health care

It's not easy to start end-of-life discussions, but some people make it a holiday tradition.

This Thanksgiving, Carve Out Time To Talk About End-Of-Life Wishes

6:00am November 22, 2017

by JoNel Aleccia

Turkey dinner with a side dish of death isn't everyone's idea of a festive meal. But end-of-life planning advocates say the holidays are an ideal time to have these conversations with family members.

Dr. Terry Horton, chief of addiction medicine and medical director of Project Engage at Christiana Care Health System, testified about opioid addiction before a U.S. Senate committee in May.

Asking About Opioids: A Treatment Plan Can Make All The Difference

4:57am November 22, 2017

by James Morrison

Is it worthwhile for doctors to screen all the patients who come through the door about their use of opioids? Usually not, but direct connections to treatment can change the equation.

Ruby Corado (left) with her friend and Casa Ruby board member Consuella Lopez on the porch of one of the transitional group homes Corado runs in Washington, D.C., in 2015.

Health Care System Fails Many Transgender Americans

8:29pm November 21, 2017

by Neda Ulaby

Nearly a third of transgender people responding to an NPR poll say they have no regular access to health care. Very few medical offices are prepared to care for people who have transitioned.

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Chart: Percentage of LGBTQ Americans saying they or an LGBTQ friend or family member has experienced various forms of individual discrimination because they are LGBTQ

Poll: Majority of LGBTQ Americans Report Harassment, Violence Based On Identity

11:44am November 21, 2017

by Joe Neel

In the poll, LGBTQ people also reported numerous experiences of institutional discrimination — in jobs, equal pay, promotions, and when trying to obtain health care or housing.

Doctors think the chronic pain of "shoulder impingement" may arise from age-related tendon and muscle degeneration, or from a bone spur that can rub against a tendon.

Popular Surgery To Ease Chronic Shoulder Pain Called Into Question

7:44pm November 20, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

U.K. scientists say arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs or bits of ragged tissue in sore shoulders offered no more pain relief than than sham surgery in their randomized test.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, shown here testifying before a Senate committee in 2017, says President Trump's top health priority is addressing opioid addiction.

Health & Safety

U.S. Surgeon General Says Working Together Is Key To Combating Opioid Crisis

7:06pm November 20, 2017

by Greta Jochem

The country's top public health advocate says the cycle of opioid addiction won't be stopped without more money from Congress and cooperation among federal, state and local officials.

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Supporters of women's health rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., March 23, 2016, as the Court hears oral arguments in seven cases dealing with religious organizations that want to ban contraceptives from their health insurance policies on

Massachusetts Set To Approve Law Protecting Access To Birth Control

3:43pm November 20, 2017

by Samantha Raphelson

The Massachusetts law would make it the first state to circumvent a federal policy allowing any company to opt out of providing free birth control coverage due to a religious or moral exemption.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help treat PTSD, doctors say.

The Many Forms, Faces And Causes Of PTSD

8:11am November 19, 2017

You don't have to be in the military to have experiences that could lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, a doctor says.

House Tax Plan Would Eliminate Medical Expense Deduction

6:42pm November 17, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

The House passed its bill to overhaul the tax code. It would eliminate many popular deductions — including the one for medical expenses. The provision isn't included in the current Senate version.

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Amos Winter: How Do You Build An All-Terrain Wheelchair For Under $200?

9:38am November 17, 2017

by NPR/TED Staff

In many countries, uneven and unpaved roads make it hard to get around in a standard wheelchair. MIT engineer Amos Winter describes his design for a lever-powered all-terrain wheelchair under $200.

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