Health News

(NEW YORK) -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a final version of its report on pediatric gender-affirming care on Wednesday, claiming it found "medical dangers posed to children," which is receiving pushback from medical groups.The report alleged that gender-affirming care -- including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender-affirming surgeries -- caused significant, long-term damage.It comes after HHS published in May an early version of what it […]

(NEW YORK) -- The global rise of ultra-processed foods in diets worldwide poses a major public health threat, according to experts who published a series of papers in medical journal The Lancet.The authors cite studies that show ultra-processed diets are linked to chronic health conditions like increased risk of becoming overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic kidney disease and overall higher death rates. Common examples […]

(NEW YORK) -- Just 100 cigarettes over the course of someone's life may be enough to raise their risk of heart disease and death, a new study suggests.Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, who looked at the smoking habits of more than 300,000 adults for almost 20 years, found that men and women who smoked as few as two cigarettes daily had a 60% increased risk of death from any cause […]

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -- A few South Carolina lawmakers are holding a hearing on Tuesday to discuss a near-total abortion ban that removes exceptions and could send anyone involved with termination of a pregnancy to prison for decades.Currently, the state has a six-week abortion ban, signed into law in May 2023, with limited exceptions for rape and incest up to 12 weeks, for fetal anomalies and to save the life of […]

(WASHINGTON) -- Just as SNAP benefits were reinstated for millions of Americans following the reopening of the federal government, many are now set to permanently lose them.Nearly 42 million Americans, including low-income families and vulnerable households, rely on SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to help pay for groceries or other household essentials.The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been directing states to implement new guidance as part of President […]

(NEW YORK) -- Flu activity is increasing across the country, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.New York City is seeing some of the highest levels of flu-like activity across the country. States including Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Texas are seeing "moderate" activity of respiratory illnesses. All other states are seeing low or very low levels.The CDC estimates that there have […]

(NEW YORK) -- A New Jersey man is believed to be the first documented death from alpha-gal syndrome, a meat allergy triggered by tick bites.The man, a 47-year-old airline pilot, was otherwise healthy, according to a case study from researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey.In summer 2024, he went camping with his wife and children. A few hours after eating […]

(WASHINGTON) -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Thursday a series of proposed actions to limit access to gender-affirming care for minors.It comes after HHS released a final version of its report on pediatric gender-affirming care last month, claiming it found "medical dangers posed to children," which received pushback from medical groups.Speaking at press event, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said doctors providing gender-affirming care for minors are endangering lives and […]

(NEW YORK) -- Food banks and pantries have been experiencing historic demand since SNAP benefits halted on Nov. 1 for many Americans due to the federal government shutdown.That halt affected nearly 42 million Americans, many of whom are older or low-income, and use benefits to help pay for groceries and other essentials.President Donald Trump late Wednesday night signed a funding bill to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, […]