health

Bills in the state Legislature would require schools to teach what’s called affirmative consent – or “yes means yes” -- as part of sex education.

Michigan continues its fight against a deadly Hepatitis A outbreak.  Nearly 800 people have gotten the disease since August of 2016.  Now the state is giving half a million dollars to areas that have not had an outbreak of hepatitis A – yet.

With several inches of new snow on the ground, there will be a lot of shoveling and clearing of snow-clogged driveways and sidewalks going on.

89.1 WEMU’S Lisa Barry spoke with a Michigan Medicine cardiologist about the best way to make sure that gets done safely.

The state is taking a synchronized approach to fighting the hepatitis A outbreak.  It’s activated two emergency centers. 

President Trump’s declaration that opioid abuse is a national emergency comes without a lot of new resources for states to deal with the health threat.  

Democrats in Lansing want to stop prescription drug price hikes in Michigan. 

The solar eclipse, which will be up to 90 percent visible in our area, is quickly approaching.  It's happening early in the afternoon on August 21st, and even though it will begin to look like nighttime in the middle of the day, there have been repeated warnings not to look at the sun during this process!

89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry spoke to Michigan Medicine ophthalmologist Dr. Rajesh Rao, who shared safety tips about viewing the eclipse.

State officials and health care providers called on Washington lawmakers to keep the state’s Medicaid expansion Monday.

Whether it’s a journey or a struggle or a fight, dealing with cancer is tough on everyone.  There is a special “cancer survivors celebration” taking place this coming Sunday, June 4th organized by the Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, and there will be a special guest, therapist and author Mike Verano.

89.1 WEMU'S Lisa Barry spoke with him about his own cancer journey and his thoughts on coming out on the other side of a cancer challenge… and finding peace in yourself and for your friends and family.

There are many things we can do to take care of our health from eating right to exercising, but there is growing research on the therapeutic benefits of laughter in medicine.

We spoke with Ann Arbor Integrative Medicine Dr. Jay Sandweiss, who is sharing his knowledge of how a daily dose of “mindful laughter” can prevent and improve at least 21 different aspects of your health as part of the Zingtrain Speaker Series on Wednesday, May 24th.

A state Senate committee holds a hearing today on bills to outlaw female genital mutilation in Michigan.  It’s already a federal crime with a penalty of up to five years in prison.  The bill’s sponsors say that’s not tough enough.  A lot of experts say a tougher law may not be enough to deter an entrenched cultural and religious practice.     

In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair speaks to Melissa Cooper-Sargent, Green Living Resources Director for the Ecology Center, about the environmental and health risks of using antibacterial soap.

Doctors, parents and public health experts gathered in Lansing with one simple message – vaccinate your children. 

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, and Michigan Medicine is opening a new clinic considered to be the first of its kind in the nation to deal with high-risk cases.

Today is the day local and national health officials try to encourage people to quit smoking.

The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, along with the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, will host an event this evening to help mark World Polio Day. 

In our previous 18-installments on the Ann Arbor area’s 1, 4 dioxane plume, we’ve heard from citizens, scientists, and government officials; both locally and from other dioxane sites around the country. Meanwhile, requests for interviews with the “Responsible Party”—Gelman Sciences, Pall Corporation or Danaher, are all met with silence.  In this episode of “The Green Room,” we learn, that wasn’t always the case. 

State lawmakers are trying to increase the availability of healthy foods in Michigan.   

Environmental Protection Agency risk assessments indicate that the drinking water concentration representing a one in a 100,000 cancer risk level for 1,4-dioxane is 3.5 parts per billion, and for a one in a million cancer risk it is .35 ppb.  Only three states still have double-digit drinking water guidelines for dioxane:  New York, South Carolina, and Michigan.  Obviously, what is “safe” is subject to subject to interpretation, and is influenced by many variables.  But there is growing awareness that what is safe for you, may not be safe for your children or grandchildren. 

The University of Michigan Board of Regents will decide on millions of dollars in improvements to the University Health System when it meets later this week.

The University of Michigan Health System has started using a new, smaller pacemaker to treat patients with heart conditions.

Fracking, to say the least, is a controversial method of energy resource extraction.  Those who implement the practice contend it's more efficient, effective, and is not an environmental hazard.  There are many who disagree, particularly when it comes to environmental impact.  In this week’s, “Issues of the Environment,” WEMU’s David Fair discusses fracking and the effort to put it to a vote of the people with LuAnne Kozma, the ‎campaign director at The Committee to Ban Fracking in Michigan​. 

April is National Donate Life Month.  You can register to help those in need.

Some Washtenaw County residents are eating over half a cup more per day of fruits and vegetables thanks to a program called Prescription for Health.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office has partnered with the Ann Arbor group ArborWoman to help prevent infant deaths. 

Washtenaw County is the seventh healthiest  in Michigan, according to a national survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

It's been nearly a year since the Washtenaw County Dental Clinic for low income and uninsured patients opened for business in Ypsilanti.

In these cold, winter months, many of us want to stay indoors.  In this week's. 'Issues of the Environment,' MaryCarol Hunter, Associate Professor of Natural Resources at the University of Michigan, tells WEMU's David Fair why an "outdoor pill" has demonstrable benefits.

During this time of the year, many of us think about how we can get and stay healthy for the rest of the year.