U.S. Dentists Still Overprescribing Opioids Compared To Other Nations, Puerto Rico

TUESDAY, April 28, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Folks getting a tooth pulled or a cavity drilled in the United States are still more likely to be prescribed powerful opioid painkillers, despite America’s ongoing opioid crisis, a new study says.

There was a 27% drop in dental patients filling opioid prescriptions between 2021 and 202...

Daylight Saving Time Fails to Boost Daily Steps, Study Finds

TUESDAY, April 28, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Daylight saving time is thought to promote more outdoor activity by giving people an extra hour of sunshine in the evening prior to dusk.

But a new study says that’s just not so.

There’s no appreciable difference in people’s number of daily steps before and after...

Mail-In Colon Cancer Test Kits Offer Affordable Screening

TUESDAY, April 28, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Mail-in DNA tests for colon cancer can extend easy, affordable cancer screening to people who are struggling to get by, a new study says.

Patients at community health centers were more likely to participate in colon cancer screening if they were mailed a test kit that looks for abnormal...

Estrogen Patch Shortages Likely Driven By Empowered Women Seeking Relief, Expert Says

MONDAY, April 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A new generation of empowered women could be driving the estrogen patch shortages now bedeviling the United States, the medical director of The Menopause Society told HealthDay TV.

“I think it's that women and clinicians and people in general are talking about menopause much mo...

First Gene Therapy for Genetic Hearing Loss Gains FDA Approval

MONDAY, April 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — In a historic leap for medical science, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has greenlit the first-ever gene therapy to treat a rare form of inherited deafness.

The treatment — called Otarmeni — offers a permanent solution for children born with a gene mutation that previo...

Blood Glucose Monitors Improve Control Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients

MONDAY, April 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Type 2 diabetes patients who wear a continuous glucose monitor have better blood sugar control than those who rely on traditional finger-prick testing, a new study says.

People equipped with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) had greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, a marker o...

Regaining Weight After Quitting Your GLP-1 Drug? A Simple Procedure Might Help, Study Says

MONDAY, April 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Regaining the weight you’ve just lost is a major risk for anyone who decides to stop taking Ozempic or Zepbound.

But an experimental outpatient gut procedure might help people transition off their GLP-1 weight loss drug without packing on the pounds, according to new research scheduled ...

Late-Night Noshing Could Contribute To Stress-Related Bathroom Problems

MONDAY, April 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Late-night snacking could be worsening your stress-related bowel problems, a new study says.

People who eat lots after 9 p.m. can be more than twice as likely to experience constipation and diarrhea, researchers will report at the upcoming Digestive Disease Week meeting in Chicago.

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New Treatment Targets Unaddressed Major Symptom Of Depression Through Joy, Pleasure and Purpose

MONDAY, April 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The most debilitating symptom of depression can be something that’s actually absent — a void representing the inability to feel positive emotions or experience pleasure.

That symptom — known clinically as anhedonia — affects nearly 90% of people with major depression b...

Why Pricier Olive Oil May Be Better For Your Brain

SUNDAY, April 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) — When it comes to olive oil, not all are created equal. 

Extra virgin olive oil — the centerpiece of a Mediterranean diet — has benefits for your belly and your brain, new research shows. Refined olive oil, which is generally cheaper to buy, does not.

"Not all olive oils...

Your Internal Signal to Stop Eating is More Complex Than Previously Thought

SATURDAY, April 25, 2026 (HealthDay News) — When your belly is full, your brain tells you to "stop eating."

But how that signal works is more complex than scientists have understood — and they hope their discovery that it comes from an unexpected source could lead to new treatments for eating disorders and obesity.

"This ...

Former Tobacco Executive Takes CDC Role

FRIDAY, April 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A new hire at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is drawing backlash from public health experts who worry about his influence in the industry.

Stephen Sayle, named last month as the CDC’s deputy director for legislative affairs, previously worked for Fontem Ventur...

New Plan Could Speed Medicare Coverage for Innovative Devices

FRIDAY, April 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A new proposal could make it easier for patients to access breakthrough medical devices through Medicare.

On Thursday, federal regulators announced a plan they’re calling RAPID. 

The goal? To better coordinate how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Medicare revie...

Heated Socks Sold at Costco Recalled After Burn Reports

FRIDAY, April 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — More than 207,000 pairs of 32 Degrees heated socks are being pulled from shelves after users reported burns linked to the product, according to a notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The socks can become a hazard during high-intensity activity, when heat, friction, ...

First Measles Case of the Year Reported in New Jersey

FRIDAY, April 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Health officials in New Jersey are warning people of possible measles exposure after confirming the state’s first case of the year.

The infection was found in a Hudson County resident who recently traveled abroad, NJ.com reported.

People who were at certain locations in m...

New Guidelines Highlight Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia

FRIDAY, April 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Combining medications with behavioral therapy to treat chronic insomnia might not be best for all patients, a new practice guideline says.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) works best on its own, but can be combined with sleep meds for some patients, according to the guideline...

Playing Pretend Provides Unexpected Benefits For Growing Kids

FRIDAY, April 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The imaginative power of children is profound, captured in a single oft-used phrase: “Let’s pretend.”

Pretend play is seen as a harmless way for kids to have fun, but it might serve a very important role in their mental health and development, a new study says.

Toddler...