Health News
12/11/2025

Making sense of the showdown at the CDC



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



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



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 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 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."

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



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.

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.

How you know if you've got a cold or a flu


GP Dr Oscar Duke explains the different symptoms you might experience.

This question will tell you if you're a people pleaser


Here's a simple way to make sure your wants and needs are being heard.

Girls 'taught how to get a job but not about women's health'


Young women say they were taught how to open a bank account in school, but not about their own health.

Joe Wicks: Protein's not just for bodybuilders


The fitness coach explains how it helps and how you can meet your protein needs.

Inside Health


We try to figure out why drug deaths are at an all-time high - and what can be done.

I was poisoning myself - Ironman world champion


Lucy Charles-Barclay had been dealing with stress fractures, joint pain and low energy before her coeliac disease diagnosis.

Inside Health


Cystic fibrosis care, AI in cancer screening & science of run clubs.

Inside Health


Shingles vaccine to reduce dementia risk? Antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea & tech trousers

Inside Health


We investigate the safety of melatonin as a sleep aid, and should you eat your placenta?

At 21, I was crushed by a stranger's joke about going bald. Then the way I looked at myself changed


There are multiple ways for men to combat hair loss now, but should they have to?

Councils should not cut 'vital' physical activity - former Olympian


The Accounts Commission says the amount councils are spending on culture and leisure services is not keeping up with rising costs.

'It sounds dramatic but singing class saved my life'


Hundreds of peopling attending singing groups are being taught songs and breathing techniques.

Wellbeing support for terminally-ill islanders


A hospice offers a free programme for those with life-limiting or serious progressive illnesses.

Young women call for better health education


New resources are being designed to improve understanding of common conditions.

HIV warning to older women as infections increase


The Blue Sky Trust charity reacts to a rise in HIV infections among heterosexual women.

Libraries to host community events over winter


The sessions in December and January aim to bring people in Wolverhampton together during the colder months.

Girls 'taught how to get a job but not about women's health'


Young women say they were taught how to open a bank account in school, but not about their own health.

Group supports those with 'lonely condition'


Bethany Lewis, 18, set up the group after her polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis, in April.

School taught me about bank accounts but not breast exams


Resources will be made available in schools on women's health topics to reduce the gender health gap.

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?

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


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

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.

NHS needs better plan around weight loss jabs, warn experts


Experts call for an urgent review of obesity treatment services amid booming demand for weight loss jabs.

How many of us will end up being diagnosed with ADHD?


Experts suggest that the number of people with ADHD is actually going to remain steady.

The junior doctors' strikes may be over. But is trouble ahead?


The end of the pay dispute sounded too good to be true. And now some are wondering if it might be.

Is the system letting down people who were harmed by Covid vaccines?


People affected by rare blood clots say they feel they have been airbrushed out of the pandemic.

How will weight-loss drugs change our relationship with food?


The rise of these treatments has major implications for how we think about obesity, says James Gallagher.

Generation K: The disturbing rise of ketamine abuse among young people


Increasing numbers of young people are using the drug, experts say. The health impacts can be catastrophic.

Assisted dying bill: What is in proposed law?


The proposed law would allow some terminally ill adults to end their own lives. But there are requirements.

'My first cervical screening was over before I knew it'


The BBC speaks to six people about their first cervical screening, and what they wish they'd known beforehand.

Labour's plan for benefits throws up a bigger dilemma


The debate has sparked a wider dilemma about the broader purpose of welfare

First place in British Isles set to approve right to die


Laws in the Isle of Man to let terminally ill adults end their own lives are in the last stages of debate.

The English neighbourhood that claims to hold the secret to fixing the NHS


With public satisfaction in the NHS just 21%, one area has a plan to shake up its services that could reduce GP waiting lists, as well as unblock hospital beds - but can it really work nationwide?

How does the disposable vape ban work, and how harmful is vaping?


The disposable vape ban is designed to reduce environmental damage and protect children's health.

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.

Is the most expensive lip balm always the best?


Do you need to spend more to get the best for your chapped lips?

Ketamine helped me escape my negative thoughts - then it nearly killed me


Young people are taking dangerous amounts of ket because it's cheap, easily available and helps them "disconnect", experts say.

My late husband's organs transformed the lives of four people


Mark Hutchinson was only 52 when he died unexpectedly last year after suffering two strokes "out of the blue".

What is chickenpox and how can I get my child vaccinated?


The NHS in England and Wales will start offering the MMRV vaccine to young children from 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.

