Health

The nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is taking steps to tighten oversight of chemicals in the U.S. food supply, a key component of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.

Buried in the Donald Trump administration’s recent avalanche of executive orders in the United States was a starkly revealing provision: A Department of Transportation order requiring projects to prioritize federal highway and transit funding to communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average. Those with declining birth and marriage rates could face funding cuts.

Even celebrities aren’t immune from foot-related issues such as the dreaded thickened toenail. Actor Danny DeVito, former basketball player Shaquille O’Neal and Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt have all posted photos of their poor pinkies online over the past couple of years.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that evidence is currently insufficient for food insecurity screening in primary care, and the balance of benefits and harms of screening for food insecurity cannot be determined. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

An estimated 13.5% of U.S. households experienced food insecurity in 2023. Limited income, unemployment, transportation issues, distance to grocery stores, high housing costs, widespread health-related disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural hazards, and climate change can all contribute to inconsistent access to food. Poor diet can lead to poor health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, some researchers are sounding the alarm bell about the risk posed by extreme heat in many of the 16 North American host cities, including Toronto.

Hospitals and imaging centers are now required to track and report radiation exposure from CT scans under new Medicare regulations.

Early detection of sickness is critical for preventing its spread—whether it’s COVID-19, influenza or the common cold. Yet, many illnesses are at their most contagious before people even know they’re sick. Research shows that 44% of COVID-19 infections were spread several days before the sufferer came down with symptoms.

According to U.S. health officials, the number of acute respiratory illnesses causing people to seek medical care remains at a high level. Seasonal influenza activity, in particular, remains elevated across the country.

Historically, the male body has been the default in scientific studies. Lab rats? Male. Test subjects? Men. This stark gender gap was a key focus at the Empowering Women through BrainHealth conference.