I’ve never had cancer. But it has still shaped my entire life.

I’m a BRCA1 “previvor.” You may never have heard that term before; it was coined by an organization called FORCE over 25 years ago. I carry a gene mutation that increases my risk for breast and ovarian cancer and other kinds, and that’s why, even though I’m in my late ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Michigan Democrats in Congress are using the Sept. 30 government funding deadline to press for a permanent extension of plussed-up Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies that are set to expire at year's end and cause premium costs to spike for millions of Americans.

Most of the state’s Democratic House lawmakers said this ...Read more

WASHINGTON — The Congressional Budget Office estimated on Thursday that permanently extending premium health subsidies would increase the number of insured people 3.8 million by 2035 while also increasing the deficit by $349.8 billion over 10 years.

The analysis was requested by Democrats who are looking to avoid the year-end expiration of ...Read more

When Judith Miller had routine blood work done in July, she got a phone alert the same day that her lab results were posted online. So, when her doctor messaged her the next day that her overall tests were fine, Miller wrote back to ask about the elevated carbon dioxide and low anion gap listed in the report.

While the 76-year-old Milwaukee ...Read more

Penobscot County, Maine, is grappling with the largest HIV outbreak in the state’s history. Home to Bangor, a city of roughly 32,000, the county has identified 28 new cases over nearly two years. That’s seven times the typical number for that length of time. Nearly all cases are among people who use drugs and are homeless.

Public health ...Read more

I was recently trapped in a perplexing and potentially compromising situation that made me reconsider the impact of middle-aged brain fog.

It began innocently enough with a visit to the pool. When our children were younger, I spent many summer days poolside, watching them splash and go down the twisty slides. Now, nearly the entire summer had ...Read more

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is discussing options to ease health insurance sign-ups if Congress doesn’t soon reach an agreement on extending health care premium tax credits, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz said Tuesday.

If Congress extends the credits after the Nov. 1 start of open enrollment, ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law giving California the power to set its own immunization schedules based on state health experts and independent medical groups — a sharp break from decades of reliance on guidance from the federal government.

The move came the same day California and its West Coast allies issued joint ...Read more

At least 17 states have taken steps to ensure broader access to the COVID-19 vaccine since last month, when the federal government significantly restricted eligibility for the shot.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, ...Read more

You’re walking down the street, and your senses are overwhelmed by the scents of Greece, the Middle East, Mexico, America, and more. Ah, the food trucks creating their yummy street fare. But if you’re trying to stick to your healthy eating plan, does that mean you have to walk on by? Not necessarily.

Sure, many food cart meals or street ...Read more

Magnesium is a mineral that’s needed for important processes such as nerve function, blood pressure, and blood sugar regulation, bone health maintenance, and more.

Your daily magnesium needs depend on factors like your age and gender. Adult males need 400-420 milligrams of magnesium per day, and adult females require 310-400 milligrams per ...Read more

Sleeping nine or more hours each night is associated with worse cognitive performance, an effect that’s stronger among people with symptoms of depression, according to an analysis published in the April 2025 issue of Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Researchers examined sleep duration and cognition in 1,853 adults ages 27 to 85 (average age 50, 57% ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Ever since I had my son, I tend to worry whenever he gets ill, so I try to educate myself on different viruses and autoimmune disorders. I recently came across encephalitis. What is it? What are some of the warning signs? And how is it treated?

ANSWER: It’s normal to worry as a parent. However, encephalitis is a rare disease...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Health insurance giant Anthem wanted $1,800 from Lauren Gonzalves for hospital nursery services after the birth of her son. But it had been two years since the Concord mother gave birth, she had already paid her out-of-pocket maximum and she believed her policy covered the care for which Anthem repeatedly sought payment.

The...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've heard that ovarian cancer is hard to detect. Can you tell me more about the symptoms and if there are any screenings?

ANSWER: Ovarian cancer is relatively rare. However, it's often fatal in later stages of the disease. The cancer begins in the ovaries and spreads to the abdomen and pelvis if it isn't diagnosed and treated...Read more

A parasitic disease, which can be fatal, is spreading through an insect in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, or T. cruzi, is typically found in triatomines, also known as kissing bugs, a Sept. 9 report from the CDC said.

When a person comes into contact with feces ...Read more

Health officials have confirmed the second case of measles in suburban Cook County this year — in a 4-year-old, unvaccinated child.

It’s believed that the child caught measles while traveling internationally, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health.

Members of the public may have been exposed if they were in Terminal 5 of ...Read more

There are some encouraging signs that California's summer COVID wave might be leveling off.

That's not to say the seasonal spike is in the rearview mirror just yet, however. Coronavirus levels in California's wastewater remain "very high," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as they are in much of the country.

But...Read more