NPR Health Blog

Diet Pill Meridia Faces Tough Safety Questions

A panel of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration will vote Wednesday on whether the diet pill Meridia should be stay on the market, despite heart and stroke risks. New data sharpen the question. Read More...

Published Mon, Sep 13 2010 10:55 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

C-Sections And The Profit Motive In California

An investigation of cesarean-section rates at hospitals in California finds they are higher at for-profit institutions. The differences are apparent even when the focus is low-risk pregnancies, California Watch reports. Read More...

Published Mon, Sep 13 2010 6:19 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Want More Health? Check Out CommonHealth

If you're looking for more smart stuff on health, check out the WBUR blog CommonHealth, part of NPR's new Argo Network. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 10 2010 2:01 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Yale Cardiologist Taps Data To Shape Health Decisions

Dr. Harlan Krumholz has helped make the careful measurement of how patients do after treatment into a belatedly hot field. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 10 2010 11:57 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Feds To Insurers: Quit It With The Misinformation And Big Rate Hikes

With some health insurers saying health overhaul is leading to higher premiums, the administration accused them of misinforming Americans and falsely pinning blame on the new health law. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 10 2010 9:07 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Americans Are Flunking Easy Goals For Healthier Eating

By now, most Americans should be eating fruit at least twice a day and vegetables three or more times daily, public health officials had hoped. But, we're not even close to achieving those modest targets. Read More...

Published Fri, Sep 10 2010 5:58 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Medicare's Badlands Of Preventive Care: Chicago, McAllen And The Bronx

Once again, an analysis of Medicare data shows wide variations in the kinds of care patients receive. The lowest rate of mammograms is in Chicago. Highest rate of leg amputations: McAllen, Texas. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 09 2010 11:59 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Feds Win Round In Stem-Cell Funding Fight

A federal appeals court lifted a temporary ban on federal funding of research with human embryonic stem cells. The Justice Department argued a lower court judge had misinterpreted the law and that even a temporary stay on funding would be harmful. Read...

Published Thu, Sep 09 2010 10:25 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Health Overhaul Won't Tame Costs

Within a decade, annual health spending is expect to rise to $4.57 trillion, or 19.6 percent of the gross domestic product. The effect of health overall on spending is small -- about 0.2 percent a year. Read More...

Published Thu, Sep 09 2010 5:59 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

America Hits Wall In Smoking Fight, But Some States Make Progress

Smoking rates are stuck around 20 percent in the United States. But health advocates say lower rates in some states suggest progress can still be made. Read More...

Published Wed, Sep 08 2010 1:45 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

No Cure For Morning Sickness Just Yet

A scientific review of the evidence for treatments ranging from ginger to acupuncture finds nothing so far has been proved safe and effective in relieving the nausea that strikes most women early in their pregnancies. Read More...

Published Wed, Sep 08 2010 10:56 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Embryonic Stem Cell Funding Stays Bottled Up

A federal judge ruled the government is wrong about a "parade of horribles" that a stay on funding of researcher involving human embryonic stem cells would have on the field. He refused to lift a preliminary injunction imposed last month. Read...

Published Wed, Sep 08 2010 6:03 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

Costs Of Defensive Medicine May Be Overstated

The costs of defensive medicine practiced by doctors guarding against lawsuits are real, but not nearly as high as some have claimed. Even so, it's probably worth trying to tame them, some policy analysts say. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 07 2010 1:45 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

FDA To Lipton: Tea Can't Do That

The Food and Drug Administration slammed Unilever, maker of Lipton teas, for touting specific health benefits from tea drinking, such as lowering cholesterol. The agency says the company's unproven claims would make the beverage a drug. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 07 2010 12:51 PM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

When Hospice Patients Also Get Treatment, Payment Can Be A Problem

Forced to choose between treatment and palliative care, many people forgo hospice services. Less than 40 percent of people are in hospice when they die. Read More...

Published Tue, Sep 07 2010 9:18 AM by NPR Blogs: Shots - Health News Blog

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