RFK Jr. to Change Vaccine Testing Rules

FRIDAY, May 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to change how vaccines are tested in the U.S., a decision that could impact how quickly and widely vaccines are made available.

The department said the new plan will promote transparency, but many health experts warn it could ...

More Than 1.8 Million Ninja Pressure Cookers Recalled for Burn Risk

FRIDAY, May 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — More than 1.8 million Ninja Foodi pressure cookers are being recalled due to a risk of burns, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The recall affects roughly 1,846,400 Ninja Foodi OP300 Series Multi-Function Pressure Cookers. These cookers have a 6.5-quart capacity an...

Medetomidine, a Pet Sedative, Spreads in U.S. Illegal Drug Supply

FRIDAY, May 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A sedative used in animals is showing up more often in illegal drugs and may be making opioid overdoses harder to treat, U.S. health officials warn.

The drug, called medetomidine, is used by veterinarians to sedate pets. It's similar to xylazine, another animal drug that has already made the U.S...

Common Diabetes Drug Effective Against Knee Arthritis Pain

A common diabetes drug can be repurposed to help overweight and obese people with knee arthritis, a new study says.

Metformin reduced knee arthritis pain during a six-month treatment period, potentially delaying the need for knee replacement surgery, researchers reported recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association....

Middle-Age Exercise Protects Brain Against Alzheimer's

FRIDAY, May 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Want to protect your aging brain? Get off the couch and get moving, researchers urge.

Boosting exercise in middle age might help people prevent Alzheimer’s disease, a new study says.

People who increased their physical activity to meet recommended guidelines between ages 45 and 65 ha...

Mindfulness Meditation Counters Opioid Cravings

Mindfulness meditation can help rewire the brain to reduce opioid cravings in people addicted to narcotics, a new study says.

People assigned to mindfulness training had 50% less opioid cravings than others who received supportive group therapy, researchers reported April 30 in JAMA Psychiatry.

“Opioid addiction decrea...