Catherine Ho

San Francisco

Health Care Reporter at San Francisco Chronicle

Reporter at @SFChronicle covering health and health care

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Articles

S.F. drug overdose death average is up for fourth straight month

1 week ago | sfchronicle.com | Catherine Ho

Accidental drug overdose deaths in San Francisco rose for the fourth straight month after showing a promising decline last year, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by the Office of the Medical Examiner. Sixty-five people fatally overdosed in March, bringing the monthly average to 64 over the past three months — up from 59 in February, 50 in January, 43 in December and 39 in November.
CT scans may be more harmful than previously thought, UCSF study finds

1 week ago | sfchronicle.com | Catherine Ho

CT scans lead to a higher rate of cancer than previously thought, a new study has found. Jim Cole/Associated PressCT scans, a widely used medical imaging technology to diagnose diseases, may be more harmful than previously thought, and account for about 5% of new cancer cases annually in the U.S. population, according to new research led by UCSF scientists.
CT scans may be more harmful than previously thought, UCSF study finds

1 week ago | sanluisobispo.com | Catherine Ho

CT scans, a widely used medical imaging technology to diagnose diseases, may be more harmful than previously thought, and account for about 5% of new cancer cases annually in the U.S. population, according to new research led by UCSF scientists.
How much caffeine is too much? Here’s why the answer may change as you age

1 week ago | sfchronicle.com | Catherine Ho

While the patient was a more extreme case, a milder variation of such symptoms are not uncommon after caffeine consumption. And some studies suggest — and doctors like Bateman have observed — that older adults may be more sensitive to these effects than younger people. Moderate caffeine intake — roughly defined as up to 400 milligrams a day, the equivalent of about four cups of coffee — is generally considered safe for most adults.
How does marital status impact dementia risk? The answer may be changing

2 weeks ago | sacbee.com | Catherine Ho

Unmarried older adults may be at lower risk of dementia than their married counterparts, according to new research published in the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Widowed, divorced and never-married people 50 and older are about 50% less likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia, compared to married people, according to a research article published March 20 by scientists at Florida State University College of Medicine.
How does marital status impact dementia risk? The answer may be changing

2 weeks ago | sfchronicle.com | Catherine Ho

Unmarried older adults may be at lower risk of dementia than their married counterparts, according to new research published in the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Widowed, divorced and never-married people 50 and older are about 50% less likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia, compared to married people, according to a research article published March 20 by scientists at Florida State University College of Medicine.
Getting shingles vaccine can cut risk of dementia, new Stanford-led study says

3 weeks ago | sfchronicle.com | Catherine Ho

Getting vaccinated against shingles can reduce the risk of dementia, according to a new study led by Stanford researchers. The study, published in Nature on Wednesday, found that older adults who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia in the subsequent seven years than those who did not receive the vaccine.
Health worker strike at UCSF this week will affect some appointments, shuttles

3 weeks ago | sanluisobispo.com | Catherine Ho

As many as thousands of unionized University of California health care and technical workers are poised to join in a one-day strike Tuesday across all UC campuses and medical centers, including UCSF Parnassus. The UC-wide strike, led by the University Professional Technical Employees union, UPTE-CWA Local 9119, is slated to last from midnight Monday to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
Health worker strike at UCSF this week will affect some appointments, shuttles

3 weeks ago | sfchronicle.com | Catherine Ho

As many as thousands of unionized University of California health care and technical workers are poised to join in a one-day strike Tuesday across all UC campuses and medical centers, including UCSF Parnassus. The UC-wide strike, led by the University Professional Technical Employees union, UPTE-CWA Local 9119, is slated to last from midnight Monday to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
Doctors say exercise is key for longevity -- but what are the rules if you have joint pain?

3 weeks ago | sacbee.com | Catherine Ho

Arthritis and joint pain can deter many otherwise active older adults from exercising, especially strength training, which can put strain on wrists, hands and knees - common places for arthritis and pain generally. "A big concern many of my patients have is maintaining their mobility and active lifestyles," said Dr. Srinivas Ganesh, chief of sports medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Rafael who works with older patients with arthritis to find fitness routines that work for them.