April 2010 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Thieves, Hackers And Health Workers Want A Peak At Your Medical Records

By Scott Hensley We find the feds' public list of big breaches of patient confidentiality to be almost as gripping and disturbing as the police blotter in our local paper. Attacks on your health data can come from some surprising places. (iStockphoto...

Published Tue, Apr 27 2010 9:57 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Electronic medical records, Your health

Lung Cancer: A Growing Threat To Women

By Richard Knox Lung cancer is in a class by itself. It's the biggest and baddest cancer out there -- accounting for more diagnoses and deaths than ***, prostate and colon cancer combined. But for women, lung cancer represents a unique health threat...

Published Tue, Apr 27 2010 6:55 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Cancer, Women's health

In The Mood For Chocolate

How much chocolate do you eat each month? (iStockphoto.com) (iStockphoto.com) (iStockphoto.com) --> By Joanne Silberner I eat chocolate every single day. And I regularly supply chocolate to others. So I was particularly interested when I heard about...

Published Mon, Apr 26 2010 2:16 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Research, Nutrition

Ethics Disclosures Gain Steam In Health Care

By Maggie Mertens Bet you didn't see this one coming: the latest trending topic in the health industry headlines? Stricter ethics rules. A provision in the new health law Physician Payments Sunshine Act will require big spenders in the health industry...

Published Mon, Apr 26 2010 12:58 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Doctors, Congressional activity, Ethics, FDA, Pharmaceuticals, Conflicts of interest

BPA Poses New Risk To Food Safety -- Legislative Impasse

By Scott Hensley Legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration more power to safeguard the food supply is in danger of being tripped up by controversy over the plastic additive bisphenol A. BPA may be along for the ride with green beans...

Published Mon, Apr 26 2010 10:35 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Food Safety

Outbreak Of Paralysis Points To Polio's Return

By Richard Knox Polio is clawing its way back, after decades of work had pushed the disease to the brink of eradication. The World Health Organization says Tajikistan, a Central Asian nation which shares its southern border with Afghanistan, has reported...

Published Mon, Apr 26 2010 7:05 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Infectious disease, International scene

Study Suggests Boozing Makes Cells Grow Older, Sicker Quicker

Cutting back on shots (alcohol, not this blog) may prevent your cells from aging before their time. (iStockphoto.com) TKTKTK (iStockphoto.com) TKTKTK (iStockphoto.com) --> By Nadja Popovich You may have experienced it before: after having a drink too...

Published Fri, Apr 23 2010 1:20 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Cancer, Aging

Health Insurance Rate-Hike Ruling Could Echo Outside Maine

By Christopher Weaver Can you set a reasonable profit for a health insurer? A state judge says the state insurance regulator sure can. A Maine judge upheld a state regulator's rejection of an insurer's premium-rate hike, which would have raised...

Published Fri, Apr 23 2010 12:25 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Insurance

Dear Old Man: Don't Give That Dog A Bone

By April Fulton "This Old Man," the charming nursery rhyme that taught generations of us how to count, includes a bit of outdated advice. Despite what it says about giving the dog a bone, you shouldn't do it. The FDA says bones can make...

Published Fri, Apr 23 2010 10:00 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Pets, A Little Lighter

Dual Reports Provide Fodder For Health Law Critics

By Christopher Weaver Two separate government reports released yesterday will give health overhaul critics plenty to chew on. How much will this health bill cost, anyway? (iStockphoto.com) (iStockphoto.com) (>iStockphoto.com) --> One suggests the...

Published Fri, Apr 23 2010 9:14 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Health Overhaul

FDA Pushes For Safer Infusion Pumps

The FDA says a new approach is needed to cut the risks from infusion pumps. (iStockphoto.com) The FDA says a new approach is needed to cut the risks from infusion pumps. (iStockphoto.com) The FDA says a new approach is needed to cut the risks from infusion...

Published Fri, Apr 23 2010 8:43 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Hospitals, FDA, Medical devices

Vatican To Fund Adult Stem Cell Research

By Kathleen Masterson The Catholic church has been in the news a good deal lately, and let's just say it hasn't been positive. But here's some news the Vatican is proud to announce: It's donating roughly $3 million to fund a research initiative...

Published Fri, Apr 23 2010 7:20 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Research, Ethics

Critics Cluck At *** Cancer Awareness In A Bucket

By Nadja Popovich Kentucky Fried Chicken has been on a controversial roll lately. Last week, it announced that it would be launching a "Buckets for the Cure" campaign in association with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which means the next time...

Published Thu, Apr 22 2010 3:00 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Cancer, Nutrition, Obesity

Icelandic Government Says Cover Your Mouth When You Breathe

Geochemist Asgerdur Sigurdardottir of the University of Iceland models a gas mask as she collects ash samples for analysis. (Joe Palca/NPR) Geochemist Asgerdur Sigurdardottir of the University of Iceland models a gas mask as she collects ash samples for...

Published Thu, Apr 22 2010 1:15 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News

Filed under: Environmental health

Overhaul Means Losses Now, Rewards Later For Drugmakers

By Christopher Weaver Abbott Laboratories became the third pharmaceutical giant this week to say its earnings fell because of the health overhaul. The company said yesterday the overhaul slashed its sales by $60 million, and required the firm to write...

Published Thu, Apr 22 2010 12:37 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News