Low-dose CT chest scans could help detect pneumonia in at-risk patients while exposing them to only small amounts of radiation, a new study has found. The research, published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, shows that ultra-low-dose scans can effectively detect pneumonia in patients with compromised immune systems, enabling doctors to treat the infection before it becomes life-threatening. According to the researchers, these scans expose patients to just 2% of the radiation dose used in a standard CT scan.

"This study paves the way for safer, AI-driven imaging that reduces radiation exposure while preserving diagnostic accuracy,” lead researcher Dr Maximiliano Klug, a radiologist with the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, said in a news release. He added that CT scans are the gold standard for detecting pneumonia but there are concerns regarding the risk posed by repeated exposure to radiation. There is a solution- ultra-low-dose CT scan. However, the problem is that these scans can be grainy and hard to read, researchers said.

Study Gives Solution To This

To overcome that, Klug's team developed an AI program that could help "de-noise" low-dose scans, making them sharper and easier to read. Between September 2020 and December 2022, 54 patients with compromised immune systems who had fevers underwent a pair of chest CT scans -- a normal dose scan and an ultra-low-dose scan. The AI program cleaned up the low-dose scan, and then both sets of images were given to a pair of radiologists for assessment. Radiologists had 100% accuracy in detecting pneumonia and other lung problems with the AI-cleaned low-dose scans, but 91% to 98% accuracy in examining the scans that hadn’t been improved through AI, results show.

"This pilot study identified infection with a fraction of the radiation dose," Klug said. "This approach could drive larger studies and ultimately reshape clinical guidelines, making denoised ultra-low dose CT the new standard for young immunocompromised patients.

How Can You Detect Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid or pus and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The symptoms can range from milk to severe, which includes:

Coughing with or without cough

Fever

Chills

Trouble breathing

Chest pain, especially when breathing deeply or coughing

Sweating or chills

Rapid heart rate

Loss of appetite

Bluish skin, lips, and nails

Confusion.

How to detect Pneumonia in coughing newborns and toddlers?

Pneumonia can severely affect newborns and young children as their lungs are comparatively more sensitive. As per Dr Goyal, young children can cough for various reasons including seasonal infections and tonsillitis, which is very common in this age group. But if they look visibly irritable and have poor sleep patterns, then parents must reach out to an expert. "I am not saying that parents must visit a hospital but any local paediatrician would be able to detect pneumonia in your kid.

Healthcare has emerged as a major concern in US midterm elections. Voters have been actively weighing surging medical costs, quality and access to reproductive healthcare, Medicaid funding and vaccination policies.

While the elections will determine control of Congress and several state legislatures, their outcome could also influence how Americans navigate healthcare, what treatments insurance plans cover and how public health programmes are funded.

Healthcare costs are particularly pressing for majority of Americans. An October KFF poll found that 25% of voters were very worried about affording healthcare, while another 35% were somewhat worried.

According to ABC News, rising insurance premiums, prescription drug costs and the growing use of expensive weight-loss GLP-1 medications are adding to these concerns.

Here are all the major healthcare issues at stake.

Rising Healthcare Costs And Insurance Premiums

Also read: US Midterms 2026: 125 Doctors, Nurses And Health Experts Join Election Battle

Affordability is one of the biggest healthcare concerns for voters. The enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, increasing what many people pay for health insurance.

According to KFF, the average monthly benchmark premium for ACA coverage rose from $497 in 2025 to $625 in 2026. The benchmark silver premiums are projected to increase by an average of 13% in 2027.

The rising cost of insurance sponsored by employers, deductibles and prescription medicines has contributed to the burden. Experts are examining the contribution of healthcare AI tools, tariffs on medical supplies and increased spending on GLP-1 medications.

The debate centres on how to make healthcare more affordable. Democrats have been emphasising the restoration of ACA subsidies and Republicans highlighting alternative insurance policies and drug-pricing initiatives.

Medicaid Funding And Work Requirements

Also read: Spanish Striker Jesus De Miguel Dies After On-Field Collision: Can A Blow To The Chest Trigger Cardiac Arrest?

Medicaid, the government health insurance programme for Americans with low income, is another major election issue.

Changes introduced under the 2025 budget reconciliation law will bring new eligibility and work requirements. Starting January 1, 2027, most states will be required to implement work requirements for certain adults enrolled through Medicaid expansion.

