Families of Idahoans with disabilities say their lives could be upended as lawmakers in the state’s Republican-dominated legislature mull sweeping cuts.

Services at risk include the 24/7 care that allows a 39-year-old with cerebral palsy to live independently; the in-home caregiving that lets a 26-year-old with brain damage from a hemorrhage ...Read more

Nearly two decades ago, progressives fought to include a so-called public option — a government-run health plan — in the broad health care overhaul known as Obamacare. That effort failed, defeated by heavy lobbying from the insurance industry and opponents who decried it as a government takeover of health care.

But the final Affordable Care...Read more

Generative artificial intelligence has already reshaped industries such as computer programming, retail, and manufacturing. In medicine, however, fears of clinical error have slowed adoption.

At present, two-thirds of doctors report using GenAI tools in practice, though half insist that stronger safeguards are needed.

This split — between ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- A prescription fruit-and-vegetable program seeks to stave off illnesses caused by poor nutrition and diet in Maryland’s food-insecure communities. Backed by a $480,000 grant from the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the program will be developed and tested by researchers from the University of Maryland, College Park.

...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — When Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear ran for reelection in 2023, a reoccurring Republican line of attack was that he’d allow minors to undergo gender-affirming surgeries.

Now, as the governor builds his national name ID ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run, Republicans in Kentucky and beyond are re-upping that line of ...Read more

A patient of mine, a veteran who had tried to quit smoking for over a decade, told me that after he started a GLP-1 drug for his diabetes, he lost interest in cigarettes. He didn’t use a patch. He didn’t set a quit date. He simply lost interest. It happened without effort.

Another patient on one of these drugs for weight loss told...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A respiratory virus that doesn’t have a vaccine or a specific treatment regimen is spreading in some parts of California — but there’s no need to sound the alarm just yet, public health officials say.

A majority of Northern California communities have seen high concentrations of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, detected in ...Read more

Zinc is considered a “trace mineral” because the body requires it in such small amounts, but it is found in cells throughout the body. While it is required in small amounts, only iron is a more concentrated mineral in the body. It is available in supplement form, in some cold lozenges, and in certain fortified foods. Zinc supplements are ...Read more

Though convenient, is cereal actually a healthy choice? Those brightly colored boxes are often the source of added sugars and are lacking in substantial nutritional value, says Patricia Bannan, RDN. But this doesn’t mean you should avoid cereal altogether. We spoke to registered dietitians about what to look for.

The healthiest cereals are ...Read more

Beloved by smoothie shops and influencers alike, pitaya — a.k.a. dragon fruit — is increasingly popular. And there’s no denying this dramatic-looking fruit has an alluring Game-of-Thrones-esque name and appearance. But is it also the nutritional powerhouse some are claiming?

What is dragon fruit?

A cactus plant native to Central and ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Recently, I was diagnosed with BPH. This is all new to me, and I hope you can help me better understand the condition and how it’s treated.

ANSWER: Now that you’ve been diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — noncancerous tissue growth within the prostate — it’s time for you and your health care team to ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: As a nonsmoker lung cancer hasn't been a concern of mine, but I recently heard it can affect people who have never smoked. If someone is concerned about lung cancer, what symptoms should they watch for, how is it diagnosed, and what treatment options are available today?

ANSWER: It can be surprising to learn that lung ...Read more

A woman with multiple sclerosis wanted to be able to walk up the stairs at home without losing her balance. Her doctor prescribed medicine that helped, but then approval from her insurance plan for the drug expired.

“Why do I need a prior authorization for something that I am already prior-authorized to take? If my doctor says that they want...Read more

Medical marijuana may be available to Maryland firefighters and rescue personnel in the future, after a bill allowing its usage advanced a step closer to passing the state Senate on Tuesday.

The bill would protect fire and rescue employees who are registered medical cannabis patients, allowing them to use medical cannabis when off-duty and ...Read more

Does politics stress you out? Did the last election cause you to lose sleep, lose your temper or lose a friend? If so, you weren’t alone.

For the better part of two decades, the American Psychological Association has documented a steady increase in the phenomenon of “political stress” among American voters. However, research and...Read more

“People can assess me, interview me, incarcerate me, observe me, and they can think they know what I need,” said Shawn, a man in his early 50s who spent 15 years in and out of prison. “And that can be an educated assessment, but at the end of the day, I live inside of this body, inside of this head. I know what I need.”

Shawn ...Read more

Prostate tumors contain more microplastics than healthy prostate tissue, researchers from New York University Langone Health found.

Tiny plastic particles were present in nine of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, and appeared in greater amounts in the tumors than in nearby noncancerous tissue, they found.

“Our pilot study provides ...Read more

A Kansas City resident has been diagnosed with measles, the first since 2018, the Kansas City Health Department and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services confirm.

The adult with measles was not vaccinated, according to a press release.

The Kansas City Health Department did not immediately respond to questions about when the ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It’s not COVID-19 or the flu, but a respiratory virus has been hammering Northern California cities including Sacramento and Davis, testing shows.

WastewaterSCAN data shows “high concentrations” of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, in Sacramento and Davis, along with San Francisco, Marin, Vallejo, Napa, Novato and ...Read more