CNN – Health

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Drinking alcohol if you have a large belly or diabetes more than doubles the risk of serious liver damage, while having high blood pressure and drinking nearly doubles the risk, a new study found. Those are important health risks to consider, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The newer variant of avian influenza that recently infected dairy cattle in Nevada has a genetic change that’s thought to help the virus copy itself in mammals — including humans — more easily, according to a new technical brief from the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health

By Sofía Sanchez, CNN (CNN) — When Elaine Spaulding met Arthur Aron in class at the University of California, Berkeley, in the late 1960s, she was conflicted. Both were studying social psychology. Elaine was in her final year of undergraduate coursework, and Arthur was just beginning his doctoral program. With a torn T-shirt and long

By Katherine Dillinger, CNN (CNN) — The US National Institutes of Health is lowering the maximum “indirect cost rate” that research institutions can charge the government, the agency said late Friday – a move that scientists said could be devastating for the nation’s position as a research leader. The average NIH grant to an institution

By Deidre McPhillips and Annette Choi, CNN (CNN) — Fentanyl is powerful synthetic opioid that can be up to 100 times more potent than morphine. It can be prescribed in formal medical settings to relieve severe pain and treat breakthrough pain when longer-acting pain medications aren’t enough. Injections may be used during or after surgery,

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — A measles outbreak is growing in a rural area of West Texas where vaccination rates are well below the recommended level. In late January, two children in Gaines County were hospitalized for measles. On Wednesday, the state health department shared in a health alert that the number of confirmed

By Carma Hassan, CNN (CNN) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday that the state is temporarily shutting down all live bird markets in New York City and Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties through February 14 after inspectors discovered seven cases of bird flu in poultry. The cases were found over the past week

By Nadia Kounang, CNN (CNN) — For 66-year-old Tim Andrews, it was a matter of life or death. Andrews had spent the better part of two years on dialysis because of end-stage kidney disease. He was on the transplant wait list for a new kidney, but his blood type made it particularly difficult to find

CNN By Nadia Kounang, CNN (CNN) — For 66-year-old Tim Andrews, it was a matter of life or death. Andrews had spent the better part of two years on dialysis because of end-stage kidney disease. He was on the transplant wait list for a new kidney, but his blood type made it particularly difficult to

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — One in six deaths from cardiovascular disease in the United States is due to stroke, and over 100 million people worldwide have had a stroke, which is a leading cause of serious long-term disability. During American Heart Month (February), the American Heart Association encourages people to focus on their

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert about an outbreak in Uganda of deadly Sudan virus disease, a viral hemorrhagic fever that is in the same family as Ebola. On Wednesday, the CDC issued a Level 2 travel alert, which encourages travelers to practice

By Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN (CNN) — You have probably already heard that February is the month to focus on heart health, which means eating right, exercising and paying attention to the signs of heart attack, stroke and more. As a urologist, I see a different side of heart health every day: Many of my

By Jacqueline Howard and Steve Contorno, CNN (CNN) — A public health advocacy group is raising concerns about a “DEI Watchlist” recently launched by a conservative organization intent on identifying federal workers who might not carry out President Donald Trump’s agenda. The list says it’s “exposing the unelected career staff driving radical Diversity, Equity, and

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Six dairy herds in Nevada have tested positive for a newer variant of the H5N1 bird flu virus that’s been associated with severe infections in humans, according to the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Scientists say these infections with a different type of virus mark an inflection point in the

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — It may have been monsters under the bed, robbers breaking into the house or ghosts lurking in the darkness sending shivers down your spine when you were young. Many people might vividly remember their most troubling childhood fears, but they tend to outgrow the worries that once caused sleepless

By Neha Mukherjee, CNN (CNN) — The United States is seeing a second peak in flu cases this season. After doctor’s office visits for flu dipped early this year, they jumped past the previous season peak at the end of last month, with a 30% test positivity rate — and there are still months to

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Your parents may be right: Get some sleep and you’ll feel better in the morning, according to new research. “Our study suggests that people’s mental health and wellbeing could fluctuate over time of day,” said lead study author Dr. Feifei Bu, principal research fellow in statistics and epidemiology at

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Several social justice groups said Tuesday that they are suing the Trump administration over its new restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for children. On January 28, Trump signed an executive order called “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which instructed federal agencies to take immediate steps to deny

