Health news includes the latest developments affecting patients and practitioners, from medical research to health policy issues. It can encompass everything from fentanyl and miscarriage to gender-affirming care and genetic testing. Articles here often focus on the human element of these issues, as well as the political, social and economic forces influencing them.
A new study finds that most health articles shared on social media in 2018 were either misleading or false. Scientists at Health Feedback scored 100 top-shared articles on a credibility scale of +2 (very high) to -2 (very low), taking into account the scientific accuracy of facts rather than the opinion expressed in the text. The scientists found that highly-shared articles with sensationalized headlines tended to receive higher scores than balanced stories with a low-impact headline.
The CDC’s advisory panel votes to remove the vaccine preservative thimerosal from flu shots, raising fears that this will sow distrust in vaccination. Meanwhile, a Massachusetts newborn was found to have Powassan virus, a tick-borne disease that can lead to brain and spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
The New York Times reports that nearly half of Americans are struggling with health care debt, a problem exacerbated by cuts to funding and grants for the agencies that help people avoid expensive treatment or prevent costly complications. The paper also explores the repercussions of a federal lawsuit challenging the FDA’s decision to restrict access to antidepressants for pregnant women.