Judge Blocks Cuts to $11 Billion in Public Health Funding

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration from cutting $11 billion in public health funding -- at least for now.

U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, said Thursday that she would grant a temporary restraining o...

Common Chemicals in Plastics May Harm Baby Brain Development

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

Common chemicals used in plastic and personal care products may interfere with brain development in babies, a new study says.

Phthalates are found in many everyday items, like food packaging, shampoo, toys and vinyl flooring.

They help make plastics soft and carry ...

Trump Administration Orders More Cuts to CDC Budget

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not only lost nearly a fifth of its workforce, it has also been directed to slash $2.9 billion in contract spending.

That’s about 35% of its total contract budget. The agency has been ordered to comply b...

FDA Delays Final Approval of Novavax COVID Vaccine

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has delayed the full approval of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine. 

The decision had been expected by April 1, but the agency now says it needs more information before moving forward.

The Novavax shot is already avai...

Medicaid Expansion Protected Americans During COVID-19 Pandemic

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

Americans received some protection against death during the COVID-19 pandemic if they lived in a state that had expanded its Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a new study says.

Even though death rates rose nationwide during the pandemic, Medicaid expa...

Antidepressants Linked To Sudden Cardiac Death

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

Antidepressants appear to increase people’s risk of sudden cardiac death, a new study says.

People taking the mood meds are more likely to die suddenly from heart problems, and their risk rises the longer they’re on the drugs, according to findings presented ...

Discrimination Dramatically Increases Risk for Depression, Anxiety

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

Disrespected by a neighbor or colleague? Eyerolls from servers at a restaurant or store? Denied a job or a mortgage due to skin color?

More than half of Americans have experienced some such form of discrimination, and this mistreatment dramatically increases their risk o...

New Blood Test Can Diagnose, Track Alzheimer’s Disease

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

An experimental blood test for Alzheimer’s disease not only can aid in its diagnosis but also indicate how far the brain condition has progressed, a new study says.

The test tracks levels of a protein called MTBR-tau243, which is linked to toxic tau tangles that bu...

Bedsores More Likely In Short-Staffed Hospitals Leaning On Nurse OT, Travel Nurses

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

Hospitals could be short-changing patients if they lean too heavily on nurse staffing agencies or overtime hours, a new study says.

Patients are much more likely to develop bedsores at short-staffed hospitals that regularly bring in travel nurses or require nurses to wor...

Lifestyle Changes Boost Longevity For Cancer Survivors

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 4, 2025
• Full Page

Cancer survivors can reduce their ongoing risk of death by sticking to diet and exercise guidelines recommended by the American Cancer Society, a new study suggests.

Non-smoking survivors of obesity-related cancers had an overall lower risk of death if they adopted the A...

Longtime Head of 9/11 Health Program Let Go Amid Federal Job Cuts

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

The longtime leader of a federal health program for 9/11 survivors and first responders has been fired, worrying many advocates and lawmakers.

The program serves more than 100,000 people.

Dr. John Howard, head of the World Trade Center Health Program, lost his job ...

23 States Sue Over $12B in Public Health Cuts

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

A group of 23 states and Washington, D.C., is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over a sudden cut of $12 billion in public health funding.

The lawsuit says the rollback will disrupt vital services. It was filed Tuesday and asks the court to sto...

Two Louisiana Infants Die of Whooping Cough Amid Drop in Vaccinations

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

Health experts are warning that whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is making a dangerous comeback.

Cases are rising across the country, and Louisiana recently reported that two infants have died -- the state’s first deaths from the illness since 2018.

&...

How Cory Booker Prepped His Body To Break 25-Hour Senate Speech Record

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker stood on the Senate floor and spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes this week, breaking the modern record for the longest Senate speech ever.

Senate rules allow a member who is recognized by the presiding officer to speak for as long as they wish, as lon...

Blood Test Can Predict Recovery From Spinal Cord Paralysis

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

An experimental blood test might be able to help doctors predict whether someone will recover their mobility following a spinal cord injury.

The test looks for fragments of spinal cord DNA floating freely in a person’s blood, researchers recently reported in the

Unnecessary Imaging Scans Contributing To Climate Change

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

Thinking of splurging on a whole-body MRI or CT scan, based on the latest health fad?

Just keep in mind that you’ll be contributing to climate change, a new study says.

Unnecessary imaging scans for Medicare recipients alone create up to 129 metric kilotons o...

Screen Time Linked To Poor Sleep, Depression Among Teen Girls

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

THURSDAY, April 3, 2025 -- Can’t get your teenage girl off her smartphone, iPad or laptop?

This could cost her much-needed sleep and increase her risk of depression, a new Swedish study says.

Teenagers who spend more time on screens tend to get worse sleep, b...

Even Wealthy Americans Die Younger Than Europeans

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

Death comes for everyone, be they rich or poor.

But no amount of money will help Americans live longer than Europeans, a new study says.

Even the richest Americans face shorter lifespans compared to well-heeled Europeans, according to results published April 2 in t...

'Weekend Warriors' Reap Similar Health Benefits As Steady Exercisers

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

Life is busy, and some folks simply don’t have time until the weekend to work out.

Turns out, that’s just fine for their health, a new study suggests.

“Weekend warriors” who cram their week’s exercise into one or two days appear to gai...

Stroke Risk From Neck Artery Tears Is Rising Fast

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 3, 2025
• Full Page

Strokes caused by an artery tear are landing five times as many Americans in the hospital these days, a new study says.

Cervical artery dissection involves a small tear in the inner lining of an artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain.

Blood can clot at...