CNN – Health

By Jen Christensen, CNN There has been a steady increase in the number of children who are seen in emergency rooms for suicidal thoughts, according to a new study — and the increase started even before the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought record high demand for psychological services for children. The pandemic’s effects drew renewed attention

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN Spreading kindness not only helps others feel better about themselves — it can also boost the giver’s health and happiness, according to research. It’s a win-win for all. Putting the well-being of others before our own without expecting anything in return — or what is called being altruistic — stimulates the

By Zoe Sottile, CNN A mindfulness meditation course may be as effective at reducing anxiety as a common medication, according to a new study. The research, published on November 9 in JAMA Psychiatry, involved a group of 276 adults with untreated anxiety disorders. Half of the patients were randomly selected to take 10 to 20

By Brenda Goodman and Deidre McPhillips, CNN 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. When it became apparent in September that it would have to happen much sooner than expected, the Chavezes

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN When a family arrived at Koch Funeral Home in State College, Pennsylvania, to identify a loved one before cremation, Monroe took note — staying back to maintain the people’s privacy but ready to offer comfort if asked. Monroe isn’t a grief counselor or therapist. She’s an Australian Shepherd and resident therapy

By Ben Tinker, CNN Respiratory viruses including flu and RSV are circulating across the United States at high levels, overwhelming children’s hospitals and prompting concern among parents of young children. Most kids who get sick this season will recover quickly with home care, but some will need medical attention. What should parents watch for, and

By Deidre McPhillips, CNN About half of the US — 22 states, along with Washington, DC, New York City and Puerto Rico — is reporting high or very high respiratory illness activity, as flu season sweeps through the country weeks earlier than usual. Multiple respiratory viruses are circulating nationwide — including flu, RSV and the

By Raenu Charles, CNN More than 3 million US middle and high schoolers — about 11% of students — reported current tobacco use in 2022, according to a new study from researchers at the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the ninth consecutive year, e-cigarettes were

By Madeline Holcombe, CNN Health care professionals may now have a way to identify possible eating disorder cases a year before they would have been diagnosed, allowing patients to receive support much sooner, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed provincial health data from Ontario, Canada, for people age 13 and older starting in 2008.

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, people who are eligible for an updated Covid-19 vaccine booster but still haven’t received the shot will need to roll up their sleeves Thursday to get as much protection as possible before the holiday. Health officials are worried about a possible surge in respiratory illnesses