Health

Opinion: Too many children with toxic stress are being misdiagnosed

By Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

More than 34 million American children have had at least one adverse childhood experience like abuse or neglect. We need every medical professional in this country to be equipped with the right tools for universal screening.

To lose weight, focus on what you eat, not how much: study

By Lesley McClurg, KQED Science

Counting calories obsessively is not the key to trimming your waistline, according to a new study.

The challenge of preventing mass shootings through mental health records

By PBS News Hour

In the aftermath of the school shooting in Florida, there's been discussion of addressing those with mental and emotional problems. But preventing violence by using mental health records is more complicated than many realize. What systems are already in place…

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The devastating, underdiagnosed toll of toxic stress on children

By Dr. Nadine Burke Harris

When a child's flight-or-fight response is activated too often, from abuse, neglect or parental addiction, it can change the structure of a developing brain. It's called toxic stress, and pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris believes every medical professional in the country…

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says U.S. should ban bump stocks, raise age to buy AR-15

By Matt Vasilogambros, Stateline

“It’s just crazy to me that you can’t buy a beer at 19, but you can buy an AR-15,” Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam said during an event in Washington, D.C. Friday.

Why Trump’s new insurance proposal may put essential health benefits at risk

By Laura Santhanam

Here's a look at why Obamacare requires insurance companies to offer essential health benefits, and what losing them might mean for your insurance plan.

Opioid overdose deaths dropped in these 14 states, prompting cautious optimism

By Christine Vestal, Stateline

In an opioid epidemic that began in the late 1990s, drug deaths have been climbing steadily every year, in nearly every state. A break in that trend, even if limited to just 14 states, has prompted cautious optimism among some…

Will my private insurer drop me if I don’t get Medicare?

By Philip Moeller

A mother writes that the treatment facilities that treat her adult daughter's disorder do not take Medicare. What should they do?…

5 medical stories you might have missed

By Dr. Amber Robins, Laura Santhanam

It’s easy for politics to dominate our news feeds these days. But there are many important stories in the health and medical communities, too. Here’s what we’re reading now.

Trump administration unveils short-term medical plans with cheaper premiums, fewer benefits

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

The plans would come with a disclaimer that they don't meet the Affordable Care Act's consumer protections, such as guaranteed coverage, or the requirement to offer robust benefits.