health

It's an unusual winter for respiratory illnesses. The flu is peaking twice: once in early January and again in February. Meanwhile, it's the mildest COVID winter since the pandemic began.

It's common for young people leaving jails and prisons to end up back behind bars, often after lapses related to untreated mental illness or substance abuse. A new law will help them get Medicaid.

If the Senate confirms Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a vaccine skeptic — to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, he would control an influential group of federal vaccine advisors.

New research shows strong ties between alcohol and cancer, which has reignited a debate among experts about the health impacts of drinking, even in moderate amounts.

Legislation that would block hospitals from transfusing blood containing COVID-19 antibodies or “synthetic mRNA” would severely reduce the state’s blood supply. The bill’s sponsor said Thursday that was a mistake.

Miscarriages are common. But a medication for it is practically inaccessible in Kentucky because it’s also used for abortion.

The measure would codify that governmental entities “may not substantially burden a parent’s fundamental right” to direct the upbringing, religious instruction, education or health care of a child unless it has a compelling interest.

An international committee of scientists has proposed changing the way obesity is defined and diagnosed. The proposal adds more ways to measure body composition and fat.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data that shows a recent spike in outbreaks of norovirus — a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. One expert said that spike is pretty typical for this time of year, but people can still take precautions to avoid getting sick.

Our guts are home to trillions of microbes that influence our health. A new study finds the key to a healthy microbiome is the variety of plant-based food in your diet, even if you eat meat.