Health & Safety

Symphonie Dawson and her son, Andrew. A visiting nurse program helped Dawson finish school while she was pregnant.

Health & Safety

Nurse Visits Help First-Time Moms, Cut Government Costs In Long Run

3:24pm May 14, 2015

by Michelle Andrews

The Affordable Care Act has made available more assistance to new mothers so they can raise healthier kids. But critics say the standards for those programs are too lenient.

Cough? Check. Fever? Check. But bet you didn't think that this common fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, could be making you sick.

A Fungus Causes More Unexpected Illnesses In Montana

12:50pm May 14, 2015

by Nancy Shute

The infectious disease world is not short on surprises. Take the people in Montana and Idaho who looked like they had pneumonia. It turned out they had a fungal disease never before seen there.

Long-Term Depression May Boost Stroke Risk Long After Mood Improves

9:51am May 14, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Even after the psychological pain is effectively treated, damage from long years of depression may linger. It seems to double the risk of stroke among adults over age 50, research suggests.

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Allowing kids with ADHD to move around in class may help them collect their thoughts.

Vindication For Fidgeters: Movement May Help Students With ADHD Concentrate

9:46am May 14, 2015

by Anya Kamenetz

There's a correlation between physical movement and mental work, new research suggests. For kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, that may mean bouncing a knee helps sharpen their focus.

Margie Lachman says Abraham Maslow's research had a big influence on modern psychology.

How Did Abraham Maslow Change Psychology?

9:14am May 14, 2015

by NPR/TED Staff

Brandeis Psychology professor Margie Lachman works in the same office where Abraham Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs. She describes his lasting influence on psychology.

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If the Food and Drug Administration has approved a type of prescription contraception, then insurers must cover at least one option at no cost to the consumer.

Free Contraceptives Must Be Free, Obama Administration Tells Insurers

10:26am May 13, 2015

by Phil Galewitz

The notice to insurers comes after reports found many health plans weren't providing no-cost birth control for all prescription methods, a requirement under the Affordable Care Act.

Workers try to remove some of the 11 million gallons of oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez off Alaska in 1989. The ship's third mate may have been up for 18 hours before the accident.

Short On Sleep? You Could Be A Disaster Waiting To Happen

10:25am May 13, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

Megadisasters like Chernobyl and the Exxon Valdez oil spill were set off by people who were sleep-deprived. Researchers say they're able to pinpoint how lack of sleep derails decision-making.

WHO Announces New Guidelines For Naming Human Diseases

7:22pm May 12, 2015

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Dr. Keiji Fukuda, assistant director general for health security at the World Health Organization, about how the WHO names human diseases.

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New York Announces Crackdown On Nail Salons

3:57pm May 12, 2015

by Hansi Lo Wang

New York plans to send dozens of inspectors to nail salons across the state to crack down on poor working conditions. The New York Times found the industry was violating labor laws.

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Sheron Bazille pays $219.01 a month for her health insurance. She knows the amount down to the penny.

Tales From 3 Louisianans Who Got Subsidized Health Insurance

3:11pm May 12, 2015

by Jeff Cohen

About 90 percent of people in Louisiana who signed up for Obamacare got a subsidy. Some worry they won't be able to afford health insurance if the aid is overturned by the Supreme Court.

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