A study in JAMA Network Open suggests sleeping in total darkness may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Participants exposed to the brightest light at night had a significantly higher risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease and stroke. The study tracked nearly 89,000 people using wrist wearables to monitor light exposure.

Sleeping in the dark may help: A lack of light exposure while sleeping was associated with benefits even when factors such as shift work, diet and physical activity were taken into account.

The Eat, Sleep, Console approach for managing neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome focuses on ensuring infants can eat sufficiently, sleep for at least an hour, and be comforted easily. This method, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, significantly reduced the need for pharmacologic treatment in infants compared to usual care, highlighting the importance of nonpharmacologic interventions.

Rectal bleeding is associated with an 8.5 times greater risk of early-onset colorectal cancer, according to a study presented at a meeting of the American College of Surgeons. Researchers said the findings support the need for diagnostic colonoscopies in symptomatic young patients, even without a family history of colorectal cancer.

Healthgrades released its annual list of the top hospitals for outpatient and 16 specialty care areas. The rankings are based on outcomes data from about 4,500 hospitals from 2022 through 2024, adjusted for comorbidities. NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Morristown Medical Center and NYU Langone Hospitals are among the top, as are Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mission Hospital.

A survey of 1,319 US voters found 63% blame insurance companies for medical debt, while 9% blame hospitals. The survey was conducted by Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that purchases and forgives medical debt; the research firm PerryUndem; and the opinion research group NORC at the University of Chicago.

An animal study in the journal Brain Medicine suggests that exercise can reduce depressive and anxiety-like symptoms linked to a high-fat, high-sugar diet. Researchers found that exercise helped normalize insulin and leptin levels and reduced the decline in gut microbiome metabolites that are important for brain health.

Maintaining a high level of satisfaction among patients means paying attention to their needs before, during and after their visits. A Q&A offers practical tips that offices and teams can implement to improve patient communication, access and experiences. Staff engagement, wait times, online reviews and satisfaction measures are examined.

The CMS is facing a critical staffing shortage, exacerbated by a recent government shutdown and cuts at HHS, health policy experts say. Increased staffing is needed to ensure effective communication and delivery of Medicare benefits, as nearly half of the CMS workforce was furloughed and a 15% reduction in staff has been noted recently.

The release of new US dietary guidelines has been delayed, tentatively to December, due to the government shutdown. The guidelines, updated every five years, influence federal nutrition programs and school meals. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said the guidelines will emphasize whole foods and increased saturated fats, a significant shift from current recommendations.

The FDA is still operational during the 28-day government shutdown by using leftover user fees from 2025, allowing about 85% of the agency to function. However, delays are emerging, affecting programs like the Small Business Innovation Research initiative and potentially impacting biopharma companies such as Viking Therapeutics.

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