February 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Controversy Over Stem-Cell Research Keeps Charities On Sidelines

Despite raising millions of dollars for *** cancer research, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation hasn't funded any work involving human embryonic stem cells. Other big disease charities have also shied away from funding such science. Read More...

Published Tue, Feb 07 2012 1:15 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Heartburn Treatments May Lead To Serious Diarrhea

Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid are among the popular medicines — called proton pump inhibitors — that may raise the risk for chronic diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile . That's a bacterium that you'd rather not have colonizing your intestines...

Published Wed, Feb 08 2012 11:07 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Feds Find Wide Variation In Serious Infections Linked To Catheters

Patients at hospitals in Maryland, Mississippi, Louisiana, Maine and New Hampshire were most likely to get blood infections caused by central lines, new federal data show. Medicare is gearing up to penalize hospitals with high rates of infections that...

Published Thu, Feb 09 2012 10:58 AM by Shots - Health Blog

How My Voice Went Silent

After coming down with a mysterious headache and a blazing sore throat, NPR science correspondent Richard Harris lost his voice. And it didn't come back. Doctors eventually pinpointed the cause: a paralyzed vocal cord. Read More...

Published Fri, Feb 10 2012 7:06 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Feds Accuse Texas Doctor In $350 Million Medicare Fraud

A Texas doctor and six co-conspirators indicted for an alleged long-running health care scam look to have set a new record for a medical practice: $350 million in fraudulent Medicare bills and $24 million under Medicaid over nearly six years ending in...

Published Tue, Feb 28 2012 12:24 PM by Shots - Health Blog

The High Price Of Caring For A Loved One With Alzheimer's

Caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease can drain families' bank accounts. But there is also a high emotional price to be paid. The administration's federal budget would fund more support for family caregivers. Read More...

Published Wed, Feb 29 2012 8:43 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Birth Control Pill Mix-Up Leads To Pfizer Recall

Pfizer is recalling 1 million packages of oral contraceptives because of errors in the order or types of pills. The mistakes could leave women at risk for unintended pregnancy. Read More...

Published Wed, Feb 01 2012 7:20 AM by Shots - Health Blog

How One Hospital Entices Doctors To Work In Rural America

Instead of offering big salaries and other perks, the CEO of tiny Ashland Health Clinic, in southwest Kansas, lures physicians with "a job that matters." In addition to meeting a real need on a daily basis in Ashland, doctors also get eight...

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

As Komen Defends Itself, Planned Parenthood Rakes In Substitute Funds

A top official reportedly quits to protest the decision of the ***-cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure to yank funding from Planned Parenthood. The women's health organization says it's already collected most of the $680,000 it lost. Read...

Published Thu, Feb 02 2012 3:40 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Many Hits, Rather Than A Big One, Pose Greatest Concussion Risk

High school football players experienced brain changes long before they had symptoms of concussion. The findings suggest that concussions come from cumulative damage, researchers say. Read More...

Published Fri, Feb 03 2012 11:57 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Active Video Games Don't Keep Kids Moving

Giving kids a Wii and active video games isn't enough to increase their daily exercise, a new study found. The active gamers didn't move more than children playing traditional sit-on-the-sofa video games. Read More...

Published Mon, Feb 27 2012 11:29 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Wanted: Specially Designed Tools For Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric surgeons often have to improvise the tools of their trade, because surgical instruments are not often designed specifically for children. Some surgeons are teaming up with engineers to try to change this. Read More...

Published Sun, Feb 19 2012 9:01 PM by Shots - Health Blog

The Big Squeeze: Calif. Weight Loss Clinics Under Investigation

The 1-800-GET-THIN marketing campaign and its affiliated surgical centers, which implant the Lap-Band for weight-loss, are being investigated by local, state and federal authorities. At least three wrongful death lawsuits have been filed and the Department...

Published Tue, Feb 21 2012 2:19 PM by Shots - Health Blog

High Court Punts On California Medicaid Ruling

California patients and doctors had sued to block the state's decision to cut Medicaid payment rates. But instead of ruling on the matter, the U.S. Supreme Court sent the case back to a lower court, saying "changed circumstances" in the...

Published Wed, Feb 22 2012 2:59 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Study: Older Antipsychotics Shouldn't Be Used For Elderly

Elderly people taking Haldol, an older antipsychotic, were twice as likely to die within six months of starting the drug as those taking Risperdal, a commonly used newer drug. Older antipsychotic drugs shouldn't be used to dementia symptoms in the...

Published Fri, Feb 24 2012 8:39 AM by Shots - Health Blog

February 2012 - NPR Health Blog

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