Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1128&ft=1&f=1128 Health en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:01:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Health http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1128&ft=1&f=1128 Texas Medicaid Debate Complicated By Politics And Poverty In Texas, it may be politically unwise to cross the governor, but some politicians and advocates in the poor Rio Grande Valley are starting to speak out in support of expanding Medicaid. Governor Perry opposes all parts of Obamacare. Tue, 21 May 2013 03:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/182180240/texas-medicaid-debate-complicated-by-politics-and-poverty?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/21/182180240/texas-medicaid-debate-complicated-by-politics-and-poverty?ft=1&f=1128 In Texas, it may be politically unwise to cross the governor, but some politicians and advocates in the poor Rio Grande Valley are starting to speak out in support of expanding Medicaid. Governor Perry opposes all parts of Obamacare.

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]]> Latest Health Hurdle: Buying Insurance Without A Bank Account Most health plans accept a credit card for the first month's premium and then require customers to pay monthly with a check or an electronic transfer from a bank account. For people without a banking relationship, these transactions can be tricky. Mon, 20 May 2013 16:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184814772/latest-health-hurdle-buying-insurance-without-a-bank-account?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184814772/latest-health-hurdle-buying-insurance-without-a-bank-account?ft=1&f=1128 Most health plans accept a credit card for the first month's premium and then require customers to pay monthly with a check or an electronic transfer from a bank account. For people without a banking relationship, these transactions can be tricky.

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]]> ADHD In Childhood May Feed Obesity In Adults People diagnosed with ADHD as children may be more apt to be obese in adulthood, scientists say. Differences in brain biology or the impulsiveness typical of ADHD may contribute to lasting, bad eating habits. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/185521490/adhd-in-childhood-may-feed-obesity-in-adults?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/185521490/adhd-in-childhood-may-feed-obesity-in-adults?ft=1&f=1128 People diagnosed with ADHD as children may be more apt to be obese in adulthood, scientists say. Differences in brain biology or the impulsiveness typical of ADHD may contribute to lasting, bad eating habits.

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]]> Can A Piece Of Hair Reveal How Much Coke Or Pepsi You Drink? People are notorious for under-reporting what they consume — they lie, forget or just guess wrong. For researchers who want to know how much soda we're drinking, a high-tech analysis technique could help. Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/17/184797227/can-a-piece-of-hair-reveal-how-much-coke-or-pepsi-you-drink?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/05/17/184797227/can-a-piece-of-hair-reveal-how-much-coke-or-pepsi-you-drink?ft=1&f=1128 People are notorious for under-reporting what they consume — they lie, forget or just guess wrong. For researchers who want to know how much soda we're drinking, a high-tech analysis technique could help.

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]]> If Your Shrink Is A Bot, How Do You Respond? A computer-simulated woman named Ellie is designed to talk to people who are struggling emotionally and take their measure — 30 times per second. Researchers hope their technology, which reads a person's body language and inflections, will yield diagnostic clues for clinical therapists. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/182593855/if-your-shrink-is-a-bot-how-do-you-respond?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/20/182593855/if-your-shrink-is-a-bot-how-do-you-respond?ft=1&f=1128 A computer-simulated woman named Ellie is designed to talk to people who are struggling emotionally and take their measure — 30 times per second. Researchers hope their technology, which reads a person's body language and inflections, will yield diagnostic clues for clinical therapists.

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]]> Bans Of Same-Sex Marriage Can Take A Psychological Toll When several states passed laws banning same-sex marriages, researchers found that the mental health of gay residents seemed to suffer. Conversely, stress-related disorders dropped after the legalization of gay marriage in one state. Researchers say negative media portrayals and loss of safety were contributing factors. Mon, 20 May 2013 03:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184829036/bans-of-same-sex-marriage-can-take-a-psychological-toll?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/184829036/bans-of-same-sex-marriage-can-take-a-psychological-toll?ft=1&f=1128 When several states passed laws banning same-sex marriages, researchers found that the mental health of gay residents seemed to suffer. Conversely, stress-related disorders dropped after the legalization of gay marriage in one state. Researchers say negative media portrayals and loss of safety were contributing factors.

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]]> Alzheimer's Cases Rise, But Hope Remains More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease. Sat, 18 May 2013 17:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/18/185103746/alzheimers-cases-rise-but-hope-remains?ft=1&f=1128 More than 5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, and the number is only going to increase — in part, due to aging baby boomers. But researchers say increased awareness and early detection is helping patients live with the disease.

