Your Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1066&ft=1&f=1066 News and commentary about personal health, medicine, healthcare, drugs, diet, recipes, and nutrition. Download the Your Health podcast and subscribe to our RSS feed. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Your Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1066&ft=1&f=1066 A Token Gift May Encourage Gift Of Life Some economists argue it's time to rethink restrictions on incentives for blood donors. In the last few years there have been some real-world experiments with incentives that suggest they can help increase donations without causing trouble. Fri, 24 May 2013 16:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/24/186457817/a-token-gift-may-encourage-gift-of-life?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/24/186457817/a-token-gift-may-encourage-gift-of-life?ft=1&f=1066 Some economists argue it's time to rethink restrictions on incentives for blood donors. In the last few years there have been some real-world experiments with incentives that suggest they can help increase donations without causing trouble.

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]]> Heart Failure Treatment Improves, But Death Rate Remains High Treatments with drugs and implanted devices have made it much less likely that people with heart failure will die suddenly. But this chronic disease is still a common killer, researchers say. Fri, 24 May 2013 15:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/24/186466632/heart-failure-treatment-improves-but-death-rate-remains-high?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/24/186466632/heart-failure-treatment-improves-but-death-rate-remains-high?ft=1&f=1066 Treatments with drugs and implanted devices have made it much less likely that people with heart failure will die suddenly. But this chronic disease is still a common killer, researchers say.

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]]> Studies Question Potential Alzheimer's Treatment Last year scientists reported that a skin cancer drug appeared to reverse the effects of an Alzheimer's-like disease in mice. But four studies out this week in <em>Science</em> question the original results. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, talks about the new findings, and the hunt for Alzheimer's drugs. Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186450903/studies-question-potential-alzheimers-treatment?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186450903/studies-question-potential-alzheimers-treatment?ft=1&f=1066 Last year scientists reported that a skin cancer drug appeared to reverse the effects of an Alzheimer's-like disease in mice. But four studies out this week in Science question the original results. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, talks about the new findings, and the hunt for Alzheimer's drugs.

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]]> Why You Have To Scratch That Itch Itch can be a useful warning sign, or a maddening symptom with no cure. But the origins of itch have long been a mystery. Scientists think they've come closer to understanding the origins of itch in a molecule that makes mice scratch like mad. Thu, 23 May 2013 16:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/24/186294981/why-you-gotta-scratch-that-itch?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/24/186294981/why-you-gotta-scratch-that-itch?ft=1&f=1066 Itch can be a useful warning sign, or a maddening symptom with no cure. But the origins of itch have long been a mystery. Scientists think they've come closer to understanding the origins of itch in a molecule that makes mice scratch like mad.

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]]> Hardly A Haven: Home Can Be Deadly In Natural Disasters Despite advances in predicting dangerous weather and better evacuation planning, some people still stay put when devastation looms. A study of deaths during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 raises a big question: Why didn't the people at risk move to higher ground? Thu, 23 May 2013 14:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/23/186261070/hardly-a-haven-home-can-be-deadly-in-natural-disasters?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/23/186261070/hardly-a-haven-home-can-be-deadly-in-natural-disasters?ft=1&f=1066 Despite advances in predicting dangerous weather and better evacuation planning, some people still stay put when devastation looms. A study of deaths during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 raises a big question: Why didn't the people at risk move to higher ground?

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]]> Canned Peaches Are As Nutritious As Fresh. Really? What's more, when it comes to some nutrients, like vitamin C, canned peaches pack an even bigger punch than fresh, researchers say. The reasons have to do with how the canning process alters the fruit's cell walls. So eat 'em up! Thu, 23 May 2013 11:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/22/186025393/canned-peaches-are-as-nutritious-as-fresh-really?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/22/186025393/canned-peaches-are-as-nutritious-as-fresh-really?ft=1&f=1066 What's more, when it comes to some nutrients, like vitamin C, canned peaches pack an even bigger punch than fresh, researchers say. The reasons have to do with how the canning process alters the fruit's cell walls. So eat 'em up!

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]]> Research Reveals Yeasty Beasts Living On Our Skin While studying microorganisms on humans is not new, tracking fungi is. In a census of sorts, scientists checked the skin of healthy volunteers. They found an expansive ecosystem of silent inhabitants. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/22/185821644/research-reveals-yeasty-beasts-living-on-our-skin?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/22/185821644/research-reveals-yeasty-beasts-living-on-our-skin?ft=1&f=1066 While studying microorganisms on humans is not new, tracking fungi is. In a census of sorts, scientists checked the skin of healthy volunteers. They found an expansive ecosystem of silent inhabitants.

