Health & Safety

Health & Safety

This Doctor Was Ready To Have Her Baby When She Delivered Another

5:29am August 01, 2017

Dr. Amanda Hess was about to give birth when she heard a woman wailing in pain. The on-call doctor was on break, so Hess delivered the woman's baby. Her own contractions started a few moments later.

Sen. Sanders Urges A Medicare-For-All Health Plan

5:18am August 01, 2017

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Sen. Bernie Sanders on his plans to push forward with a bill for a single-payer health insurance system, in the wake of Republican failures to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Queue Listen Now

Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Seeks Common Ground On Health Care

6:41pm July 31, 2017

The Problem Solvers Caucus has been trying to salvage health care proposals that have broad support. Co-chairs of the group, Republican Rep. Tom Reed of New York and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, speak with NPR's Audie Cornish.

Queue Listen Now

Future Of The Affordable Care Act Remains Uncertain

6:41pm July 31, 2017

Sarah Kliff of Vox talks with NPR's Audie Cornish about ways the executive branch can undermine the Affordable Care Act, after the Senate failed to pass legislation repealing the health care law.

Queue Listen Now

Campers with Williams syndrome on stage at the Grand Ole Opry performing their original song, "I Love Big," with country artist Chris Young in front of a crowd of thousands.

Country Music And Brain Research Come Together At Nashville Summer Camp

5:26pm July 31, 2017

by Emily Siner

Researchers in Nashville are tapping into a country music camp to learn more about Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Many people who have it love music but don't know why.

Girls are much less likely to be diagnosed with autism, but that may be because the signs of the disorder can be less obvious than in boys. And girls may be missing out on help as a result.

Health & Safety

'Social Camouflage' May Lead To Underdiagnosis Of Autism In Girls

4:25pm July 31, 2017

Girls are much less likely to be diagnosed with autism, but that may be because the signs of the disorder are different than in boys. And girls may be missing out on help as a result.

Queue Listen Now

In addition to profound exhaustion that isn't relieved with sleep, the illness now called ME/CFS includes flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, "brain fog" and various other physical symptoms, all of which typically worsen with even minor exertion.

Scientists Edge Closer To Elusive Lab Test For 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome'

3:26pm July 31, 2017

by Miriam E. Tucker

Stanford University scientists have found an array of proteins in the blood whose levels correlate closely with the severity of symptoms of the mysterious illness that's increasingly known as ME/CFS.

An international team of scientists analyzed data from men around the world and found sperm counts declining in Western countries.

Sperm Counts Plummet In Western Men, Study Finds

3:19pm July 31, 2017

by Rob Stein

Data from nearly 43,000 men around the world found that sperm counts dropped by more than half in Western countries. It could reflect a decline in health overall, scientists say.

Queue Listen Now

The tasty, frozen treats of summer can lose some of their appeal if they cause your brain to interpret that big gulp as pain.

Why We All Scream When We Get Ice Cream Brain Freeze

7:00am July 31, 2017

by Ashlie Stevens

When temperatures soar, there's nothing like a frozen treat to take off the edge. But if we dive in too fast, our brains are thrown for a distressing and sometimes painful loop. Here's why.

A Hospital CEO Watches Washington Struggle Over Health Care

5:43am July 31, 2017

As a provider of both a health care and insurance, Northwell Health has a huge stake in what health care legislation Congress proposes. CEO Michael Dowling says it's time for Democrats and health care professionals to come to the table.