A new report looks at mental health and substance abuse in the elderly, and concludes better access to care is needed.
Movies that show actors smoking tobacco should automatically earn an R rating in order to minimize copycat smoking among impressionable tweens and teenagers, the authors of a new study suggest.
HLN's Susan Hendricks reports on the common health claims we face every summer and whether they are true or not.
For patients with terminal cancer who have exhausted all treatment options, being as comfortable and relaxed as possible during their final days often becomes a priority. Staying out of the hospital may be key to attaining that frame of mind, a new study suggests.
If you lose a leg, insurance will likely cover the cost of your prosthesis. If you lose your arm, it's the same. Even if you lose your ability to perform sexually, more than likely your Viagra is covered.
A new study finds babies born to families with pets are healthier than kids without pets.
A new study looks at pets, children and respiratory infections. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports.
New York opens a playground for adults in its efforts to promote a healthier, active lifestyle for residents.
Fitness expert Desiree Nathanson and CNN's Fredricka Whitfield show how to incorporate yoga into your day at the park.
When it comes to punishing your kids, where do you draw the line?
Nutritionist and author Mark MacDonald tells CNN's Randi Kaye why athletes--and you--need protein and where to get it.
The American Red Cross says power outages created by recent storms in the East and Midwest cut blood donations, which were already low this summer. In June there was a nationwide shortfall, with donations down more than 10% across the country.
Health experts offer tips for navigating the cereal aisle and finding the most nutritious -- and tastiest -- options among the fruity flakes and fiber twigs
In today's Health Minute, Jim Ribble has details on how the heat affects asthmatics and tips to prevent flareups.
A Michigan woman diagnosed with the flesh-eating bacteria is fighting for her life. WXYZ reports.
Responding to simmering controversy among Catholic bloggers about her new birth control program, Melinda Gates -- a practicing Catholic -- said she will not shrink from her role as an advocate for poor women.
Sanjay Gupta has a candid conversation with Melinda Gates about contraception, Catholicism and global health.
A British man with 'locked-in' syndrome is fighting for the right to die, sparking a debate on euthanasia.
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield and fitness guru Desiree Nathanson kick off their summer workouts with gym-free excercises.
Susan Hendricks tells us what to do and how to get treatment if you get bit by a dog.
Amanda Burger and Amanda Prentice live more than 700 miles apart. They have never met, but they share something even more unusual than a first name.
Major Dan Gade, who lost his leg on the battlefield in Iraq biked across the country to raise awareness
HLN's Evening Express team looks at a viral video's approach to creating abuse awareness.
HLN's Evening Express team investigates a new study linking harsh physical punishment and anxiety disorders.
Aimee Copeland left the hospital Monday and is beginning rehabilitation. CNN's Jennifer Bixler reports.
Aimee Copeland left the hospital today and is now beginning rehabilitation. Jennifer Bixler has the details.
One tattoo artist is helping breast cancer survivors feel whole again.
How much would it take for you to consider selling your bone marrow? A U.S. appeals court puts the price at about $3,000 in a ruling that now makes it legal to pay donors for their bone-marrow tissue.
A new study finds coffee drinkers could cut their risk of developing basal cell carcinoma - a common form of skin cancer.
High temperatures will stay above 90 across much of the U.S. this week, and storms in the mid-Atlantic region have added power outages for millions already sweltering from the heat. Oh, did we mention there are fires blazing in the West?
Parents often ask me whether spanking is really so bad. After all, they were spanked as kids and they turned out fine. Plus, it's the only thing that will get their child to listen, they say.
Why do some people flourish, seemingly resilient to all that life throws at them, while others are vulnerable and at risk of serious problems like anxiety and depression?
Mississippi's lone clinic offering abortion services faces closure. CNN's George Howell reports.
Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old Georgia woman who has waged a two-month battle against flesh-eating bacteria, was released from a hospital Monday.
The condition of Lana Kuykendall, the South Carolina woman infected with flesh-eating bacteria shortly after giving birth to twins nearly two months ago, is improving, her doctor said Friday.
