Paxlovid Soon Won't Be Free for Americans

The antiviral Paxlovid has kept people from getting really sick and dying from COVID-19 since it became available -- at no cost to them.

But by the middle of next year, the U.S. government will stop subsidizing the medication. Instead, it will be billed for like many other medications.

While the Biden administration has paid about ...

Myth That Suicides Peak During the Holidays Could Cause Harm

Many Americans believe that suicide rates spike every time the holiday season comes around. There’s just one catch: It's not true.

Yet, a new analysis reveals that 56% of stories published last year in U.S. newspapers that touched on a potential connection between the holidays and suicide perpetuated the falsehood. Only 44% debunked...

Type 1 Diabetes Doesn't Have to Hold Kids Back in School

Children with type 1 diabetes miss more school than their peers without this condition, but the good news is these absences don’t have to affect their grades or chances of going on to college, new research shows.

Kids who had the tightest control of their diabetes missed seven sessions a year, while those who had challenges managing...

AHA News: A Heart Attack During Pregnancy, Then Heart Valve Surgery

As she walked up to her fourth-floor apartment, Marisa MacDonnell figured something was different with this pregnancy, her second.

She felt winded. She had to take deeper breaths. And when she carried her then-2-year-old son, Sam, he felt heavier than his actual weight. Even the activities she loved – walking and running – seemed more ...

Vitamins, Fish Oil, Minerals: Which Supplements Help or Harm the Heart?

Manufacturers make all kinds of health claims, but can taking a dietary supplement actually lower your heart disease risk?

A comprehensive analysis of prior research suggests that in certain cases the answer is yes. Some types of supplements – such as omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) -- do provide a cardiovas...

Drug Choice Might Matter for Patients With Macular Degeneration

One of the two most common drugs used to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) appears better than the other, a new, small study suggests.

Among 106 patients with "wet" age-related macular degeneration, 50% of those treated with aflibercept (Eylea) could be weaned off the drug after one year, compared with only 17% of those treated ...

1 in 10 Teens Have Sexted, Many See Porn by 6th Grade: Study

A high number of preteens and teens in the United States have viewed pornography and many have also sent or received nude or seminude photos -- sexting -- over their smartphones, a new study reveals.

“The prevalence rates we found in this study suggest that school counselors must be prepared to talk about sexting and pornography use wi...

What & How You Sing Might Impact Risk to Vocal Cords

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) – How singers use their voices, including the genre of music they perform, has an impact on vocal injury, new research finds.

Dr. Lesley Childs, medical director of the Voice Center at University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, led a two-part study of more than 1,000 patient records.

The st...

U.S. States With Tighter Access to Welfare Payments Have More Kids in Foster Care

Researchers have discovered a link between access to welfare payments and foster care.

As many as 29,000 fewer children may have entered the foster care system during the 12-year study if U.S. states had made it easier for poor families to receive cash through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

"The ...

Minor Facial Scars Don't Affect Others' First Impressions, Study Finds

A facial scar may make a person self-conscious, but it doesn’t change another person’s first impressions of their attractiveness or confidence, a new survey shows.

The results found that a single, well-healed facial scar may even increase perceived friendliness, according to the researchers, who had predicted different results and said...

FDA's Food Safety Program Needs a Revamp: Panel

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7, 2022 (HealthDay News) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s foods program is in “constant turmoil” and needs stronger leadership, a panel said Thursday.

The Reagan-Udall Foundation, a group with close ties to the FDA, released a 51-page report Tuesday noting the need for a clear mission in the program and mo...

Record Number of Fatal Drug ODs for Pregnant, Postpartum Women

Pregnant and postpartum women are dying of drug overdoses in record numbers, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse, a new study shows.

Deaths increased about 81% over the past four years, hitting a record high in 2020, according to researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.

...

Could Bacteria in Your Gut Help Spur Depression?

Depression may be a disorder of the brain, but new research adds to evidence that it also involves the gut.

While depression is complex, recent research has been pointing to a role for bacteria that dwell in the gut -- suggesting that certain bacterial strains might feed depression symptoms, while others might be protective.

In ...

Cooler Noses May Be Key to Winter's Spike in Colds

Researchers may have sniffed out why colds are more likely in wintertime: The answer may lie within the nose.

A previously unidentified immune response inside the nose is responsible for fighting off the viruses that cause upper respiratory infections, according to researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Northeastern University in Bos...

Concerns Around Sex, Fertility Often Ignored in Breast Cancer Care: Survey

Shehzin Tietjen was 27 years old when she felt a lump in one of her breasts while in the shower.

That discovery led to a confirmation of breast cancer, an unexpected jolt at her age. "I was really shocked," said Tietjen, who lives in Atlanta.

Though breast cancer is more common in postmenopausal women, about 9% of new breast cancer c...

Eating Lots of 'Ultra-Processed' Foods Could Harm Your Brain

Chips, pizza, cookies: Delicious, but a diet full of ultra-processed foods like these may contribute to brain deterioration, researchers report.

Ultra-processed foods have lots of added and unhealthy ingredients, such as sugar, salt, fat, artificial colors and preservatives. Examples include frozen meals, soft drinks, hot dogs and col...

AHA News: Keeping High Blood Pressure at Bay for the Holidays

No matter what winter holiday traditions you celebrate, you probably won't find "think about blood pressure" on your to-do list, even after checking it twice.

But that would be a nice idea for your heart's sake, experts say.

High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke, said Dr. Angela L. Brown, director o...

Actress Kirstie Alley Dies of Cancer at 71

Actress Kirstie Alley, best known for a breakthrough role in the TV hit "Cheers," and on the big screen in "Look Who's Talking," has died at 71 from cancer.

"We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered," her children True and Lillie Parker annou...

Science Reveals 3 Keys to an Energized, Alert Day

Advertising would have you believe that a big bowl of sugary cereal or a syrupy iced coffee drink will make you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning.

But that sort of sugar-laden breakfast may be one of the worst things you can do to help you wake up alert and refreshed.

A major new sleep study shows a breakfast rich in comple...

Banning Flavored Vapes Didn't Spur Folks to Quit

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned fruit-flavored vaping products in early 2020, the idea was to reverse the rapid rise in electronic cigarette use among youths.

Now, a new survey of adult e-cigarette users finds that instead of quitting e-cigarettes, most vapers switched to flavored products not covered by the ...