January 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Stories About High Health Care Costs Win Prizes

A nonprofit group that's trying to get doctors and other health professionals to be more thoughtful about health costs just named winners in an essay contest. Two essays by patients suggest haggling over prices and questioning the necessity of some...

Published Thu, Jan 19 2012 9:05 AM by Shots - Health Blog

How Tears Go 'Pac-Man' To Beat Bacteria

Each tear you shed contains an army of enzymatic Pac-Men, ready to chase down and gobble up germs before they infect the sensitive tissues around your eye. Now scientists have found just one molecule of the germ-fighting enzyme is a potent defender. Read...

Published Fri, Jan 20 2012 10:27 AM by Shots - Health Blog

A Permanent Home That Allows Drinking Helps Homeless Drink Less

Homeless people may stand a better chance of improving their health when offered a permanent place to live without a requirement for sobriety, the results from a Seattle center suggest. Read More...

Published Mon, Jan 23 2012 8:08 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Your Brain On Psilocybin Might Be Less Depressed

Magic mushrooms remain popular at music festivals. But scientists say their mind-altering effects might help people with depression. Happy memories are stronger in people tripping on psilocybin, a new study finds, while brain areas overactive in depression...

Published Tue, Jan 24 2012 11:37 AM by Shots - Health Blog

With Age, Men May Lose Thinking Ability Faster Than Women

Men are diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment earlier than women, perhaps because of physical health issues. That's the word from a study of older people in Minnesota. But by their mid-80s, both men and women suffer the same level of loss of thinking...

Published Wed, Jan 25 2012 2:13 PM by Shots - Health Blog

How Health Care Dropped Out Of The Presidential Conversation

The public remains deeply divided over the law overhauling the health system. And a new poll finds a majority of Americans believe the law's insurance mandate will be found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Read More...

Published Thu, Jan 26 2012 12:39 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Gingrich, Romney Go At It Over Abortion

As the race heads to socially conservative South Carolina, the Republican presidential candidates are accusing each other of being less than pure on the issue. Read More...

Published Wed, Jan 11 2012 9:01 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Biggest Bucks In Health Care Are Spent On A Very Few

Just 1 percent of the population accounted for 21.8 percent of all U.S. health spending in 2009. And just 5 percent accounted for half the total spending. Read More...

Published Thu, Jan 12 2012 1:11 PM by Shots - Health Blog

The Sleep Apnea Business Is Booming, And Insurers Aren't Happy

Sleep apnea is a condition that can raise the risk of several serious illnesses, including heart disease. Testing for the condition is a lucrative business, and sleep labs have sprung up across the country. But as spending skyrockets, insurers are rethinking...

Published Sun, Jan 15 2012 9:01 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Listen Up, Walkers: Watch Out For Traffic When Wearing Headphones

A study of accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones suggests a real risk from the audio distraction. Fumbling with or listening to music players can divert attention from dangers. The audio can also drown out sounds of trouble. Read More...

Published Tue, Jan 17 2012 12:10 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Making The Best Of A Hospital Stay By Quitting Smoking

Most hospitals make little effort to screen patients for tobacco use or to help smokers kick the habit permanently. That's a missed opportunity. Starting this month, though, hospitals can choose to adopt tobacco-cessation measures to help them comply...

Published Tue, Jan 03 2012 6:55 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Calories Trump Protein For Weight Loss

People on low-protein diets pack on more fat compared to people who eat normal amounts of protein, a new study concludes. This is bad for health, even if the low-protein folks don't put on as many pounds. Eating more protein may make it easier to...

Published Wed, Jan 04 2012 6:57 AM by Shots - Health Blog

The Real Holiday Party For Weight Loss Firms? It's Now

The first week of the year means big profits for weight-loss firms. Some companies are looking to expand their customer base by specifically targeting men. Others are teaming up with big employers. Read More...

Published Wed, Jan 04 2012 9:01 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Monkey Experiments Boost Hope For Human AIDS Vaccine

The vaccine protected 80 percent of monkeys from infection with SIV, the simian version of HIV. By comparison, an experimental HIV vaccine was 31 percent effective in protecting people against infection in a large-scale study unveiled in 2009. Read More...

Published Fri, Jan 06 2012 3:50 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Diabetes' Economic Toll Goes Far Beyond Medical Bills

Researchers found that even after adjusting for family background, obesity and various illnesses, young people with diabetes were more likely to drop out of high school than those without the illness. They were also more likely to skip or fail to complete...

Published Mon, Jan 09 2012 1:21 PM by Shots - Health Blog

January 2012 - NPR Health Blog

Syndication

Recent Posts

Tags

Archives