Health News

New York – September 17, 2026 -- Zocdoc launched a new marketing campaign called "Ready to be Seen?" on September 14, aimed at making it easier for patients to book appointments with doctors who actually fit their needs.

Nearly half of patients dread finding a doctor

A recent Zocdoc survey found that 42% of patients say booking a doctor feels like finding a needle in a haystack, while 48% say they dread the process altogether.

Getting an appointment isn't enough for most patients

The same survey found 71% of patients say finding the right doctor matters as much as getting an appointment quickly, and 50% wish providers took more time to understand them. Notably, 71% say they're more likely to be honest with a doctor when they feel understood.

Patchogue, N.Y. – September 16, 2026 -- Untreated tooth infections rarely resolve on their own and can spread into bone and soft tissue, according to insights from Dr. Christopher Joubert of East Endodontic Dental Specialists featured in a HelloNation article on endodontic care.

Infections inside the tooth can cause lasting damage if ignored

Endodontic care focuses on diagnosing and treating problems inside the tooth, particularly issues involving the pulp and nerves. These conditions often stem from tooth infection, deep decay, cracks, dental trauma, or failed previous treatments. Bacteria that reach the pulp multiply and can spread into surrounding structures, leading to swelling, pain, and abscesses.

Manassas – September 16, 2026 -- Meant Health has expanded its telehealth platform to connect patients with licensed U.S. clinicians for evaluation and prescription of FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic.

Patients start with an intake questionnaire before any prescription decision

The process begins with a questionnaire covering health history, current medications and treatment goals. A licensed clinician then reviews the submission and decides, case by case, whether a prescription is appropriate.

Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss

Ozempic carries FDA approval for treating type 2 diabetes. When clinicians prescribe it for weight management, that use is off-label and remains entirely at the clinician's discretion.

Beverly Hills – September 16, 2026 -- Patients who once sought bigger breast implants or more dramatic Brazilian butt lifts are increasingly asking surgeons to scale things back, according to board-certified plastic surgeon David Sayah, MD, FACS, who practices in Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Sayah says breast implant removal, breast revision surgery and buttock reduction have become a regular part of his practice as patients seek to restore more natural proportions after earlier augmentation.

National implant removal numbers stay flat even as consultations shift

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons' 2024 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report recorded 41,271 breast implant removal procedures in 2024, compared with 41,115 in 2023 -- a marginal change. Dr. Sayah says the raw totals don't reflect what he's hearing in his own consultation room, where conversations have moved from adding volume to reducing or revising it.

Bentonville, Ark. – September 16, 2026 -- Pinnacle Fertility Network is opening a new clinic in Bentonville, Arkansas, and is now scheduling patients online for the location.

Dr. Shauna McKinney leads the new Northwest Arkansas team

Care will be led by Shauna McKinney, MD, Medical Director of Pinnacle Fertility Oklahoma, alongside nurse practitioner McKenzie Stock and a clinical and laboratory team. Dr. McKinney is a fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist with experience treating patients across Oklahoma and the surrounding region. Her expertise covers IVF, ICSI and genetic testing, as well as care for endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS and recurrent pregnancy loss.

NEW YORK – September 15, 2026 -- Expert Consumers has named NELL its top pick in a new review of the best mattresses for back pain, citing the brand's high-density pocket-coil system and zoned construction.

A king-size NELL mattress packs in thousands of coils

A king-size NELL Mattress contains 4,704 individually wrapped pocket coils, compared with roughly 500 to 1,000 coils in a typical mattress, according to brand materials cited in the review. Each coil compresses independently, which Expert Consumers says allows for more localized pressure distribution across the shoulders, hips, waist, and legs, along with reduced motion transfer and stable support beneath thinner comfort layers.

BALTIMORE – – September 15, 2026 -- MedStar Health has performed its first endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), a non-surgical procedure that shrinks the stomach without incisions, offering a new weight-loss option for patients who don't want or don't qualify for traditional bariatric surgery.

Christopher You, MD, a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, performed the procedure on Aug. 21. The patient went home the same day.

The 90-minute procedure reshapes the stomach through the mouth

While the patient is under mild sedation, Dr. You inserts a flexible tube with a tiny camera through the mouth and into the stomach. Using special sutures, he reduces the stomach's size into a smaller, tube-like pouch. No part of the stomach is removed, and there are no external cuts or scars.

Roseburg, Ore. – September 15, 2026 -- Two cannabis compounds with nearly identical names, THC-A and THC, produce completely different experiences depending on whether heat has touched them, according to a HelloNation feature citing Shellie Grammer, Cannabis Expert and CEO of Cougar Cannabis in Roseburg, Oregon.

THC-A, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is the compound found naturally in raw cannabis. On its own, it produces no psychoactive effects. Only when heated through a process called decarboxylation does THC-A convert into THC, the active compound responsible for cannabis's mind-altering effects.

Heat, not strength, decides whether cannabis intoxicates

The distinction is about activation rather than potency, the article notes. Raw or cold-processed cannabis retains THC-A and delivers no high, while smoking, vaping, or cooking cannabis converts it to THC almost instantly.

Social Circle, Ga. – September 15, 2026 -- Medicare hospice benefits cover nurses, aides, chaplains, and comfort medications for terminally ill patients, but families may still face out-of-pocket costs for inpatient room and board or private-duty caregivers, according to a new HelloNation article featuring insights from Hospice Care Expert Tammy Honeycutt of Abbey Hospice.

Eligibility requires a physician's certification of six months or less to live

Medicare hospice coverage generally becomes available once a physician certifies that a patient has a life expectancy of six months or less, assuming the illness follows its usual course. Once approved, the benefit includes visits from nurses, hospice aides, social workers, chaplains, and trained volunteers who manage pain, provide emotional support, and assist caregivers with daily tasks.

Secaucus, N.J. – September 15, 2026 -- Apple Health app users in the United States will soon be able to buy and receive results from Quest Diagnostics blood tests directly within the app on iPhone and iPad, Quest Diagnostics announced.

The panel covers more than 50 biomarkers for $119

The tailored Quest laboratory panel includes over 50 biomarkers designed to assess cardiometabolic health and organ function. It also includes biometric readings such as blood pressure, height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences. Users can purchase the panel and schedule a blood draw and biometric readings at one of Quest's roughly 2,000 patient service centers across the U.S. for $119. The feature will not be available in all U.S. states.