Health News
4/18/2026

Confused by the new COVID vaccine guidelines? Here's what you need to know.



Making sense of the showdown at the CDC



Trump promotes unproven theory about Tylenol and autism. What does the science say?



Chagas disease, a deadly infection caused by ‘kissing bugs,’ may have taken root in the U.S., researchers say



Poll: Only 15% of Americans agree with the unproven claim that Tylenol causes autism



What you should know if there's no sexual attraction for your partner, according to a therapist


Why would a person pick a potential life partner without feeling the spark of sexual attraction? And can these relationships survive and thrive? Can sexual attraction be cultivated later? Therapist Ian Kerner shares what he's learned in his practice.

The benefits of 'body doubling' when you have ADHD, according to experts


'Body doubling' is a strategy people with ADHD can use to accomplish more than they would alone. Here's how to do it.

If you think you can't focus for long, you're right


Your attention span has shrunk by nearly two minutes in the past 20 years, driven in part by technology's hold over your work and home life, experts say. Here's how to stay focused so you can get things done.

What a medication abortion is like, according to a doctor


An expert in medication abortion describes how mifepristone and misoprostol work and what to expect after using these medications known as the "abortion pill."

How to cool down without AC


No air conditioning? Here are 14 methods for cooling your body and buffering your house from the outside heat.

The planet is getting hotter fast. This is what happens to your body in extreme heat


Human-caused climate change has already made heat waves around the world more frequent and intense.

8 activewear brands you should add to your workout wardrobe


The increasing popularity of stylish, trendy athletic wear has made über-comfortable clothing something that's not just for the gym. It's infiltrated all corners of culture, from high fashion runways to the offices of Silicon Valley executives — and really, it's appropriate for any occasion when you just want to be comfortable.

The best coupons at CVS Pharmacy



Why we have nightmares and how to stop them


We leave behind our fears of monsters under the bed as we say goodbye to our childhoods, but one can follow us into adulthood and loom over our heads.

Your guide to finding the right Theragun massage gun for you



This bat fossil could fill in a piece of the evolutionary puzzle


Two 52 million-year-old bat skeletons discovered in an ancient lake bed in Wyoming are the oldest bat fossils ever found — and they reveal a new species.

How long you can use vintage Tupperware


Since Tupperware, the iconic kitchen brand that's been a household name for decades, signaled recently that it might be going out of business, you might be wondering how long your stash of its food storage containers is safe to use — especially if it's vintage.

Fuzzy first photo of a black hole gets a sharp makeover


The first photo ever taken of a black hole looks a little sharper now.

Paper airplane breaks a world distance record


It's a bird... It's a plane... It's a paper airplane!

US gets D+ grade for rising preterm birth rates, new report finds


The rate of premature birth in the United States is climbing, according to the infant and maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes.

Desperate for heart surgery for their baby, a family feels the effects of pediatric hospital shortages


Even before their daughter was born in June, Aaron and Helen Chavez knew she would need heart surgery. Doctors expected her to have an operation around 6 months of age.

Experimental therapy gantenerumab fails to slow or improve Alzheimer's memory loss in clinical trials


An experimental treatment, gantenerumab, failed to help people at high risk of memory loss from Alzheimer's or those who were in the early phases of the disease, the manufacturer said Monday.

RSV hospitalization rate for seniors is 10 times higher than usual for this point in the season


The respiratory virus season has started early in kids this year and flooded children's hospitals in many parts of the country -- especially with respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV.

Covid-19 boosters could keep thousands of kids out of hospitals, but uptake remains low


Higher Covid-19 vaccination rates among US children could prevent thousands of pediatric hospitalizations and millions of missed school days, according to an analysis published Tuesday by the Commonwealth Fund and the Yale School of Public Health.

The Food Chain


So you think you eat enough fibre? You probably don't. Here's what to do about it.

'Men should discuss their feelings more'


Men should discuss their feelings more

Poetry, rhyme and rhythm saved my life


People with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression, a charity backing tailored support says.

Why is walking in the rain good for your mental health?


Why is walking in the rain good for your mental health?

