In mid-July, the U.S. surgeon general issued a stark warning: health misinformation is a "serious threat to public health," and it's making it harder to pull through the pandemic.

That's why Dr. Vivek Murthy published an advisory on July 15 urging Americans to help identify and combat health misinformation in their communities.

"Limiting the ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 48, and I have been playing tennis for years. I also swim regularly. Recently, I have been experiencing pain in my right shoulder every time I hit the court and when I try to lift objects at home. How do I know if I tore my rotator cuff? What are the options for treatment, and can I get back to playing?

ANSWER: People can...Read more

It's inspiring to watch the best athletes in the world compete for the gold. Unlike Olympians, most people aren't battling for the title of best in the world.

If you are a physically active person who works during the week and packs an intense workout on the weekends, you might be a "weekend warrior athlete."

Dr. Kristina DeMatas, a Mayo ...Read more

Madison Cano knew she wanted to breastfeed her son, Theo. But breastfeeding was painful for her. The skin on her breasts was chafed and blistered last July when she returned home from the hospital. And Theo sometimes screamed during feedings.

Cano, 30, realized she needed help to get the short- and long-term health benefits of breastfeeding for...Read more

Today, blueberries enjoy true star status as a favorite berry in the U.S. (second only to strawberries)

The folklore

Blueberries, one of the first named “superfoods,” are also one of the few fruits native to North America. Native American tribes have coveted them for hundreds of years, calling them “star berries” for the five-point “...Read more

I enjoy the morning ritual of packing healthy lunches and snacks for my kids to bring to school when I’m not in a hurry. But most days, packing lunch is just one more task I need to check off before we all rush out the door. It takes time, energy and money to plan out kids’ meals and to make sure they are getting the nutrition they need. And...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: After a recent mammogram, I was told that I have dense breast tissue. What does that mean? Should I be concerned? What does that mean for my future screenings?

ANSWER: When health care providers say “breast density” or “dense breasts,” they are referring to how the breasts look on a mammogram. Women have different ...Read more

ATLANTA — Tensions are near a breaking point between the White House and Gov. Brian Kemp over Kemp’s plan to block Georgians’ access to the Affordable Care Act’s federal health insurance shopping website, healthcare.gov.

In a letter last week, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told Kemp health aides that Georgia has ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My father has had COPD for years, but he was hospitalized for worsening symptoms related to his condition. His health care provider advised that he should begin a pulmonary rehabilitation program. He is hesitant and unsure of what to expect. What are the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in people with COPD? Do you recommend...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Californians upset with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pandemic rules — which shuttered businesses, kept schoolkids at home and mandated masks — helped fuel the September recall election that could spell the end of his political career.

But among the allies rushing to Newsom’s defense are doctors, nurses, dentists and other ...Read more

BOULDER, Mont. — Twice a year, Brian Tichenor makes the 1,200-mile drive each way from his home in Kansas to a defunct uranium mine in Montana, where he takes an elevator 85 feet below the surface to sit amid radioactive radon gas to ease the pain from his chronic eye condition.

“I found it like I think a lot of people do,” said Tichenor,...Read more

Running is one of the easiest ways to work out and stay fit. But for beginners, how do you get started?

"I think the best part about running is that it's a very simple exercise. All you really need is a pair of shoes and the motivation," says Dr. Chad Asplund, a Mayo Clinic sports medicine physician.

But he says it's important to start a ...Read more

Q: How can I be sure my kids will be safe while swimming and kayaking at summer camp?

A: Swimming and other water activities are a fun part of many camp programs for children. It's important to choose a camp that take steps to keep kids safe in and around pools, lakes and other bodies of water.

If you're considering a camp for your child, here...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — In search of better treatments for type 2 diabetes and other consequences of obesity, Taku Kambayashi has long wondered if he could harness a bodily function that most people think about in a very different context: the immune system. There was evidence to suggest this approach might work, as certain types of immune cells were ...Read more

Although no one wants to see it happen, some state and local public health officials soon may recommend reinstating mask mandates, imposing curfews, limiting travel and even reclosing schools and businesses.

But in numerous states, including many with low vaccination rates and escalating COVID-19 hospitalizations, newly minted laws may prevent ...Read more

Mayo Clinic researchers recently published a study that shows the proper use of masks reduces the spread of respiratory droplets. The findings strongly support the protective value and effectiveness of widespread mask use and maintaining physical distance in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Do face masks work at preventing COVID-19 transmission...Read more

CHICAGO — Austin resident Betty Williams, 82, lost her big toe on her right foot to diabetes.

Looking back, she said she didn’t notice any health concerns that would indicate she had it. Her daughter Yolanda Williams, however, noticed her mother couldn’t put her shoes on due to swelling. After closer inspection, she also found a sore on ...Read more

The hint of an education on race and racism I received in medical school involved a historical overview of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment and retired eugenics practices. As I rotated on the wards, race came up again as a vague tool to help narrow a diagnosis. New Black patient with severe headache, blurry vision? Think hypertensive crisis.

I ...Read more

More than eight months ago, large studies found that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of illness by more than 90%. Yet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not yet granted them full approval, to the dismay of public-health officials eager to boost vaccination rates as the delta variant sends infections...Read more

Major events like the Olympics can inspire people of all ages to try out a new sport or activity. Dr. Kelechi Okoroha, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon, wants people to get involved in new activities while recognizing some of the common sports injuries that can occur.

"Whenever you're starting a new sport, you always want to work your way into ...Read more