Your Health

Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa., Sen. Chris Murphy D-Conn., Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., called for Senate passage of the 21st Century Cures Act on Monday.

Mental Health Care Gets A Boost From 21st Century Cures Act

6:12pm December 07, 2016

by Liz Szabo

Early intervention for treating psychosis and grants to train more psychologists and psychiatrists are just some of the ways the legislation would change mental health services.

Be the sunflower and you may live longer.

A Brighter Outlook Could Translate To A Longer Life

4:25pm December 07, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

This study doesn't prove that optimism actually causes better health or postpones death. But it joins a growing body of evidence suggesting that they're fellow travelers.

Doctors and hospitals are increasingly asking patients to pay up front for deductibles, which can cost thousands.

Doctors And Hospitals Tell Patients: Show Us The Money Before Treatment

10:30am December 07, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

As patients' share of medical bills has grown with the rise in deductibles, copays and coinsurance, providers have become laser focused on getting payments up front.

If you haven't had at least seven hours of sleep in the last 24, you probably shouldn't be behind the wheel, traffic safety data suggests.

Drivers Beware: Crash Rate Spikes With Every Hour Of Lost Sleep

4:39pm December 06, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

An analysis of car accidents found that drivers who slept only five or six hours in the previous 24 had nearly twice the accident rate of drivers who slept a full seven hours or more.

Downstairs hair management has become increasingly popular for men and women.

Going Bare Down There May Boost The Risk Of STDs

12:56pm December 06, 2016

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Next time you get a Brazilian wax or do a little manscaping, you may be getting more than you bargained for. Banishing hair downstairs may increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

A doctor keeps a pedestrian away from the JFK Ebola treatment center on October 13, 2014 in Monrovia, Liberia. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

A Stabbing, A Possible Ebola Outbreak, And A 'Time Bomb'

12:00am December 06, 2016

In Liberia, a team of epidemiologists have to delay a criminal investigation, look the other way on illegal drug use and build trust to stop an outbreak of Ebola.

Queue Listen Now

The HPV vaccine has reduced the prevalence of the cancer-causing human papillomavirus by as much as 65 percent among those who are vaccinated.

Advice For Doctors Talking To Parents About HPV Vaccine: Make It Brief

4:10pm December 05, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

A decade after HPV vaccine was introduced in the U.S., many doctors still hesitate to routinely recommend that children get vaccinated against the cancer-causing virus.

Queue Listen Now

While incarcerated, Mark Baskerville says he suffered five diabetic comas. He says he's now doing a better job of managing his health.

Helping Ex-Inmates Stay Out Of The ER Brings Multiple Benefits

4:01pm December 05, 2016

by Rae Ellen Bichell

Each year, millions of Americans leave jail or prison. When they do, they're likely to have a hard time managing their health. Some clinics are trying to provide ex-inmates with better, cheaper care.

Queue Listen Now

Health & Safety

Study: Older Smokers Can Still Significantly Lower Risk Of Death If They Quit

10:43am December 04, 2016

Researcher Sara Nash tells NPR's Ailsa Chang why it's never to late to quit smoking. She's one of the authors of a new NIH-AARP study.

Queue Listen Now

Psychedelic drugs could provide relief for anxiety and depression among advanced cancer patients.

How A Psychedelic Drug Helps Cancer Patients Overcome Anxiety

7:00am December 03, 2016

by Robin Marantz Henig

Many cancer patients who took the psychedelic drug psilocybin under supervision said the experience erased their anxiety and depression over illness and death.