WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that states may ban hormone treatments for transgender teens, rejecting the claim that such gender-based discrimination is unconstitutional.

In a 6-3 decision, the justices said states are generally free to decide on proper standards of medical care, particularly when health experts are divided. ...Read more

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a flowering herb native to Mediterranean regions and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Its active ingredient, silymarin, is a group of flavonoids known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Today, milk thistle supplements are popular for supporting liver health, among other ...Read more

Eating well, staying active, getting enough sleep, and having strong relationships are key to a longer, healthier life. Studies back this up. A balanced diet can reduce chronic disease risk by 20 to 30%, according to Harvard Health, and regular exercise can add anywhere from three to seven years to life expectancy.

Whether you’re 55 or 105, ...Read more

Protein is needed for critical processes such as building muscle, immune response, and creating hormones and neurotransmitters. Adding protein-rich foods to meals and snacks can also support weight loss, improve your body composition, and support blood sugar regulation.

Many high-protein foods and drinks can help you meet and exceed your daily ...Read more

ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. It affects approximately 7% to 8% of all children and youth in the US. As the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) points out in their clinical practice guideline for ADHD, that’s more than the mental health system can handle, which ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve heard “a calorie is a calorie” when it comes to weight loss, but can that really be true? With the number of diets out there (keto, intermittent fasting, Mediterranean), I’m completely overwhelmed with what I’m meant to be doing.

ANSWER: Yes and no. (Isn’t that always the answer to nutrition inquiries?) While ...Read more

Ali Foley Shenk still remembers the panic when her 10-year-old son, Dean, finished a 20-ounce box of raisins in the seconds the cupboard was left unlocked. They rushed to the emergency room, fearing a dangerous bowel impaction.

The irony stung: When Dean was born, he was so weak and floppy he survived only with feeding tubes because he couldn�...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: When I go for a walk or to the gym, people always seem to be checking their pulse, whether by hand or with a wearable. Why is heart rate so important?

ANSWER: Your heart rate, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Your resting heart rate is when the heart is pumping the lowest amount of blood you need ...Read more

MIAMI — Josefina Muralles works a part-time overnight shift as a receptionist at a Miami Beach condominium so that during the day she can care for her three kids, her aging mother, and her brother, who is paralyzed.

She helps her mother feed, bathe, and give medicine to her adult brother, Rodrigo Muralles, who has epilepsy and became disabled...Read more

West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes for the first time this year in the Bay State, according to the Department of Public Health.

The confirmed virus in a mosquito sample collected last week in Shrewsbury is “a little early,” DPH officials said.

“Mid-June is earlier than we typically first find West Nile virus-infected ...Read more

Doomscrolling. Instagram obsessions. Mindless YouTube video viewing.

Distracting behaviors, yes. But can they actually rot a person's brain?

Last year, Oxford University Press designated "brain rot" as its word of the year, defining it as the "supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state" caused by overconsuming "trivial ...Read more

COVID-19 appears to be on the rise in some parts of California as a new, highly contagious subvariant — featuring “razor blade throat” symptoms overseas — is becoming increasingly dominant.

Nicknamed “Nimbus,” the new subvariant NB.1.8.1 has been described in news reports in China as having more obvious signs of “razor blade ...Read more

As super-contagious measles continues to spread and nears a six-year U.S. record, cases in its original epicenter of West Texas may be subsiding as hesitant residents become more concerned and willing to vaccinate, while North Dakota is a new focus with the highest rate of any state.

The reality of measles may be overcoming vaccine ...Read more

Jacob Adkisson and his husband, Taylor Hess, spent a joyful weekend in East Texas last fall celebrating their niece's wedding. On Monday, they headed home to Denver.

On the airport escalator, 37-year-old Adkisson felt tingling and numbness in his right leg. He mentioned it to Hess. Both figured that Adkisson must have stepped wrong and pinched ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: We live in a rural area about 40 minutes from our health system's nearest clinic. However, they do offer the option to meet virtually with our health care team members. We'd like to try virtual care. Could you tell us more about it?

ANSWER: Whether you live in a rural or urban community, virtual care can be a great choice for ...Read more

If your child has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and also struggles with bladder control or toileting issues, you are not alone. Many parents are surprised to learn that these challenges often go hand-in-hand.

The good news? There are clear reasons behind the connection. Even better, there are practical steps you can take to ...Read more

Veronica Montoya relies on Medicaid for the $15,000 infusions that restrain her immune system from attacking her body, and worries she may lose that access if Congress adopts drastic changes to the health care program.

Provisions of congressional Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” would add work requirements for some people covered...Read more

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