DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My spouse will tell me occasionally that their hands and feet "fall asleep," and they experience numbness, tingling and a pins-and-needles sensation. Is this normal, or does it require medical attention?

ANSWER: Most people experience numbness or the familiar pins-and-needles sensation from time to time. Often, it's harmless ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — A high amount of rainfall and humid conditions have created ideal conditions for mosquitoes in Connecticut as state officials say the West Nile virus has now been detected in 22 cities and towns and is spreading.

According to Dr. Phil Armstrong, chief scientist with the state’s mosquito trapping and testing program at the ...Read more

Thomas Zordani flew from his home in Denver to Phoenix for a consultation with a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, hoping to find out what could be done to treat his debilitating headaches after worrisome brain scan findings.

When making the appointment, Zordani said, he’d been told the clinic was in his insurer’s network. Upon arrival, Zordani was...Read more

After an abnormally warm winter and a blistering March heat wave, California has seen a surge in mosquito activity that has driven West Nile virus activity to a five-year high.

As of last week, there had been 30 human cases of the virus and three fatalities across the state, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Then on ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of Boyle Heights residents suffered health problems after a fire at a cold storage facility burned stubbornly for days, including respiratory infections, eye disorders and persistent cough, according to a new study.

The St. John’s Community Health study found the symptoms were “directly related to toxic exposure and...Read more

At least 23 Minnesotans have suffered foodborne infections and two have been hospitalized in an outbreak traced back to locally produced alfalfa sprouts.

The Minnesota Department of Health on Thursday urged people to discard any sprouts sold under the Everything Sprouts and Calco brands, which are available at numerous grocery chains, including...Read more

DETROIT — The cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands in Michigan over the last two months appears to be slowing, according to data released by the state Department of Health and Human Services.

State data shows that 190 new cases of the parasitic illness were reported this week, down from 735 cases reported last week and the ...Read more

It’s common to hear casual descriptions of “schizophrenic” behavior, describing a person oscillating between two extremes.

“I really want that luxurious Italian cashmere sweater,” followed by “What am I saying? I can’t even afford a $20 polyester top right now!”

I’m a professor of psychology who studies ...Read more

President Donald Trump has ordered a reduction in childhood vaccines — publicly faulting the shots for an increase in autism cases — even as the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has failed to produce evidence linking vaccinations to the disorder.

While the executive order released Aug. 10 does not directly mention ...Read more

Hospitals across the U.S. are trying to reduce maternal deaths and complications after pregnancies using one small tool: a silicone wristband stamped with the declaration “I Gave Birth.”

The wristbands are part of a growing initiative first launched by North Carolina-based ECU Health as Congress sought to address the nation’s growing ...Read more

When survivors of trauma recount their experiences, they are often questioned because of how they relay their stories. They may have problems remembering what happened, or their memories may be jumbled or even contradictory. People hearing those stories – attorneys, reporters, healthcare workers or friends – may expect a clearer, linear ...Read more

The new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Erica Schwartz, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 5, 2026, is only the second CDC director to face Senate confirmation. Congress adopted the process for the agency after the COVID-19 pandemic to bring more scrutiny to one of the country’s most consequential public health...Read more

Sulfites are chemicals that are often added to food and drinks to help keep them fresh. They act as preservatives, which means they stop food from spoiling too quickly. Sulfites also help prevent foods from turning brown or changing color and can slow the growth of bacteria and mold.

You’ll find sulfites in many common foods. They are often ...Read more

Oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast? Tuna or chicken on your salad? Every day you make lots of food decisions. Now, a growing body of research is showing that how often you opt for the highest-quality food choices can have a powerful influence on your health.

“We have to look beyond just carbohydrates, fats, and proteins,” says Teresa Fung, a ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: For my kids, the best part of back-to-school shopping is picking out a new backpack. While I want them to have backpacks they like, I also want to make sure they have features that support their backs. What should I look for?

ANSWER: The backpack is as much a part of school life as homework, pencils and recess. Kids use ...Read more

When is the last time you checked who you have designated as a life insurance beneficiary? If you can’t remember when, now is the time to check that you have, in fact, listed a beneficiary and that it’s the person you actually intended the policy to help.

Providing for loved ones upon your death remains a priority for many people. That’s ...Read more

Age-related blindness affects more than 5 million people worldwide and for years scientists have not been able to reverse the most common cause: age-related macular degeneration.

Until now.

A team of Stanford scientists created a Photovoltaic Retina Implant Microarray, or PRIMA, implant smaller than a sesame seed. The implant can be placed ...Read more

Dennis Schmidt started smoking as a teenager, when that was so unexceptional that his Catholic high school designated outdoor “senior smoking quarters,” where students in their final year could take cigarette breaks. He smoked a pack of menthols daily for nearly 40 years.

As a registered nurse at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center ...Read more

At the beginning of this year, Las Vegas insurance broker Harry Mex’s cellphone started ringing more than usual.

Clients were calling Mex after learning what they would have to pay for health insurance in 2026. Some said their monthly premiums had doubled or tripled even though their incomes had not changed. Others were facing higher ...Read more

About 200,000 low-income Arkansans could see major changes to their health coverage next year after the Trump administration recently informed state officials it will not renew a key Medicaid agreement with the federal government.

The decision by federal officials, citing authority granted under President Donald Trump’s signature tax-and-...Read more