San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood opens up about autism diagnosis
April is Autism Awareness Month, and a San Francisco politician has gone public with his diagnosis.
Bay Area-based 23andMe files for bankruptcy, raising concerns over genetic data
Privacy advocates and legal experts are urging former and current customers to take action to protect their personal information.
In-Depth: Eating Disorder Awareness Week
KTVU's Heather Holmes sits down with Jackie Shiels, clinical psychologist at Kaiser Permanente to take an in-depth look at the nature of eating disorders and how to support those struggling or at risk.
New research from Kaiser Permanente highlights health effects of wildfire pollution
KTVU's Heather Holmes takes an in-depth look at the data with Dr. Jamal Rana, cardiologist and lead researcher at Kaiser Permanente.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Prevention
KTVU's Heather Holmes hosts an in-depth discussion on the dangers of teen dating violence with Dr. Katrina Rapa, Family Medicine Physician at Kaiser Permanente.
CDC to lose nearly 1,300 probationary employees under Trump's job cuts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to lose nearly 1,300 probationary employees—about 10% of its workforce—as part of a broader federal decision to remove all probationary employees from the agency.
Measles cases rose by more than 20% worldwide last year: Here's why
"Far too many children are still dying from this preventable disease," the CDC says.
McDonald’s says onions from California grower linked to deadly E. coli outbreak
A California grower was the source of fresh onions linked to a deadly E. coli food poisoning outbreak at McDonald’s, officials with the restaurant chain said Thursday. Meanwhile, other fast-food restaurants — including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Burger King — pulled onions from some menus.
Biden administration proposes making over-the-counter birth control free, including condoms
Private health insurance would fully cover over-the-counter birth control methods, such as condoms, the "morning after" pill, and daily oral contraceptives under a newly-proposed rule.
Closing the Gap: Kaiser Permanente provides supportive resources for breastfeeding
KTVU's Heather Holmes sits down with Dr. Keedra McNeill, pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente East Bay to talk about the health benefits of breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week.
The End of Roe v. Wade: Two years later
On the 2-year anniversary of the ruling that ended federal abortion rights and the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, protestors organized by the Women's March gathered outside the high court. A group of about 40 people demanded lawmakers take steps to preserve reproductive healthcare, decrying the Dobbs decision. The ruling left states to decide whether to restrict the procedure or not, leaving a patchwork across the nation. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, more than two dozen have near total bans or restrict the procedure earlier than Roe v. Wade did. For more on the state of abortion in America, KTVU's Greg Lee is joined by Michele Goodwin, professor of constitutional law and global health policy at Georgetown University.
Helping children with anxiety get to sleep
Bedtime can be frustrating for both parents and kids, with some children unable to go to sleep and stay asleep. A recent national poll found that a lot of kids cannot fall asleep due to worries or anxiety before bedtime, with 1 in 4 parents describing getting their child to bed as "difficult". KTVU's Heather Holmes discusses the potential causes of bedtime anxiety and how to help ease them with Dr. Malika Closson, Consulting Clinical Psychiatrist with Freespira.
Surgeon general calls for social media safety warning labels
KTVU's Heather Holmes speaks with Dr. Frank Anderson, psychiatrist and trauma specialist about the impact prolonged use of social media has on teenagers' mental health.
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.