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Public media coverage of health policy, research, and wellness.

There's a Massive Measles Vaccine Campaign in Mexico. Is the Public on Board?
NewsMar 28, 2026

There's a Massive Measles Vaccine Campaign in Mexico. Is the Public on Board?

Mexico has launched an emergency measles vaccination drive that aims to administer up to 2.5 million doses each week after more than 36,000 suspected cases and 15,000 confirmed infections have been reported. The campaign places pop‑up stations in public venues and...

By NPR (Health)
Her Dad's Dementia Inspired Her to Create a Guide for Family Caregivers
NewsMar 27, 2026

Her Dad's Dementia Inspired Her to Create a Guide for Family Caregivers

Wambūi Karanja turned her father's early‑onset dementia into a catalyst for change, creating a practical guide and training program for family caregivers in Kenya. She highlighted pervasive myths that label dementia as normal aging or a spiritual curse, which delay...

By NPR (Health)
Do You Lean Optimistic or Pessimistic? Take This Quiz and Find Out
NewsMar 27, 2026

Do You Lean Optimistic or Pessimistic? Take This Quiz and Find Out

Behavioral scientist Deepika Chopra argues optimism is a trainable skill, not a fixed trait, and introduces a quiz based on Martin Seligman’s optimism scale. Her new book, *The Power of Real Optimism*, outlines three evidence‑backed practices: a daily “ta‑da” list,...

By NPR (Health)
These Families Help Scientists Find Alzheimer's Treatments. Their Network Is at Risk
NewsMar 24, 2026

These Families Help Scientists Find Alzheimer's Treatments. Their Network Is at Risk

An international consortium of more than 200 families carrying dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s mutations, the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN), has been pivotal in uncovering the disease’s pre‑clinical brain changes and accelerating amyloid‑targeting drug trials. Researchers leveraged the certainty of genetic...

By NPR (Health)
The Search for a New CDC Director Nears a Deadline
NewsMar 24, 2026

The Search for a New CDC Director Nears a Deadline

The federal Vacancies Act triggers a 210‑day deadline tomorrow for naming a permanent CDC director, ending the acting tenure of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. The Trump administration has been rotating temporary leaders since Susan Monarez’s dismissal in August, and now must...

By NPR (Health)
When Health Insurance Costs $2,500 per Month, Families Make Tough Choices
NewsMar 21, 2026

When Health Insurance Costs $2,500 per Month, Families Make Tough Choices

The article follows Ken Warner and Parveen Vohra, a self‑employed couple who saw their ACA marketplace premium jump from $630 to $2,531 per month after the enhanced federal subsidies expired. With no legislative fix, they have been forced to slash...

By NPR (Health)
FDA Backs Off Stricter Tanning Bed Rules with RFK Jr.'s Support
NewsMar 19, 2026

FDA Backs Off Stricter Tanning Bed Rules with RFK Jr.'s Support

The FDA withdrew its long‑standing proposal to ban anyone under 18 from using indoor tanning beds, a rule first introduced in 2015. The decision came after Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly advocated for less government suppression of "sunshine," aligning with...

By NPR (Health)
Kick Your Tiredness with These 7 Natural Energy Boosters
NewsMar 19, 2026

Kick Your Tiredness with These 7 Natural Energy Boosters

Dr. Amy Shah, author of *I’m So Effing Tired*, outlines seven natural strategies to combat chronic fatigue, focusing on gut‑friendly nutrition, circadian alignment, and emotional recharge. She recommends high‑fiber, nutrient‑dense foods, eliminating sugary or caffeinated drinks, and choosing lean, plant‑based...

By NPR (Health)
Former Federal Advisers on Autism Who Were Let Go by RFK Jr. Form a New Committee
NewsMar 18, 2026

Former Federal Advisers on Autism Who Were Let Go by RFK Jr. Form a New Committee

Former federal autism advisers dismissed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have launched the Independent Autism Coordinating Committee, a science‑based alternative to the reconstituted Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. The new group, comprising five former federal members, leading scientists and...

By NPR (Health)
Red States Move to Protect Crisis Pregnancy Centers Using Model Legislation
NewsMar 18, 2026

Red States Move to Protect Crisis Pregnancy Centers Using Model Legislation

Conservative lawmakers in Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma are advancing the Alliance Defending Freedom’s model CARE Act, which shields crisis pregnancy centers from state mandates to provide abortion referrals, information or contraception. The bill also grants centers the right to sue...

