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Alyssa Escalante

Articles by Alyssa Escalante

CDC’s Project Firstline Infection Control Micro-Learns: Whooping Cough


woman coughing

Healthcare workers are constantly on the go. But it’s important for them to have access to infection control training and information on issues like whooping cough. With this in mind, the CDC’s Project Firstline developed Infection Control Micro-Learns – a series of guided discussions on infection control that can be easily incorporated into team meetings facilitated by an experienced team member with infection control expertise. These short, easy-to-understand learning opportunities can help healthcare workers recognize and minimize infection control risks to protect themselves, coworkers, and patients from infectious diseases. Let’s explore the topic of Whooping Cough (Pertussis). What Does Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Look Like? Whooping cough, formally known as ...

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268 People Commented to Urge the FDA to Reconsider Allowing Flavored E-Cigarettes


electronic flavored cigarettes

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering whether to allow some flavored e-cigarettes on the market, according to new draft guidance. However, any new vape flavors could only be marketed to adults. Under the new guidance, the FDA may approve vape flavors like “mint, coffee, tea and spices like clove or cinnamon,” but it “will continue rejecting sweet or fruit-flavored products” that appeal more to teens, according to HealthDay, a news agency. FDA states that certain e-cigarette flavors can help facilitate adults switching away from tobacco cigarettes and increase quit attempts. However, public health leaders warn of harm. “Allowing any flavors on the market benefits only corporations and harms public health,” Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy of Action on Smoking ...

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How Many Universities Are Hispanic-Serving Institutions?


Latino college students

There are now 631 colleges and universities registered as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across 29 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. This is an increase over the 602 reported last year, according to a new report from ¡Excelencia in Education!. HSIs are defined as “accredited, degree-granting public or private not-for-profit institutions of higher education with 25% or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student (FTE) enrollment.” Let’s explore what this means and how it impacts students. By the Numbers: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) HSIs represent 21% of all colleges and universities but enroll 65% of Latino and 32% of all undergraduates, according to ¡Excelencia in Education!. The graduation rate for HSIs include 67% of ...

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Help People Solve Their NMDoH Problems in San Antonio!


NMDoH in San Antonio Family Leisure

Wherever you live, learn, work, and grow in San Antonio, the non-medical drivers of health (NMDOH) can ultimately shape your health outcomes. NMDoH issues include access to affordable housing, healthy food, reliable transportation, education, healthcare, income level, and more. If we can identify and address NMDoH, we can create a healthier future for all. Download the Salud America! Action Pack, “Help People Solve Their NMDoH Problems in San Antonio,” to connect people with the right community resources for help with housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. The action pack, developed by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez at UT Health San Antonio, helps you identify local NMDoH issues and offers a San Antonio-focused community resource guide with Spanish-language support and ...

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5 Big Takeaways on the State of Childcare


Childcare teacher helping students with activity.

Quality childcare plays an important role for parents, children, and the economy. Yet America has a fragmented childcare and early learning system that doesn’t meet the needs of families, businesses, or early educators, according to a new report from the organization Child Care Aware of America. The report unpacks the childcare funding landscape throughout the U.S. “Families struggle to find and afford child care, the child care workforce is woefully underpaid, child care programs operate on razor thin margins, and businesses are suffering lost productivity and workforce turnover due to child care issues,” according to the report. Let’s dig deeper into these issues and how they can impact children and their families. 1. States Are Still Not on an Even Playing Field ...

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Can E-Cigarettes Increase Cancer Risk?



Nicotine-based vapes, or e-cigarettes, are likely to cause cancers of the lung and oral cavity, according to a new study led by the UK’s University of South Wales. “[Our study] is the most definitive determination that those who vape are at increased risk of cancer compared to those who don’t,” said study leader Bernard Stewart. Let’s dive into what the study results mean for those who vape. E-Cigarettes and Cancer Risk Little attention has focused on whether e-cigarettes might cause cancer on their own. So, study researchers – pharmacists, epidemiologists, thoracic surgeons, and public health experts – examined clinical studies, animal experiments, and laboratory research to understand the chemicals produced by e-cigarettes, according to a news release. They ...

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3 Resources to Share for National Parkinson’s Awareness Month



April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a great time to share helpful resources that can spread awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. and is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. With this in mind, let’s learn more about Parkinson’s, how it impacts patients and families, and resources to share during Parkinson’s Awareness Month. What Is Parkinson’s Disease? Parkinson’s disease is defined as a “type of neurologic movement disorder, affecting the brain and causing difficulty with movements, or motor symptoms.” While Parkinson’s can be characterized by its most common motor symptoms like tremors, stiffness or rigidity of the muscles, and slowness of ...

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