Health

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — As some people return to the structures spared from Los Angeles wildfires, experts warn that they should be careful of the air inside and especially cautious when cleaning up. Smoke, ash and all the toxic chemicals that come with both can seep into even well-sealed homes and pose risks

By Amanda Schupak, CNN (CNN) — As if drugstore aisles weren’t already overflowing with dozens of conventional and natural underarm deodorants, an array of sticks, creams and sprays from heavily marketed big brands now promises “whole-body” odor control. The products often come labeled with explicit or less than subtle nods to private areas. “It is

By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — If you’re like most people, when you hear the word core, you probably think of six-pack abs. But your core is so much more than that — it’s the powerhouse that stabilizes, supports and moves you through life. Despite its central role in your body’s physical function, the core

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Over-the-counter protein powders may contain disturbing levels of lead and cadmium, with the highest amounts found in plant-based, organic and chocolate-flavored products, according to a new investigation. There is no level of lead that is safe for humans, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Cadmium is a carcinogen

By Brenda Goodman, CNN (CNN) — With reports of the first human death from bird flu in the US, some Americans are feeling an uncomfortable flashback to the early days of Covid-19, when infectious disease experts were talking about a new virus that was sending people to the hospital with respiratory infections. Although both viruses

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — Welcome to winter virus season. Cases of acute respiratory illness, Covid-19 and seasonal flu are increasing in most parts of the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emergency department visits for flu and the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are very high. Although

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — As China experiences a rise in respiratory infections this winter, one little-known virus has gotten a lot of attention – and some people may worry whether the rise in cases could be felt more broadly around the world. Human metapneumovirus, also known as HMPV, can cause upper and lower

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — If you asked me what makes my heart sing, I’d immediately say words of affirmation. Few things bring me greater joy than hearing or reading heartfelt expressions of endearment from others. Sharing kind words is also one of the ways I show love to those around me, but I

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — As US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy nears the end of his second term as the nation’s doctor, a final diagnosis of his patient suggests that a great deficiency of connectivity has led to a poor prognosis for America’s overall health and well-being. To treat the “widespread pain and

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN (CNN) — Years of research have showed that pulse oximeters yield less accurate readings for people with darker skin tones, and now the US Food and Drug Administration is proposing guidance to help make these devices more reliable and less biased. Pulse oximeters are small finger-clamp devices that estimate how much

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — For the first time in history, the US Food and Drug Administration has established guidance for levels of lead in processed baby foods that are sold on supermarket shelves and online. The agency’s action, announced Monday, only provides guidance to industry and is not enforceable. Under the new guidelines,

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Sugary drinks may leave a sour taste given their possible impact on mortality, according to a new study. “This is a public health crisis, requiring urgent action,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University. The