National Center for Health Research

Drop in This Birth Defect Parallels Decline in Maternal Smoking Fewer babies born with organs outside the body

A new U.S. #study finds that as maternal #smoking rates fall, so do cases of #gastroschisis, a serious #birth defect.

This is a major #PublicHealth win, showcasing how #health campaigns can protect our most vulnerable in surprising ways.

#HealthCampaign

www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcover...

Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived. ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cut...

A ProPublica investigation finds the #Trump administration cut $500M in food aid.

This cancels 94 million pounds of food including chicken, pork, milk, and fruit and leaves families hungry in red states and blue states across the country.

#FoodAid #SNAP

projects.propublica.org/trump-food-c...

Parkinson's Risk Rises With Outdoor Air Chemical Exposure Despite EPA ban, thousands of sites remain contaminated with trichloroethylene

New #study of over 1M+ Medicare patients shows those exposed to #industrial chemical #TCE more likely to develop #Parkinsons disease.

Though TCE is now mostly banned, but the long-term danger remains from thousands of #contaminated sites #nationwide.

www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/pa...

Kennedy’s Ties to Ally Leading Vaccine Lawsuits Raise Ethical Concerns

#NYT investigation shows how #RFK Jr’s lawyer Aaron #Siri benefits financially from his influence over RFK and HHS, resulting in vaccine policies that harm U.S. patients. @sanders.senate.gov @pallone.house.gov www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/h...

Air Pollution Worsens Sleep Apnea WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Air pollution could be making matters worse for people with sleep apnea, according to a new study.Sleep apnea patient

A major new #study says #SleepApnea is worse in places with more #airpollution.

As #pollution rises, breathing disruptions during #sleep become more frequent. #Research in 14 countries shows this is a widespread #health concern.

www.healthday.com/health-news/...

Free School Meals Linked To Less High Blood Pressure Among Children FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Universal free meal programs appear to improve kids’ heart health, a new study says.The proportion of students with high

A study of more than 150,000 students found those at schools with universal free #SchoolMeals were less likely to have high #BloodPressure over the next 5 years.

This suggests this #PublicHealth program can improve kids' long-term #HeartHealth.

www.healthday.com/health-news/...

Next step: more accurate #screening and #diagnosis to reduce #overtreatment and the fear resulting from an inaccurate #cancer diagnosis.

#CancerScreening #EarlyDetection #GetScreened #CancerAwareness #Health #PreventCancer #PublicHealth #CheckUp#KnowYourBody #HealthTips #PatientAdvocacy

Rise in Early Cancers: An Epidemic of Diagnosis, Not Disease? Researchers suggest increase does not necessarily reflect a rise in clinically meaningful cancers

With better #screening, cancer has been diagnosed earlier, bringing fear that young adults are more likely to get cancer than ever before.

However, some #cancer diagnoses are incorrect or are based on very early abnormalities that would never be dangerous.

www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyon...

Considering the new blood tests that screen for #cancer? New research warns not to.

Multi-cancer blood tests have shown to be dangerously inaccurate, giving many false negatives & positives. #FDA must protect patients from unproven tests.

#HealthPolicy

effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/cel...

Opinion | Will Cracking Down on Drug Ads Help Patients? There are better ways to curb rising prescription rates and drug use

New #WhiteHouse policy says #pharma ads will be more accurate and less harmful. We wish!

This new #policy doesn't change harmful ads or make meds more affordable. Pharma uses happy visuals and music to win over clear warnings every time. We need real #action.

www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...

Opinion | Will Cracking Down on Drug Ads Help Patients? There are better ways to curb rising prescription rates and drug use

New #WhiteHouse policy says #pharma ads will be more accurate and less harmful. We wish!

This new #policy doesn't change harmful ads or make meds more affordable. Pharma uses happy visuals and music to win over clear warnings every time. We need real #action.

www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...

Stay informed on health policy and research with the National Center for Health Research (NCHR).

As an independent nonprofit think tank that does NOT accept industry funding, we translate scientific research to info you can use to improve your health and safety.
Learn more: www.center4research.org

NFL HQ building shooter diagnosed with CTE Shane Tamura, who killed four people and then himself in a July shooting at the building that houses the NFL's headquarters, was posthumously diagnosed with CTE, according to a statement from the New ...

#CTE is permanent #brain damage caused by repeated #concussions. It does not only affect #NFL players. It can have permanent effects from high school #football or even earlier. As #Parents and #Coaches, we have to be careful with which #sports we have our #kids play.

www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/...

NFL HQ building shooter diagnosed with CTE Shane Tamura, who killed four people and then himself in a July shooting at the building that houses the NFL's headquarters, was posthumously diagnosed with CTE, according to a statement from the New ...

#CTE is permanent #brain damage caused by repeated #concussions. It does not only affect #NFL players. It can have permanent effects from high school #football or even earlier. As #Parents and #Coaches, we have to be careful with which #sports we have our #kids play.

www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/...