CNN, CLEVELAND CLINIC, GETTY IMAGES By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Cognitively normal human brain samples collected at autopsy in early 2024 contained more tiny shards of plastic than samples collected eight years prior, according to a new study. Overall, cadaver brain samples contained seven to 30 times more tiny shards of plastic than their

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Cognitively normal human brain samples collected at autopsy in early 2024 contained more tiny shards of plastic than samples collected eight years prior, according to a new study. Overall, cadaver brain samples contained seven to 30 times more tiny shards of plastic than their kidneys and liver, said co-lead

By Elissa Strauss, CNN (CNN) — Dana Reeve was devoted to caring for her husband, Christopher Reeve, as noted in the new documentary “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.” In her diary, Dana expressed a part of her experience that caregivers often hesitate to say out loud, as read by her son, Will, in the documentary.

By Soph Warnes and Rosa de Acosta, CNN (CNN) — While Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services, has backpedaled on his anti-vaccine rhetoric during his Senate confirmation hearings, he has a long history of vaccine skepticism. As he is poised for a full

By Channon Hodge, CNN (CNN) — I understand the benefits of making New Year’s resolutions. I’ve seen the brain science on how to make them work. The idea of slicing and dicing goals into micro-atomic resolutions that will make life so much better all sounds lovely. I just can’t do it. I’m a news producer

By Jen Christensen, Nick Valencia, Jacqueline Howard, Deidre McPhillips and Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Several US government health websites and resources have been taken down or modified as agencies comply with executive orders from President Donald Trump. Several US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites and datasets related to HIV, LGBTQ people, youth

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN (CNN) — I confess that like a lot of people, I am guilty of not getting in my steps. After hours at my desk, the thought of changing, driving to the gym and working out is so exhausting that I end up back on my couch binge-watching the latest shows. Studies

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration signed off Thursday on the first new type of pain reliever to be approved in more than two decades. The drug, suzetrigine, is a 50-milligram prescription pill that’s taken every 12 hours after a larger starter dose. It will be sold under the

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — This Super Bowl Sunday, keep an eye out for bad calls, fouls and dangerous sodium levels. Foods advertised in National Football League commercials contain an average of nearly 40% of the daily recommended sodium intake, according to a new study. “We proved what probably a lot of people have

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s halting, gruff speaking voice, which at times can make him hard to understand, was front and center during Thursday’s contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing. The Health and Human Services secretary’s halting delivery was frequently interrupted by senators anxious to get their points across during their

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent (CNN) — I have started, scratched out and even abandoned the writing of this essay. I couldn’t do it. It wasn’t there. Didn’t feel it. Something kept nagging at me, and it took some time to finally figure out what it was. It’s the idea that this

By Andrea Kane, CNN (CNN) — Our skin is considered our largest organ, with a surface area of approximately 15 to 20 square feet (1.4 to 1.9 square meters) — and some put the estimate at least 10 times greater, if the nooks and crannies created by hair follicles and sweat ducts are taken into

Personal essay by Mary Ruskell, CNN (CNN) — My friend Sammy turned around at his desk and grinned at me. He held out his phone and waved it in front of my face, the universal sign for “Look at this!” It was a video of a capybara in a swimming pool, seemingly treading water like

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Ozempic, the blockbuster GLP-1 drug that was originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes, has now also been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to reduce certain risks associated with chronic kidney disease, drugmaker Novo Nordisk said Tuesday. A Phase 3 clinical trial found that injections of

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — A wave of tuberculosis cases hitting the Kansas City, Kansas, metro area has caused dozens of illnesses and at least two deaths, according to the state health department. Cases related to the outbreak were first reported in January 2024, and there were two reported TB deaths last year associated

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — More frequent use of marijuana damages the brain’s working memory, which could lead to issues with safety, communications and work success, a new study found. “Working memory is the ability to retain information for a short period of time and use it,” said lead study author Joshua Gowin, an

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Trust in public health in the United States has been steadily declining since the Covid-19 pandemic, and President Donald Trump and his administration face an American public that’s deeply divided on the issue, polls show. This week, Robert F. Kennedy – Trump’s highly controversial pick to lead public health

By Brenda Goodman and Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — Staff at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been ordered to stop communicating with the World Health Organization, according to a new memo, dealing a significant blow to global health efforts. The directive was made in accordance with President Donald Trump’s January 20

By Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN (CNN) — If you have resolved to start a regular exercise regimen this year — congrats! But does that mean you need to buy pricey fitness apparel? While exercise-specific clothing can be a worthwhile investment, it’s not necessarily a requirement, experts say. “If you’re exercising purely for fun or to

