Mayo Clinic Health Matters

We all want a bright set of pearly whites, but teeth are more than what meets the eye. Your mouth and teeth serve as gatekeepers for your body, helping protect your heart, lungs and other organs from bacteria, pathogens and disease.

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with Dr. Sarah Lee, a prosthodontist, about how oral health and overall health go hand in hand — and how to optimize your dental hygiene routine.

Sign up to rece...

Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, Little League elbow — and now, even pickleball elbow.

Staying active has countless benefits, but sports can be tough on your tendons. And you don’t have to be an athlete to end up with a “sports injury.” So, what are the early signs to watch for, and how can you prevent injury in the first place? Is there anything you can do to speed up recovery?

On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Christopher Camp jo...

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure—many without even realizing it. So what do those two numbers really mean for your health? And is your high blood pressure preventable, treatable... or even reversible?

On this episode of Health Matters, we're talking with Dr. Gary Schwartz about hypertension, how to get your numbers within range, and whether you should be measuring your blood pressure at home.

For more inf...

Your colon is more than a pit stop for waste — it houses a lush, thriving ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. These organisms affect everything from your digestion to your immune system — and maybe even your mental health. So how can we harness the power of the gut microbiome? And when it comes to “gut-healthy” diets and products, who should you believe?

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with Dr. Sahil Khan...

Nearly everyone experiences a headache at some point in life, but not all headaches are created equal. They can have different causes, pain levels and effects on your daily functioning.

In this episode of Health Matters, we’re talking with neurologist Dr. Amaal Starling. She takes us on a tour of the world of headaches — from nursing a garden-variety tension headache to being plagued by migraines.

Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press...

Ovarian cancer may not be the most common or talked-about cancer, but like any major disease, it can turn your life upside down. While the risk of developing ovarian cancer is comparatively lower, it’s harder to detect — there’s no reliable way to screen for it, and early symptoms can be vague. Still, some dedicate their careers to advancing its treatment.

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with one such person: Dr. Marion C...

We're back for a second installment of the Vaccines episode, digging further into vaccines and dispelling misinformation about them.

On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Gregory Poland returns to explain why women have better immune responses to viral vaccines than men, how "natural infection" is NOT safer than vaccines, and what the future of vaccines looks like.

Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. 

Find us onl...

No one likes being poked with a needle, but it’s way better than getting seriously sick. It can be hard to stay up to date with all your vaccinations, though: There’s a new COVID vaccine every year, the new RSV vaccine in 2023, and... when was the last time you got a tetanus booster?

On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Gregory Poland explains how vaccines are made, what a world without them would look like, and how getting a vacc...

More people are living with HIV than ever before. And no, it's not because transmission rates have spiked. It's because people who are HIV positive are living longer, healthier lives—a radical change from decades past. 

On this episode of Health Matters, we're celebrating how far we've come with Dr. Maryam Mahmood, and learning more about HIV looks like today.

Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. 

Find us onlin...

Roughly 20 million Americans already have some form of a thyroid issue. And it's estimated that over half of them... are completely unaware of it.

On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Mabel Ryder breaks down the thyroid's important role in the body and how it affects all organs — and what happens when it's not functioning optimally. 

Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. 

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for mo...

Most people know not to eat the potato salad that’s been sitting on the picnic table for 8 hours. But what about leftover takeout, raw cookie dough, or produce and meat recalls? Is your gurgling stomach a herald of doom? On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with Dr. Christine Ragay-Cathers about what happens when food goes bad, common culprits, and how to keep your stomach safe.

Sign up to receive Ma...

The sun on your face, the wind in your hair, the earth crunching under your boots… what’s not to love? Well, maybe blisters. Or spider bites. Or a sprained ankle. Actually, a lot of things can go wrong in nature. But with preparation, you can make good decisions and take in all the benefits fresh air has to offer. This episode, we’re joined by Dr. Neha Raukar to talk about outdoor first aid—what to do if something goes wrong, and h...

You probably know that modern mental health care doesn’t mean lying down on a couch and looking at ink blots. But you might not realize that for many folks, mental health care starts in primary care. Your primary care physician could be your first—and maybe only—stop on your way to mental wellness.

On this episode of Health Matters, we talk with Dr. Jen Brull, a family physician and the president of the American Academy of Family Ph...

We're excited to share an audio preview of our new book, Face in the Mirror: A Surgeon, a Patient, and the Remarkable Story of the First Face Transplant at Mayo Clinic.

You can order your print copy of the book from Mayo Clinic Press, or keep listening to the audiobook on Audible, Libro.fm, Audiobooks.com, or wherever you get your audiobooks.

The first face transplant was performed in 2005. Since then, only about 50 face transplants have been done in the entire world. It’s a complex surgery that requires all the expertise a surgeon can bring to the table. It can also be life-changing for patients.

On this episode of Health Matters, we’ve got two amazing guests: Dr. Samir Mardini, a facial plastic surgeon who performed Mayo Clinic’s first-ever face transplant, and Andy S...

In today's world, skincare is largely focused on aesthetics, but what about its impact on our physical well-being?

In this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Saranya Wyles joins us to discuss the vital functions of our skin, tips for maintaining its health, and the latest advancements in skin healing and rejuvenation.

Sign up to receive Mayo Clinic Press emails. 

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness article...

When was the last time you thought about your kidney? If you’re a healthy individual, maybe not so much. But this unassuming organ is vital—and kidney diseases, like polycystic kidney disease, can put people at serious risk of health complications.

On this episode of Health Matters, we’re talking with Dr. Fouad Chebib to sing the praises of the small but mighty kidney, learn how to maintain kidney health, and gain a deeper understan...

Remember the childhood warning about rusty nails and tetanus? Turns out, there’s more to the story.

On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Priya Sampathkumar unpacks the truth about tetanus—how it spreads, the signs of infection, and why staying up to date on your vaccines is crucial.

Find us online at Mayo Clinic Press for more health and wellness articles, podcasts and books.

Do you have feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Ema...

We've got a special episode for you today from our friends at Tomorrow's Cure! Tomorrow's Cure is a Mayo Clinic podcast that is bringing the future of healthcare to the present.

The stethoscope, one of the most iconic symbols of medicine, was invented over 200 years ago. Today, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing this essential tool, empowering doctors to detect cardiac disease at its earliest stages with gr...