Organ Donation System Set For Changes
NPR's Scott Simon speaks to transplant surgeon Dr. Dorry Segev about why the current system of organ allocation can be a death sentence for some patients.
Health & Safety
Are We Prepared For A Killer Flu Epidemic?
An 21st century outbreak could be as nightmarish as the 1918 pandemic, which killed about 40 million. So the Gates Foundation wants to spur the development of a flu vaccine. Don't we already have one?
Emergency Evacuation Finally Lifted After Huge Oil Refinery Fire In Superior, Wis.
The evacuation zone had extended for miles. The Canadian-owned refinery processes crude from the Canadian tar sands in Alberta and from North Dakota's Bakken shale oil fields.
Tim Ferriss: How Can We Become Comfortable With Discomfort?
How can we conquer our fears? Entrepreneur Tim Ferriss says that by taking action, we can train ourselves to accept discomfort, become more resilient, and expand our horizons.
Och, No! Some Scots Cry As Their Beloved Soda Gets A Less Sugary Revamp
The makers of Irn Bru, Scotland's "other national drink," have slashed its sugar content in the face of a tax that aims to battle obesity. Not everyone is pleased with the health-minded tweaks.
Renaissance Fair Health Care
Many people who work at Renaissance fairs don't have health insurance. So workers developed a system to help out.
Family Caregivers Finally Get A Break — And Some Coaching
Across the U.S., community groups, hospitals and government agencies are stepping up to support the estimated 42 million stressed and strained family caregivers, who are often untrained and unpaid.
In Indiana, Advocates For Senior Citizens Form Army Of Guardians To Offer Care
When a senior citizen loses the ability to make medical decisions, a guardian is chosen to help them through the last years of their life. But many states offer meager financial support to their guardianship system, leaving some of the country's most vulnerable citizens without a guardian and in a perpetual limbo.
Benzodiazepines: America's 'Other Prescription Drug Problem'
Drugs like Valium, Xanax and Ativan are more popular than ever. Frequently used to treat anxiety, the medicines can be risky, especially when mixed with alcohol or opioids.
Hair Removal Ad Makes Pakistani Women Go 'Wow' — But Not In A Good Way
The commercial celebrates hairlessness. And it prompted a cricket star to speak out, charging that the ad promotes "body shaming and objectification."