Author: Melissa Patrick
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Governor kills bill that would have encouraged donation of organs and bone marrow; sponsor’s primary foe is son of Bevin appointee
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Gov. Matt Bevin has vetoed a bill that would have allowed Kentuckians to take time off of work to be “living donors” or donate...
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Study says proton-pump inhibitors, used to treat heartburn, acid reflux and ulcers, could increase the risk of kidney disease
webmd.com Long-term use of commonly prescribed medications called proton-pump inhibitors, used for heartburn, acid reflux or ulcers, could increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, kidney failure or lead to...
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Kentucky is in the bottom 10 states for cancer-preventing HPV vaccination, probably because it has to do with sex
The human papillomavirus vaccination is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing precancers and noninvasive cervical cancers caused by two strains of the virus, but most parents in Kentucky and the...
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Teens who talk to their parents about sex make the best choices; Clark County will offer parenting classes on sex communication
In an average Kentucky high school class of 30 students, almost 13 of the teenagers say they have had sexual intercourse at least once, but many of them have never...
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Peanut butter can be a healthy choice, but you have to read the labels; gimmicks to improve taste not the best for nutrition
Peanut butter has long been considered a healthy food choice, and for the most part it still is, but with the advent of low-fat brands, flavored peanut butters and companies...
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Poll finds many Kentuckians continue to struggle with cost of health care, though fewer are uninsured and struggling
While having health insurance certainly eases the cost burden of health care, nearly one-third of Kentucky adults struggle to pay their medical bills whether they have health insurance or not,...
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Mary Hass of Louisville gets national brain-injury advocacy award
Mary Hass (imagefrom BIAK Facebook page) Mary Hass, the volunteer advocacy director at the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky, was one of four medical professionals recognized for their accomplishments in the...
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Kenton County embraces its once-controversial smoking ban as chances of a statewide ban have dimmed
Five years after Kenton County’s smoking ban took effect over great opposition, the county has embraced it, Scott Wartman reports for the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I’m a smoker, but I’m glad...
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Bevin administration is working to fix Benefind’s technical glitches; 51,000 Kynect clients blocked from working with Kynectors
Update: 4/8/16 This story has been updated with comments from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News On Feb. 29, Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration...
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10 common misconceptions about cancer and the environment
With the advent of the internet, people are swamped with information about cancer and some of it is not based on “sound scientific evidence” or is “at best, anecdotal,” which...