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Health

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  1. Photo
    Awilda Peña of Boston found out she had rectal cancer when she was 38. “I could not believe it,” she said. She agreed to participate in the trial because, she said, “I was motivated by hope.”
    CreditSophie Park for The New York Times

    Rectal Cancer Patients Could Be Spared the Effects of Radiation

    A large “de-escalation” trial suggests that tens of thousands of people annually may be able to rely on only chemotherapy and surgery to treat their illness.

     By Gina Kolata

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    Patrick Seiler, a researcher with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, collected bird droppings to test for avian flu in Maurice River, N.J.
    CreditHannah Beier for The New York Times

    For These Bird Flu Researchers, Work Is a Day at the Very ‘Icky’ Beach

    The H5N1 virus poses “a great unknown threat” to birds and humans alike. Understanding and thwarting it begins with excrement collection.

     By Emily Anthes

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    Utah’s chief death investigator, Cory Russo, in Salt Lake County’s medical examiner’s office. Ms. Russo is one of the few U.S. death investigators routinely collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity.
    CreditKim Raff for The New York Times

    No One Knows How Many L.G.B.T.Q. Americans Die by Suicide

    Death investigators in Utah are among a handful of groups trying to learn how many gay and transgender people die by suicide in the United States.

     By Azeen Ghorayshi

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    Cardboard gravestones bearing the names of victims of opioid abuse were part of a protest outside a Purdue Pharma bankruptcy hearing at a courthouse in White Plains, N.Y., in 2021.
    CreditSeth Wenig/Associated Press

    An Appeals Court Gave the Sacklers Legal Immunity. Here’s What the Ruling Means.

    In return for the shield, the billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma are committed to paying up to $6 billion to help compensate communities and individuals for the ravages of the opioid epidemic.

     By Jan Hoffman

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    Credit

    An Inside Look at Covid’s Lasting Damage to the Lungs

    This 3-D reconstruction of lung scans reveals damage that has lingered for years in patients who became severely ill early in the pandemic.

     By Jeremy White, Pam Belluck, Noah Bassetti-Blum, Eleanor Lutz and Hang Do Thi Duc

From Well

More in From Well ›
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    CreditNicolás Ortega

    The Beauty of a ‘Walk and Talk’

    Taking a stroll with someone is a wonderful way to strengthen your social connections.

     By Jancee Dunn

  2. Photo
    CreditFrancesco Ciccolella

    Gratitude Really is Good for You. Here’s What the Science Shows.

    Giving, receiving and even witnessing gratitude can improve your well-being, especially during difficult times.

     By Christina Caron

  3. Photo
    Adults without pre-existing conditions will likely recover from the effects of short-term exposure to wildfire smoke, Dr. Brook said.
    CreditBenjamin Norman for The New York Times

    How Worried Should You Be About Wildfire Smoke Exposure?

    Experts advise caution as definitive answers remain elusive.

     By Dani Blum

  4. Photo
    CreditGetty Images

    The Truth About ‘Nature’s Ozempic’

    What experts know about berberine, the chemical compound purported to help induce weight loss.

     By Dani Blum

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    CreditTonje Thilesen for The New York Times

    Is It Bad to Wash Your Hair Every Day?

    The ideal lathering schedule varies from person to person, experts say. Here’s how to tell what may work for you.

     By Jancee Dunn

The Covid-19 Pandemic

More in The Covid-19 Pandemic ›
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    Credit

    An Inside Look at Covid’s Lasting Damage to the Lungs

    This 3-D reconstruction of lung scans reveals damage that has lingered for years in patients who became severely ill early in the pandemic.

     By Jeremy White, Pam Belluck, Noah Bassetti-Blum, Eleanor Lutz and Hang Do Thi Duc

  2. Photo
    CreditPhoto illustration by Ina Jang

    Her Symptoms Suggested Long Covid. But Was That Too Obvious?

    Doctors make assumptions about a case — and those assumptions can sometimes cloud their judgment.

     By Lisa Sanders, M.D.

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    A tourist shopping street in Beijing last month.
    CreditMark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

    Covid Is Coming Back in China; Lockdowns Are Not

    The authorities say that cases are up, and one doctor estimates that there could soon be 65 million cases a week. But China appears determined to move on.

     By Chris Buckley

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    A U.S. border crossing with Canada in July 2020, when international travel to the United States was severely restricted.
    CreditRuth Fremson/The New York Times

    U.S. Ends Last Covid Travel Barrier, Vaccine Mandate for Foreign Arrivals

    International travelers entering the country are no longer required to be vaccinated, removing the last of the restrictions on travel put in place beginning in 2020.

     By Ceylan Yeginsu

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    CreditThe New York Times

    As Emergency Ends, a Look at Covid’s U.S. Death Toll

    The country has recorded more than 1.1 million deaths from the virus.

     By Lazaro Gamio, Eleanor Lutz and Albert Sun

  1. the new old age

    Hospice Is a Profitable Business, but Nonprofits Mostly Do a Better Job

    Nearly three-quarters of hospice organizations are now for-profit. Complaints of fraud and profiteering are growing.

    By Paula Span

     

  2. Harald zur Hausen, 87, Nobelist Who Found Cause of Cervical Cancer, Dies

    When he proposed that the human papillomavirus caused cervical cancer, he was ridiculed. He persevered, and today a vaccine exists.

    By Emily Anthes

     

  3. Does Noise Affect Your Life? We Want to Know.

    Noise is a vast — and largely unrecognized — threat to your health. The Times is collecting personal stories and noise measurements from readers like you.

    By Emily Baumgaertner

     

  4. Are You Exposed to Too Much Noise? Here’s How to Check.

    Noise can damage your heart as well as your hearing, but there are ways to measure your exposure and reduce your risk.

    By Emily Baumgaertner

     

  5. Noise Could Take Years Off Your Life. Here’s How.

    We used a professional sound meter to measure the din of daily life and talked to scientists about the health risks it can pose.

    By Emily Baumgaertner, Jason Kao, Eleanor Lutz, Josephine Sedgwick, Rumsey Taylor, Noah Throop and Josh Williams

     

  6. Cosmic Luck: NASA’s Apollo 11 Moon Quarantine Broke Down

    A review of archives suggests that efforts to protect Earth from contamination by any organism brought back from the lunar surface were mostly for show.

    By Sarah Scoles

     

  7. Energy Drinks Are Surging. So Are Their Caffeine Levels.

    More companies are pushing low-calorie, sugar-free beverages they say are healthy. Some servings have nearly the same level of caffeine as a six-pack of Coca-Cola.

    By Julie Creswell

     

  8. Wild Mammals Roamed When Covid Kept Humans Home

    Strict pandemic lockdowns may have allowed animals to range more widely and spend time closer to roads, a new study suggests.

    By Emily Anthes

     
  9. The Interpreter

    When Politics Saves Lives: a Good-News Story

    The decision to fund medications to treat H.I.V.-AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean flew in the face of expert advice. But the U.S. did it anyway.

    By Amanda Taub

     

  10. How to Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke if You’re at High Risk of Health Effects

    When the Air Quality Index rises above 100, extra precautions can help keep you safe.

    By Dani Blum