Supporters argue that the requirements will encourage employment and protect public resources. Critics warn that administrative red tape, reporting requirements and difficulties documenting eligibility could cause people who qualify to lose coverage.

According to KFF, Congressional Budget Office projections cited in its analysis estimate that the Medicaid provisions could leave 7.5 million more people uninsured by 2034.

Abortion Rights And Reproductive Healthcare

Also read: Trump Signs Women’s Health Order: Melania’s 5 Pillars of Innovation Explained

Abortion remains a major issue in several state-level elections, particularly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which put an end to the constitutional protection for abortion access.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, voters in four states will consider ballot measures related to abortion.

Idaho, Nevada and Virginia have measures seeking to protect reproductive freedom, while Missouri voters will decide whether to repeal established abortion protections.

Virginia’s measure includes protections related to contraception, fertility care, pregnancy and childbirth, while Nevada’s proposal seeks constitutional protection for abortion access. Idaho’s initiative would challenge the state’s abortion ban.

Missouri’s Amendment 3, meanwhile, seeks to reverse the reproductive freedom protections approved by voters in 2024.

The results could shape access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare services.

Measles Outbreaks And Vaccination Policies

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Vaccination and public health debates have also become politically inflammatory, especially amid the resurgence of measles in the United States.

The CDC reported 4,852 confirmed measles cases across 47 jurisdictions as of October 29, 2026. This compares with 2,289 cases reported during the whole of 2025. Nearly 96% of this year’s confirmed cases were linked with outbreaks.

Declining childhood vaccination coverage has contributed to the concerns. CDC data shows that MMR vaccination coverage among kindergarten children fell from 95.2% in the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4% in 2025–2026, below the 95% level that is generally needed to maintain community protection.

Federal vaccine policy has also become a subject of debate as changes to childhood vaccine recommendations and emphasis on individual decision making has drawn scrutiny from public health experts.

Prescription Drug Prices And Access To Medicines

The cost of prescription medicines is another issue. Democrats have emphasised Medicare’s ability to negotiate prices for selected prescription drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Republicans have highlighted the administration’s most-favoured-nation drug-pricing agreements, which seek to link US medicine prices to those paid in other developed countries.

The growing use of GLP-1 medications has also intensified the debate over prescription spending and insurance coverage.

A recent report stated that spending on GLP-1 medicines increased from $13.7 billion in 2018 to $71.7 billion in 2023. These medicines accounted for approximately 14% of US prescription drug spending in 2025, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The primary question for voters is whether proposed pricing measures will translate into lower costs and better access to essential medicines.

With all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 Senate seats up for election, the midterm elections will determine the composition of the next Congress. Although healthcare is not the only issue for voters, rising medical costs, insurance affordability, reproductive rights and public health policies have become an important part of the debate.

Spanish striker Jesus de Miguel, who played for Tenerife, died on Tuesday at the age of 30, a day after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision during a match, the Spanish second-tier club said.

His death has brought attention to commotio cordis, a rare condition in which a sudden, blunt impact to the chest disrupts the heart's electrical rhythm and triggers cardiac arrest.

What Happened To Jesus De Miguel?

De Miguel collapsed following a clash with visiting goalkeeper Jesus Owono. Owono had rushed out of his area to clear a long ball and struck the forward with his knee.

De Miguel lay motionless as players from both teams signalled for medical assistance. Owono was shown a straight red card.

Also read: American Pro Football Players 4 Times More Likely To Die From Diseases Like ALS, Dementia & Parkinson's: Study

Medical staff treated De Miguel on the pitch for more than five minutes before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Police in Spain have opened proceedings for possible involuntary manslaughter following De Miguel's death, a source from the National Police said. The investigation is a routine procedure under Spanish law when a death is deemed non-natural.

"Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing of Jesus de Miguel Alameda," the club said.

"There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness."

De Miguel was born in Madrid in 1996 and joined Tenerife from Castellon ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, scoring 11 goals last season.

Tenerife confirmed that De Miguel died at 8 am local time on Tuesday. Spanish media subsequently reported that emergency-services specialist Javier G. Rendo had raised the possibility of commotio cordis, suggesting that the impact to the chest may have triggered an electrical disturbance in the heart. This has not been established as the confirmed cause of death.

What Is Commotio Cordis?

