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Patti Neighmond Award-winning journalist Patti Neighmond is NPR's health policy correspondent. Her reports air regularly on NPR newsmagazines All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition.
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Patti Neighmond

Health

Study: Tanning Beds Substantially Raise Skin Cancer Risks

New research spells out the risk of skin cancer associated with tanning beds. The FDA is looking into regulating the industry more strictly.

Study: Tanning Beds Substantially Raise Skin Cancer Risks

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Working To Stop Teens Texting Behind The Wheel

Texting behind the wheel almost killed 16-year-old driver Tyler Young. Courtesy of The News On 6 hide caption

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Courtesy of The News On 6

Your Health

Working To Stop Teens Texting Behind The Wheel

For many teens, their cell phones are an extension of themselves. They use their phones while they're at school, while they're in bed — even while they drive. And an increasing number of car crashes are caused by those distracted by cell phones. Experts are developing projects to stop teens and adults alike from texting in the car.

Working To Stop Teens Texting Behind The Wheel

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Your Health

Panel Urges FDA To Regulate Salt In Food

The Institute of Medicine issued a report Tuesday on reducing salt intake. They are recommending that Americans reduce their salt intake significantly, and that the FDA take the lead in leveling the playing field for food processors so that salt content can be systematically reduced over a period of years.

Panel Urges FDA To Regulate Salt In Food

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Dating Study Says Singles With Options Go For Hotties

Research News

Dating Study Says Singles With Options Go For Hotties

Psychologists know that too many choices can be overwhelming and lead to indecision or rash judgments. A similar trend appears with speed dating. The larger the dating pool, the more singles tend to make snap judgments based on looks. In smaller groups, however, speed daters were more likely to pick based on personal info from conversations.

Dating Study Says Singles With Options Go For Hotties

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For Hoarders, The Mess Begins In The Mind

Many people with a hoarding anxiety disorder need to take baby steps in order to cope with organization — like cleaning a bit at a time, rather than getting rid of everything at once. Grap/Wikimedia Commons hide caption

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Grap/Wikimedia Commons

Mental Health

For Hoarders, The Mess Begins In The Mind

Researchers now believe that compulsive hoarding is an anxiety disorder that first emerges early in life and gets worse with time. For many, therapy that focuses on decision-making skills and reducing anxiety is much more successful than simply cleaning out the home.

For Hoarders, The Mess Begins In The Mind

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Warding Off Muscle Cramps As We Age

For athletes and nonathletes alike, stretching to keep muscles limber may help prevent cramping later in life. Ian Stewart/AP hide caption

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Ian Stewart/AP

Your Health

Warding Off Muscle Cramps As We Age

As we get older, our muscles get weaker and the nerves undergo some decay. This makes us more prone to muscle cramps. Despite a good deal of study, there's not an easy treatment for the issue — but some tried-and-true prevention techniques seem to help.

Warding Off Muscle Cramps As We Age

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U.S. Youth Likely To Face Greater Health Issues

Despite public health messages about exercise and eating healthfully, many children are acquiring what used to be considered "adult diseases," like diabetes and high blood pressure. M. Spencer Green/AP hide caption

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M. Spencer Green/AP

Your Health

U.S. Youth Likely To Face Greater Health Issues

Anti-smoking campaigns have had success reducing smoking, and since the 1990s smoking among youth has also declined. However, public health messages about exercise and healthy eating don't seem to be having an effect yet. Kids are developing adult diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.

U.S. Youth Likely To Face Greater Health Issues

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As Lice Grow Treatment-Resistant, Drug Could Help

After being treated with shampoos and lotions containing insecticides for many years, some lice have become resistant to treatment. Dr. David Phillips/Corbis hide caption

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Dr. David Phillips/Corbis

Your Health

As Lice Grow Treatment-Resistant, Drug Could Help

Lice in children have been treated for years with lotions, creams and shampoos. But the little critters are becoming more and more resistant. Now an oral drug already used to treat certain parasites in people appears to kill lice as well. Researchers say it could be an alternative when standard treatments fail.

As Lice Grow Treatment-Resistant, Drug Could Help

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Research News

Report: Most Couples Living Together Marry

The latest statistics from the federal government show that more young couples are living together outside marriage than ever before. But even so, it turns out that most of them will end up getting married, especially if they have similar backgrounds.

Report: Most Couples Living Together Marry

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Why We Gain Weight As We Age

As we age, our muscles deteriorate, and they don't repair as quickly as they used to. But the good news is that exercise and weightlifting can still make muscles stronger. Al Bello/Getty Images hide caption

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Al Bello/Getty Images

Your Health

Why We Gain Weight As We Age

It starts sometime during our 50s and 60s: that belly bulge, those "extra" pounds we just can't seem to shed. Part of it is simply the biology of our bodies. Our muscles literally shrink as we age, and that means more calories turn into fat — and it's a lot harder to exercise it off. But the good news is that working out still helps.

Why We Gain Weight As We Age

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Research News

Study: Mediterranean Diet May Lower Stroke Risk

The Mediterranean diet may be healthy not only for your heart but also for your brain. Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center report patients who ate the diet — rich in fish, fruits and vegetables — suffered fewer small strokes than those who ate a more traditional Western diet.

Study: Mediterranean Diet May Lower Stroke Risk

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