PBS News Hour - Health

Pam Belluck, a health and science reporter for the New York Times, dives into the complex world of chronic pain, affecting over 50 million Americans. She discusses the overwhelming challenges faced by those dealing with persistent pain and the limits of current treatment options. Belluck highlights a groundbreaking clinical trial using AI-guided deep brain stimulation, which shows promise in targeting individual pain pathways. The conversation also touches on the future of less invasive treatment methods, offering hope for better management of chronic pain.

To reach the isolated eastern Uganda mountain communities that need her help, nurse Agnes Nambozo scales a treacherous 1,000-foot ladder that is too steep for small children, mothers carrying babies and the sick to climb down. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The end of breast cancer treatment is cause for celebration, but for many patients, it can bring new challenges. Some studies show that up to 65% of women who undergo breast cancer surgery develop lymphedema, a painful swelling of tissue due to excess fluid retention. Ali Rogin spoke with two members of the nonprofit Lymphedema Education & Research Network to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Dr. Tom Frieden has spent his career as a disease detective, New York City’s health commissioner during a tuberculosis outbreak and CDC director during the Ebola crisis. In his new book, “The Formula for Better Health,” he shares lessons about how to close the gap between awareness of health challenges and the actions needed to solve them. Ali Rogin speaks with Frieden for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

On average, a woman’s risk of being killed in the U.S. increases by 20% when pregnant or after giving birth. Pregnant and postpartum women are more likely to be killed than to die from childbirth-related issues. Many killings are the result of domestic violence. Special correspondent Sarah Varney reports from Louisiana, where experts say abortion restrictions are putting women further at risk. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For the past 40 years, pink ribbons have sprouted every October as the symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To take stock of the latest in breast cancer research and the experience of patients, Ali Rogin speaks with Dr. Arif Kamal, the American Cancer Society’s chief patient officer, and Kristen Dahlgren, founder of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

More than two years after the WHO's COVID-19 public health emergency ended, millions of Americans are still living with long COVID. Symptoms vary from person to person, but range from mild to severe to physically debilitating. Recently, Health Secretary Kennedy kicked off new efforts to address long COVID. Ali Rogin speaks with two members of the long COVID community to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

More people than ever are putting their hopes for parenthood on ice, literally. Egg freezing is a costly procedure that had primarily been used by people undergoing medical treatments that could affect their fertility, but now it’s becoming more common among healthy women. Ali Rogin speaks with fertility specialist Dr. Lucky Sekhon and Natalie Lampert, author of ‘The Big Freeze,’ for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Earlier this year, West Virginia became the first of a number of politically conservative states to ban artificial food dyes. It’s part of the larger “Make America Healthy Again” effort championed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. For a look at how the new law is playing out, Ali Rogin reports from the Mountain State. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Brain tumors are the leading cause of pediatric cancer-related death. In August, the Trump administration announced it would stop supporting a federally funded network dedicated to researching these deadly cancers. Misha Mehta, president of the Neev Kolte & Brave Ronil Foundation, and Dr. Paul Graham Fisher join Ali Rogin to discuss the implications of the loss of funding. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy