Virginia is investigating if it's safe to eat fish caught from waterways with PFAS
With PFAS, the forever chemicals, showing up in drinking water, researchers in Virginia want to know if they're building up in fish as well.
Health & Safety
Herbal supplement kratom targeted by lawsuits after a string of deaths
Millions of Americans use kratom, which is sold at gas stations, vape shops and bars. It can act like an opiate on the body. The FDA warns against using kratom, but most states don't regulate it.
WeightWatchers and Noom to offer prescription weight loss drugs
NPR's Juana Summers speaks with Fortune senior writer Maria Aspan about her reporting on WeightWatchers providing prescription weight loss drugs.
Stone countertop workers are getting sick and dying due to exposure to silica dust
A new study from UCSF/UCLA looks at the toll of silicosis on stone workers. Dozens of young Latino men in California have developed severe lung disease and at least 10 have died.
An ultra-processed diet made this doctor sick. Now he's studying why
A diet composed of 80% ultra-processed foods led one British doctor to gain weight and feel unwell. Now he's trying to nail down the health effects of this type of diet, which many Americans eat.
Young men making quartz countertops are facing lung damage. One state is taking action
Countertops made of the engineered stone "quartz" are incredibly popular, but public health experts say cutting this material unsafely can expose workers to deadly dust.
What happened when a doctor only ate ultra-processed foods for a month
As part of NPR's Living Better series, Allison Aubrey looks at what happened when one doctor decided to swap his healthy diet for one filled with ultra-processed foods for a month.
House Republicans' CHOICE Act would roll back some Obamacare protections
The set of health policy ideas have been GOP favorites for decades. It could mean cheaper health insurance but would undermine protections for patients in the Affordable Care Act.
Here's what happens to the body in extreme temperatures — and how heat becomes deadly
Multiple organ failure, heart attack and kidney failure are the primary ways people die in extreme heat. Read on to find out how to stay safe in the heat wave.
Why myopia is becoming increasingly common among kids and adults
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Dr. David Epley about the rise of myopia and the reasons why, especially among children.