October 2011 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Key Panel Recommends Routine HPV Vaccination For Boys

Experts voted to recommend to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all 11- and 12-year-old boys be vaccinated with Gardasil, Merck's vaccine against human papillomavirus. Vaccinations could start as early as age 9. Read More...

Published Tue, Oct 25 2011 10:19 AM by Shots - Health Blog

High-Deductible Health Plans More Common On Employers' Menus

At small companies, a high-deductible option, often served with a tax-preferred savings account, may be the only health insurance choice. Now even some big companies are starting to move all their employees into high-deductible plans. Read More...

Published Tue, Oct 25 2011 6:55 AM by Shots - Health Blog

BPA And Behavior: More Questions Than Answers

Higher levels of BPA in urine taken from mothers during pregnancy were associated with slightly "worse behavior" among their 3-year-olds, especially in girls, researchers found. But BPA exposure after birth didn't show the same pattern....

Published Mon, Oct 24 2011 11:52 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Big-Name Drugs Are Falling Off The 'Patent Cliff'

Dozens of popular high-end pharmaceuticals — from Lipitor to Nexium to Plavix — are going off-patent in the coming months and years. That will lead to a big drop in drug costs. But analysts say that could be offset by a price increase in other areas....

Published Mon, Oct 24 2011 2:22 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Medicare Enrollment Comes Sooner This Year

The annual "open enrollment" period for joining or changing prescription drug or private health plans is already under way. But the new dates are only one of several changes Medicare enrollees need to be aware of this year. Read More...

Published Mon, Oct 24 2011 2:20 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Will Smartphones And iPads Mush My Toddler's Brain?

Research suggests that toddlers under 2 don't learn from television — and in fact, TV viewing, even in the background, could harm their development. But what about content on mobile screens? The answer may depend on how you're using them. Read...

Published Sat, Oct 22 2011 4:52 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Pill Or Candy? Can You Guess Which Of These Is Medicine?

If you didn't get the right answer, don't feel bad. A precocious Ohio girl who asked teachers and kindergartners to look at 20 matched pairs of medicines and candies found they were wrong around 30 percent of the time. Read More...

Published Fri, Oct 21 2011 2:41 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Don't Count On Facebook Boosting Your Brainpower Just Yet

Contrary to what you may have heard, more Facebook friends hasn't been proved to make your brain bigger. Check out what researchers actually found in a new study. Read More...

Published Fri, Oct 21 2011 9:11 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Biggest Study Yet Finds No Cancer Risk From Cellphones

When researchers dug into Danish cancer data, teasing out cases involving people who'd had cellphones with those who hadn't, they found no increased risk of brain tumors. Swedish researchers also noted in an editorial that national rates of glioma...

Published Fri, Oct 21 2011 7:46 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Crash Rates Don't Tell the Whole Story Of Risky Teen Driving

Teen drivers have fewer accidents as they gain experience. But that doesn't mean they are cutting down on dangerous habits like taking sharp turns and braking quickly, research shows. Read More...

Published Thu, Oct 20 2011 2:25 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Advice For The Golden Years: 'Don't Ever Retire Mentally'

Tell Me More 's end-of-life series continues with Washington-area 80-somethings talking about the realities of retirement with Michel Martin. Read More...

Published Thu, Oct 20 2011 10:09 AM by Shots - Health Blog

After A Half-Million Cholera Cases, Vaccination Will Begin In Haiti

The goal of the vaccinators isn't to stop cholera in its tracks. They can't do that in Haiti with only enough vaccine for 100,000 people. The aim is to show the world that vaccination against the illness can be done. Read More...

Published Thu, Oct 20 2011 7:54 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Look Around: 1 In 10 Americans Takes Antidepressants

Antidepressant use has surged almost 400 percent since the early 1990s. Women and adolescent girls are 2 1/2 times more likely than men and adolescent boys to be taking one of the pills. Read More...

Published Thu, Oct 20 2011 6:47 AM by Shots - Health Blog

To Curb Abortions, Opponents Focus On The 'Supply-Side'

Abortion opponents in several states are making an aggressive new thrust at the procedure by focusing on the "supply-side" of abortions: the doctors, hospitals and clinics that provide the services. And the strategy may prove effective. Read...

Published Wed, Oct 19 2011 3:53 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Heart Failure Lands Fewer Seniors In Hospital

A decline in the admission of Medicare patients to hospitals for treatment of heart failure saves at least $4.1 billion a year, a new study finds. Better treatment of coronary artery disease and high blood pressure may help explain the decline. Read More...

Published Wed, Oct 19 2011 2:00 PM by Shots - Health Blog

October 2011 - NPR Health Blog

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