archive

November 27, 2012 The number of new HIV infections in the U.S. is relatively stable at about 50,000 people a year. But HIV is on the rise in people under 25, federal data show. The upswing is driven largely by infections among young black men.

Summary

November 27, 2012 Some consumers of the bitter citrus fruit may need to rethink their morning routine. Chemicals in grapefruit can interfere with the body's ability to to clear certain drugs. The number of affected medicines has jumped in recent years. Pharmacists are calling for greater grapefruit awareness among physicians and patients alike.

Summary

November 23, 2012 What made Einstein a genius? Maybe his weirdly curvy brain had something to do with it. Scientists have recently analyzed photos from the 1950s to try to figure out what made the genius tick.

Summary

November 21, 2012 Ultrasound often catches fetuses opening their mouths, but whether they're really yawning or not has been up for debate. Now, with some fancy ultrasound techniques, scientists have show that babies do indeed yawn in the womb.

Summary

November 21, 2012 Easier access to oral contraceptives could reduce unintended pregnancies, doctors say. But the Food and Drug Administration would have to allow purchases of the pill without a prescription, and that's not going to happen anytime soon.

Summary

November 20, 2012 No one really wants to think about what goes down the drain when you flush. But sometimes, you've got to look to see what your bowels are telling you about your health. Doctors have been decoding our pee and poo since medieval times. They've even developed handy visual guides.

Summary

November 16, 2012 Back in 1995, about 4.5 percent of adults in the U.S. had been diagnosed with diabetes. By 2010, the prevalence had zoomed to 8.2 percent. An interactive map shows how much worse diabetes has become in less than a generation.

Summary

November 16, 2012 Given the pressure of evolution, why have genes behind schizophrenia, autism and others disorders persisted? A study that looks at the likelihood someone is to have kids tries to figure it out.

Summary

October 3, 2012 Ultraviolet light can burn your skin and raise the risk for skin cancer. New research has helped uncover how the rays can weaken skin's outer layer, compromising its ability to protect the body.

Summary

October 2, 2012 Some lab studies suggested vitamin D supplements might enhance immunity. But a clinical test in New Zealand found that taking vitamin D didn't reduce the frequency or duration of colds for the people who took the supplements.

Summary

October 2, 2012 KHNUnder the federal health law, adult children can remain on parents' insurance plans until they reach age 26. Parents may find out about their daughters' prescriptions for birth control pills from notices of insurance benefits.

Summary

October 1, 2012 KQEDThe next version of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders proposes to lump nail biters and other pathological groomers with people who have obsessive compulsive disorder. But some psychiatrists see nail biting as a much more benign habit.

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

September 28, 2012 Passionate advocates believe that squatting over the toilet is a more healthful position than sitting down on one. They say the posture can alleviate problems like hemorrhoids. One company is making stools to help people get closer to the squat.

Summary

September 28, 2012 The list of items that early Antarctic explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton and Robert F. Scott packed in their medical kits reads like a "witch's grimoire." Along with strange items like fish swim bladders and 'gold-beater's skin" were psycho-active drugs believed to be medically useful.

Summary

September 27, 2012 After Canadian doctors warned patients with medical conditions that could impair driving about the risks, there was a 45 percent drop in the annual rate of accidents for the group. But the patients also were seen more often for depression afterward and were less likely to return for care to the doctors who warned them.

Summary