Red Cross Declares Rare National Blood Supply Crisis Amid Summer Shortfall

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis for only the second time in its history, warning a drop in donations is threatening the availability of blood nationwide.

The organization, which supplies about 40% of the nation's blood, said donations have fallen to a four-year summer low even as hospital demand rises dur...

More Women Drinking During Pregnancy

An increasing number of women drink during pregnancy, potentially risking the health of their unborn children, a new study says.

More than 1 in 7 women reported that they drank alcohol while pregnant in 2023-24, researchers reported July 27 in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.

That’s up from fewer ...

Not Just Pregnancy Fatigue: Could It Be Sleep Apnea?

Pregnancy can make you really sleepy. It can even make you snore. But when does that become more than just a normal part of pregnancy?

The American College of Chest Physicians says those symptoms could be signs of obstructive sleep apnea — a condition that often goes overlooked during pregnancy.

Now, the group has released its ...

Talking To Your Baby? Eye Contact Is Key To Language Development, Experiment Shows

Want to give your tot a brain boost when it comes to learning language?

Maintain eye contact as much as possible when you’re talking to them, a new study suggests.

Eye contact helps a baby decide what is important, acting as a switch that triggers synchronization of their brain waves with those of the speaker, researchers repor...

DoorDash, GrubHub Delivering Junk Food To 1 In 4 Teens During School Hours

DoorDash and GrubHub have become stiff competition for a traditional, everyday eatery found in every U.S. community — the high school cafeteria.

Nearly one-quarter of teens say they use mobile food delivery services to bring them meals and snacks during school hours, researchers reported at the annual meeting of the American Society ...

Fifth Death Reported In NYC Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak

A fifth person has died in a Legionnaires' disease outbreak on Manhattan's Upper East Side, New York City health officials said.

As of July 27, 90 people have been diagnosed in the month since the cluster emerged in the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods, according to the New York City Health Department. 

Seven people rem...

Many Young Adults Aren't Ready To Manage Their Own Healthcare, Poll Finds

Many young adults aren’t prepared to manage their own healthcare, a new survey has found.

About 1 in 6 parents (17%) said their 18- to 25-year-old doesn’t handle any basic healthcare responsibilities on their own, including scheduling needed appointments or providing proof of insurance, according to the University of Michigan H...

Can A Daily Multivitamin Help You Stay Active As You Age?

A new study is shifting the conversation about multivitamins.

Instead of asking whether they can prevent heart disease or cancer, researchers are asking whether they can help older adults maintain their independence.

Their study included more than 16,000 adults, 60 and older, who were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin, a...

Family-Based Childhood Obesity Program Helps Kids Cut Weight, Become Healthier

Childhood obesity can be effectively treated through a family-based program provided through their local pediatrician, a new clinical trial says.

About 42% of kids in the program lost enough weight to improve their heart health and lower their diabetes risk within a year and a half, researchers reported July 27 in JAMA Pediatrics....

Prebiotic Soda Health Claims Questioned In New Nutrition Study

Prebiotic soda is one of the latest health crazes, promising better gut health while helping slake thirst.

But a new study suggests these drinks aren’t delivering on their promises to customers.

On average, prebiotic sodas contain as much sugar as fiber, and their average fiber levels might not be high enough to support a healt...

Breakfast Can Help Teens Make Better Food Choices Throughout Their Day, Study Says

Teens who start eating breakfast regularly are more likely to make healthy food choices through the rest of the day, a new study says.

Teenagers who ate breakfast still consumed as many daily calories as those who skipped the morning meal, but were less likely to choose high-sugar or high-fat foods, researchers reported at the annual meeti...

FDA Panel Backs Two Peptides For Compounding, Rejects One

A federal advisory panel has recommended allowing compounding pharmacies to make two more unproven peptides while voting to reject a third.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committee voted Friday to add epitalon and semax to a list of substances that specialized compounding pharmacies can prepare for patients, but narrowly turne...

How Accurate Are Photo-Based Calorie Apps? 4 Are Put To The Test

Snap a photo, get a calorie count. 

It sounds simple — but a new study finds some popular AI-powered food tracking apps may underestimate calories and fat by roughly a third.

"Photo-based calorie tracking apps are very popular, especially for people trying to manage their health or lose weight," said Aaron Hengist, a postd...

Weed-Killing Chemical Linked To Premature Births In Humans, Study Says

The active chemical ingredient in professional-grade Roundup weed killer might increase the risk of premature births, a new study says.

Pregnant women with higher urine levels of the chemical glyphosate were 35% more likely to deliver their child earlier than 37 weeks of gestation, researchers recently reported in the journal Environme...