Health

A new Word In Black survey examines how Black Americans define racial healing — and why so many say the country is still far from it.

New federal student loan limits, effective July 1, are creating significant financial hurdles for graduate students, particularly those pursuing healthcare professions. Critics contend these caps, which often fall short of covering educational and living expenses, risk deterring minority and low-income individuals from advanced studies, potentially exacerbating existing shortages in rural and primary care sectors.

Extreme heat is a fatal environmental hazard, with over 21,000 heat-related deaths recorded in the U.S. between 1999 and 2023. This threat disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including low-income, Black, and Latino communities, as well as outdoor workers, pregnant individuals, older adults, and young children.

Amidst persistently high maternal mortality rates, particularly among Black women, Black midwives are delivering holistic, community-based care that extends beyond conventional medical practices. This approach, highlighted by Dr. Kaytura Felix's Black Birthing Futures study, offers a crucial model for policymakers seeking to address systemic inequities in maternal health.

Millions of Medicare enrollees will gain their first-ever coverage for weight loss medications through the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge pilot program, set to launch on July 1. This initiative, a significant development in healthcare access, will allow beneficiaries to obtain drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound at a substantially reduced cost, addressing a longstanding legal prohibition against Medicare covering such treatments. The program aims to make obesity treatment more equitable and accessible, reflecting ongoing advocacy efforts to recognize obesity as a treatable disease.

New research indicates that Black men experience elevated rates of hormone disruption, fertility challenges, and other health complications, including prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease, linked to increased exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and microplastics. This disparity is attributed to their greater proximity to industrial facilities and the pervasive presence of these substances in consumer goods, underscoring a critical environmental justice issue.

Medical experts emphasize the importance of regular testicular self-examinations for men, as the early detection of unusual lumps or changes is crucial for the timely diagnosis of testicular cancer, a condition where prompt identification can be life-saving.

The Supreme Court has ruled against a Missouri man who claimed the herbicide Roundup caused his cancer, backing the product's manufacturer, Monsanto, on the argument that the lawsuit should have been barred because the federal government does not require a cancer warning on the label.

Men's Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the need for support, connection and early intervention to address the stigma, social expectations and lack of access to support that many men face when it comes to mental health.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has blocked the Trump administration's efforts to permit five states to ban the purchase of sugary drinks and candy using food stamps. The ruling asserts that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lacked the legal authority to approve state waivers for pilot projects aimed at restricting food purchases within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), marking a significant setback for the administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative.