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Vaping while pregnant isn't harmless—study uncovers risks to newborn lung health

Researchers found that e-cigarette exposure during pregnancy can disrupt fetal lung development, increase oxidative stress, and heighten the risk of respiratory diseases in newborns.

27 Feb 2025

Study: One in eight African hospital patients critically ill with high mortality

One in eight patients in hospitals in Africa is critically ill, and one in five of the critically ill die within a week, according to a new study in The Lancet.

27 Feb 2025

How social media spreads diet misinformation—and what experts say must change

Systematic review reveals Instagram and YouTube as primary hubs for nutrition misinformation, notably promoting unverified "miracle diets" linked to orthorexia and COVID-19, urging public health institutions and healthcare professionals to prioritize digital literacy and evidence-based content.

27 Feb 2025

Wealth disparities impact telehealth access for mental health care

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that mental health visits for patients with depression from high-wealth neighborhoods in Maryland were significantly more likely to happen via telehealth compared to patients with depression from low-wealth neighborhoods in Maryland from mid-2021 through mid-2024.

27 Feb 2025

Virtual lactation support shows promise in increasing breastfeeding rates

Mothers who were given access to virtual breastfeeding support (or telelactation) through a free app tended to report more breastfeeding than peers who did not receive such help, with a more-pronounced effect observed among Black mothers, according to a new RAND study.

27 Feb 2025

Biomass smoke compounds linked to lung damage and respiratory diseases

Biomass burning-whether from wildfires, wood stoves or agricultural fires-sends massive amounts of tiny particles and chemicals into the air.

27 Feb 2025

Study highlights increase in VZV-induced CNS infections and dementia risk

Researchers from Fujita Health University, Japan, observed a rise in adult central nervous system (CNS) infections, primarily aseptic meningitis caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), post-2019. The researchers highlighted the potential of zoster vaccination to reduce CNS infections.

27 Feb 2025

Young children rapidly adapt to new social norms during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major and sudden effect on all aspects of life, requiring children and their families to rapidly change their habits and adopt new behaviors to stay healthy.

27 Feb 2025

Digital fall prevention program improves posture and balance in older adults

Researchers at University of California San Diego have revealed promising results from a study evaluating the university's "Strong Foundations" program, a digitally delivered fall prevention initiative for older adults.

26 Feb 2025

PFAS exposure via drinking water contamination may play a role in childhood cancer risk

A study led by the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health at the University of California, Irvine has revealed possible links between exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water and an increased risk of certain childhood cancers.

26 Feb 2025

Review: Artificial intelligence is shaping the future of diabetes care

The global incidence and prevalence of diabetes continue to rise, increasing rates of associated disability and mortality while imposing a substantial economic burden.

26 Feb 2025

Exercise improves mental well-being of women living with chronic pelvic pain disorders

A new Mount Sinai study provides compelling evidence that exercise can significantly help the mental well-being of millions of women living with chronic pelvic pain disorders (CPPDs), such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids.

26 Feb 2025

Los Angeles county has cut homelessness, but wildfires threaten to erase that gain

As flames engulfed a nearby canyon, dozens of residents in a sober-living home fled to an unoccupied building about 30 miles south.

26 Feb 2025

Why life expectancy gains in Europe stalled—and how some countries stayed ahead

Life expectancy gains in Europe slowed after 2011, with the COVID-19 pandemic further accelerating declines—while some countries maintained progress through sustained public health policies.

25 Feb 2025

Researchers create mycobacteria with kill switches to improve TB vaccine safety

Working toward more effective tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed two strains of mycobacteria with "kill switches" that can be triggered to stop the bacteria after they activate an immune response.

25 Feb 2025

With RFK Jr. in charge, supplement makers see chance to cash in

Last fall, before being named the senior U.S. health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the Trump administration would liberate Americans from the FDA's "aggressive suppression" of vitamins, dietary supplements, and other substances — ending the federal agency's "war on public health," as he put it.

25 Feb 2025

Opioid cash grab: As federal funding dries up, states turn to settlement money

At a recent Nevada legislative committee hearing, lawmakers faced off with members of the governor's administration over how to fill gaping holes in the state's upcoming budget.

25 Feb 2025

Can AI predict the next pandemic? A new study says yes

Researchers explore how artificial intelligence is transforming infectious disease modeling

25 Feb 2025

Genetic study demonstrates fat-selective weight loss with GLP-1 agonist use

Diabetes and obesity have become pressing health issues worldwide. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), have shown significant effectiveness in both lowering blood sugar levels and aiding weight loss due to their unique pharmacological mechanisms.

25 Feb 2025