News & Stories for Oregonians
When Carli Cox picks up the phone, she never knows who will be on the other end, but she knows why she’s answering. As a Crisis Intervention Specialist for the Senior Loneliness Line, Cox is one of the voices providing support to older people in Oregon facing behavioral health challenges, including loneliness. “The Senior Loneliness […]
Wildfire season has arrived, and the risk in Oregon continues to rise. For too many, these natural and sometimes human-caused disasters pose an annual crisis, threatening homes and properties that are far from the fires, especially in rural communities. Red hot embers can travel many miles and land on a rooftop covered in dry pine […]
When 44-year-old volunteer Cayetana “Caye” Gomez de Soler arrived at an emergency shelter for Harney County residents flooded out of their homes earlier this month, she was immediately gratified, if not a little stunned. “The people staying there instantly came over to say, ‘Hi,’ thanking us for being there,” Caye said. “And I was like, […]
Did you know that babies born in Oregon are tested for more than 45 developmental disorders within two days of birth? Moments after a baby enters this world, a few drops of blood are taken from its tiny heel and sent to a laboratory for testing—namely, the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) in Hillsboro. […]
A conversation with Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at Oregon Health Authority The measles vaccine is a true public health success story. Before it was introduced in 1963, nearly every child in the United States got measles. Globally, major measles epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and killed […]
Eating disorders affect nearly 29 million people in the United States, with 95% being ages 12-25. Yet too many myths and not enough resources make it one of the least talked about and understood mental and physical health problems out there. For example, you may not know that: OHA’s Child and Family Behavioral Health division […]
In January 2023, then 65-year-old Clare Lewis was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She’s a former physical therapist, a life-long athlete and has never been a smoker. A chest X-ray for a broken rib in 2019 showed crystal clear lungs. So why did she get so sick, and so fast? The evidence is pretty […]
Winter is upon us, and when weather becomes severe it’s important to understand the risks that often accompany Oregon winters. The following guide will help you understand the dangers of frigid temperatures, accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, as well as how to keep your home warm, where to find food and clothing support, emergency warming […]
Over the past few years, Claire Irvan has struggled with strange heart palpitations, mild hot flashes and most recently an irritated scalp that “felt like it was on fire.” She manages these mysterious mid-life symptoms, muddling her way through like being blindfolded in a maze, and wonders what could be around the corner.
So when the 50-year-old Portlander received a flyer from a friend about an event inviting women to gather and talk with each other about menopause, she had one thought.
“Hell yeah!”
The menopause journey brings a menu of seemingly unrelated symptoms that range from minor annoyances such as occasional hot flashes to debilitating, life-altering physical and mental turmoil that can last years, end marriages and careers, and lead to long-term chronic disease. Most women are somewhere in the middle, yet it remains a medical mystery to almost all.
Over the past few years, Claire Irvan has struggled with strange heart palpitations, mild hot flashes and most recently an irritated scalp that “felt like it was on fire.” She manages these mysterious mid-life symptoms, muddling her way through like being blindfolded in a maze, and wonders what could be around the corner.
So when the 50-year-old Portlander received a flyer from a friend about an event inviting women to gather and talk with each other about menopause, she had one thought.
“Hell yeah!”
The menopause journey brings a menu of seemingly unrelated symptoms that range from minor annoyances such as occasional hot flashes to debilitating, life-altering physical and mental turmoil that can last years, end marriages and careers, and lead to long-term chronic disease. Most women are somewhere in the middle, yet it remains a medical mystery to almost all.
