CNN – Health

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Over 62 million Americans — roughly 1 in 5 people — may be exposed to potentially dangerous levels of nitrates in their tap water, a new report has shown. A compound of nitrogen and oxygen found naturally in air, water, soil and plants, nitrates become a health risk when

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Covid-19 vaccines roughly halved the chances that a US adult would need to visit the emergency room or be hospitalized with their infections last fall and winter, according to two sources familiar with the findings of a new study. But you won’t hear about it from the agency that

By Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN (CNN) — In my clinic, one of the first things I hear from men facing a fertility issue is often the same: “I didn’t know I could be the problem. Help me, Doc.” I’ve seen the entire spectrum — couples referred after she checked out fine, men getting a semen

By Michal Ruprecht, Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — Psychedelic drugs, once pushed to the fringes of medicine, are gaining serious attention within the Trump administration as potential treatment options for people with certain mental health conditions. And they could be getting closer to receiving approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. President Donald Trump

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The American Lung Association calls it a “grim indication of the deterioration of air quality nationwide”: Bangor, Maine, is the last city standing on all three of its “cleanest cities” lists. Bangor has zero days of unhealthy ozone and short-term particle pollution, and some of the lowest year-round concentrations

By Sarah Owermohle, Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had another long day on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with lawmakers questioning him on his vaccine views, agency shakeups and a proposed budget that would slash HHS spending on medical research and public health. The secretary made

By Michal Ruprecht, CNN (CNN) — Millions of Americans are turning to AI chatbots for health answers. Doctors are, too. But the ways doctors are incorporating AI chatbots into their practice are surprising. Specialized medical AI chatbots have quickly become a go-to source for many doctors and trainees. The CEO of one of these medical

By Caleb Hellerman (CNN) — Vita Sara Blechner’s life changed on a Saturday afternoon. The middle school librarian was home in Oceanside, New York, when she felt shooting pains in her back. After an acid reflux pill couldn’t soothe the fiery feeling, her husband suggested a trip to the emergency room. It was March 7,

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN (CNN) — When I started filming the first “Weed” documentary back in 2012, I could not have predicted where this journey would take me — or the stories that would keep unfolding long after that initial exploration into the world of cannabis. At the time, I thought I was making

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — You have a problem? There is probably a product that claims to solve it –– especially in the longevity space. Social media, stores and online ads are abuzz with different regimens, items, supplements and strategies promising a longer life and everlasting beauty. It can be easy to get swept

By Kara Alaimo, CNN (CNN) — Ever wonder why your kid goes ballistic when you try to take their screen away? It’s mostly not their fault. That outsize reaction occurs because devices are designed to make us all desire them so badly that we don’t log off, writes Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff in her new book,

By Sarah Owermohle, Brenda Goodman, Adam Cancryn, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s new pick to lead the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a public health veteran who has led vaccination programs, a new sign of the administration’s shifting views on vaccines. Dr. Erica Schwartz’s nomination to lead the embattled agency came

By Adam Cancryn, Michal Ruprecht, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days that will encourage more research into the psychedelic ibogaine, according to a person familiar with the order. The order will not push to reclassify ibogaine, which is a Schedule I controlled substance, a

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — You get home from a long trip and see a scribbled note is waiting for you on the table. “Call me. We need to talk,” the message from your partner reads. What do you think? A) “Oh my God, they want to break up with me, or something bad

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — Move more. Sit less. For many years, that’s been accepted guidance for people wanting to get healthier. Now that message is getting refined, with a growing body of research suggesting that certain types of movements may be more beneficial than others when it comes to health benefits. The intensity

By Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — For the majority of people who start using GLP-1 medicines with the hope of losing weight, the drugs can feel almost miraculous: Cravings are quieted. Exercise can become easier and more fun. Pounds that stubbornly remained for years finally dissipate. But for a smaller subset of people, the medicines

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — The image looks like a slice of highly marbled flesh, reminiscent of a high-end steak with abundant fine-grained streaks of fat. But that’s not dinner. It’s an MRI scan of the thigh of a 62-year-old woman who obtained 87% of her annual calories from ultraprocessed food. “This participant’s diet

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — The search for immortality is a tale as old as time, but it certainly has taken on a new look. The ancient Mesopotamian epic “Gilgamesh” chronicles a king’s search for immortality after the loss of a friend. Myths of a “fountain of youth” prevailed from the times of Alexander

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has approved changes to rules that govern an expert group that advises the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its vaccine recommendations. The move, part of Kennedy’s latest effort to reshape the country’s vaccine policy, follows a

By Lily Hautau, CNN (CNN) — If you have ever tossed and turned under heavy blankets, you’ve felt firsthand how being too warm can wreck your sleep. “Temperature is one of the most underappreciated factors in sleep,” said Joseph Dzierzewski, senior vice president of research and scientific affairs at the National Sleep Foundation. “We often

By Deidre McPhillips, Alicia Wallace, Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — The fertility rate in the United States has been trending down for decades, and new federal data shows that another drop last year brought the rate down to the lowest on record. About 3.6 million babies were born in the US in 2025, according to

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Eating a high-quality plant-rich diet that includes whole grains, vegetables and fruits may prevent cognitive impairment — even when people start that diet in their late 50s and 60s, according to a new study. “It’s never too late to start eating healthy to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

By Michal Ruprecht, CNN (CNN) — Marriage has existed for thousands of years – and it was once “almost universal,” according to Dr. Andrew J. Cherlin. But marriage rates are falling, and that means some people may be missing out on a potential health benefit. “It’s almost as if we split into two different societies,”

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — When did you last discuss how to poop or how digestion works? Dr. Trisha Pasricha wants to know, because if you’re like pretty much anyone who has ever walked into her clinic, that moment was probably when your parents were potty training you. While pooping in the toilet as

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — It’s not just how much time you spend sitting, but what you’re doing while sitting that may affect your health. Watching television and other “mentally passive” sedentary behaviors are linked to a higher risk of developing dementia, while more mentally engaging activities such as crossword puzzles appear to offer

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — Respiratory syncytial virus is continuing to spread later into the spring than usual, driving most states to extend the window for RSV immunizations for eligible infants and toddlers. RSV is a common respiratory virus that typically causes a mild illness like a cold. But it can cause serious illness

By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — If you exercise regularly but still deal with recurring aches, stiffness or movements that never feel as stable and fluid as they should, more stretching may not be the answer. The issue is often a muscular compensation pattern. Some of your muscles may be overworking to compensate for weakness

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — In 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic was in full swing, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory warning about the spread of health misinformation. “Health misinformation is a serious threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, harm people’s health, and undermine public health efforts,”

By Sandee LaMotte, Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — How do microplastics and pharmaceutical medications affect the safety of the nation’s tap water? It’s a question the US Environmental Protection Agency says it will try to answer for the first time. Officials are calling it a “major win” for the “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA,

By Hadia Zainab, CNN (CNN) — Val Stones, the “Great British Baking Show” star, was walking across a field to a nearby school meeting when she misjudged a step, fell onto her wrist and broke it. “I heard it break,” said Stones, author of “The Cake Whisperer,” who was 56 when that break led to