January 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

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

Texas Asks Feds To Delay Health Insurance Rebate Plan

Under the Affordable Care Act, health plans that spend too much on administrative costs instead of medical care are required to offer rebates to customers. Some states, such as Texas, aren't ready for this change just yet. Read More...

Published Mon, Jan 09 2012 9:01 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Study: A Joint May Be Easier On Lungs Than A Cigarette

Cigarettes are bad for lungs, but marijuana smoke so much at least for moderate pot smokers. That's the word from researchers to tracked the lung function of cigarette and marijuana smokers for 20 years. But the lungs of heavy pot smokers didn't...

Published Tue, Jan 10 2012 1:03 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

Spot Quiz: Name The Health Issue That Affects 1 In 5 Americans

A new report from the federal government says 20 percent of Americans have this health condition each year. Do you know which one it is? Read More...

Published Thu, Jan 19 2012 2:26 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Administration Stands Firm On Birth Control Coverage

Final rules requiring insurance plans to cover prescription contraceptives will give religious-based hospitals and other organizations whose primary purpose is not religious an extra year to come into compliance. But the requirement remains, despite vigorous...

Published Fri, Jan 20 2012 2:23 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Women Report More Pain Than Men From Same Ailments

Women don't suffer in silence. They report feeling more pain than men from such common conditions as ankle sprains and sinus infections, a Stanford study finds. A better understanding of gender differences in pain could lead to better treatments....

Published Mon, Jan 23 2012 12:26 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Shortage Of Research On When There's Too Much Health Care

Published research on excess use of health care is in pretty short supply, so rooting out waste by looking at the existing studies can be a little like limiting your late-night search for lost car keys to the spots right under streetlights. Read More...

Published Wed, Jan 25 2012 6:51 AM by Shots - Health Blog

January 2012 - NPR Health Blog

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