New Merck Pill Cuts 'Bad' Cholesterol by 60%, Potentially Replacing Injections

A new pill from Merck could change how millions of people treat high cholesterol and help prevent heart attacks and strokes without the need for injections.

The drug, called enlicitide, slashes levels of harmful LDL cholesterol by up to 60%, similar to injectable PCSK9 drugs already on the market. 

The pill blocks a liver protei...

Heart Health Impact Of Food Deserts Can Be Blunted By Healthy Grocery Deliveries, Study Says

Black adults living in food deserts can beat high blood pressure, with a little help.

Folks living in an area with few grocery stores had a greater reduction in blood pressure if they participated in a program that home-delivered healthy eats, researchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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High Blood Pressure Rates Double Among Children & Teens

The rate of kids and teens with high blood pressure worldwide nearly doubled over the past two decades, according to a startling new report.

In 2020, more than 6% of children and adolescents under 19 had high blood pressure, up from around 3% in 2000, researchers reported Nov. 12 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

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FDA Lifts Major Warnings on Hormone Replacement Therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is eliminating the prominent "black box" warnings on many hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications, signaling a major shift in how the treatment is viewed for menopausal women.

The decision affects products containing estrogen or progestogen, alone or combined, that are prescribed to treat t...

Why Ultra-Processed Foods Dominate the Grocery Store — and What it Means for Your Health

They're tasty, affordable and satisfy fast — ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) dominate the American diet, accounting for more than half of the calories consumed by the average adult, and even more for children.

These foods are a growing public health concern and federal health officials are working to remove some from food assistance prog...

The Hype and Limits of At-Home Gut Microbiome Tests

The market for at-home gut microbiome tests is booming, with companies promising insights into health, chronic illness and even longevity through intestinal bacteria.

But many gastroenterologists are urging consumers to be cautious, according to The Associated Press, as the science backing these direct-to-consumer tests is extreme...