WASHINGTON — Drug overdose deaths dropped a record amount during the past year, according to provisional data the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Wednesday.

The CDC reported that 94,758 individuals died because of drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending May 2024 — a 15 percent drop from the previous 12-month period....Read more

Patient and consumer advocates are looking to Kamala Harris to accelerate federal efforts to help people struggling with medical debt if she prevails in next month’s presidential election.

And they see the vice president and Democratic nominee as the best hope for preserving Americans’ access to health insurance. Comprehensive coverage that...Read more

Unimaginable pain and restlessness. Vomiting so frequent and forceful that it can perforate the esophagus. Blood pressure and heart rate so high that they damage the heart. Sweating that drenches clothing and sheets. Nerve sensitivity that makes even the softest touch agonizing. A prolonged panic attack that is provoked and worsened by even ...Read more

Medicare’s annual enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. This is the time when Medicare beneficiaries can decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. They can switch from a traditional Medicare plan to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa, as well as changing from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

However, recent...Read more

Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. Found in fermented foods and supplements, these beneficial bacteria are particularly renowned for their role in promoting gut health, enhancing immune function, and supporting overall well-being.

Gut health and digestion

Probiotics are most ...Read more

I’ve been a registered dietitian for a long time, but I’ve been a person that loves Halloween candy even longer. Some of my best childhood memories are from Halloween — especially the time I wouldn’t let my dad take me home until I trick-or-treated at every house in the neighborhood (thanks, Dad!). That’s why now, as a mom, registered ...Read more

A bird flu strain that began circulating in 2020 continues to evolve globally and locally within the United States. If you’re wondering what this means, understanding the basics — what bird flu is, how it spreads, whether foods are safe, and prevention tips — can help. More information will come in as scientists learn more, so stay tuned. ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 2-year-old son has a new rash on his arms and back. His doctor said it looks like eczema. He is itching nonstop and that creates red, raw skin. It seems to be worse while he’s lying in bed. No one in the house is getting good sleep because he’s so uncomfortable. What can I do to help him feel better and get some rest?

...Read more

Diseases affecting the digestive system, including the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease and others, are significant causes of death worldwide. Mayo Clinic and North Dakota State University researchers recently delved into demographic data at the national, state and county level in ...Read more

While hot-button health care issues such as abortion and the Affordable Care Act roil the presidential race, Democrats and Republicans in statehouses around the country have been quietly working together to tackle the nation’s medical debt crisis.

New laws to curb aggressive hospital billing, to expand charity care for lower-income patients, ...Read more

Whooping cough (pertussis) is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria.

Cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, continue to rise in the U.S. New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show nearly 18,000 cases through Oct. 5. While that is somewhat in line with pre-pandemic numbers, it's a large increase from ...Read more

October is the prime time to get a flu vaccine to protect yourself through the worst of the respiratory season.

However, keep your expectations in check.

This year’s shot may be less effective than last year’s at preventing severe disease. Newly released data from the Southern Hemisphere, where flu season typically runs from April through ...Read more

In the first four minutes of a recent video for his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign promoting Donald Trump for president, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presents a seemingly compelling case about how America’s toxin-laden food system harms us and, worse, our children, contributing to chronic and often fatal diseases. He features unhealthy ...Read more

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women across the U.S. And rates of the disease continue to climb, notably among younger women. A recent report from the American Cancer Society calculates that 1 in 50 women will develop invasive breast cancer by the age of 50.

Early ...Read more

More than four years ago, former President Donald Trump’s administration accelerated the development and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. The project, dubbed Operation Warp Speed, likely saved millions of lives. But a substantial number of Republican voters now identify as vaccine skeptics — and Trump rarely mentions what’s considered one ...Read more

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that shares traits with both Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease but can be more difficult to diagnose. Symptoms can include hallucinations, movement disorders, cognitive issues, sleep problems and depression.

To better understand how the disease develops, Mayo Clinic ...Read more

Anaphylaxis is a rapid and severe allergic reaction. It is also a life-threatening emergency.

A rising number of children are being treated in emergency departments for anaphylaxis in recent years. At any age, anaphylaxis can be deadly without immediate medical help.

Allergic reactions are unpredictable in terms of when they happen, what types...Read more

In her first months as a community health worker, Jee Hyo Kim helped violent crime survivors access supportive services and resources. When a client with post-traumatic stress disorder sought a therapist, she linked him to one that fit his needs. She helped clients afraid to leave their homes obtain food delivery vouchers. As one client ...Read more

Since 2020, the U.S. has seen an explosion in laws targeting transgender youth. Hundreds of bills have sought to restrict which sport teams they can join, which bathrooms they can use and what medical care they can receive — legislation that opponents say creates a climate of fear and intimidation so severe it could lead some trans youth to ...Read more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating whether the U.S. stockpile of bird flu vaccines is still well matched to the virus after discovering recent mutations.

The CDC said Friday it identified genetic changes present in the virus, known commonly as H5N1, after sequencing samples from three people with the infection in ...Read more