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RFK Jr. Faces Tough Questions at First Confirmation Hearing

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced a plethora of tough questions on vaccines, abortion and public health policy during his Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday as President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Lawmakers pressed Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic and former Democrat-turned-independe...

Americans Still Consider COVID Major Public Health Threat

People still see COVID-19 as an ongoing public health threat, even though the pandemic officially ended in 2023, according to a new HealthDay/Harris Poll.

Nearly 3 in 4 people (72%) agree COVID is still a serious public health issue, including more than a third (35%) who strongly agree, the poll found.

COVID has settled into the sort...

USDA Issues Health Alert Over Bone Fragments in Wegmans Nuggets

If you have a bag of Wegmans breaded chicken breast nuggets in your freezer, you may want to check the label before your next meal.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert over concerns that some packages may contain bone fragments.

The alert, issued Jan. 2...

Crisis Services Haven't Adapted To New 988 Suicide Hotline

Most community crisis services did not expand following the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, potentially blunting the effectiveness of the hotline, a new study says.

Walk-in psychiatric services, mobile crisis response units and suicide prevention programs all declined following the launch of the 988 line in July 2022, rese...

Weight-Loss Surgery Protects Liver Health

Weight-loss surgery can protect the liver health of patients with obesity and fatty liver disease, a new study reports.

Patients had a 72% lower risk of developing serious complications of liver disease after undergoing weight-loss surgery, researchers reported in Jan. 27 in the journal Nature Medicine.

They also had an 80% ...

Heavy Weed Use Affects Young Adults' Short-Term Memory

Heavy weed use appears to dull the brains of young adults, particularly affecting their short-term working memory, a new study suggests.

MRI scans showed less brain activation in heavy tokers performing tasks that tested their ability to temporarily hold a limited amount of information at the ready for immediate mental use, according to re...

Opioid Painkillers Less Available To People Of Color

People of color now have less access to prescription opioid painkillers than white patients, an unintended consequence of efforts to stem America’s opioid epidemic.

Communities of color have a 40% to 45% lower distribution of commonly prescribed opioids, compared to majority white communities, researchers reported in a study publishe...

Cholesterol Changes in Seniors Linked to Brain Health

Seniors whose cholesterol levels spike and plummet year-to-year could be at increased risk of dementia and failing brain health, a new study suggests.

Those whose cholesterol fluctuated the most had a 60% increased risk of dementia, researchers report in findings published Jan. 29 in the journal Neurology.

They also had a 23...

Bird Flu Found in North Carolina Turkey Flock as Outbreak Worsens

A commercial turkey flock in North Carolina has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday.

The affected flock is in Sampson County and is the second case in the state this year, according to WRAL-TV in Raleigh. The first was detected ...

New Bird Flu Strain Detected in the U.S.

A new strain of bird flu, H5N9, has been detected for the first time in the United States, raising concerns about how it continues to spread.

The strain was discovered at a commercial duck farm in California's Merced County, and was reported to the World Organization for Animal Health, which maintains a database of animal disease threats.<...

Long COVID Severity Linked to White Blood Cell Count

A simple blood test might determine which patients are at risk for long COVID, a new study says.

Higher levels of leukocytes – a form of white blood cell – are associated with more severe symptoms of long COVID among older women, researchers reported in a new study published Jan. 29 in the journal Menopause.

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Vitamin Deficiencies Common in Type 2 Diabetes

“Hidden hunger” -- low levels of essential vitamins or minerals -- is common among people with type 2 diabetes, a new evidence review says

Overall, as many as 45% of type 2 diabetics are suffering multiple deficiencies in vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, researchers reported Jan. 28 in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevent...