Faith leaders embrace sound baths to connect with spiritual seekers
Sound baths have surged in popularity since the coronavirus pandemic.
Health
Winter virus season so far is not too bad, but doctors worry about suffering to come
Flu season activity is still low in many parts of the U.S.
If you want that tattoo erased it’s going to hurt and it’s going to cost you
A 2023 survey determined that 32% of adults in the United States have tattoos.
Ooh, that smell! Pot cafes approved in Massachusetts
That pungent smell of weed will soon be wafting from pot cafes.
The Senate voted down dueling health proposals. Here’s what’s at stake for Americans
Affordable Care Act subsidies will end in three weeks, more than doubling the premiums.
Trump wants Americans to make more babies. Critics say his policies won’t help raise them
The national birth rate has largely been on a downward trajectory since 2007.
Senate rejects extension of health care subsidies as costs are set to rise for millions of Americans
Republicans and Democrats never engaged in meaningful or high-level negotiations on a solution.
Oreo is bringing zero-sugar cookies to the US
Oreo Zero Sugar and Oreo Double Stuf Zero Sugar will go on sale in January.
Botulism outbreak sickens more than 50 babies and expands to all ByHeart products
The outbreak now includes at least 51 infants in 19 states.
Feds promised ‘radical transparency’ but are withholding rural health fund applications
Democrats and health care advocates are concerned politics will affect how much money states get.
FDA opens safety review of injectable RSV drugs approved for babies and toddlers
The drugs from Merck and Sanofi are not vaccines.
How a rare drug made from scientists’ blood saves babies from botulism
An IV medication uses antibodies from volunteers to help babies too young to fight the...
Gov. Healey demands congressional Republicans extend Obamacare tax credits
Governor Maura Healey is demanding congressional Republicans vote to extend a set of tax credits...
Massachusetts worker in stone countertop industry is state’s first case of ‘devastating, life-altering disease’
Massachusetts worker in stone countertop industry is state's first case of 'devastating, life-altering disease'
Medicaid work rules exempt the ‘medically frail.’ Deciding who qualifies is tricky
Lacking sufficient federal guidance, states are wrestling with how to define medical frailty.
Affordable Care Act enrollment is slightly ahead of last year so far, despite expiring subsidies
Subsidies set to expire at the end of 2025 will make the coverage more expensive...
AI vs. AI: Patients deploy bots to battle health insurers that deny care
“We don’t want to get on an AI-enabled treadmill that just speeds up.”
After series of denials, his insurer approved doctor-recommended cancer care. It was too late
It’s infeasible to count the people harmed by prior authorization.
Madrigal: Medicare Advantage long overdue for a checkup
Medicare Advantage should be one of the best solutions for American health policy woes. It keeps...
MassDems call on Republican governor candidates to denounce RFK Jr. vax vote
Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party Steve Kerrigan is calling on the three Republican gubernatorial...
Bayer sues AIG insurance to help with legal bills as Roundup claims top $10B
Bayer is suing insurance giant AIG, alleging decades-old insurance policies should have helped cover billions...
Cancer stole her voice. She used AI, curse words and kids’ books to get it back
Sonya Sotinsky’s AI voice literally helped save her life.
CDC votes to roll back newborn Hep B vax recommendation, Healey says Massachusetts won’t comply
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has moved to abandon recommending hepatitis B...
US vaccine advisers say not all babies need a hepatitis B shot at birth
A loud chorus of medical and public health leaders decried the actions of the panel.
‘We can’t just teach abstinence’: How advice on bed-sharing with a baby is evolving
Babies who share a bed with their mothers have been shown to breastfeed longer.
After shutdown, federal employees face new uncertainty: affording health insurance
Average premium payments in the federal government’s insurance program for its employees are set to...
Kennedy’s vaccine advisory committee delays vote on hepatitis B shots for newborns
The shots are widely considered to be a public health success for preventing thousands of...
Why doing good also makes us feel good, during the holidays and beyond
Many people feel more connected to their communities through acts of service.
New Hampshire welcomes manufacturer fleeing Massachusetts: ‘Predictable result’
New Hampshire officials are welcoming a manufacturer that's moving to the Granite State from Massachusetts,...
A single shot of HPV vaccine may be enough to fight cervical cancer, study finds
A single HPV shot provided about 97% protection, similar to two doses.
Autism, vaccines at center of latest battle between Healey and Trump administrations
Gov. Maura Healey is slamming Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over...
Shredded cheese sold in dozens of states recalled due to potential for metal fragment contamination
The products are sold under private store-brand labels at retailers including Target, Walmart and Aldi.
What to know about the hepatitis B shot — and why Trump officials are targeting it
A federal committee voted to do away with a decades-old recommendation.
