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Rotavirus cases in children are rising – but a highly effective vaccine has slashed hospitalizations from the virus by 80% in 2 decades
Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily and can make babies and young children very sick. This year, doctors have been seeing more cases earlier in the season than usual.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that almost 8 in 100 people tested for rotavirus have the virus. This is only a ...Read more
The best health care ETFs to buy
Among the S&P 500’s 11 major sectors, three are widely considered “defensive” thanks to the inelastic demand for the services and products they provide. “Elasticity” refers to how sensitive consumer demand is to changes in price.
For utilities, consumer staples and health care, demand remains fairly constant regardless of economic ...Read more
Why you should try ellipticals
If you’re looking for a way to combine cardio with strength training, then hop on an elliptical. “Ellipticals are a great all-in-one machine,” says Corey Goldman, a physical therapist with Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation. “They offer a low-impact cardiovascular workout that simultaneously engages both the upper and lower body...Read more
6 ways to get 10-plus grams of protein
Trying to eat more protein? The solution may lie in your fridge or pantry rather than the supplement aisle. Protein is a macronutrient that supports everything from muscle repair and growth to satiety and a strong immune system. “Prioritizing protein at each meal can also keep you feeling full longer, helping curb cravings and support healthy ...Read more
Environmental Nutrition: A review of electrolytes
The term “electrolytes” may sound like a buzzword you see on sports drink labels, but they play a far more important role in your body than most people realize. At their core, electrolytes are minerals — such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate — that carry an electric charge when dissolved in ...Read more
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Picture this: CT scans take an inside look
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m scheduled for a CT scan, and I’ve never had one before. What does a CT scan do, what will it be like and is it safe?
ANSWER: Co mputer tomography (CT) was invented more than 50 years ago and is considered one of the greatest medical advances of the 20th century. CT scans create incredibly detailed images that allow ...Read more
What's the Least Amount of Healthful Exercise I Can Do?
Admit it, the thought has occurred to you, probably while exercising.
For those less inclined or with little time, the answer may be encouraging, says Stella Volpe, head of Virginia Tech's human nutrition, foods and exercise department.
Traditional exercise guidelines are designed for long-term health and sustained activity, but there is ...Read more
Democrats demand Trump administration halt plan to collect federal workers' health data
Democratic lawmakers are demanding that the Trump administration halt plans to collect sensitive medical records for millions of federal workers and retirees, as well as their family members.
The Office of Personnel Management has asked 65 insurance companies to provide monthly reports with detailed medical and pharmaceutical claims data of ...Read more
As US birth rate falls, feds' response may make pregnancy more dangerous
The number of babies born in the United States fell again last year.
According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 3.6 million births in 2025, a 1% decline from 2024. The fertility rate dropped to 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, down 23% since 2007.
The Trump administration has said it wants ...Read more
Medicaid expansion boosted access to opioid addiction treatment medication, study says
In the eight states that expanded Medicaid after 2018, the number of people receiving prescriptions for the opioid addiction treatment medication buprenorphine increased dramatically, according to a paper that researchers will present next month.
The states that expanded Medicaid before that period also saw gains, but they were generally ...Read more
A Case Of A Symptomatic Mensical Tear Might Call For Surgery
DEAR DR. ROACH: About eight months ago, I was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in my right knee. Over the course of six months, I received physical therapy and two cortisone shots and had fluid drained from my knee, but I still have pain when I walk. The pain level is about a 2 on scale of 1-10. But it's discomforting, and I walk with a limp.
...Read more
How ultra-processed foods damage your fertility
Millions of couples are struggling to start a family. The Office of Women's Health says that around 10% of females up to age 44 have trouble getting or staying pregnant. And male infertility affects 10% to 15% of men in the U.S. who are trying to conceive.
An increase in cases of sexually transmitted diseases and an older average age of first-...Read more
Immigrant seniors lose Medicare coverage despite paying for it
OAKLAND, Calif. — Rosa María Carranza leaned forward to hold a 3-year-old’s back as the girl climbed a rock in the forested hills of northeast Oakland.
Dressed in hiking gear and beaded necklaces, Carranza, 67, maneuvered between trees and children on a sunny morning in December. “Hold on to that branch,” she said in Spanish. “You ...Read more
Placebo effect can work as well as real medicine – but your body may need permission to use it
The first time the placebo effect really got under my skin was when I read that roughly one-third of people with irritable bowel syndrome improve on placebo treatments alone. Usually this statistic is presented as a fascinating quirk of medicine. My reaction was anger.
Humanity possesses an extremely effective treatment, with ...Read more
Rural Nebraska dialysis unit closes despite the state's $219M in rural health funding
HAY SPRINGS, Neb.— The sun was just warming the horizon as Mark Pieper left his house near his cattle ranch on a crisp February morning.
It’s not unusual for the rancher to wake up early to tend to livestock, but at 5:45 a.m. this day his cattle wouldn’t come first. For the past 3½ years, three days a week, Pieper has made an early ...Read more
The heart-brain connection
Did you know that having heart disease ups your risk of dementia by 27% and a third of Alzheimer's disease related dementias can be attributed to modifiable coronary risk factors such as high blood pressure? Add to that the fact that the highway from the heart to brain -- called the heart-brain axis -- transports shared metabolic processes (...Read more
Man Considers Hyperbaric Oxygen For Post-Covid Symptoms
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is considering a hyperbaric chamber to see if it can possibly help him for possible post-COVID symptoms. He contracted COVID this past July, and his atrial fibrillation also started to act up at this time. He spent a week in the hospital and was so weak that he had to use a wheelchair to get home.
Two days after ...Read more
Youth cannabis use continues to decline after legalization
Fewer young Minnesotans reported using cannabis in the years since the state legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 or older in 2023, according to data released by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
The 2025 Minnesota Student Survey, which is conducted every three years and most recently released on April 20, found that the ...Read more
Vaccinations urged as dangerous strain of virus emerges
A potentially more dangerous strain of the mpox virus has been confirmed in Northern California, prompting officials to urge vaccinations to residents of the Golden State.
The disease was formerly known as monkeypox, but the World Health Organization phased out that name in 2022 in favor of mpox because of “racist and stigmatizing language”...Read more
'It'll be a while' before doctors can confirm if measles has spread
BALTIMORE — A new case of measles reported in Maryland last week could become an outbreak if gone unnoticed in under-vaccinated, susceptible areas, doctors told The Baltimore Sun. As a highly contagious disease starting with less dramatic symptoms, measles can fly under the radar, complicating efforts to track its spread.
Unlike many airborne...Read more
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