By Joshua Korber Hoffman, CNN (CNN) — Wondering why you’re already struggling with that New Year’s resolution? A new study suggests that forming healthy new habits takes a lot longer than we thought. For years, popular wisdom has held that it takes just 21 days to add a new habit to your daily routine. But

By Brenda Goodman and Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — After purchasing for research at the National Institutes of Health was put on hold last week, employees have now been told they can continue working with some current vendors, according to a memo obtained by CNN. Scientists at the NIH had been told the communications pause

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Sam Dylan Finch was 27 years old when he reached a breaking point. Having dealt with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and procrastination for much of his life, Finch was proud he’d earned enough trust to be offered a director’s position at a company whose mission he deeply cared about,

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Phones have replaced many things: computers, calculators, cameras and maps. But returning to an old-fashioned alarm clock instead of your phone might help you get up and go in the morning. “Keeping the phone in another room will likely decrease the opportunity for distraction from sleep, and also decrease

By Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN (CNN) — Carefully cleaning exercise equipment was the norm when the Covid-19 pandemic was raging. But today you might be less attentive to pathogens, even in crowded spaces such as fitness centers. That neglect could be a problem, experts say, because gyms are rife with potentially harmful germs. Nearly 75%

By Meg Tirrell and Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Dr. Matthew Memoli, a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases researcher focused on flu and other respiratory viruses, has been named acting director of the nearly $50 billion agency. A confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, hasn’t

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration has withdrawn the proposed rule that would ban menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars according to the regulatory docket. A menthol ban is something that the US Food and Drug Administration under the Biden administration had said was a “top priority.” It sent the final version

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — Suzy Hopkins’ life was suddenly turned upside down. After 30 years of marriage, her husband unexpectedly left her to get back together with a former girlfriend, who also happened to be a marriage counselor. Hopkins grappled with a roller coaster of emotions — disbelief, sadness, anger and confusion. At

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Most adults in the United States drink alcohol, but there is steadily growing public concern about the health effects of moderate drinking. The latest science supports those concerns, but two recent government reports suggest potential benefits exist alongside potential risks – and some experts say that formal dietary recommendations,

By Faye Chiu, CNN (CNN) — For years, medical experts have defined obesity primarily based on body mass index, which measures stored fat by calculating height and weight, to determine a person’s health risks. Major public health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, define adult obesity

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Reaching for a diet soda or artificially sweetened snack to lose weight or to enjoy a few more treats? A growing number of scientists believe that’s not a good idea. After studies found no long-term benefit, the World Health Organization announced in May 2023 that people should not rely

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is associated with a shorter life expectancy and a greater risk of mental health issues, according to a new study of more than 30,000 people with the disorder in the United Kingdom. Men diagnosed with ADHD had a reduction in life expectancy

By Andrea Kane, CNN Editor’s note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life’s mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here. (CNN) — Thanks to smartphones, all the entertainment and distraction they offer can be in your back pocket or purse, accessible 24/7. That’s

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — Lawyers and advocacy organizations are encouraging members of the LGBTQ+ community to act quickly to protect the rights that are still in place after President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring the United States government will officially recognize only two sexes — male and female — that are

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — After Roe v. Wade was overturned, LaDonna Prince decided to move her abortion clinic from Indiana, where abortion became banned, to a town just over the border in Illinois, where abortion is legal. Illinois has become a key access point for people who have to travel to get an

By Brenda Goodman and Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — Amid a deluge of executive actions, the Trump administration has directed federal health agencies to pause external communications, such as regular scientific reports, updates to websites and health advisories, according to sources within the agencies. The initial orders were delivered Tuesday to staff at agencies inside

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Researchers are calling for global action after finding that 1 in 12 kids are being exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse online, according to a new study. “The study highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and action from the public and policymakers. Rapid advancements in digital technology and

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Fizzy, sparkling, carbonated or seltzer — no matter what you call it, water that tickles your nose is fun and refreshing, and for some, a welcome change from its flat cousin. On social media, sparkling water has gained a following for its impact on body mass. Some believe fizzy

Essay by David G. Allan, CNN May I recommend … hangin’ out in coffee shops (CNN) — Coffee shops may not save the world, but with every frothy cappuccino sip and crumbly blueberry muffin, they are doing more for your mental health and society at large than you probably realize. On the one hand, they

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Popular GLP-1 medications approved for weight loss, diabetes, and heart disease may have untapped potential to reduce the risks of substance abuse disorders, psychosis, infections, some kinds of cancer and dementia, a sweeping new study suggests. The research also points to important and perhaps underappreciated risks of these drugs.

