For years, state lawmakers have taken the lead on regulating kratom — the controversial herbal supplement used for pain relief, anxiety and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Some states have banned it entirely. Others have passed laws requiring age limits, labeling and lab testing.

At least half of the states and the District of Columbia have ...Read more

COVID-19 rates in the Southwestern United States reached 12.5% — the highest in the nation — according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released this week. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County recorded the highest COVID-19 levels in its wastewater since February.

Combined, California Nevada and Arizona clocked ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — A new study has found that people who lived in areas with high levels of leaded gasoline emissions in the 1960s and '70s are more likely to report memory problems today — a finding that researchers say could deepen our understanding of environmental risks tied to dementia.

The study and others presented in July at the 2025 ...Read more

BALTIMORE – COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maryland are up 123% over the last two weeks, the most hospitalizations in a month since April. While the state has typically seen a surge in COVID-19 cases during summer, this one is coming later than usual.

According to data from Maryland Department of Health Vital Statistics Administration, newly ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The latest California numbers suggest 2025 will be another record-smashing year for valley fever, the illness linked to drought and precipitation and spread by fungal spores.

There were 6,761 cases reported through the end of July, according to state health officials — a significant increase over the 10-year average of 3,833 ...Read more

DALLAS — Every party needs balloons. These just happen to be filled with laughing gas.

“We don’t do it that often. It’s funny for about 30 seconds,” said a concertgoer outside Red Rocks Amphitheatre, who was preparing to inhale nitrous oxide from a balloon before The String Cheese Incident played there in mid-July. She requested ...Read more

President Donald Trump’s administrations have been notorious for an array of “alternative facts” — ranging from the relatively minor (the size of inaugural crowds) to threats to U.S. democracy, such as who really won the 2020 election.

And over the past six months, the stakes have been life or death: Trump’s health officials have been...Read more

MIAMI — GOP lawmakers in the 10 states that refused the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion for over a decade have argued their conservative approach to growing government programs would pay off in the long run.

Instead, the Republican-passed budget law that includes many of President Donald Trump’s priorities will pose at least as ...Read more

A long list of Lynda Hollander’s paternal relatives had heart disease, and several had undergone major surgeries. So when she hit her mid-50s and saw her cholesterol levels creeping up after menopause, she said, “I didn’t want to take a chance.”

A cardiologist told Hollander that based on factors like age, sex, cholesterol, and blood ...Read more

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health raised the risk level for West Nile Virus, or WNV, to high in many communities, urging residents to protect against the mosquito-borne disease.

“WNV findings in mosquitoes have accelerated rapidly over the last several weeks,” State Epidemiologist Catherine Brown said. “We are now ...Read more

Thousands of DACA recipients in California who are no longer eligible for the Affordable Care Act coverage are urged to take action before losing health care access at the end of the month.

Last summer, the Biden Administration increased access to health coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients. The rule allowed Covered ...Read more

The measles outbreak in Texas has slowed “dramatically” in recent weeks, but experts still expect the virus to continue to spread.

“We’re very pleased to see this trend and optimistic about the trend going forward,” said Dr. Varun Shetty, the state’s chief epidemiologist, during a meeting of the state’s Public Health Funding and ...Read more

NEW YORK — There have now been 90 confirmed cases of legionnaires’ disease in central Harlem, and 15 people are currently hospitalized battling the disease, the city’s health department announced this week.

Three people have already died in the outbreak, which has affected zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 and 10039, according to the ...Read more

In the event of a disaster or emergency, Medicare Advantage plans (MA plans) must ensure that members in affected areas can continue to access care and prescription drugs. These special rules are triggered by a formal declaration of emergency or disaster by a federal or state government. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) created a ...Read more

Snacking often gets a bad rap — but it can actually be helpful for staying energized and full throughout the day. The key is to choose foods that are rich in satiating nutrients, such as complex carbohydrates, fiber, lean protein, and healthy fats.

Ahead, learn about the top eight healthiest snacks you can enjoy between meals.

1. Dark ...Read more

In the world of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and supplements, magnesium seems to be having a moment. Perhaps it’s long overdue: in many ways, magnesium has been overlooked, underappreciated, or even forgotten. That may be ending.

But why is magnesium getting so much attention lately? Are claims about its benefits true? Are you getting ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve heard from some of my relatives that heart disease runs in our family, so I’ve been reading a lot about different conditions. I can barely pronounce it, but what is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

ANSWER: It is a mouthful. Let’s break it down a little. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition where the heart (...Read more

WATERLOO, Iowa — John-Paul Sager appreciates the care he has received at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, but he thinks it should be easier for veterans like him to use their benefits elsewhere.

Sager, a Marine Corps and Army veteran, uses his VA coverage for non-VA treatment of back injuries stemming from his military ...Read more

In retrospect, Erica Kahn realizes she made two big mistakes.

The first was choosing to temporarily forgo health insurance when she was laid off from her job.

The second was screaming when a wild bat later landed on her face.

The bizarre encounter happened last August, while the Massachusetts resident was photographing the night sky during a ...Read more