SEATTLE — Washington state reported 25 times as many whooping cough cases last year as the year before, according to new data that serve as a reminder of the disease’s continued surge here and nationwide.

The state Department of Health in a Friday statement said the rise in cases last year was “staggering” and coincides with a drop in ...Read more

It was 2006 when Dr. Daniel Gibbs first noticed he was losing his sense of smell. But it wasn't what he didn't smell that tipped him off that something might be wrong.

It was what he did smell: perfume, mixed with baked bread. "The same thing, every time."

Gibbs, a neurologist in Portland, Oregon, knew this was an olfactory hallucination. And ...Read more

Major changes could be in store for the more than 24 million people with health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, including how and when they can enroll, the paperwork required, and, crucially, the premiums they pay.

A driver behind these changes is the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the name given to spending and tax legislation designed ...Read more

It's no secret that adults in the U.S. consume more sodium on a daily basis than what's recommended – often through prepared foods, such as pizza, cold cuts, canned soup and bread. But sodium intake patterns can vary by race and ethnicity, suggesting a need for culturally tailored advice, according to new research.

On average, an adult in the...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — As the Trump administration threatens to revoke federal funding for programs that support trans people and the larger LGBTQ+ community, Santa Clara County is shifting local dollars to cover some of those initiatives before they are defunded.

The recommendation from County Executive James Williams, which will be finalized ...Read more

If you’re looking to help curb hunger and limit excessive snacking, choosing the right kinds of foods can make a big difference in these efforts. Certain foods can help promote satiety, which can help keep you feeling fuller for longer. Here are three of our favorites:

1. Oats are high in fiber, especially beta-glucan, and help slow or delay ...Read more

​​Bananas — aka the yellow-peeled fruit that sits on your kitchen counter until it’s way too brown — are a pretty controversial fruit. Many people avoid bananas because they’re naturally high in carbohydrates and sugars when compared to most other fruits. Yes, bananas are one of the higher-sugar fruits you can eat, but that doesn’t...Read more

If you’ve been on TikTok lately, you know it’s hard to avoid countless influencers touting a concept called sleepmaxxing. Their posts provide tips and tricks to get longer, better, and more restorative sleep. And why not? Sleep is considered a pillar of good health and is related to everything from brain health to cardiovascular health, and ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve been hearing a lot about mindfulness meditation lately and how it can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. But I’m a bit skeptical and don’t really understand how sitting still and doing nothing can make such a big difference. I have a busy and active lifestyle, and the idea of spending time just ...Read more

The Trump administration’s cancellation of $766 million in contracts to develop mRNA vaccines against potential pandemic flu viruses is the latest blow to national defense, former health security officials said. They warned that the U.S. could be at the mercy of other countries in the next pandemic.

“The administration’s actions are ...Read more

On Christmas Day at the WaTiki indoor water park, Hans Wirt was getting winded from following his son up the stairs to the waterslides.

Wirt’s breathing became more labored once they returned to the nearby hotel where they and Wirt’s girlfriend were staying while visiting family in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Then he grew nauseated and went ...Read more

ATLANTA — Headlines blared in May when U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would stop recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for some people — namely healthy pregnant women and healthy children over 6 months old. That could mean insurance no ...Read more

In video games, all players usually need to do to stay healthy is to drink the occasional healing potion or perhaps grab a floating heart. Avoiding zombies and killer aliens helps, too.

In real life, deadly monsters may be less common, but maintaining health is trickier. Luckily, it doesn't take a secret hack to stay well while playing, experts...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. I've read that it puts me at greater risk of stroke. Can you tell me more about this?

ANSWER: You may not have known you had atrial fibrillation (AFib) until your condition was discovered during a physical examination. For others, AFib can have life-altering symptoms that affect ...Read more

Every day, firefighters are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals from the scorched aftermath of forest fires, the melting pot of kitchen cleaning supplies in burning homes, and abandoned polyurethane appliances and bags in homeless encampment blazes.

Cancer has jumped to the leading cause of death among firefighters; they have a 9% greater risk ...Read more

Fluoride — it’s in your toothpaste, your drinking water and now the occasional legislative bill. Two U.S. states have already decided to stop adding it to their water supplies — a trend concerning local dental experts.

Now, a new study has discovered what banning the mineral on a larger scale could mean for children and their parents. The...Read more

One in every 10 kids in the United States has asthma, a chronic breathing condition that can affect nearly every part of their lives. Asthma is one of the main reasons kids miss school and a leading cause of childhood hospitalization.

Research shows that a family history of asthma increases the chances that your child may develop it too. Early ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- For some, Osteoboost might initially evoke TV informercials for gadgets that promise to shock people’s abdominal muscles into six-pack formation while they sit, or mid-20th century contraptions that professed to jiggle away fat without exercise.

But this device, a low-vibration belt that resembles a fanny pack, received ...Read more