Health

The article says abstinence-focused resets like Dry January and cannabis T-breaks often oversimplify substance use, and presents moderation-management and harm-reduction strategies as evidence-based alternatives.

A Florida woman says spider bites led to infections and the amputation of two toes; she filed a negligence claim on November 25 against her former apartment complex seeking more than $50,000.

The FDA designated a class II recall after Carrot Top Country Kitchens found sesame was not listed on labels of five hummus varieties; no illnesses have been reported.

A Florida father, Kevin Duncan, died after choking on a steak at The Boathouse in Disney Springs; his estate says staff contacted security instead of calling 911 and has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit requesting a jury trial and damages.

A coroner concluded that an 81-year-old woman who fell outside a GP surgery in Denbigh in February 2025 likely died from injuries sustained in the fall rather than from a subsequent collision with her son's car.

A trial of 1,624 people with chronic lower back pain found that an enhanced transtheoretical model intervention (ETMI) — a self‑management approach that addresses beliefs and encourages leisure physical activity — improved function and reduced the number of treatment sessions compared with usual care, while pain scores did not differ significantly. The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers who sampled insects around El Paso and Las Cruces report that about 84.6% of tested 'kissing bugs' carried the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, and many of the bugs were collected close to homes.

Official figures show maternal deaths in the UK rose 20% for 2022–24 compared with 2009–11, and the government has not met its 2025 target; officials have ordered a rapid national investigation and new NHS guidance is being rolled out.

Police told one family their teenage son had died after officers used personal items from a December crash to identify victims; dental records later showed the identities had been swapped.

Health officials report high flu activity across the UK and recommend targeted mask use; NHS hospitals are operating near full capacity with 92% of adult beds in use.

Israel has barred entry to some foreign medical and humanitarian staff and ordered 37 international NGOs to halt operations unless they register staff details with Israeli authorities. Israeli officials said about 23 groups agreed to the new rules and NGOs were given 60 days to conclude operations.

A girl found abandoned as a newborn in east London is to be adopted and will have regular contact with her two siblings, a family court heard.

A tribunal found Paula Smith was unfairly dismissed by the North West Ambulance Service after police dropped enquiries linking her to her wife's criminal case; the judge summed up the tribunal's view with the two-word question "So what?".

A BMJ review of 37 studies involving 9,341 people found that, on average, those who stopped GLP‑1 weight-loss drugs returned to their original weight in about 1.7 years and that cardio‑metabolic markers tended to revert in about 1.4 years.

Anthony Esan has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teeton and to possession of two bladed weapons; sentencing is scheduled for February 9–11, 2026.

On Good Morning Britain, Susanna Reid pressed Health Secretary Wes Streeting about staffing for a government plan to launch an NHS Online hospital in 2027 that will offer online care for nine common conditions and aims to deliver 8.5 million appointments in its first three years.

Alveus Therapeutics secured $159.8 million in a Series A round to advance treatments aimed at sustaining weight loss, including ALV‑100 and ALV‑200, the article reports.

An AP-NORC poll found about 2 in 10 U.S. adults donated to crowdfunding campaigns last year, with medical expenses the most common cause; many Americans expressed only limited confidence in platform fees and campaign accountability.

A 28-year-old father waited about 15 hours between his 999 call and imaging at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and died ten days later; NHS Lothian apologised for the wait and the Scottish Ambulance Service offered sympathies and asked the family to engage with its Patient Experience Team.

Cat Deeley said Jesy Nelson was very upset backstage before a This Morning interview in which Nelson discussed her twin daughters' diagnosis of SMA Type 1 and her campaign for a newborn blood test.

Marie Curie and Run Your Mind have launched monthly Grief Run Clubs in London, offering 5km runs for people experiencing grief; the first sessions are set for Jan 27 and Feb 18. A Marie Curie poll found 27% of adults turn to running after losing a loved one and many runners report mental-health benefits.

A French cohort study of 108,723 adults published in Nature Communications found that higher intake of food preservatives was associated with about a 47% higher incidence of type 2 diabetes, and 12 of 17 individual preservatives examined showed links; the authors say further research is needed to confirm the findings.

A boy from Nottingham developed meningoencephalitis after a prolonged chest infection and was reported to have had about an hour to live at hospital; he spent a month in hospital and is now slowly returning to school while still experiencing memory and mobility challenges.

Reporters tested Neuro's chewing gum, which contains about 40 mg of caffeine and 60 mg of L-theanine per piece, and reported improved alertness and focus during afternoon slumps.

Health chiefs warn long-term use of common over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays can cause lasting harm to the airways; ITV/Ipsos research found many users exceed the seven-day recommended limit.

Charlotte Johnstone, 30, told Good Morning Britain she developed long-standing dependence on decongestant nasal sprays after first using them as a child, and a pharmacist on the show explained that overuse can produce rebound congestion and a cycle of increased use.

Fitness coach Shonel posted ten TikTok tips to help reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness, focusing on warm-ups, cool-downs, hydration, foam rolling, active recovery, protein and heat/cold therapies. The article notes DOMS is the soreness felt 24–72 hours after strenuous or unfamiliar exercise.

A pooled analysis of 908 patients with cervical spinal cord injury found higher lower extremity motor scores at one year with methylprednisolone (MPSS) in AIS grade A (complete) injuries, but no clear motor benefit in AIS grades B–D; overall in‑hospital adverse events were not increased and some categories were reduced in AIS A.

Three high school pupils are reported to have fallen through a window on the top deck of a school bus and were taken to hospital with potentially serious injuries; emergency services including an air ambulance attended and Bolton Road was temporarily closed and has since reopened.

A report cited about 17.5 million Britons planned a month-long Dry January, but only around a third are estimated to complete it. The article reports experts suggesting value-based goals and a 'delay, check-in, engage' technique to reduce cravings.