Patti Neighmond http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100955&ft=1&f=2100955 Award-winning journalist Patti Neighmond is NPR's health policy correspondent. Her reports air regularly on NPR newsmagazines All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 10 Jun 2013 02:56:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Patti Neighmond http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100955&ft=1&f=2100955 African-Americans Remain Hardest Hit By Medical Bills Nearly 1 in 4 tell pollsters they're having a hard time paying for needed prescription medicine; 1 in 3 say they struggled to pay bills from hospitals or doctors last year. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 02:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/10/188951911/african-americans-remain-hardest-hit-by-medical-bills?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/10/188951911/african-americans-remain-hardest-hit-by-medical-bills?ft=1&f=2100955 Nearly 1 in 4 tell pollsters they're having a hard time paying for needed prescription medicine; 1 in 3 say they struggled to pay bills from hospitals or doctors last year.

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]]> Overweight People Are More Apt To Ditch Doctors People who are overweight or obese are much more likely to switch doctors, a study finds. That may be because doctors aren't helping them address weight issues. It may compromise their medical care, because of lack of continuity and preventive medicine. Mon, 27 May 2013 03:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/27/186428233/overweight-people-are-more-apt-to-ditch-doctors?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/27/186428233/overweight-people-are-more-apt-to-ditch-doctors?ft=1&f=2100955 People who are overweight or obese are much more likely to switch doctors, a study finds. That may be because doctors aren't helping them address weight issues. It may compromise their medical care, because of lack of continuity and preventive medicine.

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]]> How To Turn Down The Heat On Fiery Family Arguments Psychologists say kids who get entangled in their parents' arguments often suffer shame and low self-esteem. So some are trying to teach parents who feel they just can't stop arguing when they get angry how to "get to calm." Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/29/179238127/it-s-how-you-fight-that-counts?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/29/179238127/it-s-how-you-fight-that-counts?ft=1&f=2100955 Psychologists say kids who get entangled in their parents' arguments often suffer shame and low self-esteem. So some are trying to teach parents who feel they just can't stop arguing when they get angry how to "get to calm."

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]]> How Exercise And Other Activities Beat Back Dementia "What's good for the heart is good for the brain," one neuroscientist says. In addition to physical exercise, researchers say that mental exercise, socializing and a good diet can also help preserve memory in older brains. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/15/176920391/how-exercise-and-other-activities-beat-back-dementia?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/15/176920391/how-exercise-and-other-activities-beat-back-dementia?ft=1&f=2100955 "What's good for the heart is good for the brain," one neuroscientist says. In addition to physical exercise, researchers say that mental exercise, socializing and a good diet can also help preserve memory in older brains.

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]]> Study Hints Vitamin D Might Help Curb High Blood Pressure In the ongoing debate about the possible benefits of vitamin D supplements, a study suggests that the vitamin might indeed play a role in mildly reducing high blood pressure. The study was small and looked at just African-Americans, but the authors say the findings warrant further research. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:20:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/05/175258469/study-hints-vitamin-d-might-help-curb-high-blood-pressure?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/04/05/175258469/study-hints-vitamin-d-might-help-curb-high-blood-pressure?ft=1&f=2100955 In the ongoing debate about the possible benefits of vitamin D supplements, a study suggests that the vitamin might indeed play a role in mildly reducing high blood pressure. The study was small and looked at just African-Americans, but the authors say the findings warrant further research.

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]]> Postpartum Depression Affects 1 In 7 Mothers Researchers aren't sure exactly why certain women are more vulnerable to postpartum depression. But authors of a new study are recommending that all pregnant women and new mothers be screened for depression. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/13/174214166/postpartum-depression-affects-1-in-7-women?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/13/174214166/postpartum-depression-affects-1-in-7-women?ft=1&f=2100955 Researchers aren't sure exactly why certain women are more vulnerable to postpartum depression. But authors of a new study are recommending that all pregnant women and new mothers be screened for depression.

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]]> Selling Kids On Veggies When Rules Like 'Clean Your Plate' Fail Involving kids in preparing dinner may be a better way to get kids to eat their vegetables than strictures like "no dessert until you eat your vegetables." But health experts say there's nothing wrong with an occasional treat. Mon, 04 Mar 2013 03:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/03/04/173275456/selling-kids-on-veggies-when-rules-like-clean-your-plate-fail?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/03/04/173275456/selling-kids-on-veggies-when-rules-like-clean-your-plate-fail?ft=1&f=2100955 Involving kids in preparing dinner may be a better way to get kids to eat their vegetables than strictures like "no dessert until you eat your vegetables." But health experts say there's nothing wrong with an occasional treat.

