MINNEAPOLIS -- John Haverty was ready to have his leg amputated.

Haverty, 62, of Brownsville, had 17 surgeries over a decade to rid his right leg of a stubborn infection that lingered after knee-implant surgery. He had no way of knowing his eventual cure lay in a bacteria-killing virus known as a "phage," found writhing in a sewer treatment ...Read more

Q: I feel sad around the holidays because I can't stop thinking about how things were before my loved one developed Alzheimer's disease. How can I bring back the joy of the holidays?

A: Many people enter the holiday season with a mixed bag of memories and emotions. Rituals, familiar food and smells, songs and decorations all stimulate memories ...Read more

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Gender pay equity in the field of medicine remains elusive. Gender-based pay differences have been shown to persist, even when controlling for experience, clinical productivity, academic rank and other factors. These inequities result insignificantly lower lifetime earnings, job burnout and negative attitudes toward work, and...Read more

Heartburn is a burning sensation in your chest, just behind your breastbone. Technically called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn occurs when stomach contents back up into your esophagus. Sour taste and the sensation of food coming back into your mouth may accompany the sensation. Heartburn usually happens after you've eaten a ...Read more

MIAMI -- A federal judge handed out prison sentences to a husband and wife who arrived to the U.S. from Cuba on a raft and went on to create a $38 million health care and wire fraud scheme, using the proceeds to purchase multiple properties, fancy cars, expensive jewelry and cosmetic procedures.

Earlier this month, the judge sentenced Rodolfo ...Read more

Dear Health Men: I've heard that being married improves one's health. Sounds good, but is it really true?

A: Regardless of your feelings about marriage, you may want to give it a try -- especially if you're concerned about your health. Researchers at New York University studied 3.5 million people and found that married people have lower risks ...Read more

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jane Garcia started as an intern at La Clinica de La Raza in the late 1970s, attracted by its mission to provide health care to all -- especially immigrants, regardless of their legal status or ability to pay.

Forty years later, Garcia, 66, is the chief executive officer of the organization, which now operates more than 30 ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- While the eyes of the nation were on the historic House vote to impeach President Donald Trump, a court ruling to leave the fate of "Obamacare" up in the air may be a bigger risk to his 2020 re-election hopes.

The ruling Wednesday in a lawsuit led by Republican states and backed by Trump rendered the Affordable Care Act's ...Read more

Bad news for folks looking to continue indulging this holiday season.

A recent Japanese study found that light to moderate drinking increases the risk of cancer.

"Cancer," the peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, published the findings. Masayoshi Zaitsu, Ph.D., led the study. It analyzed information from 33 general hospitals ...Read more

Dear Health Men: You've complained about how the Affordable Care Act discriminates against men and boys. Where's your proof?

A: The ACA (Obamacare) very clearly prohibits discrimination "on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability." However, while women and girls are covered, mostly for free, for a variety of ...Read more

After months of hearings and negotiations, millions of dollars in attack ads, full-court press lobbying efforts and countless rounds of negotiations, Congress appeared to be moving toward a solution to the nation's surprise medical bill problem. Sort of.

Surprise bills, the often-exorbitant medical bills that come when a patient doesn't realize...Read more

A case of conjunctivitis -- also known as pink eye -- used to mean a trip to the doctor's office, antibiotics and keeping your child home from school. That's no longer the case. Dr. Marcie Billings, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician, explains what parents should know about this common viral infection.

"Conjunctivitis is actually an inflammation of the...Read more

At this time of year, cold and flu season mixes with holiday shopping, parties and travel. That means extra opportunities to share holiday cheer -- and germs and viruses. However, you may be surprised by how germ-filled common objects and places are that you encounter every day along the way.

Most people aren't aware they are doing it. They ...Read more

Frigid temperatures can discourage even the most motivated exercisers. Without motivation, it's easy to pack away your workout gear for the winter. But you don't have to let cold weather spell the end of your fitness routine. Try these tips for exercising during cold weather to stay fit, motivated and warm.

Exercise is safe for almost everyone,...Read more

Dear Mayo Clinic: What are the risks of LASIK surgery, and will my vision deteriorate again over time, even after surgery?

A: 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 some ...Read more