Your Health

Vanessa Wauchope begins abdominal exercises in Leah Keller's class in San Francisco, Calif. Keller teaches an exercise, called "drawing in," to help strengthen abdominal muscles that tend to spread apart a bit during pregnancy.

Getting To The Core Of Exercises Said To Strengthen 'Mum Tum'

2:56pm August 20, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

NPR listeners had lots of questions after our story about diastasis recti, a medical condition of abdominal muscles that's common among new moms. Many wanted to know more about how to fix the problem.

Left: A partial solar eclipse, as viewed from the Cotswolds, United Kingdom, March 2015. Right: A total solar eclipse, as viewed from Longyearbyen, Norway, March 2015.

Be Smart: A Partial Eclipse Can Fry Your Naked Eyes

6:02pm August 18, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

And telescopes and binoculars only amplify the risk to your eyes from looking at the sun, doctors say. So even if you're not in the "path of totality," take precautions if you plan to watch.

Binge-drinking sounds like an all-night bender, but here's a reality check: Many social drinkers may "binge" without knowing it. Women who drink four or more drinks on an occasion are binge-drinking.

With Heavy Drinking On The Rise, How Much Is Too Much?

8:03am August 17, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

Binge-drinking sounds like an all-night bender, but here's a reality check: Many social drinkers may "binge" without knowing it. Women who drink four or more drinks on an occasion are binge-drinking.

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The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is the highest among affluent nations. Researchers believe that with better education, postpartum nurses could help mothers identify life-threatening complications.

Many Nurses Lack Knowledge Of Health Risks To Mothers After Childbirth

7:57am August 17, 2017

A nationwide survey shows that postpartum nurses often fail to warn mothers about potentially life-threatening complications following childbirth, mainly because they need more education themselves.

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While doctors and nurses have an ethical duty to treat all patients, they are not immune to feelings of dread when it comes to patients who are hateful or belligerent. A well-known article from the 1970s spoke to this.

After Charlottesville, A Doctor Reflects On Hateful Patients And His Own Biases

1:15pm August 16, 2017

by John Henning Schumann

Medical professionals take pride in their commitment to care for all patients. But that pride doesn't shield them from the difficult ones.

An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday found that ending cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers, a move that President Trump is contemplating, would raise the deficit by $194 billion over 10 years.

CBO Predicts Rise In Deficit If Trump Cuts Payments To Insurance Companies

6:49pm August 15, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ending what's known as cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers will raise the deficit $194 billion over 10 years.

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In The Event Of A Nuclear Blast, Don't Condition Your Hair

1:54pm August 15, 2017

by Angus Chen

That advice came in guidelines issued to residents of Guam on how to prepare for a missile threat on the island. The reason is conditioner can trap radioactive particles in strands of hair.

Arthritis is a joint disease that can cause cartilage destruction and erosion of the bone, as well as tendon inflammation and rupture. Affected areas are highlighted in red in this enhanced X-ray.

6,000-Year-Old Knee Joints Suggest Osteoarthritis Isn't Just Wear And Tear

11:56am August 15, 2017

by Richard Harris

Even after a Harvard team took into account differences in age and weight among ancient specimens and knees today, they found that modern humans tend to have more osteoarthritis.

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Surface stains from things like coffee, tea, tobacco and red wine can be lightened with routine brushing, flossing and professional cleaning in the dental office. But deeper stains that come with age and damage to the tooth require bleaching agents or ven

Navigating The 'Aisle Of Confusion' To Whiten Your Teeth

5:21pm August 14, 2017

by Patti Neighmond

The whiter the smile the more attractive the person, research finds. Both men and women say white teeth matter when choosing a mate. This may be why whitening teeth is a $3.2 billion industry.

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Your diet can influence your appearance. You knew that. But did you know that what you eat can also affect your body odor and your attractiveness to the opposite sex?

Health & Safety

Men, Listen Up: Women Like The Smell Of Guys Who Eat A Certain Diet

2:11pm August 14, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

Your diet can influence your appearance. You knew that. But did you know that what you eat can also affect your body odor and your attractiveness to the opposite sex?

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