The Friday Breeze Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading. Your wonderfully entertaining compiler of “The Friday Breeze,” Brianna Labuskes, is off today, so I’m jumping in to keep you abreast of …
An Alzheimer’s Drug Trial Gave Me Hope, and Then It Ended
I was a small piece in the search to find a cure. Now I feel as if I’m getting erased, and medical science doesn’t have any answers.
For Urinary Incontinence, Try Behavioral Treatments or Drugs, or Both
Bladder training, biofeedback and other behavioral therapies may work even better in combination with drugs.
Viewpoints: Doctors Need To Stop Saying No To Patients Who Need Opioids; FDA’s E-Cigarette Policies Could Make It Tough On U.S. Troops
Opinion writers weigh in on these health topics and others.
Different Takes: Lessons On The Health Law’s Success In Cost Control; Bernie’s Onto Something About Women Being Better Off Giving Birth In Finland
Editorial pages focus on these health policies and others.
Longer Looks: New York And Surprise Medical Bills; The Fertility Doctor’s Secret; And Medicare For America
Each week, KHN’s Shefali Luthra finds interesting reads from around the Web.
State Highlights: D.C.’s Homeless Camps Paint Grim Picture Of Widening Inequality In Country; Houston’s Monitoring Of Air Quality Continues As Warning Ends
Media outlets report on news from D.C., Texas, Rhode Island, New York, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona, Ohio, Florida, Minnesota, California, Missouri, Louisiana, Maryland and Massachusetts.
From The State Capitols: Lawmakers Plan ‘Voluntary’ Do-Not-Sell Gun Bill In Louisiana; Children’s Mental Health Measure Moves To Iowa’s Senate; And More
News from state legislatures comes out of Louisiana, Iowa, New York, Minnesota, Connecticut, Florida and California.
Precision Medicine Is Hot Field These Days, But It’s Undermined By Lack Of Diversity In Genetic Research
An analysis finds that 78 percent of all individuals included in genomic studies of disease up to 2018 were of European descent. In other public health news: loneliness in teens, childhood trauma, trigger warnings, cancer and vaccines by mail.
‘A Huge Step Forward’: Research Breakthrough Sparks Hope For Preserving Fertility Of Young Boys With Cancer
“Fertility issues for kids with cancer were ignored” for years, said University of Pittsburgh reproductive scientist Kyle Orwig. “Many of us dream of growing up and having our own families. We hope our research will help these young patients to do that.” Until now, boys hadn’t had a realistic option to preserve their fertility, but …
House Democrats Want More Information On Sackler Family’s Role In Opioid Epidemic
The family that found Purdue Pharma has come under intense scrutiny as of late after it was revealed just how deeply involved some of the members were in the early aggressive marketing tactics pursued by the opioid-maker. Meanwhile, an advocacy group is calling on the FDA to impose a moratorium on approving new opioids.
The Dark Side Of Artificial Intelligence: Increased Efficiency Comes With Ominous Threat Of Vulnerability To Hackers
A report warns that artificial intelligence can be easily duped with tiny pieces of data. The authors say bad actors could hack into records and make it seem like there’s an illness there that isn’t. But more likely is that doctors, hospitals and other organizations could manipulate the A.I. in billing or insurance software in …
De Blasio Has Deemed His $1 Billion Plan To Address Mental Illness ‘Revolutionary.’ A Closer Look Shows How It’s Floundered
NYC Mayor and potential 2020 presidential hopeful Bill de Blasio is talking up his plan to tackle mental health issues in the city, but there is little concrete evidence to demonstrate that the expensive proposal has seen any success.
Seeing Myself Through My Child’s Eyes
As a working mom of four, I often feel as if it is impossible to ever be enough. But our children may judge us more generously than we judge ourselves.
First Edition: March 22, 2019
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Even With Insurance, She Faced $227K In Medical Bills. What It Took To Get Answers.
The first surprise was the massive heart attack, which struck as Debbie Moehnke waited in a Vancouver, Wash., medical clinic last summer. “She had an appointment because her feet were swollen real bad,” said Larry Moehnke, her husband. “But she got in there and it was like, ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe!’” Her life …
Aspiring Doctors Seek Advanced Training In Addiction Medicine
The U.S. Surgeon General’s office estimates that more than 20 million people have a substance use disorder. Meanwhile, the nation’s drug overdose crisis shows no sign of slowing. Yet, by all accounts, there aren’t nearly enough physicians who specialize in treating addiction — doctors with extensive clinical training who are board-certified in addiction medicine. The opioid …
Weekly Health Quiz: Sugar, Weights and a Broken Heart
Test your knowledge of this week’s health news.
My Temporary Hoarding Habit
When my daughter was hospitalized for cancer treatment, I began collecting leftover condiments and medical supplies in an effort to control something in our uncontrollable world.
When Chivalry Is More Control Than Care
After a breakup, a woman wonders if traditional romance is a trap, and finds that the ordinary is the most romantic gesture of all.
Our Teen Houseguest Seems to Be Stealing Stuff
Should we confront her?
FDA Chief Calls For Stricter Scrutiny Of Electronic Health Records
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Wednesday called for tighter scrutiny of electronic health records systems, which have prompted thousands of reports of patient injuries and other safety problems over the past decade. “What we really need is a much more tailored approach, so that we have appropriate oversight of EHRs when they’re …
Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health’ Surprise! Fixing Surprise Medical Bills Is Harder Than it Looks
Julie Rovner Kaiser Health News @jrovner Read Julie’s Stories Anna Edney Bloomberg @annaedney Read Anna’s Stories Joanne Kenen Politico @JoanneKenen Read Joanne’s Stories Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein Read Alice’s Stories Surprise medical bills — when patients receive an unexpected bill from a health provider not in their insurance network — are among the few …
Viewpoints: Lessons On How All These ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Bills Are Attempts To Ban Abortion; Will The E-Cigarette Industry Step Up To Protect Teens?
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.
Viewpoints: Lessons On How All These ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Bills Are Attempts To Ban Abortion; Will The E-Cigarette Industry Step Up To Protect Teens?
Opinion writers weigh in on these health care issues and others.