Health & Safety

Bates experienced migraines as a child. She made this painting to depict how they felt to her.

A Sleep Gene Has A Surprising Role In Migraines

10:33am May 02, 2013

by Jon Hamilton

Disruptions of sleep are well known as migraine triggers, but now researchers have found a genetic link between the two. In studying families with lots of migraines, they also found a mutation on a gene that helps control circadian rhythms.

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The New York City Council is considering a number of regulations on cigarettes, including raising the minimum age for buying cigarettes to 21.

New York Tobacco Regulations Light Up Public Health Debate

10:09am May 02, 2013

by Joel Rose

On Thursday, the City Council will debate proposals including raising the minimum age for buying cigarettes to 21. Also on the table is a ban on tobacco displays behind retail registers. Critics are pushing back, arguing that the changes won't have the intended effect.

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Health & Safety

Second Thoughts On Medicaid From Oregon's Unique Experiment

7:48pm May 01, 2013

by Julie Rovner

An influential study of Medicaid in Oregon found that recipients used more health care, spent less money and reported improved health. But the results of a follow-up study are less positive about whether people with coverage were healthier.

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Criminologist Believes Violent Behavior Is Biological

1:22pm May 01, 2013

In a new book, The Anatomy of Violence, Adrian Raine argues that violent behavior has a biological basis just like depression or schizophrenia. This raises questions about treatment, accountability and punishment, including the death penalty.

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Big Sibling's Big Influence: Some Behaviors Run In The Family

12:02pm May 01, 2013

by Alix Spiegel

Psychologists have long known that children often model their behavior on the actions of parents or peers. But science has only recently begun to measure the influence of siblings. An older brother's or sister's behavior can be very contagious, it turns out — for good and for bad.

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Doctors at a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, treat a boy injured in what the government said was a chemical weapons attack on March 19. Syria's government and rebels accused each other of firing a rocket loaded with chemical agents outside of Aleppo.

How Doctors Would Know If Syrians Were Hit With Nerve Gas

12:02pm May 01, 2013

by Christopher Joyce

An international team of doctors is helping Syrian health workers recognize the signs of a chemical attack. They're also teaching them how to collect and preserve tissues as potential evidence if war crimes charges are brought.

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Health & Safety

FDA OKs Prescription-Free Plan B Pill For Women 15 And Up

8:10pm April 30, 2013

by Julie Rovner

Under the proposal, teenagers below 15 would now need a prescription to purchase the morning-after pill. That age was previously 17. The plan would also allow the product to be sold on retail shelves, rather than behind the pharmacy counters, with age to be verified by cashiers rather than pharmacy staff.

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Parents can minimize the negative impact of their arguments on their children using a few simple techniques to calm down.

Health & Safety

How To Turn Down The Heat On Fiery Family Arguments

10:54am April 30, 2013

by Patti Neighmond

Psychologists say kids who get entangled in their parents' arguments often suffer shame and low self-esteem. So some are trying to teach parents who feel they just can't stop arguing when they get angry how to "get to calm."

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Health & Safety

Looking Ahead: The Future Of Health Care Policy

2:04pm April 29, 2013

The country is about to undergo the largest transition of national health policy ever. In the first in a series of look-ahead conversations, NPR's health policy correspondent Julie Rovner discusses the changes already in effect and the complications and controversy to come.

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Health & Safety

Anti-Drug PSAs: Do They Work?

6:38pm April 28, 2013

by NPR News

The U.S. has spent millions of dollars since the 1980s on anti-drug ads. But research shows that some of these older public service announcements might be counterproductive. Now that the ads are shifting to reach teens who want to rebel, new studies show they may actually be more effective.

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