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What your patients are reading: Week of January 6, 2025

January 10, 2025

Wildfire smoke: How to stay safe as air quality worsens

Exposure to wildfire smoke poses significant health risks, especially as climate change fuels more frequent and intense wildfires. Recent blazes in Los Angeles have plunged air quality to hazardous levels, with AQI readings soaring above 500. Inhaling wildfire smoke can be as harmful as smoking multiple cigarettes daily, leading to spikes in ER visits for respiratory and cardiovascular issues, particularly among children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with preexisting conditions. Long-term exposure may even contribute to chronic conditions like dementia. To minimize exposure, experts recommend staying indoors with windows closed, using air filters, and wearing N95 masks if outdoor activity is necessary.1,2

Medical community rallies against RFK Jr. for health secretary role

More than 15,000 doctors signed a letter urging the Senate to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The letter, organized by the Committee to Protect Health Care, a physicians advocacy group, criticizes Kennedy for promoting false medical claims and conspiracy theories, particularly regarding vaccines. Physicians argue that his appointment would undermine public health efforts and erode trust in science-based medicine. The letter highlights Kennedy's history of spreading misinformation about vaccines and other health issues, calling his nomination "actively dangerous." Kennedy didn’t return NBC News’ request for comment on the letter.3

5 major medical breakthroughs of 2024: Pig kidney transplants, new schizophrenia drug, and more

In 2024, significant medical breakthroughs included the world's first genetically-edited pig kidney transplant into a living human, FDA's approval of Cobenfy—a new class of schizophrenia drug, gene therapy restoring hearing in children with hereditary deafness, the discovery of a cause of lupus, and the introduction of the first over-the-counter combination flu and COVID-19 test. These advancements, compiled by ABC News, highlight the potential to transform patient care and treatment outcomes.4

Sources:

1. Borunda, A. (2025, January 8). NPR. LA wildfires bring another health hazard: smoke. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/nx-s1-5252485/la-fire-air-quality

2. Moniuszko, S. (2025, January 8). CBS News. How bad is the California wildfire smoke for health? Here's how to protect yourself. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-wildfire-smoke-health-2025/2.

3. Zadrozny, B. (2025, January 9). NBC News. More than 15,000 doctors sign letter urging Senate to reject RFK Jr. as health secretary. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rfk-jr-health-secretary-doctors-urge-senate-block-trump-administration-rcna186807

4. Kekatos, M. (2024, December 23). ABC News. Pig kidney transplants, new schizophrenia drug: Here are 5 of the biggest medical breakthroughs in 2024. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/pig-kidney-transplants-new-schizophrenia-drug-5-biggest/story?id=116865368