Health & Safety

The Power Of Suggestion Could Trigger Asthma — Or Treat It

4:41pm November 17, 2014

by Patti Neighmond

Strong odors can be a problem for people with asthma. Even anticipating smells like chemicals or heavy perfumes can lead to an asthma attack. Some scientists think this may lead to new treatments.

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Researchers Suggest Ways To Make Pill Swallowing Easier

3:24pm November 17, 2014

by Maanvi Singh

Almost one-third of people have trouble swallowing pills, according to German researchers. They say some people have so much trouble, they avoid taking the recommended dosage.

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Dr. Martin Salia, shown in April, died today after being diagnosed with Ebola. He's being hailed in his native Sierra Leone as a "great hero."

In Sierra Leone, Tears And Wails Mark The Death Of Dr. Martin Salia

3:23pm November 17, 2014

by Nurith Aizenman

He was one of only 130 or so doctors who served the country. When news came that he'd succumbed to Ebola, people went into shock, mourning the death of "a great hero."

NPR's Nina Totenberg says the pop bottle method worked without a hitch.

Trouble Swallowing Pills? Try The 'Pop Bottle' Or The 'Lean Forward'

2:00pm November 17, 2014

by Maanvi Singh

One-third of people have trouble downing pills, and many skip taking medications as a result. A researcher in Germany says that two techniques help. Really? We tested them ourselves to find out.

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Sal Morales found an Obamacare health plan this year that costs him $145 per month — versus the $560 he'd been paying.

They Paid How Much? How Negotiated Deals Hide Health Care's Cost

1:43pm November 17, 2014

by Sammy Mack

A patient's portion of a health care bill is the result of a complicated equation. But it's simple compared with the variety of deals insurers negotiate with hospitals and doctors.

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These wooden tokens are handed out to shoppers who use SNAP benefits to purchase fresh produce at the Crossroads Farmers Market near Takoma Park, Md. Customers receive tokens worth twice the amount of money withdrawn from their SNAP benefits card — in o

How 'Double Bucks' For Food Stamps Conquered Capitol Hill

12:52pm November 17, 2014

by Dan Charles

The federal government is putting $100 million behind a simple idea: doubling the value of federal food benefits when people use them to buy fresh produce. This idea started small but became a hit.

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The "reston" strain of the Ebola virus. It is one of the group of filoviruses, so-called for its thin and long shape.

Ebola In The United States: What Happened When

9:44am November 17, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

Taming Ebola virus is now a challenge for the American health care system. We track the U.S. experience with Ebola from the discovery of a strain in laboratory monkeys in 1989 to the current outbreak.

Poor Contact Lens Care Leads To A Whole Lot Of Eye Infections

9:38am November 17, 2014

by Nancy Shute

Almost 1 million people a year end up with painful eye infections, and improper contact lens care is a big reason why, according to a new study from the CDC.

One of the most commonly heard Ebola acronyms is PPE, for personal protective equipment. Above, the proper way to don PPE is demonstrated at a CDC presentation. If you're not sure what CDC stands for, see the list of acronyms below.

Doctor, Put On Your PPE And Go Into The ETU, Stat!

5:22am November 15, 2014

by Linda Poon

The world of global health is an acronym soup. And the Ebola virus has generated its own list.

You've got a trillion friends in low places: Bacteria in the gut may protect against viruses by signaling their presence to your immune system.

How Bacteria In The Gut Help Fight Off Viruses

7:56pm November 14, 2014

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Rotavirus kills more than a half-million kids around the world each year. Now scientists have evidence that the secret to stopping it is hiding in the trillions of bacteria of our microbiome.