Health A-Z News & Features
- Do Patients Know When AI Is Assisting in Health Care?
February 27, 2024 — When you message your health care provider about an appointment, a prescription refill, or to answer a question, is artificial intelligence or a person actually answering? In some cases, it’s hard to tell.
- New Technology Emerges to Measure Microplastics in Human Tissue
February 26, 2024 — Researchers examining human placentas for evidence of microplastics found measurable amounts in every single one.
- Your Keyboard May Contain More Bacteria Than Your Toilet Seat
February 13, 2024 — Did you know that your keyboard may contain more bacteria than your toilet seat? Here's what to know about keyboard hygiene in the digital age.
- Nurses Are Most Trusted Professionals, New Poll Says
January 31, 2024 — Nurses are the most trusted professionals in America, new poll results show. For the 22nd year in a row, they are perceived more often as ethical, even compared to doctors, clergy, and pharmacists.
- With Case Count Rising, CDC Issues Nationwide Measles Alert
January 26, 2024 — Nearly two dozen cases of measles have occurred in the U.S. in the past two months. The count has prompted the CDC to issue an alert to health care providers to be on the lookout for people with symptoms such as a rash, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
- It’s Time to Change the Way We Think About Hearing
January 24, 2024 — Hearing loss is a cognitive conundrum with significant health consequences.
- Va. Issues Warning for Possible Measles Exposure at D.C. Airports
January 17, 2024 — Virginia health officials say travelers might have been exposed to measles at the two main airports in the Washington, D.C., area earlier this month.
- Eight Examples of Why Tik Tok Is Not Great for Health Tips
January 16, 2024 — There is no shortage of reasons why getting health and life advice from TikTok is a bad idea. Here are eight examples.
- Red Cross Says We’re Facing a Blood Shortage Emergency
January 10, 2024 — The American Red Cross says the country is in an emergency blood shortage and is appealing to people to donate now to improve supplies.
- New Antibiotic Works Against Deadly Bacteria, Researchers Say
January 8, 2024 — Scientists say they’ve developed a new antibiotic that appears to work against a deadly bacteria -- acinetobacter baumannii -- resistant to most drugs.
- Hundreds of Prescription Drugs to See Price Hikes
January 2, 2024 — Drug companies are increasing prices on hundreds of drugs this month as the pharmaceutical industry gears up for the Biden Administration to seek significantly discounted prices for 10 high-cost drugs.
- Quaker Recalls Granola Bars, Cereals Because of Salmonella Risk
December 18, 2023 — The Quaker Oats Company on Friday announced the recall of dozens of granola bars and granola cereals because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.
- Poison Center Calls Spike over Weight-Loss, Diabetes Injections
December 14, 2023 — Injectable medicines for diabetes and weight loss have brought a sharp rise in the number of calls to poison control centers across the country, CNN reports.
- New Study Links Use of Cannabis to Poor Birth Outcomes
December 12, 2023 — A new study links cannabis use during pregnancy to a greater risk of poor outcomes, particularly low birth weight.
- Research Links PFAS to Decreased Bone Health in Adolescents
December 6, 2023 — So-called “forever chemicals” found in countless consumer products are linked to lower bone mineral density over time in adolescents, according to new research published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Research.
- AI Order for Health Care May Bring Patients, Doctors Closer
November 10, 2023 — The U.S. government is charged with coming up with a plan to assure quality and safety in using AI chatbots in health care.
- New Sickle Cell Treatment Safe for Patients, FDA Panel Says
November 1, 2023 — A breakthrough genetic therapy that can potentially cure sickle cell disease is poised for approval by the FDA in December.
- Physical Disability And Your Social Life
It can be a challenge to socialize with a physical disability, but it’s important to maintain relationships. Find out how to boost your social life while living with a disability.
- CDC Issues RSV Vaccination Alert Because of Drug Shortage
October 24, 2023 — A limited supply of a drug to protect infants from the respiratory disease RSV has led the CDC to advise pediatricians to use certain doses of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody sold by the brand name Beyfortus, for infants with the greatest danger of developing severe respiratory syncytial virus.
- Study Shows DASH Diet Cuts Risk of Cognitive Decline in Women
October 24, 2023 — The heart-healthy DASH diet has been linked with a lower risk of cognitive decline among women over 40 in a new study.
- FDA Approves Pfizer’s Vaccine for Meningococcal Disease
October 23, 2023 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Pfizer’s application for Penbraya, a vaccine for people 10 through 25 that will offer protection against the five main kinds of bacteria that cause meningitis and blood poisoning.
- Scientists Fear Yellow Fever May Soon Return to Southeastern U.S.
October 19, 2023 — Medical experts are worried that yellow fever and its feared “black vomit” may re-emerge in the American South in the near future.
- Citing Cancer Risk, FDA May Limit Hair Straightener Ingredients
October 16, 2023 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering banning chemicals that have been linked to cancer from use in hair straightening products.
- Tips and Tricks for Better Sleep From Night Shift Workers
October 11, 2023 — Heading to work after the sun sets has become very common in the U.S. – but what does that mean for the health of night shift workers?
