What to know about the nose
Most of us don’t think about our nose until it’s stuffed up, dripping and making our lives miserable. But maybe we should give our nose more thought, or at least some appreciation. Our nose warms the air we pull into our lungs, filters out irritants and helps us smell our morning coffee. And it’s full […]
Calls flood mental health hotline for Minnesota firefighters after Burnsville tragedy
CATHY WURZER: Around Minnesota right now, skies are bright. It’s a sunny day. It’s going to get warm. Highs mid 50s to the lower 60s in the north, upper 60s, mid 70s in the south. At noon in Worthington, it’s 56. It’s 52 in Rochester. And outside The Thirsty Moose near Hibbing, it’s 43. I’m […]
Minnesota Democrats weigh in on national IVF debate, push infertility treatment coverage
Minnesota Democrats are pushing to require health plans to cover the cost of infertility treatments and to cement access to the services in state law. After the Alabama Supreme Court ruled last month that embryos produced through IVF could be considered children, some fertility clinics paused treatments to consider the legal repercussions. Democrats around the […]
Vice President Kamala Harris plans visit to Twin Cities on Thursday
Vice President Kamala Harris will be in the Twin Cities on Thursday. It will be her third visit to Minnesota since taking office. The White House said Thursday’s visit — with the exact time and location yet to be announced — will be the sixth stop on Harris’ “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour that started […]
Women who do strength training live longer. How much is enough?
Strength training is good for everyone, but women who train regularly get a significantly higher boost in longevity than men. Gary Yeowell/Getty Images Resistance training does more than help us build strong muscles. A new study finds women who do strength training exercises two to three days a week are more likely to live longer […]
How high blood sugar, hypertension and obesity can add up to cancer risk
People with metabolic syndrome, which can include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and several other conditions, are at higher risk of getting cancer, a new study finds. Oscar Wong/Getty Images About a third of Americans have metabolic syndrome. It’s a cluster of conditions that can include hypertension, high blood sugar and a […]
A leading mindfulness teacher shares insights to counter tech addiction and isolation
Jon Kabat-Zinn is a leading researcher into the health effects of meditation. He developed the Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction protocol in 1979. D Dipasupil/Getty Images In 1979, a report from the Surgeon General inspired Jon Kabat-Zinn to action. The U.S. “Healthy People” report chronicled Americans’ struggles with chronic diseases, connecting poor health with harmful social conditions […]
Health industry struggles to recover from cyberattack on a unit of UnitedHealth
Just_Super/Getty Images/iStockphoto Dr. Margaret Parsons, one of three dermatologists at a 20-person practice in Sacramento, California, is in a bind. Since a Feb. 21 cyberattack on a previously obscure medical payment processing company, Change Healthcare, Parsons said, she and her colleagues haven’t been able to electronically bill for their services. She heard Noridian Healthcare Solutions, […]
How did the world run so low on cholera vaccine? As outbreaks grow, stockpile runs dry
Syrian medics launched a vaccination campaign in the northwestern Idlib province in early 2023. Such campaigns depend on the global cholera vaccine stockpile, which is currently empty. Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images The ancient disease of cholera is making a comeback in 2024 – but the world’s supply of vaccines can’t keep up. The […]
President Biden didn’t say much about COVID
In last night’s State of the Union address President Biden used the word “COVID” only one time and “pandemic” four times, including noting that “the pandemic no longer controls our lives.” This is in stark contrast to Biden’s 2022 State of the Union, which referenced “COVID” 23 times and “pandemic” 11 times. While COVID-19 hospitalization […]