World Cup winner Kildunne reveals body dysmorphia struggle


England rugby star Ellie Kildunne says she slipped into disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss during Covid.

Inside Health


James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

Inside Health


James visits Hackney, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

Inside Health


James Gallagher finds out how a hot flush feels - and delves into a new treatment.

Inside Health


James Gallagher is joined by experts to answer key questions on the meningitis outbreak.

'Doctors strikes' and 'paw prints in space'


A round-up of stories from local newspapers and the BBC from the past week in the West of England.

'Month of worry' over doctor strike surgery delay


The strike further delays Tom Lawson's gastric bypass surgery after a more than three-year wait.

Hospitals coping well with doctors' strike so far - NHS boss


Resident doctors in England – the new name for junior doctors – are taking part in their 15th walkout in a long-running pay dispute.

Doctors' strikes can have surprising benefits - but are they sustainable?


Some hospital trusts tell the BBC previous action has seen shorter waits, faster decisions and calmer corridors.

Patients harmed as Covid pandemic brought NHS close to collapse, inquiry finds


Third report into the pandemic says patients and staff were failed as health service only just coped.

Why did resident doctors go on strike and how much are they paid?


Resident doctors in England have returned to work after the 15th walkout in a long-running dispute.

Vaccines a huge success, but public trust must be earned - key findings from Covid report


Immunisation saved hundreds of thousands of UK lives, but vaccine hesitancy remains an issue.

What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work?


The fourth report from the inquiry into the pandemic said the vaccine roll-out was an "extraordinary feat".

Stay at home advice questioned and rules too tough - key findings from Covid report


An NHS close to collapse, patients failed and NHS staff put at risk - what you need to know.

Pupil art sessions 'bring joy' to hospice


The Hospice in the Weald in Pembury runs the sessions for people with life-limiting conditions.

Rollout of Covid vaccines extraordinary feat - inquiry report


Covid vaccines saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but a small minority harmed need better support, says report.

What is vegan collagen?


What's the latest on Collagen?

Men's group hopes to ease strain on NHS services


"I want to tackle loneliness and we feel like this group can do that," the organisation's founder says.

Wellbeing garden opens to combat isolation


The outdoor area at Yarm Wellness will officially open to the public on Saturday.

Researchers look into island's health benefits


The team aims to find out what it is about the Isle of Wight that makes people feel better.

Women's network for mid-life wellbeing launches


The support group was set up by a woman who challenged herself to try 50 new things before turning 50.

Incontinence problems leave me 'leaking while competing'


Aimee Oliver's problems began in her 20s following the birth of her first child.

Trans woman leaves role with women's health charity


Steph Richards' endometriosis charity work was criticised by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

'I'm not being listened to' - new health plan launched as women say they are still ignored


New plans to improve healthcare for women and girls have been set out, but will they change anything?

What is chickenpox and who can get an NHS vaccine?


The standard NHS childhood vaccination programme will include chickenpox from 2 January 2026.

Caffeine pouch craze: A teenage trend troubling some experts


Some social media influencers are pushing products to young gym-goers and students, health experts warn.

Podcaster advocating for endometriosis awareness


Alexandra Morris said women can be dismissed by doctors when describing symptoms of endometriosis.

No, Kim K did not really wear this t-shirt at Coachella...


BBC Verify breaks down how fake viral images of celebrities at Coachella are actually AI generated.

What are the symptoms of meningitis and how is it spread?


Two people have died following an "unpredecented" outbreak of meningitis in Kent.

Could weight-loss jabs be behind rising gallbladder removals?


Last year, there was a 15% annual increase in the operations and surgeons want more research.

What does hot weather do to the body?


Hot weather during the summer can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious harm.

Are UK students at risk of more deadly meningitis outbreaks?


The worst seems to be over, but questions remain about why this happened and whether it could happen again.

Hundreds contact BBC about mystery skin condition 'hell' - but doctors can't agree it exists


Some think it's a severe case of eczema. Others say it's a condition called TSW. But doctors are stuck in a dilemma.

What to do if you think someone has heat exhaustion or heatstroke


Know the signs and what to do if someone is unwell in hot weather.

