In this edition of Bodyhack TV Reality Check, a look at the girl in Tuesday's episode of "House" who suffered from congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrodis-- an inability to feel anything that hurts.
As noted in the show, the condition is extremely rare. (This AP story from 2003 suggests that only 17 Americans suffer from it.)
But -- like other uncommon but fascinating diseases -- it gets more than its share of media attention.
"House" made an issue of the girl's inability to cry. That made me wonder: does the disease truly rob people of tears?
Not exactly. According to this report, people with the disease can still cry "emotional tears."
But here's the weird part: there are other conditions that rob people of the ability to cry emotional tears.