Your nose gets colder when you're stressed. These thermal images show the change


Psychologists subjected a BBC reporter to a carefully designed thermal camera stress test.

My eating disorder made me good at lying, says Victoria Beckham


The former Spice Girl's new Netflix documentary has landed - under the shadow of a reported family feud.

'Getting financial help through my GP has improved my health'


How linked are financial worries and health? GPs in London are trialling a financial support scheme.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer and what should you check for?


One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

A facelift at 28? Why young people are turning to plastic surgery


Gone are the days when facelifts were for the ageing wealthy. Now younger people are going under the knife.

'I have a sweating problem': What Alan Carr's Traitors admission tells us about how social taboos changed


Let's talk about sweat... From contestants on The Celebrity Traitors and scores of celebrities openly discussing it, to the trend of professionals using saunas for business meetings

Illegal teeth-whitening industry exposed by BBC


A BBC investigation finds kits on sale containing more than 500 times the legal limit of bleach.

What is Mpox and why are cases rising in Europe?


UK health officials are encouraging gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to be vaccinated.

Magnesium: Can this 'miracle mineral' really help us sleep?


The global market in this supplement is worth almost £3bn - a figure set to nearly double over the next decade.

DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97


Watson co-discover the double-helix structure of DNA, but his reputation was later damaged by his comments on race and sex.

I wanted ChatGPT to help me. So why did it advise me how to kill myself?


ChatGPT wrote a woman a suicide note and another AI chatbot role-played sexual acts with children, BBC finds.

You can now book online to see your GP. But is it any easier to get an appointment?


A month since GPs in England started offering online appointment bookings, patients recount their experiences.

ADHD services shutting door to new NHS patients as demand soars, BBC finds


A BBC investigation finds that a host of areas in England are closing waiting lists and others are rationing care.

'A predator in your home': Mothers say chatbots encouraged their sons to kill themselves


In her first UK interview Megan Garcia speaks to Laura Kuenssberg about the death of her teenage son.

How do cold weather health alerts work?


The weather alert service warns the public when high or low temperatures could damage their health.

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.

Ever feel the need to switch off? Your vagus nerve might hold the key


You might not have heard of it, but can training your vagus nerve give you a moment or two of peace?

Prostate cancer screening: What you need to know


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

Sugar tax extended to milk-based drinks: What you need to know


Milkshakes and lattes to be included in UK sugar tax scheme for the first time.

Families failed by Covid jabs tell inquiry of pain


They said there was no support after the death and harm suffered by their loved ones.

NHS hours from PPE running out in Covid - Hancock


Former health secretary tells inquiry some healthcare settings did run out - "and it was awful".

Covid inquiry hears of 'generational slaughter'


Relatives of care home residents tell the Covid inquiry they will never get over how their loved ones died.

Hancock ignored call to test all NHS staff, Covid inquiry hears


Two Nobel prize-winning scientists worried about "asymptomatic transmission" between staff and patients.

Large UK-wide pandemic preparedness tests planned this year


The stress test will involve thousands of people to help the UK prepare for potential future threats.

Boris Johnson left Inquiry in a hurry - he'll be pleased not to come back


School closures seemed the only option but lockdowns probably went "too far" , former PM tells Covid Inquiry.

One day of planning went into Covid school closures, inquiry hears


This part of the inquiry is looking at the impact the pandemic had on children and young people.

Delayed action before 2020 Christmas lockdown 'inexcusable'


Baroness Hallet says ministers failed to take "decisive action" against an "entirely foreseeable" variant.

'Since having Covid my life has completely changed'


A teenager has told the Covid-19 inquiry she often feels "left out" after missing so much school.

What's in the Covid inquiry report... in 68 seconds


The report looks at whether lockdowns were timely and reasonable, and what impact rule-breaking at the heart of government had on public confidence.

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


The inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic has heard from politicians, civil servants, experts and bereaved families.

Gove apologises after Covid report alleges 'toxic' culture


The ex-senior minister apologises for mistakes in the pandemic, but defends some of the previous government's actions.

UK did 'too little, too late', leading to thousands more Covid deaths - inquiry


Report on government decision-making says delays cost 23,000 lives in the first wave in England.

The private notes and secret documents that tell the inside story of the UK's Covid response


The Covid inquiry is set to publish its second set of findings looking in detail at the huge political decisions that had to be made in 2020.

'Toxic' No 10 culture harmed Covid response, inquiry finds


Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings and Matt Hanock are all criticised for contributing to poor Covid decision-making.

