Women's Health News

RSS

Living near nuclear power plants is associated with higher cancer mortality, national US study reports

A nationwide ecological study of US counties from 2000 to 2018 found that greater proximity to operational nuclear power plants was associated with higher cancer mortality rates, particularly among adults aged 65–74 years. The analysis used inverse-distance weighting within 200 km and adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and healthcare factors, but did not measure individual radiation exposure.

1 Mar 2026

Higher tyrosine levels linked to shorter lifespan in major UK Biobank analysis

Researchers analyzed over 272,000 UK Biobank participants and used Mendelian randomization to investigate whether circulating phenylalanine and tyrosine influence lifespan. Genetically predicted higher tyrosine levels were linked to shorter lifespan, particularly in men, while phenylalanine showed no independent effect after adjustment.

1 Mar 2026

Breasts as an active thermoregulatory tool for newborns

Breasts are necessary for breastfeeding, but their size is not decisive in terms of milk production. A large part of the breast consists of adipose tissue, and earlier theories have suggested that they function, for example, as a body fat reserve. Another theory proposes that breasts evolved through sexual selection as a signal of individual fitness, similar to facial symmetry.

26 Feb 2026

Solving the mystery of a year-long pain crisis

Taffy Hopkins, 73, was in debilitating pain for a year, leaving her bedridden. The Palm Beach resident had been told she was simply experiencing migraines, but the migraine medications did not work and left her suffering, with no answers in sight. After seeking care at NYU Langone Medical Associates—West Palm Beach, 1515 North Flagler Drive, she finally received a diagnosis—and relief.

26 Feb 2026

Heavy alcohol intake is associated with dangerous belly fat accumulation, large UK study shows

In a large UK population cohort, higher weekly alcohol consumption was dose-dependently associated with greater visceral fat mass measured by DXA, independent of total body fat. Heavy drinkers showed over 10% higher proportional visceral fat compared with lower consumption groups, a pattern linked to increased cardiometabolic risk.

26 Feb 2026

Researchers reveal why SuperAgers retain youthful brain cell signatures into their 80s

Researchers used single-nucleus RNA sequencing and chromatin accessibility profiling to map human hippocampal neurogenesis across adulthood, aging, and Alzheimer’s disease. They found that chromatin accessibility changes, more than gene expression alone, distinguish healthy aging, preclinical pathology, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive resilience in SuperAgers.

26 Feb 2026

Polytherapy improves blood pressure control and survival in metastatic breast cancer

Women with metastatic breast cancer often face multiple chronic conditions, and high blood pressure is among the most common. Nearly half of women in this study population had hypertension at diagnosis, with even higher rates among Black and Hispanic patients.

26 Feb 2026

Exercise during chemotherapy boosts breast cancer patients' quality of life

For many women with breast cancer, the very treatment that saves their lives can also bring fatigue, loss of muscle mass, emotional strain and other daunting obstacles.

26 Feb 2026

Heart attack deaths increase in young adults, especially women

A new study found that heart attack deaths were up among younger adults with women more likely than men to die after a first heart attack.

26 Feb 2026

Fiber intake may reduce heart disease risk in night shift workers

Research shows higher fiber consumption may lower coronary heart disease risk in night shift workers, suggesting dietary adjustments for better health.

26 Feb 2026

Decoding the purpose of fetal yawns in the womb

Even in the womb, where all oxygen is provided by the parental placenta, fetuses can-and do-yawn. More yawns during observation were associated with a lower weight at birth-potentially indicating mild fetal stress in the womb, according to a study published February 25, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Damiano Menin, of the Università degli Studi di Ferrara in Italy, and colleagues.

26 Feb 2026

Study confirms long-term effectiveness of HPV vaccination

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is associated with a significantly reduced risk of invasive cervical cancer, with no indication of waning protection up to 18 years after vaccination, finds a study from Sweden published by The BMJ today.

25 Feb 2026

Having “hasslers” in your network linked to faster aging and poorer health

Researchers analyzed a state-representative US sample to examine whether negative social ties, termed “hasslers,” are associated with epigenetic age acceleration and faster biological aging. Each additional hassler was linked to roughly nine months higher biological age and a 1.5% faster pace of aging, with particularly strong associations for mental health outcomes.

25 Feb 2026

Could a rare gene variant help reduce smoking? New study suggests it might

An exome-wide association study of nearly 38,000 smokers from the Mexico City Prospective Study identified rare coding variants in CHRNB3 that are associated with substantially fewer cigarettes smoked per day. Cross-ancestry analyses in European and East Asian datasets support a role for the β3 nicotinic receptor subunit in modulating smoking intensity.

25 Feb 2026

TRAP laws reduce access to obstetricians nationwide

A study in Health Economics uncovers a major unintended consequence of abortion‐related regulations: a measurable decline in the availability of obstetricians and gynecologists.

25 Feb 2026

Nearly 6 in 10 women in the U.S. may have cardiovascular disease in the next 25 years

Driven by rising rates in high blood pressure, nearly 6 in 10 women in the U.S. will have some type of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the next 25 years, according to a new scientific statement published today in Circulation, the peer-reviewed, flagship journal of the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all.

25 Feb 2026

Study reveals knowledge gaps about menstrual health in elite women’s football

Elite European women’s football players and staff show substantial knowledge gaps about menstrual health and hormonal contraception despite widespread openness to discussion. The study highlights the need for structured education to support informed health decisions while clarifying that perceived performance effects are not consistently supported by scientific evidence.

24 Feb 2026

US measles and pertussis outbreaks expose policy failures, not just vaccine hesitancy

A recent commentary argues that US measles and pertussis outbreaks are not simply the result of vaccine hesitancy but reflect weakened immunization policies, permissive exemptions, and underfunded public health systems. The authors contend that policy environments determine whether pockets of low coverage escalate into large-scale, preventable outbreaks.

24 Feb 2026

Standard doses of antidepressants during pregnancy appear to be safe, study suggests

Using a standard dose of antidepressants during pregnancy appears to be safe for the baby, suggests new research from the University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital.

24 Feb 2026

Colonoscopy and FIT at age 60 catch colorectal cancer earlier

The SCREESCO trial reveals that colorectal cancer screening at 60 enhances early diagnosis without affecting overall mortality or increasing long-term risks.

24 Feb 2026