Health

An Idaho mother who claimed her infant twins died as a result of vaccinations has been charged with murder in their deaths. The case has drawn attention amid ongoing national debates over vaccine misinformation.

Researchers have offered blind patients new hope after lab-grown cells restored retinal function in mice, regenerating damaged blood vessels and even reversing some vision loss. The special retinal cells integrated into diseased tissue, pointing toward a potential future therapy for degenerative eye disease.

Some Medicare beneficiaries who believed their prescription drug coverage was free are now losing those plans as insurers restructure their offerings. The changes are leaving older Americans scrambling to find affordable alternatives.

A survivor of Pompe disease shares her story to challenge the practice of selective abortion after a difficult prenatal diagnosis. She argues that a diagnosis does not determine a person's worth or the value of their life.

Foreign-born physicians working in the United States say tightening immigration rules have left them anxious about their visa status and future. Faith communities and rural hospitals that rely on these doctors are watching the changes closely.

New research suggests that exposure to air pollution may contribute to childhood obesity by impairing impulse control in developing brains. The findings add to evidence linking environmental factors to long-term health outcomes in children.

A new study finds that adults in their 80s who walk at a brisk pace cut their risk of cognitive decline by roughly half compared with slower walkers. Researchers say gait speed may serve as an early, measurable marker of brain health.

U.S. life expectancy is rising again after years of decline, driven by falling death rates including from overdoses. Analysts weigh how durable the rebound will prove.

As an Ebola outbreak spreads in Congo, pastors are comforting grieving families while battling misinformation about the disease. Their work bridges faith and public health in hard-hit communities.

The CDC's former chief medical officer, Debra Houry, said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has caused 'irreparable harm' to the agency. Her remarks add to a wave of criticism over his overhaul of federal health policy.

Washington, DC, faced 'Code Purple' air quality warnings following its massive Independence Day fireworks display. Officials urged residents to limit outdoor activity as smoke and particulates lingered over the capital.

A mother caring for her son with a terminal disease shares how her Christian faith sustains her through the daily weight of the diagnosis. Rather than asking 'why me,' she reframes her suffering with the question 'why not you?' as an act of trust. Her story offers a portrait of hope amid hardship.

Once a source of national pride, Cuba's healthcare system is declining as deepening energy shortages worsen the country's broader crisis. Hospitals and clinics face equipment failures and shortages amid rolling blackouts.

Researchers found that subtle voice changes measured through a phone can predict asthma flare-ups up to three days in advance. The approach could give patients an early warning to adjust treatment and avoid serious attacks.

Researchers are combining generative AI with physics-based modeling to accelerate the design of new antibiotics, a critical need amid rising antimicrobial resistance. The approach aims to predict effective molecular structures far faster than traditional lab methods. Scientists say the hybrid technique could help refill a dangerously thin drug-discovery pipeline.

Infant formula recalls have mounted as staffing cuts hit the FDA, according to a new report. Parents and advocates worry about oversight of a critical product. The agency faces questions about its capacity to police safety.

Medicare has begun offering GLP-1 weight-loss prescriptions for as little as $50, a shift that could dramatically expand access. Analysts say the change may reshape treatment of obesity and related conditions in the U.S. Costs and eligibility rules are still coming into focus.

The FDA has ruled that ZYN nicotine pouches are safer than cigarettes, while cautioning that they are not without risk. The decision marks a notable regulatory milestone for the products. Health experts urge users not to interpret it as an endorsement.

Scientists have developed small-molecule switches that let therapeutic CRISPR editing be turned on and off on demand in living tissue. The advance could improve the safety and precision of gene therapies. Researchers say it addresses a key hurdle in the field.

The CDC is investigating a parasite tied to cases of severe, 'explosive' diarrhea reported across 18 U.S. states. Health officials are working to trace the source of the outbreak. Americans are being urged to take food-safety precautions heading into the holiday weekend.

An Ebola treatment trial has begun in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the outbreak spreads, while a Marburg case was confirmed in Uganda. Congolese pastors are praying with grieving families and combating misinformation about the disease.

An 11-year-old Canadian boy died of rabies after waking to find a bat on his face. The tragic case is prompting renewed warnings about the importance of prompt treatment after bat exposure.

More than 100 passengers and crew fell ill with a highly contagious stomach virus aboard a cruise that departed San Francisco. Health officials identified norovirus as the cause of the outbreak.

Southeast Asia is closing in on eliminating malaria, with cases down roughly two-thirds since 2010. The progress reflects sustained investment in prevention and treatment across the region.

