In this edition: Inaccurate blood-pressure readings and the science on fluoridated water

U.S. healthcare spending jumps. National healthcare spending rose 7.5% year over year in 2023 to $4.9 trillion, or $14,570 per person, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. Spending on hospital care grew at the fastest pace since 1990. Read more.

California declares bird flu emergency. So far, no person-to-person spread has been detected in the state, but California declared a state of emergency due to an increased number of H5N1 bird flu cases that were found in the state’s dairy cows. Read more.

FDA warns about dangers of dog pain drug. After reviewing more than 3,600 reports, the Food and Drug Administration sent a letter to veterinarians about deaths, debilitating neurological issues and other side effects that followed use of a popular arthritis drug for dogs. Read more.

Blood-pressure readings are often wrong. How someone sits and positions their arm, whether they just had a cup of joe or chitchat with their practitioner during the measurement, and other factors can produce incorrect readings. Read more.

Is fluoridated water safe? Most everyone agrees adding fluoride to water is important for our dental health. Studies are mixed on whether high levels may harm the brains of children and developing fetuses, and there’s no indication that fluoride hurts adult cognition. Read more.

Feeling old while a 20- or 30-something. Middle age is typically defined as ages 40 to 60. But about 20% of younger people ages 25 to 34 feel middle-aged, according to a recent study. Taking care of older parents and living up to social expectations while also working full time can be factors. Read more.

EU drug regulator explores risk of rare eye condition among Ozempic users. The European Medicines Agency said it would look into whether the drug’s key ingredient is related to a higher risk for an eye condition caused by a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve. Read more.

J&J alleges misuse of its patient assistance. Johnson & Johnson sued divisions of health insurer Cigna, accusing them of working with a drug-benefit middleman to drain J&J financial-assistance funds earmarked for patients taking some of its pricier drugs. Read more.

U.S. sues CVS Health over opioid crisis. The Department of Justice's lawsuit alleged the world’s largest pharmacy chain contributed to the opioid crisis by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for more than a decade. Read more.

This newsletter was compiled by the WSJ’s Health & Science team. Follow us on X @WSJHealth and @WSJScience. Email us by replying to this newsletter.