Olympus removes needles after patient death Olympus is recalling certain lots of needles, used for lung cancer biopsy, because components can detach during procedures.

Even the simplest #medical devices must be tested carefully. #Olympus #needles are being #recalled because when used to biopsy possible lung cancer, components can detach and cause great harm. One patient has died and others were seriously injured.
www.medtechdive.com/news/olympus...

EPA tells some scientists to stop publishing studies, employees say Staff from the EPA’s Office of Water were summoned to a town hall meeting this week and told to pause the publication of most research, pending a review.

#EPA scientists have been ordered to pause most research publications, including safety studies of drinking water, pending a new, unexplained review process led by political appointees. This could delay life-saving findings and harm #publichealth! www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Will #FDA abandon Advisory Committees for specific drugs and use them for bigger issues? George #Tidmarsh says yes and Zuckerman points out bias in new FDA Expert Panels. www.center4research.org/kff-fda-aban...

FDA Expert Panels Lack Balance in Pursuit of ‘Gold Standard Science’ New FDA expert panels, such as recent meetings on SSRI use during pregnancy and on hormone replacement therapy during menopause, are drawing criticism for being one-sided. One leader says such panels ...

NCHR's Diana Zuckerman told BioSpace that #FDA expert panels on #SSRIs and #HRT are more biased than FDA Advisory Committees and lack nuance about complex data. Read more here: www.biospace.com/fda/fda-expe...

Can You Still Get the Covid Shot?

New #COVID19 vaccine restrictions may make it difficult for many people under 65 to get them. Here’s what you need to know about who is eligible for the vaccine and why CVS is not offering them in many states: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/w...

States are tracking ‘impostor’ nurses, a growing problem since the pandemic Aliases in different states. A contract under a classmate’s name. Experts say a challenging form of health-care fraud is endangering patients.

Is your #nurse a real nurse? The U.S. has an ‘impostor nurse’ problem, and it’s grown since the pandemic

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Warning: 7-OH is a dangerous opioid-like drug that can be legally sold in vape shops, and children may purchase it there. It needs to be banned. Learn more here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Her dogs kept dying, and she got cancer. Then they tested her water. Residents of Elkton, Maryland, worry about the “forever chemicals” in their water but say W.L. Gore & Associates has always been a good neighbor.

A woman in Elkton, MD, thought it was just bad luck that she and her dogs got #cancer, until she learned that #PFOA, a carcinogenic #foreverchemical, was in her well water. The source? Waste from Gore-Tex maker W.L. Gore & Associates. Will Elkton families get justice?

I Am Taking a GLP-1 Weight-Loss Medication—What Should I Know? This JAMA Internal Medicine Patient Page describes how glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists work and what behaviors to adopt while using them.

GLP-1 medications aren’t magic. Hydration, healthy eating, exercise, and coping with unpleasant side effects are necessary to maintain your weight loss. @JAMAInternalMed’s has advice to help you create healthy habits and maximize the drug's benefits #Ozempic #Mounjaro jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

FDA hasn't approved dermal filler in the decolletage area above the breast. We agree it can interfere with breast cancer screening and cause many other problems.

www.center4research.org/medscape-fda...

Drugwatch says #FDA lets women down with drugs & devices for #cancer & other diseases that don’t work and can be harmful, quoting Dr Zuckerman & other experts.

www.center4research.org/drugwatch-fd...

Our written comment about user fees for drugs and biologics criticizes the current #PDUFA for pushing speedy approvals and lower #FDA standards to please industry, instead of ensuring safety and efficacy. #MAHA Read more: www.center4research.org/nchr-pdufa-w...

NCHR says Generic Drug User Fee Act (#GDUFA IV) needs to improve the #safety and #equivalence of #generic drugs by ensuring the quality of generic drugs on the market, not just speedy reviews.

www.center4research.org/nchr-written...

Walmart Recalls Ozark Trail 64 oz Water Bottles Due to Serious Impact and Laceration Hazards Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled water bottles and contact Walmart for a full refund. Consumers can bring the bottle to their nearest Walmart store for a refund.

Why did #Walmart wait 7 years before recalling 850,000 dangerous water bottles? When a product can explode and make you blind, #CPSC should have the authority to #Recall it! A bipartisan CPSC helps protect consumers. Read more: www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025...

Ousted F.D.A. Vaccine Chief Returns to Agency

Our head is spinning, but we are glad that Commissioner Makary brought Vinay Prasad back as head of Biologics at FDA. Laura Loomer should not be making these decisions based on her politics.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...

NCHR's Dr. Diana Zuckerman told the FDA that MDUFA V had more than 200 demands on FDA. Who is regulating who? MDUFA VI should require more of device companies. Read her comment here: www.center4research.org/mdufa-aug4-f...