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New Jersey organ procurement organization under congressional investigation after ‘alarming’ whistleblower claims

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The US House Ways and Means Committee said Wednesday that it is investigating the organ procurement organization for the New Jersey region for what it called “extreme abuse of public trust” and possible illegal activity, including trying to procure organs from people who didn’t volunteer to be donors and,

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Fluoride in drinking water does not negatively affect cognitive ability — and may actually provide benefit, study finds

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — The longstanding public health practice of adding fluoride to community drinking water is facing heavy scrutiny in the United States over questions about whether the benefits outweigh the potential risks. But new research challenges recent claims about the risks of fluoride in drinking water — and instead suggests that

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Scientists criticize food manufacturers for massive profits from sales of unhealthy ultraprocessed food

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN Certain ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, are contributing to worldwide obesity, chronic health conditions and premature death, yet the food industry continues to aggressively market new and existing products in this category for massive profits, according to an unprecedented three-part series authored by 43 global experts in nutrition and supported by the

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Novo Nordisk further lowers prices for weight loss, diabetes drugs for those who pay cash

By Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — Facing increased competition in the weight loss market and intense pressure from President Donald Trump, Novo Nordisk announced Monday that it is lowering prices for its blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs for cash-paying patients. The move is the latest step in drugmakers’ efforts to provide discounts to Americans willing

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ByHeart recalls all of its baby formula in the US amid infant botulism outbreak investigation

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — The baby formula company ByHeart said Tuesday that it has recalled all of its infant formula products nationwide, including cans and single-serve sticks. The US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism that may be

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Experimental daily pill may lower cholesterol in patients who don’t see enough benefit with statins alone, study finds

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — For some people with high cholesterol, making lifestyle changes and taking routine statin medications may not be sufficient to help them reach their target cholesterol levels. For these patients, a new experimental pill could offer some hope. Phase 3 trial data found that people who took the investigational drug

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Young children really are the germiest

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — Kids are really the germiest members of the household. In case you didn’t know that from experience, new research published in the journal Pediatrics confirmed that respiratory viruses circulate frequently in school settings, and younger children are more likely to carry these viruses and become ill. But why are

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Autism diagnosis rates higher among children born to mothers who had Covid-19 during pregnancy, study suggests

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Children may be more likely to be diagnosed with autism and other neurodevelopment disorders if their mother had a Covid-19 infection while pregnant, according to a new study. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed more than 18,000 births that occurred in the Mass General Brigham health system between March

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More illnesses, deaths reported in listeria outbreak tied to recalled pasta salads, meals sold nationwide

By Asuka Koda, CNN (CNN) — Two additional deaths have been reported in a listeria outbreak that’s been linked with recalled ready-to-eat pasta salads and prepared meals sold at major grocery chains including Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, Kroger and Walmart, health officials said Thursday. Seven new illnesses have been reported in three states over

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A happier country equals a healthier one — but only above a certain threshold

By Lindsey Leake, CNN (CNN) — Happier people are more successful in their careers, have more fulfilling relationships and live longer, healthier lives, previous research has shown. Now, scientists say they have identified the “happiness threshold” needed for a country’s population as a whole to achieve certain health benefits. Specifically, a nation’s happiness level can

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Confirmation hearing delayed for Trump’s surgeon general nominee as she goes into labor with her first child

By Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — The Senate hearing for President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means, is postponed as the nominee goes into labor with her first child, according to a Senate Health, Education Labor and Pension Committee spokesperson and a person familiar with Means. As it was planned, Means would

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FDA to streamline approvals for generic biological drugs in latest move targeting health costs

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration will take steps to streamline the development of generic versions of complex biological drugs, the agency announced Wednesday. The changes are meant to accelerate approvals of cheaper alternatives to medications that treat a wide range of illnesses, leading to increased market competition and

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This silky squash pasta sauce is a hit over ravioli, in stuffed shells, as part of lasagna or as a dipping sauce

By Karla Walsh, CNN (CNN) — For Dan Pelosi, the first whisper of crisp autumnal temperatures means one thing: It’s pumpkin season. For far too long, pumpkin, and pumpkin spice in particular, has been “dinged as basic,” Pelosi said — the territory of “messy-bun sporting and scarf-wielding” coffee shop patrons, he noted in his new

