Stage actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) reclines in a scene from an unnamed theater production. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

Shots
Health News From NPRYour Health
When Sarah Barak, standing here outside her Seattle home, needed an operation for her injured thumb, her surgeon gave her unsolicited advice to lose weight. People with larger bodies often report that when they go to the doctor, their problems are ignored or written off as an inevitable result of their weight. Megan Farmer/KUOW hide caption
Doctors and researchers question the efficacy of many common over-the-counter treatments for colds and flus. Jeff Greenberg/Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images hide caption
Palestinians evacuate the area following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Images of suffering, violence and death in Gaza and Israel have flooded the news since Oct. 7. MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Two brain circuits help determine whether there's too little salt, or too much. Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images hide caption
Salty much? These brain cells decide when tasty becomes blech
New research finds that a common microbe may be directly causing itchiness on the skin it colonizes. Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images hide caption
Back in 2020, even Sasquatch Pilgrim wore a mask on his way to Thanksgiving dinner. Vaccines and immunity make things better this year, but a mask during holiday travel is still a good idea. Mark Makela/Getty Images hide caption
Get used to it: COVID is a part of the holidays. Here's how to think about risks now
Reesha Ahmed of Venus, Texas, was billed nearly $2,400 for standard blood tests following her first prenatal checkup. Nitashia Johnson/KFF Health News hide caption
She was elated about her pregnancy. Then came a $2,400 bill for blood tests
There are 80 different autoimmune diseases, affecting up to 50 million Americans. Oona Tempest/KFF Health News hide caption
Healing the 'Invisible Ache' behind the suicide crisis among Black men and boys
Can little actions bring big joy? Researchers find 'micro-acts' can boost well-being
Scientists are learning more about how long COVID affects the brain. David Wall/Getty Images hide caption
People who consistently wear hearing aids have a lower chance of falling, a new study finds. picture alliance/dpa/picture alliance via Getty I hide caption
Hearing loss can lead to deadly falls, but hearing aids may cut the risk
Drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. received Food and Drug Administration approval for an obesity drug called Zepbound that will be a rival to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. Darron Cummings/AP hide caption
People who practice cognitively enhanced tai chi significantly improved their scores on memory tests. PYMCA/Avalon via Getty Images hide caption
Tai chi helps boost memory, study finds. One type seems most beneficial
Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to U.S. Congress was running for president in 1972 when she had a remarkable interaction with the pro-segregation George Wallace, then governor of Alabama. Her efforts to build bridges with him ultimately changed his point of view. She's pictured here giving a speech at Laney Community College during her presidential campaign. Howard Erker/Oakland Tribune-MediaNews Group via Getty Images hide caption
Lessons from brain science — and history's peacemakers — for resolving conflicts
A fiber found in barley, called beta-glucan, may improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure and increase satiation between meals, research shows. LauriPatterson/Getty Images hide caption
Less snacking, more satisfaction: Some foods boost levels of an Ozempic-like hormone
Christine Rogers of Wake Forest, North Carolina, was asked to complete a mental health questionnaire as part of her annual physical. A brief conversation with her doctor landed her with a charge for a separate consultation. Kate Medley/KFF Health News hide caption
She talked about depression at a checkup — and got billed for two visits
Intermittent fasting performed as well as calorie-counting for helping people with Type 2 diabetes manage weight and blood sugar. lacaosa/Getty Images hide caption
People who consume higher amounts of red meat and processed meat are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than people who consume less, a new study finds. LauriPatterson/Getty Images hide caption