In a tight vote, the U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Dr. Robert Califf to once again head the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ending the agency’s year-long stretch without a permanent leader. Six Republicans crossed over to support Califf in the Senate’s 50-46 vote, while five Democrats opposed him. One senator voted present. Califf, a… read on > read on >
Once they’re pregnant, women have a lot of checkups to make sure they stay healthy. But a mom’s health preconception is vitally important, too, and a growing cause for concern. Increasingly, moms in the United States are starting their pregnancies already having heart risks like high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes and obesity. A new study… read on > read on >
Giving dark chocolate to your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day may be a win-win emotionally and physically, an expert suggests. But it’s important to keep any potential health benefits in perspective, noted Lizzy Davis, an assistant professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “What is healthy for one person may not be… read on > read on >
Mobile health apps can help older Americans but only about four in 10 use them, and those most likely to benefit are least likely to take advantage of them, a new survey reveals. Health apps monitor everything from calories and exercise to blood pressure and blood sugar to help users manage chronic conditions or achieve… read on > read on >
February is American Heart Month — the perfect time to remind women of three things they need to know about heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death among U.S. women, accounting for one in three deaths, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). While progress to reduce that rate has been made in the… read on > read on >
A new lung cancer drug that has only been tested in China was soundly rejected by an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. Known as sintilimab, the treatment is a type of immunotherapy that unleashes the immune system to attack tumors. It was developed and tested in China by Innovent… read on > read on >
Just a slight reduction in your calorie intake could give you more and healthier years of life, researchers say. They also pinpointed a protein that plays a key role in the beneficial effects of reduced calorie intake, and said it may be possible to manipulate it to improve health. Previous research has shown that calorie… read on > read on >
To live healthier and longer in the United States, it helps to have money and education — and if you live in Hawaii or California, your odds are even better, according to a new government report. Life expectancy varies dramatically from state to state, health officials say, because of factors like chronic disease and drug… read on > read on >
One in three Americans is exposed to a common and potentially harmful weed killer called 2,4-D, and children may be especially at risk, new research suggests. Exposure to high levels of the chemical has been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and other health issues. The effects of lower levels of exposure are unclear, but 2,4-D… read on > read on >
Instead of adding salt to their meals, older adults can use spices to give their food more zip and keep their blood pressure under control, new research suggests. “We were working specifically with a population of older adults to see if we could reduce the amount of salt in a product and then tailor it… read on > read on >