By Kristen Rogers and Rob Picheta, CNN (CNN) — As if we needed any more reason to ruminate over our own stresses or the world’s troubles, January 20 (today) is Blue Monday — the third Monday of January, which is rumored to be the most depressing day of the year. But is it? Research hasn’t

CNN By Sara Sidner, CNN (CNN) — Do you get paralyzed by anxiety or overwhelmed by negative thoughts or depression? Here’s how to get out of your head and rocket yourself out of bed at the same time. I know it sounds ridiculously easy, but just stay with me. It’s a simple trick I learned

By Sara Sidner, CNN (CNN) — Do you get paralyzed by anxiety or overwhelmed by negative thoughts or depression? Here’s how to get out of your head and rocket yourself out of bed at the same time. I know it sounds ridiculously easy, but just stay with me. It’s a simple trick I learned from

By Esme Mazzeo, CNN (CNN) — As the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires began last week, Jo-Marie Lawrence was watching a movie in Burbank with her friend when the mall lost power. That meant Lawrence, 32, a quadriplegic actor and wheelchair user, and her friend, who also uses a wheelchair, could not use the elevators.

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — When Jamila Acfalle decided to get her first cat, she had one requirement: It had to be brave. Acfalle is a dog trainer in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. She works with dogs that have behavior problems that put them at risk of rehoming or euthanasia. She needed a

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — First came the fires. Then, there was ash and contaminated water. Now, some survivors of the Southern California wildfires are dealing with outbreaks of norovirus and other stomach ailments at a shelter set up to help evacuees. The Pasadena Public Health Department confirmed Friday that three people tested positive

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — The US Department of Health and Human Services will award $590 million to Moderna to continue developing a vaccine to protect against bird flu, the pharmaceutical company announced Friday. In 2023, Moderna initiated a study on a “pandemic influenza vaccine” to protect against H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses.

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — It’s a new year and time for many people to make their health-related resolutions. According to my go-to doctor expert, one of your resolutions should be to find out if you have any chronic medical conditions and address them before symptoms begin. This approach, of course, is the case

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Now that the US Food and Drug Administration has banned red dye No. 3, many people are criticizing or questioning the safety and the FDA’s allowance of red dye No. 40 and five other color additives commonly used in the United States. Made from petroleum and chemically known as

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging hospitals to accelerate advanced testing of people they suspect may have bird flu. Its alert to doctors and hospitals follows a few rare but mysterious bird flu cases in the US – including, most recently, a child in San

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Just because you say you don’t have a favorite child, doesn’t mean everyone around you can’t tell whom you like best. Take the episode of “The Crown” in which Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, asks Queen Elizabeth II if she knows which child is her favorite. She insists she

By David Allan, CNN (CNN) — When my daughters were 6 and 10, I tried to abstain from using my personal electronic devices (laptop, smartphone) while in their presence. I challenged myself to do it for just a month — back when I’d successfully experimented with swapping monthly resolutions for the more traditional (and often

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — Charmella Roark remembers the shock that stopped her in her tracks when she learned about her younger sister’s cancer diagnosis. In 2018, Kiki Roark wrote in their family’s group text that she had been diagnosed with stage I breast cancer – the same disease that had taken their aunt’s

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Reducing your red meat consumption could have many positive impacts — on your heart, the environment, and maybe even on your long-term cognitive health, according to a new study. Those who ate a quarter of a serving or more of processed red meats — such as bacon, bologna and

By Jen Christensen and Carma Hassan, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration is proposing limits on the level of nicotine in cigarettes and some other types of tobacco products in order to make them less addictive, the agency announced Wednesday. “If finalized, the United States would be the first country globally to

CNN By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — A restless night may leave you feeling tired at work, but what if your job is the very thing disrupting your sleep? People with highly sedentary jobs — accounting for 80% of the current US workforce — face a significantly higher risk of insomnia, according to a new

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — A restless night may leave you feeling tired at work, but what if your job is the very thing disrupting your sleep? People with highly sedentary jobs — accounting for 80% of the current US workforce — face a significantly higher risk of insomnia, according to a new study

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Fewer people are eating in a way they consider healthy –– and they don’t even like it, according to new data. “In some instances, we’re still seeing strong majorities of people saying that they enjoy their food,” said Andrew Dugan, consulting principal researcher at Gallup. “But the decline has

