CNN – Health

By Rene Marsh, Meg Tirrell, Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — Thousands of employees across US federal health agencies received an email Monday afternoon telling them they were out of a job as of the close of business. The firings were originally communicated April 1 for most of the included employees, but they’d been delayed as

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — An estimated 14.3 million children globally remain completely unvaccinated, according to a new report, and public health experts point to conflict zones as threatening childhood vaccination efforts worldwide. Each year, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund publish a comprehensive report on estimates of national immunization

By Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN (CNN) — When most of us think about sugar, I bet we’re not thinking about our sex lives. We’re thinking about dessert. I’m writing this with the help of a bowl of vanilla ice cream by my side. Sugar makes us feel good in the moment, but over time, too

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — The World Health Organization is now recommending that countries include an HIV drug newly approved for prevention, lenacapavir, as a tool in their efforts to fight HIV infections – especially for groups most at risk and in areas where the burden of HIV remains high. The global recommendation –

By Jeffrey Kopp, CNN (CNN) — Nicotine pouches are a fast-growing source of nicotine poisoning in young children, according to a new study. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio analyzed more than a decade’s worth of data, examining over 134,000 cases of children under 6 who accidentally ingested nicotine through products like vapes, gums,

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Taping your mouth shut for sleep has gone mainstream. Spurred on by celebrity endorsements and social media influencers, it’s now a billion-dollar industry. On TikTok, for example, the endorsements are widespread. One influencer claims mouth tape is the “beauty tip of life” that has changed the appearance of her

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — There was a rare and brief moment of stillness on Saturday –– after the last child waiting in the church was reunited with his parents –– when Rev. Jasiel Hernandez Garcia could sit with his staff and ask them: What do we say to the congregation? The leadership at

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — There’s a new wave of interest in improving menopause care in the United States – it’s in books, on podcasts and dominating social media hashtags – and it’s even generating new legislation across more than a dozen states. From New York to California, lawmakers are weighing whether to support

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Krypto the Superdog may steal the show in the new “Superman” movie, but it’s a dog named Superman who’s stealing the hearts of animal lovers across the country — and rescue workers in Texas hope his story will help save more pets in dire circumstances. Flooding in Central Texas

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Doing exercises that increase your heart and breathing rate on a regular basis may reduce your risk of an early death across all causes by up to 40%, according to a new meta-analysis of 85 studies that looked at 7 million people worldwide. “Physical activity may be even more

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — Measles have surged to a record high, with more cases reported this year than any year since the disease was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. This disappointing record comes amid falling childhood vaccination rates: Coverage against measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, polio and pertussis is declining in

By Sarah Owermohle, Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday tallied the highest number of US measles cases since the disease was declared eliminated a quarter-century ago, just as a key Senate committee split the vote to advance President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the public health

By Sarah Owermohle, Meg Tirrell, Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — The US Department of Health and Human Services called off an upcoming meeting of expert advisers on preventive health care, raising questions about the future of the longtime nonpolitical advisory group. An HHS spokesperson confirmed to CNN that the US Preventive Services Task Force —

By Asuka Koda, CNN (CNN) — When tragedies are in the news — natural disasters, plane crashes, fires — parents naturally and unavoidably react by thinking about what might happen to their own children. And children worry in turn about what might happen to them. The flash flooding last week that killed more than 100

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — At 96 years old, Betty Parker is tired of hearing about other people’s aches and pains. Instead, she fills her journal with all the great things she is still doing: picking roses from her garden, reading, playing cards with her regular group and baking pies when she entertains. OK,

By Olivia Kemp, CNN (CNN) — The approval of the first malaria treatment for newborns and young infants could lead to imminent widespread use in Africa, drugmaker Novartis said Tuesday. The drug, known as Coartem Baby or Riamet Baby in some countries, has been approved by Swiss authorities for use in babies weighing between 2

By Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN (CNN) — You’re feeling unusually tired and sad, and your interest in sex has dropped off. That’s no fun. If you’re a guy, you may be thinking you have low testosterone. Wait a minute. Don’t we all experience some or all of these symptoms at one time or another? After

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The latest Barbie slays in a chic blue polka-dot crop top, ruffled miniskirt, chunky heels and an insulin pump. She is the brand’s first doll with type 1 diabetes. Dollmaker Mattel worked with Breakthrough T1D, formerly known the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to design the doll, which aims to

