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The vast majority of people who get measles are not vaccinated against the measles virus.   Andrzej Rostek/istock via Getty Images Plus

US experiencing largest measles outbreak since 2000 – 5 essential reads on the risks, what to do and what’s coming next

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

The measles outbreak in South Carolina reached 876 cases on Feb. 3, 2026. That number surpasses the 2025 outbreak in Texas and hits the unfortunate milestone of being the largest outbreak in the U.S. since 2000, when the disease was declared eliminated here.

The outbreak is exposing the breadth of dangers the disease can pose. South ...Read more

The quest to restrict Planned Parenthood's funding has made headway. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Federal and state authorities are taking a 2-pronged approach to make it harder to get an abortion

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Anti-abortion conservatives have long sought to force Planned Parenthood’s clinics to close their doors and to make it harder, if not impossible, to get abortion pills as part of a two-pronged approach to limit access to abortion.

First, undermine Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers by questioning their credibility and ...Read more

David Cargo, a Dungeons & Dragons player, dressed as one of his characters named Thorn Woodson, browses through board games at Portland Comic Expo on Oct. 27, 2019, in Portland, Ore.  Ariana van den Akker/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

Whether it’s yoga, rock climbing or Dungeons & Dragons, taking leisure to a high level can be good for your well-being

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

What do collecting old editions of Dungeons & Dragons monster manuals, securing the same tailgate spot for over 20 years and mastering yoga postures have in common? They are all forms of “serious leisure.”

These pursuits are different from casual hobbies in several ways. They require participation over longer periods, which ...Read more

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Mayo Clinic uses gene editing to reverse inherited kidney disease in preclinical study

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a promising gene-editing therapy that directly corrects a genetic mutation responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common inherited kidney disorder.

A single treatment of the gene therapy slowed kidney cyst growth, improved heart and liver health,...Read more

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Is Charlotte at risk for bigger measles outbreak as cases climb in the Carolinas?

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The spread of a highly contagious disease is creeping into the Charlotte region. But experts say there are steps the community can take to prevent the kind of widespread outbreaks springing up in other parts of the country.

Mecklenburg County in recent weeks reported three cases of measles. Nearby Union County sent out more ...Read more

Oral Wegovy pills were approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2025 and became available for purchase in the U.S. in January 2026.
              UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

You’ve reached your weight loss goal on GLP-1 medications – what now?

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GLP-1 drugs have ushered in a new era in weight loss.

In just a few years, medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, known by the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, have gone from niche diabetes treatments to household names, reshaping how America thinks about weight loss.

A November 2025 Kaiser Family ...Read more

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Gov. Josh Stein signs executive order following NC killings tied to mental illness

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RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed a new executive order directing various state agencies to “take unified action” to strengthen the state’s behavioral health and criminal justice systems.

“Recently, there have been several tragic instances in North Carolina where people experiencing serious mental health crisis...Read more

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When health insurance costs more than the mortgage

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When Noah Hulsman, who owns a skate shop in Louisville, Kentucky, learned he no longer qualified for federal subsidies to help him pay for his “gold” Affordable Care Act health plan, the 37-year-old opted for skimpier coverage. But the deductible is about a quarter of his yearly income.

Loretta Forbes realized she would have to drop her ...Read more

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It's 2026 and you're uninsured. Now what?

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Health policy changes in Washington will ripple through the country, resulting in millions of Americans losing their Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage. But there are still ways to find care.

Over the next decade, the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is expected to slash nearly $1 trillion in spending from Medicaid, the state-federal ...Read more

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New year, new focus on health: Mayo Clinic expert highlights effective treatment options for obesity

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — As the new year begins, people around the world resolve to improve their health. For some adults living with obesity, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough to treat the disease.

Omar Ghanem, M.D., Mayo Clinic medical director for the Middle East and a metabolic surgeon and chair of metabolic and abdominal wall ...Read more

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Forever chemicals boost multiple sclerosis risk. Is your water safe?

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Could plastic byproducts and forever chemicals found in drinking water cause your body to attack your own nervous system? New research from Sweden links higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, with a higher risk for developing multiple sclerosis.

“We saw that several individual ...Read more

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Dave Coulier says he's cancer-free -- again -- months after tongue cancer diagnosis

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For "Full House" star Dave Coulier, his cancer journey has "been a roller-coaster ride, for sure." Now that ride has seemingly come to an end.

Coulier announced Wednesday, to commemorate World Cancer Day, that he is cancer-free for the second time. The actor-comedian shared the news with "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts, a breast ...Read more

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Dave Coulier is once again cancer free: 'What a journey this has been'

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

DETROIT — Detroit-raised actor and comedian Dave Coulier's tongue cancer is in remission, the former "Full House" told "Good Morning America" on Wednesday.

Coulier revealed in December that he is undergoing treatment for tongue cancer, unrelated to his previous bout with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But he came to "GMA" with good news.

"It'...Read more

A new pilot brings some automated treatment decisions from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare. Doomu/iStock via Getty Images

Medicare is experimenting with having AI review claims – a cost-saving measure that could risk denying needed care

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Medicare has launched a six-year pilot program that could eventually transform access to health care for some of the millions of people across the U.S. who rely on it for their health insurance coverage.

Traditional Medicare is a government-administered insurance plan for people over 65 or with disabilities. About half of the 67 ...Read more

Lüften refers to the German practice of opening windows and sometimes doors to rapidly fill a house with outdoor air, at least a couple of times daily. Jan Nevidal/Getty Images

Lüften sounds simple – but ‘house-burping’ is more complicated in Pittsburgh

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Recently, the German term “lüften” has been circulating on social media and trending on Google. The term refers to the practice of opening windows and doors to replace stale indoor air with outdoor air, a longtime practice in many European homes. Americans have dubbed it “house burping” in many videos on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube...Read more

How one hospital visit overseas could wreck your finances

Health Advice / Health & Fitness /

Picture this: You’re gliding down the slopes of Verbier, enjoying the snow-capped mountains and the elation of the wind kissing your cheeks. As you make your way down the slope, you notice people gathering around a downed skier, and your heart stops as you recognize it is someone in your party. They’re having a medical emergency.

On top of ...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Spotlight on supplements: ubiquinol

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Ubiquinol is the active, reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a compound naturally produced in the body and found in every cell.

History

CoQ10 was first identified in the 1950s, and by the 1970s it was being studied for its role in energy production and heart health. Ubiquinol was developed later as a more bioavailable version of CoQ10 — ...Read more

9 healthy ways to eat more dark chocolate

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Although chocolate can sometimes be associated with unhealthy habits, like eating too much sugar, dark chocolate has many redeeming qualities.

“Dark chocolate is rich in polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, regulate blood sugar, and neutralize free radicals in the body," says Brittany Brown, RD, IBCLC, ...Read more

Easy ways to fit heart-healthy avocados into your meals

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With its bright green flesh, an avocado looks like a vegetable — but botanically, an avocado is a fruit. From a nutrition standpoint, it fits more into the healthy fat category: half of a medium avocado has as much fat as a tablespoon of olive oil. Indeed, avocados can defy categorizing. And they’re popular: the average American eats about ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Melanoma stage determines treatment plan

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DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My 36-year-old sister recently noticed an unusual mole on her shoulder. She is scheduled for some tests. Her primary care physician believes it might be melanoma. What is melanoma? What treatment options are available, and is surgery necessary? Have there been recent advancements in treatments?

ANSWER: While melanoma is much ...Read more