Pandemic at a Tipping Point: WHO

The pandemic has reached a “transition point,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday.

Still, that doesn’t mean the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) designation declared by the WHO in January 2020 is over yet.

The organization’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee met last we...

Stuck in Traffic? Diesel Fumes May Be Harming Your Brain

If you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam and you start to feel fuzzy-headed, the diesel exhaust from the truck in front of you might be to blame.

New research found that just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust impaired the brain’s functional connectivity, which can lower your ability to think and remember.

"We compared peo...

Smoking in Pregnancy Greatly Raises Odds for SIDS in Newborns

Infants exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy are more than five times more likely to die unexpectedly compared to babies of nonsmokers, a new study says.

"The message is simple. Smoking greatly elevates the risk of sudden unexpected infant death," said lead study author Barbara Ostfeld, program director of the SIDS Center of N...

Utah Becomes First State to Ban Transgender Health Care for Minors

Transgender youth in Utah are now blocked from receiving gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy after Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill Saturday that largely bans such care for youth.

Cox said that the ban was necessary until more research was done on long-term effects of treatments, The New York Times reported.

The Ameri...

How Many Daily Steps Do You Need to Lose Weight?

It’s clear that staying active is key to being healthy, and fitness trackers and smartwatches have become popular tools for tracking activity.

But just how many steps does someone need to take to lose weight?

That’s not such a simple a question.

While evidence is limited on exactly how many steps a day it takes to lose we...

1 in 8 Older Americans May Be 'Junk Food Addicts,' Poll Finds

It may be that as many as 13% of older adults are addicted to highly processed comfort foods, a new survey finds.

Craving cookies, chips, packaged snacks and soda was seen in adults aged 50 to 80, according to new data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Medicare Will Save U.S. Billions Negotiating Drug Prices

The U.S. government could save billions every year once Medicare begins negotiating drug prices in 2026, new research suggests.

The Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress last year allows Medicare to bargain with drug companies on the prices of 10 of the highest-priced drugs in 2026 before adding 15 more in 2027, 15 more in 2028 and 20...

U.S. Parents Face Big Disparities in Access to Autism Care Services

Autism services are harder to find in many of the places where Black, Hispanic and Native American families live, new research shows.

It's known that there are racial disparities in U.S. families' receipt of autism services — ranging from diagnosis and behavioral therapy to school and community programs.

The new study high...

Troubling Signs TB Is Gaining Resistance Against Combo Antibiotics

New drugs may be needed to fight the deadliest form of tuberculosis, because it may no longer respond to current treatments.

An animal study by Johns Hopkins University researchers found that an approved antibiotic regimen may not work for TB meningitis due to multidrug-resistant strains. Small human studies have also provided evidence tha...

Fear of Public Spaces Is Common in People With Epilepsy

Many adults with epilepsy have agoraphobia, or a fear of public places, new research suggests.

That impacts quality of life and is something doctors should include in other screening that looks for anxiety or depression, the investigators said.

"We know that agoraphobia can lead to delays in patient care because of a reluctance to g...

Gum Disease Treatments Lose Their Punch in Heavy Smokers

Treatments for gum disease may have little benefit for heavy smokers, new research shows.

The study findings suggest the need to rethink treatment of the common gum disease periodontitis, according to researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark.

“To our surprise, we could see that the disease had actually grown worse in some para...

Silent Killer: Shield Your Family From Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a silent, odorless killer, but even during winter heating season, it's possible to stay safe.

This dangerous gas is produced when fuels burn incompletely.

This can happen in furnaces, both gas- and wood-burning fireplaces, space heaters and vehicles that burn fossil fuel. It’s also possible in water heaters, gas ...

What Is Heartworm and How Can You Protect Your Pet From It?

It’s possible to prevent heartworms in many of your furry friends — dogs, cats and ferrets, specifically.

Heading off a severe and sometimes deadly illness simply requires regular, year-round preventive treatment through a pill, injection or topical medication, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Heartworms are pa...

Yes, Kids Ward Off COVID More Easily. But Their Immune System Pays a Price

Children’s amped-up immune systems allow them to beat back COVID-19 easily, producing a strong initial response that quickly slaps away the virus.

But there might be a price to be paid for that sharp reaction, a new study from Australia says.

Because the initial response provides such a swift takedown, kids’ immune systems don’...

FDA Could Ease Blood Donation Rules for Gay Men

Longstanding restrictions on blood donations from gay or bisexual men could soon shift towards a more nuanced policy, where such men are asked about sexual partners and practices instead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.

Specifically, gay men who are in monogamous relationships will no longer be required to abstain f...

You Can Prevent Sports Overuse Injuries

“Move it or lose it” the saying goes, but too much exercise or playing sports can lead to overuse injuries.

These injuries include damage to bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles due to repetitive actions, such running, throwing, biking, lifting and swimming, to name a few.

An overuse injury can be the result of poor training te...

In a First, Medicaid Extends Coverage to Prison Inmates

Some inmates in California could begin getting certain limited health services, including substance abuse treatment and mental health diagnoses, using Medicaid funds.

Typically, inmates lose Medicaid coverage while in the prison, jail or juvenile justice system.

This change will be the first time ever that Medicaid has provided some...

AHA News: Researchers Take a Closer Look at What COVID-19 Does to the Heart

People hospitalized with COVID-19 may have an increased risk for heart damage, but not so much the type of inflammation previous research suggested, according to a new study.

Early in the pandemic, several studies suggested many COVID-19 survivors experienced heart damage even if they didn't have underlying heart disease and weren't sick e...

Is Your Gas Stove Making You Sick? Experts Weigh In

Natural gas stoves have become the latest flashpoint in America’s increasingly volatile political culture, after a top federal regulator publicly mulled over banning the appliances.

"This is a hidden hazard," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) commissioner, Richard Trumka Jr., said in an interview. "Any option is on the t...

FDA Says No to Regulating CBD Products as Supplements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it can't regulate CBD supplements because there isn't enough evidence on their safety. The agency also called on Congress to create new rules for what has become a burgeoning industry.

"The use of CBD raises various safety concerns, especially with long-term use," FDA Deputy Commissioner ...