September 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Zanzibar Shows Cholera Vaccine Can Protect Even The Unvaccinated

The results comes from Zanzibar, an island state of Kenya, where half the people in six rural and urban areas received two doses of oral cholera vaccine. The vaccinations led to fewer bacteria circulating, lowering the infection risks even for those who...

Published Tue, Sep 04 2012 10:23 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Medicaid Helps Washington, D.C., Clinic Care For Ex-Prisoners

After they are released, former prisoners often don't have jobs or health insurance. The federal health law's Medicaid expansion could change that soon, though. Some states and the District of Columbia are getting a head start. Read More...

Published Mon, Sep 17 2012 1:25 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Link Between BPA And Childhood Obesity Is Unclear

In a study, researchers found that among white kids and teens, higher BPA levels were associated with more than twice the risk of obesity. But higher BPA levels didn't affect childhood obesity risk for blacks and Hispanics. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 18 2012 1:48 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Subsidies Help Get Modern Malaria Drugs To Millions In Africa

An experimental program by the Global Fund brought more than 100 million malaria treatments to people in sub-Saharan Africa last year, a panel of public health experts said on Monday. But time may have run out for the program to prove it's worth continuing...

Published Wed, Sep 19 2012 2:31 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Challenges To Health Law Just Keep Coming

Oklahoma's attorney general claims that an IRS rule to implement the federal health overhaul law's subsidies for some insurance exchanges exceeds the agency's authority. The Congressional Budget Office says more people than previously estimated...

Published Thu, Sep 20 2012 1:29 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Insurer's Files Show Big Cost Differences For Same Illnesses

Some of the cost variations from a UnitedHealthcare database are startling. For treating a basic asthma episode, cases in the 10th percentile of distribution cost $98 each while those in the 90th percentile the cost was $1,535 per case. Read More...

Published Wed, Sep 05 2012 8:06 AM by Shots - Health Blog

How Americans Think About Screening

There are conflicting guidelines on when women should get mammograms and mounting questions on when the PSA blood test for prostate cancer is worthwhile. We asked how people are sorting things out. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 06 2012 11:05 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Take Aim At Epidemic Kidney Stones With Lasers

A recent study found one in 10 American men and one in 14 women has had a kidney stone. Being obese or diabetic seems to raise the risk of getting them. Now lasers are becoming the treatment-of-choice for kidney stones in academic medical centers. Read...

Published Mon, Sep 10 2012 12:27 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Two New Drugs May Help In Fight Against Obesity

Both the drugs — Belviq and Qsymia — were approved in July. They make you feel satisfied with less food — and not as hungry between meals. There are side-effects from the medications, including dry mouth, constipation and a slight tingling in fingers...

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 12:21 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Mitt Romney's Shifting Stance On Health Care

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Sunday that he might not want to repeal the entire Affordable Care Act after all. He said he supports the provision that assures people with pre-existing health conditions can get coverage. Read More.....

Published Mon, Sep 10 2012 2:34 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Insurance Costs Rise, But More Slowly

Annual family health insurance premiums rose about 4 percent to an average of $15,745 this year, a new survey finds. While the increase is less than the one seen last year, it exceeds both inflation and wage gains. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 11 2012 1:02 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Portland, Ore., Becomes Latest Fluoride Battleground

Portland, Ore., is the largest American city not to add fluoride to its drinking water. Activists have been vocal, for and against a proposal to change that. The science shows that fears of side effects from small amounts of fluoride to protect teeth...

Published Wed, Sep 12 2012 1:58 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Death Toll Climbs In Congo Ebola Outbreak

The number of deaths from an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo surged in the past week, prompting concern that the outbreak was spreading. A spokesman from the World Health Organization says the outbreak is not out of control. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 13 2012 1:54 PM by Shots - Health Blog

For Best Toilet Health: Squat Or Sit?

Passionate advocates believe that squatting over the toilet is a more healthful position than sitting down on one. They say the posture can alleviate problems like hemorrhoids. One company is making stools to help people get closer to the squat. Read...

Published Fri, Sep 28 2012 9:32 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Experimental Drug Is First To Help Kids With Premature-Aging Disease

The new drug reversed changes in blood vessels that usually lead kids with the rare genetic disease progeria to have heart attacks and strokes. Research on the toxic protein responsible for progeria is also changing scientists' understanding of how...

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 12:19 PM by Shots - Health Blog

September 2012 - NPR Health Blog

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