A hidden health crisis following natural disasters: Mold growth in homes
An estimated 47% of residential buildings in the United States contain mold or dampness.
Delayed care to 2 Black pregnant women highlights maternal health disparities
Each instance highlights the long-standing and rising disparities in health outcomes for Black women.
Complaints about gaps in Medicare Advantage networks are common. Federal enforcement is rare
Conflicts between Medicare Advantage plans and the doctors, hospitals, and other providers that serve their...
Waning immunity and falling vaccination rates fuel pertussis outbreaks
Whooping cough is especially dangerous for infants under a year old.
New FDA-approved glasses can slow nearsightedness in kids
These specialized glasses aim to reduce the progression of myopia in kids 6-12.
FDNY Deputy Chief James Riches, who searched Ground Zero for his fallen son, dies of 9/11-related illness
James RIches spent six months searching through the rubble and debris at Ground Zero for...
Move. Cheer. Dance. Do the wave. How to tap into the collective joy of ‘we mode’
Researchers say the heartbeats and brain waves of people engaged in an exciting group activity...
President Trump’s EPA head slams Massachusetts for sitting on $155M to replace lead pipes
President Donald Trump’s EPA head is slamming U.S. Sen. Ed Markey for asking for more...
Autoimmune diseases can strike any part of the body, and mostly affect women. Here’s what to know
New research is raising the prospect of treatments that might do more than tamp down...
It’s possible to get addicted to pot. Here’s what to know
It’s called cannabis use disorder and it’s on the rise, affecting about 3 in 10.
Nicholas: Basic safeguards could prevent hospital infections
Infection-control experts warn that basic, overlooked safeguards are increasingly becoming weak links in patient safety...
Breast cancer and birth control: A huge new study shows how science can be distorted
Doctors say the results won’t change how they counsel patients.
Trump administration says lower prices for 15 Medicare drugs will save taxpayers billions
The negotiation program is mandated by law and began under the Biden administration.
Kids get diseases like lupus, too. As researchers hunt better treatments, this camp brings joy
Autoimmune diseases are more rare in kids but they do happen.
Brigham and Women’s nurses oppose move to merge burn units into single systemwide program at MGH
Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses are speaking out in opposition to plans to merge the...
ByHeart baby formula from all lots may be contaminated with botulism bacteria, tests show
At least 31 babies in 15 states have been sickened in the outbreak.
They relied on marijuana to get through the day. But then days felt impossible without it
Experts warn that the risks of heavy, daily use remain underrecognized.
Higher gun ownership rates lead to more gun homicides of pregnant women, new study says
Homicide is a leading cause of maternal death, with firearms involved in most killings.
More people are addicted to marijuana, but fewer of them are seeking help, experts say
Despite the rise in use, seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder has become less common.
Conflicting advice on COVID shots likely to ding already low vaccine rates, experts warn
About 1 in 4 American adults got a COVID vaccine during the 2024-25 virus season.
Medford trash pickup change sparks outrage as Massachusetts considers food waste disposal ban
Residents and city councilors in Medford are expressing outrage over a plan to roll back...
Hot pants for good health: Scientists try heat therapy to lower blood pressure
Nearly 120 million American adults have high blood pressure.
‘They don’t return home’: Cities across US fail to curb traffic deaths
Despite safety initiatives, U.S. traffic deaths are higher than they were a decade ago.
What the air you breathe may be doing to your brain
Studies increasingly find links between higher concentrations of certain pollutants and the prevalence of dementia.
Flu activity is low, but experts worry about a new strain and vaccination rates
Some scientists and medical professionals are more worried about disappointing vaccination rates.
RFK Jr. says he personally directed CDC’s new guidance on vaccines and autism
Many current and former staffers at the agency were surprised to see new published guidance.
Fiber is something most people could use more of. But experts advise caution with ‘fibermaxxing’
Fiber-heavy foods like fruit, vegetables and whole grains are better than packaged foods.
Massachusetts DPH pushes back against CDC’s ‘misinformation’ about vaccines and autism
Massachusetts DPH pushes back against CDC's 'misinformation' about vaccines and autism
MAHA idealism meets political reality as RFK Jr. attempts to wrangle a growing movement
Some Kennedy supporters have questioned why he and other government leaders have appeared willing to...
What happens when your immune system hijacks your brain
The brain inflammation can cause confusion, memory loss, even psychosis.
Trump and Republicans once more face a tough political fight over Obama-era health law
Trump is once more targeting Obama’s signature health care law.
CDC website changed to contradict scientific conclusion that vaccines don’t cause autism
The update has outraged public health and autism experts.
