I have calcifications in my breast. Should I be worried?
Q: I started having mammograms at 40 as a woman at average risk for breast cancer. This year, I received a notice from the radiologist…
What to note about your bloat
You’ve been bloated before — and you probably remember the feeling well. But ask 10 different people to describe bloating symptoms, and you’ll be surprised…
7 tips to reduce food waste
If you regularly buy groceries for your family, you know how hard it can be to buy just the right amount. Either you’re running to…
They’re safe. They’re effective. But is an IUD right for me?
Maybe you saw a commercial on TV. Maybe your good friend just got one. Maybe you’re tired of taking your pill. Whatever the reason, IUDs…
The pros and cons of social media on mental health
Social media as well as smartphone technology has touched almost all areas of our lives. We order groceries online, video chat with our relatives and…
Beyond the lungs: COVID-19 infection and the heart
Although COVID-19 has been seen as a disease that primarily affects the lungs, it can affect other organs, including the heart. Organ damage can lead…
COVID-19 vaccine for kids 5 to 11 years old: Good news for families
Nearly 28 million children in the U.S. are newly eligible to be protected by COVID-19 vaccination. The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization…
Colorectal cancer screening aims younger: 45 is the new 50
Millions of people who thought colorectal cancer screening was somewhere off in their distant future recently got a wake-up call. The recommended age for taking…
Fruit flies help Mayo Clinic researchers look for ways to protect nerve cells from chemotherapy
Fishing them out of a drink, you may not see the benefit of fruit flies. But they are a vital scientific model, and at Mayo…
Magnesium: Are you low, but don’t know?
Jana is a 50-year-old woman with three children at various stages of leaving the nest … and returning to the nest … and leaving again.…
Backing into an eating disorder: An illness that often starts with good intentions of being healthier
Thanks to made-for-TV movies, most of us have a stereotype of how eating disorders start. Someone, usually a privileged young girl wanting to be skinny…
How clinical trials work: COVID-19 and beyond
Clinical trials follow rigorous scientific processes that usually take many years to complete. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical trials are operating on fast-forward. In…
Parkinson’s disease: It’s more than a tremor
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, with symptoms that progress over the years. In this Mayo Clinic Talks podcast, Mayo Clinic…
Advancing colorectal cancer screening with artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is playing a role in colonoscopies. AI has the ability to recognize polyps the same way it can spot faces in facial recognition,…
Mayo Clinic explores: Supporting someone with depression
Once you understand that depression isn’t something your loved one can easily manage without help, it may be more possible for you to offer support…
An underrecognized form of Alzheimer’s disease affects people in their younger years
In 2020, Mayo Clinic researchers defined a form of Alzheimer’s disease that strikes younger people as early as their 40s or 50s, involves atypical symptoms,…
Mayo Clinic explores: The mental health toll of family estrangement
Although not everyone is as public as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Royals are not the only family experiencing a possible rift. More than…
What’s new in regenerative medicine research for neurodegenerative diseases
The cells in the brain and spinal cord don’t replace themselves after they’ve been injured, such as from a neurodegenerative disease like Parkinson’s, or as…
The innovative research behind HIV/AIDS treatment
It’s been 40 years since the release of the first scientific report describing acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Thanks to innovative research, scientists learned how…
With esophageal cancer, every decision is life or death
Esophageal cancer is treatable but rarely curable, so early diagnosis and treatment are vital, Dr. Shanda Blackmon explains in this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast. Learn…
Fatigue that won’t stop: COVID-19 long-hauler syndrome
Experts estimate that 10 percent to 30 percent of people who have had COVID-19 experience fatigue and other symptoms many months after initial infection. In…
Heart Palpitations: the cause may be elusive
The August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter discussed various types of heart sensations or palpitations, which are the most common reason people seek medical…
Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: An alert for women about heart disease
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S. Since the mid 1980’s more women have died of heart disease than men.…
Study finds colon cancer driven by hereditary gene mutations in 1 in 6 patients
A new Mayo Clinic study bolsters evidence that colorectal cancer is often imprinted in family genes and passed on from one generation to the next.…
Change your mind to grow
Can you change the way you think about yourself and your mindset? Or improve how you feel just by altering your thoughts? Turns out… yes.…
When is my child old enough for strength training?
