The Top Health Headlines of 2013
Health news that rocked the headlines in 2013.
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Looking Back at This Year’s Health Stories - Oh, what a year in the world of health news. Read about the most pressing wellness, research and medical stories that made headlines in 2013. — Kellee Terrell(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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Everything Obamacare - With the rollout of President Obama’s open enrollment that started on Oct. 15, the news has been flooded with stories about the Health Insurance Marketplace (good and bad). From website woes and the best plans to sign up for to Medicaid expansion (of the lack there of), talk of health care reform has no plans of letting down anytime soon. (Photo: Healthcare.gov)
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Head Trauma and the NFL - With a slew of suicides among former NFL players in the past few years, 2013 gave much to talk about in terms of brain trauma and mental health. There were many conversations about how repeated concussions can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is believed to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, depression, dementia and suicide. (Photo: Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)
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Baby “Cured” of HIV - This past March, the media broke some interesting HIV-related news. For the first time, a baby born with HIV was “cured” of the virus without taking AIDS meds for the recommended time after birth. That was later confirmed in a study published in November that found that the toddler is still HIV-negative. Why this is the case is unknown, researchers admit. (Photo: Johns Hopkins Medicine/AP Photo)
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HPV and Oral Cancer - In June, legendary actor Michael Douglas announced that he had oral cancer as a result from having Human papillomavirus (HPV). His own personal diagnosis highlighted recent research that oral cancers due to the STD are on the rise — up 200 percent in the past 20-plus years. (Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
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E-Cigarettes: Do They Create New Young Smokers? - Since electronic cigs made a huge splash this year, researchers have been fighting about whether they will encourage younger folks to take the leap to traditional cigs. The jury is still out, though. While the CDC swears it will, some studies have found that just isn’t true. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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FDA Approves Plan B One Step With No Prescription - This summer, the Federal Drug Association (FDA) ruled that the emergency contraception should be available for girls as young as 15 without a prescription. Even President Obama said he was “comfortable” with this decision as he states to be in favor for expansion on contraceptive for women. (Photo Illustration: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Sandy Hook, Autism and Mental Health - While the Sandy Hook Massacre happened in December 2012, the beginning of 2013 was inundated with conversations about the connection between mental health illness and gun violence. This sparked a huge debate about gun control in this country, further dividing the Right and the Left. (Photo: David Goldman/AP Photo)
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Medical Marijuana - With New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie approving medical marijuana for children in his state of New Jersey, kush was front and center in the news this year. In Illinois, medical marijuana dispensaries opened up. Currently, 22 states allow for weed to be used for medical purposes. (Photo: Mel Evans/AP Photo, File)
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Black Men, Health and Suicide - The suicide of TNT's Rizzoli & Isles star Lee Thompson Young over the summer was another reminder that the mental health of Black men can no longer be ignored. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports suicide is the third cause of death among African-American males between ages 15 and 24, behind homicide and accidents.(Photo: Margery Epstein/ WENN)
Photo By Photo: Margery Epstein/ WENN/ Margery Epstein/ WENN
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