Your Health

Scientists are questioning the evidence about an alleged attack on diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.

Health & Safety

Doubts Rise About Evidence That U.S. Diplomats In Cuba Were Attacked

9:50pm March 25, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Nearly two years after the U.S. said diplomats in Cuba had been injured in a series of "health attacks," many scientists say there's still no proof anyone was injured.

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A 20-minute nap refreshes. Just don't sleep in so long on Sunday morning that you find it hard to fall asleep Sunday night.

Health & Safety

Nappuccinos To More Weekend Z's: Strategize To Catch Up On Lost Sleep

11:42am March 24, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

Sleeping in on the weekend or taking a brief nap can help you recover from a single bad night. But just five consecutive nights of too little sleep can lead to weight gain and elevated blood sugar.

Contrast agent, a drug that enhances CT scans, is sometimes skipped because of concerns about side effects.

Health & Safety

Are The Risks Of Drugs That Enhance Imaging Tests Overblown?

12:10pm March 23, 2019

by Clayton Dalton

A contrast agent doesn't make you feel better or treat what's ailing you. But by making CT scans clearer, contrast might be crucial in helping your doctor make the right diagnosis.

Genomic research tends to rely on genetic data from white study subjects: 78 percent of all individuals included in genomic studies of disease were of European descent.

Human Genomics Research Has A Diversity Problem

1:27pm March 21, 2019

by Jonathan Lambert

Studies on the genetics of human diseases have focused largely on people of European descent. Researchers say this lack of diversity is bad science and exacerbates health inequities.

For people with a rare condition known as misophonia, certain sounds like slurping, chewing, tapping and clicking can elicit intense feelings of rage or panic.

Misophonia: When Life's Noises Drive You Mad

2:22pm March 18, 2019

by April Fulton

Some people experience intense rage or fear when they hear the sound of people chewing, spitting, or throat-clearing. Turns out they may have a rare condition known as misophonia.

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Various forms of dementia can take very different courses, so it's important to get the right diagnosis.

Health & Safety

Is It Alzheimer's Or Another Dementia? The Right Answer Matters

10:49am March 18, 2019

by Jon Hamilton

Many older people diagnosed with Alzheimer's actually have dementia caused by something else. Without the right diagnosis, these people are less likely to get the best care.

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A study finds that consuming two eggs per day was linked to a 27 percent higher risk of developing heart disease. But many experts say this new finding is no justification to drop eggs from your diet.

Health & Safety

Cholesterol Redux: As Eggs Make A Comeback, New Questions About Health Risks

10:46am March 16, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

A study found consuming two eggs per day was linked to a 27 percent higher risk of developing heart disease. The finding reopens the debate about the potential risks of too much dietary cholesterol.

Few medical guidelines for heart care are based on the highest-quality evidence.

Health & Safety

Many Guidelines For Heart Care Rely On Weak Evidence

4:54pm March 15, 2019

by Richard Harris

Less than 10 percent of cardiovascular guidelines to help doctors are based on the most carefully conducted scientific studies. A lot of the rest are based on much flimsier evidence.

Health & Safety

Weight Loss Is Hard. We Want To Hear Your Story

11:25am March 15, 2019

by Maria Godoy

NPR is working on a series of stories about overcoming the biological and mental hurdles to weight loss, and we want to hear from you.

There can be as many as 35 different inactive ingredients inside a medicine.

Health & Safety

Overlooked Ingredients In Medicines Can Sometimes Trigger Side Effects

11:39pm March 13, 2019

by Richard Harris

Drugmakers add inactive ingredients to stabilize medications and sometimes to help the body absorb the active ingredients. But the inactive constituents can cause side effects in rare cases.

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