The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, plays a significant role in every American’s access to health care and in the nation’s overall well-being.

Under the secretary’s leadership, the multiple agencies that constitute HHS oversee the financing of Medicare and Medicaid, conduct research to improve ...Read more

President Donald Trump’s early actions on health care signal his likely intention to wipe away some Biden-era programs to lower drug costs and expand coverage under public insurance programs.

The orders he issued soon after reentering the White House have policymakers, health care executives, and patient advocates trying to read the tea ...Read more

Breakups hurt. For confirmation of this fact, just check the lyrics of that song you listened to on repeat the last time somebody looked into your eyes and sadly said, "It's not you, it's me."

But while the feelings that accompany such moments have been a boon to Taylor Swift and the rest of the music industry, a breakup can also have ...Read more

Russell Wooten of Hendersonville, North Carolina, has spent much of his life struggling with obesity, often carrying 260 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame. He repeatedly starved himself to lose weight, then gained it back by binge eating comfort foods. The cycle left him feeling “depressed and distraught.”

In February 2023, Wooten began taking ...Read more

DENVER — Outside HCA HealthONE Rose medical center, the snow is flying. Inside, on the third floor, there’s a flurry of activity within the labor and delivery unit.

“There’s a lot of action up here. It can be very stressful at times,” said Kristina Fraser, an OB-GYN in blue scrubs.

Nurses wheel a very pregnant mom past.

“We’re ...Read more

Several years ago, a little-known drug named Ozempic – previously used only to treat diabetes – emerged as a promising new drug for weight management.

The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Ozempic in 2021 for weight loss treatment ushered in a new era for the class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, or ...Read more

A body part from a deceased animal being tested for rabies caused deep concern at the highest level of the state Department of Public Health last year after the improperly sealed package leaked and potentially exposed swathes of the public health workforce to the disease last year.

The animal was a raccoon, DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam said.

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Q: What is kefir and does it provide any health benefits?

A: Kefir is a fermented dairy drink made by adding kefir grains — cultures of yeast and lactic acid bacteria — to milk. These grains ferment the milk, resulting in a tangy, slightly fizzy beverage with a texture similar to yogurt. Kefir can also be made from non-dairy alternatives ...Read more

When it comes to cold and flu season, it’s a good idea to be prepared for what to do if you get sick. When you’re feeling unwell, nutrition plays a significant role in your recovery from an illness. Nourishing foods that are easily digestible, hydrating and anti-inflammatory can be especially beneficial in supporting your immune system when ...Read more

If you’re struggling with depression, the most important question about taking an antidepressant is whether it will work. But another question on your mind may be whether it will fuel weight gain.

A recent study provides some context by suggesting how much weight, on average, people taking one of eight commonly used antidepressants might ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was recently prescribed high blood pressure medication. My routine was to take the pills before bed, but I’m finding when I do, I’m up all night using the bathroom. Does it really matter when I take the medication? Also, will I likely have to take this medication for life?

ANSWER: The most important thing about blood ...Read more

Women are being prescribed drugs that were never tested on women’s bodies. Or when they experience uterine pain or migraine headaches, their concerns are sometimes downplayed by male doctors.

The phenomenon is called medical misogyny, or the ingrained prejudice against women in the health care space.

While it has generated sporadic headlines...Read more

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Abby Jones’ first stop of the day delivering medication was the home of 90-year-old Sarah Campbell Kier.

“Come in!” yelled Kier. Jones didn’t have to knock. Kier had the screen door open and was waiting for the Barnes Drug Store driver, who also had delivered Kier’s thyroid medication the day before.

“I appreciate...Read more

Psychedelic therapy is set to launch in Colorado this spring, with the state considering licenses for healing centers, psilocybin mushroom cultivations, a product manufacturer and a testing lab.

Regulators recently began accepting applications from those interested in getting in on the ground floor of the state’s nascent industry, and while ...Read more

Nearly half of all women who have had a mammogram to screen for breast cancer have been identified as having dense breasts. This makes it more challenging to detect breast cancer because dense tissue and tumors both appear white on a mammogram. That's one reason why it's recommended to have an additional screening done. But which one?

Dr. ...Read more

Much attention has been paid in recent years to life expectancy in the U.S., which remains lower than in many other industrialized nations that spend less on health care.

But with data suggesting 79% of adults 60 and older have two or more chronic illnesses – such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure – and more than half of ...Read more

ATLANTA — Former Atlanta Braves player turned iconic broadcaster Bob Uecker, 90, has died. His hometown team announced that “Mr. Baseball” died Thursday morning in what has become “one of the most difficult days in Milwaukee Brewers history.” Though his cause of death was not revealed, according to his family, Uecker had been battling ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- Jayden Mirville-Beamon’s mother watched her 12-day-old baby’s curious eyes scan the hospital hallway last June as nurses took him toward the operating room.

His family sobbed inside the Minneapolis hospital. Jayden’s mother said she believed the baby was communicating to them with those brown eyes, which he had rarely ...Read more