SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gavin Newsom put California’s health care industry on notice when he was a candidate for governor, vowing in 2018 to go after the insurance companies, doctors and hospitals that leave many Californians struggling with enormous medical bills and rising insurance premiums.

He pledged to lead California’s single-payer ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Imagine surviving two brain cancer surgeries and more than 30 radiation treatments only to end up getting COVID-19.

It was a very real worry for Shawn and Mariel Mahoney, whose 6-year-old daughter, Layla, received a very difficult diagnosis this summer at a time when no coronavirus vaccines have yet been approved for anyone ...Read more

It’s no secret the U.S. depends on processed, packaged foods; they are convenient and affordable.

But these foods are also the source of 70% of sodium in Americans’ diets, the majority of which comes from salt added during the manufacturing and commercial food preparation process.

Now, federal health officials have proposed new, and ...Read more

The night before Brian Gorzney planned to check into rehab for alcohol use, he began vomiting blood. First at 2 a.m. Then 5. And again at 11.

When he arrived at the rehab facility in North Kansas City, Missouri, they sent him directly to the adjoining hospital. There, Gorzney, then 50, and his family learned he had severe alcoholic hepatitis, ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: As I have gotten older, doctors have placed me on more medications, such as for blood pressure and cholesterol. Also, as I age, I have chosen to take some supplements that are supposed to improve my memory, reduce cholesterol and prevent cancer. Should I worry about these supplements interacting with one another or my ...Read more

Q: I've heard some theories circulating about the COVID-19 vaccine, including that it was developed to control the general population through microchip tracking or "nanotransducers" in our brains. I've also heard that it will alter my DNA. Are these theories true?

A: No, those assertions are false.

"There is absolutely not a microchip in the ...Read more

Advocates are concerned that a proposed boost to Medicaid and home health care for the elderly and disabled in Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget bill will be pared back so much that it wouldn’t deliver on its promise to increase jobs and wages.

The topline funding number for home- and community-based services has wavered between $150 billion ...Read more

Whether you’re a vegetarian or a flexitarian, cooler weather makes this the perfect time to start thinking about stews, stir-fries and other main-dish meals made with meat substitutes.

If you’re experimenting with going vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian, this guide to meat substitutes can help you make smart choices.

1. Tofu

Tofu is a mild...Read more

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women in the U.S. Thanks in large part to increased screening of those over age 50 in last decade, overall CRC rates have been falling among the general population. However, the incidence of CRC among younger individuals in the U.S. is rising at an alarming ...Read more

It’s that time of year again when you have to make important decisions about your Medicare coverage.

Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. During this period, you can switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa. You can also choose a new Advantage plan or new Medicare Part D prescription...Read more

A favorite fall and winter fruit, pears are a beautiful hallmark of the changing season, bell-shaped and stunning in hues of red, yellow-gold, green, and brown.

The folklore

Enjoyed and coveted for thousands of years, pears were one of the gifts to the gods in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. The most common varieties of pears were developed ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My sister was just told she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I’ve heard of that causing sudden death in athletes. She says she feels fine and doesn’t need treatment now, so is she at low risk? What does her diagnosis mean for me and my family?

ANSWER: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a fairly common heart condition, ...Read more

If you lie to your doctor about your mental well-being, you’re not alone. According to a newly released survey from AdventHealth, 21% of adults said they dodge the truth when it comes to discussing anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts with their physician.

And even more — 23% — have been untruthful about smoking, drinking alcohol or ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Anyone who has been near a gym in the last decade has heard the buzz about strengthening “the core” — muscles in the trunk and abdomen that can be targeted with crunches, planks, and other gut-busting exertions.

Yet for all the attention devoted to this crossroads of the human body, it remains a common site of injury for ...Read more

Have you had your flu shot yet? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over 6 months get a flu shot every season with rare exceptions.

Now in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's important to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu. And you can get both shots at the same time.

"In most places, flu starts ...Read more

BALTIMORE — As Maria Young came to, she had visions of being held captive on a cruise ship. Trapped against her will, she cried out for help.

It was early February, more than three months since the health communications specialist from Rockville, Maryland, contracted COVID-19. She spent that time under a heavy blanket of sedation as a team of...Read more

Dear Healthy Men: More than a year ago, I read a column of yours that mentioned that while there are several Offices of Women’s Health in the federal government, there isn’t a corresponding Office of Men’s Health. Is that still true? And if not, why not?

A: The answer to your first question is easy: There are still five federally funded ...Read more

"Long-haul COVID," "long COVID" and "post-COVID syndrome" are references to patients who have been infected with COVID-19 and are still experiencing long-term effects and symptoms.

"Estimates show that 10%-30% of people who become infected with COVID-19 will end up coming down with long-haul COVID," says Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn, medical director...Read more