The cost of employer-provided health insurance has surged for a third straight year, with the annual cost of a family plan approaching $27,000, according to a new survey from the nonprofit KFF. That’s the average one-year premium cost shared by one family and employer. Zoom out: This year’s 6% cost jump follows two years of… read on > read on >
Lousy sleep might be an early warning sign for suicide risk among teenagers, a new study says. Teenagers who didn’t get enough sleep on school nights or suffered from interrupted sleep had a significantly higher risk of suicide, researchers reported Oct. 23 in the journal Sleep Advances. “Adolescents who experience difficulties maintaining and obtaining sufficient… read on > read on >
A family riven by divorce or separation could triple the risk of a child developing psoriasis later in life, a new study says. The severe stress caused by such family upheaval might tax a child’s immune system in ways that increase their chances of this autoimmune skin disease marked by rapid cell growth that causes… read on > read on >
Artificial intelligence (AI) might be able to help doctors make glaucoma screening widely available, a new study says. A trained AI program correctly identified patients with glaucoma 88% to 90% of the time, compared with 79% to 81% for human graders, researchers reported Saturday at a meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in… read on > read on >
You may have seen recent news stories reporting that a national data investigation found that routine childhood vaccination is slipping across much of the United States, leaving classrooms and daycares with growing gaps in protection against highly contagious diseases like measles and whooping cough. That’s a warning sign for every family with children — and… read on > read on >
Babies can be safely administered antibody protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) after birth even if their moms had RSV vaccination while pregnant, a new study says. An antibody shot called nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is available after delivery to provide babies with protection against RSV, a respiratory infection that is the most common cause of hospitalization… read on > read on >
You may have seen recent news stories reporting that a national data investigation found that routine childhood vaccination is slipping across much of the United States, leaving classrooms and daycares with growing gaps in protection against highly contagious diseases like measles and whooping cough. That’s a warning sign for every family with children — and… read on > read on >
Babies can be safely administered antibody protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) after birth even if their moms had RSV vaccination while pregnant, a new study says. An antibody shot called nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is available after delivery to provide babies with protection against RSV, a respiratory infection that is the most common cause of hospitalization… read on > read on >
Mental health distress is rising among America’s LGBTQ+ teenagers and young adults as they’ve increasingly become targets of discrimination and cruelty, a new report says. Anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts all rose among young LGBTQ+ people between September 2023 and March 2025, according to data gathered by The Trevor Project, a leading suicide prevention and… read on > read on >
For older adults, friendship might be the best medicine. Researchers say that doing small favors for close friends — like offering a ride or lending a hand — can boost happiness and give people a greater sense of purpose. A University of Michigan study found that older adults who provide practical help to close friends… read on > read on >
A new analysis reveals how deeply the U.S. drug supply chain depends on China, and experts warn that a trade war could leave American patients at risk. Nearly 700 medicines used in the U.S. contain at least one chemical sourced only in China, according to U.S. Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit that monitors the drug supply. Those… read on > read on >
Experts argue it’s never too late to quit smoking, and a new study says that applies to people with late-stage cancer as well. Patients with advanced cancer gained nearly a full year of additional life if they quit smoking, compared to those who kept lighting up, researchers reported Oct 9 in the Journal of the… read on > read on >
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YouTube or TikTok might offer a solid alternative to meditation when it comes to stress relief. People’s stress dropped about as much from watching a short inspirational video as it did through guided meditation, researchers reported in the journal Psychology of Popular Media. “What we found is that even a few minutes of watching content… read on > read on >
The acting head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling on vaccine makers to create separate measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shots, though public health experts saying there’s no scientific reason to do so. “I call on vaccine manufacturers to develop safe monovalent vaccines to replace the combined MMR and… read on > read on >
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dropped its recommendation that all Americans receive routine COVID-19 shots, leaving the decision up to patients and doctors. The shift follows new guidance from a panel of vaccine advisers appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who fired the CDC’s longstanding vaccine advisory… read on > read on >
Seniors who get a concussion are more likely to develop dementia or falter as they age, a new study says. Older folks who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) had a higher risk of dementia, requiring home care services or admission to a long-term care facility, researchers reported Oct. 6 in the Canadian Medical Association… read on > read on >
