Analyses of electronic health records and electrocardiograms create a path to lowering incidence of the often-fatal event. Creatas Video / Getty Images A patient's electrocardiogram, or EKG, is shown on a monitor. Researchers have developed artificial intelligence (AI) models that can scrutinize electronic health records (EHR) and electrocardiograms to identify individuals in the general population at elevated risk for sudden cardiac arrest — a condition that causes more than

Q&A: Integrated care, routine screening and tailored therapies help address long COVID’s physical and emotional toll. Milan Markovic / Getty Images A man practices diaphragmatic breathing to activate the body's relaxation response, one of many strategies to help patients with long COVID manage anxiety and depression. While the pandemic era of masking and social distancing may seem a distant memory, for the estimated 15 million Americans dealing with long COVID — post-infectio

A 10th-grader explores the upsides of chronic sinusitis, including building a ‘bionic nose’ that earned science-fair recognition. UW Medicine At UW Medical Center – Montlake, where he receives care, Oliver Cho displays his invention. Meet Oliver Cho, 16. He’s an upbeat 10th grader in Bellevue, Washington. He also happens to be among the roughly 2% of U.S. children who live with chronic sinusitis, a condition driven by persistent inflammation of the sinus lining. Over time, it

In 7 U.S. states, older adults with cognitive decline affecting their daily activities are more likely to live with unsecured firearms. Milan Jovic / Getty Images An older man cleans a firearm. In the study, people ages 65 and older were surveyed about their cognitive health and their firearm storage at home. Older adults who report experiencing worsening confusion or memory loss that affects their daily activities are more likely to live in homes where firearms are not store

Health officials encourage vaccination and staying home when sick to help reduce spread OLYMPIA – Measles cases continue to increase in Washington this year, including three recent cases with no known source of exposure. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is urging people to watch for symptoms, stay home and contact their health care provider if they feel sick, and make sure they’re up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. To date, Washington

Getty Images: The Pediatric Guideline Adherence and Outcomes (PEGASUS) program for brain injuries was designed at Harborview Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center. from UW Medicine | Newsroom A study involving 16 South American hospitals has shown that a program developed at a Level I Trauma Center in the United States to promote guideline adherence can improve care of children with severe traumatic brain injury. The study appeared March 27 in the journal Critical Care

Public Health – Seattle & King County is informing the community of a confirmed measles case in a King County infant who may have exposed others to the measles virus. Public Health – Seattle & King County was notified of a confirmed measles case in a King County infant. The infant was at locations in Bellevue and Northeast Seattle and used public transit while infectious. Spread of measles can occur before people know they have the disease, before a rash appears. Please visi

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month….. The esophagus connects your throat to your stomach. It is where what you swallow travels to your stomach. Esophageal cancer can be diagnosed anywhere in that tube. There are several forms of esophageal cancer. The type that is more prevalent in Black people is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Unfortunately, if diagnosed, the survival rate is low. Some of the symptoms include, heartburn, difficulty swallowing, weight

A survey conveys clinicians’ experiences, concerns and their lack of training to adequately care for those who seek help. Denis Borisov / Getty Images - UW Medicine | Newsroom A man holds his abdomen as he enters a bathroom. Washington state clinicians commonly reported nausea and vomiting as adverse health symptoms of cannabis use. In a survey of nearly 400 Washington state clinicians, more than half expressed strong concern about the mental-health risks of cannabis use, an

Fully optimizing electronic medical record systems mean safer, faster and more coordinated patient care, the clinical informatics leader says. FS Productions / Getty Images A nurse talks to a patient in a hospital bed while typing on a computer. UW Medicine was honored for its effective use of electronic medical records to improve patient care. UW Medicine in Seattle has earned the highest possible validation from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

Q&A: New recommendations support diagnoses based on symptoms and imaging, and earlier treatment, says UW Medicine OB-GYN By UW Medicine Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Images A woman holds her stomach. Abdominal pain is a common symptom of endometriosis. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists published updated clinical guidance on endometriosis in February. The condition, which originates in the pelvis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can cause pain and in

Funding supports mental health care for families during and after pregnancy OLYMPIA – When people have access to mental health support during pregnancy and after birth, families are healthier and lives are saved. To help make that support easier to access, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is awarding Perinatal Mental Health Access and Capacity Building grants to community organizations across the state. The funding is provided through the Washington State Peri

