health

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the Food and Drug Administration this week to begin the process of eliminating chemicals “generally regarded as safe” from the nation’s foods. In a video posted to the... Read More

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan trio of congressmen has reintroduced the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures Act in a bid to “fix” what they say is a “pill penalty” in the Inflation Reduction Act and ensure continued R&D investments are made... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization. The order specifically directs his assistant for domestic policy — presumably Vince Haley, whom the president tapped to head his domestic... Read More

WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the nation’s new Health and Human Services secretary on Thursday with the Oval Office ceremony coming just hours after the Senate confirmed his nomination by a 52-48 vote. Sen. Mitch... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday directed staff at health-related federal departments and agencies to pause all mass communications and public appearances “that are not directly related to emergencies or critical to preserving health.” The directive, issued by acting... Read More

WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. started a weeklong campaign Monday to convince congressional leaders he’s the right person to lead U.S. health care policy. He is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human... Read More

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Wednesday took the rare step of criticizing lawmakers in the United Kingdom just days after the British House of Commons voted to legalize assisted dying. Stressing his opinions were his own, “a... Read More

WASHINGTON — Cigarette smoking among youth and adults in the United States has reached the lowest levels ever recorded, but marked racial and ethnic disparities linger in terms of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, a report from the surgeon... Read More

TOPEKA, Kan. — Health officials in Kansas have launched a new “behavioral risk factor” dashboard to make it easier for public health professionals, researchers and residents to find and interpret the results of the state’s annual health survey. Each year,... Read More

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed 17 bills into law on Tuesday, a number of which have a direct bearing on health care in the state. “These bills will make a real difference in people’s lives by expanding... Read More

WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Wednesday reintroduced two bills intended to give a massive boost to the nation’s struggling child care facilities and educators while also lowering the crippling cost of care that’s forced many U.S. families into debt, and... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Senate failed to approve a bill Tuesday that would expand women’s rights to in vitro fertilization in the face of ongoing opposition from Republicans. It was the second time in three months Republicans blocked the Right to... Read More

MADRID, Spain — Chronic use of steroids more than doubles a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study presented at an annual meeting of diabetes experts. Dr. Rajna Golubic, a lecturer on diabetes and endocrinology... Read More

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday that it has a confirmed case of measles (rubeola) in a child in Mecklenburg County, which is located in the southwestern part of the state and... Read More

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two recent deaths in South Carolina’s Lowcountry may be connected to a nationwide outbreak of illnesses linked to deli meat contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, the S.C. Department of Public Health announced Wednesday. The Centers for Disease... Read More

WASHINGTON — Eating a healthy diet of whole foods and getting regular exercise are two ways to help ward off preventable health conditions, especially as we age. The link between diet and mental health is less researched than diet and... Read More

WASHINGTON — Have you ever watched athletes on TV and noticed large circular bruises on their backs or arms? They may have had a cupping treatment, and the bruises should fade. Cupping therapy is an ancient type of healing with... Read More

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday issued what it is calling a “comprehensive” proposed rule, determined to more effectively reduce salmonella contamination in raw poultry products.  The rule, issued through the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service,... Read More

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Dr. Eric Weiss, a certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with a thriving practice on the outskirts of Jacksonville, Florida, still remembers the moment he realized the transformative effect umbilical cord stem cells could have on those... Read More

WASHINGTON — Plastic is an integral part of our lives today and is also one of the biggest contributors to global waste. Since the introduction of plastic products in the 1900s, the integration, manufacturing and presence of these products in... Read More

DURHAM, N.C. — The use of “White” as a benchmark when comparing racial and ethnic health disparities is far too broad and fails to account for variations among easily identifiable subgroups, according to a study out of Duke University. As... Read More

WASHINGTON — We all know that regular exercise benefits our health, but does the time of day you do it make a difference?  Researchers from the University of Sydney investigated this question over an eight year period as it relates... Read More

WASHINGTON — One of the most abundant resources on Earth has been used therapeutically since ancient times: water. Hydrotherapy uses water (including ice and steam) at any temperature for healing and relaxation. If you’ve ever iced an injury or put... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday set out a new national goal for conserving and restoring the United States’ freshwater resources, including 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of rivers and streams. Officials unveiled the plan as... Read More

WASHINGTON — You likely know that exercise is a healthy habit that can boost overall health and physical fitness. There are many types of exercise, such as resistance training, aerobic or cardio, flexibility and balance.  Within each category, the options... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris administration on Wednesday rolled out an ambitious new regulatory regime aimed at bolstering the standards of electric and hybrid vehicles by placing new restrictions on tailpipe emissions. According to administration officials, who briefed reporters on the... Read More

WASHINGTON — A House subcommittee advanced 19 health care-related bills on Tuesday, setting the stage for a further markup by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and, with any luck, a vote on the House floor in coming weeks. Rep.... Read More

WASHINGTON — If you’ve ever set out to eat a little healthier, you may have gravitated towards sugar-free or zero-calorie products. Many of these products contain artificial sweeteners, which provide a sweet taste with fewer calories and less effect on... Read More

WASHINGTON — You spend all day sitting at your desk. How are you feeling? Spending hours a day in the same position can take its toll on your body. You may suffer from joint pain in your back, shoulders, neck,... Read More

WASHINGTON — Older adults and women of childbearing age who regularly eat mangos have a greater intake of several key nutrients that are recommended for those stages of life, a new study finds. The consumption of mangos was also found... Read More