Category: NPR

Pod Corner: ‘Lost Patients’

We hear from Lost Patients, a podcast that tries to make sense of the U.S. mental health care system.

What Do We Understand About Long COVID?

This week marks four years since the outbreak of Covid-19 was officially declared a pandemic. One of the most vexing legacies — one that science still hasn’t solved — is long Covid. That’s the debilitating condition that can develop in the aftermath of an infection.

Millions of Americans are living with the often debilitating symptoms that can include brain fog, shortness of breath, and low energy. Some struggle with simple daily living tasks like laundry and cooking.

Four years since the pandemic hit, patients with long Covid are still fighting for answers.

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Vulnerable Americans are stuck in a Medicare-Medicaid maze. Is a fix in sight?

A bipartisan Senate bill, dropping Thursday, promises better health care for some of the poorest, sickest Americans, who are known as “duals” because they qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

A simple blood test can detect colorectal cancer early, study finds

At a time when colorectal cancer is rising, researchers say a blood test can detect 83% of people with the disease. If the FDA approves it the test would be another screening tool for early detection.

In ‘Unshrinking,’ a writer argues that the medicalization of fatness leads to bias

Kate Manne tried to shrink her body for years before embracing her size as part of a “natural, normal human variation.” She says the fight against fat phobia must start in the doctor’s office.

What we know about long COVID — from brain fog to physical fatigue

“Long COVID has affected every part of my life,” said Virginia resident Rachel Beale said at a recent Senate hearing. “I wake up every day feeling tired, nauseous and dizzy. I immediately start planning when I can lay down again.”

Beale is far from alone. Many of her experiences have been echoed by others dealing with long COVID. It’s a constellation of debilitating symptoms that range from brain fog and intense physical fatigue to depression and anxiety.

But there’s new, promising research that sheds light onto some symptoms. NPR health correspondent Will Stone talks with Short Wave host Regina G. Barber about the state of long COVID research — what we know, what we don’t and when we can expect treatments or even cures for it.

Have more COVID questions you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we’d love to hear from you.

In the world of medicine, race-based diagnoses are still very real

We’ve probably said it a hundred times on Code Switch — biological race is not a real thing. So why is race still used to help diagnose certain conditions, like keloids or cystic fibrosis? On this episode, Dr. Andrea Deyrup breaks it down for us, and u…

New Jersey passed a law that will have insurance companies approving meds faster

Increasingly, insurance companies want doctors to get an ok for treatments or drugs ahead of time. It’s called “prior authorization” and it can mean troublesome delays for patients.

How high blood sugar, hypertension and obesity can add up to cancer risk

It’s known that obesity is linked to many cancers. A study shows metabolic syndrome, which includes factors like high blood pressure and insulin resistance, also drives increased risk.

A leading mindfulness teacher shares insights to counter tech addiction and isolation

Jon Kabat-Zinn, who brought mindfulness meditation into mainstream medical settings, discusses how the centering practice can help with some of today’s widespread social problems.