https://medicalxpress.com/preventive-medicine-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Preventive medicine New research from the University of Kansas shows people who experience chronic pain tend to consume cigarettes and e-cigarettes at higher rates than others. The findings, based on analysis of the National Health Interview Survey from 2014–2023, should inform therapies for both chronic pain and smoking cessation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-chronic-pain-odds-vaping-survey.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:00:02 EDT news695305595 A team of researchers led by the University of Aberdeen has found that private gardens played a vital role in supporting people's well-being during the U.K.'s first COVID-19 lockdown, when access to public green spaces was significantly restricted. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-private-gardens-covid-lockdown.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:00:05 EDT news695564874 Measles remains one of the most contagious infectious diseases, spread through coughing and sneezing, with even small declines in vaccination coverage leading to outbreaks. As of 2026, California has reported its highest annual measles case count in seven years. In response to this growing concern, researchers have begun examining gaps in measles-related knowledge and vaccination coverage. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-emergency-room-survey-uncovers-measles.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:40:42 EDT news695713179 Restricting calorie intake in species such as mice, rhesus monkeys, and fruit flies has been shown to extend their lifespans. In some cases, these animals not only live longer, but are also free of disease. But when pushed too far, calorie restriction can have negative impacts. Mice that undergo a 40% reduction in calorie intake, for example, are more susceptible to infections, less likely to reproduce, and experience stunted growth. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-calories-aging-compromising-health.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:40:02 EDT news695638498 Most parents of children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years are unaware that the U.S. federal minimum legal age (MLA) for tobacco sales is 21 years, according to research published online April 14 in Pediatrics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-parents-children-teens-unaware-minimum.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:20:05 EDT news695650981 New guidance from the American College of Physicians (ACP) says all average-risk females ages 50 to 74 should receive biennial screening mammography for breast cancer. Females between the ages of 40 and 49 should discuss with their doctor their risk for breast cancer and the benefits and harms of screening. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-guidance-average-females-aged-biennial.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:02 EDT news695543521 A new University of Michigan study, published in Injury Prevention, tested a method called the Family Safety Net in Alaska, which shifts suicide prevention away from individual screening and toward household action. This change, researchers say, could help reach people who are often missed by standard tools. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-family-firearm-strategy-screen-curb.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:40:04 EDT news695636822 A study published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researchers showed that even short-term vaping at exposure levels below typical daily human use resulted in measurable accumulation of toxic metals in lung tissue—including lead, copper and nickel. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cigarette-devices-expose-users-toxic.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:20:05 EDT news695627041 A new report, published in Nature Metabolism, is shedding light on the distinct and underappreciated role of fructose in driving disease, separate from its role as a simple source of calories. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fructose-emerges-key-driver-metabolic.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:03 EDT news695568601 Several common cough drop brands are being pulled from shelves after officials raised concerns about how they were made. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-brands-recalled-fda.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:40:01 EDT news695564154 Researchers at The University of Manchester have identified a range of key risk and protective factors influencing whether young people vape, drink alcohol, smoke or use drugs. Based on data from more than 30,000 pupils aged 12–15, the study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, provides one of the most comprehensive pictures to date of adolescent substance use in England, highlighting the importance of social, emotional and environmental influences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-teen-substance-linked-peer-pressure.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:00:02 EDT news695564612 The worrisome rise in colorectal cancer deaths in younger adults is concentrated in people with less education, suggesting socioeconomic factors could be driving the escalation, according to a new study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-colon-cancer-deaths-younger-adults.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:20:06 EDT news695565723 Imagine you and your partner are sitting in the waiting room of your doctor's office, waiting for your appointment to get birth control—and instead of calculating how many other people will be called before you, or perusing old magazines, a nurse hands you a digital tablet and encourages you to play a game. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-health-video-game-bridge-communication.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:20:07 EDT news695561102 Korean women with heart disease showed higher awareness and treatment of major risk factors, but lower control rates, pointing to the need for sex-specific strategies to close the gap, according to a study being presented at ACC Asia 2026 Together with KSC Spring Conference taking place in Gyeongju, South Korea, on April 17–18. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-korean-women-cvd-gaps-factor.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:06 EDT news695464733 A significant number of Brazilians engage in improper food hygiene and handling practices at home. Examples include washing meat in the kitchen sink and failing to properly wash vegetables. These findings were revealed by a nationwide survey that examined food hygiene, handling, and storage habits in 5,000 households of various income levels across all regions of Brazil. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-poor-hygiene-food-bacterial-outbreaks.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:03 EDT news695486225 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has paused decisions on uses for dozens of "forever chemicals," also known as PFAS. The delay includes proposed changes regarding how several of these chemicals can be used, according to one of two people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Washington Post. The two commented anonymously because they were not authorized to speak to the press. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-epa-delays-decisions-chemicals.