CDC Ordered to End WHO Collaboration

Staff at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been told to stop communication with the World Health Organization (WHO), in the wake of President Donald Trump's order withdrawing from the health agency.

The memo was sent late Sunday from the CDC's deputy director of global health, Dr. John Nkengasong. 

&...

Kansas Reports Largest Tuberculosis Outbreak in U.S. History

Kansas health officials are fighting the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in U.S. history, with 67 confirmed cases since new year began.

The outbreak includes 60 active cases in Wyandotte County and seven in Johnson County, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). That's the most since the 1950s, when the U.S....

Delayed Dream Sleep Linked to Alzheimer's Risk

Delays in dreaming might be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

People who take significantly longer to enter the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep could be experiencing an early symptom of Alzheimer’s, researchers reported Jan. 27 in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

“The delay ...

Blood Test Accurately Detects Colon Cancer

An experimental blood test can effectively and accurately detect colon cancer in middle-aged folks and seniors, a new study says.

The blood test was 81% accurate in detecting colon cancer among people who have the disease, researchers reported at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium held last we...

Qigong Effective In Easing Low Back Pain

People with low back pain might want to look into the ancient Chinese mind-body movement exercise known as qigong, a new study published recently suggests.

Qigong is similar to tai chi, in that it uses slow-flowing exercises and still, meditative postures to ease tension and increase flexibility.

The practice brought pain relief and ...

Weight Loss Boosts Long-Term Health of Kids With Obesity

Helping kids with obesity drop pounds can have a huge impact on their future health.

When these children and teens lose weight, they are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol as young adults, researchers reported in a new study published Jan. 21 in JAMA Pediatrics.

They also had a ...

Noisy Settings OK For Blood Pressure Testing

Don’t worry if someone’s checking your blood pressure in a loud public place.

The reading they get is apt to be just as accurate as if the test were taking place in a quiet, less stressful environment, researchers reported in a study published Jan. 27 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“The BP readings obt...

Heart Health Risk Factors Continue To Increase

Major heart health risk factors like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure remain on the rise in the United States, according to an annual report from the American Heart Association (AHA).

These risks are thwarting efforts to save lives from heart disease, heart attack, stroke and other lethal heart-related diseases, says the report pu...

Longest Pig Organ Transplant Survivor Passes 60 Days With New Kidney

An Alabama woman has become the longest-living recipient of a pig organ transplant, passing 60 days with a gene-edited kidney and showing no signs of slowing down.

"I'm superwoman," Towana Looney, 53, told The Associated Press as she marked day 61 on Saturday.

Looney’s transplant, performed at NYU Langone Health on Nov...

CIA Now Backs Lab Leak Theory for COVID-19, But Confidence Remains Low

After years of speculation, the CIA has weighed in yet again: A lab leak is now considered the likely origin of the COVID pandemic. 

However, the agency admits it has "low confidence" in its conclusion and says both a natural origin and a research-related incident are still possible.

“CIA assesses with low confidence that ...

Bird Flu Concerns Prompt New FDA Guidance on Raw Pet Food Safety

Reports of cats becoming seriously ill or dying after consuming raw pet food or milk tainted with the deadly bird flu virus have prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to urge pet food manufacturers to take extra precautions.

The FDA recently advised pet food companies to source ingredients from healthy animals and use proces...

Adderall Shortage Sparks Scramble for ADHD Alternatives

Adderall shortages have prompted doctors to switch kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to other forms of stimulant medication.

Adderall prescription fills for children and teens plunged after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a shortage of the drug in October 2022, researchers reported in a new stu...

Medical Airlifts Less Likely For Minorities

Time is of the essence during a medical emergency, and helicopter transport often is essential to saving a patient teetering near death.

Unfortunately, Black, Asian and Hispanic people with life-threatening injuries are significantly less likely than white patients to be airlifted to a trauma center, according to a study published Jan. 22 ...

Smartwatch Heart Data Can Catch Pending Problems

Sue VanWassenhove’s adult children got her a smartwatch to track her health after she fell a couple times.

Fiddling with the device, VanWassenhove found out that she had a pattern of her heart rate dropping, and immediately lined up an appointment with a heart doctor.

“Having a smartwatch is very empowering because I&rsqu...

Locking Down Blood Pressure Protects Brain Health

Maintaining tight control over blood pressure for even a short while can provide lasting benefits for seniors’ brain health, a new clinical trial says.

People had lower risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia after keeping their blood pressure around 120 systolic for three and a half years, according to results published recent...

Highway Exhaust Linked to Depression in Women

That busy highway could be contributing to depression, and not just because you’re snarled in a traffic jam.

Air pollution from traffic appears to increase risk of depression among women, according to a new study published Jan. 21 in the journal Menopause.

Further, researchers think this air pollution might be raising ...

Food Assistance Ensures Healthy Pregnancies

Food stamps and food banks can be key to healthy pregnancies.

Food assistance programs are effective in helping hungry women avoid pregnancy complications, researchers say in a new study published Jan. 23 in JAMA Network Open.

Food insecurity in pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia...

AI Virtual Therapists Could Improve Mental Health Care, Studies Find

Could a virtual avatar be the future of mental health care?  

New research shows that artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) goggles could revolutionize therapy -- helping patients overcome addiction and receive unbiased care.

A recent study in the Journal of Medical Extended Reality focused on pati...

How To Fight Common Wintertime Respiratory Viruses

SATURDAY, Jan. 25, 2025 (HealthDay News) — In the throes of winter's yearly round of respiratory virus outbreaks, it pays to remember what Grandma told you.

Wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and stay away from folks who may be infected. And, of course, wearing a mask won't hurt.

Bird Flu Outbreak Forces Culling of 100,000 Ducks, Threatening Last Duck Farm in Long Island

The last duck farm on New York's Long Island is facing an uncertain future after a bird flu outbreak forced the culling of nearly 100,000 ducks.

The highly contagious H5N1 avian flu, otherwise known as bird flu, was detected at the farm last week prompting a government-mandated quarantine and disinfection process.

“This has spr...