https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. In September 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the Apple Watch Hypertension Notifications Feature, a cuffless tool that uses the watch's optical sensors to detect blood flow patterns and alert users when their data suggest possible hypertension. While the feature is not intended to diagnose high blood pressure, it represents a step toward wearable-based population screening. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-reveals-gaps-apple-ability-undiagnosed.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:01 EST news689592722 American women now have the option of screening for cervical cancer at home, using newly approved self-collection tools. While experts hope this will increase uptake in the under-screened population, a first-of-its kind study by researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found the majority (60.8%) still prefer to see a medical professional in-clinic. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-americans-screen-cervical-cancer-clinic.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:40:04 EST news689608317 Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. It is a highly variable disease, defined as a malignancy of the epithelial ducts in breast tissue. Characterizing the vast heterogeneity within BC cells and their surrounding tumor microenvironment is crucial because this diversity is the primary reason for treatment resistance, disease progression and poor patient prognosis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-reliable-atlas-cell-breast-cancers.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:14:34 EST news689447641 New research has revealed a confronting life-expectancy gap for people with intellectual disability in NSW, highlighting persistent and preventable inequities in health outcomes. The research, Life Expectancy of People with Intellectual Disability, led by Associate Professor Preeyaporn Srasuebkul, which examined morbidity and mortality outcomes for people with intellectual disability, found life expectancy at birth was 67 years—16 years shorter than the NSW average. The gap is even wider for people with Down syndrome. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-life-people-intellectual-disability-years.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:33:37 EST news689441582 Each year, 20,000 children and adolescents across the U.S. lose a parent to gun violence, while an estimated two to three times more have a parent who has been injured due to a firearm. To better understand the mental health impact of parental firearm injury, investigators from Mass General Brigham analyzed records from a large health insurance database, finding that in the year following a parent's injury, children had increases in psychiatric diagnoses and mental health visits, especially if the parent had suffered a severe injury. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-parental-firearm-injury-linked-mental.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:00:01 EST news688639621 Advances in medicine have extended life for millions of Americans, but longer lives often come with a price: a higher likelihood of chronic illness or physical or cognitive impairment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-caregiving-burdens-medical-debt-reshaping.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:45:41 EST news688826674 People exposed to wildfire smoke have a higher risk of suffering a stroke, according to research published in the European Heart Journal. The researchers estimate that in the US alone, smoke from wildfires may be responsible for around 17,000 strokes each year. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-wildfires-linked.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:10:05 EST news688294780 Life expectancy in the United States has been rising over many decades, ushering in what experts describe as "an era of unprecedented longevity." This trend raises important questions about how people can best prepare for and navigate this extended lifespan. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-age-longevity.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:39:42 EST news688642501 A newly published paper in Nature describes the complex process of launching a nine-country collaboration in Africa to significantly expand scientists' understanding of human genetic diversity. This can reveal new insights into diseases such as cancer, mental illness, diabetes, and heart disease, benefiting health systems globally. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-african-genomes-global-science.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 10:30:05 EST news688300016 Restricted access to health care appointments during typical working hours leads to poorer health-related quality of life, a University of Manchester–led study has found. The research explores how being unable to attend health care appointments during normal working hours affects the health and well-being of employees. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-lack-employee-flexibility-health-hours.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:20:22 EST news688396801 The count and rate of emergency department (ED) visits for alcohol-specific diagnoses increased from 2003–2004 to 2021–2022 among male and female individuals, according to a report issued by the National Center for Health Statistics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-ed-alcohol-specific.html Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:20:01 EST news688201861 Women who receive continuous care from community-based midwives have a significantly reduced risk of preterm birth in comparison to those who receive standard care. This care model also significantly reduced risks of preterm births in women who are at greatest social risk of adverse outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-community-based-midwives-preterm-birth.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:00:01 EST news688056306 The mpox virus appears to be circulating silently in parts of Nigeria, in many cases without the symptoms typically associated with the disease, according to new research led by scientists from the University of Cambridge and partners in Nigeria. The findings may have implications for controlling the spread of the disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-hidden-mpox-exposure-healthy-nigerian.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:05 EST news688034701 Wits scientists have identified a "microbial watchlist" of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that could cause cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-playbook-cancer-africa-everyday-infections.