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Shots - Health News

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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

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MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images

Two brain circuits help determine whether there's too little salt, or too much. Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images hide caption

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Aleksandr Zubkov/Getty Images

Salty much? These brain cells decide when tasty becomes blech

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New research finds that a common microbe may be directly causing itchiness on the skin it colonizes. Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images hide caption

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Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images

What can trigger an itch? Scientists have found a new culprit

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Meredith Rizzo for NPR

Another Ozempic side effect? Facing the holidays with no appetite

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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

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Mark Makela/Getty Images

Get used to it: COVID is a part of the holidays. Here's how to think about risks now

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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

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Nitashia Johnson/KFF Health News
Hachette

Healing the 'Invisible Ache' behind the suicide crisis among Black men and boys

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Can little actions bring big joy? Researchers find 'micro-acts' can boost well-being

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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

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picture alliance/dpa/picture alliance via Getty I

Hearing loss can lead to deadly falls, but hearing aids may cut the risk

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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

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Darron Cummings/AP

People who practice cognitively enhanced tai chi significantly improved their scores on memory tests. PYMCA/Avalon via Getty Images hide caption

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PYMCA/Avalon via Getty Images

Tai chi helps boost memory, study finds. One type seems most beneficial

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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

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Howard Erker/Oakland Tribune-MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Lessons from brain science — and history's peacemakers — for resolving conflicts

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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

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LauriPatterson/Getty Images

Less snacking, more satisfaction: Some foods boost levels of an Ozempic-like hormone

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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

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Kate Medley/KFF Health News

She talked about depression at a checkup — and got billed for two visits

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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

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Too much red meat is linked to a 50% increase in Type 2 diabetes risk

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