Health News
2/26/2026

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?



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 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.

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 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.

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.

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."

The best coupons at CVS Pharmacy



Your guide to finding the right Theragun massage gun for you



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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Witness History


In the 1980s, deaths were linked to super-absorbent tampons

Radio 1’s Life Hacks: Mental Health Special


Greg James and a panel of guests sensitively discuss male mental health and suicide.

'The kindness of people got me to the finish line'


Farmer Sam Stables walks from Herefordshire to London to raise awareness of mental health.

Does taking Vitamin C help to stop a cold?


The doctors speak to Professor of Immunology, Dan Davis.

5 Live News Specials


That Time of the Month with Naga Munchetty, Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi

Inside Health


Is NHS dentistry on 'life support'?

Inside Health


How is EBV triggering autoimmune disease?

The doctor strike has ended - what comes next?


With doctors returning to work after five-day walkout, is there an opportunity for talks to re-start?

Inside Health


The new wave of ME research that could bring clarity to this perplexing condition.

Inside Health


James Gallagher is joined by a panel to explore the side effects of weight loss drugs.

Union and government to restart talks on ending doctor dispute


BMA says there is window of opportunity in coming weeks to reach a settlement after 12 strikes.

Doctors' union agrees to resume talks with Streeting


But the health secretary says he will not negotiate on pay, adding that the union has lost goodwill with their five-day walkout.

Lockdown could have been avoided - key findings from Covid inquiry


The long-awaited report is published into how well or badly the government handled the Covid pandemic.

Why are resident doctors striking and how much are they paid?


Resident doctors in England are striking between 17 and 22 December, the 14th walkout since 2023.

Much of £11bn Covid scheme fraud 'beyond recovery', report says


The response to the pandemic led to "enormous outlays of public money which exposed it to the risk of fraud and error", a report says.

Government racks up £100m bill responding to Covid inquiry


BBC analysis shows cost to taxpayer is 50% higher than thought, with inquiry's own costs at £192m.

Doctor who sold stolen PPE on eBay is struck off register


Dr Attiya Sheikh and her husband Omer Sheikh made almost £8,000 from selling personal protective equipment during the covid pandemic.

Firm assessing Covid vaccine harm replaced after costs spiral to £48m


The figure paid to Crawford & Company Adjusters is eight times the original estimate for the work.

'I was diagnosed with OCD at 10'. Here's how to spot the signs


Most of us will have intrusive thoughts at some point. Dr Nina Higson-Sweeney explains when you should seek help.

Trial launched to 'help spot health risks early'


A pilot scheme is rolled out in the north of the Isle of Man by the public health directorate.

Mental health chat encouraged at coffee mornings


Three coffee mornings are being held in Wolverhampton as part of a national mental health event.

Couple to re-start trek around Britain's coastline


After having to halt their first attempt due to an injury, the couple are ready to set off again.

What does 'quiet resilience' look like?


Kimberley Wilson talks to psychologist and therapist Dr Sula Windgassen on how to build "quiet" or "flexible" resilience.

'I needed a coil to ease the bleeding but I just sat on a waiting list'


Elaine Gracey was in a lot of pain but says she was expected to just put up with her menopausal symptoms.

Mum with cervical cancer begged for scan after years of being 'fobbed off'


Jessica finally received a diagnosis after "begging" for an MRI scan revealing she needed urgent treatment.

Women calling for greater support with menopause


Women who experienced challenges during the menopause set up businesses to help others.

I was full of shame at being sacked after having endometriosis surgery


Sanju Pal wins an employment appeal tribunal that could affect how employers can treat staff with endometriosis.

What is chickenpox and who can get an NHS vaccine?


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

The teenage caffeine pouch trend troubling US experts


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

Sleep, exercise, hydrate - do we really need to stick to recommended daily doses?


As a study casts doubt on the daily steps maxim, we take a look at some other health benchmarks we’re often told to strive for.

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.

How I proved hair loss and dizziness aren't just symptoms of 'being a mum'


Iron deficiency is a relatively common problem, especially in women. Here's how to spot the symptoms.

Prostate cancer screening: What you need to know


Everything you need to know about the decision on who should be screened for prostate cancer.

How to check whether you have bowel cancer


What are the main symptoms and causes of bowel cancer, and how can you reduce your risk of getting it?

Why are fewer people donating their organs?


The number waiting for an organ is at a record high as loved ones increasingly block donations.

Sepsis warning after woman's quadruple amputation


Manjit Sangha, from Penn, near Wolverhampton, says her life drastically change in one weekend.

Sunbed ads spreading harmful misinformation to young people


Hundreds of TikTok, Instagram and Facebook ads made misleading claims about health benefits, BBC finds.

Children injured by NHS can claim damages for lifetime lost earnings, court rules


The decision from the Supreme Court, on the case of a child who sustained a brain injury at birth in 2015, could have significant cost implications for the NHS.

Stop dithering on Brazilian butt lift crackdown, say MPs


A committee of MPs warns tighter restrictions on high-risk cosmetic procedures are needed immediately.

Single vaccine could protect against all coughs, colds and flus, researchers say


A Stanford University team have tested their nasal spray vaccine in animals but still need to do human clinical trials.

Woman's regret over botched Brazilian butt lift


Josephina Finch says the surgery left her with a "gaping wound".

Multi-cancer blood test missed key goal in NHS trial


The company behind the test said there were positive signs that some of the most aggressive cancers could be prevented.

NHS joint ops disrupted amid bone cement supply problems


Around 1,000 operations a week rely on the product as patients are warned delays are inevitable.

'It was like buying groceries' - Woman calls for tighter weight-loss jabs checks


Emma Dyer says she collapsed on her bathroom floor and began vomiting blood after buying jabs online.

GPs to get £3,000 bonus to maximise weight loss drug prescriptions


Bid to improve access to Mounjaro in England, but experts warn eligibility still tightly restricted.

Streeting says he takes Leeds maternity care inquiry concerns 'extremely seriously'


The health secretary will meet bereaved families on Monday, as delay into maternity care probe drags on.

GPs told to guarantee same-day appointments for urgent cases


New contract will require patients in England to be given immediate appointment if needed.

First British baby born using transplanted womb from dead donor


Grace Bell, who was born without a viable womb, says her little boy is "simply a miracle".

Sperm swim more quickly in summer, study finds


Understanding the seasonal patterns of sperm could improve fertility treatments, by optimising the timing of treatment, the reasearchers say.

Racism and 'poor' staff relationships factors in maternity care failings, report finds


The interim report has identified problems "at every stage" of the maternity journey in England.

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