August 2011 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

From Betel Leaf Chew To Tobacco, Indians Swap One Vice For Another

India and many Southeast Asian cultures, people chew spice and nut packets wrapped in betel leaves called paan . But now the tradition is being threatened by chewing tobacco, raising health concerns. However, neither habit is actually very healthy. Read...

Published Tue, Aug 16 2011 8:17 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Unwed Women Living With Partners Risk More Unplanned Pregnancies

Unintended pregnancies among wealthier women and teens dropped slightly between 2001 and 2006. But unintended pregnancies were up for African-Americans and low-income women, leading researchers to conclude the overall rate has remained flat. Read More...

Published Wed, Aug 24 2011 2:38 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Your Health Podcast: The Illness of Kings and Scorpion Stings

This week's podcast features a story about the resurgence of gout, how 15 minutes of exercise a day is better than nothing, and a primer on the problem of antibiotic resistance in the wake of a massive turkey meat recall. Read More...

Published Sat, Aug 06 2011 3:51 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Antidepressant Use Climbs, As Primary Care Doctors Do The Prescribing

More and more people are taking antidepressant medications. Most antidepressants aren't prescribed by psychiatrists, raising questions about whether people are prescribed drugs they don't need or are suffering without help. Read More...

Published Thu, Aug 04 2011 10:26 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Odds Of Drinking A Soda Are A Coin-Flip For Americans

Chance are good that you consumed something sugary (or high fructose corn syrupy) in the last day. On any particular day, half the people in the U.S. drink a soda, fruit or sports drink, or similar calorie-rich beverage. Read More...

Published Wed, Aug 31 2011 1:01 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

For Stroke Prevention, A New Alternative To Warfarin

Pharmaceutical companies have been working hard to make drugs to elbow out warfarin as the stroke-prevention drug for 2.3 million Americans with atrial fibrillation. A new study finds one of the contenders, rivaroxaban, is as effective as warfarin in...

Published Wed, Aug 10 2011 3:30 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Sleep Apnea Makes Quick Comeback If Breathing Treatment Stops

When patients stopped using a continuous positive airway pressure machine to treat sleep apnea even for one night, not only were they really sleepy the next day, but a flood of related health problems returned, a study found. Read More...

Published Mon, Aug 15 2011 2:07 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

How Music May Help Ward Off Hearing Loss As We Age

Musicians focus extraordinary attention on deciphering low notes from high notes and detecting different tonal qualities. This intense auditory training early in life may make musicians better able to fend off hearing loss as they age. Read More...

Published Sun, Aug 21 2011 9:01 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Why Drug Companies Are Shy About Sharing On Facebook

Drug companies are taking down Facebook pages that refer to prescription drugs, fearing the ire of the FDA. But patients may lose out if they can't ask companies about how to use their products. Read More...

Published Mon, Aug 22 2011 1:59 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Skin Cancer Drug Gets Quick Approval

The drug was approved faster than many other drugs under review, and advocates of personalized medicine say this bodes well for other gene-based drugs in development. Read More...

Published Thu, Aug 18 2011 9:59 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

How The Merger Of Two Health Care Giants May Affect Your Wallet

Express Scripts and Medco Health Services manage the prescription drug coverage that health insurance companies offer to large organizations. The two firms say their plans for a $29 billion merger will help control health care costs for consumers. But...

Published Tue, Aug 16 2011 9:01 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Medicare Trying Bundled Payments To Save Money, Improve Care

The new bundling proposal would turn Medicare's payment system on its head. Rather than paying hospitals, doctors, and post-hospital caregivers separately, Medicare would provide a single payment for, say, heart attack care. Read More...

Published Tue, Aug 23 2011 3:08 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

People With Arthritis Shun Exercise — Though It Would Help, Not Hurt

People with osteoarthritis in their knees aren't getting much exercise, a new study finds, even though exercise actually helps reduce pain and stiffness and can prevent future disability. So how to get moving if you've got arthritis? Try walking...

Published Thu, Aug 11 2011 12:20 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Commission: Researchers Knew Of Ethical Problems In Guatemala STD Study

The panel, which was asked by President Obama to investigate the Guatemala study in October 2010, came to the conclusion after learning that the researchers had conducted similar research with American prisoners in 1943 but had given them the chance to...

Published Tue, Aug 30 2011 11:51 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

A Remnant From Algae In Malaria Parasite May Prove Its Weakness

Scientists say a new finding may help them design or look for specific kinds of drugs that inhibit a critical chemical for the malaria parasite. Read More...

Published Tue, Aug 30 2011 2:23 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

August 2011 - NPR Health Blog

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