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Hand, foot and mouth disease is on the rise in certain areas. A doctor explains symptoms and treatment

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — Health officials in the mid-Atlantic region have recently reported a rise in hand, foot and mouth disease, or HFMD. There were 197 emergency department visits related to the disease in September, primarily among children younger than 5, according to the District of Columbia Health Department. The Virginia Department of

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Common viral infections like flu and shingles can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke, analysis finds

By Asuka Koda, CNN (CNN) — Covid-19 infections have been strongly linked with cardiovascular conditions like heart disease and stroke, but new research shows that other viral infections such as influenza, HIV, hepatitis C and shingles can also increase the risk of heart problems and cardiovascular disease. The meta-analysis, published Wednesday in the Journal of

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Tylenol’s maker pushes back against possible label change linking pain reliever’s use in pregnancy to autism

CNN, POOL, SCILINE By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Kenvue, the American company that makes Tylenol, says the US Food and Drug Administration should not make proposed changes to the product’s safety label to reflect research about a possible connection between its use in pregnancy and diagnoses of autism or ADHD in children. Kenvue says

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Tylenol’s maker pushes back against possible label change linking pain reliever’s use in pregnancy to autism

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — Kenvue, the American company that makes Tylenol, says the US Food and Drug Administration should not make proposed changes to the product’s safety label to reflect research about a possible connection between its use in pregnancy and diagnoses of autism or ADHD in children. Kenvue says that acetaminophen, the

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Global life expectancy is back to pre-pandemic levels, but deaths among teens and young adults are rising

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Humans are living 20 years longer than they were in 1950, according to new research with all 204 countries and territories studied reporting declines in their mortality rates since then. But vast inequities remain, and there is an “emerging crisis” of rising death rates among adolescents and young adults.

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How’s your mental health? Get real by asking yourself these questions

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — In this chaotic world of busy schedules, stressful current events and personal responsibilities, growing distracted from your internal world is common. Whether intentional or not, “people may believe they are ‘fine’ while functioning on autopilot, overworking or numbing with social media doom scrolling, food, alcohol or even checking out

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Breathing for better strength: How your breath affects muscle engagement, stability and power

By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — During workouts, do you think about your breathing — or does it just happen in the background? Most people understand the importance of proper exercise form, yet they often overlook the significance of breathing technique. How and when you breathe during strength training directly affects muscle engagement, core stability

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Low-income families are still waiting on Covid-19 vaccines for kids, but states say they’re coming

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Valerie Brickey went to three pharmacies and her regular pediatrician in late September in an effort to find a Covid-19 vaccine for her 16-year-old granddaughter, Ryleigh. Both Brickey and her granddaughter, who live together in a small apartment near Durham, North Carolina, have health problems that make them more

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A discredited therapy for gay and trans youth is at the center of a Supreme Court case. Here’s what to know

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The US Supreme Court heard a case Tuesday that will determine whether a Colorado law that prohibits licensed mental health professionals from providing conversion “therapy” to minors is constitutional. Conversion or reparative therapy promises to “convert” people from being gay, lesbian or bisexual to straight, or to change transgender

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Acting CDC director, citing Trump directive, calls for MMR shot to be split into three despite no evidence of benefit

By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — The acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for vaccine makers to develop separate shots against measles, mumps and rubella to replace combination MMR vaccines, despite no evidence of any benefit to getting the shots separately. “I call on vaccine manufacturers to develop safe

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With CDC signoff, CVS says Covid-19 vaccines will be available nationwide without a prescription

By Brenda Goodman, Katherine Dillinger, CNN (CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on a recommendation that patients must consult a health care provider to get a Covid-19 vaccine, although they don’t necessarily need a prescription. The updated CDC recommendation — made by a new panel of vaccine advisers chosen

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A planet-first diet can feed the world by 2050 while improving the environment, new scientific analysis finds

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Nearly everyone on the planet could have access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food by 2050 — all while improving the environment — if nations work together to implement a “planetary health diet,” a new report has found. By adopting a healthy, planet-friendly diet — along with reducing food loss

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Local health departments worry about government shutdown’s effects on staffing, disease outbreaks and nutrition services

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — The US government’s shutdown is shaking the nation at a time when public health staffing has already been reduced, the threat of disease outbreaks looms, and both the respiratory virus season and hurricane season are upon us. State and local health departments are now bracing for how the shutdown

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