Health
U.S. Lags Behind Other Countries in Hepatitis-C Cures

In the 10 years since the drugmaker Gilead debuted a revolutionary treatment for hepatitis C, a wave of new therapies have been used to cure millions of people around the world of the blood-borne virus. Today, 15 countries, including Egypt, Canada and Australia, are on track to eliminate hepatitis C during this decade, according to […]

Updated: Apr 28, 2024
Antidepressants: What to Know About Uses and Side Effects

Antidepressants are among the most prescribed medications in the United States. This is, in part, because the number of people diagnosed with depression and anxiety has been on the rise, and prescriptions jumped sharply among some age groups during the pandemic. Despite the prevalence of these medications, some patients have “significant misconceptions” about how the […]

Updated: Apr 25, 2024
Bird Flu Is Infecting More Mammals. What Does That Mean for Us?

In her three decades of working with elephant seals, Dr. Marcela Uhart had never seen anything like the scene on the beaches of Argentina’s Valdés Peninsula last October. It was peak breeding season; the beach should have been teeming with harems of fertile females and enormous males battling one another for dominance. Instead, it was […]

Updated: Apr 22, 2024
Some Older Women Need Extra Breast Scans. Why Won’t Medicare Pay?

Mammograms can miss tumors in women with dense breast tissue. So for these patients, doctors often include a second scan — ultrasound, for example, or an M.R.I. — which are more likely to turn up cancers at early stages. But some older patients are running into an unexpected twist. Though many women see the extra […]

Updated: Apr 19, 2024
U.S. to Limit Deadly Mining Dust as Black Lung Resurges

Federal regulators on Tuesday will issue new protections for miners against a type of dust long known to cause deadly lung ailments — changes recommended by government researchers a half-century ago. Mining companies will have to limit concentrations of airborne silica, a mineral commonly found in rock that can be lethal when ground up and […]

Updated: Apr 16, 2024
Bennett Braun, Psychiatrist Who Fueled ‘Satanic Panic,’ Dies at 83

Bennett Braun, a Chicago psychiatrist whose diagnoses of repressed memories involving horrific abuse by devil worshipers helped to fuel what became known as the “satanic panic” of the 1980s and ’90s, died on March 20 in Lauderhill, Fla., north of Miami. He was 83. Jane Braun, one of his former wives, said he died in […]

Updated: Apr 13, 2024
Understanding the Causes of White Spots on Your Teeth

White spots on teeth can be a cause of concern for many individuals, affecting the appearance of their smiles and potentially indicating underlying dental issues. While some white spots may be harmless, others can be a sign of tooth decay or enamel damage. Understanding the various causes of white spots on teeth can help you […]

Updated: Apr 11, 2024
England Limits Youth Gender Medications, Part of Big Shift in Europe

The National Health Service in England started restricting gender treatments for children this month, making it the fifth European country to limit the medications because of a lack of evidence of their benefits and concern about long-term harms. England’s change resulted from a four-year review released Tuesday evening by Dr. Hilary Cass, an independent pediatrician. […]

Updated: Apr 9, 2024
Health Insurers’ Lucrative Alliance That Drives Up Patient Bills: 5 Takeaways

Large health insurers are working with a little-known data company to boost their profits, often at the expense of patients and doctors, a New York Times investigation found. A private-equity-backed firm called MultiPlan has helped drive down payments to medical providers and drive up patients’ bills, while earning billions of dollars in fees for itself […]

Updated: Apr 7, 2024
A.L.S. Drug Relyvrio Will Be Taken Off the Market, Its Maker Says

The maker of the newest treatment approved for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis said Thursday that it would withdraw the drug from the market because a large clinical trial did not produce evidence that the treatment worked. The company, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, said in a statement that it had started the process of withdrawing the drug in the […]

Updated: Apr 4, 2024