Health & Wellness

White Plains – November 10, 2026 -- Most patients should expect braces to take about two years, with a typical range of 18 to 30 months, according to a HelloNation article featuring orthodontist Dr. Judith Okun of Okun Orthodontics in White Plains, New York.

Mild cases finish sooner, complex ones take longer

The 18-to-30-month range gives orthodontists time to move teeth in a controlled way that protects gums and bone. Patients with mild alignment issues may finish earlier. More complex cases, such as those involving impacted teeth, can run past the average.

Invisalign runs similar to braces, or slightly longer

Clear aligner systems such as Invisalign or Spark often take about as long as traditional braces, or slightly longer. Invisalign aligners are worn in a series, and each set shifts teeth incrementally. Most patients swap to a new set every 1 to 2 weeks.

HAUPPAUGE – November 10, 2026 -- Long Island patients with retinal disease can now see a new fellowship-trained retina specialist at SightMD's Smithtown and Bay Shore offices. Eva Raparia, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist, is accepting patients at both locations.

She treats macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and vein occlusions

Dr. Raparia focuses on the medical management of retinal diseases. These include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions and other complex retinal conditions.

She also performs in-office procedures, including intravitreal anti-VEGF injections and retinal laser treatments.

Belgrade – November 10, 2026 -- Players who want a break from gambling can now block more than 1.3 million gambling sites in one step, after review site AskGamblers partnered with the charity-run app BetBlocker.

One app replaces provider-by-provider self-exclusion

Self-exclusion is among the most effective responsible gambling tools, but doing it with each provider separately takes time and leaves other operators open. BetBlocker closes that gap. The free app blocks over 1.3 million sites and 3,100 gambling apps at once, including unlicensed operators that may not offer self-exclusion themselves.

BetBlocker requires no account and no name

More than 134,000 people use BetBlocker, as of October 2026. Users do not have to register or share their name, and the app does not let them lift a block early, so the full chosen break period stays in place.

NEW YORK – November 10, 2026 -- Michael Phelps is sharing five mental health habits for men, drawn from his own decades-long journey, as Talkspace launches its "Rewriting the Rules" campaign.

The campaign is meant to help men name feelings they have long been taught to bury, unlearn harmful messaging about masculinity, and turn to therapy for help. Phelps, a longtime Talkspace ambassador, said he does not know where he would be without the strength to ask for help. In his words, "there's no greater strength than being vulnerable."

Phelps turns to golf, friends, the gym and the pool on heavy days

His first tip is to make time for what brings you joy. When motivation is low and thoughts turn negative, he reaches for golf, time with friends, the gym or a swim. He says small moments of joy add up.

Hamburg/Munich – November 10, 2026 -- Men in Germany aged 45 and older can get a prostate cancer screening once a year, and statutory health insurers cover the cost. This Movember, AstraZeneca and MSD Sharp & Dohme want more men to use it.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in German men

Movember is an international awareness month for men's health that uses the moustache as a conversation starter. According to the Robert Koch Institute, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Germany. The earlier it is found, the better the chances of successful treatment. The two companies are running their "Nichts verpassen" ("Miss Nothing") campaign with patients and medical experts.

Handball twins were both diagnosed at 47

Former handball national team players Michael and Uli Roth were both diagnosed with prostate cancer at 47. Their message to men: go to screening and see a urologist early.

New York – November 10, 2026 -- Costco members can now buy Seed's DS-01 Daily Synbiotic in a Costco-exclusive 100-count jar, a 50-day supply priced at $74.99. The launch covers all Costco locations nationwide and is Seed's first move into the club channel.

Seed Adds Costco to a Growing Retail Lineup

Seed calls itself the number-one gut health supplements brand in the U.S. and says its revenue has grown 13x over the past five years while the company stayed profitable. DS-01 already sells through Amazon, Target, Sprouts Farmers Market and Erewhon. According to SPINS data covering the 24 weeks ending in January 2026, it is the leading digestive health probiotic at both Target and Amazon (combined Amazon and Target sales).

Costco is now the company's largest retail channel yet. CEO Cathrin Bowtell said the partnership brings Seed's science to more people "with greater value and easier access than ever before."

Berlin – November 09, 2026 -- Patients in Germany could soon find it easier to prove they were harmed by a medical error: 65 percent of people surveyed by forsa for the AOK Federal Association say the hurdles for proving causation are too high, and only 14 percent consider them appropriate.

The Bundestag's health committee is due to discuss a Green Party draft to develop the Patient Rights Act on Wednesday, 11 November. The AOK Federal Association largely backs the draft and has published its own position paper that goes further.

Munich – November 09, 2026 -- People with cancer and their relatives in Germany can call a free, confidential expert hotline on 0800 2030040, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The service, called "Halt bei Krebs," is run by GSK and staffed by medical professionals.

Medical staff explain diagnoses, therapies and side effects

The hotline is aimed in particular at people with multiple myeloma, myelofibrosis, ovarian cancer or uterine cancer, and at their families. Staff explain the disease, its treatment, symptoms and side effects, and help callers relate that information to their own situation.

The aim is to help patients understand their illness, prepare for doctor appointments and make informed decisions together with their treatment team. On request, the team also points callers to self-help groups and associations. Email support and the service's website supplement the hotline.

Shanghai – November 08, 2026 -- German nutrition brand inne has unveiled a peptide-based protein product designed for women, plus three China-specific "Blue Hat" health foods, at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. The company calls the protein launch a world premiere.

Three liquid supplements target Chinese families

The first three products in inne's Chinese "Health Food" range are liquid preparations: one with calcium, zinc and vitamin D, one with zinc and several vitamins, and one with vitamin C. The brand had announced them before the fair.

"Health Food" is its own food-law category in China. Depending on the product, authorities require a registration or notification procedure, and products in the category carry a blue logo often called the "Blue Hat."

Manassas – November 07, 2026 -- Anyone comparing telehealth GLP-1 services can use five questions to tell providers apart before signing up, according to Meant, a Virginia-based weight-care platform that explains how it answers each one.

Clinical decisions should have named oversight

A trustworthy provider should say which licensed clinicians review each person's information. At Meant, licensed providers at its clinical partner, OpenLoop Health, make those decisions.

An evaluation should come before any prescription

Consumers should look for a health-history review first, plus plain language that a prescription is never guaranteed. Meant's online assessment covers health history, current medications and goals.