not have done this without the hard work and extra effort of our vocational rehabilitation staff all around the state,” says Nash Sisneros, deputy director of NMDVR’s Rehabilitation Services Unit. “We aim to increase the quality of life and growth of our participants in New Mexico.”
The agency will Read More
Los Alamos COVID-19 Impact: 48 New Cases For Week Ending Nov. 21, 2022
Los Alamos COVID-19 Impact:
COVID-19 statistics for the week ending Nov. 21, 2022, impacting Los Alamos County:
399 tests
48 diagnoses (38 in Los Alamos, 10 in White Rock)
0 deaths
Source: New Mexico Department of Health. By Eli Ben-Naim. Read More
DVS Restarts Highly Rural Veterans Transportation Program
NMDVS News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) has resumed its Highly Rural Veterans Transportation Program offering free round-trip rides to veterans to and from their home and any U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or VA-approved medical appointments.
The free round-trip rides are available to any veteran living in the following 15 New Mexico counties that VA categorizes as “highly rural”—counties with no more than seven veterans per every 1,000 residents: Catron, Cibola, Colfax, De Baca, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Mora, Quay, San Miguel, Read More
NMHU Partners With UNM School Of Medicine
NMHU News:
The Native American Social Work Studies Institute (NASWSI) is working in partnership with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine to provide social work students with an opportunity to develop case review skills in addressing intimate partner violence homicides.
The partnership with UNM is focused on Native American communities in New Mexico who have been impacted by intimate partner homicide. While there are university programs dedicated to historical and anthropological perspectives of Native cultures, there are very few programs dedicated to the current needs Read More
Skolnik: COVID, The Flu, And RSV – What To Do?
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos
I was pleased to see the video summary of the recent County Council meeting (link). I was also pleased to see a comment in the video on COVID. However, I was disappointed that the only specific action point recommended for COVID was to suggest that “if you are feeling bad and are sick, stay home and don’t get other people sick.”
In this light, I wanted to help clarify for the community some additional measures of importance to help keep yourself, your family, and the community safe.
First, let’s consider the context. Everyone should understand that COVID, influenza, Read More
County Issues COVID-19 Community Newsletter Nov. 18
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Community Level drops back down to LOW risk, but the County reminds residents “Don’t let your your guard down!”
With significant under-count of actual cases and an early spike in seasonal flu and RSV cases, residents will need to be pro-active to protect themselves and loved ones this holiday season.
Click here to read more: https://conta.cc/3As3oM6 Read More
Leonard: Inversion Table Benefits And How To Use Safely
By LAURA LEONARD
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
Inversion tables are all the rage in Hollywood. With claims of improved skin, enhanced spinal flexibility and restored height, you need one now … or do you?
A quick search of PubMed yielded limited results, published research on inversion therapy is scarce. So … what are the benefits of using inversion? Studies on inversion therapy for low back pain and degenerative disc disease show that daily use of inversion improves lumbar disc height, lowers perceived pain scores and decreases the need for surgery. The reason for this, inversion counteracts Read More
Gruninger: Why Do Gentle Somatic Movement?
By Jacci Gruninger, MS, C-IAYT
High Mountain Wellbeing
Los Alamos
Are you struggling to pick things up from the floor or reach the top shelf to get something? Can you easily turn your head to back up your car? Are you noticing new aches and pains in the body or are you injuring yourself more frequently?
Just living, especially a stress-filled life, can cause tension and tightness in our muscles and set us up for unexpected strain and injury. Habitual ways of moving can also contribute to our muscles and connective tissue not moving through their full range of motion. Constricted or strained muscles Read More
Los Alamos County Moves From Red To Green 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 levels based on diagnoses and regional hospitalization levels (link). Masks are recommended for everybody 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-Naim Read More
LAMC Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony For New Technology
LAMC’s new Nuc Med Camera machine. Courtesy/LAMC
LAMC News:
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) is holding a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for its new Nuc Med Camera in Imaging.
This event is open to community members so they can come in and view LAMC’s newest technology.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Imaging’s new Nuc Med Camera is 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22 at LAMC Imaging Department – first floor. Snacks will be available.
Nuclear Medicine is a medical specialty that uses safe, painless and cost-effective techniques to both image and in some cases treat diseases. Images from the Nuc Med Camera can Read More
Physical Therapy Plus Offers Services For Youngest Community Members
Therapist Dr. Ariel Davila, PT, DPT, works with a toddler at Physical Therapy Plus. Courtesy photo
Therapist Camille Sackett-Wescott, OT, MS, works with a young child at Physical Therapy Plus. Courtesy photo
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Before being owner of Physical Therapy Plus, 1350 Central Ave., Ste. 105, Petra Pirc, MSPT, was the physical therapist for Los Alamos Public Schools. She saw first hand there is a need for pediatric occupational and physical therapy.
As a result, she began offering services to infants and children at her practice.
“My goal Read More
New Mexico Health Department Announces Child Care, Pre-School, School Immunization Requirements For 2023/2024
DOH News:
SANTA FE — The Department of Health (DOH) Vaccine Advisory Committee met Nov. 3, 2022, to have an open scientific debate and make recommendations for the New Mexico School Entry Immunization Requirements for the upcoming school year.
The committee did not make any significant additions or changes to the 2023/2024 school immunization requirements, and no new vaccinations were mandated.
The Vaccine Advisory Committee meets once a year to discuss New Mexico School Entry Immunization Requirements for each upcoming school year. Any changes and/or recommendations for New Mexico Read More
COVID Newsletter: CDC Elevates Los Alamos To HIGH Risk
Graph prepared by Will Athas. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
In this week’s Los Alamos County COVID-19 Newsletter, issued Nov. 14, William F. Athas, PhD and retired epidemiologist, writes in the “Epidemiology Corner” that the Omicron variants BQ.1 / BQ.1.1 dominate and other respiratory illnesses are rapidly rising.
Further, the CDC has elevated the community level in Los Alamos to HIGH Risk and there is a rising trend in reported cases accompanied by increasing emergency department visits.
Los Alamos County officials remind individuals that the CDC recommends wearing a high-quality Read More
Los Alamos COVID-19 Impact: 24 New Cases For Week Ending Nov. 14, 2022
- 273 tests
- 24diagnoses (22 in Los Alamos, 2 in White Rock)
- 0 deaths
DEA Releases 2022 National Take Back Day Results
DEA collected 647,000 lbs. of medications during October 2022 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Courtesy/DEA
DEA News:
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced the results of the October 2022 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
This year, DEA and its law enforcement partners collected more than 647,000 pounds of unneeded medications at close to 5,000 collection sites. Since 2010, DEA, along with its partners, has collected nearly 17 million pounds of unneeded prescription drugs.
To view the comprehensive 2022 National Prescription Drug Take Back Read More
Nonprofit iDE Launches Installation On World Toilet Day
Global nonprofit, iDE’s Support-A-Potty trailer installation will be parked for one day in Soho, on Broadway between Spring and Broome streets, a neighborhood known for its lack of public toilets. Courtesy/IED
IDE News:
Every day, more than 700 children under the age 5 die from diarrhea, because they lack access to adequate sanitation facilities.
To raise awareness about this critical issue and encourage people to join them in taking action, global nonprofit, iDE will mark World Toilet Day Nov. 19 by unveiling its Support-A-Potty installation in the heart of New York City.
Conceptualized Read More
