For much of the 20th century, medical progress seemed limitless.

Antibiotics revolutionized the care of infections. Vaccines turned deadly childhood diseases into distant memories. Americans lived longer, healthier lives than their parents.

Yet today, some of the greatest success stories in public health are unraveling.

Even as the world ...Read more

Statins are medications that reduce your risk of a heart attack and stroke by lowering your cholesterol. Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says people should combine statins with a heart-healthy lifestyle to get the most benefit.

"If you take a statin and lower your numbers, but you don't have a healthy lifestyle, a healthy diet ...Read more

Running a marathon may sound overwhelming, but it could be the key to better health. First-time marathon runners significantly improved their cardiovascular health during training for a 26.2-mile race, according to a recent study.

"This study showed participants had improvements in overall cardiovascular health, but particularly related to the ...Read more

It's important to know the the symptoms, causes, and treatment of sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder that, in the United States, is more common among African Americans.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia -- a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout your body....Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have osteoarthritis in my knee that continues to worsen. Would a steroid injection help my knee pain? How long does the treatment last, and how often can it be repeated, if necessary?

ANSWER: Corticosteroid medications are powerful drugs that can be useful in decreasing pain and inflammation in various musculoskeletal ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm 19, and I think I might have a yeast infection. Or it could be trichomoniasis. My symptoms are vaginal odor, unstable periods and pain during sex. I don't feel comfortable going to the doctor about this. Is it safe to try an over-the-counter yeast infection treatment first to see if that works?

ANSWER: It is understandable...Read more

A 20-second way to prevent illness is to wash your hands properly. Knowing when and how to wash your hands will help you avoid sickness from the flu along with a number of diseases. It seems simple enough, but you'd be surprised to find out many people are washing their hands all wrong.

Children often are taught at a young age to wash their ...Read more

As the Democratic presidential campaign moves to the battleground of South Carolina this weekend, candidate Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., is highlighting his health plan as he seeks to slow the momentum of the front-runner, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

In a video ad airing across the state, Buttigieg argues that his ...Read more

If you're living with heart failure, you know that physical activity may leave you feeling fatigued or short of breath. If exercise makes you feel winded you might wonder -- is it safe to have sex?

Sex is typically a moderate form of exercise -- it generally falls into the same activity level as climbing two or three flights of stairs. So, it's...Read more

Dr. Sudeep Taksali, an orthopedic surgeon, became worried that his 8-year-old daughter had already grown taller than his 12-year-old son. And sometimes she had an attitude more befitting a teenager. Something seemed wrong.

Taksali and his wife, Sara, realized their daughter had grown 7 inches in two years and was showing signs of puberty. They ...Read more

Differences in health policy weren't the only bones presidential candidates had to pick last week. They also sparred over details of their personal health. And with the Super Tuesday primaries fast approaching, these skirmishes are likely to escalate.

In the run-up to the Las Vegas Democratic presidential primary face-off, Vermont Sen. Bernie ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Every few months, my teenage son gets canker sores in the back of his throat that really bother him and last for about a week. Is there something that he can do to prevent them? Will this continue throughout his life?

ANSWER: Canker sores rarely pose a serious health concern. But as your son has found out, they can be annoying...Read more

Do I know I'm at risk for developing dementia? You bet.

My father died of Alzheimer's disease at age 72; my sister was felled by frontotemporal dementia at 58.

And that's not all: Two maternal uncles had Alzheimer's, and my maternal grandfather may have had vascular dementia. (In his generation, it was called senility.)

So what happens when I...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- Purvis Wright's health, and life, were spiraling out of control.

Wright went to the hospital in July 2018 after a spate of blackouts and throwing up blood. "It was all downhill," Wright said this month. "I wound up with my eight or nine different sicknesses all at once."

After a long stay at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia...Read more

Your heart provides blood to all parts of your body. In order to determine if it's pumping properly, your health care provider may order a cardiac stress test. It makes the heart pump harder and faster, and can reveal potential problems with blood flow.

Stressing the heart might not sound like a safe thing for someone with a cardiovascular ...Read more

If you've relied on taking herbal supplements to aid in weight loss, a recently published study has news for you.

Researchers at the University of Sydney conducted the first worldwide study of herbal medicines for weight loss in nearly two decades. Their findings suggest there isn't enough evidence to recommend present treatments.

These ...Read more

A diagnosis of breast cancer is never easy to hear. Thanks to early diagnosis and better treatments, more women are surviving the disease. Dr. Jordan Ray, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, urges all cancer patients to also pay attention to their heart health during and after treatment.

Cancer treatment, while lifesaving, can affect your heart health....Read more