NPR Health Blog

FDA Approves First New Weight-Loss Drug In More Than A Decade

The Food and Drug Administration gave the green light to Belviq, a twice-a-day pill that suppresses appetite and appears to affect metabolism by influencing levels of the brain chemical serotonin. The agency had previously rejected the drug over concerns...

Published Wed, Jun 27 2012 10:41 AM by Shots - Health Blog

A Guide To The Cleanest And Filthiest U.S. Beaches

An environmental group has issued its annual report on the nation's filthiest beaches, where a day in the water can mean skin rashes, stomach flu and respiratory problems. Who made the list? Read More...

Published Wed, Jun 27 2012 9:41 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Feds Move To Curb Abusive Debt Collection By Nonprofit Hospitals

The Treasury Department has proposed restrictions on debt collectors, required under the 2010 federal health law, to protect patients at nonprofit hospitals. A Supreme Court ruling that strikes down the entire law would scotch the new rules. Read More...

Published Wed, Jun 27 2012 7:20 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Dementia Complicates Romance In Nursing Homes

Consensual sex among aging residents of nursing homes can be fraught. And when those older people are showing signs of dementia, family members sometimes stand in in the way of love. Read More...

Published Tue, Jun 26 2012 2:47 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Swine Flu May Have Killed Far More People Than Thought

The global death toll from the swine flu pandemic may have been 15 times larger than previous estimates. Researchers tried to fill in gaps in places around the world where statistics on the illness were harder to come by. Read More...

Published Tue, Jun 26 2012 11:54 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Convenience And Efficiency Fuel Boom In Retail Clinics

Walk-in clinics are getting traction with consumers, hospitals and retailers. A visit to a clinic costs less than one to the doctor or hospital emergency room. And the clinics present less of a hassle. Read More...

Published Tue, Jun 26 2012 7:00 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Could Kaiser Permanente's Low-Cost Health Care Be Even Cheaper?

Kaiser Permanente is often cited as an example of a health maintenance organization that keeps costs reined in. In fact, portions of the Affordable Care Act were crafted with the Kaiser model in mind. But critics say the price gap between Kaiser and other...

Published Mon, Jun 25 2012 2:36 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Why Are Women More Likely To Die From Lung Cancer In Alabama?

For women born since 1933, lung cancer death rates in California have dropped by more than half. In Alabama, they have more than doubled. Read More...

Published Mon, Jun 25 2012 2:29 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Dropping Legal Barriers Doesn't Guarantee Interstate Insurance Sales

Soon any health insurer in Georgia can sell policies it offers in other states to Georgians. But there's no sign that companies will be taking advantage of the opportunity created by a new state law that supporters hoped would spur competition and...

Published Mon, Jun 25 2012 10:15 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Obesity Stokes Rheumatoid Arthritis With More Than Just Extra Weight

A recent study by researchers the Mayo Clinic found that obese individuals were 25 percent more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than people of normal weight. They say fat cells also make proteins and estrogen that also inflame joints in people...

Published Mon, Jun 25 2012 12:02 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Many Migraines Can Be Prevented With Treatments, But Few Use Them

Preventive treatment can reduce migraines by 50 percent, but few migraine sufferers use the drugs. Now the American Academy of Neurology is trying to help physicians treat migraine patients to reduce both frequency and severity of headaches. Read More...

Published Sun, Jun 24 2012 11:57 PM by Shots - Health Blog

Countdown To The Supreme Court's Ruling On Health Care

This week, the Supreme Court is almost certain to issue its decision on the constitutionality of President Obama's health care law. The decision could have far-reaching implications for the legal landscape, the nation's health care system and...

Published Sun, Jun 24 2012 3:04 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Drug-Resistant Germ In Rhode Island Hospital Raises Worries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites Rhode Island Hospital for fast work in stamping out a dangerous antibiotic-resistant germ. But federal officials are concerned the next time might not go as well. They're asking U.S. hospitals to...

Published Fri, Jun 22 2012 1:37 PM by Shots - Health Blog

When Patients With Fibromyalgia Try Marijuana

Fibromyalgia patients have limited treatment options, but a Canadian study finds that those who self-medicate with marijuana were more likely to have poor mental health and to seek other drugs. Read More...

Published Fri, Jun 22 2012 8:52 AM by Shots - Health Blog

Why Many Young Adults Might Lose Coverage If Health Law Falls

One of the most popular parts of the health overhaul law is a provision that lets parents keep children on their insurance policies until age 26. Several big insurers say they plan to keep that in place even if the Supreme Court strikes down the rest...

Published Fri, Jun 22 2012 12:04 AM by Shots - Health Blog

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