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According to Cleveland Clinic, commotio cordis occurs when a blow directly over the heart strikes at a particularly vulnerable moment in the heartbeat, triggering an abnormal rhythm called ventricular fibrillation.

It is most commonly associated with sports in which hard objects, such as baseballs, hockey pucks or lacrosse balls, hit the chest. A punch or other blunt impact can also trigger the condition under specific circumstances.

Commotio cordis is most common among young male athletes, particularly those under 20, with cases often reported around the age of 15.

Symptoms may include:

• Sudden collapse after a blow to the chest.
• Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness.
• Abnormal heart rhythm, particularly ventricular fibrillation.
• Cardiac arrest.

Can Commotio Cordis Be Fatal?

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Yes. Commotio cordis can cause sudden cardiac arrest and can be fatal without immediate treatment.

The US National Commotio Cordis Registry documented 224 cases between 1996 and 2010, although its records have not been publicly updated since 2013. A 2026 review identified 434 reported cases worldwide. These figures refer to reported cases, not deaths.

However, prompt CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) can improve the chances of survival.

What Should Be Done Immediately After Suspected Commotio Cordis?

Commotio cordis is a medical emergency. If someone collapses after a blow to the chest and is unresponsive or not breathing normally, immediate action is critical.

• Call emergency services: Seek immediate medical help.
• Start CPR: Begin chest compressions at 100–120 per minute.
• Use an automated external defibrillator (AED): Switch it on and follow the voice instructions.
• Continue CPR: Resume chest compressions immediately after the AED analysis or shock and continue until medical help arrives.

As many as 125 doctors, nurses and public health professionals are contesting the November 3 US midterm elections, marking an unprecedented level of participation by healthcare professionals in electoral politics, according to a media report.

Among the prominent candidates are Dr Amy Acton, Dr Abdul El-Sayed and former US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Many of these candidates entered the political spotlight during or after the COVID-19 pandemic. They are now seeking elected office to influence public health funding, vaccination policies, healthcare access, and the Trump administration’s approach to science and medical research.

“I haven’t seen anything exactly like this before,” historian Dr Kristoffer Shields, director of the Eagleton Center on the American Governor at Rutgers University, told CNN. “The link between science and politics has always been sort of weak.”

A separate review by Becker’s Hospital Review identified at least 58 physicians, nurses and other clinicians running for governor or Congress. The group includes 29 physicians, 16 nurses, four pharmacists, four dentists and five other healthcare professionals. Of these, 46 are contesting House seats, eight are running for the Senate and four are seeking governorships.

Few Healthcare Professionals In US Congress

Healthcare professionals currently remain a small minority in American politics. The US Senate has four doctors, all Republicans: John Barrasso of Wyoming, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Roger Marshall of Kansas and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

The House of Representatives includes 17 physicians, four dentists, two pharmacists, one nurse practitioner, one optometrist and one rehabilitation therapist.

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Ex-CDC Vaccine Advisor Says Measles Outbreak Bigger Than Reported, Slams RFK Jr’s ‘No-See Evil’ Approach

Concerns Over Science and Public Health

Concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to science and public health have become a key reason for healthcare professionals to seek political office.

Other important concerns include the dismissal of federal doctors and scientists, cuts to research funding, removal of government datasets and public health websites, and changes affecting measures such as water fluoridation and childhood vaccination.

“Our country should be great. Our country should be pro-science, pro-innovation, and science keeps us safe. It protects us. It leads to wonderful discoveries, and this administration has completely burned all of that down,” Dr Kristin Hook, a former staffer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the US Government Accountability Office, told CNN.

Hook, who lost her 2024 bid as a Democrat for Texas’ 21st Congressional District, is contesting the same seat again this year.

Becerra, contesting the California gubernatorial election against Republican candidate Steve Hilton, warned that weakening public health institutions could make the country more vulnerable to natural disasters and pandemics.

“HHS is not a place for science deniers or science skeptics. Why would you get rid of some of our best scientists and doctors and health professionals?” he told CNN.

Read More: CDC Survey Shows Nearly 3 In 4 American Adults Are Tired: Who Is Most Affected?

How COVID-19 Changed Health and Politics Equation

The COVID-19 pandemic brought public health officials into the political spotlight, as decisions on restrictions, vaccines and other health measures became subjects of intense public debate.

Some officials also faced threats and harassment, while others left their positions, prompting healthcare professionals to consider a more direct role in policymaking.