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]]> A Catch For Insurers That Cut Deductibles For Healthy People Rewards to policyholders for claims that don't meet the annual deductible can be a boon for healthy people. But the approach might not pass the smell test in 2014 when the federal health law bans discriminating against people based on their health status. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185823609/a-catch-for-insurers-that-cut-deductibles-for-healthy-people?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185823609/a-catch-for-insurers-that-cut-deductibles-for-healthy-people?ft=1&f=1066 Rewards to policyholders for claims that don't meet the annual deductible can be a boon for healthy people. But the approach might not pass the smell test in 2014 when the federal health law bans discriminating against people based on their health status.

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]]> A Mother And Daughter Confront Their Breast Cancer Risk Newspaper columnist Regina Brett and her daughter Gabrielle share a genetic risk factor for breast cancer. It's the same one that led Angelina Jolie to have a preventive mastectomy. Before Jolie's very public decision, the Bretts struggled with their own. Tue, 21 May 2013 13:52:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185788760/a-mother-and-daughter-confront-their-breast-cancer-risk?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/185788760/a-mother-and-daughter-confront-their-breast-cancer-risk?ft=1&f=1066 Newspaper columnist Regina Brett and her daughter Gabrielle share a genetic risk factor for breast cancer. It's the same one that led Angelina Jolie to have a preventive mastectomy. Before Jolie's very public decision, the Bretts struggled with their own.

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]]> Getting Rid Of My Breasts, A Lot Of People Didn't Understand The news that Angelina Jolie had a preventative double mastectomy has many women thinking about how far they'd go to protect their bodies. Cleveland journalist Regina Brett has written about how she and her daughter Gabe went through the same surgery. They share their story with host Michel Martin. Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185788203/getting-rid-of-my-breasts-a-lot-of-people-didnt-understand?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185788203/getting-rid-of-my-breasts-a-lot-of-people-didnt-understand?ft=1&f=1066 The news that Angelina Jolie had a preventative double mastectomy has many women thinking about how far they'd go to protect their bodies. Cleveland journalist Regina Brett has written about how she and her daughter Gabe went through the same surgery. They share their story with host Michel Martin.

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]]> ADHD In Childhood May Feed Obesity In Adults People diagnosed with ADHD as children may be more apt to be obese in adulthood, scientists say. Differences in brain biology or the impulsiveness typical of ADHD may contribute to lasting, bad eating habits. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/185521490/adhd-in-childhood-may-feed-obesity-in-adults?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/185521490/adhd-in-childhood-may-feed-obesity-in-adults?ft=1&f=1066 People diagnosed with ADHD as children may be more apt to be obese in adulthood, scientists say. Differences in brain biology or the impulsiveness typical of ADHD may contribute to lasting, bad eating habits.

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]]> If Your Shrink Is A Bot, How Do You Respond? A computer-simulated woman named Ellie is designed to talk to people who are struggling emotionally and take their measure — 30 times per second. Researchers hope their technology, which reads a person's body language and inflections, will yield diagnostic clues for clinical therapists. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/182593855/if-your-shrink-is-a-bot-how-do-you-respond?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/182593855/if-your-shrink-is-a-bot-how-do-you-respond?ft=1&f=1066 A computer-simulated woman named Ellie is designed to talk to people who are struggling emotionally and take their measure — 30 times per second. Researchers hope their technology, which reads a person's body language and inflections, will yield diagnostic clues for clinical therapists.

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]]> Alzheimer's Cases Rise, But Hope Remains More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease. Sat, 18 May 2013 17:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1066 More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease.

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]]> Up For Discussion: Cost Of Cancer Care Avoided Too Often Even cancer patients with health insurance can face steep copayments for drugs, a sizable share of hospital bills and significant incidental expenses. So wouldn't it make sense for doctors and patients to talk about financial issues up front? Fri, 17 May 2013 14:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184804719/up-for-discussion-cost-of-cancer-care-avoided-too-often?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184804719/up-for-discussion-cost-of-cancer-care-avoided-too-often?ft=1&f=1066 Even cancer patients with health insurance can face steep copayments for drugs, a sizable share of hospital bills and significant incidental expenses. So wouldn't it make sense for doctors and patients to talk about financial issues up front?

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]]> How Can You Give A Community Better Health? Ron Finley plants vegetable gardens in South Central LA — in abandoned lots, traffic medians, along the curbs. He hopes to offer some alternative to fast food in a community where "the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys." Fri, 17 May 2013 09:55:46 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181691507/how-can-you-give-a-community-better-health?ft=1&f=1066 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/181691507/how-can-you-give-a-community-better-health?ft=1&f=1066 Ron Finley plants vegetable gardens in South Central LA — in abandoned lots, traffic medians, along the curbs. He hopes to offer some alternative to fast food in a community where "the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys."

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