Genetic Tests For Autism, Intellectual Disability Not Being Done On Medicaid Kids

MONDAY, June 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Few poor children with autism or intellectual disability are receiving recommended genetic testing, even though guidelines urge such tests, a new study says.

Fewer than 1 in 5 such kids covered by Medicaid received such testing, which can help guide their futures, researchers reported June 18 ...

Weed Use Linked To Heart-Related Deaths

MONDAY, June 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Weed is associated with a doubled risk of death from heart disease, a new evidence review shows. 

The study also found that marijuana use is linked to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack, according to results published June 17 in the journal Heart.

“Our findi...

Blood Test Might Predict Rapid Decline in Alzheimer's Patients

MONDAY, June 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A common blood test can flag early Alzheimer’s disease patients who are four times more likely to experience rapid brain decline, a new study says.

The test — the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index —assesses a person’s level of insulin resistance and can estimate their ri...

Nightmares Might Be Slowly Scaring Some To Death

MONDAY, June 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — “Scared to death” might not be just a saying, as far as nightmares are concerned.

People who have frequent nightmares appear to have a tripled risk of premature death, according to a new study presented at the European Academy of Neurology’s (EAN) annual meeting.

Those ...

7 Doctor-Approved Tips for Outdoor Fitness Without Injury

SUNDAY, June 22, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Spending time outside walking, hiking or running is a great way to stay healthy during the summer. But before you jump into a new routine, health experts say it’s important to take steps to stay safe and avoid injury.

They recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each ...

How a Baby’s Brain Grows in the First Years of Life

SATURDAY, June 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The first two years of a baby’s life are critical for brain development, and how the brain grows during that time may help predict future learning, behavior and health.

That’s according to experts at Cedars-Sinai, who are working to better understand how brain connections and gen...

Trump Administration To End Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Youth This July

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A popular crisis support line for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults is shutting down July 17, federal officials confirmed this week.

The “Press 3” option on the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which offers specialized support for LGBTQ+ callers, will no longer be available....

Chicken Alfredo Meals Recalled After Listeria Outbreak Kills 3

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Premade chicken fettuccine Alfredo meals sold at Walmart and Kroger have been recalled amid a listeria outbreak that sickened 17 people and led to three deaths and one pregnancy loss.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the outbreak has aff...

FDA Approves First Twice-a-Year HIV Prevention Shot

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A new shot to prevent HIV infection has just been approved — and it only needs to be taken twice a year.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lenacapavir, a long-acting injection that was shown to be nearly 100% effective in clinical trials.

Made by Gi...

Well-being Might Be Important To Memory

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Caring for your emotional health might also help keep your memory sharp, a new study says.

People with higher levels of well-being have a reduced risk of memory loss in middle age, according to a new study published June 19 in the journal Aging & Mental Health.

Folks who say...

Fecal Transplant Potential First-Line Treatment For C. Difficile Infection

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A fecal transplant performs as well as antibiotics in treating people with a bacterial infection that can cause life-threatening diarrhea, a new study says.

People who received a single fecal transplant via enema recovered slightly better from a Clostridioides difficile infection...

New Blood Test Promises Pain-Free Diagnosis Of Celiac Disease

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Celiac disease patients currently must make themselves sicker before they're able to seek treatment.

The tests now used to diagnose celiac disease require patients to eat gluten, the protein that provokes an autoimmune reaction, then chart their response.

But a new blood test promises to...

Parents Are Pouring More Time, Money Into Youth Sports

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Harried parents aren’t wrong to suspect something’s changed in what is expected of them when it comes to their children’s sports activities, a new study says.

Modern-day parents are spending more time, money and resources on their kids’ sports activities than moms and d...

Millions Stand to Lose Health Coverage Under Proposed Medicaid Cuts, Study Says

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — About 7.6 million Americans could lose their health insurance if the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed by the U.S. House of Representatives becomes law, a new study says.

As a result, more than 16,600 people a year will die needlessly, as medical treatment could have prevented th...

HIV Drug Potentially Effective Against Diabetic Eye Disease

FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A cheap HIV drug might be able to help people with diabetes reverse a complication that can lead to blindness, a new small-scale study says.

The drug, lamivudine, appears to improve vision that’s being threatened by diabetic macular edema (DME), an eye condition in which fluid builds up ...

Drinking Coffee May Help You Live Longer — But Skip the Extra Sugar

THURSDAY, June 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Drinking a cup or two of coffee every day may help you live longer — but only if you skip the heavy cream and sugar, new research suggests.

The research, published recently in The Journal of Nutrition, found that black coffee or coffee with just a little sugar and saturated fa...

An ER Doctor's Guide to Staying Safe in Summer Heat

THURSDAY, June 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — As summer temperatures rise, a Houston emergency room doctor is sharing important tips to help folks stay safe while outdoors.

Dr. Neil Gandhi, an emergency medicine physician with Houston Methodist, says a mix of heat, humidity and extreme weather makes it especially important to be prepare...

How Wildfires Might Increase Risk Of Flu, COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Wildfires might inadvertently increase the risk of flu and COVID-19 outbreaks, a new study argues.

Sky-choking wildfire smoke tends to drive people indoors, and infectious diseases are more likely to spread among those packed into enclosed spaces, researchers reported today in the journal <...

Braces Top Best Therapies For Knee Arthritis

WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Throbbing, swollen knees hobble many seniors, but there are many solid means of treating knee arthritis that don’t involve meds, a new evidence review says.

Knee braces, water therapy and exercise all effectively ease the ache of wear-and-tear knee arthritis, researchers reported toda...

CDC Vaccine Expert Resigns After RFK Jr. Cuts Advisers

WEDNESDAY, June 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A senior scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resigned, warning that changes in leadership may weaken the country’s vaccine program.

Dr. Fiona Havers, who led the CDC’s tracking of hospitalizations from COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytia...