Your Health

Teenagers are most at risk for opioid poisoning, but the rate more than doubled for toddlers from 1997 to 2012.

More Children Are Being Poisoned By Prescription Opioids

3:38pm October 31, 2016

by Shefali Luthra

Whether it's toddlers mistaking pills for candy or teenagers taking opioids on purpose, the huge rise in access to opioid painkillers has led to more children being poisoned and hospitalized.

300 Million Children Are Breathing 'Extremely Toxic' Air, UNICEF Says

3:24pm October 31, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Altogether, some 2 billion children worldwide are breathing air that has been deemed a "long term hazard," a report finds. Pollution contributes to around 600,000 deaths annually of kids under age 5.

A federal law that aims to put insurance coverage of mental health care on equal footing with physical health care hasn't succeeded fully.

Federal Panel Calls For Stricter Enforcement Of Mental Health Care Parity Law

1:43pm October 31, 2016

by Jenny Gold

Since a federal parity law was enacted in 2008, health insurers and employers have made progress toward improving coverage for mental health and substance abuse. But enforcement has been lax.

Community Health Options founders COO Robert Hillman (left) and CEO Kevin Lewis seen in 2013 when the co-op began offering coverage.

Maine Insurance Co-Op Drops Coverage For Elective Abortion Services

6:09am October 29, 2016

by Patty Wight

Community Health Options is dropping elective abortion coverage in 2017. The insurer says the move will save money. Advocates for abortion rights say it's a step backward for women's health.

After several prominent safety problems with medical devices in hospitals emerged, the Food and Drug Administration inspected 17 hospitals across the country in late 2015 to assess their compliance with reporting regulations.

FDA Faults Hospitals For Failing To Report Safety Problems With Medical Devices

2:57pm October 28, 2016

by Chad Terhune

The Food and Drug Administration found several prominent facilities hadn't followed rules on reporting incidents in which patients died or were harmed. The problem is thought to be widespread.

Children's photos that parents have posted online have ended up in advertisements and on pornography sites.

Do Parents Invade Children's Privacy When They Post Photos Online?

10:34am October 28, 2016

by Tara Haelle

The kids look so darned cute in that photo, it's hard not to post it online for all to see. But there are privacy risks to sharing children's images, and children often don't want the exposure.

Placebos are commonly thought of as fake treatments that people think are real. But they may be helpful even if you know they're fake.

Is A Placebo A Sham, If You Know It's A Fake And It Still Works?

3:35pm October 27, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

Most research on placebos involves people who think they're getting an active treatment, but aren't. But they may also work when people know full well they're getting a sham treatment.

Supplemental dental insurance may not be cost effective for seniors.

Seniors' Teeth Need Dental Care, But Insurance Coverage Is Rare

5:00am October 27, 2016

by Michelle Andrews

Aging takes a toll on teeth, but Medicare doesn't cover most dental needs, and private plans often have skimpy coverage. That means people are paying out of pocket for care or going without.

Poll: Cost Of Child Care Causes Financial Stress For Many Families

5:46pm October 26, 2016

by Patti Neighmond

The most common challenge parents face when looking for child care is the high cost. At an average cost of $10,000 a year, infant child care rivals a year's tuition at a state college or university.

Queue Listen Now

California rules would require site-specific assessments to identify violence risks for health care workers and plans to mitigate them.

California Rules About Violence Against Health Workers Could Become A Model

5:41pm October 26, 2016

by Pauline Bartolone

New workplace health rules in California would go beyond existing safety standards by requiring private health care facilities to develop specific plans to mitigate risks of violence against workers.