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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Shots - Health News

Making Sense Of Colors And Shapes In The Toilet

A physician examines a patient's urine flask in this 17th century print by Isaac Sarrabat.

November 20, 2012 No one really wants to think about what goes down the drain when you flush. But sometimes, you've got to look to see what your bowels are telling you about your health. Doctors have been decoding our pee and poo since medieval times. They've even developed handy visual guides.

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Shots - Health News

Administration Lays Down Rules For Future Health Insurance

November 20, 2012 Now that the Supreme Court has found the Affordable Care Act constitutional and the president's re-election made clear that big chunks of the law will take effect in 2014, the administration is finally releasing rules of the road that states and insurance companies have been clamoring for.

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Shots - Health News

Many Surgical Complications Show Up After Patients Get Home

Researchers find that more than 40 percent of surgical complications happen after patients leave the hospital.

November 20, 2012 More than 40 percent of surgical complications occur after patients are at home. The solution for the problem isn't keeping patients in the hospital longer, researchers say. Better instructions to patients and improved monitoring could help.

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Shots - Health News

When Your State Says Yes To Medical Marijuana, But Your Insurer Says No

Medical marijuana advocates demonstrate outside a San Francisco fundraiser for President Obama in February.

November 20, 2012 KHNJust because medical marijuana is legal where you live doesn't mean your health insurer will deem it worthy of coverage. The feds still classify it as a controlled substance with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, so insurers and employers are wary of paying for it.

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Monday, November 19, 2012

Shots - Health News

Matching DNA With Medical Records To Crack Disease And Aging

A light micrograph image of telomeres, shown in yellow, at the end of human chromosomes. Women tend to have longer telomeres than men and tend to outlive men, according to new research matching genetic information with medical records.

November 19, 2012 A massive research project in California is beginning to show how genes, health habits and the environment can interact to cause diseases. The new combination of genetic and health information is one of the most powerful research tools on earth, a researcher says.

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Shots - Health News

More Teens Take Steroids To Trade Fat For Muscle

Six percent of teenagers say they've used steroid drugs in the past year, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

November 19, 2012 Girls say they are using steroids, too, although they're using the illegal drugs less often than boys, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota and Columbia University. And the researchers found that many teens using steroids or muscle-enhancing supplements are overweight or obese.

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Shots - Health News

Caffeine Gives Endurance Athletes A Third And Fourth Wind

Sarah Piampiano holds two energy gels, one with caffeine and one without, as she runs in this year's Ironman World Championship.

November 19, 2012 Endurance athletes often turn to the same stimulant that gives your morning cup of joe its jolt: caffeine. They're increasingly using caffeinated gels and drinks when they compete. But how much is too much?

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Shots - Health News

Can You Move It And Work It On A Treadmill Desk?

Employees at at Salo, a Minneapolis-based financial consulting firm, walk while working on treadmill desks. The firm offers treadmill desks for employee use and encourages an active workplace environment.

November 19, 2012 Researchers and companies are bringing movement back into the office with treadmill desks, walking meetings and games. Employees say it has helped them lose weight and be more productive.

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Friday, November 16, 2012

Shots - Health News

This Is How Diabetes Swept The Nation

The march of diabetes across the nation.

November 16, 2012 Back in 1995, about 4.5 percent of adults in the U.S. had been diagnosed with diabetes. By 2010, the prevalence had zoomed to 8.2 percent. An interactive map shows how much worse diabetes has become in less than a generation.

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The Salt

Beer, Wine And Spirits: When Counting Our Liquid Calories, Are We Honest?

Not surprisingly, men like these guys cheering Sam Adams love beer. But more women than you might expect do too, according to a new study.

November 16, 2012 Despite the perception that Americans are a bunch of boozers, a new study shows men in their 20s and 30s take in about 175 calories a day in alcohol; for women, it's about 60 calories. Still, the government warns, it's a little more than we should be imbibing on a daily basis.

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Shots - Health News

Mental Disorders And Evolution: What Would Darwin Say About Schizophrenia?

Charles Darwin

November 16, 2012 Given the pressure of evolution, why have genes behind schizophrenia, autism and others disorders persisted? A study that looks at the likelihood someone is to have kids tries to figure it out.

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Shots - Health News

Global Fund Moves To Discontinue Project Subsidizing Malaria Drugs

A controversial pilot project reduced the cost of the most effective malaria drugs by giving manufacturers, such as Guilin Pharmaceutical in China, subsidies.

November 16, 2012 After months of debate, the Global Fund announced plans to wind down a controversial pilot project that subsidizes malaria drugs in Africa. Some health workers in the U.S. fault the decision, saying it doesn't address the major challenges of treating malaria in poor countries.

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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Shots - Health News

Health Exchange Activity Heats Up As Deadline Is Extended

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman announced Thursday that his state will choose the federal health insurance exchange program.

November 15, 2012 Two Republican governors announced Thursday afternoon that they would not create exchanges in their states. A Democratic governor chose a hybrid model for her state. Then, the federal government pushed back the states' decision deadline, again.

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