Health & Wellness

Public health officials monitoring increase in whooping cough — and decrease in vaccination rates

Nov 19, 2024 | By:

In the Peninsula School District, vaccination rates were at 91% last year. That was down 1.4% from the 2019-20 school year.

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Port Orchard clinic helping bring healthy food to some patients’ doors under pilot program

Nov 13, 2024 | By:

Just up the road in Port Orchard, a clinic is working with South Kitsap Helpline to deliver nutritious foods directly to patients with diabetes who also face food insecurity and mobility issues. Here’s how it works.

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Wellness Wednesday | No-shave November and men’s health

Nov 13, 2024 | By: Scot Fleshman

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in America this year are approximately 299,010 new cases and about 35,250 deaths. Their estimates for testicular cancer are lower, yet no less important, with about 9,760 new cases and approximately 500 deaths. Only 41.6% of men are seeking mental health treatment compared to 56.9% of women.

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Colorectal cancer increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults

Nov 07, 2024 | By:

Natalie Phelps and her team, the “Posterior Posee,” were among the nearly 1,000 people who spent the morning of Oct. 5 strolling three miles down the Burke Gilman Trail in Seattle, as part of the city’s annual Walk to End Colon Cancer. Phelps, a Bainbridge Island resident and advocate for colorectal cancer awareness, has cochaired

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Kaiser Permanente closing Gig Harbor location

Nov 04, 2024 | By:

Kaiser Permanente plans to close its medical clinic in Gig Harbor next month.  The health care company confirmed plans to permanently shutter the Gig Harbor clinic on Dec. 13. Clinics in Poulsbo and Ballard also will close. Kaiser cited a competitive market was behind the closures. “As the health care market changes rapidly, with increased

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Xylazine, a tranquilizer intended for large animals, feared as new threat

Oct 30, 2024 | By:

Xylazine, a common veterinary sedative that is increasingly being mixed with fentanyl in some parts of the U.S., has not significantly infiltrated the drug market on the Kitsap Peninsula, based on available data and anecdotal accounts from local providers. But concerns remain that it could spread to the state in coming years. Federal regulators approved

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YMCA makes pitch to cap off sports field funding

Oct 28, 2024 | By:

The Tom Taylor Family YMCA, having raised $5.5 million of $7 million needed to build two lighted, artificially turfed fields, seeks help reaching the finish line.

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Q&A | A conversation about the many forms of domestic violence

Oct 24, 2024 | By:

A conversation with Nadia Van Atter, assistant director of the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

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R.A.D. self-defense classes helps women ‘establish their power and control’

Oct 24, 2024 | By:

Some of the women who recently finished a R.A.D. (Rape, Aggression, Defense) self-defense training program in Gig Harbor have experienced some type of assault. One of them, who wished to remain anonymous, said that although she is an athlete, she wanted to take the class to learn how to protect herself. “I’m in therapy for

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Vision for future Peninsula Gardens park emerges

Oct 17, 2024 | By:

Consultants working with the community create a master plan for the former nursery that includes all the desired amenities they could reasonably fit.

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