NYT > Health

Yoga Fans Sexual Flames and, Predictably, Plenty of Scandal

By WILLIAM J. BROAD — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:58:00 GMT

Since the baby boomers discovered yoga, the arousal, sweating, heavy breathing and states of undress that characterize yoga classes have led to predictable results.

Stents Show No Extra Benefits for Coronary Artery Disease

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:50:45 GMT

The common practice of inserting a stent to repair a narrowed artery has no benefit over standard medical care in treating stable coronary artery disease.

Young Women Often Trendsetters in Vocal Patterns

By DOUGLAS QUENQUA — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:07:21 GMT

Researchers say young women deserve credit for pioneering vocal trends, including the latest, known as vocal fry.

Well: Knee Replacement May Be a Lifesaver for Some

By TARA PARKER-POPE — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:49:16 GMT

New research suggests that for some patients, knee replacement surgery can actually save their lives by helping them become more healthy and active.

Books: Genomics as a Final Frontier, or Just a Way Station

By ABIGAIL ZUGER, M.D. — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:43:21 GMT

Many physicians and researchers believe the future lies in therapies tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup, but others argue that there is much more at play than our accumulated DNA.

The Consumer: Cocktail of Popular Drugs May Cloud Brain

By RONI CARYN RABIN — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:43:46 GMT

Studies find that the cumulative use of drugs that are among dozens of common painkillers, antihistamines and psychiatric medications has been linked to cognitive impairment.

Global Update: Flu Shots for Expectant Mothers Add to Babies’ Birth Weight

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:46:32 GMT

During flu season in Bangladesh, mothers who got shots in their last trimester gave birth to babies almost seven ounces heavier on average.

Vital Signs: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels Linked to Brain Performance

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:46:15 GMT

A study of older adults finds that those with higher omega-3 fatty acid levels had larger brain volume and performed better in tests of mental acuity.

Vital Signs: Diet Soft Drinks Linked to Risk of Heart Disease

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:46:14 GMT

A study of 2,564 adults found a link, even when controlling for other variables. But researchers caution against alarm, saying the reason for the link is not clear.

Vital Signs: Hepatitis C Deaths Creep Past AIDS, Study Finds

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:45:09 GMT

Hepatitis C death rates increased to almost 5 per 100,000 in 2007, the C.D.C. says, while over the same period, H.I.V. deaths fells to 4 per 100,000.

First Mention: Life’s Blueprint, Slow to Newsprint

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:01:10 GMT

Scientists had known of DNA since 1869, but The New York Times did not mention it until 78 years later.

Researchers Find Stem Cells Can Generate Human Eggs

By NICHOLAS WADE — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:17:16 GMT

The advance from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital could provide a new source of eggs for treating infertility.

A Wait-and-See Approach for States on Insurance Exchanges

By ROBERT PEAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:46:57 GMT

Republican-led legislatures are putting off the creation of supermarkets for subsidized private coverage until they know if President Obama can enforce the law.

Recipes for Health: Smoothies for Grownups — Recipes for Health

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:37:40 GMT

Don’t forget about the blender when you’re ready for a meal: Adding vegetables, nuts, grains or dairy can turn a fruit smoothie into a satisfying breakfast or lunch.

Well Blog: Girls Add a Growl to Teen Lexicon

By TARA PARKER-POPE — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:57:21 GMT

The linguistic quirks of teenage girls remain a topic of fascination among researchers, who note that young girls often start vocal trends. And as a new report from Science Times reveals, Valley Girl lingo is out and the growl is in.

Well Blog: Bibimbap Recipes for Health

By TARA PARKER-POPE — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:32:27 GMT

The classic Korean rice and vegetable dish known as bibimbap is versatile and delicious.

Doctor and Patient: The Plight of the Pregnant Surgeon

By PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D. — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:01:59 GMT

A vast majority of women surgeons reported a significant stigma attached to being pregnant, particularly during training, and females were capable of being just as dismissive as their male colleagues.

Well Blog: Many Heart Attacks Don’t Cause Chest Pain

By ANAHAD O'CONNOR — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:44:58 GMT

A sizable proportion of people who are taken to hospitals for heart attacks -- more than a third, and more women than men -- do not have chest pain and, as a result, may not receive lifesaving treatment.

Phys Ed: Phys Ed: How Exercise Fuels the Brain

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:01:37 GMT

The increase in brain activity that occurs with exercise appears to have implications not only for how well the brain functions during exercise, but also for how well our thinking and memory work the rest of the time.

Personal Health: Jane Brody on IUDs

By JANE E. BRODY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:45:43 GMT

After decades of sloppy research and bad publicity, the intrauterine device is making a major comeback in the United States.

Really?: The Claim: Your Body Clock Can Determine When You Get Sick

By ANAHAD O'CONNOR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:41:16 GMT

The immune system and the body's circadian rhythm, its internal clock, are intimately tied.

Who Catches Cold, and Why?

By C. CLAIBORNE RAY — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:35:13 GMT

If 100 people are exposed to cold germs, 50 to 80, in whom resistance is compromised for any of a variety of reasons, would be expected to get sick.