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Chemicals found in sewage sludge that some farmers use to fertilize fields and pastures can pose a threat to human and animal health, the US Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday. Exposure to food from farms that use the sewage sludge can raise a person’s risk of developing cancer or

By Andrea Kane, CNN Editor’s note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life’s mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here. (CNN) — The start of the year can be exhausting: After running yourself ragged over the holidays — hosting the perfect party, finding

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — New research suggests that the risk for developing dementia is significantly higher than previously estimated, and the burden on the United States population will grow substantially over the next few decades. Overall, more than 2 in 5 people over the age of 55 in the US – about 42%

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — As some people return to the structures spared from Los Angeles wildfires, experts warn that they should be careful of the air inside and especially cautious when cleaning up. Smoke, ash and all the toxic chemicals that come with both can seep into even well-sealed homes and pose risks

By Amanda Schupak, CNN (CNN) — As if drugstore aisles weren’t already overflowing with dozens of conventional and natural underarm deodorants, an array of sticks, creams and sprays from heavily marketed big brands now promises “whole-body” odor control. The products often come labeled with explicit or less than subtle nods to private areas. “It is

CNN By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — If you’re like most people, when you hear the word core, you probably think of six-pack abs. But your core is so much more than that — it’s the powerhouse that stabilizes, supports and moves you through life. Despite its central role in your body’s physical function, the

By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — If you’re like most people, when you hear the word core, you probably think of six-pack abs. But your core is so much more than that — it’s the powerhouse that stabilizes, supports and moves you through life. Despite its central role in your body’s physical function, the core

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — A child in San Francisco who had red eyes and a fever had a probable case of H5N1 bird flu, according to the city’s Department of Public Health. The case was caught by routine surveillance. When the child developed symptoms, they were checked for RSV, Covid-19 and the flu,

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Dr. Jyoti Mishra personally knows how much stress can come with a wildfire. The associate director of the UC Climate Change and Mental Health Council and associate professor of psychiatry works at the University of California, San Diego. Her city isn’t currently experiencing wildfires, but her LA-based family has

CNN By Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — Several iconic and beloved landmarks in Los Angeles have fallen victim to wildfires this week. Luckily, the Getty Villa museum in the Pacific Palisades narrowly escaped destruction, with fire prevention systems saving its priceless collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities. Here’s what else you need to know

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Over-the-counter protein powders may contain disturbing levels of lead and cadmium, with the highest amounts found in plant-based, organic and chocolate-flavored products, according to a new investigation. There is no level of lead that is safe for humans, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Cadmium is a carcinogen

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — With reports of the first human death from bird flu in the US, some Americans are feeling an uncomfortable flashback to the early days of Covid-19, when infectious disease experts were talking about a new virus that was sending people to the hospital with respiratory infections. Although both viruses

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Drinking coffee has repeatedly been linked with better heart health and prolonged life. But the benefits of coffee consumption could depend on when you drink it, new research has found. Limiting coffee intake to the morning, it turns out, may be best — and that seems to be regardless

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — As China experiences a rise in respiratory infections this winter, one little-known virus has gotten a lot of attention – and some people may worry whether the rise in cases could be felt more broadly around the world. Human metapneumovirus, also known as HMPV, can cause upper and lower

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — If you asked me what makes my heart sing, I’d immediately say words of affirmation. Few things bring me greater joy than hearing or reading heartfelt expressions of endearment from others. Sharing kind words is also one of the ways I show love to those around me, but I

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — As US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy nears the end of his second term as the nation’s doctor, a final diagnosis of his patient suggests that a great deficiency of connectivity has led to a poor prognosis for America’s overall health and well-being. To treat the “widespread pain and

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — Years of research have showed that pulse oximeters yield less accurate readings for people with darker skin tones, and now the US Food and Drug Administration is proposing guidance to help make these devices more reliable and less biased. Pulse oximeters are small finger-clamp devices that estimate how much

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The first person to have a severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States has died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. This is the first human death from bird flu in the US. The person, who was over 65 and reportedly had underlying medical conditions,

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — For the first time in history, the US Food and Drug Administration has established guidance for levels of lead in processed baby foods that are sold on supermarket shelves and online. The agency’s action, announced Monday, only provides guidance to industry and is not enforceable. Under the new guidelines,

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Sugary drinks may leave a sour taste given their possible impact on mortality, according to a new study. “This is a public health crisis, requiring urgent action,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University. The