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4 new measles cases reported in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Four new cases of measles have been reported in Kentucky this week, including three in one household in Woodford County.
The fourth case is in Todd County and is not related to the other three cases, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said Friday. That person was exposed to someone with measles while traveling ...Read more

California will see 'devastating' health care cuts under GOP bill, Newsom says
As many as 3.4 million Californians could lose their state Medi-Cal health insurance under the budget bill making its way through the U.S. Senate, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday.
Newsom said the proposed cuts to health care in the “ one big, beautiful bill,” a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda, could force the ...Read more

California's much-touted IVF law may be delayed until 2026, leaving many in the lurch
California lawmakers are poised to delay the state’s much-ballyhooed new law mandating in vitro fertilization insurance coverage for millions, set to take effect July 1. Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked lawmakers to push the implementation date to January 2026, leaving patients, insurers, and employers in limbo.
The law, SB 729, requires state-...Read more

On Nutrition: America's food
When our recent road trip across three states concluded, a stockpile of random popcorn kernels littered the floor of our vehicle. It happens every time we take a long trip. And it probably won’t change, especially since it’s a food that got its origins in the Americas.
According to information from USDA’s National Agricultural Library, ...Read more
Neurologist Advises Patient To Take 2,000 Mcg Of Vitamin B12
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 73, and I was worried about dementia. Turns out, I am "normal." However, the neurologist told me to take 2,000 mcg of B12 daily. My multivitamin has 100 mcg, which is 4,167% of the daily value (DV). As I understand the recommended DV is 2.4 mcg, and for those over 50 years old, it is 25-100 mcg.
I raised the question with...Read more
Vitamin D's anti-aging powers revealed
Telomeres, those protective caps on the ends of your chromosomes, tell tales about your biological aging process. The unhealthier your lifestyle habits, the more premature damage occurs to them, leading to an inability to make more stem cells that repair your cells and organs, an increased risk of disease-causing genetic mutations, and damage to...Read more
Getting The Rubella Vaccine Is Not Required For Woman In Her 70S
DEAR DR. ROACH: You recently wrote that "nearly everybody born before 1957 had measles and mumps (but not rubella)." I was born in the early 1950s, so I fall into this category. A few years ago, at my request, my primary care physician did a test to check for immunity for the MMR diseases.
While the mumps and measles tests came back ...Read more
The impact of testosterone on men and women's osteoarthritis
Testosterone has a reputation for fueling macho behavior, but in truth, it's an essential hormone that both males and females produce. In women, it impacts sex drive, bone and muscle health, mood and energy, and the menstrual cycle and fertility. In men, it also regulates sex drive and bone and muscle mass and strength -- plus it impacts the ...Read more
The Middle Ground of Loneliness
A new study of 64,000 adults across Europe, North America and the Middle East reaffirmed that loneliness generally increases with age, but unlike in other parts of the world, middle-aged people in the U.S. and the Netherlands felt lonelier than older generations.
"Advocacy and interventions to address the loneliness epidemic have historically...Read more
A Random Coughing Fit Could Be Due To Siadh
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband had a nonstop coughing incident for a night and day after a feast, which landed him in the emergency room. He was found to have extremely low sodium levels (118-120 mEq/L), confusion, and a lot of heartburn. They are treating him for the low sodium by holding back his water consumption, but we are concerned that no ...Read more
Exercise early and often
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." But it turns out that when it comes to protecting your heart, lungs (and mind), smart consistency and the timing of your daily exercise routine is a good way to achieve a healthy body and brain.
Research published in Medicine & Science in Sports and ...Read more
Of all the nerve: neurological symptoms to get checked out
There are more than 600 known neurological disorders, but the most common are neurodegenerative diseases like stroke and migraine, as well as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and other motor neuron conditions that affect more than 7 million Americas. In addition, around 20% to 30% of people with diabetes contend with diabetic neuropathy. According...Read more
How To Follow The Recommended Daily Protein Allowance
DEAR DR. ROACH: What is the recommended daily protein allowance for older adults? I am in my 70s. -- P.R.
ANSWER: The best studies recommend 1-1.2 grams of protein daily per kilogram of body weight, so if you weighed 75 kilograms (177 pounds), you should be getting 75-85 grams of protein. This is a lot less than what I have seen recommended, ...Read more
State of Mind
The American Psychological Association says more than three-quarters of U.S. adults report stress-related symptoms, including depression and fatigue. Topsure, a luxury product website, ranked all 50 states based on work, finances, family, health and safety and work-life balance to see where most of these stressed-out folks lived.
The 10 most ...Read more

On Nutrition: Don't miss the fine print on weight-loss drugs
I hear a lot of talk around our small town when someone becomes noticeably thinner. “He sure has lost a lot of weight.” “Did she have weight loss surgery?” “I hope he’s not sick.”
What seems to be getting the most attention lately, however, are the number of people who have lost weight with certain medications. And the most ...Read more
Vaccine News
For folks who believe vaccines work, here's a shot in the arm:
Three recent studies looked at the effectiveness of specific vaccines, two estimating the difference in outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated populations.
According to STAT:
-- An early estimate of the effectiveness of this year's COVID-19 shot showed its effectiveness in...Read more

On Nutrition: Processed or ultra-processed?
When I hear the term “ultra-processed” food, my mind goes directly to what I see in most convenience stores. Sodas, energy drinks, candy bars, pastries and cheese puffs come to mind. These items contain more than their fair share of sugar and/or salt and are sorely lacking in essential nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals and ...Read more
Muscle Madness
Fueled by social media, more boys and men are turning to supplements like amino acids, creatine monohydrate, pre-workout drinks or powders, protein bars and whey protein product in an effort to bulk up and look like their favorite superhero.
But that increase in muscle is associated with another kind of boost: body dysmorphia, a mental health...Read more

On Nutrition: The power of food on mood
We were driving through a small (as in 158 people) town in the far northwestern corner of Colorado when I saw something that made me smile. Several yards from a small farmhouse, a white wooden container was perched on a stand about as high as a mailbox. It had three sides and was open in the front. Out of the elements and neatly placed inside ...Read more

On Nutrition: Sugar from zero to 50
I just survived a grueling 24 hours existing on nothing but clear liquids — tea, broth, jello, apple juice and the like. It didn’t kill me but let’s just say the nourishment in these foods didn’t last long. My suffering body was thankful, however, for the small amount of energy derived from the little bit of sugar in some of these foods....Read more
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