Health

The active ingredient in Ambien stays in the body longer than thought, FDA officials say.

Wake-Up Call: FDA Pushes Drugmakers To Weaken Sleeping Pills

6:26pm January 10, 2013

by Rob Stein

The active ingredient in many sleep aid medications like Ambien stays in the body longer than had been thought, which could leave people drowsy the next day. So the Food and Drug Administration is ordering pharmaceutical companies to change the labeling on drugs containing the ingredient zolpidem.

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Health & Safety

Families And Fat: What Can Help, What Can Hurt

2:33pm January 10, 2013

Living with an overweight parent, child or spouse can be difficult. Loved ones who want to help a family member struggling with obesity may be hesitant to broach the subject for fear of causing shame or making matters worse.

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U.S. Ranks Below 16 Other Rich Countries In Health Report

6:46pm January 09, 2013

by Richard Knox

Americans are sicker and die sooner than their counterparts in comparable nations. No single cause can account for the difference, but improving medical care will only help so much, as disparities can be traced to dietary choices, drugs and alcohol, guns, and even cars.

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A picture from the photo story "Keg Stand Queens," which explores the gender dynamics of undergraduate binge drinking.

Health & Safety

Binge Drinking Among Women Is Both Dangerous And Overlooked

11:59am January 09, 2013

by Scott Hensley

About 13 percent of U.S. women go on drinking binges each month, say officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The damage from binge drinking runs the gamut from death to unintended pregnancy. Public health officials say binge drinking can be curbed with greater awareness and thoughtful interventions.

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Meredith Was, a senior at the University of Virginia, heads a chapter of the mental health advocacy group Active Minds.

Health & Safety

Triage System Helps Colleges Treat Mentally Ill Students

4:34pm January 08, 2013

by Jenny Gold

Over the past decade, colleges and universities across the country have seen an influx of students with mental health needs. Some campus health centers are exploring new systems to help meet the growing demand for services.

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Health & Safety

The Latest Science On Fat And Fitness

2:39pm January 08, 2013

Each January, people flock to gyms and raid the produce aisle at grocery stores to fulfill New Year's resolutions. NPR food and health correspondent Allison Aubrey and Dr. Timothy Church, professor of preventative medicine at Louisiana State University, discuss what the latest research on fitness and weight loss.

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The majority of what happens on Jan. 1, 2013, is tax increases and cuts in tax deductions to pay for the changes coming in 2014.

Health & Safety

What The Health Law Will Bring In 2013

2:19pm January 08, 2013

by Julie Rovner

In October 2013, open enrollment begins, when people can start signing up for their 2014 coverage through the new state-run health exchanges. But most of the changes in 2013 are tax increases and cuts in tax deductions to pay for the 2014 changes.

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New Regulations Could Treat Virginia Abortion Clinics Like Hospitals

10:00am January 08, 2013

by Kathy Lohr

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has approved regulations requiring clinics where abortions are performed to meet the same building codes as new hospitals. Abortion-rights groups say the regulations are unnecessary, but abortion-rights opponents say they're the only way to ensure that clinics are safe.

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Shea Catlin, a nurse practitioner, doses out flu vaccine to give a shot at a CVS Minute Clinic in Arlington, Va., on Jan. 3.

Can You Get A Flu Shot And Still Get The Flu?

6:06am January 08, 2013

by Rob Stein

Vaccination is still the best way to avoid getting sick, but it's not 100 percent protective. Some people may get infected with a strain of flu that isn't covered by this year's vaccine. For others, the shots just don't work.

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Health & Safety

Is It Pain Or Dependency? A Doctor's Dilemma

3:31pm January 07, 2013

While most causes of accidental death are on the decline, drug-related deaths are increasing. This is due in part to the increase of deaths caused by prescription pain medication, like Vicodin or OxyContin. A Los Angeles Times investigative series looks at how doctors are contributing to the trend.

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