The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is facing a significant challenge. Many of its scientists are publicly criticizing recent budget cuts. This is a big deal because the NIH is a major player in global health research. The cuts are causing real problems for ongoing studies and the people involved in them. The scientists are worried about the impact on public hea...
Depression is not a one-size-fits-all condition. It affects people in different ways and has a high chance of coming back. Understanding how symptoms interact can help in managing this risk. A recent study looked into how connected symptoms are in people with depression and how this relates to the likelihood of relapse. Researchers tracked 87 individuals who...
Infertility is a heavy burden for many women. It's not just about the physical struggle. The emotional toll is massive. The negative attitudes and judgments from society can make it even worse. This is what we call stigma. It's a real problem that affects mental health and overall well-being. There's a tool called the Infertility Stigma Scale (ISS). It's been used in...
The connection between our genes and personality is a hot topic. One interesting angle is the role of genetic risk for schizophrenia. It turns out that having a high genetic risk for schizophrenia might influence personality traits in people who don't actually develop the disorder. This is not about causing schizophrenia but rather about how genes might shape who ...
Breastfeeding is a natural process that has been practiced for centuries. It is known to provide numerous benefits to both mothers and infants. In recent years, researchers have been exploring the long-term effects of breastfeeding on women's health. One area of interest is how breastfeeding might affect the lifespan of women. A study focused on Mexican women who had...
Every year, over 800, 000 people in the United States experience a heart attack. For those who have already had one, avoiding a second one is crucial. Recent findings shed light on how simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. People who have had a heart attack often worry about having another one. But here is the good news: small changes in daily habi...
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is under pressure to review the safety of mifepristone, a medication commonly used in abortions. This push comes from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He cited a recent report that claims a much higher rate of serious complications from the drug than previously known. The report, however, has been critic...
The process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) has been a game-changer for many families. It has helped countless people become parents. But what about the long-term effects on the kids? One big question is how IVF might affect the kidneys of offspring as they grow up. A recent study focused on this very issue in mice. The study tracked the kidney health of mice concei...
The idea that faith and health are connected is not new. Many people believe that having strong religious or spiritual beliefs can lead to better health. But here is the thing: which comes first? Does being healthy make someone more likely to engage in religious or spiritual activities? Or does being religious or spiritual make someone healthier? This is a tricky que...
Air pollution is a big problem. It's all around us, and it's not just bad for our lungs. New research shows it might also be linked to type 2 diabetes. This is a serious issue, especially for women in the U. S. Two big studies, the Nurses' Health Study and the Nurses' Health Study II, looked into this. They wanted to see if long-term exposure to certain pollutants co...