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, 18 Jun 2013 15:08:00 -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 FDA Backs Off On Regulation Of Fecal Transplants Fecal transplants are being used more often to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. But the Food and Drug Administration worried that the still-experimental procedure put patients at risk. Now it is dropping plans to restrict transplants after doctors and patients complained. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/193069110/fda-backs-off-on-regulation-of-fecal-transplants?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/193069110/fda-backs-off-on-regulation-of-fecal-transplants?ft=1&f=1128 Fecal transplants are being used more often to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. But the Food and Drug Administration worried that the still-experimental procedure put patients at risk. Now it is dropping plans to restrict transplants after doctors and patients complained.

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]]> House Passes Bill That Would Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks The legislation is one of the most far-reaching abortion bills in decades and follows the May murder convictions of Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. The bill, which would ban nearly all abortions starting 20 weeks after fertilization, is unlikely to ever become law. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/193197164/house-passes-bill-that-would-ban-late-abortions?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/193197164/house-passes-bill-that-would-ban-late-abortions?ft=1&f=1128 The legislation is one of the most far-reaching abortion bills in decades and follows the May murder convictions of Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. The bill, which would ban nearly all abortions starting 20 weeks after fertilization, is unlikely to ever become law.

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]]> Patients Lead The Way As Medicine Grapples With Apps Smartphone apps can help count calories or detect a heart attack. People are embracing them to manage many aspects of their health. But medical apps are largely unregulated now, so there's no easy way to be sure which ones are trustworthy and which ones aren't. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/192777704/patients-lead-the-way-as-medicine-grapples-with-apps?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/192777704/patients-lead-the-way-as-medicine-grapples-with-apps?ft=1&f=1128 Smartphone apps can help count calories or detect a heart attack. People are embracing them to manage many aspects of their health. But medical apps are largely unregulated now, so there's no easy way to be sure which ones are trustworthy and which ones aren't.

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]]> How To Make Museums More Inviting For Kids With Autism A day at a museum promises fun for parents and kids alike. But for children who are on the autism spectrum, a seemingly simple museum exhibit may be too overwhelming to enjoy. Now, museums are coming up with ways to accommodate these visitors. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/193092510/how-to-make-museums-more-inviting-for-kids-with-autism?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/193092510/how-to-make-museums-more-inviting-for-kids-with-autism?ft=1&f=1128 A day at a museum promises fun for parents and kids alike. But for children who are on the autism spectrum, a seemingly simple museum exhibit may be too overwhelming to enjoy. Now, museums are coming up with ways to accommodate these visitors.

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]]> Some States Will Make It Easier To Get Insurance Answers You're in luck, if you live in the District of Columbia or one of the 21 states that have put in place specialists to handle questions and complaints private health insurance. Otherwise the maze could prove daunting. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192799820/some-states-will-make-it-easier-to-get-insurance-answers?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192799820/some-states-will-make-it-easier-to-get-insurance-answers?ft=1&f=1128 You're in luck, if you live in the District of Columbia or one of the 21 states that have put in place specialists to handle questions and complaints private health insurance. Otherwise the maze could prove daunting.

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]]> How Men's Choice Of Mates May Have Led To Menopause Conventional wisdom holds that men prefer younger women as mates because they're more fertile than older women. But a mathematical analysis suggests that this preference may be the cause of menopause rather than a consequence of it. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192655850/how-mens-choice-of-mates-may-have-led-to-menopause?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192655850/how-mens-choice-of-mates-may-have-led-to-menopause?ft=1&f=1128 Conventional wisdom holds that men prefer younger women as mates because they're more fertile than older women. But a mathematical analysis suggests that this preference may be the cause of menopause rather than a consequence of it.

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]]> 3-D Printer Brings Dexterity To Children With No Fingers An enterprising carpenter and a creative puppeteer teamed up on a do-it-yourself project to build a mechanical hand for a little boy. They created an inexpensive prosthetic and published their designs on the Internet. So far, over 100 children have been outfitted. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:11:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/191279201/3-d-printer-brings-dexterity-to-children-with-no-fingers?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/191279201/3-d-printer-brings-dexterity-to-children-with-no-fingers?ft=1&f=1128 An enterprising carpenter and a creative puppeteer teamed up on a do-it-yourself project to build a mechanical hand for a little boy. They created an inexpensive prosthetic and published their designs on the Internet. So far, over 100 children have been outfitted.

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]]> Hot Dogs, Bacon And Red Meat Tied To Increased Diabetes Risk A fresh study looks at what happens after people change their meat-eating habits. Those who upped their intake — about 3.5 servings more per week — saw their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes during four years of follow-up increase by almost 50 percent. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/18/192810562/hot-dogs-bacon-and-red-meat-tied-to-increased-diabetes-risk?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/18/192810562/hot-dogs-bacon-and-red-meat-tied-to-increased-diabetes-risk?ft=1&f=1128 A fresh study looks at what happens after people change their meat-eating habits. Those who upped their intake — about 3.5 servings more per week — saw their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes during four years of follow-up increase by almost 50 percent.

