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1,200% jump in kratom-related calls to poison control centers in last decade, analysis shows
Over the last decade, poison control centers around the country have received tens of thousands of calls from consumers of kratom products reporting adverse and life-threatening health effects, with researchers saying reports in 2025 reached a new level.
Last month, researchers analyzed information from the National Poison Data System and found...Read more
Trump says he's going after Medicaid fraud, but is mostly focusing on blue states
The Trump administration is taking aim at what it calls rampant fraud in state Medicaid programs. But by focusing almost exclusively on Democratic-led states, it has handed ammunition to critics who say it mainly wants to embarrass its political enemies, not save taxpayer dollars.
In announcing earlier this month that Vice President JD Vance ...Read more
First-of-its-kind study allows some liver transplant recipients to stop antirejection drugs
PITTSBURGH — As Barbara Bowser was preparing for a liver transplant in 2018, doctors at the University of Pittsburgh asked her if she’d be willing to participate in a study.
She said yes, happy to repay the good fortune of receiving a liver and help science in the process.
“We were just looking at research in the future,” she said. “...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: How do I prepare to donate a kidney
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'd like to become a living kidney donor. What's involved and how do I prepare if I'd like to donate a kidney?
ANSWER: You've made a generous and meaningful decision to become a living kidney donor. More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.
Your donation offers life-changing benefits ...Read more
Florida 2026 childhood vaccination rates fall, even as measles cases hit record levels
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida’s childhood vaccination rates continued to drop in the 2025-26 school year, even as measles cases in the state soared in 2026.
The vaccination rate for Florida kindergartners now hovers around 88% for the second school year in a row, after having been well above 90% in the decade before the pandemic, ...Read more
On Nutrition: News to encourage you
I like good news. And recently, I was encouraged by two hopeful findings in the field of nutrition. This first one has an interesting history.
Twenty five years ago, in an effort to shield a child from developing food allergies, parents of children at high risk were counseled to withhold peanut-containing foods from their child until age 3. ...Read more
Man Gets Diagnosed With PSC, Which Then Morphed Into Cancer
DEAR DR. ROACH: No parent should ever outlive their children. A couple of years ago, my son, who is now approaching 54 years young, was diagnosed with what I am told is an extremely rare illness called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Since he required special bile duct tubes to be installed and repeatedly changed out, he had been waiting ...Read more
Whiskey is risky but wine can be fine
Around 58% of Americans drink alcohol at least occasionally -- a new low over the past 30 years. A lot of that decline is attributed to increasing information on how harmful excess drinking can be to your health, even if you don't contend with abuse. (It can harm your heart, liver, brain and skin, as well as your immune system, oral health and ...Read more
Xanax from West Virginia-based company recalled nationwide. What you need to know
A specific allotment of the medication Xanax, typically prescribed to treat mental health challenges including anxiety and panic disorders, has been recalled due to the product’s potential to cause adverse health effects.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials announced the voluntary recall of Xanax, also known as alprazolam, distributed...Read more
Cannabis sales and use are high in Michigan – but federal law means research lags behind
Have you been to a licensed cannabis dispensary lately?
My team and I often visit them in the Greater Lansing area to invite cannabis users to participate in our studies. As soon as we walk in, we are met with a dazzling array of products: high-potency vape cartridges, gourmet gummies, premium marijuana flowers and more.
This ...Read more
California sees the most measles cases in 7 years as disease resurges nationwide
LOS ANGELES — California in 2026 has already seen its highest number of annual measles cases in seven years, health officials said, amid an ongoing resurgence of a notoriously infectious disease once considered effectively eliminated in the United States.
The looming new domestic beachhead for the disease comes as vaccination rates have ...Read more
New Orleans takes steps to assess and clean lead in playgrounds after investigation
New Orleans plans to revamp the commission that oversees city parks and playgrounds and is seeking $5 million in federal aid after an investigation published by Verite News and KFF Health News found high levels of lead contamination in playgrounds throughout the city.
Mayor Helena Moreno signed an executive order on April 7 that creates a task ...Read more
Medi-Cal immigrant enrollment is dropping. Researchers point to Trump's policies
For months, a cloud of fear has hovered over the immigrant community in San Bernardino, California, making it hard for María González to do her job as a community health worker in this city where almost a quarter of residents are foreign-born.
It started building over the summer, fed by news of immigration raids across Southern California, ...Read more
Skin Scratch Testing Reveals A False-Positive Peanut Allergy
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently underwent skin scratch testing for food allergies. I was shocked that among the positive findings was peanuts. I have eaten peanuts all of my life (I'm 55) and have never had any type of reaction to peanuts. I was given an EpiPen and was told to avoid peanuts.
The same skin testing results were confirmed by a second...Read more
Revised resistance-training recommendations
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has finally changed its 2009 guidelines for resistance training. They now offer a doable path to improved muscle tone, strength and physical function that can be adopted by virtually everyone. Whatever your age, your fitness level or your goals, the new outline will help you get started and achieve ...Read more
Homeopathy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)-Reducing Supplements: Natural Support for Symptom Relief
• Arsenicum album: Arsenicum album, derived from arsenic trioxide, is a homeopathic remedy that may be helpful for individuals with OCD. It is often recommended for perfectionism, excessive cleanliness, and a need for order and control.
• Causticum: Causticum, made from potassium hydrate, is a homeopathic remedy that may assist in ...Read more
Ads for GLP-1 drugs are flooding the internet – here’s how to know if it’s safe to buy them online
If you watched the Super Bowl in 2026, you likely saw Serena Williams share her weight loss journey on GLP-1 medications in a commercial.
Like millions of others around the country, if you’ve ever considered taking one of these drugs, you probably went online to learn more about where you can get them and how much they cost.
...Read more
South Carolina measles outbreak may be over soon. Here's the latest
COLUMBIA, S.C. — If no new cases occur before April 26, the measles outbreak that has sickened almost 1,000 people in South Carolina's Upstate region will be considered over.
Dr. Brannon Traxler, the chief medical officer for the South Carolina Department of Public Health, said in a news conference Tuesday the last reported measles case was ...Read more
Environmental Nutrition: The key to a balanced breakfast
Mornings can be busy, but preparing a balanced breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. Starting your day with the right mix of foods can help support energy, focus, and fullness until your next meal.
A simple rule of thumb is to include protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Protein helps keep you satisfied, fiber supports digestion, and fats ...Read more
6 foods that could make your seasonal allergies worse
For many allergy sufferers, the change in seasons can bring more than just a shift in the weather — it can trigger a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, congestion, and more. While pollen in the air is a common culprit, certain foods can also worsen allergic reactions due to their inflammatory properties, histamine ...Read more
Inside Health Advice
Popular Stories
- Mayo Clinic Q&A: How do I prepare to donate a kidney
- Xanax from West Virginia-based company recalled nationwide. What you need to know
- Florida 2026 childhood vaccination rates fall, even as measles cases hit record levels
- First-of-its-kind study allows some liver transplant recipients to stop antirejection drugs
- Cannabis sales and use are high in Michigan – but federal law means research lags behind






















