Health

Notices said nearly $2 billion in federal funding to more than 2,000 mental health and substance abuse programs will end effective immediately, according to agency notices and people inside the government.

Sleep experts told Fox News Digital that forcing an earlier wake time can reduce REM sleep and leave people fatigued and mood‑unstable; they noted chronotype is partly inherited, around 40–50 percent.

Dermatologists identify five signs that can indicate a damaged skin barrier and link common causes to overuse of active topicals, hot water, and environmental stressors.

Engineers at Tufts reprogrammed bacteria using an enzyme from slime mold to produce tagatose with reported yields up to 95 percent, and the sugar is already designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as generally recognized as safe.

The writer says cheap pillows made their shoulder and neck pain worse and that switching to the Panda London Hybrid pillow relieved that pain; the pillow is reported to be on sale for £71, its lowest recorded price.

Sheinelle Jones says she continues to grieve after her husband, Uche Ojeh, died last May from glioblastoma. She has returned to television and was announced as a co-host on Today with Jenna & Friends.

On Jan. 14, 2025, Kate Middleton announced she was in remission; since then she has gradually resumed public duties while keeping many personal details private.

The American Cancer Society reports a 70% five-year survival rate for cancers diagnosed 2015–2021, while lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers are expected to cause the most cancer deaths in 2026.

Marisa Abela said on a podcast that her 2020 thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment have made it harder to maintain her physique, and that she remains on lifelong medication with regular checkups.

A man in his late 50s with long-standing erectile dysfunction has tried medications, a vacuum pump, and injections and is now scheduled for an inflatable penile prosthesis; the procedure is described as irreversible and carries surgical risks.

Six puppies in Gold Bar, Washington who were treated for suspected opioid exposure are recovering and will be quarantined before being offered for adoption; some first responders have expressed interest in adopting them.

Kristin Seefeldt will serve as faculty director of the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions through December 2026, and Luke Shaefer has been named Detroit's chief executive of health, human services and poverty solutions and will begin in February while taking a two-year leave from U‑M.

Experts and patients say judgment about smoking helps keep many people from screening and treatment; only 18 percent of eligible Americans get screened and about 20 percent of lung cancer patients receive no treatment.

Sarah Eggenberger, NewBeauty senior editor and TODAY contributor, highlighted expert-recommended products and ingredient approaches for dry skin, under-eye puffiness, keratosis pilaris and other common concerns during a Studio 1A segment. The piece notes gentle exfoliation, barrier-supporting moisturizers and ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, caffeine and peptides.

People turning 65 in 2026 who enroll in original Medicare have a six-month Medigap open enrollment window starting the month they enroll in Part B, during which insurers must sell policies without medical underwriting.

Stanford Medicine's Yvonne Maldonado says the current U.S. flu season shows unusually early and high activity driven by an H3N2 variant called “subclade K,” and CDC data cited in the article report about 11 million infections so far.

The 2025–2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines place red meat among recommended protein sources, and cardiologist Craig Basman says choosing lean cuts and using lower-temperature cooking methods can reduce formation of certain harmful compounds.

The article highlights Hatch Restore as a device that lets users create a personalized bedtime routine with adjustable warm light, soothing noise options, and sleep meditations and stories available through the Hatch app.

Two recent studies report that small daily habit changes were associated with longer life; a Lancet analysis linked an extra five minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day with up to a 10% lower risk of death, and a University of Sydney analysis estimated a combined small increase in sleep, activity and vegetables could add about one year for people with the poorest starting habits.

The article lists eight physical changes people often notice during a month without alcohol, including easier hydration and early signs of liver recovery; many changes appear within days to weeks.

Rio Foster, a 22-year-old Angels prospect injured in a September car crash, remains in rehabilitation with serious head injuries and inconsistent communication; his family is seeking clarity about whether the team will continue his insurance and support.

Wolverhampton City Council has launched a public consultation on a School Accessibility Strategy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the consultation runs until 22 February.

New federal guidelines released Jan. 7 advise Americans to eat fewer highly processed foods; experts note there is no single U.S. definition and the FDA has pledged research with the USDA.

A 550-pound bear removed from a crawlspace under an Altadena home was later seen at two other residences and left the last home Sunday night; its current whereabouts are unknown.

The Supreme Court heard cases from West Virginia and Idaho challenging state laws that bar people designated male at birth from competing on girls' sports teams; the court has not yet issued a decision.

A University of Sydney analysis of more than 59,000 older adults in the UK Biobank found that modest, combined increases in sleep, diet quality and daily exercise were associated with longer lifespan and longer disease-free years; related research linked less sitting and small increases in activity to lower death rates.

A population study reported that universal nirsevimab given to most infants was associated with about an 86% reduction in RSV-related hospitalizations in 2023–24 and a 55% reduction in 2024–25, with additional declines in clinic visits.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider a motion to bar ICE from civil immigration enforcement, including staging and processing, on county property. If advanced at the meeting, the motion would be returned in 30 days for possible consideration as an ordinance.

Experts say recent US funding cuts to PEPFAR and USAID have reduced HIV treatment, prevention, and research support in sub‑Saharan Africa, risking interruptions to antiretroviral supplies and the halting of some clinical trials.

The World Health Organization now describes cervical cancer as an eliminable disease, and experts point to advances in vaccination, screening and at-home HPV testing; in the U.S. most diagnoses occur between ages 35 and 44, with an average age near 50.