Mayo Clinic Health Matters

Your kidneys remove waste from your blood and regulate a healthy balance between water, sodium and minerals in your bloodstream. "Kidneys filter intoxicants, drugs and waste products out of your blood," says Dr. Scott Cheney, a Mayo Clinic urologic surgeon. "We would actually die within about a week without having good kidney function." Poor kidney function could mean kidney cancer, but signs or s...

Being a new parent is a time filled with excitement, exhaustion, and questions as children grow and develop rapidly during the first few years of life. Typical concerns for parents with infants and toddlers include eating, sleeping, common illnesses, immunizations and safety. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, a special edition of "Ask the Mayo Mom" focuses on parenting questions during the first few...

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how quickly life can change. That's evident in people's personal lives and across the scientific community. Remarkable advances have been made in science over the past year, guided by international research collaborations. "When you look at nine months from when we first identified this pathogen to having a vaccine, that's as close to a human miracle, if I could...

Fatigue and what's being called "brain fog" are turning out to be some of the most common issues for long-hauler patients recovering from COVID-19. The National Institutes of Health calls these and other symptoms, which can last for several months, post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, or PASC. Those suffering from brain fog may experience short-term memory loss, confusion, difficulty concentrating,...

At Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the COVID-19 pandemic means expanding virtual capabilities, increasing innovation, communicating and coordinating even more than usual, and streamlining patient care. Dr. Richard Gray, CEO of Mayo Clinic in Arizona, says the medical teams and staff continue to be nimble and flexible, and they are learning each step of the way. "I think that all of the creative solutions...

"People seem to be decreasing travel. More folks are wearing masks. They're following that hand, space, and vaccinate paradigm," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "And it's working." But he warns that this is not the time to let down your guard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Poland says there are three COVID-19 vaccines and...

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed, canceled and delayed many parts of people's lives, including when or if they seek medical care. Dr. Robert McWilliams, a Mayo Clinic medical oncologist, says there are various reasons patients may be avoiding or delaying care. But he emphasizes that coming to medical institutions is safe, and that ignoring symptoms or delaying exams can result in more severe illn...

Colorectal cancer is a term that includes colon and rectal cancers, both of which originate in the lower portion of the large intestine and into the rectum. "The vast majority of the time, we don't know exactly what causes any specific cancer," says Dr. Jeremy Jones, a Mayo Clinic oncologist. "But there are a number of factors that can increase the risk of developing colon or rectal cancer." Dr. J...

Smaller incisions, less pain and faster recovery are just a few reasons minimally invasive heart surgery can be a good option for patients with heart disease. "I would define minimally invasive heart surgery, or robotic-assisted surgery as essentially performing a standard surgical operation through smaller incisions, without going through the breastbone," says Dr. Phillip Rowse, a Mayo Clinic car...

People may be curious, confused or critical of what seem to be changing messages related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, reminds folks that messages change because data changes and the science evolves. "As we learn new science, we use that science to modify our recommendations," says Dr. Poland. "It's not...

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that sits just beneath the liver, on the right side of the abdomen. Slender tubes that carry bile fluid also are also located in that area. Because of the relatively hidden nature of the gallbladder and bile ducts, cancers can grow without being detected. Late detection can mean a poor prognosis. Dr. Kabir Mody, former co-chair of the Hepatobiliary Dis...

Cardiac amyloidosis is irreversible thickening of the heart muscle that typically presents as a form of congestive heart failure. It is overlooked often because the symptoms can masquerade as other conditions. Unfortunately, there aren't any preventive strategies for cardiac amyloidosis, says Dr. Melissa Lyle, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist. "So the key, really, is early detection," says Dr. Lyle. "We...

Medical research reveals new information about COVID-19 daily. While scientists and medical experts focus on virus spread, new variants, improved therapeutic treatments and more, it's sometimes difficult for the public to keep up with evolving information. In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, helps by a...

Almost half of all people in the U.S. are at risk of developing some form of cancer in their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. For women, it's often breast cancer. For men, it's prostate cancer. For both populations lung cancer and colorectal cancer are common. Dr. Paul Limburg, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and cancer researcher with the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, says you...

Grief is a natural reaction to loss, but it can be a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people. Grief can be confusing for children, and they may show grief in many ways, depending on their age. When parents are dealing with their own grief, helping their children cope with death and loss can be challenging. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, a special edition of "Ask the Mayo Mom" will focus...

As new COVID-19 variants spread and more people are vaccinated for COVID-19, people have more questions about COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, says that's understandable with new information released every day. For instance, people are wondering what type of medications they can take if they're being vaccinated f...

Mayo Clinic International is taking health care to the world in new ways. Expanding abroad through virtual, hybrid and on-the-ground patient care. "I think we have a moral obligation to take the Mayo model of care to the world, particularly as it pertains to serious and complex diseases," says Dr. Anton Decker, president of Mayo Clinic International. In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Decker exp...

There are many benefits to sports participation for children and adolescents. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, activities such as youth sports have been put hold or modified to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Also, the scientific community is learning about when it is safe to return to sports participation following COVID-19 infection. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, "Ask the Mayo Mom" host...

When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, says there's some good news. "Case numbers are falling, masking and distancing do work, and we can control this if we do it right." However, the not so good news is that variants are showing up in over 30 countries and are reportedly more transmissible. There...

It's been a year since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the U.S. Since then the U.S. has seen more than 25 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 400,00 deaths. This has taken a significant emotional toll on the nation. COVID-19 is a disease that affects the entire health care system, and emergency medical teams are often on the front lines receiving infected patients. The challenges h...

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for families, as children and adults have had to face stressors and adapt to change. Distance learning and the need for physical distancing from friends have been particularly challenging for children and adolescents. Trying to help them cope it their feelings and frustrations about the pandemic has stressed parents and caregivers. This edition of the May...

Fear and worry are normal responses when people perceive and experience threats. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought daily stressors over the past year, leaving many people with a sustained feeling of anxiety. While social distancing has been necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the separation from others can exacerbate anxiety by leaving people feeling isolated and lonely. Learning to recogn...

Approximately 1.5 % of adults will be diagnosed with leukemia at some point during their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute data. Leukemia is cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system, and it usually involves the white blood cells. Your white blood cells are potent infection fighters. They normally grow and divide in an orderly wa...

Transforming health care and health care delivery are priorities for the Mayo Clinic Platform, according to Dr. John Halamka, president of the Mayo Clinic Platform. "If we are going to deliver advice, let's make sure it's customized to the person, their geography, the time of year, all those other variables," says Dr. Halamka. He adds that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how well that can work....

The distribution kinks for COVID-19 vaccines are getting ironed out, says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "It's a logistics nightmare, but now you're seeing a plan to administer 1 million doses a day and I think that's very achievable," says Dr. Poland. "And the production of the vaccine is just going to accelerate." Dr. Poland al...