E-cigarettes were first sold in the United States in 2007. These battery-operated devices heat a liquid made of chemicals, including some with high levels of nicotine, to make an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs. This program discusses the numerous health concerns related with e-cigarette usage. Series: "Excerpts" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39593 ..read more

UC Berkeley engineers have created a simple and low-cost new arsenic treatment system to help low-income communities access safer water. In many areas throughout California, the groundwater is tainted with dangerous levels of arsenic, a highly carcinogenic element that can seep into the water table from deposits in the soil and bedrock. While cities and larger municipalities can afford to remove arsenic from their water, many people living in small and rural communities are forced to choose between drinking contaminated tap water or purchasing bottled water — and those with private wells may n ..read more

Alzheimer’s disease is a major health crisis that is projected to become an even larger threat in the coming decades. According to the National Institute on Aging, the number of Americans 65 and older with Alzheimer’s could rise from 5.8 million in 2020 to 13.8 million by 2050. Given the severity of this health crisis and the toll it takes on patients, their families and society, we must be prepared today to address the needs of tomorrow. Dean Frank LaFerla of UC Irvine's School of Biological Sciences presents an overview of the state of Alzheimer’s disease research. Following his presentation ..read more

The world has lived through 2+ years of the COVID-19 pandemic, heightening the awareness of the links between health and other aspects of life including education and the economy. Future pandemics are a real risk but there are a number of other threats to human health and well-being as well. These include climate change, the rise of obesity, inverted population pyramids, inter-state conflict, rising inequalities, antimicrobial resistance. Counterbalancing these threats are the opportunities that may come through the health sector and broader innovation. Using a comprehensive future health scen ..read more

The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) began in 1991 sponsored by the World Bank and the World Health Organization to fill a critical gap in global health information. It has grown steadily to become an active collaboration of more than 8,000 scientists, researchers and policy-makers from 156 countries working together to quantify health at the national and subnational level. In this program, Christopher J.L. Murray, Professor and Chair of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), discusses what we've learn ..read more

COVID-19 changed many aspects of our lives, and policymakers at the local, state, and federal level are seeking solutions to help restore the health and well-being of Californians. In this program, Joanne Spetz examines the impact the pandemic has had on healthcare workers, from burnout to physical and mental health impacts, and what leaders can do to resolve the crisis. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 38201 ..read more

Across the United States, more than 100 people are killed and more than 200 are injured every day by firearms. As an emergency room doctor, Megan L. Ranney, M.D. M.P.H. F.A.C.E.P., has seen the impacts of this violence first hand. She discusses the basic epidemiology of firearm injury, explains the drivers behind them, and advocates for new, inclusive strategies for prevention. [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 38251 ..read more

E-cigarettes were first sold in the United States in 2007. These battery-operated devices heat a liquid made of flavorings and other chemicals, including some with high levels of nicotine, to make an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs. Recent studies show there has been a dramatic increase in their usage – data from 2017 found 1 million American youth aged 14 to 17 years old became new daily tobacco users within the past two years. By 2019, more than three quarters of these youth were vaping e-cigarettes daily. This program examines the latest research into the personal and public heal ..read more

The DIY air purifier is the latest project of the Common Humanity Collective, a Bay Area mutual aid organization which was launched in March 2020, near the start of the COVID-19 crisis. UC Berkeley graduate student Abrar Abidi and campus research assistant Yvonne Hao started the project to help make life safer for those most at risk in the pandemic. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 37828 ..read more

Lauren Brown, PhD, discusses the unique stress experience of black older adults. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 37605 ..read more