Spring’s warmer weather lures people outdoors – and into possible contact with ticks that spread Lyme disease. Already, the 2026 tick season is booming. On April 23, the Centers for…
Category: Anthropology
Reclassification of marijuana opens doors for much-needed medical research into the benefits and risks of the drug
When the U.S. Department of Justice moved to reclassify medical marijuana to a Schedule III drug on April 23, 2026, it set the stage for a vast amount of medical…
Trump’s Medicaid fraud crackdown may sound sensible, but it could harm Americans who require long-term care
Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator, is ordering all states to step up their efforts to crack down on Medicaid fraud. His April 21, 2026, announcement…
How the concept of ‘medical freedom’ is reshaping the military’s decades‑long stance on the flu vaccine mandate − and endangering troops’ readiness
For the first time in almost 80 years, U.S. service members will no longer be mandated to receive the annual influenza vaccine. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the change on…
Wearable glucose monitors offer real-time data, but for healthy people no guidelines exist to interpret the numbers
Keeping tabs on blood sugar throughout the day used to be the exclusive domain of people with diabetes. But in 2026, anyone can buy a user-friendly wearable device that provides…
More than 140,000 Americans die from COPD each year – here’s why survival depends on more than avoiding smoking
The Conversation, CC BY-ND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, caused 141,733 deaths in the United States in 2023 – the latest data that has been reported. That number reflects…
Rotavirus cases in children are rising – but a highly effective vaccine has slashed hospitalizations from the virus by 80% in 2 decades
Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily and can make babies and young children very sick. This year, doctors have been seeing more cases earlier in the season…
HEPA air purifiers may boost brain power in adults over 40 – new research
Using an in-home HEPA purifier for one month spurs a small but significant improvement in brain function in adults age 40 and older. That’s the result of a new study…
Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it
The first time the placebo effect really got under my skin was when I read that roughly one-third of people with irritable bowel syndrome improve on placebo treatments alone. Usually…
Intimate partner homicide has clear warning signs – and is often preventable, research shows
Dr. Cerina Wanzer Fairfax was an accomplished dentist and a loving mom to two teenage children. On April 16, 2026, she was killed by her estranged husband, former Virginia Lt.…
