Health News
5/21/2026

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



Making sense of the showdown at the CDC



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



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



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



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.

Paper airplane breaks a world distance record


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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Potential new treatment for pre-eclampsia


Pre-eclampsia causes more than 70,000 maternal deaths every year worldwide

What we know about the Reading Meningitis B cases


Two people ill with meningitis in Reading have been confirmed as pupils at two schools

'I used to be the shy kid'


Tyler West opens up about his experience of school on Sort Your Life Out Unpacked.

What you need to know about latest meningitis cluster


After a fourth case of meningitis B has been confirmed in Reading, BBC South's health correspondent Alastair Fee shares what you need to know.

Inside Health


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

Should you eat local yoghurt on holiday to prevent an upset stomach?


You might have heard the tip that eating local yoghurt as soon as your arrive on holiday can help your gut adjust to the new environment. But is it actually true?

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.

Inside Health


James Gallagher examines the outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Kent.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 vegan collagen?


What's the latest on Collagen?

Bird flu vaccine trial against potential pandemic strain begins


The jab targets the H5N1 flu strain which has caused devastating infections in bird populations worldwide, but has yet to spread between humans.

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.

Mums' choir leader 'baffled' by park fee structure


A postnatal choir leader says professional dog walkers pay less to use the city's parks.

Calls for Reformer Pilates regulation amid boom


Reformer Pilates businesses in the UK rose nearly ten-fold between 2024 and 2025.

Living with PMDD is like having the Grim Reaper visit every month


Women diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder discuss how it impacts their lives.

Women-only mental health crisis house to open in town


Swindon's new mental health support facility for women will be an "alternative" to hospitalisation.

Potential new treatment for pre-eclampsia


Pre-eclampsia causes more than 70,000 maternal deaths every year worldwide

'New cancer test makes me feel women's health matters'


A patient praises a new test for womb cancer being trialled at hospitals in Suffolk and Essex.

How is Keir Starmer getting on with his pledges to deliver change?


At the end of 2024, Keir Starmer announced key government targets including on NHS waiting lists and building new homes, how is he getting on?

'Adenomyosis may be invisible, its impact is not'


One in 10 women live with adenomyosis yet sufferers say their pain is often dismissed.

What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?


A college student has died and two people are being treated after cases of meningitis in Reading, Berkshire.

How do weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy work?


Wegovy and Mounjaro are available to certain patients on the NHS, and can also be bought privately.

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.

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.

Who is James Murray, the new health secretary replacing Wes Streeting?


What are the most pressing priorities for the new minister in charge of health?

Hantavirus survivor says sickness was like 'hell on earth'


Two survivors who caught the hantavirus years earlier told the BBC they both felt lucky to be alive.

Should you really trust health advice from an AI chatbot?


Abi has had very mixed results when asking a chatbot for guidance about her health issues.

I tried the UK's 'saltiest' sandwich - here's what I learned


Health correspondent James Gallagher absorbs more than the recommended daily limit in just one meal to find out how salt affects our bodies.

UK alcohol deaths fall for first time since Covid pandemic


Experts say the “modest reduction” is “not cause for complacency”, with calls to redouble efforts to slash deaths further.

French national shows symptoms on return from hantavirus-hit ship


Five passengers of the MV Hondius will be quarantined in Paris "until further notice", France's prime minister says.

Why illegal children's homes are being paid up to £2m per child by councils


A ban was meant to bring an end to the practice - but councils continue to fund illegal placements.

Daily pill to help keep weight off after stopping obesity jabs


The tablet - orforglipron - is available in the US and could soon launch in the UK.

How worried should we be about hantavirus?


Passengers potentially exposed to hantavirus are being repatriated, so what is the risk to the wider public?

How are countries responding to hantavirus?


The UK, US and EU are asking all citizens returning home from the virus-hit MV Hondius to self-isolate for about six weeks.

Sydney dentist's patients warned of viruses including HIV


Authorities urged patients to get tested due to "poor infection control practices" at the Australian clinic.

MPs call for sunbed advertising ban to help prevent skin cancer


A report by a cross-party group of MPs has found the majority of skin cancer cases are preventable.

'We're right on track,' says Streeting as key target for hospital waiting times hit


Government his its interim target of 65% of patients in England being treated within 18 weeks.

Posh sandwich has more salt than nearly five cheeseburgers


Action on Salt & Sugar said people should not be exposed to a "hidden health risk every time they buy lunch".

Ebola outbreak may be spreading faster than first thought, WHO doctor warns


Hundreds of cases are suspected in central Africa but experts fear the actual number may be much higher.

Canadian from hantavirus-hit cruise ship tests positive


The individual is one of four former passengers on the MV Hondius isolating on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Gonorrhoea and syphilis hit record levels in Europe


STIs have surged thanks to record cases and gaps in testing and prevention, a health agency reports.

Toilets and changing rooms must be used on basis of biological sex, guidance confirms


The guidance was published on Thursday following the landmark Supreme Court ruling last year.

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