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]]> How Parents Can Learn To Tame A Testy Teenager Whether fighting about texting or curfew, the key to resolving parent-child disputes is by helping them understand why they're angry in the first place. It usually turns out to be another stress like trouble at school or fear of embarrassment. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 03:38:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/02/11/171466505/how-parents-can-learn-to-tame-a-testy-teenager?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/02/11/171466505/how-parents-can-learn-to-tame-a-testy-teenager?ft=1&f=2100955 Whether fighting about texting or curfew, the key to resolving parent-child disputes is by helping them understand why they're angry in the first place. It usually turns out to be another stress like trouble at school or fear of embarrassment.

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]]> Schedule Of Childhood Vaccines Declared Safe Parents will be reassured to hear there's no evidence linking the current timeline for vaccinations to health problems. A review of all available scientific data looked at a wide range of medical conditions — including diabetes, autism and epilepsy — before declaring that there's no reason to worry. Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:52:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/18/169516511/schedule-of-childhood-vaccines-declared-safe?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/18/169516511/schedule-of-childhood-vaccines-declared-safe?ft=1&f=2100955 Parents will be reassured to hear there's no evidence linking the current timeline for vaccinations to health problems. A review of all available scientific data looked at a wide range of medical conditions — including diabetes, autism and epilepsy — before declaring that there's no reason to worry.

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]]> Pictures May Speak Louder Than Words When It Comes To Smoking Researchers found that graphic warning labels had a greater impact on smokers' intentions to quit than written warnings. Reactions to the visual warnings were similar across racial and income groups, which researchers say is important because of higher rates of tobacco-related disease among some minorities and the poor. Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/15/169408247/pictures-may-speak-louder-than-words-when-it-comes-to-smoking?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/15/169408247/pictures-may-speak-louder-than-words-when-it-comes-to-smoking?ft=1&f=2100955 Researchers found that graphic warning labels had a greater impact on smokers' intentions to quit than written warnings. Reactions to the visual warnings were similar across racial and income groups, which researchers say is important because of higher rates of tobacco-related disease among some minorities and the poor.

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]]> Why Exercise May Do A Teenage Mind Good Researchers find that when young people exercise, their mental health improves through a more positive self-image and through winning friends. But sports psychologists aren't sure whether exercise makes teenagers more confident or more confident teenagers take part in sports. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 03:37:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/07/168616995/why-exercise-may-do-a-teenage-mind-good?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/01/07/168616995/why-exercise-may-do-a-teenage-mind-good?ft=1&f=2100955 Researchers find that when young people exercise, their mental health improves through a more positive self-image and through winning friends. But sports psychologists aren't sure whether exercise makes teenagers more confident or more confident teenagers take part in sports.

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]]> Another Side Effect Of Chemotherapy: 'Chemo Brain' For years, researchers have struggled to understand the mental fog that envelops some patients getting chemotherapy. Now a study has found that the cancer treatment significantly decreases brain activity in regions responsible for memory, attention, planning and prioritizing. Fri, 28 Dec 2012 03:25:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/28/168141465/another-side-effect-of-chemotherapy-chemo-brain?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/28/168141465/another-side-effect-of-chemotherapy-chemo-brain?ft=1&f=2100955 For years, researchers have struggled to understand the mental fog that envelops some patients getting chemotherapy. Now a study has found that the cancer treatment significantly decreases brain activity in regions responsible for memory, attention, planning and prioritizing.

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]]> Like Girls, Boys Are Entering Puberty Earlier Boys are entering puberty six months to two years earlier than they did in past studies. Caucasian boys tend to begin puberty, on average, at around 10 years old while African American boys tend to begin puberty at 9. Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/24/167735056/like-girls-boys-are-entering-puberty-earlier?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/24/167735056/like-girls-boys-are-entering-puberty-earlier?ft=1&f=2100955 Boys are entering puberty six months to two years earlier than they did in past studies. Caucasian boys tend to begin puberty, on average, at around 10 years old while African American boys tend to begin puberty at 9.

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]]> Why It's Easier To Scam The Elderly New research suggests older adults may have less activity in the area of the brain that processes risk and subtle danger. Another possible reason older adults don't pick up on warning signs is an increasing bias against negativity. Thu, 06 Dec 2012 03:32:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/06/166609270/why-its-easier-to-scam-the-elderly?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/06/166609270/why-its-easier-to-scam-the-elderly?ft=1&f=2100955 New research suggests older adults may have less activity in the area of the brain that processes risk and subtle danger. Another possible reason older adults don't pick up on warning signs is an increasing bias against negativity.

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]]> Text Messages Help Smokers Kick The Habit Texting may not always be the best method of communication, but it can be a promising support network for smokers who want to quit. Several recent studies show that receiving an encouraging text can help stave off a cigarette craving and boost motivation to quit for good. Mon, 03 Dec 2012 03:21:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/03/166240156/text-messages-help-smokers-kick-the-habit?ft=1&f=2100955 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/12/03/166240156/text-messages-help-smokers-kick-the-habit?ft=1&f=2100955 Texting may not always be the best method of communication, but it can be a promising support network for smokers who want to quit. Several recent studies show that receiving an encouraging text can help stave off a cigarette craving and boost motivation to quit for good.

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