Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'disease'

Nigerian Motorcycle Riders Dislike New Helmet Law

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:23:00 EST

Police in Nigeria have been arresting scores of motorcycle taxi riders who have been trying to avoid a new law that requires them to wear helmets. Some riders have been substituting dried fruit shells and pots for helmets. The motorcyclists complain helmets are too expensive. Some passengers refuse to wear them fearing the helmets carry disease or black magic.

Disabled Guitarist Finds New Sound In Mbira

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:36:00 EST

For a musician, essential tremor disorder can be devastating. The disease affects fine motor coordination, causing hands to shake. But guitarist Richard Crandell has found a new way to continue composing and performing.

Controlling Mosquitoes With Bacteria

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

Biologists identified bacteria that shorten the lifespan of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Shorter lives mean less time for the mosquitoes to incubate and transmit diseases like dengue and malaria. Biologist Andrew Read of Pennsylvania State University explains the findings.

FDA Reverses Cephalosporin Ban

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

The Food and Drug Administration had planned to ban the use of a popular antibiotic from use in animal feed. At the last minute, the agency pulled back. Cephalosporin is one of the most important drugs for treating infectious diseases in humans.

Health Is A Human Right

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

As an infectious disease specialist, Dr. Paul Farmer has traveled the planet to organize and provide medical treatment for people living in poverty. He believes good health care is vital but just the first step in creating a world free of all human suffering.

Zimbabwe's Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Zimbabwe is suffering from a humanitarian crisis. The political unrest in the region has the economy in shambles. Millions of people are affected by post-election violence, diseases and malnutrition. U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, explains the challenges facing the African nation and how he would like regional leaders to help defuse the political standoff.

Alarming Numbers For Black Men And Colorectal Cancer

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Black men are 50 percent more likely than white men to develop colorectal cancer, even though fewer people overall are dying from the disease. Dr. Ottis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society, sponsored the research and discusses the findings disparity.

Rice: 'We Ought To Call It As We See It'

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she is trying to build up international pressure on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to force him to address the expanding food and disease problem in his country. "We shouldn't fall prey to moral relativism here," Rice says.

Cholera Crisis Compounds Zimbabwe's Woes

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:23:00 EST

The government appealed for outside help this week in combating a cholera outbreak that has claimed close to 600 lives since August. The disease is symptomatic of the general collapse of infrastructure and services in Zimbabwe, including the breakdown of its public health system.

Op-Ed: AIDS Must Be Fought At Home, Too

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:47:00 EST

On World AIDS Day, researcher Robert Gallo salutes President Bush's successful efforts to fight the disease overseas. But with infections on the rise in America's inner cities, Gallo argues that similar strategies must be employed in the U.S.

Researchers: New Explanation For Alzheimers

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:24:00 EST

There may be a new explanation for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers think they've discovered precisely what damages brain cells and causes memory loss in people who have Alzheimer's. Brain scientists present the latest evidence at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience this week in Washington.

Should Healthy People Take Statins...

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:50:00 EST

A study in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the drug Crestor, typically used for reducing cholesterol levels, may reduce the risk of heart disease for people with normal cholesterol levels. But do the potential benefits offset the risks and cost of the drugs?

Study: Abdominal Fat Ups Heart Disease Risk

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

A German study in this week's New England Journal of Medicine offers more evidence that abdominal fat increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and heart disease.

Assessing Heart Attack Risk With Cholesterol, CRP

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:21:00 EST

A new study says a blood test to measure C-reactive protein, along with cholesterol levels, is an important indicator of cardiovascular disease. But there is disagreement in the scientific community over what the study results mean.

The Costs Of Cutting Cholesterol

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

A new research study finds that many people who have no signs of heart disease should be taking statin drugs, which lower cholesterol and may have other benefits. Prescribing a generic version could save patients — and insurance companies — millions of dollars.

Studs Terkel, Oral Historian And Radio Legend, 96

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:10:00 EDT

Terkel, who came of age during the Great Depression, often said America suffered from what he called a national Alzheimer's disease. His oral histories and radio interviews with everyday Americans helped document the nation's past.

Gut Bacteria May Cause And Fight Disease, Obesity

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:01:00 EDT

These genes aren't from your parents, but the genetic code of the bacteria in your gut can determine your health — and affect conditions like type 1 diabetes and obesity.

South Korea's Taste For Beef

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT

This summer, South Korea partially lifted a ban on American beef. But fear of mad cow disease lingers across the country, and it has sparked public demonstrations and riots. That hasn't led Koreans away from steak, though.

Antibiotic Resistance A Major Medical Challenge

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:32:00 EDT

Antibiotic resistance is one of the major threats facing todays's modern medicine. Richard H. Ebright, a chemistry professor and researcher, explains new approaches for developing antibiotics that may lead to methods for treating drug-resistant tuberculosis and other diseases.

2008 Nobel Prize In Medicine

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:39:00 EDT

One German and two French scientists won the 2008 Nobel prize for medicine Monday for their discoveries of two viruses that cause severe human diseases. NPR's Richard Knox talks with Steve Inskeep about the prize winners' research.

NBA's Alonzo Mourning Touts 'Resilience' In Memoir

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:02:00 EDT

In 2000, the muscular, 6-feet-10-inch NBA star was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening kidney disease. Alonzo Mourning made a full recovery following a transplant. Now, he's written a memoir about the obstacles he had to overcome on the road back to the NBA.

Cold Cut Joke Gets Canadian Official In Hot Water

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EDT

A Canadian official had to apologize for being a little too cheerful about death. The farm minister is managing a crisis. It's an outbreak of killer disease linked to deli meat. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was on a conference call when he said, "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts." Then, after learning of a new death, the minister said, "Please tell me it's Wayne Easter," which is the name of a rival for his job.

FDA Defends Plastic Linked To Health Risks

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:06:00 EDT

The Food and Drug Administration defended Tuesday the controversial compound found in plastic baby bottles and in food packaging. A major study has linked bisphenol A to possible risks of heart disease and diabetes.

Study Finds Link Between Plastics Chemical, Disease

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:05:00 EDT

Adults with high exposure levels to BPA, a common plastics chemical found in everything from baby bottles to food containers, were more than twice as likely to report having diabetes or heart disease. The study's findings will be discussed at an FDA hearing Tuesday.

'Culinary Medicine': Eating Well, Staying Healthy

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:39:00 EDT

Imagine a way to lose pounds, but not flavor, by combining the art of cooking, the science of nutrition and the joy of eating. Dr. John La Puma, known as ChefMD, is the co-author of Big Book of Culinary Medicine: A Food Lover's Road Map to Losing Weight, Preventing Disease and Getting Really Healthy.