Dietary supplements are big business. Last year, the U.S. market for dietary supplements was $27.6 billion, almost $10 billion more than we spend on athletic foot ware.

Can you hear me now? For too many Americans with hearing loss, the answer to this question is, "what did you say?" Hearing aids can help most Americans with hearing loss, but a shocking number do not use them. For many, the high cost of hearing aids is a major obstacle. There are steps we can take to make hearing devices more affordable for more Americans.

The opioid crisis is getting worse, and rapidly. In 2015, 33,000 Americans died from opioids. According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost half of those deaths were from prescription opioids. The New York Times reports that in 2016, overdoses from all drugs was the leading cause of death of people under the age of 50.

Jerome Adams, the Indiana health commissioner and an anesthesiologist, is on track to become the next U.S. surgeon general. His nomination by President Donald Trump has received both Democratic and Republican support, thanks to his handling of an HIV/AIDS outbreak in Indiana and his work combating the opioid abuse epidemic.

Does behavior have a significant impact on your risk of developing dementia? That's what a wealth of new data is suggesting, and the evidence, gathered from different research teams around the globe, is pointing in the same intriguing direction.

The news that eight elderly residents died in a Florida nursing home when the air conditioning failed during Hurricane Irma outraged their families and shocked the public. Although the story is still developing, Gov. Rick Scott promised to "aggressively demand answers on how this tragic event took place."

Although you may think that this story, though tragic, does not concern you directly, think again. If you're reading this, and you're middle-aged, then this story concerns you since you have a good chance of spending time in a nursing home.

Everyone has their Thanksgiving favorite. For some, it's turkey. For most, it's fixings and desserts – sweet and rich – that appeal. As we gear up for Thanksgiving, planning whether we'll serve pecan pie or pumpkin, stop for a moment to consider that too many Americans eat rich and sugary foods every day, instead of only on holidays and special occasions as in decades past. There is a high cost to eating like there's no tomorrow.

During an election year when voters and candidates from both parties registered outrage at high drug prices, the pharmaceutical industry's most powerful trade group boosted revenues by nearly 25 percent, paying out millions to lobbyists and politicians, according to an NPR report broadcast this week.

As Congress and the administration barely recover from the government shutdown and move to address challenging policy issues in a short-term funding extension, the importance of re-establishing strong, across-the-aisle relationships, which have historically allowed government to function, is clear.

The Centers for Disease Control have announced that there are signs the flu epidemic may be peaking. But a sharp increase in the number of children’s flu deaths – and thousands of deaths due to flu each week – should remind us of the urgent need to press forward with all speed and the robust funding needed to find more effective preventive measures for the flu.