July 2011 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Hospice Companies Zero In On Nursing Home Patients

A federal audit finds Medicare spending on hospice care for patients in nursing homes increased by 69 percent to $4.9 billion over just four years. Much of the increase was due to longer duration of hospice care in nursing homes compared with services...

Published Thu, Jul 21 2011 5:32 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Shark Bites No Match For Dolphins' Powers Of Healing

A researcher hopes that learning how dolphins resist infection and use stem cells to rebuild tissue will provide some insight into how to help injured humans. Read More...

Published Mon, Jul 25 2011 12:09 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Bowing To Pressure, McDonald's Makes Happy Meals More Healthful

McDonald's will begin rolling out new Happy Meals in September and aims to have them in all 14,000 U.S. restaurants by the first quarter of next year. As a result of the changes, the chain says it's cutting calories of its most popular Happy Meals...

Published Tue, Jul 26 2011 8:12 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

McDonald's Courts Mom Bloggers When Changing The Menu

McDonald's says it overhauled its Happy Meal after listening to customers. But which ones? Turns out the company is actively reaching out to mom bloggers, whom it calls "key influencers" in the conversation over healthy eating. Read More...

Published Wed, Jul 27 2011 10:24 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

In Famine, Peanut Butter-Based Food Rides To The Rescue

The United Nations is starting to airlift emergency food to Mogadishu, Somalia. The first round of relief supplies should be enough to feed 3,500 malnourished children for a month, one official said. Read More...

Published Thu, Jul 28 2011 12:33 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Panel: FDA Needs A Reboot On Regulation Of Medical Devices

The way the Food and Drug Administration evaluates a big swath of medical devices before they are offered for sale is flawed according to a report just released by the independent Institute of Medicine. The expert panel recommends scrapping the current...

Published Fri, Jul 29 2011 8:15 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

A Road Map For Ending Malaria Deaths

The World Health Organization said it's possible to end deaths from malaria as soon as 2015. Now the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is out with a map that shows how it could be done. Read More...

Published Wed, Jul 06 2011 12:17 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Americans Get An F On Fat

The best state in the current obesity rankings is Colorado, with 19.8 percent of its adults classified as obese. But turn back the clock to 1995, and that same obesity rate would have made Colorado the worst state in the nation. Read More...

Published Thu, Jul 07 2011 8:59 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Doctors May Misread Expressions When Seeing A Parkinson's Patient

When Parkinson's disease affects patients' expressions, it can be hard for doctors to assess them. Cultural and and gender stereotypes can further complicate the judgment. Read More...

Published Fri, Jul 08 2011 2:11 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Hold the Sodium, And Pass The Potassium-Rich Produce

Consuming lots of salt and too little potassium is linked to a higher death risk, a study finds. The result underscore recommendations to cut down on sodium and eat more fruits and vegetables. Read More...

Published Mon, Jul 11 2011 3:11 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Super-Resistant Gonorrhea Strain Found In Japan

So far, only a handful of cases are known in Japan. But don't count on it staying that way. Experience has shown that once a resistant strain of gonorrhea appears, it steadily displaces strains that antibiotics can kill. Read More...

Published Tue, Jul 12 2011 1:46 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Prices Drop For High-Risk Insurance

This month, the Obama administration reduced premiums by up to 40 percent in 17 states and the District of Columbia where it runs the high-risk insurance programs. It also encouraged other states to follow suit. Read More...

Published Tue, Jul 05 2011 5:58 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Colorectal Cancer Deaths Declining, But Millions Still Aren't Getting Screened

Two out of every three Americans between 50 and 75 are up-to-date with colon cancer screening guidelines. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says doctors still need to recommend everyone else that they be screened. Read More...

Published Tue, Jul 05 2011 3:16 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

How An Injured Tortoise Rolls Now

Veterinarians used a wheel from a local hardware store to replace a tortoise's amputate limb. Read More...

Published Fri, Jul 22 2011 9:24 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Your Health Podcast: Calorie Counts To Costly Vaccines

This week we'll discuss the First Lady's answer for people with limited access to fresh and health food. Restaurant calorie counts are also on the menu — some restaurants are better than others at estimating how much energy is in their dishes...

Published Sat, Jul 23 2011 3:53 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

July 2011 - NPR Health Blog

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