Health

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said efforts to reduce ultra-processed foods are akin to 'spiritual warfare' and cited administration data that about 70% of what American children consume is ultra-processed.

A West Philadelphia Public Health Management Corporation clinic offers primary, dental and social services under one roof and reports serving Medicaid and uninsured patients on a sliding fee scale.

The White House launched TrumpRx, a government portal listing discounts on 43 brand-name drugs; the article notes the site directs users to manufacturer programs and cash-pay pharmacies, and experts say the savings mostly help uninsured or cash-paying patients.

The PASTEUR Act was reintroduced in the House by five members proposing a subscription-style federal payment model to support development of new antibiotics and antifungals.

The Galleri blood test screens cell-free DNA for cancer signals but misses many early-stage cancers and produces a notable share of false positives; no randomized trial has yet shown it reduces cancer deaths and large studies are ongoing.

A two-week experiment of stopping makeup produced no noticeable difference in the writer's breakouts, pores, or redness, and dermatologists told the author that product formulation and nightly removal matter more than avoiding makeup altogether.

Recent studies reported links between shingles vaccination and a modest reduction in new dementia diagnoses, and a separate analysis associated moderate caffeinated coffee or tea intake with lower dementia risk and preserved cognitive function.

D.C. Health said attendees of last month's March for Life may have been exposed to measles at several District locations between Jan. 21 and Feb. 2, and the agency is notifying people who were there.

A boil-water advisory affecting nearly 100,000 Pennsylvania American Water customers in Washington and Allegheny counties was lifted Monday after a second round of water tests collected Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 tested negative for bacterial contamination.

A long-term observational study of about 132,000 U.S. health professionals found that drinking 2–3 cups of caffeinated coffee or 1–2 cups of tea daily was associated with a lower dementia risk and slightly better cognitive performance; decaffeinated coffee did not show the same association.

Temperatures are about 10 to 15 degrees below average and the city is under a cold alert; officials say they have added hotel shelter units, school warming centers and warming buses.

Dietitians speaking to TODAY.com say increasing fiber slowly — about 5 grams per day each week — can help reach a daily goal of roughly 25–40 grams without causing bloating or gas, and the article lists fiber-rich foods and notes that staying hydrated supports digestion.

A pediatrician told the author that using a children's toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste and starting mouth care early are sufficient, and the newsletter notes that baby teeth matter because cavities remain a concern even as rates in young children have declined.

A small randomized pilot at Virginia Commonwealth University found that brief therapy dog visits were associated with larger reductions in loneliness among 60 patients hospitalized for acute mental illness compared with other groups, according to researchers reporting in Front in Psychiatry.

A Brazilian randomized trial of 102 adults found a 12-week program of brief intermittent high-intensity exercise produced larger drops in panic severity and attack frequency than a relaxation therapy, and the results were published in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

A study by Vitality and LSE reported that following a 7:1 sleep rule — at least seven hours of sleep and falling asleep within a one-hour window most nights — could add about four years to life expectancy. The article describes five expert-backed sleep hygiene strategies the author uses to keep a consistent schedule.

A Hutchinson mother performed CPR on her 18-year-old son during a cardiac arrest while a 911 dispatcher guided her. Paramedics later restored his pulse and the family says he left the hospital with no lasting brain damage.

Moves to nursing homes or assisted living often happen suddenly, and federal CMS star ratings can flag problematic nursing homes though they rely on self-reported data and have limits.

Ronald Hicks delivered his first Sunday homily at St. Patrick's Cathedral after being installed as New York's archbishop, using contrasts such as sports and pizza to illustrate a theme and stressing evangelization and care for the vulnerable.

NAMI Maryland and other advocates will go to Annapolis for Advocacy Day on February 10 to ask lawmakers to protect state funding after the proposed FY27 budget included a reduction for the Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports. NAMI’s executive director reported rising mental health needs among people of all ages.

A U.S. survey of 2,090 adolescents and their parents found that higher-quality family meals were associated with 22%–34% lower reported alcohol, cannabis and e-cigarette use among teens with lower levels of childhood adversity. The study reported limited benefit of shared meals for adolescents with adversity scores equivalent to four or more adverse childhood experiences.

Dr. Mary Claire Haver says about 50% of women can expect an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime, and subtle clues such as loss of height, back pain, receding gums and brittle nails may signal lower bone density.

Dave Coulier said he is in complete remission after two cancer diagnoses and credited early detection during routine checkups with finding a second cancer early. He described how noticing body changes and a prompt medical visit helped lead to the diagnosis.

A Vitality–LSE analysis reported that meeting a '7:1' sleep goal most nights was associated with longer life expectancy and lower markers linked to cognitive decline for adults aged 40 and over.

A Nashville mother underwent a paid full‑body MRI that found a lung spot; follow-up testing led to a Stage 1B lung cancer diagnosis and prompt surgery. She has written a book and launched a foundation to support screening access and research.

Admiral Brian Christine, MD, writing as Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS, opposes assisted suicide and calls for greater investment in palliative, hospice, and mental health services; the article notes Illinois recently legalized assisted suicide and New York’s governor has pledged to sign a Medical Aid in Dying bill.

Frozen vegetables can be used in green, tomato, or white pasta sauces and are often frozen soon after harvest to help preserve flavor and many nutrients. They come pre-cleaned and chopped, which can shorten prep time for weeknight meals.

Authorities say an 8-year-old boy in Round Lake Beach died after reported long-term neglect and abuse; his mother and her boyfriend have been charged and are due in court Sunday.

Mike Tyson posted a 30-second Super Bowl ad, paid for by nonprofit MAHA Center, in which he describes past struggles with processed foods and severe weight gain. The article notes medical experts saying excess processed foods can increase risks such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

The UN Secretary-General said violence in South Sudan is increasingly targeting humanitarian and health services and that nearly 10 million people now need life‑saving assistance; large displacement and a worsening cholera outbreak have been reported.