Latest news with #JeffersonHealth
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Philadelphia high school students get job training and opportunities at Jefferson Health
Jefferson Health is filling some job openings with a special free training program for Philadelphia high school students. The joint venture from Jefferson, the School District of Philadelphia and Esperanza College is providing some much-needed job training and opportunities. Aleycha Peralta, who's now a student at Esperanza College, was part of the Jefferson Workforce Development Program. She says it was life-changing. "I thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime," said Peralta, who wants to become a doctor. The program provides free training to Philadelphia high school students, who can then apply for jobs at Jefferson Health. "The mission of this program is to provide talent streams for entry-level workforce in the technical space, whether it's a patient care tech, medical assistant, surgical tech," said Theresa Fortner, who oversees the workforce program. The program helps fill jobs in the Jefferson system and benefits the community. "These are students that represent undeserved communities, and securing a full-time job here at Jefferson helps stabilize them economically and helps support their families," Fortner said. The students in the program get 1,000 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training. Batoul Ayyash said that through the program, she's decided to become a nurse. "Our main focus is the patient, so we take care of the patient, we bathe them, we talk to them, we listen to them," Ayyash said. "This allows us to understand the root of health care before we actually go into the medicine." So far, 38 students have completed the workforce program, including many who now work at Jefferson.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Common herbal supplements taken by millions of Americans could be linked to deadly liver damage
Commonly-used herbal and dietary supplements taken by millions of Americans to stay healthy have been tied to a rising number of cases of liver damage and toxicity. Supplement-related liver failure that required U.S. patients to be put on a waitlist for a transplant increased by eight times the previous level from 1995 through 2020, according to a 2022 study in the journal Liver Transplantation. Another study found that 20 percent of liver toxicity cases around the country are linked to the supplements, according to research published in the journal Hepatology. The result of the damage can be life-threatening. Liver disease results in more than 50,000 deaths each year, according to federal health officials. The result of the drug-induced liver injury known as hepatotoxicity can be impaired liver function and liver failure. Cases of hepatotoxicity may be rare, but it remains unclear just how rare. Still, some 15 million Americans are using supplements containing ingredients that are potentially harmful to the liver. 'I think people assume these things are safe,' Dr. Dina Halegoua-De Marzio, a Jefferson Health hepatologist, told NBC News. 'The No. 1 reason we see people taking these are for good health or to supplement their health, and so I don't think that they realize that there is a real risk here.' So, what are the offending supplements tied to these cases? You may regularly use them in cooking. Many patients take them with the aim of improving their health. The bright yellow spice turmeric is the most commonly consumed in the U.S., according to a study published last year in the journal JAMA Network Open. Black cohosh, red yeast rice, Garcinia cambogia, and green tea extract were also identified on a list compiled by researchers at the University of Michigan. 'When you cook with turmeric, that could be really safe. But some of the supplements now are 2,000 milligrams plus, which is a very high dose of turmeric,' Halegoua-De Marzio said, noting that adding black pepper could make the liver 'really sick.' Online, many of these supplements are promoted as more natural options than prescription medications. But, they are not subject to the same kind of testing and scrutiny as other drugs. That's not the only issue. Physicians say insufficient attention in medical screenings and mislabeling are two other problems to be aware of. 'We performed analytical chemistry and found about a 50 percent mismatch between stated ingredients on the label and what they actually contained, which is quite alarming,' Dr. Robert Fontana, a University of Michigan Medicine hepatologist, said in a statement. 'If you buy a supplement and it says it has a certain ingredient, it's basically a coin flip if that's true or not.' Fewer than 40 percent of patients willingly tell their doctors about the supplements they are taking, according to Kaiser Permanente primary care physician Dr. Crystal Xue. Without the guiding hand of doctors, people who take too much may not realize the risk. New Jersey's Robert Grafton told NBC News that if he hadn't been in the medical field, he might have taken more supplements to help him feel better. Instead, following a trip to the hospital, he found out he had a drug-induced liver injury after taking ashwagandha, turmeric pills, and other supplements. Some people are even genetically vulnerable to this kind of damage. Although, that's also true for prescription drugs. Symptoms of liver damage and toxicity can differ, but generally include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, urine changes, and jaundice. There are some 44,000 estimated cases of liver damage associated with the drugs each year, including 2,700 deaths. That number is likely an undercount. People can still take supplements, given they do so safely. However, given the lack of regulation in this area, researchers hope to raise awareness about the issue to try to prevent future deaths. 'We're not trying to create alarm,' Fontana said. 'We're just trying to increase awareness that the over-the-counter supplements people are taking and buying have not been tested nor necessarily proven to be safe,' he said.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- CBS News
2 people dead, 1 seriously hurt after fire tears through South Philadelphia apartment building
