Nearly Half of Americans Fear They Can’t Afford Care in 2026, Poll Finds

Many Americans are bracing for higher medical costs in the new year and a growing number say those expenses are already shaping their decisions for care, according to a new survey.

The latest West Health–Gallup poll, shows that 47% of adults are worried they won’t be able to afford health care in 2026, the highest level since t...

Whooping Cough Surges Nationwide as Vaccinations Fall

Whooping cough is making a major comeback in the United States, with sharp increases now seen in Texas, Florida, California, Oregon and many other places.

Health officials say the latest rise in pertussis cases is being driven by falling vaccination rates, waning immunity and slower public health tracking systems.

What's more, offi...

Want A Happier Hospital? Hire More Nurses, Study Says

Adding even a few extra nurses can dramatically reduce burnout and improve morale among hospital medical staff, a new study says.

Increasing nurse staffing by as little as 10% improved attitudes among both physicians and nurses working in hospitals, researchers reported Nov. 17 in JAMA Network Open.

“Physician burnout ...

Buprenorphine Lowers Opioid OD Risk, But Only If Taken As Directed Long-Term

The opioid addiction medication buprenorphine can dramatically lower risk of overdose among teenagers and young adults — but only if taken long-term, a new study says.

Those who kept taking buprenorphine as prescribed for at least a year were much less likely to suffer an overdose or require hospitalization due to opioid use, researc...

Head CT Scan Use Has Doubled In U.S. ERs

Use of head CT scans in U.S. emergency departments has more than doubled over the past 15 years, a new study says.

Nearly 16 million head CT scans were ordered by ERs in 2022, up from under 8 million in 2007, researchers reported Nov. 17 in the journal Neurology.

“Head CT scans are a critical tool for diagnosing neurol...

U.S. Making No Progress In Protecting Pregnancy Health, March Of Dimes Report Card Says

The United States has received another barely passing pregnancy health grade from the March of Dimes after another year in which 1 out of 10 babies were born prematurely.

It’s the fourth consecutive year the nation has received a historically low D+ grade, the March of Dimes said in its 2025 Report Card.

The national preterm ra...

Plasma Treatment Shows Promise For Menopause Symptoms Among Breast Cancer Survivors

Plasma infusions may help breast cancer survivors avoid genital and urinary symptoms while on hormone blockers, a recent study says.

As many as 70% of breast cancer survivors suffer from vaginal dryness, itching, burning, frequent UTI and pain during sex while taking estrogen-blocking drugs called aromatase inhibitors.

But an infusio...

Advanced Drugs Should Be Used First In Crohn's Disease, New Guidelines Suggest

New guidelines recommend doctors tackle Crohn’s disease head-on, calling for the use of cutting-edge drugs as early as possible to quell the autoimmune GI disorder as quickly as possible.

The updated American Gastroenterological Association guidelines reject a “step-up” approach in which people get more advanced drugs onl...

Wildland Firefighters Could Soon Get Mandatory Respiratory Protection

For years, federal wildland firefighters have worked long, dangerous shifts with almost no protection from the thick smoke around them.

Now, a new bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate aims to change that.

The Healthy Lungs for Heroes Act, introduced by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), would require the U.S. F...

Novo Nordisk Rolls Out Lower Prices for Ozempic and Wegovy

People paying out of pocket for Ozempic or Wegovy may soon see lower costs, as Novo Nordisk rolls out new price discounts for its popular GLP-1 medications.

The company announced that through the end of March, patients with prescriptions can buy the two lowest doses of Ozempic and Wegovy for $199 a month for two months.

After that, ...

Daily Orange Juice May Shift Gene Activity Tied to Heart Health

Your morning orange juice may be influencing your health in ways you can’t see.

In a new study published recently in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, researchers found that daily OJ intake altered gene activity connected to heart and metabolic function.

For the study, 20 healthy adults drank around ...

New Measles Spread Across States Threatens U.S. Elimination Status

The United States may be on track to lose its measles elimination status for the first time in 25 years as health officials confirm that two major U.S. outbreaks are linked to the same measles strain.

In a recording obtained by The New York Times, health officials said on a call that the strain of measles circulating in Texas sinc...

Eating Disorders Impact Health For Years, Researchers Find

Eating disorders can harm a person’s physical and mental health in ways that linger for years, a new study reports.

Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other such disorders bring with them a high risk of health problems like diabetes, kidney or liver failure, broken bones and premature death, researchers said.

This risk is sky-...

Focusing on Struggling Students Best for Improving School Safety, Parents Say

Metal detectors and active shooter drills have become hallmarks of school safety, but many parents think educators should focus on children’s mental health, a new poll reports.

Nearly 60% of parents of elementary and middle schoolers say teacher training to identify and support students with emotional or behavioral problems would mak...

Some PTSD Therapy Approaches Prompt More Veterans To Flee Treatment

Forcing veterans to revisit the horrors that led to their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might prompt many to drop out of therapy, a new evidence review found.

About a quarter of U.S. service members and veterans who start psychotherapy for PTSD quit before they finish treatment, according to a review published Nov. 17 in the journa...

Deep Brain Stimulation Shows Promise Treating Depression

Brain implants that deliver electric pulses can ease depression in people who aren't responding to psychiatric drugs, a new study says.

Half of a small group of people who received brain implants experienced significant improvement in their depression symptoms, researchers reported Nov. 18 in the journal Nature Communications.

"California Sober" Strategy Might Curb Drinking, Study Finds

A growing number of people are ditching alcohol in favor of weed, a trend dubbed “California sober” or “Cali sober.”

Now, a new study suggests there might be something to this more flexible approach to sobriety.

Smoking marijuana might lead people to drink less, at least in the short term, researchers reported...

Long COVID Can Take Eight Different Paths, Experts Say

Long COVID can follow one of eight different symptom paths, as patients suffer for months past their initial infection, a new study reports.

The eight identified “trajectories” show how long COVID can differ between patients based on its severity and duration, as well as whether their symptoms improve or worsen over time, resea...

New Law Tightens Hemp Regulations, Threatening 300,000 Jobs

A major change to hemp rules is now the law and producers warn it could shut down much of the $28 billion industry.

Congress, last week, approved strict new limits on hemp-derived products as part of the bill President Donald Trump signed to end the long government shutdown.

The goal? To close a loophole that allowed companies to se...

Morning Workouts Steal Sleep From Student Athletes, Study Finds

Early morning practices may cost college athletes valuable zzz's, according to a new study.

Researchers at The Ohio State University analyzed more than 27,500 nights of sleep from 359 varsity athletes over a five-year period.

Using wearable Oura Rings, the team tracked how practice schedules affected sleep time and sleep quality.