As the United States works to stop rising coronavirus case numbers, behavioral health professionals warn that mental health will continue to deteriorate as a result of the pandemic.

Between March and May, one-third of Americans reported experiencing stress, anxiety and sadness that was difficult to cope with by themselves, according to a survey...Read more

Diagnoses of six common cancer types dropped in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, as routine screenings were postponed by health systems and patients avoided going to the doctor for fear of contracting the virus, a new study suggests.

The study, an analysis of Quest Diagnostics data published online in the Journal of the American ...Read more

Preventing the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is key to slowing the pandemic. People who have symptoms or who have suspected or known exposure to the virus, should practice self-quarantine or self-isolation. But what do the terms mean, and which should you do?

Dr. Clayton T. Cowl, a pulmonologist and chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of...Read more

In these days where there is high anxiety around COVID-19, getting your sleep isn't easy. But a good night's sleep is a key factor in maintaining your health and protecting your immune system.

"Sleep is so important. It can make you happier and healthier," says Jenny Prinsen, a pulmonology nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic Health System in ...Read more

Health care is high on the minds of Americans as November approaches. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 23% of registered voters said health care is the most important issue in determining their vote for president. Only the economy ranked higher, at 25%. Tens of millions of people lost their jobs and health insurance because of the ...Read more

We know fish is important for health — high in protein, low in saturated fat, a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and rich in vitamins, such as vitamins D and B2, and minerals, including iron, iodine, magnesium, and potassium. Research shows that eating fish once or twice a week may reduce risk of several chronic conditions, ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What are the risks of LASIK surgery, and will my vision deteriorate again over time, even after surgery?

ANSWER: It is not typical for a person’s vision to regress after LASIK, or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, and complications that result in a loss of vision after LASIK are rare. Although the procedure may lead to ...Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much stress and uncertainty for students, parents, teachers and staff. "For students and the adults who care for them, the desire is so strong to have our lives return to normal, which also involves schooling," says Craig Sawchuk, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic psychologist. "School is one of the most important places that...Read more

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Ignoring pleas from Republican leaders, Missouri voters appeared on track Tuesday to approve a plan to expand Medicaid coverage to more than 230,000 low-income people in the state.

With 74% of the vote tallied, the push to join 37 other states that have already expanded the federally subsidized health insurance program ...Read more

For the first time, an expert medical group has recommended delaying, decreasing and simplifying cervical cancer screening, largely because the HPV vaccine, introduced 14 years ago, is protecting young women from the disease.

Most Americans still don't know that the human papillomavirus, or HPV, causes oral and genital cancers, and too many ...Read more

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- As COVID-19 swept into the U.S., hospitals across the country have reported that their emergency departments are emptying out. In a new study published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine, a team of researchers from multiple institutions provides insights into this phenomenon.

"We knew there were major changes in ED (emergency ...Read more

Johnson & Johnson's Spravato has been approved as the first antidepressant for actively suicidal people, as doctors are becoming increasingly concerned about COVID-19's effect on the mental health of Americans.

The Food and Drug Administration approval means the quick-acting nasal spray will be available to people with suicidal thoughts and a ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Even as others were dying of COVID-19, Rick Wright made phone calls to his business clients. He lifted weights, did pushups and glided on an elliptical trainer. Late at night, he took his dog on long walks.

"I never felt sick. Not a cough, wheezing, headache. Absolutely nothing," said 63-year-old Wright of Redwood City, ...Read more

Suicide-related incidents involving over-the-counter painkillers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), increased by 33.5% between 2000 and 2018, a study from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, suggests.

The study, published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, analyzed ...Read more

CHICAGO -- As Illinois continues testing for COVID-19, many people showing symptoms end up with negative results. Instead, they may have fallen ill with a common cold or the flu. While some people may wonder why they might catch a cold during this time of social distancing and hand washing, the answer is fairly simple, according to medical ...Read more

SEATTLE - Relationship therapist Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman doesn't mince words when discussing strains the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on couples nationwide.

She tells of one husband-and-wife client duo and how the pandemic has "driven them crazy" when he comes home weekends from his high-stress, front-line medical worker job he took in ...Read more