Worrying about aging doesn't help — it actually may speed up the process

Philly Voice (Health) 2/11 6:11A Courtenay Harris Bond

Women who worry about declining health may be accelerating the biological aging process, a new study finds. NYU researchers found psychological stress about deteriorating physical health and vulnerability to illness may show up on a cellular level.

Can dark showering help you sleep better? Here's what the science says

Philly Voice (Health) 2/10 10:00P Courtenay Harris Bond

Dark showering is a trendy sleep hack, but does it work? Scientific research on dark showering specifically is limited. But related studies show warm showers before bedtime improve sleep, as does reduced light exposure at night.

It's 2026 and you lack health insurance. Now what?

Philly Voice (Health) 2/7 10:00P Renuka Rayasam, KFF Health News

Health insurance is the best protection against major medical debt, experts say, but many people are losing coverage through the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid. This story contains five ways the uninsured can find affordable care.

NIH grant disruptions slow down breast cancer research

Philly Voice (Health) 2/6 10:00P Martha Bebinger, WBUR

The future of federal funding for cancer research is uncertain, as evidenced by the loss of grant funding for breast cancer research at Harvard University. President Donald Trump proposed cutting the NIH budget by nearly 40%, but Congress reached...

Quality time at family meals may lower teens' risk of using alcohol, marijuana

Philly Voice (Health) 2/6 3:50A Courtenay Harris Bond

Quality time at family meals helps reduce the risk of adolescents using alcohol or drugs, a new study finds. But there is an exception: the findings did not hold true for children who had experienced significant amounts of adversity.

Sticking to a tougher exercise routine can be challenging. But even a small boost in physical...

Philly Voice (Health) 2/5 10:00P Louis Bezich

Increasing daily physical activity by just a few minutes can reduce your risk of death, new research finds. Another study shows that weightlifting of any kind leads to added muscle mass and strength.

Cooper Health's new mobile unit brings primary care to people with autism and other developmental...

Philly Voice (Health) 2/4 8:37A Courtenay Harris Bond

Cooper University Health's new mobile unit provides care to people with autism, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome in their homes. It aims to reduce the stress of medical visits for these people and to remove barriers to care.

IBX’s commitment to getting health care right

Philly Voice (Health) 2/4 5:42A Dr. Richard Snyder, EVP and COO

Health care costs are weighing heavily on everyday Americans and their families. Across the country, more people are seeking health care and prices for medical care and prescriptions continue to rise. As a result, health insurers are increasing...

Playing 'pink noise' sounds, like rainfall, to fall asleep may harm REM sleep

Philly Voice (Health) 2/3 4:51A Courtenay Harris Bond

Using 'pink noise' apps to fall asleep may disrupt REM sleep, Penn Medicine researchers say. Using earplugs was effective against blocking out background sounds without harming REM sleep, their study found.

Birth center coming to Germantown aims to fill void left by closure of Bryn Mawr's

Philly Voice (Health) 2/1 10:00P Molly McVety

The Philadelphia Midwife Collective plans to open a birth center in Germantown to fill the void left by the closure of Bryn Mawr's LifeCycle Wellness, which has provided midwifery services for nearly 50 years.

All foods can fit in a balanced diet – here's how flexibility can be healthier than dieting

Philly Voice (Health) 1/31 10:00P Charlotte Carlson, Colorado Stat

Health and nutrition is much more complex and nuanced than the simple lists of what to eat and what to avoid that diet culture pushes. An all foods fit model is based on the idea that all foods can fit into a healthy diet by balancing food and...

Doctors increasingly see AI scribes in a positive light. But hiccups persist

Philly Voice (Health) 1/30 10:00P Michelle Andrews, KFF Health New

Ambient AI scribes are being hailed by physicians as a game changer that helps free them to focus on their patients rather than their computer keyboard. But many questions must be answered, including whether the technology improves patient care...

A 'fentanyl drought' may be a bigger factor in overdose deaths falling than increased prevention...

Philly Voice (Health) 1/29 10:00P Courtenay Harris Bond

A 'fentanyl drought' may be primarily responsible for the nationwide drop in overdose deaths, a new report suggests. Increased access to Narcan and medications for opioid use disorder may have helped, but cannot fully explain the decline, the...

To reduce HIV, Philly adds webpage that connects people to prevention and treatment services

Philly Voice (Health) 1/27 10:00P Courtenay Harris Bond

To reduce HIV, Philadelphia has added a new webpage that connects people to health care providers that provide HIV testing and prevention drugs like PrEP and PEP. HIV rates were down in Philly in 2023, the last year with data available.

Why medication abortion is the top target for anti-abortion groups in 2026

Philly Voice (Health) 1/24 10:00P Julie Rovner, KFF Health News

The number of abortions in the United States has not fallen since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, partially due to the increased availability of medication abortion. Anti-abortion groups seek to rein in the use of the drugs used for...