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Grandparent Asks For New Updates About Type 1 Diabetes
DEAR DR. ROACH: My grandson has just been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I'm wondering which new therapies are out there for consideration in treating this. Are there any new discoveries involving gene-altering, pancreas transplants or something else? I am willing to join any study group that is looking at this or any other group that helps ...Read more
One more risk from ultra-processed foods: Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) affects around 1 million Americans, with 90,000 new cases diagnosed annually. And while you can live for 10 to 30 years with the condition, its impact on quality of life is far-reaching, affecting cognition and mobility, and making you vulnerable to life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia. (It's hard on caregivers,...Read more

Despite federal shift, state health officials encourage COVID vaccines for pregnant women
Heading into the respiratory illness season, states and clinicians are working to encourage pregnant patients to get COVID-19 vaccinations, even though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services no longer recommends that they should.
Along with being older and having an underlying health condition, pregnancy itself is a risk factor. ...Read more

Maryland taps Affordable Care Act fund to help pay for abortion care
Maryland is the first state to tap into an old fund connected to the Affordable Care Act to help solve a new problem: helping pay the expenses of patients who travel to Maryland for an abortion.
With abortion now restricted or illegal in 22 states, jurisdictions like Maryland have become a destination for patients from as close as neighboring ...Read more

Mayo Clinic researchers discover the immune system's 'fountain of youth'
ROCHESTER, Minn. — The immune system is meant to protect the body from infection and disease. But with age, it can become less capable of doing so. However, Mayo Clinic researchers have found that some older people maintain "immune youth" – a new term coined by Mayo researchers to explain a young immune system in someone over age 60.
"We ...Read more

Breaking down why Medicare Part D premiums are likely to go up
Medicare enrollees who buy the optional Part D drug benefit may see substantial premium price hikes — potentially up to $50 a month — when they shop for next year’s coverage.
Such drug plans are used by millions of people who enroll in what is called original Medicare, the classic federal government program that began in 1965 and added a ...Read more
Being Put On So Many Meds Causes Concern For A Liver Issue
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 52-year-old woman who was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia in October 2024. I went through a cardiac workup for pain in my left arm and found this out.
My cardiologist put me on a statin (rosuvastatin), baby aspirin and telmisartan. Then, for my cholesterol, I was put on Repatha injections twice a month as ...Read more
Obesity fuels cancer, lousy food fuels obesity
The Delta Rhythm Boys sang "Hip bone connected to the thigh bone, thigh bone connected to the knee bone," and on and on. We can, unfortunately, sing the same kind of tune about obesity and cancer.
Obesity now claims more than 100 million adults and almost 15 million kids in this country and is connected to adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, ...Read more

Idaho health officials say measles is 'circulating,' can 'multiply quickly'
A third person in Idaho has tested positive for the measles this month.
Public health officials announced Wednesday that the third case, confirmed in an unvaccinated child in Bonner County, has no known link between the case in Kootenai County. There also was a case in Bonneville County earlier this month. “Without any link between these two ...Read more

6 fruits that will help you sleep better
If you regularly struggle to get a good night’s rest, you’ve probably tried a variety of strategies, such as meditating or journaling. However, your eating habits also play a significant role in the quality of your sleep. Here are six fruits to consider adding to your diet to support better sleep.
1. Kiwi
Thanks to high levels of melatonin...Read more

Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health
As wildfires become more frequent due to climate change and drier conditions, more of us and more of our communities are at risk for harm. Here is information to help you prepare and protect yourself and your family.
How does wildfire smoke affect air quality?
Wildfire smoke contributes greatly to poor air quality. Just like pollution from ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Sweet effects
Q: Do sweetened foods and drinks affect my metabolism?
A: Sweeteners (even sugar-free options) can have an impact on your metabolic health. Sugar-sweetened products like sodas, desserts, and many processed foods are high in calories and can lead to weight gain when consumed in excess. Over time, high sugar intake is linked to increased risks of...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Shockwave therapy may help relieve foot problem
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve had some foot issues, and I heard that shockwave therapy might be appropriate. How does it work? And how can it help?
ANSWER: This noninvasive treatment uses sound waves to transmit energy to tissues to help with the healing process. You may hear it referred to as extracorporeal shockwave treatment. Extracorporeal means...Read more
Mercury Microbe
Human activities like coal burning and gold mining can cause mercury pollution in the air, which eventually settles into water, where it is absorbed into the food chain, resulting in the risk of mercury poisoning in apex predators like bluefin tuna -- and people who eat tuna.
Mercury poisoning can cause birth defects, particularly ...Read more

Considering a life change? Brace for higher ACA costs
People thinking about starting a business or retiring early — before they’re old enough for Medicare — may want to wait until November, when they can see just how much their Affordable Care Act health insurance will cost next year. Sharp increases are expected.
Premiums for ACA health plans, also known as Obamacare, which many early ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Minute: Why diverse organ donors are needed
August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month. It's a time of celebrating organ donation and educating people about transplantation by encouraging donor registration and promoting healthy living.
Dr. Shennen Mao, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon, says having a diverse pool of organ donors will help serve a growing wait list of those in need...Read more

It's almost flu season. Should you still get a shot, and will insurance cover it?
For parents of school-aged children, the fall to-do list can seem ever-growing. Buy school supplies. Fill out endless school forms. Block off parent-teacher nights. Do the kids’ tennis shoes still fit?
Somewhere, at some point, you might remember flu shots. Get your flu shot. Get their flu shots. Or should you? Can you? Is that still a thing?...Read more
Multivitamins Have Been Shown To Be Contaminated With Metals
DEAR DR. ROACH: My family doctor said to stay away from multivitamins because they contain metal contaminants. Is this true, and is it good advice? -- J.K.
ANSWER: Your doctor is correct that many multivitamins have been shown to be contaminated with heavy metals. For example, in a recent article on prenatal vitamin and folic acid supplements...Read more
3-D: IBD, dementia and vitamin D
Vitamin D is really a hormone. That's why it helps protect bone strength, increases the calories that go into muscles versus fat, and has an impact on immune, endocrine, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health. But that's not all. Vitamin D's do-good abilities just keep expanding.
A study in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that those who took ...Read more

COVID shots for kids still recommended by US pediatric group in break with CDC
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its recommendations for immunizations Tuesday, including calling for COVID shots for healthy kids, diverging from controversial advice from the federal government.
The group said it recommends the COVID shot for children ages 6 months to 23 months. Earlier this year, Health and Human Services Secretary...Read more
Inside Health Advice
Popular Stories
- 6 fruits that will help you sleep better
- Mayo Clinic researchers discover the immune system's 'fountain of youth'
- Maryland taps Affordable Care Act fund to help pay for abortion care
- Despite federal shift, state health officials encourage COVID vaccines for pregnant women
- Breaking down why Medicare Part D premiums are likely to go up