Your Health

One version of the Fitbit, a popular fitness tracker.

A Fitbit Saved His Life? Well, Maybe

4:56pm April 11, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

A man shows up in the emergency room with a speedy, irregular heartbeat, but can't say when it first went awry. No problem. The ER doctors just checked the phone records of his fitness tracker.

Queue Listen Now

The researchers were inspired by working with ultramarathoners, who can be sidelined by blisters despite years of training. These runners competed in the 2007 Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, Calif.

Go To The Tape: A Cheap, Easy Way To Prevent Blisters

1:46pm April 11, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Ultramarathoners can train for years and still get sidelined by blisters. Stanford researchers tested paper surgical tape during a 155-mile race and found it reduces blisters by 40 percent.

When The Cost Of Care Triggers A Medical Deportation

4:08pm April 09, 2016

by John Henning Schumann

Hospitals are legally obligated to find suitable places to discharge patients, but their insurance status makes all the difference. Things get complicated if people have entered the country illegally.

Sleep Deprived: We're Recharging Our Phones, But Not Ourselves

10:57am April 09, 2016

by NPR Staff

Arianna Huffington says we're in the midst of a sleep deprivation crisis and that Donald Trump really shouldn't be bragging about needing only four hours of sleep a night.

Queue Listen Now

Steve Julian, a radio host with KPCC in Los Angeles, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer last November. He and his wife, Felicia Friesema, turned to social media for solace, support and the space to process their heartbreaking journey.

Online Comfort For Real-World Cancer Can Be Surprisingly Sweet

10:10am April 08, 2016

Steve Julian is a morning anchor for KPCC-FM in Los Angeles, a playwright and a former cop. His communities are legion, and all cared deeply when he got his terminal diagnosis. How best to reach out?

A canvasser knocks on a door in Los Angeles.

Study Finds Deep Conversations Can Reduce Transgender Prejudice

6:52pm April 07, 2016

by Angus Chen

After a study about support for gay marriage was faked, the debunkers performed the experiment for real. This time, the results suggest canvassing door to door might reduce prejudice long-term.

Asafa Powell of Jamaica was barred from competition after testing positive for the stimulant oxilofrine.

Some Fat-Burning Supplements Contain Banned Stimulant Drug

9:33am April 07, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

Some supplements sold to improve workouts contain a stimulant that's been banned and may pose health risks, according to tests. The Food and Drug Administration has warned seven manufacturers.

Fewer than half of the low-income children eligible for dental care in California actually get checkups or other treatment.

California's Dental Safety Net Fails Most Clients, Report Says

6:38pm April 06, 2016

by David Gorn

Millions of children and adults are eligible for subsidized dental care in California. But the state's program is underfunded and many families can't find a dentist who participates, a report finds.

Erin Moore is collecting data to help her son's doctors make decisions about his cystic fibrosis care.

Health & Safety

How Patients' Reports On Their Health Can Help Doctors Do A Better Job

5:14pm April 05, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Doctors and other health providers are slowly adding patients' self-reports to the tests and exams used to make decisions about care.

A new dad may look like he's holding it together, but odds are he's pretty sleep deprived.

For New Parents, Dad May Be The One Missing The Most Sleep

1:05pm April 05, 2016

New moms get a lot of sympathy over lack of sleep, but studies find that dads may be hurting more, a new book on the science of parenting says. Bottom line: Both parents need help getting shut-eye.