Health Advice
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Editorial: Simple economics can help cut health care costs
Of the $4.5 trillion the U.S. spends on health care every year, the largest proportion — almost a third — goes to hospitals. The cost of hospital services has consistently outpaced the overall inflation rate for at least two decades. If Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump really want to reduce health-care costs —...Read more
FDA's promised guidance on pulse oximeters unlikely to end decades of racial bias
OAKLAND, Calif. — The patient was in his 60s, an African American man with emphysema. The oximeter placed on his fingertip registered well above the 88% blood oxygen saturation level that signals an urgent risk of organ failure and death.
Yet his doctor, Noha Aboelata, believed the patient was sicker than the device showed. So she sent him ...Read more
CDC reports record drop in drug overdose deaths
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
Harris backs slashing medical debt. Trump's 'concepts' worry advocates
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
Philly hospitals test new strategy for ‘tranq dope’ withdrawal – and it keeps patients from walking out before their treatment is done
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 or Medicare Advantage: Which is right for you?
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
Environmental Nutrition: Probiotics have a lot to offer
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
Why you don’t need to restrict your kid’s Halloween candy
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 primer: What to know and do
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
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Tips for childhood eczema
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
Magnifying US gastrointestinal disease mortality reveals health disparities
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
Even political rivals agree that medical debt is an urgent issue
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
Understanding whooping cough with a Mayo Clinic expert
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
Flu shot may not be as effective as last year, but it's still worth getting
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
Commentary: Why Trump and RFK Jr. won't 'make America healthy again'
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
Mayo Clinic Minute: The importance of breast cancer screening
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
Trump leads, and his party follows, on vaccine skepticism
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
Researchers create 'mini brains' to model Lewy body dementia and pinpoint treatments
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
Ask the Pediatrician: Anaphylaxis in infants and children: Responding to severe allergic reactions
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
Asian health center tries unconventional approach to counseling
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
Popular Stories
- Philly hospitals test new strategy for ‘tranq dope’ withdrawal – and it keeps patients from walking out before their treatment is done
- Medicare or Medicare Advantage: Which is right for you?
- Environmental Nutrition: Probiotics have a lot to offer
- Magnifying US gastrointestinal disease mortality reveals health disparities
- Why you don’t need to restrict your kid’s Halloween candy