CNN – Health

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Some arguments in favor of laws that restrict gender-affirming care claim that patients may some day regret any irreversible or semi-irreversible part of their transition, but a small new study found that satisfaction with one such surgery is significant, even over the long term. The study, published Wednesday in

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — There’s a new coronavirus variant topping the leaderboard in the United States: EG.5. Nationally, EG.5 is causing about 17% of new Covid-19 cases in the country, compared with 16% for the next most common lineage, XBB.1.16, according to the latest estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Antibiotic resistance is on the rise around the world, and there may be a surprising reason why: air pollution. In a study published Monday in the journal Lancet Planetary Health, scientists saw a connection between these two seemingly different phenomena. The researchers created a model to look at levels

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Back when Kody Kinsley was in high school, he was so dedicated to boosting the US blood supply that he helped run blood drives. But Monday will be the first time as an adult that Kinsley — now the secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN (CNN) — Prior to filming our first documentary on cannabis a decade ago, I was highly skeptical about its use as a medicine. I had even written a story for Time magazine a few years earlier to make the case that the evidence simply wasn’t there. But, as so often happens when

By Amanda Sealy, CNN (CNN) — You know it the moment it happens. Sometimes it comes with an audible pop. Other times it’s just enough pain to signal that something isn’t quite right. When you tear your anterior cruciate ligament or ACL, it’s less about the pain in the moment, but more about the pain

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the medication zuranolone for the treatment of postpartum depression – making it the first FDA-approved oral pill in the United States specifically for postpartum depression, a serious mental illness that can develop in about 1 in 7 new mothers after childbirth.

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed on Thursday its existing policy supporting gender-affirming care for transgender youth, but the group also plans to conduct an additional review of research. The review is intended to “develop an expanded set of documents to support pediatricians across the country,” with their management

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — If you have that person in your life who drags you into their unending drama, games or conflicts, there may be an answer. Become a “gray rock.” Gray rocking is a strategy to deal with narcissists — those who depend on feeling important or special — and it essentially

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — It’s been more than two years since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared racism a public health threat, and a new study gives a stark look at just how pervasive racial and ethnic disparities are in the United States. Researchers tracked US mortality data across nearly

By Giri Viswanathan and Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Fleaborne typhus is on the rise in Los Angeles County, with reported cases nearly tripling over the past decade, from 31 in 2010 to 171 in 2022. The disease can be severe but is rarely fatal, and three deaths last year — the first in nearly

By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — A historically wet winter and, now, hotter summer are leading to “pretty big” warning signs for West Nile virus in the Western US, public health and mosquito control experts say, suggesting that residents should take care to avoid bites. “The number of mosquitoes that have hatched off after the

By Justin Gamble, CNN (CNN) — Black parents and their children are more likely to experience unfair treatment when seeking medical care than others, a new study from the Urban Institute found. The study, released earlier this week, is based on data from the nonprofit’s Health Reform Monitoring Survey, the latest round of which was

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Actor Mandy Moore’s son recently woke up to a startling rash covering his body, according to her Instagram posts. It took trips to urgent care, the pediatrician, a dermatologist and a pediatric dermatologist to figure out what was causing him to itch all over his arms, legs and feet.

By Giri Viswanathan, CNN (CNN) — When a 54-year-old landscaper came into an Orlando dermatology clinic with a splotchy, painful rash, Dr. Rajiv Nathoo took five or six biopsies. The rash was spreading from the man’s limbs to his face, but previous doctors had been stumped by what was causing it. The biopsy results confirmed

By Amanda Musa, CNN (CNN) — With the fall respiratory virus season just around the corner, major US pharmacy chains have begun rolling out flu and RSV vaccine appointments. Walgreens is now offering both kinds of shots, the company said Tuesday. Anyone 3 or older can get a flu shot, and adults 60 and older

By Nadia Kounang, CNN (CNN) — For the first time, the national Organ Procurement and Transplant Network may be opened up to organizations other than the nonprofit United Network for Organ Sharing. The system has only ever been managed by UNOS, which has drawn criticism for its handling of organs, long waitlists for transplants and

