Insurers Promise to Speed Up Delays in Health Care Approvals

Getting approval from your insurance company before a procedure or treatment may soon get a little easier.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this week that several of the nation’s largest health insurers have agreed to change how they handle prior authorization, a system that often causes delays in c...

Texas Governor Blocks THC Ban, Keeping Gummies and Vapes Legal

THC-infused gummies and vape pens will stay legal in Texas — at least for now.

Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill on Sunday that would have banned the sale and use of THC consumables across the state, The Associated Press reported. 

These products contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for a mari...

Fitness Trackers Aren't Accurate For People With Obesity

Fitness trackers aren’t accurately assessing the physical activity of people with obesity, a new study argues.

Differences in walking gait, speed, energy burn and other factors mean that folks with excess weight aren’t getting an accurate read from their devices, researchers wrote in the journal Scientific Reports.

1 in 5 U.S. Food Products Contain Synthetic Dyes

Synthetic food dyes are added to 1 in 5 packaged foods and drinks sold by top U.S. food manufacturers, a new study says.

The most common dye was Red 40, which was present in 1 out of 7 (14%) products, according to the paper published today in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Products containing s...

Autoimmune Diseases Increase Risk Of Mood Disorders

People living with an autoimmune disease are nearly twice as likely to suffer from mood problems like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, a new large-scale study says.

The risk of mood disorders is 87% to 97% higher in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and Grav...

What Does Science Say About Pet Allergies?

If spending time around dogs or cats makes your eyes water, your nose run, your skin itch or your breathing difficult, you’re not alone.

Pet allergies — allergic reactions to proteins found in an animal's skin cells, saliva or urine — affect 10% to 20% of people worldwide, and exposure isn’t limited to pet owners. ...