Unintentional injuries kill more than 7,000 children ages 1-19 in the U.S. each year – close to 20 deaths per day. Injuries are the leading cause of child death, and these injuries are often preventable.

Prevention takes many forms. Government policy helps tremendously. As an example, regulations requiring carbon monoxide detectors ...Read more

Angel Foster had a backup plan.

It was the first weekend in May. A federal appeals court had just made it illegal to mail mifepristone, a pill that’s part of the most widely used abortion method in the U.S.

But Foster, a doctor who specializes in reproductive health, was prepared. As leader of the Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access ...Read more

For the second year in a row, Minnesota health insurers are seeking double-digit percent rate increases next year for coverage sold on the state’s MNsure exchange.

The proposed rate hikes, which regulators haven’t yet approved, are looking like a bellwether for medical cost trends across the broader U.S. health insurance landscape — ...Read more

A Boston company treated its first patient with a therapy intended to allow aging optic nerve cells to behave as though they were young again.

The experimental treatment by Life Biosciences will deliver three distinct genetic edits to regenerate neurons in the optic nerve, which can be damaged in people with glaucoma. These neurons do not ...Read more

Q: Is ghee healthier than butter?

A: Ghee is a type of clarified butter that has been used in cooking for centuries. Recently, it has become popular as a possible healthier alternative to butter. While ghee and butter are very similar, ghee does have a few benefits in certain situations.

One advantage of ghee is that it can be heated to higher...Read more

When temperatures rise, the last thing you want to do is heat up your kitchen by turning on the oven. If you’re armed with a well-stocked pantry and summer’s abundant seasonal produce, though, you might just get away with keeping the oven off until after Labor Day.

These items can be the cornerstone for much of your summer cooking.

1. Tuna...Read more

Having the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis puts you at risk for developing an excessive forward curve in the upper spine called hyperkyphosis, sometimes referred to just as kyphosis. But osteoporosis is not the only factor: Age-related degenerative changes in the spine and poor posture can also cause or worsen the condition. Plus, genetics ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve heard that ovarian cancer is hard to detect. Can you tell me more about the symptoms and if there are any screenings?

ANSWER: Ovarian cancer is relatively rare. However, it’s often fatal in later stages of the disease. The cancer begins in the ovaries and spreads to the abdomen and pelvis if it isn’t diagnosed and ...Read more

The cancer diagnosis came as a shock, disrupting Morgan Newman’s plans for launching her life. It was 2015, and she was working as a dental assistant in Des Moines, Iowa, while studying to become a social worker.

After an abnormal result on her Pap smear, her doctor brought her back in to check the tissue for signs of cancer. Newman wasn’t ...Read more

In recent years, antiabortion groups and lawmakers have seeded a number of challenges to medication abortion. This year, several are coming to fruition.

In 2026, decisions from either the courts, Food and Drug Administration or Department of Justice could end telehealth for medication abortion.

Roughly two-thirds of Americans who end their ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- A plant extract that's gaining popularity as a pain cure-all and has been associated with multiple California deaths in its concentrated, synthetic form has been approved for research as a treatment for opioid addiction by the federal government.

Kratom is derived from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a tree native to Southeast ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My nephew is in his 20s and has been complaining about ongoing hip pain, especially after working out. When it didn’t improve, he saw an orthopedic specialist and was diagnosed with hip impingement. What is that?

ANSWER: Hip impingement, also called femoroacetabular impingement, is a condition that often affects young, ...Read more

Chicago health officials are investigating a case of measles in a traveler who arrived at O’Hare International Airport on June 17.

The person likely caught the measles outside of the U.S., according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. It’s possible members of the public may have been exposed to the illness at O’Hare in terminal 5 ...Read more

Melatonin – a go-to sleep aid for kids and adults alike in many households in America – continues to create media buzz, with conflicting messages that leave people uncertain about its safety.

Some headlines point to melatonin’s supposed immunity boosting power, while others point to unestablished links between melatonin and ...Read more

Kenyan Health Secretary Aden Duale has frozen the construction of an Ebola isolation facility for U.S. citizens, after he was found guilty of contempt for ignoring a court directive to halt the work.

“I have directed the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction site preparations or related activities concerning the ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Since I turned 40, my clinic has been sending me a slew of reminders about men's health screenings. Are they really necessary?

ANSWER: Yes! Blocking out some time for these important health screenings is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.

Historically, men have been hesitant to seek medical attention ...Read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Four years ago, Tennessee became the first state to allow adults to buy the antiparasitic drug ivermectin from a pharmacy without first seeing a doctor. Pharmacies can use a pre-written, blanket prescription to sell to just about anyone who walks through their doors.

The drug is now marketed and sold across the state in ...Read more

Tired of watching its employers struggle to afford the cost of healthcare, Republican-controlled Indiana is trying a traditionally liberal tactic to control costs: setting government price controls on hospitals.

Under a law enacted last year, five of Indiana’s largest nonprofit hospital systems cannot charge patients covered by job-based ...Read more