skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, March 17, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump administration deports hundreds of immigrants, even as a judge orders removals be stopped; Sierra Club sues DOGE over mass firings; Lack of opportunity pushes rural Gen Zers in AZ out of their communities; Fixing one problem, creating another? Ohio's lead pipe replacements.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Secretary of State Rubio pledges more arrests like that of student activist Mahmoud Khalil. Former EPA directors sound the alarm on Lee Zeldin's deregulation plans, and lack of opportunity is pushing rural Gen Zers out of their communities.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Farmers worry promised federal reimbursements aren't coming while fears mount that the Trump administration's efforts to raise cash means the sale of public lands, and rural America's shortage of doctors has many physicians skipping retirement.

Less sunlight, colder AZ temps can take physical, mental toll

play audio
Play

Tuesday, February 18, 2025   

Parts of Arizona may be known for their mild winters but the shorter days and colder temperatures can still affect a person's mood and overall health.

About 5% of adults in the U.S. experience what is sometimes referred to as the wintertime blues, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer and executive vice president of UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual, said it may also be seasonal affective disorder, with symptoms like changes in sleep and appetite, problems concentrating and a loss of interest in activities.

"The wintertime blues is very much a direct association with the number of hours of sunlight that you're exposed to," Randall explained. "We know that is important for regulating our sleep and wake cycles."

Randall pointed out people who do not get enough sunlight can also run the risk of not producing enough vitamin D3, which can affect bone density. If you are feeling down and are worried about it, she encouraged people to check the resources available through their health coverage, which may include telehealth options.

Randall added one of the easiest ways to shake off winter blues is to get outdoors, even if it's chilly, for 30 to 60 minutes a day of sunshine.

"That could be a brisk walk, or whatever it is that takes you outside, during the hours that the sun is up," Randall noted. "And even doing that maybe on your lunch break, where driving into work or driving home from work it might be dark outside. Getting exposure to some true sunlight really can be very helpful."

And if you have lost motivation or given up on your New Year's resolutions, Randall suggested now is a great time to reevaluate them and think about setting realistic goals for better physical and mental health.

"In addition to all of this, don't hesitate if you don't have already a primary care physician, or if it's been some quite time since you've had your annual wellness visit with your primary care physician, it's a great time to establish that relationship, or reestablish it," Randall stressed.

Disclosure: UnitedHealthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Trash 2 Trends designers create runway looks from items headed to the landfill. Proceeds from the event fund recycling initiatives, litter prevention and community beautification in Orlando. (Trimmel Gomes)

Environment

play sound

What if your trash could be the key to a more sustainable wardrobe? The group Keep Orlando Beautiful is proving it is possible with its annual "Trash…


Social Issues

play sound

As the Trump administration continues to implement aggressive immigration policies, many Hispanic residents in Florida, a key voting bloc for Trump…

Social Issues

play sound

Cuts to the U.S. education system are expected to create a profound ripple effect on students and staff in Hamtramck's already struggling school …


Bobcats are elusive, native predators known for their sharp senses and solitary nature, typically hunting at dawn or dusk. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Indiana's Natural Resources Commission will decide this week whether to allow bobcat trapping, giving Hoosiers one last chance to weigh in. The …

Environment

play sound

Local leaders in California are slamming the Trump administration's moves to gut dozens of environmental policies on climate change and pollution in l…

PVC pipes are commonly joined by elastomeric sealing connections or solvent cement. These solvent cements can expose workers to hazardous chemicals such as tetrahydrofuran, a carcinogen. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Ohioans are seeing changes in their water infrastructure as cities work to replace lead service lines, a requirement under federal regulations…

Environment

play sound

Clean-energy advocates in Texas are closely monitoring a bill before the Legislature that, if passed, could stop the development and operation of …

Environment

play sound

The Sierra Club is taking the Trump administration to court, joining a slew of legal challenges over the mass firings of federal workers. Sierra …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021