Latest news with #Ascension
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
AFib awareness: Stroke risks & advanced treatment options
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a reminder to stay informed about symptoms and prevention. Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a common heart rhythm disorder that is the leading cause of strokes. It creates an irregular heartbeat and increases the risk of blood clots forming in the heart. Those clots can break free, travel to the brain, and cause a stroke. The risk of getting AFib increases with age, but anyone could develop it. Those with AFib are five times more likely to have a stroke and can experience various symptoms. 'Atrial fibrillation can be anywhere from being asymptomatic, meaning having no symptoms at all, to being in the hospital because you feel like you're having a heart attack. Some of these patients describe atrial fibrillation as, 'the big one', where they're sweaty, they're clammy, their chest hurts,' Ascension Bay Medical Center Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dr. Saeed Khaja said. But there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. For example, smartwatches have sensors that monitor heart rate and can detect AFib. Early detection methods like this play a critical role in stroke prevention. 'The sooner you treat them, the more likely that you're going to keep it away and the less likely you're going to have a stroke,' Khaja said. Talk to your doctor for other early detection options. There's no cure for AFib, but there are advanced treatment options available, like pulsed field ablation. 'Pulse field, these electrical impulses that go to the heart that actually inactivate the part of the heart that causes AFib. And the best thing about it is that it does no damage to the tissue around,' Khaja said. 'Gone are the days when you just medicate and you wait till it gets bad. Now you can actually have a patient come to the lab. And I've had young people with their first or second incidence of atrial fibrillation coming to the lab and doing ablation, and now they're off of almost all medications and living a completely normal life, like it never happened.' Ascension Sacred Heart Bay has performed the procedure on 381 patients. For information on stroke warning signs or risk factors, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Local France
3 days ago
- Local France
French roads watchdog issues traffic warning for holiday weekend
Bison Futé has issued a red travel warning across most of France, rising to black in the north-western quarter of the country, as everyone who has enjoyed an Ascension getaway heads back in time to return to the office on Monday. Image: Bison Futé Heavy traffic is expected from mid-morning until late evening, with key routes in the north-west of the country and around Île-de-France particularly busy. In the south-west, the ever-popular A10 and A63 routes will be congested, while traffic is expected to be heavy along the Mediterranean arc, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and the Mont-Blanc tunnel. The watchdog specifically urges motorists to: reach or cross the Île-de-France region before 10am or after midnight. avoid the A25 between Socx and Lille from 5pm to 7pm; avoid the A13 between Caen and Paris from 11am to 4pm; avoid the A11 between Angers and Le Mans from 10 a.m. to 7pm, and between Le Mans and Paris from 4pm. to 8pm; avoid the N157 and the A81 between Rennes and Le Mans from 3pm to 5pm; Avoid the N165 between Quimper and Nantes from 3pm to 6pm; Avoid the A10 between Bordeaux and Tours from 12pm to 7pm, and between Tours and Orléans from 6pm to 9pm; Advertisement avoid the A9 between Spain and Narbonne from 1pm to 5pm, and between Narbonne and Orange from 1pm to 7pm; avoid the A7 between Marseille and Orange from 10am to 5pm, and between Orange and Lyon from noon to 7pm; Avoid the A20 between Brive-La-Gaillarde and Châteauroux from 3pm to 6pm; Avoid the A61 between Narbonne and Toulouse from 3pm to 5pm; Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) heading into France from 10am to 11pm.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
No treatment, and a $250 bill: Barriers to dental care send people to unprepared ERs
When Michael McCoy's tooth suddenly fell out in October, he went to the emergency room at Columbia St. Mary's in Milwaukee for help. After getting his blood pressure and weight checked and a brief wait, McCoy was told there was nothing the hospital could do — but he was still charged $250. McCoy, 67, was sure the charge must be a mistake, so he contacted Public Investigator. But according to Ascension and his insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the bill was correct. The charge represents "facility fees" — the portion of the bill that covers the costs of delivering care, including medical equipment, nurses and other medical support staff. "They could have told me as soon as I got there that they didn't do dental work of any kind there, instead of finding reasons to stall and bill me," McCoy said. McCoy's situation isn't unheard of. Dental hygienist Matt Crespin told Public Investigator that across the country, people often turn to the ER for urgent dental care but are not aware that ERs usually aren't equipped to treat dental emergencies. And because of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, a federal law that requires hospitals to provide at least a screening to anyone who comes to the ER, hospitals can't turn a patient away. For many, dental care is too expensive and difficult to access, Crespin said, making regular upkeep out of reach. That sends people to ERs with problems that are often preventable. When it comes to dental pain, Crespin said most hospitals can't offer much more than ibuprofen