Shots - Health News http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/ The NPR Health Blog en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 18 May 2013 08:38:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Shots - Health News http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/ yes 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=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184771915/the-unsafe-sex-should-the-world-invest-more-in-mens-health?ft=1&f=103537970 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. no 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=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184849282/experts-agree-psychiatrys-bible-is-no-bible?ft=1&f=103537970 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. no 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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]]> 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=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184804719/up-for-discussion-cost-of-cancer-care-avoided-too-often?ft=1&f=103537970 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? no 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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]]> 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=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/17/184758863/doctors-confirm-black-lung-in-victims-of-mine-blast?ft=1&f=103537970 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. no 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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]]> Biking To Work: Healthful Until You Hit A Pothole Biking to work is a great way to get exercise, save money and reduce pollution from cars. But does the risk of accidents cancel out all the good? Experience in Europe says no, but the U.S. lacks that tradition of urban bike travel. Fri, 17 May 2013 11:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184523282/biking-to-work-healthful-until-you-hit-a-pothole?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184523282/biking-to-work-healthful-until-you-hit-a-pothole?ft=1&f=103537970 Biking to work is a great way to get exercise, save money and reduce pollution from cars. But does the risk of accidents cancel out all the good? Experience in Europe says no, but the U.S. lacks that tradition of urban bike travel. no Biking to work is a great way to get exercise, save money and reduce pollution from cars. But does the risk of accidents cancel out all the good? Experience in Europe says no, but the U.S. lacks that tradition of urban bike travel.

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]]> A Small Shock To The System May Help Brain With Math The results are preliminary, and alpha parents seeking an edge for their children shouldn't risk electrocution. Still, the findings are provocative and may lead researchers down a new road. Thu, 16 May 2013 16:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184544875/a-small-shock-to-the-system-may-help-brain-with-math?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184544875/a-small-shock-to-the-system-may-help-brain-with-math?ft=1&f=103537970 The results are preliminary, and alpha parents seeking an edge for their children shouldn't risk electrocution. Still, the findings are provocative and may lead researchers down a new road. no The results are preliminary, and alpha parents seeking an edge for their children shouldn't risk electrocution. Still, the findings are provocative and may lead researchers down a new road.

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]]> Swell Of Goodwill For First Medicare Chief Confirmed Since 2004 Marilyn Tavenner, who has been running the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in an acting capacity since late 2011, has a big job. The agency oversees health coverage for more than 100 million Americans. Thu, 16 May 2013 15:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184529397/swell-of-goodwill-for-first-medicare-chief-confirmed-since-2004?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184529397/swell-of-goodwill-for-first-medicare-chief-confirmed-since-2004?ft=1&f=103537970 Marilyn Tavenner, who has been running the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in an acting capacity since late 2011, has a big job. The agency oversees health coverage for more than 100 million Americans. no Marilyn Tavenner, who has been running the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in an acting capacity since late 2011, has a big job. The agency oversees health coverage for more than 100 million Americans.

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]]> Why Is Psychiatry's New Manual So Much Like The Old One? Unlike cardiology and most other fields of medicine, psychiatry still hasn't developed discrete, biological tests for diagnosing illnesses of the mind. That's because the brain "hasn't yielded its secrets yet," one psychiatrist says. Thu, 16 May 2013 17:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184454931/why-is-psychiatrys-new-manual-so-much-like-the-old-one?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184454931/why-is-psychiatrys-new-manual-so-much-like-the-old-one?ft=1&f=103537970 Unlike cardiology and most other fields of medicine, psychiatry still hasn't developed discrete, biological tests for diagnosing illnesses of the mind. That's because the brain "hasn't yielded its secrets yet," one psychiatrist says. 507 no Unlike cardiology and most other fields of medicine, psychiatry still hasn't developed discrete, biological tests for diagnosing illnesses of the mind. That's because the brain "hasn't yielded its secrets yet," one psychiatrist says.

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]]> Everybody In The Pool! But Please Leave The Poop Behind Most public swimming pools are contaminated with germs carried by poop, federal researchers found. We swimmers are to blame. Showering before swimming and taking kids to the bathroom often would help. Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184482999/everybody-in-the-pool-but-please-leave-the-poop-behind?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184482999/everybody-in-the-pool-but-please-leave-the-poop-behind?ft=1&f=103537970 Most public swimming pools are contaminated with germs carried by poop, federal researchers found. We swimmers are to blame. Showering before swimming and taking kids to the bathroom often would help. no Most public swimming pools are contaminated with germs carried by poop, federal researchers found. We swimmers are to blame. Showering before swimming and taking kids to the bathroom often would help.

