After months of waiting, your baby has finally arrived. As you navigate the excitement of these first days, you’re likely paying close attention to the many ways they’re already growing, and the advice their doctor has given you at the hospital and during well-baby checkups. During this time, changes in your baby’s skin texture or coloration are common. But if you’ve noticed a yellow tinge to their skin, your child may have jaundice – and you may be wondering what this means for your baby’s health. Jaundice is a condition that adds a yellowish color to the skin and the…

Circumcision, the removal of the foreskin from a penis, has been practiced for centuries. While it’s commonly done for religious or cultural reasons, circumcision has also historically been recommended as a form of preventive care. It can be performed at any age, but it’s most commonly done for newborns. If you’re wondering whether to have your newborn baby circumcised, it’s important to understand the full picture. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that the benefits of circumcision outweigh the low risks of the procedure. However, these benefits can also be achieved with thorough hygiene. Unless certain health factors are present,…

If you start to experience chest pain, your first thought may be that you’re having a heart attack. However, even though chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, there are many causes of chest pain – and some aren’t even related to your heart. It’s also important to know that many conditions that cause chest pain are nothing to worry about. However, some can be life threatening. Call 911 if the chest pain is new, starts suddenly or doesn’t go away after you rest or take medication. You should also get immediate medical attention if you…

Completing a marathon is being added to more people’s bucket lists. Sticking to a running plan will help you prepare for your upcoming race. However, a marathon training diet is also necessary if you want to run at your best. Our experts explain what’s important to consume while training and how to work that nutrition into your schedule – all the way up to and throughout race day. What to eat during marathon training: Before taper Long-distance running takes a lot of energy. Feeding yourself properly is required if you want to avoid fatigue or hitting the wall. Just like…

When shopping for health insurance coverage, it’s likely you’ve seen the phrase “out-of-pocket maximum” on a summary of benefits. Don’t ignore that number – this amount is an important part of your plan. Your annual out-of-pocket maximum is the highest amount you’ll have to pay for covered health care services in a single year. It ensures you don’t get hit with massive health care costs if you experience a major illness or injury. To choose the right plan for you, it’s important to understand how an out-of-pocket maximum works, what kind of costs contribute and what happens after you meet…

We use our feet a lot, so the occasional ache or slight pain is to be expected. But if you have frequent foot pain or foot pain that doesn’t go away, it’s generally a sign that something isn’t working how it should. There are a number of reasons why your feet may hurt. But if you’ve also noticed or been told that you’re flat-footed, it’s normal to wonder if flat feet are contributing to your pain, and what you can do about it if they are. Flatfoot, also known as pes planus or fallen arches, is what it sounds like…

Chickenpox is one of those diseases that we don’t think about as much as we used to. It’s for good reason: The chickenpox vaccine, which was introduced in 1995, prevents 70-90% of infections and 95% of severe cases. Plus, it is included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended childhood immunization schedule. Of course, those numbers don’t mean you’re guaranteed to avoid it. If you or your child are experiencing an itchy skin rash, you’ll need to learn the symptoms of chickenpox so you know when you might need to speak with a doctor. Here’s what to…

What do athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm have in common? Well, none of them are caused by a worm. In fact, athlete’s foot and jock itch are actually two forms of ringworm, named for where they’re found and who they often affect. Ringworm itself isn’t named for its cause, but its most common symptom: Circular rashes with raised, worm-like borders. Ringworm infections are common and contagious, but they’re usually treatable. We’ll break down what ringworm is, what symptoms look like on different parts of the body, treatment options and how to prevent it. So if it’s not about worms,…

Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration. 23andMe is not doing well. Its stock is on the verge of being delisted. It shut down its in-house drug-development unit last month, only the latest in several rounds of layoffs. Last week, the entire board of directors quit, save for Anne Wojcicki, a co-founder and the company’s CEO. Amid this downward spiral, Wojcicki has said she’ll consider selling 23andMe—which means the DNA of 23andMe’s 15 million customers would be up for sale, too. 23andMe’s trove of genetic data might be its most valuable asset. For about two decades…

Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration. This is an edition of The Weekly Planet, a newsletter that provides a guide for living through climate change. Sign up for it here. Living in the days of climate change means we are living in the era of ecological grief. The emotional phenomenon has inspired funerals for glaciers in Iceland, Oregon, and Switzerland. Scientists have reported feeling shock and loss with each consecutive return to the Great Barrier Reef, as new expanses of coral bleach and desiccate. All across the mining country of Central Appalachia, where mountains have…