By NPR (Health)
I'm Concerned About My Blood Pressure. Can I Check It at Home?
NewsMar 17, 2026

I'm Concerned About My Blood Pressure. Can I Check It at Home?

Hypertension affects about 31 % of adults worldwide, and a single office reading often fails to capture true blood‑pressure trends due to stress and white‑coat effects. The American College of Cardiology now recommends home monitoring to supplement annual screenings, providing multiple...

By NPR (Health)
Reproductive Health Clinics Scramble as Title X Funding Cliff Approaches
NewsMar 17, 2026

Reproductive Health Clinics Scramble as Title X Funding Cliff Approaches

A coalition of 128 Democratic lawmakers has urged the Health and Human Services Department to grant a one‑year extension for Title X funding as the program faces a March 31 deadline. HHS missed its Dec 31 guidance deadline, opening grant applications with only...

By NPR (Health)
As Parents Clamor for a Treatment Touted for Autism, Doctors Hesitate to Prescribe It
NewsMar 16, 2026

As Parents Clamor for a Treatment Touted for Autism, Doctors Hesitate to Prescribe It

Federal officials promoted leucovorin, a vitamin B9 derivative, as a potential autism treatment, prompting a surge in parental demand and online communities. The FDA later clarified that the drug is only approved for the ultra‑rare FOLR1‑related cerebral folate deficiency, not...

By NPR (Health)
In South Carolina, Measles Shows How Far Apart Neighbors Can Be on Vaccines
NewsMar 14, 2026

In South Carolina, Measles Shows How Far Apart Neighbors Can Be on Vaccines

Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has become the epicenter of the largest U.S. measles outbreak in decades, with nearly 1,000 confirmed cases. School vaccination rates have slipped to just under 89%, well below the 95% herd‑immunity threshold needed to block transmission....

By NPR (Health)
Medicaid Can Share Data with ICE. Here's How that 180-Degree Change Spreads Fear
NewsMar 13, 2026

Medicaid Can Share Data with ICE. Here's How that 180-Degree Change Spreads Fear

A December 2025 federal court ruling allows Medicaid to share enrollee names, addresses and immigration status with ICE, overturning long‑standing privacy assurances. The change, initiated by the Trump administration, removes the guarantee that health data would not be used for...

By NPR (Health)
After Firings, Funding Cuts and a Shooting, Can a Demoralized CDC Workforce Recover?
NewsMar 12, 2026

After Firings, Funding Cuts and a Shooting, Can a Demoralized CDC Workforce Recover?

After a wave of firings that cut roughly 3,000 positions—about a quarter of its staff—and ongoing funding reductions, the CDC remains leaderless, with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya named interim director while also overseeing the NIH. The agency also grapples with the...

By NPR (Health)
Saunas' Health Benefits Draw Enthusiasts and Researchers
NewsMar 11, 2026

Saunas' Health Benefits Draw Enthusiasts and Researchers

Sauna culture is booming, highlighted by the inaugural Seattle Sauna Festival where enthusiasts gather for heat‑based rituals. Researchers cite repeated sauna sessions—four to seven times weekly—as linked to lower cardiovascular mortality, reduced blood pressure, and improved cholesterol. Emerging studies also...

By NPR (Health)
A Dose of Psilocybin Helps Smokers Quit in New Study
NewsMar 10, 2026

A Dose of Psilocybin Helps Smokers Quit in New Study

Researchers at Johns Hopkins found a single dose of psilocybin dramatically increased smoking cessation rates compared with nicotine patches. In a randomized trial of 82 smokers, 17 of 41 participants who received psilocybin remained abstinent after six months versus four...

By NPR (Health)
Under Financial Strain, Primary Care Doctors Unite
NewsMar 10, 2026

Under Financial Strain, Primary Care Doctors Unite

Primary care physicians are feeling the squeeze from projected Medicaid cuts and low insurer reimbursement rates, prompting practices like Valley Medical Group in western Massachusetts to lay off 40 staff members, roughly 10% of its workforce. To regain bargaining power...

By NPR (Health)
Taking the Heat. Scientists Explore Sauna's Health Benefits
NewsMar 6, 2026

Taking the Heat. Scientists Explore Sauna's Health Benefits

Sauna use has surged as a wellness trend, prompting scientific scrutiny of its health impacts. Large Finnish cohort studies show that bathing 4‑7 times weekly cuts cardiovascular disease risk by up to 60% and improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and arterial...

By NPR (Health)