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]]> After Long Search, Komen Foundation Replaces Brinker As CEO Dr. Judith Salerno, a geriatrician, is replacing Nancy Brinker, the cancer philanthropy's founder and longtime chief executive. The change comes more than a year and a half after a decision to halt grants to Planned Parenthood plunged the group into controversy. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192762127/after-long-search-komen-foundation-replaces-brinker-as-ceo?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192762127/after-long-search-komen-foundation-replaces-brinker-as-ceo?ft=1&f=1128 Dr. Judith Salerno, a geriatrician, is replacing Nancy Brinker, the cancer philanthropy's founder and longtime chief executive. The change comes more than a year and a half after a decision to halt grants to Planned Parenthood plunged the group into controversy.

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]]> FTC Can Sue Firms In 'Pay For Delay' Drug Deals, Court Rules The ruling may end the era of what are also called "reverse-payment" deals, in which the maker of a brand-name drug pays a maker of generic drugs to not produce a lower-priced version of their product. The Federal Trade Commission can challenge such deals in court, the justices say. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/17/192759943/ftc-can-sue-firms-in-pay-for-delay-drug-deals-court-rules?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/17/192759943/ftc-can-sue-firms-in-pay-for-delay-drug-deals-court-rules?ft=1&f=1128 The ruling may end the era of what are also called "reverse-payment" deals, in which the maker of a brand-name drug pays a maker of generic drugs to not produce a lower-priced version of their product. The Federal Trade Commission can challenge such deals in court, the justices say.

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]]> The Human Voice May Not Spark Pleasure In Children With Autism Scientists and parents have long been baffled by the fact that children with autism often don't pay attention to human voices. Researchers say that may be because speech doesn't activate a reward system in the brain for those children the way it does for typical children. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192753499/the-human-voice-may-not-spark-pleasure-in-children-with-autism?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192753499/the-human-voice-may-not-spark-pleasure-in-children-with-autism?ft=1&f=1128 Scientists and parents have long been baffled by the fact that children with autism often don't pay attention to human voices. Researchers say that may be because speech doesn't activate a reward system in the brain for those children the way it does for typical children.

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]]> When Sibling Fights Go Beyond Harmless Kid Stuff Children who are the target of physical aggression or verbal abuse from siblings are more depressed and anxious than children who aren't victimized. Parents tend to consider sibling conflict normal, researchers say, but they should teach children how to fight fair to reduce psychological distress. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192685342/when-sibling-fights-go-beyond-harmless-kid-stuff?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/192685342/when-sibling-fights-go-beyond-harmless-kid-stuff?ft=1&f=1128 Children who are the target of physical aggression or verbal abuse from siblings are more depressed and anxious than children who aren't victimized. Parents tend to consider sibling conflict normal, researchers say, but they should teach children how to fight fair to reduce psychological distress.

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]]> Smartphones Help Bridge Gaps In Electronic Medical Records Hospitals, doctors and Medicare are making it easier for people to have access to their own health records. Some app developers have even created ways to have health information available even on a smartphone. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/192596386/smartphones-help-bridge-gaps-in-electronic-medical-records?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/192596386/smartphones-help-bridge-gaps-in-electronic-medical-records?ft=1&f=1128 Hospitals, doctors and Medicare are making it easier for people to have access to their own health records. Some app developers have even created ways to have health information available even on a smartphone.

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]]> To Find Out How The Health Law Affects You, Ask The President The next move in the health care law is all about coverage for people who don't have health insurance. President Obama has been trying to clear up some of the confusion over who gets coverage, and when. But many questions remain to be answered. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/191585207/to-find-out-how-the-health-law-affects-you-ask-the-president?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/17/191585207/to-find-out-how-the-health-law-affects-you-ask-the-president?ft=1&f=1128 The next move in the health care law is all about coverage for people who don't have health insurance. President Obama has been trying to clear up some of the confusion over who gets coverage, and when. But many questions remain to be answered.

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]]> Coping On Father's Day Without Dad Teens who've lost a dad to cancer are a lonely bunch on Father's Day. But when some of these teenagers bare their souls, it turns out they have learned lessons that make them wise beyond their years. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/16/191596911/father-s-day-without-dad?ft=1&f=1128 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/16/191596911/father-s-day-without-dad?ft=1&f=1128 Teens who've lost a dad to cancer are a lonely bunch on Father's Day. But when some of these teenagers bare their souls, it turns out they have learned lessons that make them wise beyond their years.

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