Health | Covering health care and health policy in Southern California

A 'potentially powerful model' for treating sickle cell

A sickle cell clinic in South L.A. is believed to be the first of its kind: It brings primary and specialty care providers under one roof to treat the disease. Rebecca Plevin
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Rebecca Plevin/KPCC
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Recent Health coverage

Event: Racism and reproduction — what black women need to know

KPCC |

Join KPCC’s Priska Neely and a panel of guests as they discuss the black infant mortality crisis and share information women can use to empower themselves.

Scramble For Shingles Vaccine: How To Cope With Shingrix Shortage

Miriam Wasser | NPR |

This holiday season, the must-have item for people of a certain age is a vaccine to protect against shingles, the painful skin condition caused by a reawakening of the chickenpox virus.

Moving from talk to action on black infant mortality plan

Priska Neely |

County leaders met with stakeholders to discuss specific steps to reduce the county's high black infant mortality rates, with an emphasis on racial discrimination.

Audio

Exercise Wins: Fit Seniors Can Have Hearts That Look 30 Years Younger

Patti Neighmond | NPR |

Why develop an exercise habit now? Because 75-year-olds who've been doing it for decades may have the cardiovascular systems of people in their 40s and the muscles of 20-somethings, researchers found.

Audio

Outrage Intensifies Over Claims Of Gene-Edited Babies

Rob Stein | NPR |

Concerns over a Chinese scientist's claim that he created the first gene-edited babies grow with more questions about whether it worked and the possible harm he may have inflicted on the twin girls.

Is America Ready For Prescription Heroin?

Elana Gordon | NPR |

In some countries, doctors prescribe medical-grade heroin to patients with long-term addiction. Could it ever happen the U.S.? A new report from RAND Corporation outlines the pros and cons.

Federal Legislation Seeks Ban On Shackling Of Pregnant Inmates

Rachel D. Cohen and Ailsa Chang | NPR |

Incarcerated pregnant women are often shackled during medical appointments and childbirth. A provision in a criminal justice bill aims to end the practice in federal facilities.

More Health

More Raw Beef Recalled After Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak

Amy Held | NPR |

More than 12 million pounds of meat are now included in the recall. Officials say some 250 people have been sickened. They fear contaminated beef may remain in people's freezers.

Infections May Raise The Risk Of Mental Illness In Children

Rhitu Chatterjee | NPR |

A large study of Danish kids finds that childhood infections are linked with a higher risk of developing some mental illnesses. The risk is highest in the months immediately following the infection.

Traditional therapy is not how some Thomas fire survivors are dealing with trauma

Alyssa Jeong Perry |

People affected by California's destructive and dangerous wildfires could face long-lasting psychological harm, like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. However some wildfire victims, especially those who live in rural areas, find it hard to reach out for, or accept, mental health care.

Audio

School-Based Counselors Help Kids Cope With Fallout From Drug Addiction

Rachel Gotbaum | NPR |

More than 50 Massachusetts schools are participating in a new program that brings counselors in to help children deal with the stress and trauma of living in families struggling with drug addiction.

A Push For Diversity In Medical School Is Slowly Paying Off

Mara Gordon | NPR |

American medical schools have historically been disproportionately white, but they are starting to attract more diverse students. The change may be the result of a diversity policy with teeth.

UnitedHealthcare Customers Are Unhappy About Cuts To SilverSneakers Fitness Program

Judith Graham | NPR |

Health insurer UnitedHealthcare plans to cut SilverSneakers, a popular fitness benefit, for 2.5 million people with the company's Medigap and Medicare Advantage coverage.

Before Starting A Statin, Talk It Over With Your Doctor

Richard Harris | NPR |

Patients and doctors should have nuanced conversations about the benefits and risks of statins before deciding to start them. The drugs can reduce heart attack odds but also carry some side effects.

Audio

Kids With Concussions Can Phase In Exercise, Screen Time Sooner Than Before

Maanvi Singh | NPR |

No longer do kids with concussions need to sit in dark rooms for days on end. For the first time in nearly a decade, the nation's pediatricians have loosened their guidance on concussion recovery.

Audio

FDA Faulted For Lapses In Orphan Drug Program

Sarah Jane Tribble and Sydney Lupkin | NPR |

The Government Accountability Office found breakdowns in the way the Food and Drug Administration evaluates drugs for rare diseases. The analysis came after an investigation by Kaiser Health News.