Health

Sanitation crews cleaned a Queens encampment but left mattresses and personal items, and new city guidelines limit police authority to clear encampments while prioritizing a housing-first outreach model.

A Border Patrol agent reportedly shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan. 24; a vigil drew over a thousand people and a memorial has been set up at the site.

A VA physician said Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse reportedly killed by federal officers in Minneapolis, was kind and highly skilled.

A study found people with color vision deficiency were more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer at later, more invasive stages and had a higher long-term risk of death compared with those with normal color vision.

The article explains the four main cholesterol measurements—total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides—and lists common guideline ranges such as total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL and triglycerides below 150 mg/dL.

Harvard researchers report that gut bacteria can produce gases that are chemically transformed into hormones linked to pregnancy and mood, according to a study published in Cell. Lead author Dr. Megan McCurry said the work identifies a microbial chemical transformation that produces a steroid that could affect women's health and postpartum depression.

Cardiologists note a normal adult resting heart rate is commonly about 60–80 beats per minute, and persistent elevation or an irregular rhythm can be linked with cardiovascular risk.

New research analyzing 36,258 UK Biobank participants found people with severe vitamin D deficiency (below 15 nmol/L) had a 33% higher hospitalization rate for respiratory tract infections than those with levels of 75 nmol/L or higher, and each 10 nmol/L increase was linked to a 4% lower hospitalization rate.

A winter storm is expected to bring 12 to 20 inches of snow to Boston this weekend, and the American Veterinary Medical Association and the ASPCA have issued guidance on protecting pets in cold conditions.

A pop-up screening at the North Shields fish quay identified a stage four melanoma in a fisherman who was docked by bad weather; he later had successful surgery and is reported cancer free.

Cholesterol is the biochemical starting material the body uses to make testosterone, and higher LDL cholesterol is associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and blood-vessel changes that may affect testosterone production.

Medical experts say shoveling combines cold exposure and heavy exertion, which can strain the heart and body; a large Canadian study linked heavy snowfalls to higher heart attack hospitalizations and deaths in men.

Cold weather can narrow blood vessels and thicken joint fluid, which can increase stiffness. A 2022 University of Michigan report found about 70% of adults ages 50 to 80 experience joint pain.

Dermatologists and an esthetician said harsh physical scrubs and overly stripping cleansers can weaken the skin barrier and increase irritation, and they recommend gentler, hydrating, barrier-supporting products along with daily sun protection.

The new U.S. dietary guidelines remove specific daily alcohol limits and have prompted debate over whether drinking helps social connection.

A 12-year-old boy, Nico Antic, died on Jan. 24 after being bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour on Jan. 18; he had been taken to Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, in critical condition. His family has posted a memorial message and a GoFundMe has raised more than $250,000.

Usha and JD Vance announced they are expecting their fourth child, a boy due in late July, and said Usha and the baby are doing well. Experts note that at age 40 she is considered to have advanced maternal age, which is reported as carrying higher risks such as preeclampsia, miscarriage and preterm labor.

Quizzes such as Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn's Sexual Profile, the Erotic Blueprint and Ferly's Turn Yourself On are being used to give people language for sexual preferences, and experts say labels can help communication while also carrying stigma or becoming overly rigid.

Ali Fedotowsky-Manno said a recent follow-up ultrasound found a spot on her husband Kevin Manno’s remaining thyroid that they plan to monitor; Kevin had half of his thyroid removed after a 2025 diagnosis and was previously reported as cancer-free.

A Louisville fifth-grade teacher was indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy of a child under 12; she pleaded not guilty and is due back in court Monday.

After more than a year of measles outbreaks that have sickened over 2,400 people, the United States is poised to lose its measles elimination status; CDC principal deputy Ralph Abraham said he was unbothered, and the agency is completing genomic analyses before the Pan American Health Organization decides.

South Carolina's Department of Public Health reported 54 new measles cases in three days, bringing the Upstate outbreak to 700 cases centered in Spartanburg County, and the CDC has recorded 416 U.S. measles cases so far in 2026; the Pan American Health Organization invited the United States and Mexico to a virtual meeting on April 13 to review elimination status.

Researchers released the first atlas of lysosomal proteins across major brain cell types, cataloging 790 proteins and identifying links between some proteins and conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and an SLC45A1-associated disorder; the data are publicly available.

A coalition led by the Gates Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation and Wellcome is awarding $60 million through the Gram‑Negative Antibiotic Discovery Innovator (Gr‑ADI) to research teams in 17 countries to support discovery of new antibiotics for gram‑negative bacteria; more than 500 proposals were submitted.

Jackée Harry told PEOPLE she lost 50 pounds after taking a GLP-1 medication prescribed for pre-diabetes and later underwent a facelift to treat a sagging neck; she is recovering and says she is no longer taking the medication.

A writer describes receiving an ADHD diagnosis in her forties after neuropsychological testing and explains that ADHD often presents differently in women and is commonly misunderstood.

Anne Hatton Ogden, 67, who has retinitis pigmentosa, uses her other senses and assistive tools like a guide dog, a talking scale and a smart oven to prepare sheet‑pan meals and other dishes.

A case-control study using Vaccine Safety Datalink records found no association between following the routine childhood vaccine schedule or cumulative aluminum adjuvant exposure and epilepsy risk in children under four; researchers compared 2,089 epilepsy cases with 20,139 matched controls.

Manitoba has welcomed 13 US-trained doctors since May after creating a recruitment and retention office; one recent recruit from Michigan cited political interference in US health care and Canada's publicly funded system as factors.

A guide outlines seven vitamins and natural supplements — including magnesium, melatonin and vitamin D — that studies and market research associate with improved sleep, and it notes possible side effects, interactions and that supplements are not regulated like prescription drugs.