September 2012 - NPR Health Blog - The Network of Care

Infection Risk Prompts New York City To Regulate Ritual Circumcision

The New York City Board of Health voted unanimously today in favor of a new regulation that would require parents of young boys who undergo ritual circumcisions involving "direct oral suction" to sign a consent form first. The practice has been...

Published Thu, Sep 13 2012 12:23 PM by Shots - Health Blog

On The Road To Polio Eradication In Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the last three countries to still have entrenched polio. To eradicate the virus, a group of "social mobilizers" travels to hard-hit slums to help overcome social and physical barriers to vaccination. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 21 2012 12:28 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Is CrossFit Training Good For Kids?

In the last few years, some sports medicine specialists have become convinced that strength training activities like CrossFit can be great for kids. But others worry that CrossFit trainers aren't teaching appropriate techniques for weight lifting...

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 12:18 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Romney And Abortion: Another Shift In The Works?

It's fairly well known that Mitt Romney proclaimed himself in favor of abortion rights when he ran for office in Massachusetts, then reversed himself before launching his presidential bid. But recently the GOP nominee seems to be softening his opposition...

Published Mon, Sep 03 2012 10:56 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Pediatricians: Bounce Trampolines From Homes To Protect Kids

A leading group of pediatricians is out with a sterner warning than ever about trampolines. They say the risk of injury to kids remains too high, despite some safety measures. Use of trampolines at home "is strongly discouraged." Read More....

Published Mon, Sep 24 2012 11:36 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Doctors Sift Through Patients' Genomes To Solve Medical Mysteries

Doctors used genome sequencing to put a name to the mysterious cluster of symptoms that afflicted Christian Terry, 5. He's one of many patients now getting the test, which can cost as little as $1,000, to resolve undiagnosed illnesses. Doctors are...

Published Tue, Sep 25 2012 12:18 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Branding Health Care Exchanges To Make The Sale

In the process of creating its health insurance exchange, California wants to rename the marketplace. But it's tough to find a name that appeals to all Californians and explains the marketplace at the same time. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 25 2012 1:57 PM by Shots - Health Blog

When Doctors Tell Patients They Shouldn't Drive

After Canadian doctors warned patients with medical conditions that could impair driving about the risks, there was a 45 percent drop in the annual rate of accidents for the group. But the patients also were seen more often for depression afterward and...

Published Thu, Sep 27 2012 9:30 AM 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

As Genetic Sequencing Spreads, Excitement, Worries Grow

The cost of deciphering a person's genetic code has dropped faster than the price tag on flat-screen TVs. But some experts are concerned that access to genomic information could stoke fears and invade privacy. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 18 2012 12:34 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Ebola's Unlikely Victims: Health Care Workers

The World Health Organization has confirmed 72 cases of the dreaded virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo since May; 23 of them are health care workers. Despite elaborate protective garb and other precautions, it's hard for doctors, nurses and...

Published Wed, Sep 19 2012 12:04 AM by Shots - Health Blog

New Experimental Drug Offers Autism Hope

The drug, called Arbaclofen, made people with Fragile X syndrome less likely to avoid social interactions, according to a study in Science Translational Medicine. Researchers suspect it might do the same for people with autism. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 20 2012 12:33 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Who's Next In Line For A Kidney Transplant? The Answer Is Changing

The non-profit in charge of distributing organs wants to revamp the system for distributing kidneys for the first time in 25 years. But some transplant specialists and bioethicists fear the changes could end up discriminating against some patients. Read...

Published Thu, Sep 20 2012 1:31 PM by Shots - Health Blog

September 2012 - NPR Health Blog

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