September 2011 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Doctors Call For Pullback On Narcotics For Chronic Pain

An editorial published in the Archives of Internal Medicine says there's a troubling shortfall in the evidence to support the use of narcotics like Oxycontin for long-term treatment of pain. And, there's ample evidence of harm. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 16 2011 2:26 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Gamers Solve Stubborn Viral Mystery: The Shape Of A Key Enzyme

What stumped scientists for more than a decade took gamers only three weeks to figure out. The structure of a key reproductive enzyme in AIDS-like viruses is finally known. Read More...

Published Mon, Sep 19 2011 2:02 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Predicting Sexual Function After Prostate Treatment

Around half in a group of men who had surgery or radiation for prostate cancer recovered or maintained sexual function, researchers found. The finding should give men facing prostate cancer treatment a more realistic idea of what to expect before starting...

Published Tue, Sep 20 2011 3:59 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Nearly 1 Million Young Adults Get Insurance Under Health Law

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds the number of people getting coverage is running ahead of the administration's estimate of how many young adults would become insured this year under the law. Read More...

Published Wed, Sep 21 2011 11:33 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Virus As The Cause Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Shot Down, Again

Chronic fatigue syndrome is by all accounts a difficult illness – there's no known cause and consequently no test to detect it. Though a series of recent studies have shown there's no link with the XMRV virus, some advocates insist more research...

Published Thu, Sep 22 2011 12:56 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

When It Comes To Pain Relief, One Size Doesn't Fit All

A recent study confirms what many pain specialists and patients already know: Pain relief differs from person to person. In fact, some medications that were highly effective for some individuals were barely noticeable for others. Read More...

Published Mon, Sep 26 2011 1:30 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Washington State Raises Bar For Parents To Skip Kids' Vaccinations

Parents who don't want to meet state immunization requirements for school now have to obtain a certificate of exemption from a licensed health care provider. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 27 2011 7:06 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Saw Palmetto No Better Than Sugar Pill For Prostate Problems

A clinical trial that gave saw palmetto every chance to succeed — eventually increasing the daily dose of the stuff to three times the usual amount — found it was no better than a placebo at relieving enlarged prostate symptoms. Read More...

Published Wed, Sep 28 2011 9:56 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Worries About Autism Link Still Hang Over Vaccines

An NPR-Thomson Reuters Health Poll finds 21 percent of Americans believe autism is linked to vaccines. Most people believe vaccines work. Among those with concerns about vaccines, uncertainty about long-term health effects is the biggest fear. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 29 2011 1:24 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Death Toll Rises To 15 In Listeria Cantaloupe Outbreak

Updated figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 84 people in 19 states have been sickened by listeria bacteria from an outbreak linked to cantaloupes. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 30 2011 2:13 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

What We Eat Shapes Microbe Societies Inside Us

The microbes in the human intestine exert a powerful influence on nutrition and health. Turns out that you can control the bacteria, too. Researchers have found what you eat has a big effect on the microbes inside your gut. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 01 2011 1:30 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Cracking The Conundrum Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The cause of the disease is still unknown, but researchers have found some treatments that may help. One psychiatrist says that when patients adopt a more positive attitude about their symptoms, it often translates into greater confidence and more energy...

Published Mon, Sep 05 2011 3:00 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Haggle, Don't Settle, When It Comes To Health Costs

Most patients don't negotiate with doctors and hospitals over the cost of health care. Consumer Reports says it's time they did. The shopping mavens say doctors can deliver better care for less if patients let them know that cost is an issue....

Published Tue, Sep 06 2011 1:28 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Med Schools Fall Short On LGBT Education

In a survey of medical school deans, researchers found that most schools aren't devoting much time to ***, gay, bisexual and transgender health issues. This issue mirrors the medical community's weak understanding about the specific health risks...

Published Wed, Sep 07 2011 9:20 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

Fewer Shots Of HPV Vaccine May Still Protect Against Cancer

Two doses of the HPV vaccine may be enough to protect women against the virus that causes cervical cancer, according to a new study. After four years, women who had just one or two shots had the same infection rate as women who had three shots. That could...

Published Thu, Sep 08 2011 12:47 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health Blog

September 2011 - NPR Health Blog

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