Epoch Health

Puttering. Tinkering. Fussing around. Whatever you call them, these informal activities are different from exercise or household chores in one important way: They’re not about being productive. Far from being time-wasters, research suggests that puttering—light, leisurely, and unstructured tasks can improve mood, support heart health, and even help you live longer. To dive deeper into this topic, read our full article ⬇

Vapes are marketed almost like candies, with colorful packaging and enticing flavors. Take popcorn flavoring for instance. The same chemicals used in popcorn-flavored vapes are also used to flavor popcorn snacks. Inhaling these flavors though, is far more harmful than eating them. Why? Your lungs are not made for breaking down flavorings. To learn more about what vaping really does to your body, read our full article ⬇

The FDA just approved removing the strictest level of warnings from three menopause hormone patches. Federal health officials said on Oct. 30 that black box warnings about increased risks of cardiovascular disorders, probable dementia, and breast cancer will come off Minivelle, Vivelle, and Vivelle-Dot—estradiol patches that deliver estrogen. Black box warnings are the highest level the agency issues. The labels will still note possible risks of breast cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular problems. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the change “a major victory for women’s health.”

Have you ever wondered why you’re a five-star buffet for mosquitoes while your friend goes untouched? A new study on three dangerous mosquito species finds each one is drawn to different skin chemistry. Read the whole article to learn more about each species own preferences ⬇

More than 10,000 bottles of a high blood pressure and heart drug have been recalled by a drug company due to failed specifications, according to the FDA. New Jersey-based Ascend Laboratories is recalling combined amlodipine and olmesartan medoxomil tablets with a dose range of 10 mg/40 mg, the notice said. The company said 11,424 bottles are being recalled, with a lot number of 25120696. The product’s expiration date is Dec. 31, 2026. The reason for the recall is “out of specification due to dissolution,” the report said. The FDA has defined an out-of-specification (OOS) result as when a drug impurity is found that falls “outside the specifications or acceptance criteria established in drug applications.”

People born in more recent generations are biologically older than those from earlier ones. Biological age reflects cumulative exposures—stress, toxins, processed food, and other factors—rather than just the number of birthdays. It can differ across organs: someone can have an older-looking immune system and a younger-looking liver. In a large UK study, people from later birth cohorts had blood profiles that appeared biologically older than those from earlier cohorts, with greater variation between their chronological and biological ages. A smaller U.S. group showed an even larger gap between younger and older cohorts. The bigger the gap, the higher the risk of cancer at younger ages. Some of these differences may be driven by age, but others by our environments. Modern trends that may contribute include more sedentary work, higher ultra-processed food intake, rising metabolic syndrome among young adults, and a sharp rise in global synthetic chemical and plastic production. “The good news is that biological age, unlike chronological age, is malleable and thus partly under our control,” said Elissa Epel of UCSF. “Even when we are older, we can slow biological aging in meaningful ways through our daily choices.”

JUST IN: 60% of Americans say they’re uncomfortable with doctors using AI to determine diagnoses and treatments—yet doctors are already flooding one AI platform with hundreds of millions of queries. In a Pew Research Center survey of 3,488 U.S. adults conducted in June, when asked whether AI would improve patient outcomes, opinions were nearly split: 37% said it would make them better, 36% said worse, and 26% said it would make little difference. Younger respondents were more likely to say AI would lead to worse outcomes; those 50 and older were more likely to say outcomes would be better. A 2025 Annenberg survey found a similar tension: 63% viewed AI health information as at least somewhat reliable, yet about half were not comfortable with providers relying on AI tools for care decisions.

JUST IN: The CDC reported that drug-resistant infections have surged to an average of 9.7 million cases and 50,800 deaths a year. In its 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report, released Oct. 26, the CDC said drug-resistant microbes cause an average of 9.7 million infections annually, up sharply from the roughly 2.8 million cases and 35,000 deaths cited in 2019. The agency listed 19 bacterial and fungal pathogens by threat level: “urgent,” “serious,” and “concerning.” Four pathogens were labeled urgent. Among them is Candida auris, a fungus that spreads in healthcare facilities and has increased nearly fivefold between 2019 and 2022. Cases have already been found in at least 27 states this year. The report categorizes the remaining pathogens as serious or concerning and notes that some infections pose higher risks to people with severe underlying conditions or those using breathing or feeding tubes.

Farmer’s carries are fun, whole-body exercises that strengthen your core, improve balance, and correct posture. You can’t deny that farmers are doing something right. Here are some nice farmer’s carry exercises to “carry” yourself into better health. Read our full article to find out more about how these exercises can help you gain real strength in a real manner ⬇