Using Diabetes Drug Metformin Around Pregnancy Won't Raise Birth Defect Risk

Two new studies offer reassurance that using the diabetes drug metformin before and during pregnancy is not linked to birth defects.

The latest findings, which apply to men planning to conceive with their partners or women in early pregnancy, contradict a 2022 study that found metformin use by men in the three months before they conceive...

Average American's Diet Improved Only Slightly Over Past 20 Years

 The average American diet has only improved modestly over the past two decades, despite tons of research tying unhealthy food to obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, a new study finds.

The percentage of U.S. adults with a poor diet decreased from 49% to 37% between 1999 and 2020, based on data from a regular federal survey of ...

High Out-of-Pocket Costs Keep Some From Lifesaving Opioid Antidote

Patients are less likely to fill prescriptions for the overdose-reversing drug naloxone when they have to shell out more at the pharmacy, a new study finds.

Naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan) is a critical lifesaving tool in preventing deaths from opioid overdose, researchers said.

But about 1 in 3 naloxone prescriptions ...

Pandemic-Era Tax Credits Made Healthcare More Affordable, But They're Set to Expire

In a success story for Americans seeking affordable healthcare coverage, tax credits put in place during the pandemic helped millions gain health insurance, a new report found.

Trouble is, the credits are set to expire at the end of 2025, noted a research team from the nonprofit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ).

According to RWJ'...

Another Study Finds CRISPR Gene Therapy Fights Sickle Cell

There's more good news in the battle against sickle cell disease, with another trial finding CRISPR gene-editing therapy delivering impressive results for patients.

“It’s encouraging that this gene-editing treatment continues to show promising efficacy for sickle cell patients,” said study lead investigator Dr. Rabi Hanna. He's chair...

Most Americans Believe Pandemic Policies Were Good Idea: Poll

Despite all the grumbling at the time, most Americans now look back upon pandemic-era policies as a good idea, a new poll shows.

A majority of Americans see four key pandemic policies as “generally a good idea” in retrospect:

• Mask requirements in stores and businesses (70%)

• Healthcare worker vaccination req...

Adults' Phobias Show Up as Differences in the Brain

Adults' phobias can be correlated with changes in the structure of their brains, a new study finds.

What’s more, the neurological differences seen in adults with phobias are more extensive than those observed in people with other forms of anxiety.

Phobia is the most common anxiety disorder, affecting more than 12% of people, said t...

Inherited Alzheimer's: Whether It's From Mom or Dad Could Matter

Genetics can play a role in a person's odds for Alzheimer's disease, and new research suggests differences in that risk are based on which parent had the illness.

In a study of 4,400 people still "cognitively unimpaired," there was higher buildup of amyloid protein plaques in the brain (a hallmark of Alzheimer's) if either the person's mot...

Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Sites

The U.S. Surgeon General announced Monday that he will push for warning labels on all social media platforms, stating that they may harm teens' mental health.

"The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency -- and social media has emerged as an important contributor," Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote in an essay published Monday in the ...

Trouble Getting Your Kids to Sleep? You're Not Alone, Poll Finds

Nearly 1 in 4 parents struggle to get their child to sleep, a new poll reports.

Some of this is related to poor sleep hygiene, but some also is due to dark worries harbored by the kids, researchers report.

Parents of sleepless children are less likely to have a bedtime routine, more likely to leave on a video or TV show and more like...

There May Be 6 Types of Depression, and Brain Scans Can Sort Them Out

Depression can be sorted into six distinct types using brain scans, a revelation that could improve treatment for many suffering the debilitating mood disorder.

Researchers analyzed brain scans to identify six different biological types of depression, based on differences in patterns of brain activity, according to results published June 1...

Getting Your Exercise in Nature May Bring Added Benefits

Exercising in natural surroundings -- a jog through a park, a bicycle ride along a trail -- could be more beneficial than working out indoors, a new review suggests.

However, access to natural areas that are public varies widely, with not everyone having the chance to exercise outdoors, the investigators noted.

“The research is cle...

Rate of Chronic High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy Doubled in U.S. Since 2008

The number of pregnant women with chronic high blood pressure doubled during the past decade and a half, but treatment remains low among them, a new study found.

About 3.7% of pregnant women were diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2021, up from 1.8% in 2008, researchers said.

However, prescriptions handed out to pregnant women for...

Pet Bearded Dragons Pose Salmonella Danger, CDC Warns

Lizards called bearded dragons may not breathe fire, but they can be a source of one nasty infection: Salmonella.

So warned the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a health advisory on Friday, noting there have been reports of 15 salmonella illnesses linked to bearded dragons across nine states. 

"Four people have...

What Are Nicotine Pouches, and Are They Less Harmful Than Smoking?

Nicotine pouches might be less harmful than smoking or chewing tobacco, but they still pose an addiction risk to users, a new review finds.

These pouches are filled with crystallized nicotine, and are placed between the gums and lips, researchers said. They are sold in various flavors and nicotine strengths.

The pouches differ from S...

Help for Women Battling ADHD & Opioid Addiction in Pregnancy

Opioid overdoses in pregnant women are at an all-time high in the United States, and researchers think they’ve figured out one way to counter this phenomenon.

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is strongly tied to substance use disorders, which means some women who become pregnant are taking ADHD medications while receiving ...

International Travel: Don't Forget Your Child's Vaccinations

Exploring Europe, taking an African safari, going on a trip to the tropics: In many cases, vaccines are needed for travel, and that's doubly true for children.

According to pediatrician Dr. Lauren Nguyen, researching what vaccines are needed and preparing well before your family's departure is crucial.

“I tell my families tha...

Protect Your Eyes From Summer's Dangers

Summertime is primetime for the great outdoors, but that can mean new hazards for your eyes, one expert warned.

Simple steps can help cut the risk, said ophthalmologist Dr. Masih Ahmed, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Out in the sun

This one has an easy fi...

'Good Days and Bad:' Catherine, Princess of Wales, Gives Cancer Update

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has released the first update on her cancer journey since announcing her diagnosis in late March.

In a message posted to her Instagram account on Friday, the princess, 42, said that, "I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On the bad day...

Loaded, Unlocked Guns Common in American Homes, Study Finds

In half of American homes containing a loaded gun, that gun is kept unsecured and ready for potential use, often with children in the home, new research shows.

The finding is especially troubling given the link between gun accessibility and accidental child deaths, as well as rising rates of gun-related suicides in the United States, resea...