New Plan Aims To Track Microplastics in U.S. Drinking Water, EPA Says

U.S. officials are taking a closer look at what’s in America’s drinking water, including microplastics and leftover medications.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to add these substances to its list of priority pollutants, a move that could spur more research and regulations.

EPA Administrator...

New White House Budget Plan Would Reduce HHS Funding by Billions

The Trump administration is proposing major cuts to federal health spending, including a more than 12% reduction to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The proposed 2027 budget would give HHS about $111.1 billion, down roughly $15.8 billion from its current funding.

The plan comes from President Donald Trump, but ...

New Technologies Make Lung Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment Quicker and Safer

Many aberrations picked up on lung cancer screens are harmless and benign, but a dangerous few are not. 

Now, robotic technology might quickly and safely sort out the good from the bad, a new study suggests. That could be a big win for patients, said lead author Dr. Sebastian Fernandez-Bussy. 

"Lung cancer survival depends ...

Move Over, Cigarettes: Vapes Now the Leading Nicotine Danger for Kids

For decades, cigarettes in American homes were the bane of child health experts. 

But as their use has plummeted, a new foe has emerged: Vaping.

Looking at more than 92,000 U.S. poison control center reports of "nicotine exposures" in kids under the age of 6, researchers found that exposures from cigarettes and other traditional...

Getting a Scan? Time to Results Has Doubled Since 2014

A look at millions of medical imaging orders finds Americans are waiting twice as long now for their results as they did in 2014, with the biggest surge in wait times occurring recently.

Shortages of trained radiologists are to blame for the problem, with poorer communities being especially hard hit, researchers say.

“While tur...

Autoimmune Diseases Like Lupus, Psoriasis May Raise Cancer Risk

Cancer risk is higher for people battling autoimmune diseases, but the danger declines after they start taking anti-inflammatory medications, a new report finds.

Italian researchers reporting in the journal Cancers found a 32% increase in the odds for cancer in the first year after a diagnosis for an autoimmune disease such as lup...

DNA-Based Blood Test Could Help Guide Throat Cancer Treatment

People battling throat cancer may gain extra guidance on their treatment with DNA blood tests taken before and after tumor-removing surgery, a new study shows.

In a new trial involving 104 patients, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing helped doctors make decisions about the need for further treatment, researchers said.

The patients...

Could Low Birth Weight Raise Odds for an Early Stroke?

Being born especially tiny might confer a long-term rise in risk for stroke at a relatively young age, new data suggests.

The Swedish study couldn't prove cause-and-effect, but the association suggests that doctors might want to consider birth weight as a factor when assessing stroke risk in young adults, researchers said.

"Lower bir...

What Sea Creatures Reveal About How Fast People Age

This is no ordinary fish story.

Researchers who videotaped every moment in the lives of 81 African turquoise killfish gleaned intriguing insights into the aging process that may also apply to humans.

Though killfish live just four to eight months, they share important biological features with people, including a complex brain. That m...

How to Tell if Spring Symptoms Owe to Allergy, Cold or Something More Serious

When your head is splitting, your nose is running nonstop, your eyes are itching and you’re coughing, coughing, coughing, what’s the best way to fight back?

That depends on what’s causing your symptoms, said Dr. Ian Tullberg, an urgent care and family medicine provider at UCHealth in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

It m...

USDA Warns of Lead Risk in Frozen Dino-Shaped Chicken Nuggets

Food safety officials are warning the public not to eat certain frozen chicken nuggets after tests found dangerous levels of lead.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert for dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets sold under the Great Value brand at Walmart.

A r...

New Heart Diet Advice Counters U.S. Guidance on Meat and Dairy

The nation's leading heart health organization is urging folks to rethink where they get their protein. 

The goal? Focus more on plants.

The American Heart Association (AHA) released new nutrition guidance recommending plant-based proteins like beans, lentils and nuts instead of red and processed meats.

The group also reco...

Peeled Garlic Recalled Over Risk of Deadly Botulism

Some peeled garlic is being recalled because it may pose a risk for a serious type of food poisoning.

Tops Friendly Markets announced the recall of Christopher Ranch and Garland brand peeled garlic because the products may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a type of bacteria that can cause life-threatening illness.

Some CDC Lab Testing Paused Amid Internal Review

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has paused more than two dozen types of lab tests.

Officials said the move is temporary.

The explanation?

"A routine review to uphold our commitment to high quality laboratory testing," Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sai...

Nerve Stimulation Therapy May Ease Fibromyalgia Pain, Fatigue

In its first "real-world" trial, the nerve stimulation treatment called TENS appeared to reduce the pain and tiredness of fibromyalgia.

"The study shows that TENS provides an added benefit on top of any relief from other treatments," said study first author Dana Dailey of the University of Iowa. 

"All the study participants were...

Psychotherapists Often Poorly Trained in Treating Muscle-Linked Disorders in Males

Boys and men can also develop eating disorders, and rates for these psychiatric issues are rising — even as psychotherapists admit they have trouble spotting and treating them.

So finds a new study of 259 American and Canadian psychotherapists.

"Boys and men with eating disorders are often hiding in plain sight," said study lea...

Missing From Most Doctor-Patient Talks: Sleep Issues

Even though most folks know it's key to good health, sleep often goes undiscussed during doctor visits, a new survey finds. 

Almost half (45%) of adults said they never talk about sleep quality with their doctor, according to a poll from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

That could bring real harm, said AASM spokesp...

Plastics Chemical Linked To Nearly 2 Million Preterm Births Each Year

A common chemical that makes plastics more pliable may come with a grim downside: Nearly 2 million premature births per year, new research shows.

Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) belongs to a class of chemicals called phthalates, which have long been linked to health hazards in people. 

Phthalates are ubiquitous in products rangi...

Most Americans Don't Realize Brain Donation Is Needed to Study Autism

Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of autism research, but a new survey has uncovered a lack of  awareness that could be slowing scientific progress. 

Very few realize that the most critical tool for researchers — the human brain — is in short supply.

While nearly everyone agrees that studying the brain is ...

Weekend Binge Drinking Triples Risk of Permanent Liver Damage

Many folks think it’s OK to belt back a few extra rounds on Saturday night if they stay mostly sober during the week.

But saving up your drinks for a single sitting could be a recipe for liver problems, new research suggests.

A team at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine linked occasional heavy...