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Making exercise fun is the holy grail for many people who can’t quite find the motivation to work out. But rather than forcing yourself to enjoy running or that gym class you once attended, the solution may lie in something more straightforward — simply matching a workout to your personality type, according to a study

By Brenda Goodman, Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it has ended its emergency response to H5N1 bird flu, citing a drop in cases. “As reports of animal infections with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus (“H5N1 bird flu”) have declined and no human cases have been reported since

By Starre Vartan, CNN (CNN) — People who lived through the Irish Potato Famine, enslavement in Trinidad and Icelandic measles epidemics all have something in common: Women outlive men in dire circumstances. That’s because the female body is built for resilience and longevity, as I found while researching for my new book, “The Stronger Sex.”

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Medical associations representing hundreds of thousands of doctors, medical professionals and scientists in the United States are suing the leaders of US health agencies for limiting who can get Covid-19 vaccines and for undermining overall vaccine confidence. The lawsuit, filed Monday in US District Court in Massachusetts, was brought

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — American children’s health has declined profoundly over the past few decades, a new study shows, and the issues are so serious that children in the US are dying at a much higher rate than those in similar high-income countries. What’s particularly frustrating is that the bulk of the health

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Maybe you’d like to spend time on hobbies or hang out with friends, but nothing feels as exciting and engaging as it used to –– so you just squander another hour on social media. Your problem may have to do with your dopamine levels. In many parts of the

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Falling childhood vaccine coverage and a large, smoldering outbreak that was kindled in an undervaccinated pocket of West Texas have driven the United States to a troubling new milestone: There have been more measles cases in the US this year than any other since the disease was declared eliminated

By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — If you’ve been dealing with persistent tension, poor posture or nagging pain, it’s worth checking in on your breathing. How you breathe not only reflects your movement quality — it also holds the power to change it for the better. Most people understand breathing’s role as a life-sustaining function

By Jacqueline Howard and Asuka Koda, CNN (CNN) — An international team of researchers may have just cracked the code for what makes someone “cool.” And no matter where you live, the personality traits that make someone “cool” appear to be consistent across countries, according to the study, published this week in the Journal of

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — We all know that regular exercise has many benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Exercise also improves outcomes in patients with cancer, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Patients with cancer who participated in

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — You don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability. Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright, called The Sorry Girls online, are proving you can go green without losing style cred with the content they create. MacDermaid envisioned her ideal wedding outfit and then sourced it preloved on Facebook Marketplace. Wright designed

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — After trying to conceive for 18 years, one couple is now pregnant with their first child thanks to the power of artificial intelligence. The couple had undergone several rounds of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, visiting fertility centers around the world in the hopes of having a baby. The

By Sarah Owermohle, Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine official overrode agency experts in May to recommend against the broad use of two Covid-19 vaccines, newly released documents show. Dr. Vinay Prasad, director of the agency’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in two memos that he

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — There is strong evidence that there is “no safe amount” of processed meat to eat, nutrition experts say in response to a new study on the connection between diet and the risk of major diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The researchers also found elevated risks

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Scientists have detected microplastics — the tiny and pervasive fragments now found in our seas, drinking water, food and, increasingly, living tissue — in human semen and follicular fluid, according to new research. A small group of 25 women and 18 men participated in the research, published Tuesday in

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — For decades, researchers have been collecting samples from hundreds of thousands of women and tracking their health. The work has deepened our basic understanding of human health, but now the entire project is in danger. When nurses Patricia Chubb, 70, and her mother, Charlotte Mae Rohrbaugh, 98, joined the

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Tuesday morning, the nation’s largest insurance company, UnitedHealthcare and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center announced they had reached a multi-year agreement that will allow some 19,000 UnitedHealthcare and Oxford health plan customers to remain in-network for their cancer care. The insurer and cancer center had been locked in a

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Last week, Tara Eacobacci had an appointment with her doctor that was devoted exclusively to the topic of health insurance. A major change to her prescription benefits meant the medication she was using to manage her weight – a treatment that had taken years of trial and error to

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — After working from home all day, your takeout order arrives and you start binge-watching your favorite show alone. Sounds ideal, right? Except doing this routinely could shorten your life. And that’s not because of the nutritional content of your dinner. It’s because having strong, positive relationships is one of

