Too Many U.S. Babies Still Sleep in Positions That Raise SIDS Risk

Despite decades of campaigns highlighting the "baby on back" recommendation for safe infant sleep, 12% of 4-month-old babies in the United States are still put to bed lying on their sides or tummies, a new report finds.

That number rises to 19% among infants aged 9 months and 23% among 1-year-olds.

Putting an infant to bed in a "non...

U.S. Overdose Deaths Fell 17% in Just One Year

In news that suggest the U.S. opioid epidemic may be easing, drug overdose deaths fell 17% between July 2023 and July 2024.

Per new data released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 94,000 people died from drug overdoses (ODs) during that 12-month period, down from more than 113,000 deaths between July 2...

Study Warns That Cats Might Be Bird Flu Carriers

Picture this: a beloved cat, playful and healthy one day, falls mysteriously ill the next. Soon after, the shocking culprit is revealed -- bird flu, a virus that most people associate with poultry and wild birds.

Now, scientists are warning that domestic cats could potentially prompt a public health crisis.

According to a new study ...

Only a Third of U.S. Kids Have Gotten Flu Shots

Despite a record number of American children dying from the flu last year, the percentage of kids getting their flu shots keeps falling.

In new data posted this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 37% of kids had received the vaccine as of Nov. 30 -- down from 43% at the same time last year.

This decline...

Mystery Illness Outbreak in Congo May Be Malaria

There's early evidence that a mysterious flu-like illness that has sickened 416 people and left 75 dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo over recent weeks may be malaria.

Laboratory samples taken from infected people are suggestive of malaria, although more research is needed to confirm that, health officials said.

“Of the 1...

FDA Asks Biden Administration to Limit Nicotine in Tobacco Products

In what appears to be a last-ditch effort to limit the harms of smoking before its term ends, the Biden administration has proposed a rule that would significantly lower the amount of nicotine in tobacco products.

The agency's efforts to counter the dangers of the addictive chemical stretch back to 2018, when it first proposed the idea. T...

Blood Test Might Help Doctors Spot Multiple Diseases

A blood draw is a typical part of a person's regular check-up.

But that blood sample might hold a lot more useful information about a person’s health than doctors are currently getting.

A new study shows that a routine part of a blood test called the complete blood count (CBC) could be used to help doctors identify or predict m...

Blood Pressure Ups & Downs May Harm Seniors' Thinking

Keeping your blood pressure in check is important for more than just heart health -- it can also keep your brain sharp as you age.

A new study published Dec. 11 in the journal Neurology shows that seniors whose blood pressure spikes and drops over time might be more likely to suffer a decline in their thinking and memory skills.

Unhealthy, Ultra-processed Foods Now Half of Calories Americans Eat at Home

Unhealthy ultra-processed foods have wormed their way into American kitchens, likely harming people's health for decades, a new study warns.

More than half of the calories adults eat at home now come from ultra-processed foods, which contain high levels of sugar, salt, fat and other additives, and have been linked to heart disease, obesity...

Staying Fit Can Keep Seniors' Brains Sharp

Seniors who want to stay sharp as they age should hit the treadmill, elliptical or exercise bike as often as possible.

A new study shows that better cardio fitness in older age is linked to healthier brain aging.

That sort of fitness preserves brain health as people age even if they carry genetic risk factors that make them vulnerabl...

Preteen, Teen Smoking Can Injure The Young Heart

Sneaking cigarettes might seem like a harmless pre-teen rite of passage, but it’s more dangerous than you think, a new study warns. 

Regular smoking at a young age doesn’t just lead to a higher chance of smoking later in life -- it can also cause serious harm to young hearts.

Experts have understood that children who...

Ditch That Itch: Early Findings Offer Hope for Skin Issues Like Rosacea

It's still early science -- studies in mice and in human cells -- but researchers are on the trail of an effective new treatment for inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea.

Skin cells called mast cells are key players in the inflammation and itchiness that can plague folks with these skin ailments.

However, researchers at the...

Jamie Foxx Reveals He Had Brain Bleed in 2023

Actor Jamie Foxx has shared the details of a life-threatening medical emergency he experienced last year after doctors discovered he had suffered a brain bleed.

In his new Netflix comedy special, “What Had Happened Was,” Jamie Foxx finally described what left him fighting for his life in 2023, Variety magazine reported...

Bird Flu in California Child Similar to Strain Seen in Livestock

As an outbreak of bird flu among dairy cows continues, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday that the strain of bird flu detected in a California child is similar to the strain spreading through livestock, though the patient had no known exposure to infected animals.

While the findings were not definitive, tests "showed that the virus was...

Genital Herpes Affects 1 in 5 Younger Adults Worldwide

Genital herpes is widespread the world round among younger adults, with more than 846 million people living with the lifelong sexually transmitted infection, a new review finds.

About 1 in 5 people younger than 50 live with a genital herpes infection, researchers reported Dec. 10 in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

'Brain Boost' From Today's Exercise May Linger Through Tomorrow

Want to give your brain a boost for tomorrow?

Get in a little pulse-pounding exercise today, a new study shows.

In a finding that suggests the benefits of exercise may linger longer than believed, researchers discovered that middle-aged adults and seniors perform better on memory tests even a full day after they’ve had some mod...

What Works Best to Help Young Vapers Quit?

Many young adults can kick their vaping habit with a little coaching and support.

New research published Dec. 10 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that nearly half of a group of 18- to 24-year-olds were no longer vaping three months after completing a quit program that included a combination of phone-based coach...

Parents' Smoking Could Raise Risk for MS in Kids

For children genetically predisposed to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), exposure to cigarette smoke in the family home could raise that risk even higher, new research shows.

"A higher genetic MS risk is associated with an increased vulnerability to the negative effects of household smoking on brain development," conclude a Dutch team led ...

Car Height, Not Just Speed, Matters When Pedestrians Are Hit

Watch out for tall, fast-moving cars. The height of a vehicle, not only its speed, determines its potential danger to a pedestrian, new research shows.

“Multiple factors — in this case speed and vehicle height—converge to create negative outcomes on the road,” said David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute...

Are You a 'Late Gift-Giver'? Study Finds Folks Mostly Don't Mind

It can feel like a shameful moment, bracing yourself to hand over a Christmas or birthday gift that’s days or months overdue for one reason or another.

But slackers take heart -- a new study has found that your friend or loved one likely won’t be as upset about getting that late gift as you suspect.

“Go ahead and se...