“Humble” is not a word my colleagues would use to describe me, especially early in my career.

In fact, when word got around that I was researching humility, I suspect more than a few choked on their coffee.

And even though I have spent over a decade exploring the concept as an attribute and as a practice, it wasn’t until...Read more

Postpartum experiences are as unique as the pregnancies that come before them. Because of this, it can be difficult to recognize what's normal and what could be a complication — even if you've given birth before.

The postpartum period is generally defined as the first six weeks after birth. "Postpartum begins immediately following birth and ...Read more

One year after taking charge of the nation’s health department, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hasn’t held true to many of the promises he made while appealing to U.S. senators concerned about the longtime anti-vaccine activist’s plans for the nation’s care.

Kennedy squeaked through a narrow Senate vote to be ...Read more

Postpartum experiences are as unique as the pregnancies that come before them. Because of this, it can be difficult to recognize what's normal and what could be a complication — even if you've given birth before.

The postpartum period is generally defined as the first six weeks after birth. "Postpartum begins immediately following birth and ...Read more

The Food and Drug Administration’s decision, made public on Feb. 10, 2026, to not review an application to approve Moderna’s proposed mRNA-based flu vaccine set off a firestorm of criticism from public health experts.

But just a week later, on Feb. 18, the FDA backtracked on its decision, saying that it will indeed review the ...Read more

The Trump administration announced on Feb. 12, 2026, that it is ending Operation Metro Surge, its deployment of more than 3,000 federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding metro area. Federal officials say some agents will remain in the area and have vowed that similar immigration sweeps are coming soon...Read more

Wyoming officials say they have a plan to make five years of upcoming grants from a new $50 billion federal rural health program last “forever.”

The state could tackle rural health issues long into the future by investing its awards from the Rural Health Transformation Program, the director of Wyoming’s health department, Stefan Johansson...Read more

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant often found in coffee, tea, chocolate and various energy drinks and medications. But how does caffeine impact the body? Let’s take a system- by-system look at what caffeine really does when it enters your bloodstream.

Central nervous system

Caffeine’s most noticeable effect is on the central ...Read more

Roasted vegetables are a timeless dinnertime staple. Not only are they an easy way to add color and nutrition to your plate, but when done right, roasting brings out the best in every vegetable — crisp edges, caramelized flavors, and tender insides. We spoke with chefs who shared their top tips and secrets for achieving perfectly roasted ...Read more

National guidelines recommend adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic (cardio) exercise per week. You could meet these goals by exercising at moderate intensity for 30 minutes five times a week, for example, or at high intensity for 40 minutes twice a week. You can mix moderate and vigorous ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: When I go for a walk or to the gym, people always seem to be checking their pulse, whether by hand or with a wearable. Why is heart rate so important?

ANSWER: Your heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Your resting heart rate is when the heart is pumping the lowest amount of blood you need ...Read more

It sounds like something from a science fiction novel, but Alabama officials’ plan to use robots to improve care for rural pregnant women and their babies is real.

During a January White House roundtable touting the first grants to states under a new $50 billion rural health fund, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet ...Read more

Lori Kelley’s deteriorating vision has made it hard for her to find steady work.

The 59-year-old, who lives in Harrisburg, North Carolina, closed her nonprofit circus arts school last year because she could no longer see well enough to complete paperwork. She then worked making dough at a pizza shop for a bit. Currently, she sorts recyclable ...Read more

The federal government’s message in its new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released in January 2026, couldn’t be simpler: “Eat real food.”

But for pregnant women in rural America, that straightforward advice runs headlong into a harsh reality: Rural women have less access to healthy whole foods.

We are a public ...Read more

Bed rest can go pound sand: Ray J gave his all on stage on Friday night, it seems, with fan videos showing his eyes appearing to bleed as he worked the crowd.

The singer also doffed the top of his orange jumpsuit to reveal some sort of medical port or device inserted on the upper left side of his chest.

The “Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood” star...Read more

Every year, Kris Bullinger braces herself for insurance sticker shock.

Bullinger is a co-owner of Olympic Truck Service, a diesel repair shop in Tumwater, Washington. Health coverage for the company’s 17 employees has long been one of her fastest rising and most unpredictable expenses.

The same coverage costs more every year," she said.

...Read more

Leonard Bighorn said his mother tried for two years to get help for severe stomach pain through the limited health services available near her home on the Fort Peck Reservation in northeastern Montana.

After his mom finally saw a specialist in Glasgow, about an hour away, she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, Bighorn said.

Now, 16 years...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When it snows in Parkville, Missouri, Harrison Long often stops in his tracks.

“Avalanche,” he shouts, even if only a few flakes are falling. It’s a line he memorized from a cartoon, one of the many TV show and movie quotes that have become commonplace in the Long household.

Harrison has also started singing again, ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I found out during my pregnancy that I have mitral valve stenosis. How common is valve disease, and what should I know about it?

ANSWER: Valve disease affects how blood moves through the heart, and pregnancy is often a time when symptoms first appear or become more noticeable. Learning about a heart valve condition during ...Read more