When the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 ruling Thursday, the American Medical Association was quick to release a statement in support of the "historic" decision that will give more people access to health coverage.
Everyday folks ask CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta about President Obama's health care plan.
Elizabeth Cohen and Brooke Baldwin speak with the mother of a young girl with epilepsy.
Elizabeth Cohen has more on the new drug to help with weight control in some overweight and obese people.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Barack Obama's sweeping health care legislation Thursday in a narrow 5-4 ruling that Obama says will provide up to 30 million additional Americans with health care.
Don't neglect core exercises in your fitness regimen. Jim Ribble has more on working out your core through Pilates.
Knowing whether your beach water is clean can keep you healthy. Edgar Treiguts reports.
Elizabeth Cohen explains how the Supreme Court's ruling on health care affects people with real-world examples.
Roxanne Black used her lupus diagnosis to launch a national support network. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her story.
Diane Butrym doesn't fit the stereotype of an eating disorder patient. She's a 51-year-old microbiologist and mother of two, not a troubled teen or 20-something, yet for the past decade she has struggled with bulimia.
A federal health panel discusses doctors' role in the fight against obesity. Elizabeth Cohen reports.
Confession: I've fallen asleep while operating on patients. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Reporter Susan Hendricks tells us about how to lose weight quickly but safely - up to 2 pounds a week.
A school district spokesman in Washington says the school can't apply sunscreen without a doctor's note. KOMO reports.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has released new guidelines for obesity screening and healthy lifestyle counseling. Can you explain them and give us your opinion?
Fit Nation athletes Rick Morris, Carlos Solis and Denise Castelli compete in triathlon relays ahead of their big race.
The young woman battling a flesh-eating bacterial infection in Augusta, Georgia, has taken another step toward recovery: Doctors have upgraded her condition from "serious" to "good."
A new study finds those who lacked Vitamin D weighed more than those who did not.
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with Tao Porchon-Lynch, the world's oldest living yoga teacher.
Carmichael Griffin didn't think anything of it when his face began to swell. He assumed he had just gained a couple of pounds.
Many of us are used to taking pills for pain. But now, there are patches that can offer pain relief.
CNN's Lisa Sylvester goes inside a center which helps children heal after abuse.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen explains the myths, the truths, and the effects of the national health care reform law.
CNN's Sanjay Gupta follows one case where the right-to-die group, Final Exit Network, was involved in one woman's death.
Tali Sharot explains what optimism bias is and how it affects our health.
Research about the deadly bird flu virus was published in a scientific journal. Elizabeth Cohen explains.
When Manuel Reyna developed a deadly kidney disease, his sister, Florinda Gotcher, didn't hesitate to give him one of her kidneys. When she found out they were a match, she cried.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen tells us about an outpatient procedure to get rid of varicose veins.
A new report urges industry to eliminate the use of antibiotics in meat. Elizabeth Cohen brings us details.
Pat St.Claire tells us about antibiotics that are in the meat we eat and what that means to our health.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta speaks with 2011 "American Idol" finalist James Durbin in today's Human Factor.
Helen Olive had her first allergy attack 11 years ago. She had gone to bed only to wake up hours later because her neck felt as if it were on fire.
A teen boy survives a spear accidentally shot into his head. Elizabeth Cohen reports.
The use of some medications is on the decline in kids, but not all. Jim Ribble reports.
Google "the aging brain" and you will find a largely sobering landscape of cognitive deterioration.
A novel skin graft treatment appears to be working for a 3-year-old South African girl burned over 80% of her body in January, a spokeswoman for her family said Tuesday.
Doctors say a teen who had a 3-foot spear shot through his skull is recovering. WSVN reports.
The mother of a boy with Down syndrome dying from a heart defect asks families to honor him with a banana split dinner.
Loneliness and isolation can affect your quality of life -- and maybe your quantity of life, too.
Nathan Jones was 18 when he had his first seizure. He lost consciousness, fell off his porch and woke up to hear a paramedic yelling at him to name the president of the United States.
