Health

By Katherine Dillinger, CNN (CNN) — Dr. Susan Monarez was confirmed to lead the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday in a 52-47 Senate vote. Monarez, a microbiologist and infectious disease expert who has served across several federal health agencies over the years, was the CDC’s deputy director from January to March.

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — There are many reasons to avoid ultraprocessed foods, including a link with heart disease, diabetes and obesity, but an increased risk of lung cancer may be yet another, a new study suggests. Ultraprocessed foods contain ingredients “never or rarely used in kitchens, or classes of additives whose function is

Opinion by Dr. Jerome Adams (CNN) — The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which experts predict will reduce Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans, combined with the proposed elimination of a $56 million grant for overdose reversal training and distribution, threatens to undermine progress in reducing opioid overdose deaths. Medicaid, particularly through its

By Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — Federal officials promised on Tuesday to crack down on a potent semisynthetic opioid found in convenience store gummies, drinks and dietary supplements by putting the substance in the most restricted class of drugs. The action by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department targets

By Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that he is working with the Justice Department to overhaul a national program that compensates people injured by vaccination. Kennedy, a longtime critic of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, wrote on X that he would “fix” the

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — At 62, Phyllis Jones felt trapped in darkness. She was traumatized by her mother’s recent death, ongoing pandemic stress and an increasingly toxic work environment. A sudden panic attack led to a medical leave. Her depression worsened until the day her 33-year-old son sadly told her, “Mom, I didn’t

By Issy Ronald, CNN You can actually die of a broken heart after the death of a loved one, especially if the grief is overwhelming, new research shows. Bereaved relatives who experienced “high levels” of grief symptoms were more likely to die in the 10 years following their bereavement than those who experienced “low levels”

Essay by Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — After a long day of work, I climb onto the couch to make plans for the rest of the week, and my mind buzzes with everything I could put on my priority list. I should spend less time on social media, but it is also good to stay

By Kristen Rogers, CNN (CNN) — Chia seeds, goji berries, strawberries and raspberries: A TikTok user going by the name “impamibaby” is filling her pretty wooden breakfast bowl with fiber-rich foods and filming it, inspiring her audience to eat more of the nutrient she says has made her bloating disappear. She’s “#fibermaxxing” — the practice

By Dana Santas, CNN (CNN) — Health experts universally recommend walking as one of the simplest, most accessible forms of exercise — and for good reason. Regular walks offer plenty of physiological and mental health benefits, research has shown. The activity can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood and energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and even

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN (CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration appears poised to continue with a plan to ban prescription fluoride supplements at a time when many experts say that access to the products has become especially important. Most US residents live in a community where fluoride is added to the public drinking

By Katia Hetter, CNN (CNN) — All menopause treatments containing the hormone estrogen are mandated by the US Food and Drug Administration to carry a black box warning on the label, stating that the treatments could increase the risk of strokes, blood clots, dementia and breast cancer. Now, that advisory may be going away. Last

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN (CNN) — Does the popular activity benchmark of walking 10,000 steps a day feel like too distant of a goal? Don’t worry, you can get health benefits just by moving a little more than you already are, new research has found. When possible, aiming for 7,000 steps a day is a

By Jacqueline Howard, Brenda Goodman, Meg Tirrell, CNN (CNN) — The US Department of Health and Human Services has adopted a recommendation to remove thimerosal from all influenza vaccines distributed in the United States, even though there is no clear evidence of harm from the mercury-based preservative. On Wednesday, the department announced that HHS Secretary

By Brenda Goodman, Meg Tirrell, Sarah Owermohle, CNN (CNN) — A nonprofit anti-vaccine group founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said it is funding a lawsuit against him, in his capacity as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, for failing to establish a task force to promote the development of safer

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN (CNN) — Extremely high levels of toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been found in a small sampling of reusable menstrual pads and panties, according to a new study. “Whether we wear feminine hygiene products or not, we will all be exposed,” said senior study author Graham Peaslee,

By Jen Christensen, CNN (CNN) — The US Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that it’s undertaking an initiative to reform the country’s organ donation system, after a federal investigation found that one organization in the Kentucky region began the process to take organs from people who may not have been dead. A