Your Health

Graphic Courtesy of Santa Clara County Public Health Department
Santa Clara County Public Health Department officials urge local residents to be aware of the symptoms of novel coronavirus. The department posted the graphic on its social media sites.

Since the novel coronavirus surfaced in Silicon Valley recently, so have fears that anyone traveling to and from Asia or Europe could spread the disease even if they never contracted it. That’s a myth, a Santa Clara County Public Health Department officer told the Town Crier last week.

While novel is a new type of coronavirus – different from viruses that can cause illnesses as common as a seasonal cold – and reasonably leads residents to worry, county deputy health officer Dr. George Han said public health departments were created for this exact circumstance.

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte recently reopened at its new location at 2500 California St. in Mountain View.

The Mountain View clinic was previously located on San Antonio Road but closed in October in the face of redevelopment. The new clinic offers health-care services provided by the county, according to a press release from Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian.

Middle schoolers and high schoolers in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties may see a new poster with hard-hitting facts about vaping taped to the walls at school this week, the work of a subcommittee of teens who serve on the Los Altos Youth Commission.

The commission, whose members are in grades 8-12, embarked on a campaign last September to inform peers of the negative side effects of vaping and e-cigarettes. Teens are most likely to fall prey to advertising from companies like Juul that promote the habit.

Courtesy of the city of Los Altos

The Los Altos Youth Commission’s anti-vaping poster lists the possible damaging side effects of e-cigarettes.

Courtesy of Pixabay
According to researchers, treatments that promote sleep could reduce and, in some cases, prevent mental and physical disorders by speeding up the removal of toxin buildup.

Did you get a good night’s sleep? Did the extra hour in bed make you wake up feeling refreshed? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you have your amazing brain to thank.

Researchers at Boston University have gained a greater understanding as to what happens in the brain during sleep. As the brain’s activity slows down and your neurons stop firing, you gradually settle into sleep. It’s during this serene period that your brain starts its housekeeping. While you sleep, blood rapidly drains out of the brain, resulting in a loss of pressure, with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rushing in to restore balance.

Courtesy of Avenidas Rose Kleiner
Ben and Annie share a laugh during a class.

By Susan Lam and Emily Farber Special to the Town Crier

Mary and Brad had been married 52 years. At 85 years old, Brad was becoming increasingly forgetful, had fallen several times at home and sustained minor injuries, and was no longer safe being left home alone. Brad had become isolated and spent most of his time watching television and dozing in a chair.

Mary wanted her husband to continue enjoying life. She knew he would benefit from more socialization, interesting activities and daily exercise. Mary also found her own health and quality of life declining. She was desperately in need of respite.

Courtesy of Reena Vokoun
Town Crier columnist Reena Vokoun, pictured, holds a sign advertising the fundraising competition she will be in to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society between February and May 2020.

Holiday season is here, and it’s a natural time to think about giving back and donating to charities. In fact, according to the Blackbaud Index, as featured in USA Today, approximately 34% of all charitable donations are given in the last three months of the year, and 18% in December alone.

While giving back should first and foremost be for the purposes of helping those in need, it also can provide health benefits for those on the giving end, in addition to those on the receiving end.