Happy Labor Day weekend from the Yahoo News health team! This week, we’ve been busy cleaning out our fridges and double-checking our charcuterie supplies in light of the ongoing listeria outbreak linked to deli meats. But that’s not all we’ve been up to.
What our team is interested in: These were some of the lesser-known topics that caught our team’s interest this week:
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Kerry Justich explains why this lemon juice trend is a bad idea, even if you’re aiming for lighter, sun-bleached hair.
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If you’re lounging in a beach chair reading this, it’s probably OK. Natalie Rahal explains why straighter isn’t always better when it comes to posture.
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Kaitlin Reilly explains how to start strength training at any age, including some other options if weightlifting isn’t for you.
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If you’re having trouble making friends, Priscilla Blossom has some expert tips on how to make it a little easier.
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I analyzed a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll asking Americans about their opinions on in vitro fertilization and got feedback from fertility experts.
What researchers have investigated: Here are some interesting new studies published this week:
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Researchers in the UK have discovered that sleeping in on the weekends could be good for your heart health.
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A study published Thursday found a link between endometriosis (a condition that affects more than 11% of American women and is characterized by chronic pain, bleeding and fertility problems) and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
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The popular weight-loss drug Wegovy could help you do more than just shed extra pounds. It could also reduce your risk of dying from COVID-19 by about a third, researchers revealed Friday.
What Happened to Celebrities’ Health: Celebrities don’t just make headlines for fashion and movies; they can also draw our attention to some important health topics. Here’s what you need to know this week:
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Samantha Harris’ breast cancer has returned, 10 years after she underwent a double mastectomy. The former Dancing with the stars co-host shares how she’s coping with the diagnosis.
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Richard Simmons’ cause of death has been officially ruled an accident, due to “blunt force trauma” or complications arising from injuries. The fitness guru known for his ’80s flair died on July 13.
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Former Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson shared the terrifying symptoms she experienced when pneumonia developed into a near-deadly infection.
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Okay, so he’s not a famous actor or model, but Dr. Anthony Fauci is certainly a celebrity in the health world! And over the weekend, it was revealed that the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases had been hospitalized with West Nile virus. Here’s what you need to know about the illness.
And finally, these were some of the biggest health and wellness headlines this week.
FDA Sets New Age Restrictions on Tobacco Sales
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration raised the age limit for the sale of certain tobacco products, hoping to curb tobacco use among young people.
From September 30, two new changes will take effect:
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New Photo ID Requirements: Retailers must ask for photo ID and verify the age of anyone under 30 who wants to buy tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Previously, the age requirement for photo ID checks was 27.
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New restrictions for vending machines: Retailers will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco products from vending machines “in premises where persons under the age of 21 are present or permitted to enter at any time.” This restriction previously applied only to places where persons under the age of 18 were present or permitted to enter.
“Today’s rule is another important step toward protecting our nation’s youth from the health risks of tobacco products,” Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said in a statement Thursday. “Decades of scientific research have shown that keeping tobacco products away from young people is critical to reducing the number of people who ultimately become addicted to these products and suffer tobacco-related illnesses and deaths.”
CNN reports that 250 children start smoking every day and that 9 out of 10 daily smokers smoke their first cigarette before the age of 18.
A study published Monday in JAMA found that heat-related deaths in the U.S. increased between 1999 and 2023, and particularly in the last seven years, from 2016 to 2023. Researchers note that this is interesting because a study that looked at data through 2018 found a downward trend in heat-related deaths, suggesting a reversal has occurred in recent years.
Dr. Jeffrey Howard, co-author of the new JAMA study, told CBS News there are likely several reasons for the rising trend in heat deaths.
“It is likely that the continued increase in average temperatures, the number of ‘hot days’ and the frequency and intensity of heat waves play a role,” he said. “There is also a social and behavioral component, including differences in access to air conditioning, outdoor work, the number of homeless people and so on.”
Last year was the hottest year on record, but also the deadliest: 2,325 people died from the heat in the US alone.
The study authors add that as temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, the recent trend of increasing heat-related deaths is likely to continue. They recommend that “high-risk areas” expand access to hydration centers and public cooling centers or other air-conditioned buildings.
Eli Lilly Announces New, Cheaper Way to Buy Weight Loss Drug Zepbound
Eli Lilly announced Tuesday that it will offer its weight-loss drug Zepbound at a lower price in an effort to make the drug more accessible. A month’s supply of the lowest dosage costs $399 — slightly more than a third of the $1,059 monthly price it charged regardless of dosage.
The pharmaceutical company said it can lower costs by selling the drug in vials rather than as a single-dose autoinjector pen — meaning patients would draw the drug from the vials themselves using a syringe, NBC News reports. Doses from the autoinjector pen will also still be available, but not at the new, cheaper price.
“These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medicines, but also expand access for patients seeking a safe and effective treatment option,” said Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly USA, in a press release.
But there’s a catch: The cheaper doses are only available through the company’s telehealth platform and aren’t covered by insurance. Lilly says this gives patients another option, though, including those without insurance, those whose insurance doesn’t cover the drug, and people with Medicare or Medicaid who don’t qualify for Zepbound’s savings program.
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