An early morning apartment fire in Philadelphia's Bella Vista neighborhood has claimed the lives of two people and seriously hurt another. According to Philadelphia Deputy Fire Commissioner Gustav Baumann, fire crews were called out to the 900 block of South 8th Street just after 2 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, they saw heavy smoke and flames from the apartment building. Baumann says in total, three people were rescued from the second floor of the building by fire crews. They were then transported by medics to Jefferson Health, where two were pronounced dead and the other was listed in critical condition. The fire was placed under control around 3 a.m. The Philadelphia Fire Marshal and investigators are working to determine what caused the blaze to break out. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Irish Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cardiologist explains how to improve heart health with exercise
While we may be aware of the amount of exercise required to tone up or shed pounds, it's equally crucial to know how much physical activity is needed for heart health. Cardiologists at Jefferson Health have stressed the significance of regular workouts. On the Living Well podcast, cardiologist Dr Darius Farzad offered advice on the best methods to maintain a healthy heart. He suggested aiming for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five to seven days a week. This is in line with the American Heart Association's recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Moderate-intensity activities can include brisk walking, cycling, or swimming, all of which increase your heart rate and breathing while still allowing for conversation. The cardiologists also highlighted the importance of consistency when it comes to working out. Dr Farzad pointed out that regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of heart disease. Even if you can't commit to 30-minute sessions, shorter bouts of activity throughout the day can add up to meet your goals, reports Surrey Live. "First and foremost, the standard risk factors that I mentioned before, things like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, those are all diagnoses that the staple of managing them is focusing on dietary adherence and trying to build a good exercise regimen," Dr Farzad explained. "A lot of that's avoiding unhealthy behaviours, as well as focusing on what are healthy behaviours to incorporate." Even light exercise, such as a short walk, could help to support healthy ageing (Image: Getty Images) Helen Alexander, a physiotherapist at Nuffield Health, has highlighted three types of exercises that can be beneficial to our hearts, which almost anyone can do without needing specialist gear. Speaking to the British Heart Foundation, Helen, an expert in cardiac rehabilitation, noted the significant benefits these exercises offer, especially for those keen on supporting their heart health. According to Helen, aerobic exercise, also known as cardio, involves using your body's largest muscles in a continuous, rhythmic activity - such as walking, running, cycling, or swimming. She said: "Aerobic exercise helps your heart and circulatory system to work better, so you are more able to do daily tasks without getting tired or breathless. It can also improve your emotional wellbeing and how well you sleep." The British Heart Foundation recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, where you feel warm and comfortably breathless. For those new to exercising, it's advised to start off gently and gradually work up to the recommended 150 minutes. Aerobic exercise can help reduce your risk of heart and circulatory diseases by lowering your resting blood pressure and heart rate, and improving your cholesterol levels. It also aids in maintaining a healthy weight, which can decrease your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) advises that while everyone can benefit from aerobic exercise, the intensity may need to be adjusted depending on individual health conditions. If you have a medical condition, it's recommended to consult with a doctor before starting any new exercise regimen.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cardiologist shares symptom no one should never ignore with heart health
Millions of people are living with heart and circulatory diseases, and more than half of us will get one of these conditions in our lifetime, the British Heart Foundation estimates. This means that keeping an eye on our heart health and paying attention to possible symptoms of disease is vital. Dr Darius Farzad, a cardiologist at Jefferson Health, stated that chest pain is the most common complaint seen in the hospital. He advised that if you are experiencing chest pain, even if it seems unconvincing, you should let a healthcare provider know about it. He added that many people later diagnosed with heart problems will try to "ride out" chest pain for several days while chalking it up to heartburn. Dr Farzad warned against Googling symptoms and using online information as a health guide because "it's not always reliable". If you experience new symptoms, you should be talking to a doctor, he said. "The thing about some forms of heart disease is that they can manifest in a lot of different ways," Dr Farzad said. "And I think the other important thing about heart disease is that it's something that can be sort of systemic, meaning a lot of different organ systems can be implicated, and tied to what's sort of more centrally a cardiac diagnosis.", reports Surrey Live. More than 7.6 million people across the UK are battling with heart and circulatory diseases, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) reveals. These numbers soar above those dealing with cancer and Alzheimer's combined. Alarmingly, this figure is set to swell even further, with predictions showing an additional million individuals could be affected by 2030, rising to two million more by 2040. A whopping 80% of sufferers also grapple with another health ailment. If you've had any kind of heart trouble in the past, like heart attacks, congestive heart failure or arrhythmia, then a trip to the cardiologist is a must – especially if you're clocking high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, or have been puffing away on cigarettes. If your heart's setting off alarm bells with worrisome symptoms, Dr Farzad advises promptly getting checked out by a doc. But what can you do to sidestep heart disease and become heart-healthy? According to Dr Farzad, it's all about the right exercise and kissing smoking goodbye. Ditching the fags could, quite frankly, be the "most important, biggest thing" for your wellbeing. A heart expert has highlighted the importance of diet in maintaining cardiac health, giving a nod to the Mediterranean lifestyle that shuns fried items, sugary treats, processed nibbles, and hollow carbs, while favouring fruit, vegetables, nuts, and lean meat. Yet, Dr Farzad cautioned: "We have to be really realistic about these things when we talk to patients and find a balance that's going to work for them and be practical."
