When Europeans Feared the Wind
In early modern Europe, various sorts of winds were associated with illness and even death.
Did the Great Recession Make Us Sick?
Mass layoffs, high unemployment, and home foreclosures resulted in declines in mental health. There may also be long-term effects that linger.
Breast Milk as Medicine
Human breast milk has been recommended as a cure-all since the 17th century.
People Who Can’t Feel Pain
While exceptionally rare, congenital analgesia, or a total insensitivity to pain, is a real condition that can be quite dangerous.
What’s the Definition of Health?
The WHO’s definition has been the target of criticism in the medical literature since its first appearance in 1948.
How America Got Sold on Low-Fat Food
In the 1990s, a "healthy choice" meant eating SnackWell's cookies and sugary reduced-calorie yogurt. Why did America love the low-fat food trend?
When Americans Started Bathing
The first baths weren't about getting clean or relaxing. In the 1860s, experts agreed that the best kind of bath was a brief plunge in cold water.
Why Facebook Can Be Good For Your Health
Is Facebook bad for your mental health? Researchers have been studying the profound impact social bonds can have on health since the 1970s.
Why Americans Love Diets
On a diet or cleanse in the new year? You're continuing in the very American tradition of self-perfection.