The deaths of Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith focused attention on prescription pain killers. Michael Jackson, too, may have been taking pain medication. Doctors walk a fine line in treating patients who are seeking relief from chronic pain.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
For years, oil production has been largely banned in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. In large part, that's because of concerns that a spill could devastate the state's tourism industry. But now, some elected officials seem willing to take another look at offshore drilling after years of opposition.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
A new study finds that when Medicare expanded its prescription drug coverage, people did spend more on drugs. However, those who had little to no drug coverage beforehand reduced what they spent on going to doctors and hospitals.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
Three new genetic studies are providing some tantalizing hints about what causes schizophrenia.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel wants to reduce the public's exposure to the potent painkiller.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
An FDA advisory panel yesterday warned about the risk of acetaminophen, a painkiller in Tylenol, Nyquil and other drugs. The panel also called for a ban on Vicodin and Percocet, two drugs that combine acetaminophen with narcotics.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
As health care costs have soared, many physicians have struggled to manage the business end of health care and provide quality care for their patients. Two doctors, each with more than 30 years of experience, talk with NPR about the changes they've seen in health care, and where the system might be headed.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
Only a few universities in the world have facilities devoted to studying human bodies as they decompose. Texas State University's Forensic Anthropology Research Facility is the newest. Students there learn to recover and study human bones.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
The Food and Drug Administration's panel voted 21-16 to lower the current maximum dose of nonprescription acetaminophen, which is 4 grams, or eight pills per day. Taking more than that can cause potentially fatal liver damage.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science
The National Transportation Safety Board isn't able to enforce its own recommendations, but the agency's acting chairman says it's better that way. He says it helps the NTSB focus solely on safety when investigating hundreds of airplane crashes, train wrecks and other accidents each year.
Filed under Blog by NPR Topics: Health & Science