There’s a new threat that could force Americans to scrap their early-retirement plans: skyrocketing health care costs. The enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that expired at the end of 2025. That means 24 million Americans will see a sharp spike in their health care costs unless Congress extends the money-saving premium tax credits. ...Read more

Metabolism can be a tricky concept to understand: Some people are born with a fast-acting system, while others struggle with a slower one. “Metabolism is the sum of all biochemical reactions taking place in our body,” explains clinical research scientist Momo Vuyisich, Ph.D.

“These include muscle contraction, food digestion, nutrient ...Read more

Health-conscious folks have long sprinkled nutritional yeast flakes — a vegan version of parmesan cheese — on popcorn, pasta, salad, and more to provide an umami-rich (savory) flair. But you should know that this condiment sometimes functions like a supplement.

What is nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast is an inactivated strain of the ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I read recently that stroke is one of the leading causes of death for women. I thought strokes mostly were a problem for men. Can you fill me in?

ANSWER: Ladies, the statistics are not in our favor. We need to take the risk of stroke seriously.

You’re not alone in your understanding of stroke risks for women. Many women ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Our daughter was recently diagnosed with cancer. She's interested in participating in a clinical trial but doesn't really know what that means or how to get involved. Can you help?

ANSWER: A cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming and often comes with a long list of decisions to make.

Many people are surprised to learn that ...Read more

This season’s flu is lurking right around the corner. Even if you’ve done the right thing and had the flu shot. Even if you haven’t had the flu for years.

Don’t make the mistake of taking this virus lightly. The main strain making the rounds is virulent and hard to shake.

By the end of December, the Centers for Disease Control ...Read more

After a few weeks of holiday eating and social gatherings, you may be ready to get back to your normal routine. Cookies, processed foods, and extra cocktails are a delicious way to enjoy the season. Unfortunately, they are also foods that can increase inflammation when consumed regularly. While a few extra Christmas cookies aren’t going to ...Read more

Q: How can I make my diet less inflammatory?

A: While there isn’t one specific anti-inflammatory diet, experts say overall healthy eating patterns may reduce inflammation. To make your diet less inflammatory, focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods and reduce pro-inflammatory foods. Here are a few steps to try.

More anti-inflammatory foods

1. ...Read more

WASHINGTON — About 1.4 million fewer people have signed up for Obamacare plans so far compared to last year as a federal tax credit expires and consumers confront significantly higher premiums.

While the dropoff is less severe than projections by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and others, experts warn more attrition is likely in...Read more

LODGE GRASS, Mont. — Brothers Lonny and Teyon Fritzler walked amid the tall grass and cottonwood trees surrounding their boarded-up childhood home near the Little Bighorn River and daydreamed about ways to rebuild.

The rolling prairie outside the single-story clapboard home is where Lonny learned from their grandfather how to break horses. It...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Many low-income Californians prescribed wildly popular weight loss drugs lost their coverage for the medications at the start of the new year.

Health officials are recommending diet and exercise as alternatives to heavily advertised weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, advice experts say is unrealistic.

“Of ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Heart disease runs in my family, and I really want to avoid developing it myself if I can. What heart-health habits should I consider starting in the new year?

ANSWER: When it comes to heart health, prevention still delivers the greatest return. Taking steps now — no matter how small — provides far greater benefits than ...Read more

DETROIT — Flu cases are surging in Michigan, state health experts say, as the flu season has hit harder and earlier than it typically does, according to several local health systems.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has recorded 2,110 influenza-related hospitalizations this flu season, including 306 among children ages 4 ...Read more

NEW ORLEANS — Elyse Stevens had a reputation for taking on complex medical cases. People who’d been battling addiction for decades. Chronic-pain patients on high doses of opioids. Sex workers and people living on the street.

“Many of my patients are messy, the ones that don’t know if they want to stop using drugs or not,” said Stevens...Read more

After years of talking with teens and their parents about substance use, here's the single most important thing I've learned: Connection matters more than control.

I hear it from parents all the time: "I'm scared my teen might be using drugs, but I don't know how to bring it up." These fears are valid.

Although most teens don’t use drugs or...Read more

A new year is often challenging. Despite knowing we should throw out old, bad habits along with the New Year's Eve party favors, change is hard.

Many of us eat more than we should. Yet nothing changes for the better — especially in terms of health — when we keep eating those bad-for-us-but-tasty processed junk foods that are high in sugar, ...Read more

Colorado will receive about $1 billion in federal funding to reshape rural health care over the next five years, but hospital CEOs aren’t happy with the state’s plan to spend the money.

Last year’s H.R. 1 — also known as the “big beautiful bill” — allocated $50 billion for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program over five ...Read more

Jonna Quinn was initially thrilled when she got her first job after her medical residency, working as an OB-GYN in Mason City, Iowa. It was less than two hours down the road from West Bend, where she grew up on a farm.

But the hospital started restricting certain birth control options and fertility treatments based on its affiliation with the ...Read more

BOSTON — The circulating bird flu has been confirmed in the Bay State, as agricultural officials report that backyard chickens tested positive for the disease and were killed.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and its partner agencies “safely depopulated and disposed” of a backyard flock of chickens due to the ...Read more