The DEA plans to ban 7-OH, an opioid-like kratom compound sold as a gas-station intoxicant. The proposed scheduling would criminalize a substance that has spread rapidly through convenience stores.

An Army captain was sentenced after secretly slipping an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant fellow soldier, an act prosecutors condemned as 'disgusting.'

A novice climber was rescued after surviving a 1,500-foot fall down California's Mount Shasta, a harrowing plunge that rescuers called a near-miraculous survival.

A coalition of 25 states sued the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirement rules, warning they could strip health coverage from millions.

Authorities in Ohio rescued 16 children who had been confined to a single room for four years and described as 'almost feral,' in a case that has shocked investigators.

Starting July 1, Medicare patients can access GLP-1 weight-loss drugs under a new CMS pilot program, broadening coverage for the popular but costly medications. The change marks a significant expansion of obesity treatment for older Americans.

The EEOC sided with a Christian employee who says Kaiser fired her for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds, backing her religious-discrimination claim. The case adds to a wave of legal fights over faith-based vaccine exemptions.

Arkansas moved to bar soft drinks and candy from purchases made with food stamps, part of a growing push to steer federal nutrition benefits away from junk food. Supporters frame it as a health measure, while critics question restricting recipients' choices.

New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr. returned to Congress after months of unexplained absence, revealing that depression had kept him away. Colleagues including Rep. Ritchie Torres expressed sympathy while urging greater transparency about lawmakers' health.

RFK Jr. filled an FDA advisory panel with proponents of peptide therapies he favors, even as agency scientists flagged safety concerns and opposed expanding access to the trendy molecules. The clash highlights tensions between the health secretary's agenda and FDA career staff.

The FDA will permit Zyn nicotine pouches to be marketed as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes, a first-of-its-kind authorization for the popular product. The decision reflects a regulatory shift toward harm-reduction messaging for smokeless nicotine.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham demanded federal reparations and said the state could seek billions, accusing the DEA of letting fentanyl flood the streets and worsen the state's overdose crisis.

Doctors report a medical first in which focused sound waves were used to disrupt opioid addiction, pointing to a potential noninvasive treatment for substance use disorder. Researchers caution the approach is early but say the results are striking.

Make America Healthy Again activists say they feel betrayed after a Supreme Court ruling that shields Monsanto on glyphosate liability, exposing a rift inside the movement over the Trump administration's health agenda. The decision limits a key avenue for lawsuits tying the weedkiller to cancer claims.

A sprawling 'heat dome' is pushing dangerous temperatures and high humidity across much of the United States heading into the July Fourth weekend, with forecasters warning the heat will be 'impactful to anyone.' The National Weather Service urged precautions as the system blankets the Midwest, South, and East Coast.

Vox lays out four accessible, evidence-based habits, food, sleep, exercise and socializing, that can help people live longer. The guide distills longevity research into practical everyday steps.

Researchers report an injectable hydrogel made from silk and kudzu that achieved complete wound closure in laboratory tests. The material could point toward new approaches for treating difficult wounds.

A writer describes using Claude Code to get a second opinion on his MRI results, walking through how the AI parsed the imaging report. The experiment offers an early, hands-on look at consumer use of AI for personal health questions.

A punishing heatwave across Europe has been linked to roughly 1,300 deaths, the World Health Organization said, as Germany recorded a high of 41.7C. The extreme heat forced some Paris museums and landmarks to close or cut their hours.

Scientists have identified a peptide-based alternative to antibiotics that could help combat the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis, offering a new line of defense against drug-resistant infections.

The parents of a 7-year-old who died weighing 255 pounds have been charged with murder in a suspected neglect case, authorities said.

Vox explores activity fairs and clubs as a low-stakes way for adults to combat loneliness and build new friendships. The piece frames in-person community as an antidote to social isolation.

Drugmakers are working on a potential new shot to prevent tick-borne Lyme disease, and NPR asked hunters how it might fare in an era of vaccine skepticism. The reporting explores attitudes toward the vaccine among those most exposed to ticks.

A hospital in south London has opened a rooftop garden where critical care patients can spend hours in fresh air and sunlight, beds and equipment included. Staff say the outdoor access aids recovery and morale for ICU patients.

Shiela Boyd, an 81-year-old New York resident, saw her SNAP benefits suddenly cut from $298 a month to just $24, leaving her struggling to afford food. Her case highlights the impact of recent changes to the food assistance program on vulnerable seniors.

Christianity Today profiles Peter Stafford, the missionary doctor who contracted Ebola during a recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stafford reflects on trusting God while still grappling with a very human fear of death.