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Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Hundreds suffered ill health from massive Boyle Heights warehouse fire, new survey finds

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

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Health officials trace E. coli and salmonella outbreak to Minnesota alfalfa grower

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Kristen Prahl/Dreamstime.com/TNS

New Michigan cyclosporiasis cases hit 2-month low this week

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Schizophrenia is among the top 10 leading causes of disability, according to the World Health Organization. ATHVisions/E+ via Getty Images

New therapies help people with schizophrenia – but access is woefully inadequate

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Eric Harkleroad/KFF Health News/TNS

Kennedy's quiet hunt for autism culprits stalls as Trump orders baseless changes to childhood shots

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

ECU Health/ECU Health/TNS

Hospitals say they found a tool to help reduce childbirth risks: wristbands

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Traumatic memories are not recalled the same way pleasant memories are. Filmstax/E+ via Getty Images

Traumatic memories are often fragmented – a psychologist explains how and why that happens

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

After nearly a year-long gap, the CDC again has a permanent director. James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via Wikimedia Commons

The CDC has a new director – now comes the hard part

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Environmental Nutrition: Should you be wary of sulfites?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

For a healthy diet, focus on food quality

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Are backpacks hurting your kids’ backs?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

What is a life insurance beneficiary and how does it work?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Tiny chip restores reading to people with age-related blindness

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

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Years after he quit smoking, a lung cancer scan saved his life

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal/TNS

As health insurance costs rise, Nevada hospitals see more uninsured patients

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

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Trump team's use of arcane budget rule threatens Medicaid coverage

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

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

It's easy to assume that if elite athletes do something, it must be effective for everyone.  mihailomilovanovic/E_ via Getty Images

Elite sports are laboratories of health and performance innovation, but not every experiment belongs in your routine

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Walk into a gym or wellness store and you might encounter compression boots, smart rings, creatine supplements and ice baths. Their use by elite athletes can function as an implicit endorsement, making them seem more proven or more broadly useful than the evidence supports.

As an athletic trainer with experience in collegiate and ...Read more

In 2025, Democrats in the U.S. Senate argued to extend COVID-era subsidies on Affordable Care Act insurance plans into 2026. Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images

Florida lost 450,000 ACA enrollees in 2026 as premiums rose an average of 37% nationally, new data shows

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

At 40%, Florida has the smallest proportion of its workforce receiving health insurance through their employer in the nation.

The state also has one of the highest rates of individuals under age 65 who are uninsured and the highest number and proportion of users of health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, also known ...Read more

A new Colorado law requires youth coaches to attend trainings that focus on the mental health issues among young athletes.  Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Many youth athletes quietly struggle with eating disorders – Colorado mandates new training that could turn things around

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Colorado requires middle, junior high and high school coaches in public and private schools to attend training on mental health. Currently, training is required to cover concerns specific to young athletes such as anxiety disorders, depression and suicide prevention.

These training requirements result from 2026 legislation called ...Read more

Is your hospital under the same corporate roof as your health insurance company? Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

What happens when your hospital is also your insurance company? We’re starting to see the effects

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Historically, hospitals have provided care for people, while separate insurers have paid for that care.

During the past two decades, however, this arrangement has changed. Today, nearly 1 in 3 hospitals also own insurance plans – putting them on both sides of the transaction.

Sometimes referred to as “payviders,” these ...Read more