“We have never seen health as a right. It has been conceived as a privilege, available only to those who can afford it. This is the real reason the American health care system is in such a scandalous state.” — Shirley Chisholm Previously, I wrote about how to take care of your own health as prescriptions become harder to get and doctor appointments are booked out for the year. However, now (in the fall of 2025), the situation has worsened, and access to affordable health insu

Ah, Primary Care Practitioners (PCPs.) When was the last time you saw yours? Was anything solved? Are you on prescription drugs with side effects that are worse than the original problem? Just call in and make an appointment, although the next available may not be for 6 months or a year. Don’t be pissed at the doctor, though. This situation we are in is not the fault of medical practitioners themselves. An economic system in a downward spiral, worldwide pandemics, and a broke

by Daisy Simmons Wildfire smoke is becoming an increasingly serious public health threat across the western U.S. And it’s getting worse each year as a consequence of climate change. Here, as part of your climate adaptation toolbox, are some tips for coping with wildfire smoke, which may last days and even weeks after a wildfire event. 1. Know the health risks. Wildfire smoke is a complex mix of gases and fine particles produced from burning materials like trees, buildings and