Your Health

Oliver Sacks: Hallucinations

3:11pm May 21, 2013

In his latest book Hallucinations, neurologist Oliver Sacks collects stories of individuals who can see, hear and smell things that aren't really there--such as strange voices, or collages of unrecognizable faces--and explores the disorders and drugs that can produce such illusions. This interview was originally broadcast on November 9, 2012.

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Amy Goyer moved back to Phoenix to look after her father, Robert, when he began to show signs of Alzheimer's. He is just one of 5 million Americans living with the disease.

Health & Safety

Alzheimer's Cases Rise, But Hope Remains

7:47pm May 18, 2013

by NPR Staff

More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease.

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Health & Safety

Treadmill Desks And The Benefits Of 'Walking Alive'

2:00pm May 15, 2013

New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean has spent years trying to find the right desk chair. She considered a pricy museum-worthy chair, a kneeling chair and a yoga ball before ditching the seat altogether for a treadmill desk — and discovering the health benefits of moving at work.

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The Promise And Limitations Of Telemedicine

2:07pm May 14, 2013

Telemedicine is nothing new, but advancements in technology have made it even more widely available. Neurologists can now treat Parkinson's patients from miles away, therapists can reach service members overseas, and general practitioners can work in rural areas without actually going there at all.

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The Myth Of Multitasking

1:23pm May 10, 2013

How long can you go without checking email, or glancing at your smartphone? Clifford Nass, a psychology professor at Stanford University, says today's nonstop multitasking actually wastes more time than it saves--and he says there's evidence it may be killing our concentration and creativity too.

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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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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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Amelia Schabel, 23, works with art director Andrew LaBounty at the nonPareil Institute in Plano, Texas.

Health & Safety

Young Adults With Autism Can Thrive In High-Tech Jobs

3:07pm April 23, 2013

by Lauren Silverman

Finding a job is hard enough for recent graduates, but for those on the autism spectrum the search can be even harder. One training program in Texas is helping these young people prepare for jobs in the tech industry.

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Confusion over the details of the new health care law is leaving many people vulnerable to con artists. Evelyne Lois Such, 86, was recently the target of an attempted scam.

Scammers Find Fertile Ground In Health Law

10:18am April 22, 2013

by Jenny Gold

Law enforcement agencies are reporting an increase in health insurance scams across the country. Many of the scammers seem to be preying on the public's confusion over the massive changes taking place in the nation's health care system.

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