Health

President Donald Trump announced a plan to replace Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies with direct payments into health savings accounts, and the White House says the plan would lower drug prices and make costs more transparent.

The Department of Health and Human Services reinstated $2 billion for mental health and substance use programs less than a day after notifying recipients that the funds would be canceled, following strong public and professional backlash.

Sophie visited Thames Valley Air Ambulance in Stokenchurch on Jan. 14 and met crews and took part in training; the charity’s crew airlifted her in 2001 after an ectopic pregnancy, when she required emergency surgery.

A cardiologist and another specialist cited video of President Trump appearing to nod off during an Oval Office event and called for a medical evaluation; the White House and the president's doctors say he remains in excellent health.

The op‑ed describes clinicians encountering parents influenced by online misinformation and notes recent policy shifts in U.S. immunization guidance; it also summarizes decades of trials and large studies that the author says find no link between vaccine ingredients or schedules and conditions like autism.

A first-time mother's TikTok showing her gently stopping a grandmother from kissing her newborn went viral, and pediatric infectious disease experts warned that newborns face higher risks from certain infections.

CNN Underscored tested several pillows and named the Coop Sleep Goods Adjustable Pillow its top pick and the Beckham Hotel Collection Down‑Alternative Pillow the best budget option.

A contoured memory-foam cervical pillow priced at $39.98 is reported by multiple user reviews to ease neck and shoulder pressure and improve sleep quality.

Andre Yarham, 24, died after a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and his family donated his brain to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for research.

Federal officials reversed a move that had halted roughly $2 billion in grants for mental health and addiction programs, restoring the funds after about 24 hours of uncertainty.

Boston Scientific will buy medtech firm Penumbra for about $14.5 billion to expand its cardiovascular device offerings, and the companies expect the transaction to be completed in 2026.

The World Health Organization urged higher taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks after two reports linked those products to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, injuries and cancer and found taxes have not kept pace with inflation.

A consultant paediatrician at Hull Royal Infirmary reported a rise in children admitted with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory infections; NHS England data show winter months see more than 30,000 emergency admissions of children under 10 for respiratory illnesses.

A June 2025 analysis of more than 88,000 UK Biobank participants found disrupted sleep patterns were associated with an increased risk across 172 diseases; researchers and clinicians noted the study is observational and does not prove causation.

WHO Ethiopia supported a five-day capacity-building training in Adama in December 2025 for enforcement agencies to advance Tobacco Control Proclamation No. 1112/2019, attended by 60 participants. Ethiopia's 2024 GATS reports overall tobacco use at 4.6% with persistent daily smoking.

A Jefferies analysis says wider use of weight-loss drugs could cut as much as $580 million in fuel costs for the largest US airlines this year, based on estimated declines in passenger weight.

A study led by Sidhartha R. Sinha reports that a fasting-mimicking diet was associated with lower fecal calprotectin and reductions in several inflammation-related blood and immune markers; some participants reported fatigue or headache while no serious side effects were reported.

A CARMA survey of more than 1,100 cigarette and vape users found high vaping rates among 19–24-year-olds in Southern Mindanao and that nearly 60% of respondents reported buying illegal smoking products, often because they are cheaper than legal options.

Sprouted-grain and whole-grain breads typically provide about 3–4 grams of fiber per slice, and multi-seed or multi-grain varieties are noted as additional sources of dietary fiber.

Veterans and VA staff protested outside the San Francisco VA hospital after the VA announced a December reorganization that would make about 25,000 long-unfilled positions permanent.

Wearing warm, breathable socks to bed is reported to dilate blood vessels in the feet and signal a lowering of core body temperature, which can support falling asleep; experts also noted breathable, non‑restrictive fabrics and clean nighttime socks to limit bacteria.

B.C. Minister of Health Josie Osborne said the province will not ask Health Canada to renew an exemption that allowed a decriminalization pilot. The exemption was granted in January 2023 and is set to expire at the end of this month.

Kaiser Permanente agreed to a proposed $46 million settlement over alleged privacy violations, and current and former members who used authenticated webpages in specified states between November 2017 and May 2024 can submit claims online by March 12.

A Senate health committee hearing saw Republican members call for an FDA review of mifepristone restrictions while Democrats defended the drug's safety; the FDA says a review is underway but cannot fully respond because of pending litigation.

A JAMA study using data compiled by NBC News and Stanford found median nonmedical exemption rates for kindergartners rose from 0.6% in 2010–11 to 3.1% in 2023–24, and more than half of counties reported post‑pandemic increases.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Dr. Adam Urato and Dr. Kimberly Biss to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; both have previously questioned aspects of vaccine safety and the use of some antidepressants in pregnancy.

An Atlanta OB-GYN's exchange with Senator Josh Hawley during a Senate hearing on medication abortion safety — in which she declined a simple yes-or-no on whether men can become pregnant — was posted online and viewed millions of times.

An opinion piece argues that vaccine debates helped drive unexpected Democratic wins in recent off‑year elections and that actions by President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have introduced controversy and changes into U.S. vaccine policy.

Cartoonist Scott Adams died after an aggressive form of prostate cancer, and an American Cancer Society report says five‑year survival for cancers diagnosed 2015–2021 reached 70%.

A new federal law allows whole and 2 percent milk to be served in schools, reversing a 2012 policy that limited federally supported school meals to nonfat or 1 percent milk; experts say milk provides important nutrients but research is mixed on whether higher-fat milk benefits or harms children's health.