Health

CMS data shows about 1.4 million fewer people have selected Affordable Care Act plans so far this enrollment period, with premium costs rising and enhanced premium tax credits having expired.

A recent analysis finds that several peer-reviewed studies reporting micro- and nanoplastics in human tissues face methodological challenges, citing lab contamination, false positives from fatty tissue, and limits in detection technology.

President Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to allow whole milk options in the National School Lunch Program, and the Department of Agriculture said it will update Child Nutrition Programs to implement the change.

Several states have begun banning purchases of soda and candy with SNAP benefits, but state rules treat beverages that contain milk differently, so sugary canned coffee labeled as containing milk can remain eligible in some programs.

Medicare generally does not cover custodial long-term care, and CareScout and Genworth report average annual costs ranging from about $70,800 for assisted living to $127,750 for a private nursing home.

Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties now offers self-collection HPV testing for patients 30 and older at nine health centers, with samples sent to a lab and results reported within about three days.

The American Cancer Society reports that 70% of U.S. cancer patients diagnosed 2015–2021 survived at least five years, up from about 49% in the mid-1970s; the report also notes rising incidence for several common cancers and persistent racial disparities.

Mattel released its first autistic Barbie developed with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, featuring sensory-friendly clothing, articulated joints, a gentle side gaze, and accessories such as noise-canceling headphones; the company said it will donate more than 1,000 dolls to pediatric hospitals.

The Bay Area Air District extended its Spare the Air alert through at least Saturday, banning indoor and outdoor burning of wood and other solid fuels. Fine particulate levels were at or above the district's threshold and are expected to remain in the mid- to high-moderate range.

Zion Foster posted a video reading a poem for his twin daughters after they were diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, and Jesy Nelson said doctors told them the girls may never walk.

President Donald Trump announced a plan to replace Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies with direct payments into health savings accounts, and the White House says the plan would lower drug prices and make costs more transparent.

The Department of Health and Human Services reinstated $2 billion for mental health and substance use programs less than a day after notifying recipients that the funds would be canceled, following strong public and professional backlash.

Sophie visited Thames Valley Air Ambulance in Stokenchurch on Jan. 14 and met crews and took part in training; the charity’s crew airlifted her in 2001 after an ectopic pregnancy, when she required emergency surgery.

A cardiologist and another specialist cited video of President Trump appearing to nod off during an Oval Office event and called for a medical evaluation; the White House and the president's doctors say he remains in excellent health.

The op‑ed describes clinicians encountering parents influenced by online misinformation and notes recent policy shifts in U.S. immunization guidance; it also summarizes decades of trials and large studies that the author says find no link between vaccine ingredients or schedules and conditions like autism.

A first-time mother's TikTok showing her gently stopping a grandmother from kissing her newborn went viral, and pediatric infectious disease experts warned that newborns face higher risks from certain infections.

CNN Underscored tested several pillows and named the Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow its top pick and the Beckham Hotel Collection Down‑Alternative Pillow the best budget option.

A contoured memory-foam cervical pillow priced at $39.98 is reported by multiple user reviews to ease neck and shoulder pressure and improve sleep quality.

Andre Yarham, 24, died after a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and his family donated his brain to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for research.

Federal officials reversed a move that had halted roughly $2 billion in grants for mental health and addiction programs, restoring the funds after about 24 hours of uncertainty.

Boston Scientific will buy medtech firm Penumbra for about $14.5 billion to expand its cardiovascular device offerings, and the companies expect the transaction to be completed in 2026.

The World Health Organization urged higher taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks after two reports linked those products to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, injuries and cancer and found taxes have not kept pace with inflation.

A consultant paediatrician at Hull Royal Infirmary reported a rise in children admitted with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory infections; NHS England data show winter months see more than 30,000 emergency admissions of children under 10 for respiratory illnesses.

A June 2025 analysis of more than 88,000 UK Biobank participants found disrupted sleep patterns were associated with an increased risk across 172 diseases; researchers and clinicians noted the study is observational and does not prove causation.

WHO Ethiopia supported a five-day capacity-building training in Adama in December 2025 for enforcement agencies to advance Tobacco Control Proclamation No. 1112/2019, attended by 60 participants. Ethiopia's 2024 GATS reports overall tobacco use at 4.6% with persistent daily smoking.

A Jefferies analysis says wider use of weight-loss drugs could cut as much as $580 million in fuel costs for the largest US airlines this year, based on estimated declines in passenger weight.

A study led by Sidhartha R. Sinha reports that a fasting-mimicking diet was associated with lower fecal calprotectin and reductions in several inflammation-related blood and immune markers; some participants reported fatigue or headache while no serious side effects were reported.

A CARMA survey of more than 1,100 cigarette and vape users found high vaping rates among 19–24-year-olds in Southern Mindanao and that nearly 60% of respondents reported buying illegal smoking products, often because they are cheaper than legal options.

Sprouted-grain and whole-grain breads typically provide about 3–4 grams of fiber per slice, and multi-seed or multi-grain varieties are noted as additional sources of dietary fiber.

Veterans and VA staff protested outside the San Francisco VA hospital after the VA announced a December reorganization that would make about 25,000 long-unfilled positions permanent.