Radio Health Journal
The latest in health, science, technology, and the intersection of medicine and public policy.
Dementia has a much wider range than most people think, and people with dementia are usually functional for years. An expert discusses the course of the disease and how life can still be positive for years before it reaches the late, debilitating stage most people think of when they hear the word “dementia.”
A major tactic deployed by police called "Pro-active Policing" may be backfiring. Then, preschoolers are just as bad as adults at resisting large portions of food and finally, a study showing that young children are swallowing more foreign objects than ever...
Millions of Americans cannot afford the medications they’ve been prescribed. Many skip doses, split pills or don’t fill prescriptions at all as a result, with sometimes even fatal consequences. But doctors are often unable to consider cost very well in prescribing, as the same drug often costs patients vastly different amounts due to insurance differences. Experts discuss the problem and what …
Brain aneurysms affect 1 in 50 people and are generally without symptoms until they burst. This occurs in about 30,000 people per year in the US, accounting for 3-5 percent of all new strokes. A survivor shares her story.
A new cure for infants with Bubble Boy's Disease. Then, a study in the American Journal of Public Health shows that depression, suicide, drug use, and alcohol abuse are rising for people in their late 30s. And finally, does smiling make you happier?
Millions of Americans believe they are allergic to penicillin. However, most of them are wrong.
The flu’s unique ability to mutate makes it one of the toughest diseases to solve, as it evades vaccines and treatment. It also has a deadly history, which prompts fears each flu season. A noted expert discusses all about the flu and its myths.
About a quarter of people over 65 have heart valve disease, and the medication Celebrex might be increasing that risk. Then, flu season is almost over, but be aware, come Fall, that what you eat can sabotage your flu shot. Then, adult cannabis use and the correlation of increased need for more sedatives during surgery. Then, A new study showing pay-for-performance compensation may make employees …
Many people having a mental health crisis go to the emergency room. However, ER’s are not well equipped to handle them, and many patients are boarded there for hours or even days without treatment. Experts discuss the reasons for the failure, the outcomes it produces, and solutions that have been successful in limited trials.
Heart disease is often preventable, but how people look at it often keeps them from doing as much about it as they could. Often this is a result of myth and misinformation. An expert physician discusses some of the most harmful of these myths.
A new study concludes the number one public health threat worldwide is a poor diet. Then, rapid eye movement sleep disorder and the link to Parkinson's disease, and, a rare form of cancer has now been linked to textured breast and buttocks implants. Finally, outfitted smart toilet seats are now being used to detect heart failure in those with pre-existing conditions.
Organ transplantation has dramatically changed lives and is raising hopes it could do even more for millions of people. But getting where we are has not been easy. A transplant surgeon traces the history of transplant research and notes the courage to fail among pioneering researchers and patients.
Research shows that friends are the most powerful people in our lives, influencing our behavior, attitudes and health even more than our parents or spouses. An expert discusses the many ways friends determine our destinies.
A major study showing a daily aspirin does nothing to prolong life, and increases risk in gastrointestinal bleeding. Then, soda with sugar and the connection to heart death and increased cancer risks. Then, how preventive road maintenance can save drivers costs. And finally, eating nuts to maintain brain function as you age.
Two Congressional plans, one from each side of the political spectrum, are competing to blow up the current healthcare system. Here experts examine one of them—the left’s bid to replace private insurers with a government-run single-payer plan labeled “Medicare for All.” Alternatives may include bolstering the Affordable Care Act, or getting rid of it completely.
One of the most popular searches on Google is for symptoms and what they mean. It’s created a much more well informed patient population, but one that may panic at the least pain or discomfort. Two experts discuss how to think of symptoms and how to search for them.
The average american eats enough eggs a week to raise risk for heart attack or death. Then, a study indicating common heartburn medications are being linked to kidney failure and chronic kidney disease. And finally, your Apple watch might be able to detect an irregular heart beat.
Patients used to accept doctors’ orders without question. Today, more are asking questions and challenging their doctors’ opinions. However, even those who do it politely are likely to be labeled “difficult.” A doctor whose late wife nearly made a career of being a difficult patient discusses how patients can do it respectfully and fruitfully.
Studies show a rudeness epidemic in the US, and that people are profoundly affected when they experience or even witness it occurring to someone else. Two experts discuss.
A nasal spray to treat depression called Esketamine. Then, parent skills that can help navigate conflict with teens. Finally, fast food now accounts for 11% of the energy intake in the United States.
Knee replacements are successful for 80 percent of recipients, yet many assume the success rate should be higher. Those who are not successful often are bitterly disappointed. However, patients and physicians can take steps to avoid a bad result. New techniques also offer much faster recovery. Experts discuss.
Many people have questions about their bodies that seem so silly, they never bring them up with their doctors. While the answers are sometimes humorous, often they are more complicated and important than we imagine. An expert physician/writer discusses.
In the first two months of 2019 the U.S. has had more cases of measles than ALL of 2017. Then, if you don't get enough sleep during the week, you can't catch up by sleeping in on the weekend. And finally; does the secret to a long life require drinking alcohol and coffee?
Clinical trials drive medical advancement, but cancer clinical trials seldom meet their goals in recruiting patients. Experts discuss causes, consequences, and actions being taken to meet needs.
Subscribe to get the latest from Radio Health Journal directly in your inbox.
