Desperation led José Luis Hernández to ride atop a speeding train through northern Mexico with hopes of reaching the United States 13 years ago. But he didn’t make it. Slipping off a step above a train coupling, he slid under the steel wheels. In the aftermath, he lost his right arm and leg, and all but one finger on his left hand.

He had ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The woman said she was racked with pain and disbelief on the hospital bed, her belly slick with ultrasound gel, when a hospital worker delivered the news: There was a baby inside her.

It was a boy. Six months along.

And his heart wasn’t beating.

For months, the 30-year-old woman had waved off her swelling belly and ankles. ...Read more

Having a back injury can put a person's life on hold. While most people can find relief through nonsurgical methods like physical therapy, steroid injections and medication management, some patients, including those with spine disorders, may need surgical intervention.

Dr. Matthew Neal, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon who specializes in minimally ...Read more

Q: Even people who have been vaccinated are getting sick with the delta variant, so why should I bother getting the shot?

A: COVID-19 vaccines remain the best defense against COVID-19. By and large, it's the patients who have not been vaccinated who are getting the most severe disease from the delta variant.

"There isn't a vaccine that is 100...Read more

It’s a bad time to get sick in Oregon. That’s the message from some doctors, as hospitals fill up with COVID-19 patients and other medical conditions go untreated.

Charlie Callagan looked perfectly healthy sitting outside recently on his deck in the smoky summer air in the small Rogue Valley town of Merlin, in southern Oregon. But Callagan,...Read more

When it comes to food safety in the kitchen, it's important to keep your work area clean from bacteria and the possibility of cross-contamination. It's best to use hot, soapy water to wash utensils, cutting boards and other surfaces you use, especially when handling raw meat and poultry.

But what about washing raw meat and chicken before ...Read more

Q: Our son seems easily stressed out and has awful tantrums. What can we do to deal with this?

A: As a behavioral pediatrician, I have seen and heard it all. Children who have tantrums to end all tantrums in the middle of a store. Children who refuse to eat or won't sit still at a restaurant, which quickly escalates to screaming and throwing ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 10-year-old daughter spends hours in the bathroom daily. Every time I inquire, she tells me she is constipated. We do not eat out a lot, and we incorporate fruits or vegetables at each meal. She also drinks water most of the day. Is constipation normal at this age, and what can I do to help her?

ANSWER: Constipation can ...Read more

Sure-fire, get-in-the-best-shape-of-your-life-or-your-money-back fitness fads have been around for thousands of years. Just in my lifetime, I’ve seen boot camps, Bowflex, CrossFit, hula hooping, Insanity, Jazzercise, kettle bells, P90X, Pilates, pole dancing, spinning, Tabata — and that’s by no means a complete list. Over the years — ...Read more

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Mary Allman had been in OhioHealth Doctors Hospital for four days already, waiting on results of tests, when Aaron Raney walked into her room Monday with a shiny balloon and an attached card.

"Feel better," read the blue balloon with a smiley-faced yellow sun on it.

The card was from Raney's son George. On one side was a ...Read more

One evening in July, Stephanie Felts was lying in bed trying to process simultaneous climate disasters all over the world. From a crushing Canadian heatwave to U.S. wildfires and China floods, the drumbeat triggered memories of a close call her family had with a raging inferno when they lived in Salt Lake City a few years ago.

“I just ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Both of my parents have been vaccinated for COVID-19. The doctor told my mom she is eligible for a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but my dad is not eligible for a booster now. Can you explain who needs an additional vaccine now, and the differences between a booster and third dose.

ANSWER: It's good to know that your ...Read more

CHICAGO -- Medical experts warn the approaching flu season could be particularly severe, renewing fears of a potential “twindemic,” with COVID-19 still spreading.

In preparation, health officials are urging the public to get vaccinated against the flu as soon as possible. Here are eight things to know about the upcoming flu season and ...Read more

Sharon Stone said her infant nephew saved three lives through organ donations.

The donations helped bring “some peace” to the actress and her family after 11-month-old River William Stone tragically died late last month, she told People.

“The fact that my godson was able to save three lives, two infants and a 45-year-old man was ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've been diagnosed with endometriosis and have heavy menstrual bleeding. My health care provider said I should consider endometrial ablation. A friend told me it might be problematic because I'm only in my late 20s, and it could affect my ability to conceive a child down the road. What are the risks? Are other treatments ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Seventy-seven-year-old David Pallett, who began exercising seriously about four months ago, started a recent workout by donning a 15-pound vest and climbing 100 stairs — two at a time.

After that little warm-up, personal trainer Jim Hart, who specializes in working with older adults, led Pallett through an hour of exercises ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I've been diagnosed with endometriosis and have heavy menstrual bleeding. My health care provider said I should consider endometrial ablation. A friend told me it might be problematic because I'm only in my late 20s, and it could affect my ability to conceive a child down the road. What are the risks? Are other treatments ...Read more

CHICAGO -- When Luis Centeno was younger, he had life goals that included wanting to build his own business.

He eventually did, but the enterprise he worked to create on the streets of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood and beyond was selling drugs. He controlled blocks of the neighborhood while having run-ins with the law.

Centeno would ...Read more

Despite a pandemic-fueled recession, the number of uninsured Americans has increased only slightly since 2018, according to Census Bureau health insurance data released this week.

Twenty-eight million people, or 8.6% of Americans, were uninsured for all of 2020. In 2019, 8% of people were uninsured during the full year; in 2018, it was 8.5%.

...Read more

WASHINGTON — Democrats are sharply divided over whether to require drugmakers to negotiate prices with the federal government, a rift threatening key parts of President Joe Biden's $3.5-trillion social safety net bill — including the possible expansion of Medicare or Obamacare — and one that could put the entire effort at risk.

Three ...Read more