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:20:04 EDT news695489341 Replacing just one meat dish with a vegetarian option in workplace cafeterias can significantly shift what people eat, cutting both calories and carbon emissions, according to a new study from researchers at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. In the new study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, researchers tested the change in six English worksite cafeterias, asking managers to swap one meat-based lunch option for a vegetarian dish while keeping prices, choice and all other menu features the same. Customers were not told about the change, and meat options remained available. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-simple-menu-tweak-boost-vegetarian.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:00:01 EDT news695484721 Doctors recommend getting your flu shot annually, since the specific influenza strain it targets varies from year to year. But what if the shot could be more effective while protecting against more strains? Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine are one step closer to making this happen. When the immune system sees a new strain of a familiar virus, it typically focuses on the parts it "remembers" most, even if those regions have changed. "Epitope-spanning antigenic variation reprograms immunodominance and broadens immunity in sequential influenza vaccination" was recently published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-flu-shot-epitope-widen.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:03 EDT news695491082 New research from the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute found that most Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) quality measures designated as "topped out" by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) were reported by only a small fraction of eligible physicians, suggesting these measures may not reflect consistently high performance across clinicians. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-medicare-quality-capped-eligible-doctors.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:40:04 EDT news695468104 Extending vaccination opportunities, involving community members alongside health care professionals in communicating about vaccines, and providing financial incentives are among the most effective ways to increase vaccine uptake, finds an analysis of international trial evidence published by The BMJ. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-vaccination-access-community-outreach-incentives.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:30:06 EDT news695467686 For years, a central debate in tobacco policy has been whether taxing e-cigarettes might unintentionally drive vapers back to traditional cigarettes. A new study published in Health Economics suggests that those fears may be misplaced for adult vapers. This national analysis was conducted by the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cigarette-taxes-vaping-adult.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:20:09 EDT news695483942 Adolescents who consume more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have significantly higher odds of being overweight or obese, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS One by Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke of the University of Gondar, Ethiopia, and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ultra-food-intake-sharply-higher.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:11 EDT news695466061 When health risks become visible in black and white, perspectives often shift. A study from Umeå University shows that when ultrasound images of atherosclerosis in subjects' carotid arteries are combined with a motivational dialogue, the patients are more likely to be motivated to improve their lifestyle habits and take preventive medication. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-artery-images-nurse-boosted-heart.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:40:06 EDT news695384731 Older Chinese immigrants living in neighborhoods with greater access to community amenities, services, and supportive infrastructure experienced slower cognitive decline over time, according to Rutgers Health researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-neighborhood-amenities-infrastructure-cognitive-decline.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:00:03 EDT news695377429 A substantial amount of medical information provided by five popular chatbots is inaccurate and incomplete, with half (50%) of the responses problematic: 30% were somewhat, and 20% were highly problematic. These are the results of a study published in the journal BMJ Open. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-popular-ai-chatbots-confidently-medical.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:30:04 EDT news695294988 Timing exercise to match body clock chronotype—the natural predisposition to morning or evening alertness—may lower cardiovascular disease risk among those who are already vulnerable, suggests research published in the open access journal Open Heart. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-body-clock-chronotype-cardiovascular-disease.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:30:03 EDT news695294521 A new survey from two food industry groups shows growing interest in meat as a "healthy" food choice, even as doctors warn that too much red meat can raise health risks. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-meat-consumption-protein-trend-experts.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:03 EDT news695394030 Over the past decade, as youth e-cigarette use reached what the Surgeon General labeled epidemic proportions, at least 30 U.S. states and numerous local municipalities have implemented excise taxes on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to curb consumption. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-vaping-taxes-teen-nicotine.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:40:03 EDT news695390101 Aggressive policing tactics like stop-and-frisk are linked to worse newborn health outcomes in neighborhoods where such tactics are most pervasive, University of Oregon research finds. Babies of non-Hispanic Black mothers had lower birth weights in New York City neighborhoods where police made more on-the-street stops, even when controlling for variables like income and education, according to the research, which analyzed data from 2006 to 2013. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-racial-profiling-aggressive-policing-affect.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:20:03 EDT news695376721 Restricting calories has long been recognized as a powerful way to live longer, with periods of intermittent fasting proving more effective than a steady diet. However, the mechanism behind this phenomenon has been unclear. Research led by UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists and published in Nature Communications suggests it's not the fast itself that extends life, but how the body metabolically pivots during refeeding after fasting. Although the findings were made in Caenorhabditis elegans, a roundworm often used as a lab model, they could eventually lead to new ways to boost health in humans. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fasting-longer-lifespan.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news695375356