Health Advice
/Health
/ArcaMax

On Nutrition: The science of salt
I have a weird habit of checking out food labels; it goes with the job. This one really grabbed my attention. It was on an electrolyte beverage and stated its case for the 1,000 milligrams of sodium in each 16-ounce can.
“Welcome to the Salty Rebellion,” the label reads. “The latest science reveals we’ve misunderstood salt. Electrolytes...Read more
Not All People Born Before 1957 Have Measles Protection
DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband and I read your column regularly and appreciate your attention to science and facts, especially when addressing issues related to infectious diseases and vaccines. I am writing today because I am deeply unhappy about the repeated messages in the press to those born before 1957 -- or sometimes 1955 --who, as you wrote...Read more
You can muscle yourself out of Type 2 diabetes
If you're at risk for Type 2 diabetes -- because of genetics and/or lifestyle choices -- do you do strength training? Chances are you don't. Overall, only about 35% of men and 27% of women get in two or more strength-building workouts a week, and one study found that 88% of folks with Type 2 diabetes do NOT do any resistance training.
That's a ...Read more

Nevada governor tackles doctor shortage, insurance red tape in health care plan
Gov. Joe Lombardo proposed reforming health care in Nevada in his final priority bill introduced Thursday — less than three weeks from the end of the legislative session.
Senate Bill 495, called the Nevada Healthcare Act, would tackle the state’s health care provider shortage, expand mental health services and streamline health care, ...Read more

Newsom's pitch as he seeks to pare down immigrant health care: 'We have to adjust'
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday proposed that California roll back health care for immigrants without legal status, saying the state needed to cut benefits for some to maintain core services across the board.
It’s a striking reversal for the Democrat, who had promised universal health care and called health coverage for ...Read more

Pain clinic CEO faced 20 years for making patients 'human pin cushions.' He got 18 months
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Federal prosecutors sought a maximum prison sentence of nearly 20 years for the CEO of Pain MD, a company found to have given hundreds of thousands of questionable injections to patients, many reliant on opioids. It would have been among the longest sentences for a health care executive convicted of fraud in recent years.
...Read more

Commentary: Reducing mental health to buzzwords and online trends may do more harm than good
If you’ve been on Instagram recently, you may have seen Insta stories of giddy teens dumping water — which doesn’t even contain ice — on their friends in the name of #SpeakYourMIND. Influencers give pretty speeches in which they claim “mental health is important!” and give a cheerful thumbs-up of support.
According to its own ...Read more

Risks of psychedelic use aren't widely known. A Colorado campaign hopes to change that
DENVER -- When Liam Kelly first became interested in psychedelics as a teenager, they did so in a self-described “nerdy” way. Kelly, who uses nonbinary pronouns, would deeply research the drugs online to learn about their various effects and other people’s experiences. By the time they began attending college in Vermont, they were using ...Read more
Misunderstanding Ensues About Medicare Annual Wellness Visit
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 69-year-old woman. I'm in good health despite various events that happened last year (i.e., a hole in my stomach lining, a loss of consciousness, a platelet-rich plasma injection in my elbow, and shoulder surgery). Also, I have asthma and a history of eosinophilic pneumonia, although it's been a number of years since I ...Read more
Strike back against your surprise stroke risk
Every year, approximately 120,000 Americans under age 50 suffer a stroke -- often with no obvious risk factors, until now. A study published in the journal Stroke looked at 1,000 people ages 18 to 49 -- about half had suffered an ischemic (clot-caused) stroke that seemed to come out of the blue, the others were healthy. It found that having one ...Read more

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs laws ordering universal health care study, emergency abortion protections
DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday signed a pair of health care bills that will enshrine federal protections for emergency care in state law and potentially start Colorado down the path of universal health care.
The emergency protections law will give Coloradans confidence that they’ll receive emergency care, no matter what’s ...Read more

Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for walking back free health care for eligible undocumented immigrants
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2025-26 revised budget proposal reneges on his signature policy to provide free health care coverage to all low-income undocumented immigrants as costs exceed expectations and the state anticipates challenging economic times ahead.
Newsom's office said the governor's spending plan, which will be ...Read more

RFK Jr. admits 'mistake' in slashing 9/11 health program
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted making a “mistake” in slashing the health program that serves Sept. 11 first responders, but dodged questions about whether he would return it to full staffing.
RFK Jr. told Sen. Andy Kim, D-NJ, that firing many staffers at the World Trade Center Health Program was an error ...Read more

California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls for walking back free healthcare for eligible undocumented immigrants
LOS ANGELES — Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2025-26 revised budget proposal reneges on his signature policy to provide free healthcare coverage to all low-income undocumented immigrants as costs exceed expectations and the state anticipates challenging economic times ahead.
Newsom's office said the governor's spending plan, which will be released late ...Read more

Alcohol and your health: Risks, benefits, and controversies
Drinking to one’s health is a common tradition. But it may also be self-defeating: the alcohol that’s part of many toasts can actually harm your health.
Of course, alcohol consumption extends well past toasts. For millions of people, it’s a regular part of the dining experience, social and sports events, celebrations, and milestones. ...Read more

The 6 best convenience foods for better blood sugar
Most of us live such fast-paced lifestyles that prepackaged foods are not just convenient, they are a necessity. Although these foods have gotten a bad rap, they can be super helpful for getting your nutrition needs met without spending hours in the kitchen.
If you’re one of the almost 15% of U.S. adults with diabetes, you’ll be relieved to...Read more

Environmental Nutrition: Debunking dietary deceptions: Do carbs actually make you fat?
There are a lot of claims about why we should avoid carbohydrates, including the claim that carbs make us “fat.” But is that actually true? A closer look at nutrition suggests that the devil is in the details.
Added sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, and white flour are processed forms of carbohydrates. Carbohydrate-rich foods also include ...Read more

Mayo Clinic Q&A: What’s going on with my kneecap?
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was playing a pickup game of football with my kids, took a tumble, and my kneecap made a popping sound. It really hurt, then seemed to get better, but something's not right. Any idea what might be going on?
ANSWER: If your kneecap pops or slides to the outside of your knee, you’ll definitely know that something’s going ...Read more
This Is Your Brain in High School
Numerous studies have shown that education offers protective effects against late-life cognitive impairment. College-educated people are at lower risk.
But the quality of one's high school experience seems to play a role too.
"When we talk about education, the quality of your high school experience, not just whether you received a diploma or...Read more

Mayo Clinic Minute: Preventing stroke
May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and as part of everyday awareness, Mayo Clinic health care professionals suggest reducing stroke risk and knowing the signs. A stroke happens every 40 seconds in the U.S., and the likelihood of stroke increases with age, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Preventing a stroke is a crucial ...Read more
Inside Health Advice
Popular Stories
- Risks of psychedelic use aren't widely known. A Colorado campaign hopes to change that
- RFK Jr. admits 'mistake' in slashing 9/11 health program
- Pain clinic CEO faced 20 years for making patients 'human pin cushions.' He got 18 months
- Nevada governor tackles doctor shortage, insurance red tape in health care plan
- The 6 best convenience foods for better blood sugar