NPR: your health https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=137328702 your health en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Tue, 27 May 2025 20:32:31 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: your health https://www.npr.org/tags/137328702/your-health How Highly Focused Sound Waves Steadied A Farmer's Trembling Hand Tree farmer Alan Dambach's tremor got so bad he couldn't read his own signature. Then he tried a new procedure that uses sound waves to destroy specific brain cells. Mon, 09 Jul 2018 05:06:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/09/626505588/how-highly-focused-sound-waves-steadied-a-farmers-trembling-hand https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/09/626505588/how-highly-focused-sound-waves-steadied-a-farmers-trembling-hand

Tree farmer Alan Dambach's tremor got so bad he couldn't read his own signature. Then he tried a new procedure that uses sound waves to destroy specific brain cells.

]]> Jon Hamilton Saunas Are A Hot Trend, And They Might Even Help Your Health Sweating in a sauna feels good, and it's associated with health benefits including a lower risk of heart disease. But is that because of the heat, or because you're able to kick back and relax? Sat, 20 Jan 2018 05:30:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/01/20/579147638/saunas-are-a-hot-trend-and-they-might-even-help-your-health https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/01/20/579147638/saunas-are-a-hot-trend-and-they-might-even-help-your-health

Sweating in a sauna feels good, and it's associated with health benefits including a lower risk of heart disease. But is that because of the heat, or because you're able to kick back and relax?

]]> Katherine Hobson Got Back Pain? Try Yoga Or Massage Before Reaching For The Pills New guidelines encourage doctors to tell patients to try non-drug therapies for acute lower back pain first. Mon, 20 Feb 2017 05:02:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/20/515675259/got-back-pain-try-yoga-or-massage-before-reaching-for-the-pills https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/20/515675259/got-back-pain-try-yoga-or-massage-before-reaching-for-the-pills

New guidelines encourage doctors to tell patients to try non-drug therapies for acute lower back pain first.

]]> Patti Neighmond It's Tough To Make Good Health Choices, But Science Can Help Good intentions are great, but they'll only take you so far. There are some research-backed techniques you can use to increase your odds of following through on living better, however. Thu, 07 Jul 2016 11:41:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/07/07/484977086/its-tough-to-make-good-health-choices-but-science-can-help https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/07/07/484977086/its-tough-to-make-good-health-choices-but-science-can-help

Good intentions are great, but they'll only take you so far. There are some research-backed techniques you can use to increase your odds of following through on living better, however.

(Image credit: Jamie Jones)

]]> Katherine Hobson Do You Really Need Antimicrobials In Your Soap? Triclosan is no better at getting germs off your hands than plain old soap, a study finds. Manufacturers are responding to safety concerns about that antimicrobial by switching to others. Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:18:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/17/441112286/do-you-really-need-antimicrobials-in-your-soap https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/17/441112286/do-you-really-need-antimicrobials-in-your-soap

Triclosan is no better at getting germs off your hands than plain old soap, a study finds. Manufacturers are responding to safety concerns about that antimicrobial by switching to others.

]]> Lynne Shallcross A Look At Sports And Health In America Americans' relationship with sports changes as we grow older. About three-quarters of adults say they played sports as children. By the time people are in their late 20s, only about a quarter do. Mon, 15 Jun 2015 03:03:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/06/15/413379700/a-look-at-sports-and-health-in-america https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/06/15/413379700/a-look-at-sports-and-health-in-america

Americans' relationship with sports changes as we grow older. About three-quarters of adults say they played sports as children. By the time people are in their late 20s, only about a quarter do.

]]> Scott Hensley 4 Tips To Help A Foodie Get Through Chemo Chemotherapy wreaks havoc on the taste buds, which can be a real challenge for anyone who loves food. But there are a few things you can do to maximize your food enjoyment while in cancer treatment. Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:19:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/17/169333561/4-tips-to-help-a-foodie-get-through-chemo https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/17/169333561/4-tips-to-help-a-foodie-get-through-chemo

Chemotherapy wreaks havoc on the taste buds, which can be a real challenge for anyone who loves food. But there are a few things you can do to maximize your food enjoyment while in cancer treatment.

]]> Madhulika Sikka Drinks, Diets And Meat: Hits Of 2012, Predictions For 2013 Coffee, wine, beer and cocktails were popular topics on The Salt in 2012, as well as weightier matters like organic food, genetically modified seeds, and the paleo diet. Tue, 01 Jan 2013 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/01/168343452/drinks-diets-and-meat-hits-of-2012-predictions-for-2013 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/01/01/168343452/drinks-diets-and-meat-hits-of-2012-predictions-for-2013 Downton Abbey.'/>

Coffee, wine, beer and cocktails were popular topics on The Salt in 2012, as well as weightier matters like organic food, genetically modified seeds, and the paleo diet.

]]> April Fulton Big Food And The Big, Silent Salt Experiment Food manufacturers have been quietly reducing sodium by tiny amounts in popular foods like crackers for years now. That's because if products are marked "low sodium," consumers won't buy them. But companies are also working on ways to deliver more salt taste with less sodium. Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:02:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/20/167619160/big-food-and-the-big-silent-salt-experiment https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/12/20/167619160/big-food-and-the-big-silent-salt-experiment Food manufacturers have been quietly reducing sodium by tiny amounts in popular foods like crackers for years now. That's because if products are marked "low sodium," consumers won't buy them. But companies are also working on ways to deliver more salt taste with less sodium.

]]> Dan Charles What Health-Minded Smartphone Users Have In Common With Obama Voters Exit polls and a separate survey of cellphone users show similarities between Obama voters and people who tap their mobile devices to get health information. Latinos, African-Americans and young people were big in both groups. Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/11/08/164697224/what-health-minded-smartphone-users-have-in-common-with-obama-voters https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/11/08/164697224/what-health-minded-smartphone-users-have-in-common-with-obama-voters Exit polls and a separate survey of cellphone users show similarities between Obama voters and people who tap their mobile devices to get health information. Latinos, African-Americans and young people were big in both groups.

]]> Scott Hensley