CNN – Health

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — There are many reasons to avoid ultraprocessed foods, including a link with heart disease, diabetes and obesity, but an increased risk of lung cancer may be yet another, a new study suggests. Ultraprocessed foods contain ingredients “never or rarely used in kitchens, or classes of additives whose function is

Opinion by Dr. Jerome Adams (CNN) — The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which experts predict will reduce Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans, combined with the proposed elimination of a $56 million grant for overdose reversal training and distribution, threatens to undermine progress in reducing opioid overdose deaths. Medicaid, particularly through its

By Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — Federal officials promised on Tuesday to crack down on a potent semisynthetic opioid found in convenience store gummies, drinks and dietary supplements by putting the substance in the most restricted class of drugs. The action by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department targets

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — As her memory faded from Alzheimer’s disease in her late 50s, Tammy Maida began to lose track of her life. Car keys, eyeglasses and her purse disappeared multiple times a day. Key characters in novels she was reading were forgotten. Groceries were left in the garage. Keeping the books

By Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that he is working with the Justice Department to overhaul a national program that compensates people injured by vaccination. Kennedy, a longtime critic of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, wrote on X that he would “fix” the

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — At 62, Phyllis Jones felt trapped in darkness. She was traumatized by her mother’s recent death, ongoing pandemic stress and an increasingly toxic work environment. A sudden panic attack led to a medical leave. Her depression worsened until the day her 33-year-old son sadly told her, “Mom, I didn’t

By Issy Ronald, CNN You can actually die of a broken heart after the death of a loved one, especially if the grief is overwhelming, new research shows. Bereaved relatives who experienced “high levels” of grief symptoms were more likely to die in the 10 years following their bereavement than those who experienced “low levels”

By Kameryn Griesser, CNN (CNN) — If you needed another reason to get your daily steps in, science just handed you one. A new study shows that walking daily can reduce the risk of cognitive decline — especially among those with a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease. Almost 3,000 participants between the ages of 70

Essay by Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — After a long day of work, I climb onto the couch to make plans for the rest of the week, and my mind buzzes with everything I could put on my priority list. I should spend less time on social media, but it is also good to stay

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Chia seeds, goji berries, strawberries and raspberries: A TikTok user going by the name “impamibaby” is filling her pretty wooden breakfast bowl with fiber-rich foods and filming it, inspiring her audience to eat more of the nutrient she says has made her bloating disappear. She’s “#fibermaxxing” — the practice

By Katherine Dillinger, CNN (CNN) — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to remove the expert advisers who make up a federal panel on preventive health care, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The future of the US Preventive Services Task Force has been in doubt since HHS called off

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — Millions of dollars have been pulled from state and local vaccination programs with no explanation, after a review of the funding agreements by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Affected programs say they will probably have to cut staffers and services because of the shortfall, and they

By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — Health experts universally recommend walking as one of the simplest, most accessible forms of exercise — and for good reason. Regular walks offer plenty of physiological and mental health benefits, research has shown. The activity can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood and energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and even

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration appears poised to continue with a plan to ban prescription fluoride supplements at a time when many experts say that access to the products has become especially important. Most US residents live in a community where fluoride is added to the public drinking

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — All menopause treatments containing the hormone estrogen are mandated by the US Food and Drug Administration to carry a black box warning on the label, stating that the treatments could increase the risk of strokes, blood clots, dementia and breast cancer. Now, that advisory may be going away. Last

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Does the popular activity benchmark of walking 10,000 steps a day feel like too distant of a goal? Don’t worry, you can get health benefits just by moving a little more than you already are, new research has found. When possible, aiming for 7,000 steps a day is a

By Jacqueline Howard, Brenda Goodman, Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — The US Department of Health and Human Services has adopted a recommendation to remove thimerosal from all influenza vaccines distributed in the United States, even though there is no clear evidence of harm from the mercury-based preservative. On Wednesday, the department announced that HHS Secretary

By Brenda Goodman, Meg Tirrell, Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — A nonprofit anti-vaccine group founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said it is funding a lawsuit against him, in his capacity as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, for failing to establish a task force to promote the development of safer

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Extremely high levels of toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been found in a small sampling of reusable menstrual pads and panties, according to a new study. “Whether we wear feminine hygiene products or not, we will all be exposed,” said senior study author Graham Peaslee,

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The US Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that it’s undertaking an initiative to reform the country’s organ donation system, after a federal investigation found that one organization in the Kentucky region began the process to take organs from people who may not have been dead. A

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Plant-based meats have an image problem. It’s not flavor or appearance. Look-alike beef burgers, chicken-like nuggets and faux pork sausages often cook like meat — some even bleed and sizzle in the pan — and are tasty enough to be gobbled up by climate-conscious carnivores. It’s not their role

By Dakin Andone, CNN (CNN) — A man died last week after being pulled into an MRI machine by a “large metallic chain” police said he was wearing around his neck – highlighting the importance of checking for any metallic objects before going near the powerful magnets used in the medical imaging machines. The 61-year-old

By Sara Sidner, CNN (CNN) — Dr. Judith Joseph says joy isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a part of who we are. “We are built with that DNA for joy. It’s our birthright as human beings,” she told me recently. Joseph is a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher who has made it her mission to

Personal essay by Dr. Jen Harvey, CNN (CNN) — “Who wants to start in goal?” I asked. Four kids’ hands shot up. “OK. We’ll go in this order today.” I recalled who’d seemed the most ready at our last practice and suggested an order. “Next game, we’ll change it up,” I promised. A few minutes

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Starting this fall, a cane sugar-sweetened version of Coca-Cola will be on store shelves, the company announced Tuesday. The news comes several days after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had been speaking with the Coca-Cola Company about using “REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — A person died from pneumonic plague in Arizona last week, the first death from the disease in this region in nearly two decades. This death might bring to mind the bubonic plague, the form of the plague that killed millions during the Middle Ages. This latest case is not

By Adam Cancryn, CNN (CNN) — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired two of his top aides in an abrupt shakeup of the leadership at the nation’s sprawling health department, two people familiar with the matter told CNN. Kennedy’s chief of staff, Heather Flick Melanson, and deputy chief of

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth have officially ended operations, meaning people contacting 988 for help no longer have the option to “press 3” to reach counselors specifically trained to respond to the needs of this group. The lifeline included a subnetwork for LGBTQ+

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Better health for your whole body can be broken down into just seven factors, according to a new study. Life’s Simple 7 is the American Heart Association’s guidelines for achieving and maintaining ideal cardiovascular health. The factors include not smoking, a nutritious diet, regular exercise, a healthy weight, optimal

By Kameryn Griesser, CNN (CNN) — Tossing and turning every night? Doing more physical activities throughout the week is a known way to improve sleep, but new research shows you don’t have to run a marathon or visit a gym to reap those benefits. Low-intensity, low-impact exercise can improve sleep and ease the symptoms of