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Shingles vaccine linked to lower risk of serious cardiac events

People with heart disease who received a shingles vaccine had nearly half the rate of serious cardiac events a year later compared with those who did not get the vaccine, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

17 Mar 2026

Study links smokable drug use to heightened incidence of severe burns

A new analysis in Oregon reveals a heightened incidence of severe burns requiring hospital-level care as illicit drug use has shifted nationwide from injection to smoking.

16 Mar 2026

Brain breathing mechanism linked to persistent high blood pressure

A brain mechanism may explain why approximately 40% of people with hypertension continue to have high blood pressure despite taking medication. The discovery reveals potential targets for new treatments.

16 Mar 2026

Global indicators identified to monitor health before pregnancy worldwide

The key health and social indicators needed for a new global system to monitor people's health before pregnancy have been identified for the first time by researchers at University College London and the University of Southampton.

16 Mar 2026

Largest review finds no mental health benefits of medicinal cannabis

A landmark Lancet Psychiatry paper published today – the largest-ever review of the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids across a range of mental health conditions – found no evidence that medicinal cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

16 Mar 2026

Skipping breakfast may raise metabolic syndrome risk

The link between skipping breakfast and metabolic syndrome highlights the need for dietary strategies to improve cardiometabolic health in at-risk populations.

16 Mar 2026

U.S. cigarette smoking falls below 10% for the first time but millions still use tobacco

Analysis of the 2023–2024 National Health Interview Survey shows that 18.8% of U.S. adults use tobacco, while cigarette smoking has fallen to 9.9%, the first time it has dropped below 10% nationally. Despite this milestone, millions of Americans still use cigars, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco, with notable disparities across age, income, occupation, and geography.

15 Mar 2026

Fertility treatments linked to small increases in some cancers

Findings indicate small increases in certain cancers linked to assisted reproduction, though overall cancer incidence aligns with the general female population.

13 Mar 2026

Experimental therapy eliminates pancreatic precancerous cells in mice study

A new preclinical study in mice shows that precancerous cells in the pancreas can be eliminated before they have the chance to become tumors.

12 Mar 2026

Personalized counseling program helps cervical cancer survivors quit smoking

A new study led by UCLA researchers suggests that a personalized counseling program can significantly help women who have survived cervical precancer or cervical cancer to quit smoking - and does so at a cost that researchers say represents good value for healthcare systems.

12 Mar 2026

Father's nicotine use may increase diabetes risk for offspring

A mouse study found that a father's nicotine exposure can affect the offspring's ability to process sugar and may contribute to diabetes risk, according to new research published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

12 Mar 2026

New digital shield against metabolic disease in youth psychosis

A new clinic-ready web-based risk prediction tool called PsyMetRiC is now available to forecast the risk of young people with psychosis developing cardiometabolic disorders such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

12 Mar 2026

Does coffee disrupt sleep? Large population study suggests the impact may be minimal

A large cross-sectional analysis of 25,381 Swedish adults aged 50–64 found that habitual coffee consumption showed only very weak associations with sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Genetic analyses confirmed known coffee-related variants and suggested that long-term caffeine exposure may lead to adaptation in the brain’s adenosine signaling system.

11 Mar 2026

Blood test marker p-tau217 helps detect early dementia risk in cognitively healthy older women

A long-term study of 2,766 women in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study found that higher baseline plasma p-tau217 levels were associated with a greater risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia.

11 Mar 2026

Severe COVID and flu infections increase risk of lung cancer

Severe COVID-19 and influenza infections prime the lungs for cancer and can accelerate the disease's development, but vaccination heads off those harmful effects, new research from UVA Health's Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center indicates.

11 Mar 2026

Disposable vape ban may push some young adults toward cigarettes

The disposable vapes ban in the UK could lead to young adults switching to alternative products, including cigarettes, new research led by the University of Bristol has found.

11 Mar 2026

Legal sports betting may raise risky alcohol use among young men

A new study in Health Economics indicates that the rapid expansion of online sports betting in the US may be increasing risky alcohol consumption among young men.

11 Mar 2026

Study reveals why US life expectancy gains stalled after decades of progress

A PNAS study analyzing US mortality from 1979 to 2023 reveals that life expectancy stagnation reflects both worsening outcomes in post-1950 birth cohorts and a broad mortality deterioration beginning around 2010. Cardiovascular mortality slowdowns, rising external causes, and cohort-specific patterns help explain the persistent decline in longevity gains.

10 Mar 2026