Avoiding surgery Archive

Climate change has made life-threatening heat waves increasingly common across the globe. Anyone with health issues will have a more difficult time in extreme heat, including older people and people with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and other conditions. Be prepared by knowing how to identify and treat heat-related illness, and how to plan for hot days.

A MRSA infection may be treatable, yet the bacteria can sometimes remain on the body and return. Find out what recovery and prevention involve.

A 2026 national survey suggested that half of all American adults under 50—and 35% of older adults—get health information from social media influencers or podcasters, the minority of whom are health care professionals. People should be skeptical of any advice from these sources.

After most types of surgery, early and increased walking appears to support a smoother recovery. A 2026 study found that increased daily steps above pre-surgery levels were linked with shorter hospital stays, lower complication rates, and fewer readmissions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots can answer medical questions, but they don’t replace the medical judgment of doctors. For patients, AI is currently most useful for understanding medical conditions, explaining doctor’s notes and lab reports, and helping to prepare for doctor visits.

Staying at home during a power outage can be risky for your health. To be safe, take steps to maintain power for essential medical equipment, store medications properly, and prepare for other hazards.

Full-body MRI scans are marketed as a way to detect hidden cancers and other health conditions before symptoms appear. But these elective scans aren’t as precise as medically recommended MRIs and may reveal harmless abnormalities that lead to unnecessary follow-up tests.

Not all cases of gallstones need treatment. Many people have gallstones that never cause pain or other symptoms and can be left alone. But if gallstones cause persistent pain or other symptoms, doctors often opt to surgically remove the gallbladder.

A 2026 study suggested that getting a high-dose flu shot may reduce older adults’ risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared with a standard-dose flu shot.

A 2026 study indicates a precipitous decline in the number of primary care providers in the United States accepting new patients. Without a primary care doctor, people are more vulnerable to serious medical problems and may have trouble getting regular tests and prescriptions.