Posts by Steve Gregg

Over the past ten months, you’ve probably heard a lot about COVID-19 tests—how many are available, what the testing rate is across various regions, where you can get one in your area. You may have even had one yourself. But do you know how they really work? And what exactly does a “negative” or “positive” result mean? Take a closer look! The infamous nasal swab is the first step in this process. The swab resembles a 6-inch Q-tip or pipe cleaner. The purpose of this “brain tickle” is to collect a sample of the cells and secretions within the nasal
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“Movember” If you’re seeing more whiskers on the faces around you this month, you’re not imagining things. “Movember” is the movement to bring awareness and funds for men’s health, most famously with the annual moustache charity event in support of the most pressing concerns for men’s health from suicide prevention to cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men after skin cancer. Many types of the cancer are slow growing, and when detected early, it’s highly treatable with a high survival rate. The problem is that symptoms don’t often appear in the disease’s early stages. And
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Diabetes affects over 30 million people—and that number is growing every day, edging closer and closer to 10% of the U.S. population. Even more startling, nearly 1 in 4 adults have diabetes and don’t know it. Even more adults are prediabetic and unaware. Could you be one of them? What is Diabetes? Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose (sugar) is too high. That’s an indication that the body isn’t producing or using insulin properly. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is what turns glucose into energy to power the body’s functions. You’ve probably heard that there are different types
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An estimated one in eight women will confront a breast cancer diagnosis in her lifetime. One in eight. Think of your closest female friends and relatives, and you can probably come up with eight easily. It’s a sobering frame of reference for the fact that breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, second only to the less-lethal skin cancers. The good news October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and since its inception 35 years ago, much has been done in service of the early mission to “fill the information void” about this deadly disease. Thanks to increased
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Know the Warning Signs and Get Scanned! Diabetic retinopathy is caused by diabetes and high blood sugar damaging the many blood vessels inside the retina, which can negatively affect vision and lead to blindness. No Early Symptoms Only regular testing can detect diabetic retinopathy. Managing Risk Diabetics have increased health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. People can help to prevent serious cases of COVID-19 and diabetic retinopathy by properly managing their blood sugar levels. Scans Early Detection: Regular scans can detect changes in your eyes, and allow for appropriate treatments, reducing the risk of vision loss by 95% Schedule Your
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What’s the easiest way to reduce doctor visits, missed school days and work days, and your chances of getting sick this winter? The flu vaccine and wearing a mask!   As leaves change and fall arrives, so does the seasonal influenza (flu). The flu shot is an easy way to protect yourself from this extremely contagious and potentially serious disease. The vaccine is safe, fast, and effective for anyone over six months old. Unlike other vaccines you may have had, it must be administered yearly because strains of the virus are constantly changing. Each year the vaccine protects against multiple
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Understanding Cholesterol Cholesterol. A word you’ve probably heard many times before. You know it’s an important factor in your overall health, but what exactly is it? And why should you care? Just the facts Cholesterol is not fat. It is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in your body and in many foods. There are two types: LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and HDL (“good” cholesterol). Like fat, your body actually needs some cholesterol for good health. But like fat, too much of it can cause problems. What kind of problems? Heart disease and stroke, mainly. Heart disease is the leading
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National Immunization Awareness Month Every August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and the topic of vaccines is generating more buzz than ever lately. It seems like the race to find a viable treatment for COVID-19 is matched only by the rapid spread of virus itself. But it would be a mistake to let that fervor eclipse the importance of your regularly scheduled immunizations. Staying up to date on routine vaccines is your best protection against serious but preventable diseases, from whopping cough to meningitis. With schools back in session and flu season looming, August is the perfect time to check
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Gracelight Community Health Receives $187K Grant from Direct Relief and Abbott Laboratories to Setup and Provide Series of COVID-19 Testing LOS ANGELES, August 19, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the national and local economy to a halt, with the only hope of less people impacted by the dangerous virus. As part of the efforts to identify and isolate new COVID-19 cases, Gracelight Community Health (QHC) is happy to announce they were the recipient of a $187,500 grant from Direct Relief and Abbott Laboratories to perform COVID-19 testing. “The COVID-19 virus has forced much of Los Angeles and the
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Over 3 million people in Los Angeles County are Medi-Cal eligible and uninsured—almost 30% of the state’s entire Medi-Cal population.* Often concentrated in low-income communities, these groups are especially vulnerable to the growing shortage of physicians that make accessing quality health care a struggle. The shortage of providers in Los Angeles County is projected to reach 8,800 by 2030. Gracelight Community Health (QHC) is dedicated to curbing this looming crisis, which is why QHC is so fortunate to have been awarded five grants through L.A. Care Health Plan’s Elevating the Safety Net initiative. Launched in 2018, this initiative provides funding
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