and a referral to a dentist or a specialist. But even a referral can be a challenge, he said. In Wisconsin, only about 30% of dentists accept Medicaid or other state-sponsored plans. "Finding a provider that's willing to take a patient in — particularly one on an emergency basis — can be pretty challenging," Crespin said. People with private dental insurance also face barriers to dental care. According to a 2023 analysis by KFF, a health policy research group, more than one in four adults delayed or skipped some form of health care due to cost, with dental care being the most commonly missed. Nearly half of dentists surveyed in a 2024 American Dental Association report said they were considering dropping more insurance networks or had already done so. The survey found that nearly all dentists who dropped insurance networks last year cited low reimbursement rates as the main reason. Many also cited "administrative burden," the study said. To increase profits, Crespin said many dentists stop accepting private insurance at all, catering instead to patients who can afford to pay out-of-pocket for preventive and cosmetic services. "I drive by a dental office every day near my home in the suburbs of Milwaukee that's advertising teeth whitening and Botox," he said. "That's not treating dental disease." In McCoy's case, the hospital sent him home with instructions to take Tylenol or ibuprofen and contact a dentist in the morning. McCoy ultimately paid his ER bill, but said he did so reluctantly. "I still think it's ridiculous to pay $250 for nothing," he said. Crespin said Wisconsin has earned national recognition for its efforts to expand access to dental care. In 2017, the state became one of the first to allow dental hygienists to provide care without the presence of a licensed dentist. Wisconsin also passed legislation in 2023 to authorize the licensure of dental therapists — mid-level providers who offer preventive and restorative dental care when there are shortages of dentists. They must practice in federally designated shortage areas or serve high-need populations, according to the law. Crespin is also on the advisory committee for a new dental therapy training program at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau that's set to start training providers to practice in places like hospitals, K-12 schools and nursing homes. "We have to continue to find different ways for patients to access dental providers in places where they already are," he said. Crespin, who is also the executive director of the Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin, said the organization is piloting a project to integrate dental care into pediatrician visits. 'That seems to be helping,' Crespin said, 'but we're still early in that work.' While barriers to dental care remain, there are some local programs working to close the gap, including: DentaMed Healthcare's Mobile Dental Van: Every Thursday, a mobile clinic parked outside of the Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee treats ER patients referred for dental care on-site. The van also visits schools throughout Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha to provide free preventive services. Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics: You can use their online search tool to find a clinic in your area that provides free care, including dental services. Federally Qualified Health Centers: These are clinics and health centers across Wisconsin that provide low-cost or sliding scale dental care to uninsured, Medicaid, and privately insured patients. Ascension Seton Dental Clinic: Ascension St. Francis Hospital at 3267 S. 16th Street offers a dental clinic for urgent dental services during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closing earlier at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. The clinic provides low-cost care for patients who may struggle to afford traditional dental treatment. Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be emailed at QClark@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: People seeking dental care turn to ERs, then face hefty bills
Local France
7 days ago
- Local France
Closures, traffic, and strikes: What to expect for France's Ascension public holiday
This year, Thursday, May 29th, marks Ascension, offering both a day off work and a chance to 'faire le pont' (do the bridge) and use a single day of annual leave to take Friday off work, giving yourself a lovely four-day break. The festival, which Christians believe marks the day that Jesus ascended into heaven, is always 40 days after Easter Sunday, which is why its exact date varies from year to year. READ MORE: Why is Ascension Day a public holiday in France? Here is what to expect over the long weekend. Closures Thursday is a jour férié for French workers, meaning banks, schools, and public offices (préfectures, town halls, etc) will be closed. Smaller shops, like your local butcher or cheesemonger, might also close on Thursday, or remain open at reduced hours, as if it were a Sunday. Usually, ahead of a public holiday, smaller shops will post their schedule for the week in a note in the window. Keep an eye out for this in the days to come. Advertisement Most supermarkets remain open, but they may do so at reduced capacity. Museums and tourist sites may close on Thursday; be sure to check their opening hours beforehand. Big sites like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower will remain open. You can see the list of other Paris museums that will remain open on Ascension on the Paris tourism website . As for Wednesday and Friday, these are normal working days, but many workers opt to leave early on Wednesday or take off the day on Friday to build a long weekend. Some shops may also remain closed on Friday. Travel