Trump Administration To Cut 10,000 Health and Human Services Jobs

The Trump administration will lay off 10,000 workers at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a major reorganization, officials announced Thursday.

The changes reflect efforts to cut the size of the federal government and follow Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vision for the agency.

Before the cut...

New Surgical Technique Preserves Erectile Function In Prostate Cancer Patients

A pioneering technique can help nearly twice as many men preserve erectile function following prostate cancer surgery, researchers say.

The new surgical method, called NeuroSAFE, preserves the nerves that run through the prostate’s outer layers, which are thought to be responsible for producing erections, according to a report publis...

AI Improves Diagnosis Of Celiac Disease

Liz Cox, 80, had been suffering from severe stomach pains and anemia for nearly 30 years before doctors finally diagnosed her with celiac disease.

Cox first developed severe stomach pains in her 30s, after having her three children.

“My doctor carried out various tests, but celiac disease wasn't very well known then, so I wasn'...

Sugar Substitute Appears To Boost Appetite, Hunger

Splenda doesn’t directly add calories to your diet, but the sweetener still might lead people to pack on pounds, a new study says.

The sugar substitute might spur on a person’s appetite and feelings of hunger, potentially leading them to overeat, according to results published March 26 in the journal Nature Metabolism....

Social Media Can Drag Down Troubled Young People

Is there a person in your life who just can’t stop scrolling social media, almost as if they’ve formed an emotional dependence on sites like Instagram and TikTok?

Such an attachment might be associated with worse mental health symptoms among young people being treated for depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts, a new study sa...

Stroke Risk Higher For At Least A Decade After Minor Stroke-Like Attacks

The risk of a full-blown stroke will remain high for at least a decade after a person has a slight brush with stroke, in the form of a transient ischemic attack or minor stroke, a new study says.

These patients have a nearly 13% increased risk of stroke over five years and a 20% increased risk over a decade, researchers reported March 26 i...

Virtual Reality Headsets Can Help Ease Cancer Pain

Virtual reality (VR) might be able to provide cancer patients significant pain relief, a new study says.

A small group of cancer patients reported a decrease in their pain after using VR headsets that allowed them to explore realistic underwater scenes, according to findings published recently in the journal Scientific Reports.

NIH Ends Funding for the Effects of Climate Change on Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will no longer fund new research on how climate change affects people’s health, according to records reviewed by ProPublica.

The new directive was shared internally with staff last week. It follows other action to stop NIH support for studies related to gender identity, LGBTQ+ health, ...

Chinese Woman Is Third Person To Get a Gene-Edited Pig Kidney

A Chinese woman is the third person in the world living with a gene-edited pig kidney, and nearly three weeks after surgery, doctors say she’s doing well.

The woman, reportedly 69 years old, had kidney failure for eight years before receiving the pig kidney.

The operation took place at Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Med...

Heart Problems Linked To Brain Shrinkage

Heart disease might contribute to the sort of brain shrinkage seen in dementia, a new study says.

People with early signs of heart problems are more likely to have brain changes associated with dementia, researchers reported on March 26 in the journal Neurology.

Specifically, people whose hearts aren’t pumping blood ef...

Scent Test Can Sniff Out Cognitive Decline

The nose might know whether a person is showing early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a new study says.

Older adults who’ve developed mild cognitive impairment -- a precursor to dementia and Alzheimer’s -- score lower on a peel-and-sniff test than people with normal brains, according to findings published March ...

U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts Could Devastate Global Progress Against HIV/AIDS

HIV could explode worldwide in the wake of U.S. cuts to foreign aid, resulting in millions of AIDS deaths and soaring rates of infection, a new analysis says.

President Donald Trump has floated the notion of ending the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program created under President George W. Bush that combats H...

Obesity More Likely Among Kids Of Obese Moms, Smokers

A mom’s health and lifestyle choices can affect her kids’ risk of obesity as adults, a new study says.

Specifically, a child is 3 to 4 times more likely to become an obese adult if their mom was obese, researchers reported March 26 in PLOS One.

A mom’s smoking also increased their kid’s risk of adult ...

Highly Educated Folks Face Steeper Brain Decline Following Stroke

The higher you fly, the harder you fall, the old saying goes.

There might be something to that when it comes to the aftermath of a stroke, a new study suggests.

People with higher education face a steeper decline in their ability to plan, organize and problem-solve following a stroke, compared to those with less than a high school de...

AI Improves IV Nutrition For Preemies

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help improve how premature babies are fed, giving them a better chance at normal growth and development, a new study says.

Currently, preemies in a neonatal intensive care unit are fed by IV, receiving a drip-drop handmade blend of nutrients that doctors call total parenteral nutrition, or TPN.

This i...

Gum May Be a Hidden Source of Microplastics

That stick of gum you’re chewing? It might be minty fresh, but it could also come with a little something extra: tiny bits of plastic.

A new study finds that one piece of gum can release hundreds -- possibly thousands -- of microplastics into your saliva. 

And researchers warn it may be a hidden source of plastic exposure ...

Federal Government Pulls Back $11.4B in COVID Health Funds

The federal government is clawing back $11.4 billion in COVID funding, a move that could affect local and state public health efforts across the country.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the money is no longer needed.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer do...

Trump Administration Ends Dozens of LGBTQ Health Grants

Dozens of research projects focused on LGBTQ health have been canceled by the U.S. government, alarming scientists who say the move will harm public health and slow scientific progress.

At least 68 grants to 46 institutions were terminated last week, according to a federal website.

These grants, in total, were worth nearly $40 millio...

Tobacco Control Has Saved Nearly 4 Millions Lives, Study Estimates

Tobacco control measures like anti-smoking campaigns and cigarette taxes have prevented nearly 4 million lung cancer deaths during the past five decades, a new American Cancer Society study estimates.

More than 3.8 million lung cancer deaths were averted due to substantial reductions in smoking, gaining a little more than 76 million years ...

New Moms Benefit From Regular Workouts

Childbirth is an overwhelming accomplishment, but new mothers would do best not to rest on their laurels following delivery, a new guideline says.

New moms should clock at least two hours a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity in the first months following birth, experts recommend.

Two to four hours of exercise per week can...