archive
The Salt
Hours After A Meal, It's The Memory That Matters
December 6, 2012 What a person remembers of a meal hours later, not the actual calories consumed, matters more when it comes to hunger. Eating while watching TV sets us up to eat more food than we should, but a new experiment shows how manipulating our memories of a meal can change how hungry we feel.
Shots - Health News
Why It's Easier To Scam The Elderly
December 6, 2012 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.
Shots - Health News
Turning Vaccine Refusals Into Teachable Moments
December 5, 2012 To raise vaccination rates, some states have made it much harder for parents to get exemptions for their children from immunizations based on personal beliefs. One doctor says restrictions could backfire.
Shots - Health News
Medical Residents Work Long Hours Despite Rules
December 5, 2012 The traditions of medical education die hard. Many doctors in training still work extreme hours, despite rules that limit the lengths of shifts for medical residents. One residency director calls for doctors educated under the old system to stop bashing the younger generation for being soft.
Shots - Health News
The Perilous Politics Of The Health Insurance Tax Break
December 4, 2012 Economists say that excluding the value of employer-sponsored health insurance from federal taxes makes no sense. But many worry that changing the tax code could mean higher taxes or that employers would push down the value of the health insurance they provide.
It's All Politics
For Tea Party Activists In Florida, The Health Care Battle Goes On
December 4, 2012 Even in a state where top Republicans led the legal battle against Obamacare, there's recognition now that Florida has to act fast to comply with the new law. But many Tea Party members are still calling on state lawmakers to reject the health care law.
Shots - Health News
Computerized Health Records Breed Digital Discontent For Some Doctors
December 4, 2012 CPRSome doctors are unhappy about switching from paper records to electronic ones. While the government is creating incentives for doctors to switch, some say the hassles and expense exceed the rewards.
Shots - Health News
A Polio Outbreak In Pakistan Reveals Gaps In Vaccination
December 4, 2012 The appearance of an unusual type of poliovirus in Pakistan exposed gaps in vaccination campaigns. When a community isn't well immunized against polio, the weakened virus used in the oral vaccine can mutate and then infect unvaccinated people.
The Salt
From Humors To Self-Control: The Evolution Of A Well-Balanced Diet
December 4, 2012 Europeans and American colonists believed one's personality, temperament and physical health depended on balancing "humors" of hot, cold, moist and dry with foods. Of course, that worked for the wealthy, who could afford a variety of foods, and it kept them in power.
Shots - Health News
At Small Companies Insurance Extensions Have More Limits
December 4, 2012 If you lose your job with a small employer, you'll less likely to get the same kinds of extended health insurance benefits available from bigger firms. Many states have enacted laws to change that, but the results vary.
Shots - Health News
The Huge (And Rarely Discussed) Health Insurance Tax Break
December 4, 2012 Most people don't realize that they don't pay taxes on the value of health benefits from their job. If employer-provided health insurance was taxed in the same way as wages, the federal government could gain $250 billion a year. But it would mean higher taxes for many people.
The Salt
Can Big Food Kick Its Obesity Habit? Does It Really Want To?
December 3, 2012 Two top food policy experts square off on the role the food industry should play in the global battle against obesity recently, and the answers are as complex, interconnected and political as ever.