Q&A: Only a fourth of psychologists advertise providing ADHD care, far below the rates for other psychiatric conditions. Psychologists are underserving adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Attention Disorders . Cognitive behavioral therapy, often facilitated by psychologists, and medication, are the two most effective treatments for ADHD. Insufficient access to cognitive behavioral therapy may b

February is National Cancer Prevention Month……………….. It is estimated that two million Americans were diagnosed with various types of cancer in 2024. More than 600,000 of them died. Almost half of those deaths could have been prevented. Those lives could have been saved by taking actions such as losing weight, quitting smoking, regularly exercising, and limiting sun exposure, to name a few. It is unfortunate that African Americans are disproportionately diagnosed with canc

One pint of donated blood can save up to three lives OLYMPIA – Two of the three regional blood banks serving Washington state are facing a severe blood shortage due to the lingering effects from heavy rains and floods in December, combined with a slowdown in donations. The shortage is especially bad for Type O blood and platelets, which are in high demand for emergency treatments, surgeries, and other life-saving procedures. Both Bloodworks Northwest and the American Red Cro

Telebupe Hotline brings rapid, low-barrier care to people statewide OLYMPIA – People across Washington now have an easier way to get help for opioid use disorder. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is partnering with the University of Washington (UW) to expand the Washington Telebuprenorphine (Telebupe) Hotline statewide. Washington residents can now access same-day medical treatment via phone or video no matter where they live in the state by calling 206-2

The outbreak includes three children in Snohomish County. Additionally, one individual in Kittitas County has tested positive for measles. DOH urges vaccination as measles surges nationally OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed a measles outbreak in Snohomish County – the first in the state since 2023 – with three unvaccinated children ages 23 months to 9 years testing positive for the highly contagious disease. The outbreak comes as measles c

10 weeks of free mat Pilates, Zumba ® , and yoga classes SEATTLE – To get a healthy start to the New Year, Seattle Center will offer free weekly Winter Fitness sessions in the Seattle Center Armory from Jan. 21 to Mar. 25, 2026. Workout Wednesdays, presented by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, offers free mat Pilates, Zumba ® , and yoga classes, allowing participants to increase their range of motion, breathe through life’s stresses, and simply move. These “drop-in” sessi

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TWBBNyq8_Q2edICDDvl8qofhrx2HALDb/view?usp=sharing Flu activity is climbing in Washington state, but experts say it’s not too late to protect yourself. “Every flu season is unique. Last year was rough, and this year looks similar,” says UW Medicine’s Dr. John Lynch, an infectious disease expert. According to the CDC , emergency department visits for the flu in Washington state are moderate but increasing. “The biggest risk groups are the very

Sokurenko & Kollman Labs An E. coli bacterium (pink) attaches to a cell surface (lower left, blue) and antibodies mimic host cell receptors to trick another E. coli bacterium (upper right) into binding to them instead of a host cell. Pathogens can create sticky situations. When microbes invade the body to cause an infection, often one of their first lines of attack is to cling tenaciously to the surfaces of targeted human cells. Certain antibodies employ unusual tactics to ke

The diagnostic lab test could help thousands be cured, but adequate insurance reimbursement is vital, researchers say. Alice C. Gray I llustration of finger-stick blood draw for hepatitis C testing with inserted sketch of the virus. A new rapid test for hepatitis C could help identify many more patients who could be cured of the deadly disease, but its use may be limited unless insurers’ reimbursement rises to cover its high cost, according to researchers from the University

OLYMPIA – Vaccines save lives. Childhood immunizations prevent serious illness, hospitalization, long-term complications, and death. They also help stop the spread of disease in families, schools, and communities. Changed federal recommendations have removed routine childhood immunizations for several diseases that can have serious health impacts, including hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV, influenza, and meningococcal disease. Weakening routine childhood vaccine recommenda

First detection of this strain in a human, risk to the public remains low OLYMPIA – A Grays Harbor resident who was hospitalized with influenza symptoms in early November has been confirmed to have influenza A H5, a type of avian . Additional testing shows the virus to be H5N5, an avian influenza virus that has previously been reported in animals but never before in humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DOH currently considers the risk to the publi