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — After recent moves by the US Department of Health and Human Services to restrict the approval and use of some vaccines — and signs that more changes might be coming — some states and private partnerships are scrambling to ensure that vaccines will still be available to those who

Personal essay by Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Haarlem, the Netherlands (CNN) — The summer before sixth grade, my friend Lou and I discovered an empty lot with an abandoned dock on the lake in her neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina. It was always magical there. We only went in the late afternoon to avoid the

By Brenda Goodman, Asuka Koda, Katherine Dillinger, Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN (CNN) — A startling new vision of vaccination in America is becoming clearer — one likely to involve fresh scrutiny of established science and practices, and limits on vaccines that have been studied for decades. The first meeting of new vaccine advisers to the US

By Karla Walsh, CNN (CNN) — Whether it’s stems and skins or past-their-prime protein and produce, you’re probably throwing a lot of perfectly good food in the trash. Such waste doesn’t come cheap. The average American throws away $728 worth of food per year, which adds up to nearly $3,000 for a family of four,

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — In the crusade to reduce chronic disease and neurobehavioral issues in the United States, synthetic food dyes are a hot target. California began paving the way for legislation against petroleum-based synthetic dyes a few years ago, based on health concerns including a potentially increased risk of cancer and neurobehavioral

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — At the start of an unprecedented meeting of vaccine committee of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency scientists who normally generate and interpret data to inform this group’s votes were in an unusual position: answering questions and countering statements that cast doubt on the safety

By Brenda Goodman, Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — A new slate of vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Thursday to recommend that Americans receive influenza vaccines that are free of thimerosal even though there is no evidence of harm from the preservative. The closely watched vote was among the

By Gina Park, CNN (CNN) — Now that it’s summer, I need to go to the gym and eat healthy — and I should probably add meditation to the list, too. Not only do I need to start these habits; I need discipline to stick to them. Every time I check my phone, I see

By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — A century ago, one of the biggest safety concerns about vaccines involved bacterial contamination. In 1916, four young children died in South Carolina after receiving typhoid vaccine that had been contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Twelve years later, 12 children in Queensland, Australia, died from tainted immunizations against diphtheria.

By Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent move to replace a federal panel of vaccine advisers should help restore Americans’ trust in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nominee to lead that agency told senators on Wednesday. Dr. Susan Monarez, President Donald

By Kameryn Griesser, CNN (CNN) — Sophia Kokolakis doesn’t always know what she’s having for dinner, even after she’s been to the store. A large paper bag brimming with food rides shotgun on the way home, but she has no clue what’s inside. The Toronto resident ordered the bag on Too Good To Go, an

By Meg Tirrell, Brenda Goodman, Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — At the first meeting of a controversial new group of vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the committee announced new plans to study established vaccine guidelines. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will create new work groups to study the

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Heart disease is the leading cause of death around the world. However, overall heart disease death rates over the past five decades dropped by 66% in American adults age 25 and older, according to a new study. Even better, deaths from heart attacks dropped by nearly 90%. “Over the

By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — A presentation slated to be shared at this week’s meeting of vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claimed that a study in animals suggested that use of the vaccine preservative thimerosal can have “long-term consequences in the brain.” But the study doesn’t appear to

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Routine vaccines have prevented the deaths of about 154 million children around the world over the past 50 years, a new study shows, but efforts have been slowing recently, allowing for the growth of some vaccine-preventable diseases. This backslide could lead to many more unnecessary illnesses and deaths without

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — When it comes to measuring weight, BMI is the acronym everyone loves to hate. Health professionals have long used body mass index as a quick screening tool to fast-track certain patients into a “code red” management plan — people whose weight puts them in danger of future health problems.