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]]> Human Scent Is Even Sweeter For Malaria Mosquitoes Scientists used a Dutch woman's dirty stocking to learn that mosquitoes infected with malaria find humans hard to resist. Like a fungus that turns ants into zombies, the parasite seems to change the behavior of the mosquitoes for its own benefit. Thu, 16 May 2013 11:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184251627/humans-scent-is-even-sweeter-for-malaria-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184251627/humans-scent-is-even-sweeter-for-malaria-mosquitoes?ft=1&f=103537970 Scientists used a Dutch woman's dirty stocking to learn that mosquitoes infected with malaria find humans hard to resist. Like a fungus that turns ants into zombies, the parasite seems to change the behavior of the mosquitoes for its own benefit. no Scientists used a Dutch woman's dirty stocking to learn that mosquitoes infected with malaria find humans hard to resist. Like a fungus that turns ants into zombies, the parasite seems to change the behavior of the mosquitoes for its own benefit.

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]]> Cloning, Stem Cells Long Mired In Legislative Gridlock The news that scientists have successfully cloned a human embryo seems almost certain to rekindle a political fight that has raged, on and off, since the creation of Dolly the sheep. It's a fight that has, over the past decade and a half, produced a lot of heat and light and not a lot of policy. Thu, 16 May 2013 03:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184261714/cloning-stem-cells-long-mired-in-legislative-gridlock?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184261714/cloning-stem-cells-long-mired-in-legislative-gridlock?ft=1&f=103537970 The news that scientists have successfully cloned a human embryo seems almost certain to rekindle a political fight that has raged, on and off, since the creation of Dolly the sheep. It's a fight that has, over the past decade and a half, produced a lot of heat and light and not a lot of policy. 235 no The news that scientists have successfully cloned a human embryo seems almost certain to rekindle a political fight that has raged, on and off, since the creation of Dolly the sheep. It's a fight that has, over the past decade and a half, produced a lot of heat and light and not a lot of policy.

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]]> How Researchers Cloned Human Embryos After decades of trying, scientists say they've finally figured out how to make personalized embryonic stem cells. One day, these designer cells may help treat an array of diseases. A jolt of caffeine and and a little electric shock helped to do the trick. Wed, 15 May 2013 15:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184223277/how-scientists-cloned-human-embryos?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184223277/how-scientists-cloned-human-embryos?ft=1&f=103537970 After decades of trying, scientists say they've finally figured out how to make personalized embryonic stem cells. One day, these designer cells may help treat an array of diseases. A jolt of caffeine and and a little electric shock helped to do the trick. no After decades of trying, scientists say they've finally figured out how to make personalized embryonic stem cells. One day, these designer cells may help treat an array of diseases. A jolt of caffeine and and a little electric shock helped to do the trick.

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]]> Scientists Clone Human Embryos To Make Stem Cells The achievement is a long-sought step toward harnessing the potential power of such cells to treat diseases. But the discovery raises ethical concerns because it brings researchers closer to cloning humans. Wed, 15 May 2013 12:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/183916891/scientists-clone-human-embryos-to-make-stem-cells?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/183916891/scientists-clone-human-embryos-to-make-stem-cells?ft=1&f=103537970 The achievement is a long-sought step toward harnessing the potential power of such cells to treat diseases. But the discovery raises ethical concerns because it brings researchers closer to cloning humans. 323 no The achievement is a long-sought step toward harnessing the potential power of such cells to treat diseases. But the discovery raises ethical concerns because it brings researchers closer to cloning humans.

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]]> Breast Cancer, Risk And Women's Imperfect Choices When Angelina Jolie went public about her preventive mastectomy, women who have struggled with the same tough choices spoke out about the dilemmas of medical choice. Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184188710/breast-cancer-risk-and-womens-imperfect-choices?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184188710/breast-cancer-risk-and-womens-imperfect-choices?ft=1&f=103537970 When Angelina Jolie went public about her preventive mastectomy, women who have struggled with the same tough choices spoke out about the dilemmas of medical choice. no When Angelina Jolie went public about her preventive mastectomy, women who have struggled with the same tough choices spoke out about the dilemmas of medical choice.

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]]> Angelina Jolie's Mastectomy Decision And Weighing Cancer Risks Writer and breast cancer survivor Peggy Orenstein talks with David Greene about actress Angelina Jolie's decision to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer. The cancer risk for most women is much lower than Jolie's. Wed, 15 May 2013 10:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184166941/angelina-jolies-mastectomy-decision-and-weighing-cancer-risks?ft=1&f=103537970 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/15/184166941/angelina-jolies-mastectomy-decision-and-weighing-cancer-risks?ft=1&f=103537970 Writer and breast cancer survivor Peggy Orenstein talks with David Greene about actress Angelina Jolie's decision to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer. The cancer risk for most women is much lower than Jolie's. no Writer and breast cancer survivor Peggy Orenstein talks with David Greene about actress Angelina Jolie's decision to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer. The cancer risk for most women is much lower than Jolie's.

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