#Preventive health

25 articles

US and European guidelines put CBT-I first for chronic insomnia

A 2025 guideline from the US Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense recommends CBT-I for chronic insomnia and suggests it over medication as first-line care. The therapy combines behavioral and cognitive work, while sleep restriction can temporarily increase daytime sleepiness and requires an individualized plan.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

Five checks separate health-product claims from usable evidence

An April 2026 BMJ Open audit rated 49.6 percent of 250 responses from five consumer chatbots as problematic when tested with misinformation-prone health prompts. Consumers can reduce that risk by checking the exact claim against regulator records, matching it to human evidence and opening every cited source.

APPI News Editorial 9 min

Heat alerts call for earlier action for children and older adults

The World Health Organization's July 31, 2026 guidance says heat-related deaths and hospital admissions can rise on the day of an extreme-heat event and in the days that follow. A household plan should connect local warnings to cooling, fluids and rest, with earlier action for children, older adults and people with chronic illness.

APPI News Editorial 9 min

AST-to-ALT ratios offer clues but cannot diagnose liver disease

A 2024 guideline from the US-based American College of Gastroenterology uses the ratio of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) only as one part of an alcohol-associated hepatitis assessment. Raw values, symptoms, exposure history and other tests determine follow-up.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Swallowing, diapers and weight show whether a newborn gets enough milk

Updated United Kingdom health guidance directs parents to swallowing, diaper output and weight gain when assessing whether a breastfed newborn is getting enough milk. A single pumping session records what the pump removed, while the baby's condition and feeding pattern determine whether clinical assessment is needed.

APPI News Editorial 8 min

Taipei pharmacy alliance expands community health screening

A Taipei pharmacists' group and a private health association are expanding a program that links community pharmacies with clinics and corporate sponsors. The initiative proposes foot, bone and eye risk checks, but its promoters have not published test accuracy, referral completion or health-outcome data.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Taiwan adds enhanced flu shots to 7.05 million-dose tender

Taiwan completed a tender in May 2026 for up to 7,050,150 publicly funded trivalent influenza vaccine doses for the 2026-27 season. The program adds adjuvanted and high-dose vaccines for older care-home residents, but its launch date had not been published by July 30.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

WHO framework adds functional ability to older adult assessment

The World Health Organization's updated care framework asks primary-care teams to assess changes in older adults' physical and mental capacities alongside their medical conditions. Walking speed, chair rises and grip strength can inform that review, but none provides a diagnosis or proves what caused a decline.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Resistance training improves strength in frail older adults

A systematic review of 25 randomized trials found that resistance training improved strength and physical performance in older adults with frailty or sarcopenia. The trials varied widely, and their results do not provide a single exercise prescription for every older person.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Edible oil contamination rules track four carcinogenic PAHs

European Union rules cap benzo[a]pyrene at 2.0 micrograms per kilogram and four selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 10.0 micrograms per kilogram in most consumer oils and fats. The limits address contamination, while an IARC cancer classification does not quantify the risk from one meal or one recalled bottle.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Weekly container cleaning disrupts dengue mosquito breeding

The World Health Organization advises households to empty, clean and cover water-holding containers every week to limit dengue mosquito breeding. Rain can refill plant saucers, discarded tires and other small containers, so source reduction depends on repeated checks rather than a one-time cleanup.

APPI News Editorial 3 min