By Sarah Owermohle, Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — Ahead of the first meeting of newly appointed vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lawmakers are sharing fresh concerns about the panel’s membership and last-minute actions that could see Covid-19 and influenza vaccines thrown into question. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat,

By Lisa Drayer, CNN (CNN) — When you’re thirsty and in need of a drink, which beverages are best at keeping you hydrated? Sure, you can always reach for a glass of water — but plain H20 isn’t the most hydrating beverage around, according to a study from Scotland’s St. Andrews University that compared the

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Ripping the plastic wrap from the meat or prepackaged fruit and veggies you purchased at the grocery store may contaminate your food with micro- and nanoplastics, according to new research. Plastic contamination may also occur when you’re unwrapping deli meat and cheese, steeping a tea bag in hot water,

By Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy on Monday night called for federal health officials to postpone this week’s meetings of outside vaccine advisers, citing a small, newly appointed panel and concerns about biases against vaccines. Cassidy’s push to delay the meeting comes after multiple efforts from the Louisiana doctor to ensure

By Brenda Goodman, Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — A former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense will present this week on thimerosal in flu vaccines at a meeting of the newly appointed vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a CDC official with knowledge of the decision

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Hiding deep inside the body, a dangerous type of fat wraps itself around vital organs such as the kidneys, liver and

By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — Angelina Brown passed out while she was exercising one day, a scary experience that led her to a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. It’s a condition in which the heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly, and it’s the most common heart rhythm abnormality in adults, affecting about 10 million Americans. Because

By Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — Months after the killing of a top health insurance executive unleashed Americans’ pent-up anger over denials of medical care, the industry announced Monday that it will take action to “streamline, simplify and reduce” the preapproval process. Dozens of health insurers covering 257 million people committed to six steps to

By Kameryn Griesser, CNN (CNN) — Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Puckering, puffing, scrunching and stretching your face may look silly, but in some spaces, it’s the serious business of face yoga.

By Amarachi Orie, CNN (CNN) — Health officials in the UK are investigating reports of dozens of people suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition following Botox procedures in northeastern England, as well as allegations of the illegal sale of Botox-like products. The local trust of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in the county of

By Jessica DuLong, CNN (CNN) — Editor’s note: Shift Your Mindset is an occasional series from CNN’s Life, But Better team. We talk to experts about how to do things differently to live a better life. Anti-aging aspirations have turned longevity products and services into a wellness-industry gold mine. But who wants to add on

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Federal guidance that the Trump administration says is intended to offer clarity is instead leaving health care providers even more confused about whether they can provide an abortion in an emergency, particularly in states with strict abortion laws. This month, the Trump administration rescinded 2022 federal guidance specifying that

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The National Institutes of Health said Thursday that it will fund longer-term health studies of the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, after a 2023 train derailment that sent more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air. The community has long asked the government

By Katia Hetter, CNN Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. A new coronavirus variant is spreading in many parts of the world. The variant, NB.1.8.1, has been identified as the cause of Covid-19

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The right of transgender minors to access gender-affirming care has sparked debate across the United States. With a US Supreme Court ruling upholding Tennessee’s ban on the practice, experts say, activists will probably be emboldened to enact even more restrictions. Currently, about 40% of trans youth live in a

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — A drug currently used to treat certain HIV infections has also, on Wednesday, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to be used to prevent HIV. Gilead Sciences, maker of the drug, announced that a twice-a-year injection of lenacapavir has been approved in the United States for

By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — A newly posted agenda for next week’s meeting of the just-appointed group of outside vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes a discussion and vote on thimerosal in flu vaccines, a preservative tied to debunked claims from decades ago of links to autism. The

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth will no longer be in operation starting July 17, according to a statement from the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The administration said in its statement that everyone

By Asuka Koda, CNN (CNN) — Ready-to-eat chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals sold at Walmart and Kroger have been recalled after a listeria outbreak that has led to 17 illnesses, including three deaths and one fetal loss. US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is investigating the outbreak, which has sickened people in 13

Associated Press (CNN) — Older U.S. adults are increasingly dying from unintentional falls, according to a new federal report published Wednesday, with white people accounting for the vast majority of the deaths. From 2003 to 2023, death rates from falls rose more than 70% for adults ages 65 to 74, the report from the U.S.

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Greener newsletter. Our limited newsletter series guides you on how to minimize your personal role in the climate crisis — and reduce your eco-anxiety. Living near heavily microplastic-polluted waters along the United States coastline may significantly raise the risk of developing type 2

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Using marijuana doubles the risk of dying from heart disease, according to a new analysis of pooled medical data involving 200 million people mostly between the ages of 19 and 59. “What was particularly striking was that the concerned patients hospitalized for these disorders were young (and thus, not

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Seventeen vaccine experts who were dismissed from a federal advisory panel last week say they are worried that recent moves by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will destabilize vaccine policy in the US and jeopardize access to lifesaving immunizations. The experts sat on the