Can’t take hormone therapy for menopause? There are other options
Lifestyle changes, medications without hormones and other strategies can help.
What to know about the impacts Medicaid cuts are having on rural health care
Officials warn that more rural hospitals could close, affecting access to health care.
Better treatments buoy multiple-myeloma patients, bound by research cuts and racial disparities
Black survivors of multiple myeloma say the latest developments in treatment give them hope.
Stanford researchers link lupus to common virus in ‘breakthrough’ study
More than a million Americans suffer with lupus. Researchers think they've finally found the cause.
A closer look at the unapproved peptide injections promoted by influencers and celebrities
Many of the products sold online haven't been studied in humans and aren’t FDA approved.
NIH funding cuts have affected over 74,000 people enrolled in experiments, a new report says
Funding lapsed for studies testing treatments for conditions like cancer, heart disease and brain disease.
Novo cuts Wegovy prices, but doctors still see cost challenges for patients
The drugmaker said it has started selling higher doses of the injectable treatment for $349...
Massachusetts out-of-state SNAP spending soars, including in Hawaii
With the federal government reopened, Massachusetts SNAP benefits continue reaching far and wide, with out-of-state...
What parents should know about Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called juvenile diabetes, is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children...
Health coverage, cost trends serving double whammy
With hundreds of thousands of Bay Staters expected to lose their health coverage due to...
Massachusetts water resources body punts on permanently dumping sewage into Charles River
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority may have been caught loving that dirty water a little...
FDA adds strongest warning to Sarepta gene therapy linked to 2 patient deaths
Sarepta Therapeutics' Elevidys will carry the FDA's strongest warning label about the risks of liver...
Researchers try bold new approach in a race to better treat autoimmune diseases
The new approaches are highly experimental and largely restricted to patients out of other options.
The trend of unproven peptides is spreading through influencers and RFK Jr. allies
The peptides being promoted by influencers, celebrities and wellness gurus are different: Many have never...
Now that the federal shutdown is over, here’s what to know about SNAP, air travel and more
As politicians argue, what does refunding the federal government mean for everyday people? Here’s what...
Families of two babies sickened by infantile botulism sue ByHeart over recalled formula
New York-based ByHeart recalled all of its formula nationwide on Tuesday.
So your insurance dropped your doctor. Now what?
Here are six things to know if that happens to you.
2 new malaria treatments announced as drug resistance grows
The new treatments could complement existing efforts like mosquito nets and vaccines.
Global tuberculosis diagnoses rise to a record, but deaths fall, WHO reports
Officials see the increase as an indication that screening and treatment are improving.
Yes, you do need to clean your water bottle. Here’s why and how
Experts say reusable bottles get grubby no matter what liquid they’re filled with.
Is COVID during pregnancy linked to autism? What a new study shows, and what it doesn’t
Researchers examine how growth and learning are subtly shaped among children whose mothers had COVID...
Biovac starts trials on South Africa’s first domestically developed cholera vaccine
Cholera remains a significant issue in Africa, with outbreaks often linked to poor water access.
Calisthenics are making a comeback. Is body weight enough to get a good workout?
Experts say calisthenics can improve everything from muscle strength to aerobic conditioning.
ByHeart recalls all baby formula sold nationwide as infant botulism outbreak grows
Parents and caregivers who have the formula in their homes should immediately stop using it.
At The Hollow in Florida, the ‘medical freedom’ movement finds its base camp
MAGA and MAHA are happily married in Florida.
Canada loses measles elimination status after ongoing outbreaks
Canada has logged 5,138 measles cases this year and two deaths.
The FDA removes a long-standing warning from hormone-based menopause drugs
The change is a break from more than 20 years of FDA policy.
From a few to more than 350, children and parents ride together to school as a ‘bike bus’
Organizers hope the movement encourages elected officials to invest in safer biking infrastructure.
Cat suffers from separation anxiety
My cat seems to freak out almost every time I leave the house. She is...
The quiet collapse of America’s reproductive health safety net
Cutting federal funding for reproductive health services “isn’t saving money. It’s wasting it.”
Many fear federal loan caps will deter aspiring doctors and worsen MD shortage
Whether the new federal loan policy will push down tuition costs remains to be seen.
Marriott: Yogurt may signal next food revolution
As more people move away from empty calories and toward foods that serve a purpose,...
A study questions melatonin use and heart health but don’t lose sleep over it
Don’t lose sleep over headlines linking melatonin to heart failure.
The ‘hard, slow work’ of reducing overdose deaths is having an effect
Illicit drug overdoses and the deaths they cause are trending down this year.
From Narcan to gun silencers, opioid settlement cash pays law enforcement tabs
Some places used settlement funds to maintain basic first responder services.