- These Are the Top 10 Causes of Death in the U.S.
October 6, 2023 — Heart disease and cancer have been at the top of the list for more than a decade and caused more than 37% of U.S. deaths in 2021, the most recent data available. COVID-19 has climbed into the top rankings since the pandemic began in 2020.
- Study: Fitness Matters More Than Weight Loss for Kidney Disease Risk
October 2, 2023 — A new study helps address a longstanding question: What’s more important for our health, physical fitness or body weight?
- Racial Disparities in ADPKD
Learn more about how racial disparities in health care affect Black people and other people of color with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).
- Robots Are Taking Over Your Surgery (and You Should Be Excited)
September 26, 2023 — Driving the technology forward are advances in materials science and AI, plus patient benefits like shorter recovery times and less pain.
- Study: Unexpected Vaginal Bleeding Rises After COVID Vaccination
September 26, 2023 — Non-menstruating women were more likely to experience unexpected vaginal bleeding after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a new study.
- Report: Climate, Conflicts Hamper Fight Against AIDS, TB, Malaria
September 18, 2023 — The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria says it may not reach its goal of ending those three diseases by 2030 because of climate change, conflict, deepening inequalities, and growing threats to human rights.
- Common Cleaning Products May Emit Dangerous Chemicals: Study
September 14, 2023 — Common household cleaning and air freshening products may emit hundreds of dangerous chemicals, but those with “green” features that are fragrance-free are potentially less harmful than their conventional counterparts, according to a new study.
- As Superfungi Spread, the CDC Raises Alarms
Climate change helps drive the spread of deadly new organisms.
- Getting Organized: Why So Many Doctors Are Joining Unions
A growing number see organized labor as a path to improved working conditions – and better care for their patients.
- How Your Smartwatch Could Help Unlock Secrets of Disease
September 1, 2023 — Popular smartwatches and other wearable devices are giving research an upgrade.
- DNA Ancestry Tests and Family History Genealogy Tips
Get information on DNA ancestry tests and other genealogy tips.
- Tiny Organ, Long-Lasting Pain: Mystery of Chronic Appendicitis
August 18, 2023 — Although no official definition exists, chronic appendicitis happens when that finger-like pouch at the end of your colon becomes inflamed and causes belly pain in regular on-and-off episodes that can span weeks, months, or years.
- Don’t Use Some Tests Made by Universal Meditech, FDA Warns
August 14, 2023 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning patients not to use certain tests made by Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), including tests for pregnancy, ovulation, and urinary tract infections.
- Systemic Racism Continues to Cause Preventable Deaths
August 4, 2023 — A new study indicates that systemic racism continues to result in preventable deaths of people of color. Nationwide, Black people, American Indian people, and Alaska Native people were more likely to die of any cause, compared to white people.
- OTC Hearing Aids Are Here, but Picking One Is No Simple Task
August 3, 2023 — Over-the-counter hearing aids are more accessible and cheaper, but for some the option to bypass an audiologist makes the process more overwhelming and confusing.
- Pfizer, FDA Working to Avoid Drug Shortages After Tornado
July 24, 2023 — No immediate drug shortages are expected following the destruction by a tornado of a Pfizer warehouse in North Carolina last week.
- Handling the Heat: Are Some of Us Naturally Better at It?
July 21, 2023 — Do some people just have the ability to cope with sizzling temperatures and some don’t? It’s debated among experts, with some saying people may tend to have a better or worse tolerance to heat.
- New Report Measures Human, Financial Toll of Extreme Heat
July 20, 2023 — As heat waves become more common, hospitals and emergency rooms in the U.S. will see thousands more cases of people who pass out from heatstroke or have potentially deadly heart problems, a new report warns.
- Phoenix Sets National Record for Duration of Heat Wave
July 19, 2023 — The city of Phoenix set a pair of heat records on Tuesday, and was on track for a third record today.
- Misdiagnosis Seriously Harms 795,000 People Annually: Study
July 19, 2023 — An estimated 795,000 people in the U.S. die or are permanently disabled each year due to misdiagnosis. Stroke topped the list of misdiagnosed medical problems that result in serious harm.
- Mosquito and Tick-Borne Illnesses on the Rise: What to Know
July 17, 2023 — Illnesses spread by ticks and mosquitos are on the rise, prompting warnings from doctors and scientists to take precautions and watch out for any tell-tale symptoms. Here's what to know.
- Do-It-Yourself Medications: Self-Injected Drugs on the Rise
July 14, 2023 — Having patients give themselves injections, when possible, not only saves clinic time and expense, but also spares the patients a trip to the clinic, of course, and often a copay.
- You Don’t Have to Live With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be stressful, but hearing aids can help. Here’s how.
- The Mental and Emotional Impact of Hearing Loss
Uncorrected hearing loss can lead to depression, isolation, and even cognitive decline.
- Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: Good News, With Some Complications
Audiologists, even those who generally support the idea of non-prescription hearing aids, worry that without an initial evaluation and ongoing care, people will buy the devices without understanding how to use or adjust them.