The holiday season, often considered a time of joy and togetherness, can also be one of the most challenging periods for those who are grieving a loss.

Nearly 95% of people who have experienced loss report dealing with at least one symptom of physical or mental distress. Approximately 10% of them develop prolonged grief disorder, a ...Read more

For many people, this time of year is all about the shopping. And there's a fair chance many feel less than joyful about the prospect.

If fulfilling your lengthy list feels overwhelming, learning what brain science and evolutionary psychology say about shopping and gift-giving might help you understand exactly why you're stressed – and even ...Read more

When you hear a favorite holiday tune, you might not immediately connect it with CPR.

But there's an easy-to-understand reason why you might want to start, said Dr. John W. Hafner, a clinical professor of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine Peoria.

"You can really save a life just by doing simple chest ...Read more

How many days has your child been absent from school over the past four weeks? Was it just one sick day or two? What about the day they left early for the dentist? Or the days you took off to extend a vacation? It can be hard to keep track.

Missing a day here or there may not seem like a problem. But school absences add up quickly. Missing two ...Read more

Rates of infection for respiratory viruses are currently low in the U.S. but are starting to rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV spread more in fall and winter, especially during holiday gatherings, travel and time spent indoors.

Dr. Robert Jacobson, medical director of Mayo Clinic's Primary...Read more

An updated report by the California Department of Public Health found that the number of people infected with salmonella during a 2023-2024 outbreak in raw milk from a Fresno County dairy was much higher than initially reported.

The outbreak originated in San Diego County on Oct. 18, 2023, with eight cases of salmonellosis from people who drank...Read more

A former Montana health department staffer who described himself as the lead author of legislation to scrutinize nonprofit hospitals’ charitable acts said new rules implementing the bill amounted to a hospital “wish list” and that the state needs to go back to the drawing board.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services ...Read more

Aaron Siri, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s personal attorney, has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to revoke its approval of the hepatitis B and polio vaccines, and block the distribution of 13 others.

Siri has reportedly been weighing in on which candidates will fill key positions in the Department of Health and Human Services, which ...Read more

The U.S. health care system leaves much to be desired.

It is convoluted, fragmented, complex and confusing. Experts have also raised concerns about quality, and disparities are rampant. And, of course, it is excessively costly – far more so than in any other developed nation. Given these failings, it is not surprising that Americans...Read more

On a sunny November afternoon, Gerard Robinson set out from his Johnson Ferry Road apartment and walked his terrier. The simple act was a revolution for him.

Robinson’s walk would have been unthinkable just last year, as he sat in his apartment suffering from severe depression. The disease was defying other treatments Robinson had diligently ...Read more

You can't literally gift-wrap health, much less stuff it in a stocking.

But a gift that helps someone eat, sleep or exercise better can send a powerful message, said Dr. Laurence Sperling, the Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Beyond the usual affection a gift demonstrates, something ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've heard there might be a link between hearing loss and brain health. Can you explain how it could affect my cognitive function and what I can do to reduce the risks?

ANSWER: Humans by nature are social. People enjoy being with others, sharing stories, laughing at a joke, dancing to a favorite song, greeting a neighbor, ...Read more

Middle-aged adults with long-term fluctuations in blood pressure may face a higher risk for sudden cardiac death than their peers with more consistent blood pressure readings, a large new study suggests.

The findings, which showed people with the greatest variability in blood pressure faced up to a nearly 70% greater risk for sudden cardiac ...Read more

WASHINGTON — The number of deaths due to opioid overdoses in Pennsylvania dropped by almost a quarter over the last year, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Deaths declined from 5,195 in July 2023 to 3,937 in July 2024, a 24% decline. The number of Pennsylvanians dying due to opioids ...Read more

The state agency that handles behavioral health plans to ask the Georgia General Assembly for more money to get mentally ill patients moved out of jails and into treatment.

The request dovetails with priorities previously expressed by House Speaker Jon Burns. After the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in September, Burns and other ...Read more

ATLANTA — A panel of Georgia lawmakers is considering introducing legislation next year forcing insurance companies to cover the cost of alternatives to opioid pain medications as a way to further address problems with the addictive medications.

State Rep. Michelle Au, D-Johns Creek, said she and other members of a special House opioid study ...Read more

You’ve probably heard “Don’t go outside in the winter with your hair wet or without a coat; you’ll catch a cold.”

That’s not exactly true. As with many things, the reality is more complicated. Here’s the distinction: Being cold isn’t why you get a cold. But it is true that cold weather makes it easier to catch ...Read more

ATLANTA — Deegant Adhvaryu completed his parents’ applications for Medicaid and food benefits in June. Then the waiting and frustration began.

In July, his parents, Haresh and Nina Adhvaryu, received a letter saying their applications would be delayed, he said. In August, the Adhvaryus started calling a Georgia helpline, he said, but couldn...Read more

Whether it’s overeating, catching an illness or feeling stress or sheer exhaustion, a busy calendar of holiday festivities can take a toll on health, says Safia Debar, MBBS, a general practitioner and stress management expert at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London. In this expert alert, Dr. Debar answers common questions and offers tips to help ...Read more