Jack Osbourne, son of musician Ozzy Osbourne, is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. CNN's Elizabeth Cohen reports.
Dr. Grant Stevens outlines his concerns about PIP implants found by a UK study to be substandard, but not cancer causing.
Severely burned 3-year-old Isabella "Pippi" Kruger has experienced a level of horror and pain that would test the nerves of a soldier. Her survival alone is miraculous and the procedure being undertaken to save her is a first of its kind in South Africa.
Controversial breast implants made by the French company PIP do not cause cancer and are not toxic, but they do have a high rupture rate, a British Department of Health study reported Monday.
Dr. Sujatha Reddy joins Fredricka Whitfield to explain why not getting enough sleep can lead to major health problems.
A woman is acting as a surrogate for her brother and sister-in-law. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
The young Georgia woman fighting a flesh-eating bacteria underwent a successful skin graft this week as she continues her astounding recovery.
A Romney adviser argues that Romney's Massachusetts health plan is very different from the federal law.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta presses a Romney adviser on a possibly misleading claim about government spending in health care law.
An Oregon man is in critical condition after contracting the plague from an infected animal.
Q: I was shocked to read in the news that children as young as 7 are hurting themselves. Why would they do that?
Adviser says Romney would offer protections to people who are sick, but Dr. Sanjay Gupta challenges the details.
Max Page, the 7-year-old who played a mini Darth Vader in a Volkswagen commercial, is recovering from open heart surgery, his doctor and mother said Thursday.
Early detection is key to saving lives when it comes to melanoma in older men. Susan Hendricks reports.
"Dunk the Junk" graffiti art shows kids it's cool to eat healthy.
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the physiology of concussions and the long-term effects of suffering one.
While many changes to Americans' health care outlined in the the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act don't take effect until 2014, a Supreme Court ruling expected this month could stop those changes from coming at all.
Obese children and teenagers face a slew of potential health problems as they get older, including an increased risk of diabetes, heart attacks, and certain cancers. As if that weren't enough, obesity may harm young people's long-term college and career prospects, too.
Michael Dixon hasn't had a job since September, but he's definitely not relaxing at home.
Public health officials urged Wednesday that anyone who may have been treated at a hospital's heart lab in southeastern New Hampshire since October 1, 2010, be tested for a virus that can cause liver disease.
A youth football organization is changing its rules for practices. Elizabeth Cohen has the details.
Gymnast Dominique Moceanu shares her story of hidden pain and reveals a secret sister. Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
Aimee Copeland on Tuesday reached another milestone by being upgraded from critical to serious condition at the Georgia hospital where she has valiantly fought a condition caused by flesh-eating bacteria.
Robin Roberts' battle against myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, is just beginning. The "Good Morning America" anchor will undergo chemotherapy before having a bone marrow transplant later this year.
Exhaust from diesel engines can cause cancer, a prominent global cancer group that's part of the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
Sally Roberts talks about her famous sister Robin's diagnosis of MDS and why she'll be her bone marrow donor.
A man with terminal cancer posted his story on Reddit, prompting thousands of dollars in donations. CTV reports.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on the new FDA-approved procedure some say may be the long-term solution to cellulite.
About once a month, usually around my period, I start feeling sort of... off. My neck gets tight and achy, and I can't think as clearly as usual, like my mental gears are gummed up.
One study finds a fear of the dark may be part of the reason some suffer from insomnia.
Can your memory overload with too much information? Former memory champ Joshua Foer debunks some of the myths of memory.
Dr. Sujatha Reddy joins CNN's Fredricka Whitfield to discuss how drinking more coffee can help delay Alzheimer's.
When you're a patient, you trust you're in good hands, but even the best doctor or nurse can make a mistake on you or someone you love.
Jane Velez-Mitchell talks to Farm Sanctuary's Bruce Freidrich about a bill aiming to protect the living space for hens.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Harvey Karp discuss the dangers of babies sleeping with parents.
