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More teens with cannabis use disorder are facing treatment delays, study finds

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

As federal officials consider whether to reclassify marijuana under federal drug law, a new study has found that more American teenagers seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder, known as CUD, are facing longer wait times before receiving care.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed national data from ...Read more

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California employer health premiums will cost as much as a new car in 2027

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Employers are bracing for what could be the highest rise in health insurance premiums in 16 years in 2027, driving up the average cost of family coverage in California to more than $30,000 — the price of a new compact car.

Health insurance companies expect the cost of medical services and prescription drugs to soar by 9% in 2027, according to...Read more

What kids are doing on tablets seems to matter more than how long they use them. PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images

Screen time guidelines for kids and adolescents have shifted as research paints a more nuanced picture

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Concerns surrounding young people’s screen time are widespread.

Australia became the first country to ban social media for users under 16 in December 2025, and Denmark, France and the U.K. have since announced similar restrictions to begin this year.

In the U.S., as of mid-2026, more than 30 states have passed laws banning ...Read more

Autistic children's risk of drowning is up to 160 times greater than that of their neurotypical peers.  Wavebreakmedia/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Autistic children drown at alarming rates - swim lessons and water safety strategies can save their lives

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

During roasting-hot summer days, more and more people make their way to swimming pools, lakes, rivers and other spots where they can access water to stay cool.

But while water activities provide a refreshing escape from the heat, they can also be a source of danger. In the U.S., drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for ...Read more

(Eric Harkleroad/KFF Health News)/KFF Health News/TNS

Trump's CDC nominee praises vaccines, without vowing independence from Kennedy

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expressed support for vaccines — including mRNA-based COVID shots — in a Senate hearing on Wednesday, though she didn’t dispel concerns the agency has lost any independence from the White House.

“I have been vaccinating people ...Read more

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A new option for long-term care costs

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Kelly Haggett figures that a mandatory surcharge added to Washington state’s payroll tax cost her about $500 last year. But she doesn’t really mind.

“On a scale of 1 to 10 of my annoyance with taxes in general, this one is about a 2,” she said. “I see the benefits.”

The small surcharge on wages provides the funding for Washington ...Read more

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Commentary: There's an effective way to treat drug addiction -- but you may not like it

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

The Department of Health and Human Services recently sought advice from patients, clinicians and public health experts on addiction treatments supported by “rigorous, empirical evidence of effectiveness.” Health and Human Services endorses medications to address opioid addiction, but there are actually no medications to address addiction to ...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Michigan's cyclosporiasis cases rise above 4,300, a 65% hike in 3 days

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DETROIT — The number of cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan continues to grow, with state officials reporting 550 more cases Thursday morning, bringing the total since June 22 to 4,312, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The latest total represents a roughly 65% increase from the more than 2,600 cases reported on ...Read more

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My search for a psychiatric bed in an overburdened health system

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting “988.”

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Eight days before my 33rd birthday in April, a social worker at a crisis clinic near Denver determined I was an imminent danger to myself. She placed me on an involuntary 72-hour mental health ...Read more

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Knee pain? Ragged cartilage? Research suggests surgery's not the best answer

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Thousands of Americans who undergo a common knee surgery might be making their problems worse rather than better.

Researchers who followed patients for 10 years after they received either the actual procedure, arthroscopic knee surgery to trim degenerative cartilage tears, or merely “sham surgery” — a skin incision — for knee pain, ...Read more

Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Cases of diarrhea-causing cyclosporiasis in Maryland have doubled in past week

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

The number of confirmed cyclosporiasis cases, the parasitic intestinal illness that often results in watery diarrhea and explosive bowel movements, has more than doubled in the past week, the Maryland Department of Health confirmed Wednesday.

The total number of cases in the state is now 69, with 65 of those cases occurring since May 1, ...Read more

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Senators press UnitedHealthcare and other Medicare Advantage giants over payment denials

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Federal lawmakers are turning up the pressure on UnitedHealthcare and two rival Medicare Advantage insurers over their use of artificial intelligence and their prior authorization rules for post-hospital rehab care.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, sent letters this ...Read more

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Five cases of measles confirmed in Maryland

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Five cases of measles have been confirmed in Maryland residents, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Officials are warning anyone who visited the Carroll Hospital Center emergency department waiting room in Westminster on July 13 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. may have been exposed. All five cases were in people who recently traveled ...Read more

Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Cases of diarrhea-causing cyclosoriasis in Maryland have doubled in past week

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

The number of confirmed cyclosoriasis cases, the parasitic intestinal illness that often results in watery diarrhea and explosive bowel movements, has more than doubled in the past week, the Maryland Department of Health confirmed Wednesday.

The total number of cases in the state is now 69, with 65 of those cases occurring since May 1, ...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan rise above 3,700

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DETROIT — The number of cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan rose to 3,762 as of Wednesday morning, a 13.7% increase over Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.

That's a smaller percent increase than that between Monday and Tuesday ― 25%. Tuesday's case total was 3,309.

Forty-four people have reportedly been ...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

What to know about eating at home and dining out during the cyclospora outbreak

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

CHICAGO — A parasite causing “explosive diarrhea” has caused widespread panic across the country, adding new complexities to safe food handling at home and worrying diners about ordering the wrong leafy green at a restaurant. Health experts in Chicago say caution is warranted either way, but suggest considering several key factors before ...Read more

FDA drug approval affects healthcare around the world, but political shortcuts could hurt the agency’s international reputation

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

At the beginning of July 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene therapy for young children with sickle cell disease.

While this is good news for children in the U.S. born with this illness, the FDA’s approval may also benefit thousands of children beyond the U.S. border.

About 70% of countries ...Read more

5 costly mistakes that can trigger Medicare surcharges

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

High-income retirees are often surprised by a Medicare expense that can lurk behind the scenes, automatically deducted from their Social Security benefits each month.

It’s a surcharge added to Part B and D premiums known as the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA).

These surcharges are tiered, meaning sometimes a single ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: What is nutritional yeast?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Q: What is nutritional yeast and what is it used for?

A: Nutritional yeast is a type of yeast that has been grown and then heated so it is no longer active. This means it cannot make bread rise or be used for brewing. Instead, it is used for its nutrients and its unique flavor. It is usually sold as yellow flakes or powder.

Nutritional yeast ...Read more

Strategies for scaling back on salt

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Even if you rarely salt your food, chances are you consume way more sodium than is healthy. That’s because 70% of the sodium (a major component of salt) in the typical American diet comes from processed, prepared, and restaurant foods. The biggest sources include bread, deli meats, pizza, burritos, tacos, soups, and salty snacks.

The average ...Read more