Health

Health & Safety

Why Healthful Vending Machines Might Hurt The Blind

10:52am May 28, 2013

by Deena Prichep

Blind entrepreneurs who own vending machines are worried that legislative mandates to replace junk food with more healthful items will impact their business. In Oregon, the vendors are collaborating with health officials to find a happy medium.

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Going to the doctor may be uncomfortable for people who are worried about weight.

Health & Safety

Overweight People Are More Apt To Ditch Doctors

8:08am May 28, 2013

by Patti Neighmond

People who are overweight or obese are much more likely to switch doctors, a study finds. That may be because doctors aren't helping them address weight issues. It may compromise their medical care, because of lack of continuity and preventive medicine.

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President Obama speaks about the Affordable Care Act at the White House on May 10.

Obama's Next Big Campaign: Selling Health Care To The Public

7:58am May 28, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

President Obama often tells audiences that he has waged his last campaign. But that's not exactly true. The White House is gearing up for a massive push this summer to get uninsured people to buy health care when sign-ups begin Oct. 1.

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Studies Question Potential Alzheimer's Treatment

2:58pm May 24, 2013

Last year scientists reported that a skin cancer drug appeared to reverse the effects of an Alzheimer's-like disease in mice. But four studies out this week in Science question the original results. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, talks about the new findings, and the hunt for Alzheimer's drugs.

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Having a Dog May Mean Having Extra Microbes

2:57pm May 24, 2013

North Carolina State University biologist Rob Dunn and colleagues surveyed people's pillow cases, refrigerators, toilet seats, TV screens and other household spots, to learn about the microbes that dwell in our homes. Among the findings, reported in the journal PLoS One, homes with dogs had more diverse bacterial communities, and higher numbers of "dog-associated" bacteria.

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This model of a molar shows color-coded barium banding patterns that reveal weaning age.

Scientific Tooth Fairies Investigate Neanderthal Breast-Feeding

12:54pm May 24, 2013

by Adam Cole

Our closest relatives, chimpanzees and gorillas, breast-feed their offspring for several years. Some baby orangutans nurse until they are 7 years old. Researchers found a way to test ancient teeth for clues about when humans cut nursing short.

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Fungi (cyan) surround a human hair within the skin. A study in the journal Nature shows the population of fungi on human skin is more diverse that previously thought.

Research Reveals Yeasty Beasts Living On Our Skin

11:20am May 24, 2013

by Rob Stein

While studying microorganisms on humans is not new, tracking fungi is. In a census of sorts, scientists checked the skin of healthy volunteers. They found an expansive ecosystem of silent inhabitants.

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The origin of itch has confounded scientists for decades.

Why You Have To Scratch That Itch

11:20am May 24, 2013

by Rhitu Chatterjee

Itch can be a useful warning sign, or a maddening symptom with no cure. But the origins of itch have long been a mystery. Scientists think they've come closer to understanding the origins of itch in a molecule that makes mice scratch like mad.

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Abortion Opponents Try to Spin Murder Case Into Legislation

8:23pm May 23, 2013

by Julie Rovner

Abortion opponents are hoping the recent murder conviction of Pennsylvania abortion provider Kermit Gosnell will lead to more scrutiny of second trimester abortions. They're working on a bill that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy — nationwide.

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Latest Health Hurdle: Buying Insurance Without A Bank Account

5:43pm May 21, 2013

by Sarah Varney

Most health plans accept a credit card for the first month's premium and then require customers to pay monthly with a check or an electronic transfer from a bank account. For people without a banking relationship, these transactions can be tricky.

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