disruption and strikes As many people use this as an opportunity to take a weekend trip. Expect larger crowds and longer lines at tourist sites during the weekend, as well as on the roads, and at airports and train stations. On top of that, there has been recent protest action by taxi drivers across the country, and on Monday, French farmers began another wave of protests. READ MORE: Latest: French farmer tractor protests restart, while taxi drivers target airports Both of these movements have involved road blockades and 'go-slow' campaigns, though taxi drivers have focused primarily on blocking access to airports (particularly in the Paris region) and train stations. Farmers have so far focused their protest action on motorways ( autoroutes ). The French rail union, Sud-Rail, which represents ticket inspectors, has threatened to potentially call for strike action during the Ascension long weekend. So far, no official strike notices have been filed, but a representative from the union told the French press that the strikes would be called "four days in advance." Keep an eye on The Local's strikes section for more updates on action by taxi drivers, farmers and rail workers. Traffic Aside from possible slowdowns due to protest action by taxi drivers and farmers, French traffic watchdog Bison Futé had also predicted heavy traffic for departures across the country on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as for returns on Sunday (particularly those driving from the north-west). The roads are expected to be clear on Friday and Saturday for both departures and returns. Weather Overall, French forecasters are predicting cloudy weather across much of France at the start of the week, and some showers mid-week, with the sun expected to come back out across much of the country on Friday. As for the weekend, forecasters have warned that cloudy and stormy weather (particularly in the south-east) may return on Saturday, with rain expected across most of France on Sunday. Advertisement Temperatures are expected to remain cool from Monday to Thursday, with warmer weather returning on Friday. In the south-west, temperatures are expected to reach 30C, Le Figaro reported. However, this may be short-lived with temperatures potentially dropping again with the rain and clouds over the weekend, according to reports by Météo France on Monday.
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Joe Rogan starts going to church as faith resurgence gains momentum, Christian apologist claims
Podcast host Joe Rogan is apparently making a faith-driven change to his Sundays: He's going to church. According to Christian apologist Wesley Huff, who appeared on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' in January, the world-famous podcast host has been attending church 'consistent[ly]' since their on-air deep-dive into Christianity and the Bible. Advertisement Huff said, 'Joe Rogan and I have had on and off communication since then. I can tell you for a fact that he is attending a church, and that has been a consistent thing. And so, things are happening.' The public speaker serves as the Central Canada director for Apologetics Canada and made the claim during a recent appearance on the 'Living Waters' podcast. Huff added that he is 'very encouraged' by his ongoing conversations with Rogan. 'He's a very inquisitive individual,' he said. 'I think for the better in that he's communicating with me and other people in his life who are influences that can speak into, you know, these issues of reliability and trustworthiness and verisimilitude of something like the pages of Scripture, and where he should and shouldn't be looking for the information in regards to that.' Advertisement Huff also pointed to a broader 'resurgence in interest' in Christianity—highlighting how Ascension's 'Rosary in a Year' podcast briefly overtook Rogan's own show on the Apple podcast charts in early 2025. 3 Podcast host Joe Rogan has been regularly attending church recently, according to Christian apologist Wesley Huff. Youtube / The Joe Rogan Experience 3 Huff was a guest on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' in January. Youtube / The Joe Rogan Experience Shortly after that dip in the rankings, Rogan invited Huff onto the podcast, one of the most popular in the world. Advertisement Huff went on to say that he has observed a growing number of young people seeking Christian faith. He referenced a recent message from a bookstore where teens have been coming in asking for the Bible, reportedly saying 'all my friends are reading this thing.' 'We had someone who reached out to us recently at Apologetics Canada, who is probably the last bricks-and-mortar Christian bookstore that I've ever heard of. But they said, 'We have people walking through our doors asking, young people, teenagers saying, 'I want a Bible. All my friends are reading this thing,'' Huff continued. 3 Huff said he has been 'very encouraged' by his conversations with Rogan since his podcast appearance. Youtube / The Joe Rogan Experience Data backs the trend. According to a new study by the American Bible Society, there has been a rise in Bible users from 38% to 41%, with notable gains among young people and men. Advertisement 'Millennials saw a 29% increase in Bible use from 2024 to 2025 and men saw a 19% increase, closing the long-time gender gap in Bible use,' a press release by the American Bible Society revealed. 'In recent years, Millennials and men were among the least likely to use the Bible.' Among Gen Z, Scripture engagement rose from 11% in 2024 to 15% in 2025. 'If the Bible is, you know, becoming popular with teenagers, then something is happening and the Lord is moving,' the Christian apologist concluded. Fox News Digital reached out to a representative of Rogan for comment.
