December 2011 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Biomedical Research Using Chimps Should Be Curtailed

An expert panel says the National Institutes of Health should only allow experiments on chimps if a new set of strict criteria are met, and recommends setting up an independent oversight committee that includes members of the public. Read More...

Published Thu, Dec 15 2011 8:05 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Lack Of Autopsies After Elderly Die Conceals Health Flaws

Many jurisdictions have stopped doing autopsies on people who died over the age of 60, unless it was obvious that a violent death occurred. A lack of resources, both financial and staffing, is often blamed. Read More...

Published Wed, Dec 21 2011 11:27 AM by Shots - Health Blog

After 25 Years In Woman's Stomach, A Pen Still Writes

A British woman who saw a spot on a tonsil tried to get a better look using a pen and a mirror. She slipped and the pen went down her throat. Nobody believed her. Now that they pen has been removed they do. Read More...

Published Wed, Dec 21 2011 9:02 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Hospitals Torn On Reducing Repeat Admissions

Patients admitted repeatedly to hospitals can be a big source of revenue and a big quality problem. Soon Medicare will penalize hospitals that readmit too many patients too often. Hospitals are trying some new approaches to care to get ready for the change...

Published Wed, Dec 14 2011 2:51 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Call Now To Get A Medicare Enrollment Extension

A three-day extension is available to seniors who seek official help with their decision today. To qualify, people need to call a Medicare hotline or an official Medicare partner for help. Read More...

Published Wed, Dec 07 2011 6:44 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Experimental Vaccine For Stomach Flu Might Work

A test of a nasal vaccine against norovirus suggests it may be possible to immunize people against the virus, a common cause of foodborne illness. Read More...

Published Thu, Dec 08 2011 9:13 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Road Rage: A Symptom Of Much More Than Bad Traffic?

It's not unusual for awful traffic conditions or incompetent driving to make some people really angry behind the wheel. But researchers say there may be a biological component to road rage — one that can be tempered with medication and, yes, time...

Published Sun, Dec 11 2011 9:01 PM by Shots - Health Blog

How To Reduce *** Cancer Risk

Alcohol, cigarettes and cellphones have all been purported to increase the risk of developing *** cancer. A report from the Institute of Medicine sorts through the research about various environmental factors and *** cancer to help women cut the risks...

Published Fri, Dec 09 2011 1:35 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Why Observing Prostate Cancers Is Gaining Ground On Surgery

An panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health suggests doctors should rethink their approach to treating prostate cancers. One of the recommendations is most low-risk prostate tumors shouldn't be labeled as cancer in the first...

Published Wed, Dec 07 2011 12:51 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Obama Embraces 'End of AIDS,' Promises To Accelerate HIV Treatment

Many activists praised President Obama's plans to expand U.S. efforts to fight AIDS at home and abroad. The announcement comes at a time when experts and activists believe that the goal of an "AIDS-free generation" may be achievable. Read...

Published Thu, Dec 01 2011 3:59 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Snakebite Threat Gets Short Shrift

Even at the low end of estimates, deaths from snakebites would exceed those from some better-known scourges, such as cholera, dengue fever and Chagas disease. Read More...

Published Tue, Dec 06 2011 2:55 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Teens Aren't the Rampant Sexting Maniacs We Thought

Teens aren't the rampant texters that we've been led to believe. In fact, they're pretty darned modest. That's the news from a survey of middle and high schoolers. Just 1 percent of teenagers said they had created or appeared in sexually...

Published Mon, Dec 05 2011 9:47 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Experimental Magnetic Pulses May Help Heal A Brain After Stroke

Researchers think the treatment encourages brain cells to form new connections, allowing the brain to rewire itself to compensate for damage caused by a stroke. Read More...

Published Thu, Dec 15 2011 6:41 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Many Police Officers Are Sleep Deprived, Risky For Them And Us

A study of nearly 5,000 police officers in the U.S. and Canada finds 40 percent had sleep disorders. These sleepy cops had a greater likelihood of having sleep apnea, a disorder with big health implications. They were also much likelier to fall asleep...

Published Tue, Dec 20 2011 3:33 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Once Routine, Autopsies Now Scarce At U.S. Hospitals

Hospitals have financial incentives to avoid autopsies. And a decline in the number of postmortem examinations performed means lost opportunities for improving medical care and distortions in health care statistics. Read More...

Published Thu, Dec 15 2011 9:48 AM by Shots - Health Blog

December 2011 - NPR Health Blog

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