Epoch Health

Your body doesn’t operate the same way over a 24-hour day. A University of Michigan study found that people who ate an hour before bed had more than twice the odds of staying awake for at least an extra 30 minutes. In contrast, those who ate their last meal 4 to 6 hours before bed were more likely to get optimal sleep. There’s even more to meal timing. To learn the whole story, read our article ⬇

Children exposed to fluoride in the womb at levels meeting the federal safety threshold scored measurably lower on tests of memory and problem-solving, according to a study of more than 2,500 U.S. children. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and funded by the National Institutes of Health, identified that prenatal fluoride levels of 0.675 mg per liter (mg/L) were a change-point in the data. When mothers’ neighborhood water supply reached around or above this level, each additional increase of 0.5 mg/L was associated with a nearly 3.5-point drop in children’s problem-solving scores. To give the numbers some context, 0.675 mg is lower than the U.S. Public Health Service’s current recommendation of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter. The study found the strongest effect in children under age 7.

JUST IN: More bleeding episodes in infants have been recorded as parents increasingly refuse to have vitamin K injections administered, a pair of studies found. The percentage of infants not receiving a vitamin K injection at birth increased from 3.1 percent in 2017 to 6.8 percent in 2025, and not receiving the injection was associated with a higher bleeding risk within six months of birth, researchers said in one of the papers. “Routine intramuscular vitamin K administration has been highly effective at preventing vitamin K deficiency bleeding in newborns for decades,” Dr. Heather H. Burris, one of the study’s co-authors and a neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a statement.

An infant died in Wisconsin tied to the ongoing measles outbreak, making it the first fatality of its kind since 1990. The coroner declared the immediate cause of death as measles. To protect the privacy of the family and the child, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services will not release any additional information related to the death. “It is with a heavy heart we are reporting the first death of an infant connected with a measles outbreak in Wisconsin in many years. My heart is broken for the family,” the department’s secretary, Kirsten Johnson, said in a statement.

Most people think of collagen as a skincare ingredient, but it’s actually one of the body’s most important structural proteins. Its name comes from the Greek word for “glue,” which is fitting: Collagen helps hold your body together. You start losing collagen as early as your 20s, and by the time you are 80, up to 75 percent of your collagen could be lost. That’s where supplementation could help save the day. Our full article breaks down the different collagen types, what they do, and how to choose the right one. Go to the comment to read more ⬇

Energy drinks and dietary supplements containing caffeine and stimulants have been associated with reports of serious cardiovascular events at a higher rate than products without these ingredients, according to a statement by the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA report is based on preliminary research that found adverse events related to cardiac arrests were reported 11 times more often for products containing caffeine and stimulants compared to items without these ingredients. Heart attacks were reported 4.5 times more often. Beside these issues, there were higher reports of chest pain, fainting, and elevated heart rate among consumers of such products. Study author Sai Samayamanthula said that energy drinks and dietary supplements are marketed as everyday items, and as such, regular consumers assume no real health risks are associated with their consumption. “However, individuals who consume energy drinks or other stimulant-containing supplements regularly can quickly exceed the recommended daily limit for caffeine, so it’s important for people to know that there may be a risk of cardiovascular harm with these products,” Samayamanthula said.

JUST IN: An unvaccinated person in Pennsylvania has become the state’s sixth measles-associated death of 2026. The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed on Nov. 4 that a Jefferson County resident who tested positive for measles has died. So far this year, the state has recorded 1,467 confirmed cases across 45 counties, with 283 people hospitalized. The six deaths involved residents from Jefferson (two), Lancaster (three), and Mifflin (one) counties. Previously reported deaths this year include an 18-year-old from Mifflin County who died of a rare neurological complication, a 40-year-old woman from Jefferson County who died of complications, and two infants from Lancaster County who were too young to be vaccinated. Officials confirmed that the adult deaths involved unvaccinated individuals. The CDC has listed 4,852 confirmed U.S. measles cases and four deaths this year. Its total is lower than Pennsylvania’s because the two use different standards for counting a death as measles-related.

Cocoa can help reduce symptoms of depression and improve mood, especially when you’re under stress, so opting for chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage is your best bet. How much is OK to eat? Thirty to 40 grams of dark chocolate or about two squares per day is a good guideline. Find tips on easy ways to add dark chocolate into your diet in the article ⬇

JUST IN: One of the largest corporate restructurings in history is now underway. CVS Health plans to split into two completely separated companies. Under the proposed separation, one company, temporarily named CVS Health, will operate as a healthcare solutions business encompassing Aetna, CVS Caremark, CVS Specialty, Oak Street Health, and Signify Health. The move effectively unwinds CVS’s $78 billion acquisition of insurer Aetna and dismantles the vertically integrated healthcare giant the company built following the landmark 2018 deal. The second company, CVS Pharmacy, will focus on retail pharmacy and community-based healthcare services. It will include approximately 9,000 CVS pharmacy locations, the company’s mail-order pharmacy operations, MinuteClinic clinics, and the Health100 technology services business. “From a position of strength, and a focus on the long term, we plan to create two focused companies to improve consumer engagement, affordability, and care coordination,” David Joyner, currently chairman and CEO of CVS Health, said in a statement.