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Patti Neighmond 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.
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Patti Neighmond

Health Care

Study Details Deaths of Women who Took RU-486

More information was released Wednesday on the four women who died after taking the abortion pill commonly known as RU-486. A study in The New England Journal of Medicine details the infections each woman got after taking the pill. Proponents of the pill say it has the same rate of problems as surgical abortions. Opponents of abortion rights say the pill should be removed from the market.

Study Details Deaths of Women who Took RU-486

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Health

Experts Voice Concerns on 'Natural' HRT Alternatives

Ever since a study showed long term hormone replacement was risky, many women have avoided it. Many are turning to so-called "natural" hormones instead, but some health groups are raising new concerns about the safety of those compounds.

Experts Voice Concerns on 'Natural' HRT Alternatives

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Health

Study: Vaccination of Children Benefits Elderly

A new study suggests that the best way to prevent pneumonia from killing elderly Americans is to vaccinate all children. The study found that deaths from pneumonia among the elderly dropped by one-third when children in the same area were vaccinated.

Study: Vaccination of Children Benefits Elderly

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Health Care

Nasal Irrigation Makes Comeback as Cold Remedy

An age-old technique that may have developed from yoga traditions is turning out to be a simple and effective way to combat the cold. Flushing the nasal passageway with warm salt-water can help prevent colds and bring relief to allergy-sufferers.

Nasal Irrigation Makes Comeback as Cold Remedy

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Research News

'Phytoestrogens' Found to Reduce Lung-Cancer Risk

Eating vegetables and other foods with weak estrogen-like activity appears to significantly reduce the risk of developing lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers, University of Texas researchers report. More than 3,500 people took part in the study.

'Phytoestrogens' Found to Reduce Lung-Cancer Risk

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Health

Diminishing Pain by Distraction

Painkillers can be effective because they block pain signals from getting to the brain. But distracting the brain from pain is an alternative method for intervening with it, especially for anxiety-provoking medical treatments.

Diminishing Pain by Distraction

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Science

Survey Details Teen Views of Oral Sex

A new survey shows that about 55 percent of teens report having had oral sex. The researchers say the study shows that teenagers who say that they abstain from sexual intercourse don't necessarily abstain from oral sex. According to the results, the rate of oral sex is about the same for boys and girls. The study was done by health experts from the Child Trends independent research center, who analyzed new federal health statistics.

Survey Details Teen Views of Oral Sex

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Research News

Article Gauges Fetal Ability to Sense Pain

This past week, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an article contending that a fetus is not able to feel pain until the third trimester. Some are fiercely challenging the conclusions of the article.

Article Gauges Fetal Ability to Sense Pain

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Health

New Heroin Treatment Raises Questions

Some doctors have hoped that heroin addicts could break the habit more easily if they were given a drug-blocking agent while under general anesthesia for about six hours. But a new study suggests this approach is more dangerous than other drug replacement therapies.

New Heroin Treatment Raises Questions

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Research News

Exploring Contraception Innovations for Men

In an effort to prevent unwanted pregnancy, researchers continue working to develop new safe and effective methods of contraception for men. In one approach men, ironically, are injected with testosterone -- the hormone that helps make sperm.

Exploring Contraception Innovations for Men

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Health Care

Care Managers Help Patients Navigate Medical Maze

As medical care becomes more fragmented and complex, people are turning to professional care managers who help with filing insurance claims, finding the right doctors or managing the care of an elderly relative who lives far away.

Care Managers Help Patients Navigate Medical Maze

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Health

Study: Skin Cancer in Young Adults on the Rise

Common skin cancers have more than tripled among young adults over the past decade. A study shows that the rising rates are due to increased exposure to ultraviolet light and ozone depletion in the atmosphere.

Study: Skin Cancer in Young Adults on the Rise

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Health

Hormone Therapy Questioned in Some Cases

Symptoms of menopause return in about half of women who stop taking hormone therapy, according to a new study in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association. Hormone therapy is still prescribed for women with severe symptoms, but doctors recommend brief courses of treatment.

Hormone Therapy Questioned in Some Cases

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Health Care

Clinics Help Seniors Learn to Stop Falling

Taking a fall can be debilitating for older people, particularly those over the age of 80. Doctors, recognizing this danger, have begun to set up fall clinics. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports on how these clinics are helping older people learn how to stop falling.

Clinics Help Seniors Learn to Stop Falling

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