Covid inquiry hears impact on firms and staff


Business owners describe breaking into tears as they were forced to lay off staff, while workers feared for their jobs

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.

The Covid Inquiry Podcast


Baroness Hallett makes her second report into the UK's pandemic response. With Jim Reed.

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.

Lord Cameron reveals he had prostate cancer


The former PM is calling for more men to be screened for the disease, which is the most common cancer in males in the UK.

Obesity jab drug fails to slow Alzheimer's


There were initial hopes that the drug in weight loss jab Wegovy could slow progression of dementia.

JFK's granddaughter raises awareness of rare leukaemia with poignant essay


Doctors say Tatiana Schlossberg's struggle - even with the best care as a member of a prominent family - emphasises the need for more research.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer and what should you check for?


One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Cancer patient welcomes newly-approved treatment


Sharon Price from Newcastle-under-Lyme says she was glad to avoid the need for surgery.

Adolescence lasts into 30s - new study shows four pivotal ages for your brain


Brain scans on thousands of people reveal the dramatic shifts the brain goes through between birth and death.

Prostate cancer screening should not be offered to most UK men, say experts


It recommends that only men with a confirmed genetic risk of prostate cancer should be screened for the disease.

HIV battle is not over, warns It's a Sin creator


Russell T Davies says misinformation about the virus made him "despair".

Women 'traumatised' by breast cancer treatment at NHS trust


More than 200 patients suffered harm, including unnecessary mastectomies, the BBC has been told.

Supermarket loyalty discounts to be allowed on baby formula


The government claims that parents who cannot or chose not to breastfeed could save £500 a year.

US and UK agree zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals


The deal follows threats of tariffs as high as 100% on branded drug imports.

Doctors failed to tell dad-of-seven he was dying


William Chapman only found out he had a terminal diagnosis when his GP mentioned it in passing.

MND took our son at 14 - anyone at any age can get it


Kyle Sieniawski, from Pontypridd, died last month, after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January.

Doctors to stage five-day strike before Christmas


Walkout in England begins on 17 December and will be 14th strike in pay dispute.

Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnoses


The health secretary says the aim is to tackle a rising demand for services and pressure on the NHS.

Masks to be worn in three hospitals as flu cases surge


Frimley Health NHS Trust is the latest to reintroduce masks as UK hospitals come under strain.

NHS must take elderly infections more seriously, Chris Whitty warns


England's chief medical officer says doctors do not appreciate risk of heart attack and stroke, as flu cases rise.

'Life being stressful is not an illness' - GPs on mental health over-diagnosis


Hundreds of GPs in England tell the BBC they are also worried about a lack of help for patients.

Partial victory for nurse in NHS trans changing room row


A tribunal said NHS Fife harassed Sandie Peggie but dismissed other claims she made against the health board and a transgender doctor.

Hospitals facing unprecedented flu season, say NHS bosses


Record number of patients in hospital in England with flu for this time of year, figures show.

Flu jabs offered in pub in vaccination drive


Regular pop-up vaccination clinics are available at The Bevy community pub in Brighton.

Is it a cold, 'super flu' or Covid? How to tell the difference


BBC Morning Live's Dr Oscar Duke shares his advice on how to identify whether you have cold, flu or Covid and how to look after yourself.

Ambulance demand spikes as flu season worsens


The service says calls increased by 20% in the past week, fuelled by illnesses such as the flu.

Some schools disrupted amid rise in flu cases


Flu is on the rise, but ministers say schools should only close in extreme circumstances.

Hungry mothers and dirty wards - maternity care 'much worse' than anticipated, review chief says


An interim report by Baroness Amos finds poor care and dirty wards are blighting England’s maternity services.

Private flu vaccine stocks running low as cases rise


Those eligible for a vaccine can access jabs from the NHS, but experts say that people have turned to pharmacies for convenience.

Campaigners question ethics of puberty-blocker trial in legal letter to Streeting


Researchers and the UK regulator say the study is going to help improve care for children questioning their gender.

Sperm from donor with cancer-causing gene was used to conceive almost 200 children


Some children have already died and only a minority who inherit the mutation will escape cancer in their lifetimes.

Last-minute offer may avert strike by resident doctors


Deal put forward by ministers includes rapid expansion of training posts, but no promises on pay.

Why is flu so bad this winter - and should you buy a vaccine?


Flu has come early this year, and experts predict it could be a particularly nasty season.

Flu wave hits England's busiest A&E - hundreds of patients are arriving a day


The BBC visits Leicester Royal Infirmary to witness first-hand how it's coping with an early surge in cases of winter bugs.

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