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]]> The Unsafe Sex: Should The World Invest More In Men's Health? The world's top health problems are more common in men than women. But recent global funding has been skewed toward women's issues. Some health economists say more effort should go toward stopping men's risky behaviors, like smoking and drinking. Sat, 18 May 2013 08:38:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184771915/the-unsafe-sex-should-the-world-invest-more-in-mens-health?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184771915/the-unsafe-sex-should-the-world-invest-more-in-mens-health?ft=1&f=1128 The world's top health problems are more common in men than women. But recent global funding has been skewed toward women's issues. Some health economists say more effort should go toward stopping men's risky behaviors, like smoking and drinking.

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]]> Experts Agree: 'Psychiatry's Bible' Is No Bible The new version of the <em>DSM,</em> the manual of psychiatric diagnoses, is already sparking criticism. But psychiatrists say it helps make sure they're all on the same page. Fri, 17 May 2013 17:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184849282/experts-agree-psychiatrys-bible-is-no-bible?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184849282/experts-agree-psychiatrys-bible-is-no-bible?ft=1&f=1128 The new version of the DSM, the manual of psychiatric diagnoses, is already sparking criticism. But psychiatrists say it helps make sure they're all on the same page.

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]]> Illinois Lawmakers Send Medical Marijuana Bill To Governor Gov. Pat Quinn has not said whether he will sign the bill after the state Senate approved the measure, which includes tough guidelines for who is eligible. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:17:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184827768/illinois-lawmakers-send-medical-marijuana-bill-to-governor?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/17/184827768/illinois-lawmakers-send-medical-marijuana-bill-to-governor?ft=1&f=1128 Gov. Pat Quinn has not said whether he will sign the bill after the state Senate approved the measure, which includes tough guidelines for who is eligible.

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]]> Up For Discussion: Cost Of Cancer Care Avoided Too Often Even cancer patients with health insurance can face steep copayments for drugs, a sizable share of hospital bills and significant incidental expenses. So wouldn't it make sense for doctors and patients to talk about financial issues up front? Fri, 17 May 2013 14:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184804719/up-for-discussion-cost-of-cancer-care-avoided-too-often?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184804719/up-for-discussion-cost-of-cancer-care-avoided-too-often?ft=1&f=1128 Even cancer patients with health insurance can face steep copayments for drugs, a sizable share of hospital bills and significant incidental expenses. So wouldn't it make sense for doctors and patients to talk about financial issues up front?

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]]> Researchers Report Cloning Advance For Producing Stem Cells Scientists reported this week in the journal <em>Cell</em> that they had used somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques to create a source of embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of a patient. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Josephine Johnston of the Hastings Center discuss the research. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775918/researchers-report-cloning-advance-for-producing-stem-cells?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775918/researchers-report-cloning-advance-for-producing-stem-cells?ft=1&f=1128 Scientists reported this week in the journal Cell that they had used somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques to create a source of embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of a patient. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Josephine Johnston of the Hastings Center discuss the research.

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]]> Desktop Diaries: Daniel Kahneman Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our <em>Desktop Diaries</em> series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making. Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184775922/desktop-diaries-daniel-kahneman?ft=1&f=1128 Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our Desktop Diaries series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making.

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]]> Flaxseed: The Next Superfood For Cattle And Beef? After years of research, an animal scientist looking for ways to keep inflammation down in cattle came up with a novel approach: feed them flax. The flax in their food helps keep animals healthy and has an added benefit for people who later eat their meat: omega-3 enriched beef. Fri, 17 May 2013 12:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/19/172421803/flax-seed-the-next-superfood-for-cows-and-beef?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/19/172421803/flax-seed-the-next-superfood-for-cows-and-beef?ft=1&f=1128 After years of research, an animal scientist looking for ways to keep inflammation down in cattle came up with a novel approach: feed them flax. The flax in their food helps keep animals healthy and has an added benefit for people who later eat their meat: omega-3 enriched beef.

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]]> Doctors Confirm Black Lung In Victims Of Mine Blast A study of mine blast victims finds further evidence that there's a resurgence of black lung among coal miners. The relatively young ages of some of the miners and their limited tenure underground suggests significant exposure to coal dust. Fri, 17 May 2013 12:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184758863/doctors-confirm-black-lung-in-victims-of-mine-blast?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184758863/doctors-confirm-black-lung-in-victims-of-mine-blast?ft=1&f=1128 A study of mine blast victims finds further evidence that there's a resurgence of black lung among coal miners. The relatively young ages of some of the miners and their limited tenure underground suggests significant exposure to coal dust.

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