Life Kit: Health

About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Most of the time, diagnosis happens through routine screenings. This episode, we discuss risk factors for prostate cancer, how to get...

There's research showing that too much light at night and not enough daylight is taking years off our lives. NPR health correspondent Will Stone has tips to tune up your body's internal clock. This episode originally...

Martinus Evans, author of Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run, explains why anyone who wants to run can run. He shares tips on gear, training programs and what he calls "sexy pace." This...

Why is muscle power so important? What do you really need to know about your testosterone levels? What are some free, research-backed tools for managing depression? Brett McKay, founder and editor-in-chief of The Art of...

Does your back hurt after a long day at your desk? Do you wake up with a sore neck every morning? Muscle aches in your body could be a sign you need to improve your posture. This episode, a physical therapist and a...

Prescription drug prices can be costly. What are you supposed to do if you can't afford medication? In this episode, Dan Weissmann, host of KUOW's podcast An Arm and a Leg, shares how to find discounts on prescription...

Collagen supplements have been widely promoted on social media, with claims that they'll strengthen hair and nails, lessen wrinkles and even ease joint pain. But are there studies backing these claims? NPR health...

Naps can offer significant benefits, from emotional regulation to improving memory and athletic performance. But there are right and wrong ways to snooze. A sleep psychologist and a sleep physician explain the factors...

If you have a friend or family member diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness, all you want to do is help. But where do you start? What if you say the wrong thing or don't show up in the right ways? In this...

As bad as it feels, anxiety is essential, says psychotherapist Britt Frank, author of The Science of Stuck. It can be a helpful warning signal that something is off, or even dangerous. But when anxiety hits, it's hard...

What happens when you get a medical bill for something your insurance should have covered? KFF Health News reporter Jackie Fortiér outlines who talk to, what to say and how to appeal a denial from your insurance...

There are a lot of misconceptions about sleep. Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins and her colleagues looked into common myths about sleep to help everyone get a better night's rest. This episode originally published...

It’s not just school kids that could use a back-to-school reset. Like those annual September doctor's check ups, this episode of Life Kit is here to help you check in with your body and get your bases covered. We bring...

Sometimes you're just feeling blah: maybe the weather's bad, you can't get out of bed and you're struggling to shake off that listlessness. In these moments, the solution is often simpler than we think. This episode...

Have you ever had a disturbing thought pop up into your head? Thoughts that are distressing, repetitive and unwanted are called intrusive thoughts. NPR's Senior Visuals producer LA Johnson talks with a therapist and a...

Have you ever woken up with a crick in your neck after a bad night's sleep? Or feel like you can't rotate your head? Many people will experience neck pain at some point in life. Luckily, there are science-backed...

Nearly 70 percent of people were deceived into buying a counterfeit product online at least once last year, according to research from Michigan State University. And buying knockoff versions of products can be...

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others have said that seed oils, like soybean, corn and sunflower oils, are poisoning Americans. But what does the research say? NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy speaks...

Oftentimes, it's easier to scroll through our phones than do some squats. So what can we do to motivate ourselves to pick movement? In this episode of Life Kit, we speak with clinical psychologist Diana Hill and...

In this episode of Life Kit, reporter Andee Tagle talks to entomologist Sammy Ramsey and environmental health professor Brian Byrd about why some people get bitten more than others, which ingredients to seek in bug...

It's long been thought that eating protein from animals (eggs, meat, chicken, fish) can help you become stronger. But a new study out of the University of Illinois shows that plant protein is just as effective at...

There's a heat wave hitting much of the United State this week. Our bodies do have natural ways to dissipate heat, but when temperatures get extreme, sometimes they just can't keep up. In this episode of Life Kit, learn...

More than 31 million people in the United States get bitten by ticks each year, and some of those ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease, according to the CDC. In this episode of Life Kit, we cover where you might...

Your pelvic floor helps with all sorts of bodily functions — it helps you go to the bathroom, breathe, and orgasm, and it supports your internal organs. But pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to painful sex...

Knowing how to swim can help you have fun at the pool or beach this summer. But it could also save your life. Here are some tips to start swimming if you never learned as a kid. This episode originally published June...