Most children at the elementary school ages don’t need to be participating in strength training. Unstructured free play is a great exercise program for this…
Instigator gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease identified
In a new paper published in Nature Communications, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators report the protein-coding gene SERPINA5 may worsen tau protein tangles, which are…
What women need to know about migraines
What’s the connection between hormones and migraine headaches? As those with migraines know all too well, the throbbing pain associated with these headaches can be…
Policies in health care lead to cruelty
In his book Why We Revolt (Mayo Clinic Press, 2020), Dr. Victor Montori writes about cruelty in health care. In this excerpt from the book,…
Meet John: a sign of problems in healthcare
John is a 55-year-old man. He is overweight. He takes two different pills daily for diabetes. He also has hypertension and, until recently, was using…
Cultural shift underway in addressing Alzheimer’s disease
An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s estimated that by 2050 the number will reach 12.7…
Help your kids learn to try, try again
Life isn’t a string of continual successes; it’s a string of attempts at success. Think of your child’s first steps. Many of those initial efforts…
Robot-guided technology can bring greater precision to back and neck surgery
When it comes to back pain and neck pain, surgery is often a treatment of last resort. Most back and neck problems respond to nonsurgical…
Mayo Clinic explores: The role of massage therapy for mental health
If you’re experiencing tension, stress or pain, a little bit of touch may be just what you need. Massage — a general term for pressing,…
Biographical disruption: When a chronic illness diagnosis changes you forever
Heidi’s main fear was just realized; the doctor has informed her that — without a doubt — she has rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Gone is the…
5 ways slimming screentime is good for your health
Screens have been a help during the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve allowed friends and family members to stay connected and for workers to do their jobs…
Wait, what? You’re struggling to lose weight? 7 tips to consider
By the time women turn 40, most either have tried to lose weight or are currently trying to lose weight. There is an excess of…
Stem cells may be a step toward improving motor, sensory function after spinal cord injury
Between 250,000 and 500,000 people worldwide suffer a spinal cord injury each year, often with life-changing loss of sensory and motor function, according to the…
Delicious dishes: 3 easy recipes with healthy oils
In the July 2021 issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, the article titled “Healthy Cooking Oils” provided an overview of various cooking oil qualities. The…
Study finds lung transplant patients given antifungal preventive drugs have lower risk of death
Antifungal preventive medications reduce mortality risk by half in the first year following lung transplantation, according to Mayo Clinic research involving 667 patients who received…
Mayo Clinic explores: The Stigma of Mental Health in Communities of Color
Since 2012, Pastor Walter Lanier has led the MIRACLE (Mental Illness Raising Awareness with Church & Community Leaders Everywhere) initiative in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in…
Q&A podcast: Book focuses on well-being and hope for dementia patients, care partners
Dementia is a serious health challenge. By some estimates, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia could triple by…
A safety plan can help you get out of an abusive environment
With incident reports of domestic violence increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to put together a safety plan if you’re at…
Ear infections: If not antibiotics, then what?
Your 3-year-old was up half the night crying because of pain in one ear. He’s still tugging on it this morning, but he doesn’t have…
The agony of da feet – Assessing foot and ankle pain and injury
Most Americans experience foot pain and other foot issues at some point during their lives, including torn ligaments and Achilles tendon ruptures. In this Mayo…
“Sponge on a String” test for esophageal cancer shows promise
Mayo Clinic researchers have confirmed the accuracy of a minimally invasive method to detect and help prevent esophageal cancer in patients at risk of Barrett’s…
Pink eye: Do I need to keep my kid home from child care?
You’re anticipating a busy day at work and hustling to get your toddler off to child care. But then you notice she has crusting and…
Unplugging your family: Tips to make it work
Are you worried that screen time has run amok in your family? If so, you’re not alone. During the COVID-19 pandemic, most children and families…
What to expect during a massage therapist visit
If you’re new to massage, it’s good to have some idea of what’s commonly done during a session: You’ll likely need to answer questions about…
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Who should have a bone density test?
Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 62-year-old woman who has been fairly healthy most of my life. I try to walk daily and eat right. I’ve…
Keeping kids safe on trampolines and at bounce houses
Trampolines and bounce houses have become staples of backyards, community and family events, and children’s birthday parties. Their softer surfaces can lead you to believe…
Art of kindness
Phone calls are a simple, important way to stave off loneliness when you or a loved one is spending more time at home. But after…
What are ‘natural’ personal care products?
As you search for at-home, anti-aging skin care, you’ll come across a variety of skin care labels, such as “natural” and “organic.” What do they…
What does it mean if I have dense breasts?
What is dense breast tissue? Most medical organizations recommend that women who have an average risk of breast cancer consider regular mammogram testing beginning in…
Osteoporosis affects men, too
Worldwide, 1 in 3 women over age 50 will experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation. But it’s not…
How to use healthy cooking oils at home
Once you’ve stocked up on healthy cooking oils, learn how to use them. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Angie Murad, M.P.H, a dietitian with the…
Could hypothyroidism be the cause of your peripheral neuropathy?
Peripheral neuropathy could have a surprising cause: severe, long-term, untreated hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism develops when your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, and it can…
Mayo Clinic Cardiologist: Getting treatment for atrial fibrillation can improve quality of life
The signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation can be vague and cause some people to think they’re just out of shape or getting older. But…
New therapies offer improved quality of life for patients who need laryngectomy
New options available in the U.S. at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona — larynx transplant program and 3D-printed prosthetic larynx — appear promising for…