Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Worried about health insurance costs? There may be cheaper options — but with trade-offs

For the millions of Americans who buy Affordable Care Act insurance, there's still time left to enroll for 2026. But premium increases and the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies have led to larger-than-expected costs.

18 Dec 2025

Washington’s homeless hide in plain sight, growing sicker and costing taxpayers more

Every night, Abdullah Ibrahim retreats from the streets into a wooded stretch along the Potomac River.

18 Dec 2025

Music sessions aid bonding and provide respite in NICUs

Playing soothing live music in intensive care units not only helps parents bond with their baby but also provides a moment's respite from an uncertain and stressful situation, says a senior doctor in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

18 Dec 2025

Couples-based programs boost heart-healthy behaviors

Research highlights the need for couple-based interventions in heart disease to focus on emotional support and relationship quality for better health outcomes.

18 Dec 2025

Researchers develop antibody to combat HCMV, a common, overlooked virus

Researchers at Texas Biologics have made an important discovery that could improve treatment of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a common but overlooked virus that poses serious risks to vulnerable populations, including people with compromised immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is the most infectious cause of birth defects in the United States.

18 Dec 2025

Coordinated housing and health care models better serve homeless populations

Organizations aiming to help homeless people with either housing or health care can be more effective when they form partnerships with other service groups, a Rutgers study has found.

17 Dec 2025

Study links low physical activity to higher lymphedema risk after cancer treatment

Lymphedema after head and neck cancer is considerably more common than previously assumed and can persist long after cancer treatment has finished.

17 Dec 2025

Heavy menstrual bleeding linked to iron deficiency in teenage girls

More than half of teenage girls experienced heavy bleeding and 40 per cent had an iron deficiency. The research, led from Lund University in Sweden, also shows that young teenage girls who experience heavy menstrual bleeding – and are therefore at greater risk of iron deficiency – can be identified using a simple questionnaire.

17 Dec 2025

Study examines fairness of oxygen desaturation thresholds in sleep apnea diagnosis

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder in the U.S. affecting tens of millions, with estimates ranging from 25 to more than 80 million adults.

17 Dec 2025

Neural mechanisms underlying behavioral flexibility revealed in mice

From work meetings to first dates, it's essential to adjust our behavior for success. In certain situations, it can even be a matter of life or death.

17 Dec 2025

Severe weather exposure increases long-term mortality risk in older adults

Severe weather events have long-term health consequences for vulnerable older adults, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society based on data following Hurricane Harvey.

17 Dec 2025

Baloxavir reduces flu-related hospitalizations more than oseltamivir

A study reveals baloxavir outperforms oseltamivir in reducing hospitalization rates for influenza, highlighting its clinical advantages in outpatient settings.

17 Dec 2025

Early life gut microbiome crucial for immune system development

Antibiotics are powerful treatments that have saved countless lives over the course of decades. New findings from Scripps Research have identified a way to preserve healthy immune development even when infants need antibiotic treatment.

17 Dec 2025

Study shows iCTG improves perinatal outcomes in resource-constrained settings

Ninety-nine percent of global newborn deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where pregnant women often struggle to access adequate fetal monitoring. In Tanzania, with 24 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births, a new wireless fetal heart rate monitoring technology is showing promise in preventing newborn complications and deaths.

17 Dec 2025

Chronic breathlessness drives longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs

Chronic breathlessness, a symptom often overlooked by healthcare systems, is associated with longer lengths of hospital stay on already overstretched healthcare resources, says new Flinders University research.

16 Dec 2025

Rapid adoption of AI in primary care raises safety concerns

From digital scribes to ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering GP clinics. New University of Sydney research warns that technology is racing ahead of safety checks, putting patients and health systems at risk.

16 Dec 2025

Lentilactobacillus kefiri can prevent and even reverse aging-related immune alterations

The process of aging is associated with a decline in immune functions and persistent low-level inflammation.

16 Dec 2025

Revolutionary quantum sensors could enable earlier cancer diagnosis and treatment

A revolutionary quantum sensing project that could transform cancer treatment by tracking how immune cells interact with tumors has been awarded a prestigious £2 million Future Leaders Fellowship.

16 Dec 2025

Relationship quality impacts heart health, study shows

With heart disease as the leading cause of death worldwide, there is growing recognition that recovery is not only physical but also emotional and social. A new study shows that strong and supportive relationships can indeed improve heart health for individuals with cardiovascular disease.

16 Dec 2025

Large-scale study to examine nail fungus impact on athletic performance

Athletes are 2.5 times more likely than the general public to develop nail fungus, according to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

16 Dec 2025