In The Media

"For the past six years, researchers at UC Irvine have been studying how drinking water that contains PFAS (the scientific term for forever chemicals, a family that includes about 15,000 substances) may have affected the health of people who lived in six north and central county cities (Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Yorba Linda, Santa Ana, Tustin and Irvine) between 2000 and 2019. The UCI researchers have looked at possible PFAS connections to issues like high cholesterol, obesity and thyroid disease... In all, more than a dozen different health issues have been discussed – and, in some cases, confirmed – as being linked to PFAS." (Featured: Scott Bartell, PhD)

"'There is interest in various states in enabling the sale of stem-cell products that have not been approved by the FDA,' says Leigh Turner, a bioethicist and professor of health, society, and behavior at the University of California, Irvine, who has been tracking the stem-cell industry. 'I think we’re going to see more of that.' … 'There are a lot of problems that can flow from a marketplace like this and from legislation that essentially operates as an enabler,' he says. 'People do get harmed. People do get scammed.'" (Featured: Leigh Turner, PhD)

"Joyspan is a term coined by Kerry Burnight, who was a professor of geriatric medicine and gerontology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine for 18 years. In her upcoming book, 'Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half,' she says that a lengthy life span does not equal a life well lived: You have to like your life, too." (Featured: Kerry Burnight, PhD)

"Lasers can be useful for patients of all ages, 'from newborns to people over 100 years old, depending on what you’re trying to treat,' Kristen M. Kelly, MD, professor and chair of Dermatology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, told Medscape Medical News. 'Just like any therapeutic modality, you want to make sure that you know how to use it, that you’re using it for the correct indications, you’re using it in the correct way for that particular indication.'" (Featured: Kristin Kelly, MD)

"Sweet potatoes are high in antioxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamin A, and anthocyanins (in purple varieties), says Matthew J. Landry, PhD, RDN, FAND, FAHA, registered dietitian nutritionist and assistant professor of population health and disease prevention at UC Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health." (Featured: Matthew Landry, PhD)

"'Your body should more or less increase or decrease your breathing in relation to your effort and need,' said Brian Y. Kim, MD, an associate clinical professor of family medicine at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, and a team doctor for the university's athletic program. Breathing through your nose can have some benefits for people with asthma, Kim said, because the air gets warmer and more humid as it goes through the nose and into the lungs." (Featured: Brian Y. Kim, MD)

"Whether you’ve had a silent stroke in the past or not, there are ways to lower your risk of ever experiencing one. Wengui Yu, MD, PhD, a Professor of Clinical Neurology and the Director of the UCI Health Comprehensive Stroke Center, says this includes not using tobacco, minimizing alcohol use, keeping cholesterol in a healthy range, and avoiding diabetes and hypertension by having healthy diet and lifestyle habits in place." (Featured: Wengui Yu, MD, PhD)

"A hospital in California is making medical history, not with the treatment breakthrough but with how it’s powering its facility. UCI Health – Irvine relies on renewable energy from the UCI grid using electric chillers for cooling and heating instead of natural gas like most hospitals. 'We are really being intentional about our impact to this area as being as little as possible,' says Ryan Gibney, MD, the medical director of the emergency room, ‘to deliver the highest level of health care with the minimum impact of the place around us.' Healthcare without harm, protecting patients and the environment." (Featured: UCI Health)

"On top of circulation, exercise releases chemicals that 'boost a sense of wellbeing and cognitive performance,' says S. Ahmad Sajjadi, MD, PhD, an associate professor of neurology at the University of California Irvine. Every minute counts, especially if you’re inactive, because higher intensities push your body out of its comfort zone and force it to adapt..." (Featured: Seyed Ahmad Sajjadi, MD, PhD)

"'Foodborne illnesses, especially on airplanes, are relatively rare but can have serious health consequences because of the [cramped] environment and limited medical resources in-flight,' explains Saurabh Chatterjee, PhD, a professor of environmental & occupational health at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. We hate to add anything to your pre-flight itinerary. However, we 20/10 recommend reading on to find out the mistake Chatterjee wants you to avoid on planes (and the icky reason why)." (Featured: Saurabh Chatterjee, PhD)