People are often told that eating well, exercising and avoiding bad habits are the fundamentals to a long life. 

But new research suggests something else may matter even more: genetics.

A large study published Jan. 29 in the journal Science suggests genetics could account for as much as 55% of a person’s lifespan.... Full Page

The flu is hitting kids hard this season.

So far, 52 kids have died from the flu, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Jan. 30. About 9 in 10 had not received a flu shot.

Health experts say they’re worried the worst may still be ahead.

“We’re absolutely bracing ourselves,” Mi... Full Page

Arizona health officials are responding after a person held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the state tested positive for measles.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said “the Arizona Public Health Department confirmed an active measles infection of a Mexican national detainee housed at the Flo... Full Page

Federal health officials are investigating dried milk powder from two companies that may be connected to a botulism outbreak tied to ByHeart infant formula. 

The outbreak that has sickened 51 babies across 19 states.

Organic milk powder that tested positive for the type of bacteria that causes botulism came from Organic West Mil... Full Page

Many pregnant and post-partum women who suffer a stroke had warning signs that health care professionals missed, a new study says.

More than 25% went to a doctor for stroke-related symptoms within the month prior to their stroke, but did not receive a timely diagnosis, researchers report in the journal Stroke.

“Our fin... Full Page

The symptoms women experience on the verge of menopause could be vastly different from what they might expect, a new study says.

Women in perimenopause – the time leading up to their final period, as well as the year after – expect to be plagued with hot flashes and night sweats.

However, these women reported symptoms lik... Full Page

Millennials and Gen Z might be at greater risk of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia than older generations, a new study says.

More recent generations are falling prey to psychosis more often and at younger ages than people born earlier, researchers report today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Between 1997 a... Full Page

There are serious gaps in Americans’ understanding of unhealthy cholesterol and how to lower the risk it poses to heart health, a new survey reports.

For example, many are unaware of the many types of drugs available to lower cholesterol, according to the survey commissioned by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

O... Full Page

A non-stimulant pill might replace a cup of coffee as the chosen wake-up boost for early-morning shift workers, a new study says.

Early-bird workers who took solriamfetol (Sunosi) were less sleepy and more alert than those who got a placebo, researchers reported Jan. 27 in the journal NEJM Evidence.

"The improvement we saw i... Full Page

Infectious mononucleosis, often called “mono,” is a viral illness best known for causing extreme fatigue, sore throat and swollen glands.

Mono is often referred to as the “kissing disease,” because it spreads through saliva, but that is only one way it can pass from person to person.

Mono is common in teens a... Full Page

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, send millions of Americans to urgent care every year. But today, many people no longer see a doctor in person.

Instead, they message their clinic, use video visits or fill out online forms to get antibiotics, sometimes without any testing at all.

Experts say this faster access can help patients, but... Full Page

Every Feb. 2, Americans turn to a groundhog to see whether winter will stick around. 

But Groundhog Day is about much more than shadows and more weeks of cold.

The tradition began in 1886, when the first Punxsutawney Phil was crowned in Pennsylvania. The first official celebration came in 1887. 

The date falls halfway... Full Page

U.S. health officials unveiled proposed changes to the nation’s transplant system, hoping to help more patients get lifesaving organs, even when donations aren’t perfect.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said the plan would tighten oversight of organ procurement organizations, known as OPOs. 

Thes... Full Page

Many health videos on YouTube, even those made by doctors, may not be giving viewers reliable medical information, a new study suggests.

Researchers reviewed 309 popular YouTube videos about cancer and diabetes and found that fewer than 1 in 5 were supported by high-quality scientific evidence. 

About two-thirds had low, very lo... Full Page

Gerber has announced a nationwide recall of some arrowroot biscuits made for babies after finding they may contain small pieces of soft plastic or paper, federal regulators said.

The recall affects specific batches of 5.5-ounce Gerber Arrowroot Biscuits with “Best Before” dates ranging from Oct. 16, 2026, through Dec. 16, 2026,... Full Page

Americans are living longer than ever.

U.S. life expectancy climbed to 79 years in 2024, the highest level on record, new federal data shows. Health officials say fewer deaths from COVID-19, along with drops in heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses, helped drive the increase.

“It’s pretty much good news all the way aro... Full Page

People whose drinking water contains more salt have an increased risk of high blood pressure, a new evidence review says.

Particularly in coastal regions, salt in drinking water could be an overlooked contributor to elevated blood pressure, researchers reported recently in the journal BMJ Global Health.

Higher salt in drinki... Full Page

Having trouble powering through your afternoon workload?

A brief nap can rejuvenate your brain power, a new study says.

Even a short afternoon nap helps the brain recover and improve its ability to learn, researchers recently reported in the journal NeuroImage.

Napping helps reorganize connections between nerve cells c... Full Page

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help reduce the number of breast cancers found between mammogram screenings, clinical trial results show.

There was a 12% reduction in cancer diagnoses in the years following AI-supported breast cancer screening — a key test of effectiveness, researchers reported Jan. 29 in The Lancet.

... Full Page

An already-approved immunotherapy drug can dramatically shrink — or even eliminate — tumors associated with a rare and aggressive form of melanoma, a new clinical trial has found.

About 71% of desmoplastic melanoma patients treated with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) had no detectable cancer remaining when it came time to surgically ... Full Page