NEW YORK — Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which also treat diabetes, may help users battling drug and alcohol abuse as well.

A study published in the Addiction medical journal Wednesday showed roughy 1.3 million subjects who struggled with substance abuse over an eight-year span were less likely to overindulge when taking such ...Read more

The CVS representative popped into Lisa Trumble’s third-floor Berkshire Medical Center hospital room in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to announce that everything was arranged for Trumble to return home, where she relies on IV nutrition because of severe intestinal problems that leave her unable to eat.

That was on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The next ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has metal detectors installed at hospital entrances and equipped frontline staffers with wearable buttons to immediately call security officers when they're in danger.

The University City hospital, home to Penn Medicine's main trauma center, has instituted more safety measures in recent years to...Read more

Cancer is a leading cause of death among Hispanic people in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. Compared to non-Hispanic white people, Hispanic men and women are less likely to be diagnosed with common cancers such as lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer, and they are more likely to develop cancers in the liver, stomach ...Read more

This week, at an event billed as a town hall in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump spent about 40 minutes standing on stage, mostly wordlessly swaying to music that he’d selected, confusing the press and his fans in attendance.

The odd turn of events and the lack of any reasonable explanation from the campaign — along with a stream of other ...Read more

Taking care of your heart health can be instrumental in preventing dementia and other mental declines as you age, according to a new statement by the American Heart Association.

“From a public health standpoint, … consistent epidemiologic evidence supports the notion that prevention and early treatment of cardiac diseases are effective ...Read more

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

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

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