Nerve Block Cuts Opioids Needed Following Cleft Palate Surgery

FRIDAY, Dec. 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Using a nerve blocker before surgery to correct cleft palate can reduce or eliminate the need to prescribe infants opioids to manage post-procedure pain, a new study says.

A nerve block administered to a nerve that provides sensation to the palate, upper jaw and upper lip  halts pain duri...

Different Mental Health Conditions Share Similar Genetics, Study Says

FRIDAY, Dec. 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Psychiatric conditions as varied as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder might be driven by very similar genetic underpinnings, a new study says. 

Mental health problems can be sorted into five general genetic categories, each with a shared “genetic architecture” driving people&...

Depression, Anxiety Increase Heart Disease Risk Through Stress, Experts Say

FRIDAY, Dec. 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Depression and anxiety are linked to a higher risk of heart attack, heart disease and stroke, and researchers now think they know why.

These mood disorders appear to drive brain activity and nervous system responses that place additional stress on the heart, researchers reported Dec. 17 in the...

FDA Adds Brain Tumor Warning to Depo-Provera Birth Control Shot

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new safety warning for Depo-Provera, a widely used birth control shot made by Pfizer, alerting patients to a possible risk for a type of brain tumor called meningioma.

The agency signed off last week on a label update for two versions of ...

Cutting Saturated Fat Helps Those at Risk for Heart Disease, Review Finds

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — People who are already at risk for heart disease may see the biggest health benefit from cutting back on saturated fat, according to a new review.

The analysis — published Dec. 16 in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine — found that people with a higher chance of deve...

Trump Calls Fentanyl a Weapon of Mass Destruction

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring the street drug fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.

The order, signed Dec. 15, said fentanyl production and trafficking threaten U.S. national security and fuel crime at home and overseas. Speaking at the White House, Trump co...

New Bio-Inspired Gel Helps Tooth Enamel Grow Back

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Dental appointments may get easier and less painful soon. Scientists have developed a revolutionary gel that can repair and regrow tooth enamel.

The breakthrough could come to the aid of a problem affecting many worldwide and at a time when ingestible fluoride, a mineral that makes tooth ena...

L.A. Wildfires Linked To ER Surge In Heart Attacks, Lung Ailments

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Heart attacks, lung problems and other illnesses spiked within three months of the Los Angeles wildfires early this year, a new study reports.

ER visits for heart attacks rose by 46% at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following the January 2025 outbreak of the fires, which menaced and destroyed ...

Vapes Or Cigs, Doesn't Matter — Nicotine Is Toxic To Heart Health, Experts Say

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — It’s beside the point to debate whether vaping or nicotine pouches can be more healthy than smoking a cigarette, a major new report argues.

Nicotine is toxic to the heart and blood vessels regardless of how it’s consumed, according to an expert consensus report published today in...

High-Fat Cheese, Cream Might Protect Brain Against Dementia

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Cheese is frequently featured in holiday gatherings, whether it’s grandma’s cheese ball, a fancy baked Brie or a cheese-laden gift basket.

Who knew all these holiday treats might be saving people’s brain health?

Eating more high-fat cheese and high-fat cream might be ...

The Dark Side Of True Crime Reporting

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Grieving friends and family of homicide victims or missing people often feel pressure these days to participate in true crime podcasts or documentaries, in hopes their testimonials will help catch the killer.

But this relationship is not very healthy for those trying to cope with their loss,...

Anxious, Depressed About An Uncertain World? Training Can Help You Cope, Study Says

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Young adults are inheriting a world filled with turmoil and unrest, and this instability is leaving its mark on their mental and emotional health.

A single half-hour course, however, could help them feel less anxious and depressed, by helping them increase their tolerance of uncertainty, a n...

New Rapid Test IDs Bacteria Involved In Urinary Tract Infections, Possibly Improving Treatment

THURSDAY, Dec. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A new rapid test could improve treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs), by identifying the most effective antibiotic for each individual patient.

The test applies different antibiotics to bacteria found in urine samples, to see which one best suppresses bacterial growth, researchers rec...

FDA Slams Retailers for Keeping Recalled Infant Formula on Shelves

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Some of the nation’s biggest retailers are receiving stern warning letters after regulators found recalled baby formula still being sold weeks after it was pulled for safety concerns.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to Walmart, Target, Kroger and Alber...

Flu Season Starts Early in NYC as Cases Rise Fast

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Flu season is getting an early start in New York City, with doctors reporting a sharp jump in cases weeks sooner than normal.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that New York City and nearby areas such as Long Island and northern New Jersey had some of...

CDC Officially Moves Away From Universal Hepatitis B Shot at Birth

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rescinded its long-standing advice on universal hepatitis B vaccination of newborns.

Under the new policy, parents of babies born to mothers who test negative for hepatitis B are now advised to talk with a health care provider before...

Many Americans Say U.S. Health Care is in Trouble, Poll Finds

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 1 in 4 Americans believe the U.S. health care system is in crisis, and high costs are the top reason why, according to a new poll.

The data, released Dec. 15 by Gallup Inc., showed that 29% of adults consider the biggest health problem facing the country to be the cost of care. ...

Popular Senior Activity Reduces Risk Of Knee Pain, Arthritis

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Gardening is a favorite pastime of seniors, working the soil to create beautiful flower beds and lush gardens full of delicious vegetables.

But this yardwork also has hidden benefits for older folks, a new study reveals.

Seniors who garden are less likely to suffer from knee arthritis...

Over-The-Counter Supplement Might Help Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — An over-the-counter supplement called lipoic acid might help slow the loss of gray matter in the brains of people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), a new clinical trial has found.

Lipoic acid did not improve patients’ walking speed, which was the main outcome being measured by...

Texture Scan Of Retina Might Reveal Silent Vision Loss Among Diabetics

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Eye scans could soon be able to predict if a person with diabetes is at risk of losing their vision, thanks to results of a new lab rat study.

Early changes in the texture of the retina appear to be related to the onset of diabetic retinopathy, researchers recently reported in the journal <...