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(Hiram Alejandro Durán/El Tímpano)/KFF HEALTH NEWS/TNS

Immigrant seniors lose Medicare coverage despite paying for it

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

OAKLAND, Calif. — Rosa María Carranza leaned forward to hold a 3-year-old’s back as the girl climbed a rock in the forested hills of northeast Oakland.

Dressed in hiking gear and beaded necklaces, Carranza, 67, maneuvered between trees and children on a sunny morning in December. “Hold on to that branch,” she said in Spanish. “You ...Read more

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Mayo Clinic Minute: How liver transplant is transforming care for patients with advanced colorectal cancer

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. One in 5 patients is diagnosed with metastatic disease, meaning the colorectal cancer has spread beyond the colon, often to the liver.

When surgery isn't an option, a liver transplant may be a lifesaving alternative. Mayo Clinic leads in this approach, combining ...Read more

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Mayo Clinic Minute: Physical therapist-recommended golf exercises

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

As golf season approaches, preparation should start before your first tee time. Building strength off the course can improve performance and help reduce injury risk.

"Play the long game by building strength off the course," says John Zajac, D.P.T., a physical therapist certified in golf-specific rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine. "...Read more

Getting Vaccinated Is Most Effective To 'Scare Away' Viruses

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 82 years old and in very good health. I have no major medical issues so far, but I work on my health as I believe in prevention. During the past eight months, I've had three colds, plus COVID-19 for the first time this past November. I remember the old days when we used to wear camphor necklaces every winter in order to "...Read more

Countering chemo side effects

Every year, around 2 million folks are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. and at least 25% of them receive some form of chemotherapy. While the benefits are clear -- less cancer progression, longer life, and even cancer cure -- the side effects range from nausea, gastro problems, fatigue, hair loss, nerve pain, and mood swings to chemo brain.

...Read more

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Ancient flea-borne disease makes comeback in California. What's typhus?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Cases of flea-borne typhus have hit an “all-time high” in a California county, according to public health officials.

A record 220 cases of the disease were identified in 2025 in Los Angeles County, the county public health agency reported April 2.

“Alarmingly, nearly 9 out of 10 people identified as infected with typhus required ...Read more

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Trump's personnel agency is asking for federal workers' medical records

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

The Trump administration is quietly seeking unprecedented access to medical records for millions of federal workers and retirees, and their families.

A brief notice from the Office of Personnel Management could dramatically change which personally identifiable medical information the agency obtains, giving it the power to see prescriptions ...Read more

Business leaders and community groups across Brazil stepped in to counter the government's anti-vaccine messaging and to help develop and distribute vaccines.  Wang Tiancong/Xinhua via Getty Images

From a vaccine mascot to business leadership, lessons for the US from Brazil’s public health system in building public trust and keeping it

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Public health institutions are under threat by populist governments across the globe.

From Budapest to Jakarta, Indonesia, public health agencies are being stripped of funding and independence. Meanwhile, disinformation has sown distrust in scientific experts. The results are already visible through the return of diseases once thought...Read more

Is the BRAT diet the best choice for an upset stomach?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

The BRAT diet — which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast — has long been recommended for people coping with diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. These bland, low-fiber foods are easy to digest. But is this the best diet to help you recover from digestive woes?

There aren’t any studies comparing the BRAT diet with other options. �...Read more

5 foods to stock up on in April

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

The leap into April is a sign that crisp mornings are making way for sun-kissed evening skies. This change in weather also brings a shift in the produce selection available at the market. When you’re out shopping, snag these five seasonal selections and pantry staples that can help you create convenient, healthy meals that celebrate spring.

1...Read more

Do you need travel health insurance?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

While vacation is supposed to be a time of fun and relaxation, accidents do happen. Planning ensures you have the protection you need in case you’re sick or injured during your trip.

Depending on where you are and what your primary health insurance policy covers, you might be stuck with the bill if you do end up in the hospital. For this ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Fabulous farro

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Farro is an ancient grain that’s been cultivated for thousands of years. Delicious and nutritious (rich in protein, fiber, and nutrients like iron and magnesium), farro is enjoying a resurgence among gourmets and the health conscious alike.

The folklore

Legend has it that Julius Caesar himself brought it to Italy after invading Egypt in 30 B...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Beyond coughing: Wildfire smoke’s health risks

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: We’re living in an area that’s seeing increasing episodes of wildfire smoke. I’m concerned about how it could be affecting our health. Should we be concerned?

ANSWER: As wildfires become increasingly common throughout the U.S. and neighboring Canadian provinces, the smoke from these fires should be taken seriously. Air ...Read more

Happiness, Where Are You?

Health Advice / Scott LaFee /

If you're bummed about missing International Day of Happiness (March 20), that sadness might be mitigated by where you live. The personal finance company WalletHub has issued its 2026 report on the "Happiest Cities in America."

The survey covered more than 180 of the largest U.S. cities, ranking them by 29 key indicators, from reported rates ...Read more

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Mayo Clinic Q&A: When should I see a neurosurgeon about my back pain?

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My brother was experiencing severe back pain last year and decided to see a neurosurgeon for treatment. Now he is experiencing little to no discomfort. When I think about seeing a neurosurgeon, I picture major spine surgery and a long, difficult recovery. Seeing that he is doing better made me reflect on my own situation. I ...Read more

Woman's HPV Test Comes Out Positive For Three Risk Types

Health Advice / Keith Roach /

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 35-year-old female. My doctor did a Pap smear and a human papilloma virus (HPV) test that was positive for one of the "risk types" (16, 18 and 45 according to my chart) -- but not one of the really bad ones. I am otherwise healthy. My Pap smears have always been normal.

I never did get my HPV vaccine. Should I get it? ...Read more

Got prediabetes? Tango with a mango and sing fado with avocado

Prediabetes isn't "before" anything when it comes to putting your heart health at risk. A study in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology of more than 1.3 million folks found that having prediabetes increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by 21% -- especially for folks ages 18 to 24. And earlier findings show ...Read more

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Legislature, Gov. Healey approve $300M supplemental budget to cover soaring health care costs

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Legislature have passed and signed another supplemental budget, this time appropriating $300 million to fund health insurance for public employees as health care costs continue to burden the state budget.

The House and Senate both passed the emergency legislation (H. 5348) during informal ...Read more

Deadly diseases in Minnesota newborns to be targeted in new whole-genome study

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

MINNEAPOLIS – A federally funded study aims to determine if whole-genome sequencing at birth can reduce childhood diseases and deaths while satisfying growing concerns over genetic privacy and public health research.

Parents at two yet-to-be-selected health systems in Minnesota will be able to opt in to the BEACONS study and have their ...Read more

Using nonsterile eye drops can cause severe eye infections. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Massive eye drop recall reflects ongoing issues with manufacturing and FDA inspection

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

A California company has recalled more than 3.1 million bottles of lubricating eye drops because it had not properly tested – and thus could not prove – whether the products were sterile.

These products are sold under several names at major retailers across the country. The company, K.C. Pharmaceuticals, initiated the recall on ...Read more