Weight-loss jabs will be offered on NHS for people at risk of further heart attacks


More than a million people in England will start being offered the anti-obesity jab for better heart health and to avoid strokes.

Why did resident doctors go on strike and how much are they paid?


Resident doctors in England have returned to work after the 15th walkout in a long-running dispute.

Incontinence problems leave me 'leaking while competing'


Aimee Oliver never imagined that giving birth would ultimately cause her to need surgery for incontinence.

Prince William praises £20m milestone for Bowelbabe fund


The Bowelbabe fund, set up by Dame Deborah James in 2022, helps to support Cancer Research UK.

Fewer heat-related deaths in 2025 despite warmest summer


Summer 2025 was the warmest UK summer on record, with four heatwaves, a top temperature of nearly 38C and a mean temperature of 16.1C

New light shed on who benefits most from weight-loss jabs


People who carry variations in two genes linked to appetite and digestion can lose more weight when taking drugs to treat obesity, research suggests.

'Two weeks will make such a difference': UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave


Northern Ireland becomes first part of UK to bring in legal entitlement for parents affected by miscarriage at any stage of a pregnancy to have paid leave.

I've been a sex educator for six years. Why did I start doubting my contraception choices?


Misinformation about contraception has been spreading on social media, alongside the "very real frustrations" of women complaining about side effects.

ChatGPT 'uncovered woman's rare condition' after years of misdiagnosis


Phoebe was told she'd be treated as a mental health patient if she kept returning to A&E.

Deep-fried food banned in new plans for school dinners


Schools are being told to cut down on sugary desserts, and provide more vegetables and whole grains.

Should we be using cotton buds to clean our ears?


Greg Foot asks whether we should be using cotton buds to clean our ears.

Single-sex space guidance for organisations to be published after May elections


Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson says election rules mean a new draft cannot be published until next month.

'I was kicked out of bar because of my wheelchair'


Maddie Haining, 18, says she was told she was a safety risk and escorted out of a Manchester nightspot.

A cold could kill my daughter - hospital visits feel like a death sentence


Rebecca Quayle, who has terminal cancer, has had to wait in A&E with people coughing and taking Covid tests.

Is the bite of the false widow spider dangerous?


Experts say noble false widow spiders could be to blame for an increase in bites being treated in hospital.

'I'm not being listened to' - new health plan launched as women say they are still ignored


New plans to improve healthcare for women and girls have been set out, but will they change anything?

I feared my son had a brain tumour but he'd been poisoned with vitamin D


Investigations found Roo had been accidentally poisoned with a dose of vitamin D prescribed for growing pains.

NHS tracker - are hospital waiting times improving near you?


Use our interactive tracker to see if treatment waits are getting better at your local hospital.

Senior midwife appointed to maternity inquiry


Senior midwife Donna Ockenden will review maternity services in Sussex after a campaign by families.

Don't feel like exercising? Maybe it's the wrong time of day for you


Time your workout to your body clock, health researchers advise based on latest evidence.

Breakthrough £90,000 Alzheimer's drugs unlikely to benefit patients, report suggests


A major review has provoked a backlash after concluding the medicines provide too little benefit to be noticed.

What is the UK Covid inquiry and how does it work?


The fourth report from the inquiry into the pandemic said the vaccine roll-out was an "extraordinary feat".

Three young people contract meningitis in Weymouth


Young people are to be offered the MenB vaccine after three cases of meningitis were confirmed.

Lawmakers clash with RFK Jr as he shifts focus away from vaccines


During a three-hour hearing, the US health secretary tried to focus on chronic disease while being pressed on vaccines.

Rollout of Covid vaccines extraordinary feat - inquiry report


Covid vaccines saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but a small minority harmed need better support, says report.

Mental health support to be offered to people with diabetes in UK first


People with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression, a charity backing tailored support says.

'I'm the lucky one' - more than one in three young men now live with their parents


Last year, the highest proportion of men aged 20-34 were still living at home since at least 2007 as the rising cost of living takes hold.

Pregnancy vaccine reduces baby hospital admissions for RSV by 80%


A study confirms the vaccine gives excellent protection for babies against life-threatening chest infections.

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