Health Advice
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5 reasons to wear a mask even after you're vaccinated
As an emergency physician, Dr. Eugenia South was in the first group of people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. She received her second dose last week — even before President Joe Biden.
Yet South said she’s in no rush to throw away her face mask.
“I honestly don’t think I’ll ever go without a mask at work again,” said South, faculty ...Read more

Vaccine trial participants who received placebo now hop the line for the real thing from Pfizer, Moderna
Good news for tens of thousands of volunteers in the COVID-19 vaccine trials: Many of those who received a placebo are now being offered a vaccine — in some cases, earlier than they would otherwise have been eligible.
Participants in Pfizer’s vaccine study — some of whom had mounted a noisy campaign on social media — have been advised ...Read more

Ask the Pediatrician: Can teaching my children gratitude help with their mental health?
A: As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, its effects on our everyday lives feel never-ending. As parents, we want to provide our children with a sense of consistency and normalcy in the middle of a time filled with uncertainty, fear and change — not an easy task to accomplish.
We are all grappling with the ever-changing rules and demands placed ...Read more
Pump up your breakfast
We’ve heard the old adage that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” right? Although I would argue that it’s not necessarily always more important than lunch or dinner, there is a wealth of evidence in favor of including breakfast on a regular basis. Several studies have noted a range of benefits associated with starting ...Read more

5 winter health myths busted
Some cold-weather wisdom is light on facts. Problem is, these fictions don’t just give you the warm and fuzzies — they can pack on the pounds, stuff up your nose and even increase your risk of cancer. This season, don’t let these winter health myths get the best of you.
1. Cold air can make you sick.
Despite it being called the common ��...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Regular exercise may slow postmenopausal bone loss
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What are the latest medications or exercise recommendations for women who want to avoid osteoporosis? I am 55 and went through menopause a few years ago.
ANSWER: Although some bone loss is inevitable after menopause, developing a regular exercise routine can be useful in limiting that loss. Medications can be used to limit ...Read more

How the COVID pandemic has impacted issues of obesity
Obesity increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers.
"One of the most prevalent conditions in this country and around the world is increased weight and obesity," says Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q And A: Genetic abnormalities and cancer risk
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. During her care, she was found to have a BRCA2 mutation. Her doctor suggested that my brothers and I get tested for this mutation, too. I am a 26-year-old woman, and I am not sure what this means for me and my risk of cancer.
ANSWER: Having a loved one with a breast cancer diagnosis can...Read more

Olive oil or coconut oil: Which is worthy of kitchen-staple status?
Coconut oil has developed a cult-like following in recent years, with proponents touting benefits ranging from body fat reduction to heart disease prevention. Sadly for devotees, the evidence to support these assertions remains rather sparse.
But there is plenty of research to suggest that other plant-based oils have advantages over their ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Regular exercise may slow postmenopausal bone loss
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: What are the latest medications or exercise recommendations for women who want to avoid osteoporosis? I am 55 and went through menopause a few years ago.
ANSWER: Although some bone loss is inevitable after menopause, developing a regular exercise routine can be useful in limiting that loss. Medications can be used to limit ...Read more

As overdoses soar, feds make it easier for doctors to prescribe addiction medication
Days after a new report showing that fatal overdoses have skyrocketed to record highs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal Department of Health and Human Services has relaxed a regulation around prescribing addiction medication in an effort to combat the rising death toll.
Buprenorphine, a popular opioid addiction treatment drug, has long ...Read more

Healthy Men: COVID affects everything — even your sex life
Dear Healthy Men: I had a nasty case of COVID-19 several months ago. It’s taken a while, but I’m fully recovered — except for one thing: I’ve been having trouble getting and keeping an erection. I know that most men have erection troubles at some point, but I never have before and I’m wondering whether there could be any connection ...Read more

Nervous about getting vaccinated for COVID-19?
If you are unsure about whether you'll be vaccinated for COVID-19, you are not alone. It's natural to have reservations about something so new.
Dr. Ivan Porter II, a Mayo Clinic nephrologist, was among the first to roll up his sleeves to be vaccinated for COVID-19 at Mayo Clinic in Florida. Dr. Porter says that he hopes others who are eligible ...Read more

I hung out, socially distanced and masked, with someone who later tested positive. Have I been exposed?
We've heard it before: Wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, and wash our hands regularly. These are all important ways to protect ourselves from the coronavirus and from spreading it to others.
But what happens if you took those safety precautions and were hanging out with a friend who later tests positive for the coronavirus?...Read more

COVID-19 vaccines have gone mostly to white Philadelphians. Here's what the city is doing to change that
PHILADELPHIA — As the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine ramps up across the country, Philadelphia data show that most of those vaccinated in the city are white, a trend reflected statewide.
The vaccine is still largely available only to health-care workers and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; paramedics and EMTs in...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q and A: Nutrition tips for running virtual races
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a runner who has previously participated in 5K and 10K races, as well as half-marathons and full marathons. I would rely on water and nutrition stations at the events to help fuel my performance. Now due to COVID-19, these events are going virtual. I signed up for my first virtual run. What are some tips so I can best ...Read more
A modern take on olden grains
Conventional wisdom says that it’s good to be young. After all, youth is all about vigor and hope. But when it comes to whole grains, being age-old is something to celebrate. Thanks to newly “discovered” ancient grains like quinoa, teff and spelt, the diversity of whole grains available to us has never been greater.
Dubbed “ancient” ...Read more

3 incredibly easy ways to boost your energy with food
Ask any nutrition professional or doctor and they’ll tell you that your energy level is determined by endless variables both inside and outside of your control, like genetics and age. Sleep is, of course, one of the most important factors for boosting our body’s energy stores that we do have control over. But food plays a big role, too.
...Read more

Treating mild sleep apnea: Should you consider a CPAP device?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by repeated episodes of partial or total upper airway obstruction that result in arousals from sleep, and changes in oxygen levels during sleep. OSA is one of the most common conditions I see as a sleep medicine specialist. This is not surprising, considering that OSA is estimated to ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Association between oral health, heart disease not well-understood
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Will taking care of my teeth help prevent heart disease?
ANSWER: Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke could be linked to the inflammations and infections that oral bacteria can cause. Based on that evidence, there appears to be an association between oral health and heart disease. But the ...Read more
Popular Stories
- 5 reasons to wear a mask even after you're vaccinated
- Pump up your breakfast
- Ask the Pediatrician: Can teaching my children gratitude help with their mental health?
- Vaccine trial participants who received placebo now hop the line for the real thing from Pfizer, Moderna
- As overdoses soar, feds make it easier for doctors to prescribe addiction medication