I was walking down 125th Street in Harlem last week when my iPhone beeped to alert me that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had proposed saving obesity-prone urbanites from themselves by banning restaurant sales of large sugary sodas and teas.
Get the facts about using CPR and an AED in the event of a cardiac emergency. Pat St.Claire reports.
Federal health officials say 14 people in six states have been sickened by the same strain of E. coli over the past couple of months.
Elizabeth Cohen and Kyra Phillips discuss an E. coli outbreak. One person has died; several others have gotten sick.
Despite headlines saying that it lost Tuesday's vote, the fate of California's proposed $1-a-pack tax hike on cigarettes is still in limbo, and state officials said late Thursday that a final result is likely weeks away.
Some people go on pilgrimages abroad for religious reasons or for historical interest. Denis Asselin created his own rite on the Eastern Seaboard in honor of his son who took his own life last year.
Risking their own lives, a medic and explosives expert in Afghanistan pull a live RPG out of a Marine's body.
CNN's Lisa Sylvester reports on a new procedure that could revolutionize how doctors monitor pregnancy.
A South Carolina woman battling a rare flesh-eating bacteria infection has been upgraded to fair condition and is tentatively scheduled for skin-grafting surgery, her family said Thursday.
Elizabeth Cohen reports on a strain of a STD becoming resistant to drugs in some countries.
Patients, beware of wrong-side surgeries. Sr. Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports.
Editor's note: On April 21, Denis Asselin, 63, stepped out his front door to embark on a 525-mile walk from Philadelphia to Boston in memory of his son Nathaniel, who took his life last year after a 13-year battle with body dysmorphic disorder, a condition related to obsessive compulsive disorder. Nathaniel was 24.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells us how home visits from medical staff can help families curb asthma triggers in the home.
Elizabeth Cohen discusses Sheryl Crow's benign brain tumor with Kyra Phillips.
Joe Torre is a kid from Brooklyn who suffered domestic abuse and later became a baseball giant. Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
Throughout my career in baseball, I have been very fortunate to experience some outstanding moments on the field. However, many fans might not know much about my experience off the field.
Singer Sheryl Crow reveals she has a benign brain tumor. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more.
Salt--is it good or bad for your health? CNN's Mary Snow has more on the latest in this debate.
Parents speak to HLN's "Evening Express" about their son celebrating his second birthday despite battling brain cancer.
Is salt good or bad for your health? CNN's Mary Snow has more on this debate.
Several months ago, Meaghin and Jonathan Jordan were strolling through a shop near their home in Kiln, Mississippi, when they spotted a box of high-powered magnets that could be arranged and rearranged into various shapes.
Susan Hendricks reports on health problems for people who tan too much.
When Drew Manning stepped out from behind the cardboard cutout of his former fat self on Monday, the audience of "Good Morning America" was appropriately shocked.
Two-year-old Cooper hears his mom's voice with his cochlear implants. This video posted a year ago and is going viral.
The re-emergence of some vaccine-preventable diseases has prompted the California legislature to consider a bill that would make it more difficult for parents to opt out of vaccinating their kids.
Vacation is the time you may want to think about bed bugs. Edgar Treiguts reports.
Preview "The Empowered Patient: 25 Shocking Medical Mistakes," reported by Sr. Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.
Doctors who treat breast cancer patients are very excited about an experimental drug that presents a whole new way of knocking out cancer cells.
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield talks to Dr. Sujatha Reddy about the effects of sugary drinks on your health.
Patients battling certain lung, skin and kidney cancers may benefit from a new type of cancer treatment that harnesses and boosts a patient's immune system to shrink tumors, if early research pans out.
Lori Bremner, an American Cancer Society volunteer, says the proposed tax will cut smoking and help cancer research.
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta duels with Dr. Marcy Zwelling, a critic of California's proposed new cigarette tax.
Dr. Marcy Zwelling, a critic of Prop 29, says a new cigarette tax is unneeded and will hurt California's economy.
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on how one mother and cancer patient has found a way to help children of cancer patients.