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — A new office has been formed within the US Department of Health and Human Services to lead the nation’s response to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. On Monday, HHS announced the formation of the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to lead the federal government’s response to long

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Are you waking up in a puddle of sweat — if you can sleep at all? That’s the grim reality for millions of people around the globe suffering through severe, unbearable heat waves. July is the hottest month on record for the planet and very likely the hottest period

By Jessica DuLong, CNN (CNN) — Sign up for CNN’s Stress, But Less newsletter. Our six-part mindfulness guide will inform and inspire you to reduce stress while learning how to harness it. In an age when technology allows for easy communication between people far and wide, why do so many of us feel so disconnected? Teacher,

By Brenda Goodman and Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — It’s time to stock up on tissues, bingeable TV options and Covid-19 tests. Yes, many signs are pointing to a Covid-19 summer surge – although one that’s far less intense than what emerged the past few summers. Experts say they do not expect that cases will be

By Giri Viswanathan, CNN (CNN) — The World Health Organization updated its guidelines for essential medicines Wednesday to include drugs to treat multiple sclerosis, heart conditions, cancer and more. But obesity medications were not added to the list, despite requests this year from researchers in the United States. During its meeting in April, WHO’s review

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — At least 20 states have enacted policies restricting health care for transgender youth, and the loss of gender-affirming care clinics in those states has dramatically increased the average travel time to a provider, according to a new study. About half of adolescents now live more than an hour away

By Giri Viswanathan, CNN (CNN) — Health officials in Western Washington are investigating a lethal outbreak of listeria, a pathogen often transmitted by eating contaminated food. Five patients have been hospitalized for listeriosis so far — all individuals in their 60s and 70s with already-weakened immune systems, according to a news release from the Tacoma-Pierce

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — As heat waves and wildfire smoke continue to affect parts of the United States, doctors are warning that people need to watch their heart health — particularly if they live in areas with high pollution levels. The risk of a deadly heart attack may double when people are exposed

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Want to live up to an additional 24 years? Just add eight healthy lifestyle choices to your life at age 40 and that could happen, according to a new unpublished study analyzing data on US veterans. Starting at age 50 instead? No problem, you could prolong your life by

By Kate Golembiewski, CNN (CNN) — Editor’s note: 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. Maybe you spotted one crawling up your leg after a hike through tall grass or felt one on your dog’s back

By Meg Tirrell, Kevin Conlon and Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Most of the damage from Wednesday’s tornado to a major Pfizer plant in North Carolina was to a warehouse facility, rather than areas that produce medicines, the drug giant said Friday. The plant remains closed while damage is assessed, and Pfizer Chief Executive Officer

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — As temperatures hit extreme levels across the United States, emergency room doctors have had to get creative to try to save people who are dangerously sick from the heat. “The last heatstroke patient I had, we sent our security guard across the street to the gas station because we

By Amanda Musa, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the oral contraceptive Opill for over-the-counter use, making it the first nonprescription birth control pill in the United States, but it will be months before it’s available. The pill is expected to be on shelves in early 2024. The American College

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The United States is in the midst of some of the worst cancer drug shortages in history, affecting thousands of patients across the country who face delayed or cancelled chemotherapy appointments. But these shortages aren’t just bad for current patients, experts say; their effects on cancer research may be

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration approved an antibody injection to protect newborn babies from respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV. Nirsevimab, also known by its brand name Beyfortus, is expected to be available this fall, as long as the US Centers for Disease Control and

By Isabelle Chapman (CNN) — Texas’ abortion restrictions – some of the strictest in the country – may be fueling a sudden spike in infant mortality as women are forced to carry nonviable pregnancies to term. Some 2,200 infants died in Texas in 2022 – an increase of 227 deaths, or 11.5%, over the previous

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Schuyler Bailar was assigned female at birth. But as a child, he couldn’t shake the sense that he wouldn’t grow up to be a woman. “One of my earliest gender memories was that I was going to grow up to be a dad,” Bailar said. “I was going to

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — People over 65 with dementia were four times more likely to die within the first six months after starting to take an opioid for pain, and six times more likely to die If the opioid was a strong one, such as morphine, oxycodone or fentanyl, according to a new