Health

Health
Blue Earth hospital offers hope amid nationwide rural maternity ward closures
Hospital labor and delivery units are closing all across the country, most notably in rural areas where care providers are already few and far between. But a couple of rural hospitals in Minnesota are doing the opposite: they're expanding.
Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say
A decade ago, research said giving young children peanut products can prevent allergies. A new study says that, 10 years later, tens of thousands of U.S. children have avoided allergies as a result.
Life after the kids move out: How to cope with the emotional challenges of an empty nest
MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about the emotional mix of pride, grief, and rediscovery that comes with an empty nest — and how to find balance and meaning in this new stage of life.
Anti-science bills hit statehouses, stripping away public health protections built over a century
More than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses across the U.S. this year.
Rural health care in Minnesota: What's changing and why?
Mayo Clinic Health System recently announced it will end on-call labor and delivery services in Owatonna in November. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what it means for families — and for rural health care in Minnesota.
'Cancer doesn't care': Patients pushed past divisive politics to lobby Congress
Hundreds of volunteer advocates put partisan differences aside and pressed Congress to help people with cancer. The advocacy came just before the stalemate that has shut down the federal government.
State signs cannabis agreement with third tribal nation
A Dakota nation in southeast Minnesota has become the third tribal nation in the state to sign an agreement regulating the sale of cannabis outside tribal land.  
Curious about cannabis for back pain? New European research shows it may help
Millions of Americans use weed to treat chronic pain, but there's little high quality research on whether it works. New findings suggest it can be effective for low back pain, on par with opioids.
State agency 'very concerned' Minnesotans will be without full Medicare coverage
Medicare open enrollment is underway. At least 158,000 Minnesotans will be in the market for additional coverage after UCare dropped their Medicare Advantage plan. The Minnesota Board of Aging assists Minnesotans in helping find plans and says it’s getting 2,000 calls per day with coverage questions.
Why more parents are riding cargo bikes, skipping the minivan
Many parents are now are forgoing minivans for greener alternatives: cargo bikes. They have been around for decades, but the advent of the electric bike motor has made them much more popular.