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:05:13 EST news688039382 Through a statewide partnership, hospitals in Michigan drastically increased the number of patients who receive follow-up imaging after undergoing aortic aneurysm repair, according to a recent study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-hospital-partnership-scans-decreases-term.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:22:23 EST news688033321 A new South Australian study has found little change in most people's diet and exercise after retirement—pointing to the need for positive lifestyle choices during your working life to maximize long-term health outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-focus-diet-experts.html Fri, 16 Jan 2026 07:40:02 EST news687770508 Adults over the age of 65 are at increased risk of cognitive decline and developing types of neurodegenerative conditions, like Alzheimer's disease. Could certain foods and dietary patterns help prevent or slow these issues from occurring? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-fiber-micronutrients-healthy-brain-aging.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:10:03 EST news687715728 Each year, more than two million people die from advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD). Previous research has linked gut microbiome disruptions to this condition and suggested that bacteria typically found in the mouth may colonize the gut. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-microbiome-oral-bacteria-play-role.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:23:26 EST news687716581 Although she's not an entomologist, Maggie Stanislawski, Ph.D., spends hours a day studying bugs. The assistant professor of biomedical informatics specializes in the gut microbiome, an environment swimming with trillions of microscopic creatures in every person's digestive tract. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-qa-intermittent-fasting-link-gut.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:26:51 EST news687702362 Diabetes, a metabolic disease, is on the rise worldwide, and over 90% of cases are type 2 diabetes, where the body does not effectively respond to insulin. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-blood-metabolite-signature-diabetes.html Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:06 EST news687458761 Researchers have conducted the most comprehensive analysis to date linking plasma proteins to genetic variation in individuals from continental Africa. Their study addresses a long-standing gap by studying a population grossly underrepresented in medical research. The findings could pave the way for earlier and more accurate type 2 diabetes diagnoses, as well as treatments tailored to African populations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-proteins-african-genomes-reveals-paths.html Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:24:39 EST news687090241 If Texans are typing "bedbug treatment" into Google more often, North Texas appears to be doing it the most. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-bedbugs-experts.html Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:20:01 EST news686992735 A large-scale study has identified dozens of blood proteins linked to prostate cancer risk, some shared across populations, some unique to specific groups. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-links-dozens-blood-proteins-prostate.html Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:04:51 EST news687027841 Two proteins found on the surface of motor neurons in the brain may be essential in the progression of Parkinson's disease, according to new Yale School of Medicine (YSM) research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-proteins-parkinson-pathology-brain.html Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:10:07 EST news686927267 As the UK's population continues to age, obesity and obesity-related diseases are an increasing burden on the NHS. However, the use of more accurate screening tools, such as waist-to-height ratio, could help ensure older adults at risk are identified earlier and offered preventive care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-waist-height-ratio-accurate-indicator.html Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:20:45 EST news686895515 When food prices skyrocket during an economic crisis, it is primarily urban populations and people with low levels of education who are affected. This can have lifelong negative health consequences—such as stunted growth in children. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-food-prices-linked-childhood-stunting.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:30:02 EST news686575366 A study published in Neurology looks at how age may affect recovery for people with spinal cord injuries. "With population growth and improvements in medicine, the number of people diagnosed with spinal cord injury is increasing and the average age at the time of injury is rising," said study author Chiara Pavese, MD, Ph.D., of the University of Pavia in Pavia, Italy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-age-affects-recovery-spinal-cord.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:00:01 EST news685627021 University of Alberta-led research reports that new cases of syphilis dropped in Alberta following the introduction of rapid point-of-care testing and same-day treatment. The research team compared new syphilis positivity rates before the tests were introduced, when testing was made available in the Edmonton zone after 2020, and then once provincewide testing had started in 2022. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-cases-syphilis-alberta-introduction-rapid.html Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:09:34 EST news685616942 When examining recovery during the first year after an ischemic stroke, a new study has found for daily tasks such as eating, dressing and driving, female participants experienced slightly worse recovery than male participants. The study was published in Neurology. Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, is when blood flow is blocked to part of the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-women-greater-men-daily-task.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:00:03 EST news685182301 As Americans gather for holiday celebrations, many will quietly thank the health care workers who keep their families and friends well: the ICU nurse who stabilized a grandparent, the doctor who adjusted a tricky prescription, the home health aide who ensures an aging relative can bathe and eat safely. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-health-workforce-shortage-immigration-policy.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:50:01 EST news685197747