The Vanishing Mind: Dealing With Dementia Among Aging Criminals

By PAM BELLUCK — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:26:28 GMT

At a California prison, prisoners doing time for murder are caring for inmates with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.

The New Old Age Blog: For Older Drivers, Help With Parking

By SUSAN SELIGER — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:12:29 GMT

Good news: Those parking assist systems on new cars seem to work.

The New Old Age Blog: Wanted: Your Thoughts on Unwise Treatments

By PAULA SPAN — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:29:32 GMT

Know of an older person who opted for a treatment that, in hindsight, should not have been done? Tell us about it.

The New Old Age Blog: On Dining Room Restrictions and More

By PAULA SPAN — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:03:27 GMT

Updates on some recent posts.

Book Review: ‘Health Care Reform’ - Book Review - A Cartoon to Cut Through Red Tape

By CORNELIA DEAN — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:15:44 GMT

“Health Care Reform,” by the economist Jonathan Gruber, offers an easy-to-understand walk through what has changed under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and what it may mean in the future.

Essay: Breast Cancer Screening Matters, but Prevention Is the Real Goal

By SUSAN LOVE, M.D. — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:40:04 GMT

Perhaps too much emphasis is placed on looking for existing breast cancer when the search should focus on prevention and the possibility of finding a vaccine.

Books: In Search of the Elusive Definition of Heterosexuality

By ABIGAIL ZUGER, M.D. — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:30:07 GMT

A concept that didn’t seem to need naming until quite recently.

Patient Voices: Changed, but Not Defined, by Hemophilia

By KAREN BARROW — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:30:07 GMT

Three people living with hemophilia talk about how the condition affects their lives.

Cases: Feeling Strain When Violent Patients Need Care

By THERESA BROWN, R.N. — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:08:09 GMT

A rising number of registered nurses rank "on-the-job assault" as one of their three greatest safety concerns.

The Texas Tribune: Texas to Shut Consumer Health Assistance Program

By THANH TAN — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:40:14 GMT

A program created to help insurance-seekers in Texas cut through the complexities of federal health care reforms is shutting down in April, years before the law goes into full effect.

Austerity in Europe Puts Pressure on Drug Companies

By STEPHANIE NOVAK — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:20:05 GMT

Budget cuts mean governments are not willing to pay as much for pills, and new laws in some countries require companies to prove drugs are effective or risk losing coverage.

National Briefing | Health: F.D.A. Lists Sources of Tainted Drug

By GARDINER HARRIS — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:40:05 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday named 22 Chinese companies that it said might be involved in the making of contaminated heparin and issued an alert to stop imports from them.

F.D.A. Approves Imports Amid Shortage of 2 Cancer Drugs

By GARDINER HARRIS — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:48:53 GMT

Doxil and methotrexate are among the drugs whose shortfall is threatening lives in the United States.

Vital Signs: Fish Help Reduce Risk of One Kind of Colon Polyp in Women

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:50:04 GMT

A study has found that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from fish is associated with a reduced risk for one kind of colon polyp, but only in women.

Vital Signs: In Sinusitis, Antibiotics Are as Effective as Placebos, Study Finds

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:50:04 GMT

A new clinical trial found that a placebo worked just as well as the antibiotic amoxicillin in treating the runny nose, sneezing, cough, headache and other symptoms of sinusitis.

In Theory: Aging of Eyes Is Blamed in Circadian Rhythm Disturbances

By LAURIE TARKAN — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:50:04 GMT

New research supports a largely unrecognized culprit in circadian rhythm disturbances: the gradual yellowing of the lens and the narrowing of the pupil that come with age.

Microchip Implanted to Deliver Drug Shows Promise in Trial

By NICHOLAS BAKALAR — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 07:10:04 GMT

The device, though still years away from the marketplace, could be used to improve patient compliance with treatments that require frequent injections.

Recipes for Health: Pear and Arugula Smoothie With Ginger and Walnuts — Recipes for Health

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:46:21 GMT

As a salad, this combination isn’t so unusual; as a lunchtime smoothie, it’s a real winner.

Recipes for Health: Bibimbap With Clams, Kale, Daikon and Carrots — Recipes for Health

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:00:05 GMT

The clams’ briny broth seasons the rice in this light and flavorful dish.

Recipes for Health: Bibimbap With Tuna, Sweet Potato, Broccoli Rabe or Kale, and Lettuce — Recipes for Health

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:30:05 GMT

Tuna steaks, sliced thinly after cooking, are a vehicle for a traditional Korean marinade.

Recipes for Health: Bibimbap With Tofu, Cucumbers, Spinach, Shiitakes and Carrots — Recipes for Health

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:31:47 GMT

This cross-cultural dish borrows from Japanese tradition for the tofu marinade.

Reporter's File: Sickle Cell Disease Outlook Continues to Improve

By CAROLYN SAYRE — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:50:55 GMT

On most days Giovanna Poli acts like a typical 12-year-old, but she is living with sickle cell disease.