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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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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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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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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

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 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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Space

Mars Rover is Freed from Red Planet Trap

For five long weeks, scientists here on Earth sent computerized commands to the robotic explorer Opportunity. They slowly and painstakingly moved it out of a sticky Martian sand dune. The rover is free now and poised to continue its exploration of the planet.

Mars Rover is Freed from Red Planet Trap

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Health Care

Reality TV Tackles Nurse Shortage

The first Web-based reality show aims to recruit more nurses to address the shortage. Nurse TV will premiere this fall and focus on six nurses living together in a California beach mansion.

Reality TV Tackles Nurse Shortage

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Health

Report Finds Pet Rodents Pose Disease Risk

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that pet rodents such as hamsters, mice and gerbils can transmit a drug-resistant strain of the salmonella bacteria to people.

Report Finds Pet Rodents Pose Disease Risk

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Research News

Breast Cancer Drug Shows Promise

A new treatment called Herceptin has stopped tumors from coming back in a significant number of breast-cancer patients. Two studies of the drug have proved successful enough that the National Cancer Institute has stopped them. The women affected have too much of a protein called HER-2 in their cancer cells.

Breast Cancer Drug Shows Promise

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Research News

Study Revises Death Rate from Obesity

A study appearing in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that fewer Americans die directly from obesity than seen in earlier studies. However, researchers warn the study is not a license to overindulge.

Study Revises Death Rate from Obesity

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Health

Canada Pulls ADHD Drug Adderall

Canada pulls a popular medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder off the market. The drug, used to treat both adults and children, is believed to have caused 20 deaths over the past 10 years. U.S. health officials do not plan to take the medication off the U.S. market.

Canada Pulls ADHD Drug Adderall

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Health Care

Diabetics Increasingly Strained under Health Costs

Americans with diabetes are having a difficult time finding adequate insurance coverage. A new study finds that even insured diabetics are being pushed into bankruptcy because insurance isn't covering enough of their expenses.

Diabetics Increasingly Strained under Health Costs

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Economy

Study: Medical Bills Spur Slew of Personal Bankruptcies

According to a new study from Harvard University, half of all personal bankruptcies filed in 2001 by Americans resulted from people being unable to pay their medical bills. Researchers say even more surprising is that most people who declared bankrupcy had health insurance.

Study: Medical Bills Spur Slew of Personal Bankruptcies

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Health Care

U.S. Immigrant Obesity on the Rise

A new study concludes that immigrants put on pounds in proportion to the time they've lived in the United States. At the 15-year mark, the average weight of immigrants matches that of the average U.S.-born adult. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports.

U.S. Immigrant Obesity on the Rise

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