Deb Balzer (@DebBalzer)
Deb Balzer is a Senior Communications Specialist at Mayo Clinic. She began her career as a TV news producer in Rochester, NY, before joining CONUS Communications, a pioneering national news satellite organization. She also field produced for ABC, CNN, the Rachael Ray Show and Farmers’ Almanac TV. Joining Mayo Clinic in 2015, Deb writes, produces and collaborates on medical stories with Mayo Clinic’s leading experts, providing trusted health and medical information to help patients.
Vaccination is an important step in the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Being vaccinated for COVID-19 protects you from becoming infected and possibly infecting[...]
Friday, March 19, is match day across the U.S., including Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine fourth-year students in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, who will[...]
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected cancer diagnoses and treatments. Colonoscopies, for instance, have decreased 90% in the past year. While screenings are down, experts say that the number of young[...]
Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 14, at 2 a.m. in those areas of the U.S. that recognize daylight saving time. This is[...]
Reports of some patients developing swollen lymph nodes after a COVID-19 vaccination has raised questions about whether screening mammograms should be rescheduled due to concerns that this finding could[...]
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an important tool, along with wearing a cloth mask, socially distancing and good hand hygiene, to help stop the ongoing[...]
The most commonly reported long-term effects of COVID-19 include shortness of breath, fatigue and joint pain. More serious long-term complications, such as myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, appear[...]
For patients with severe heart failure that cannot be controlled with medicine, a pacemaker or other treatments, a ventricular assist device can be an option. Dr. Robert Scott, a Mayo[...]
Pregnant women are at an increased risk for serious illness from COVID-19. "Compared to nonpregnant women who have the same health and age, a COVID-infected woman is about 1.3[...]
Obesity increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. "One of the most prevalent conditions in this country[...]
If you are unsure about whether you'll be vaccinated for COVID-19, you are not alone. It's natural to have reservations about something so new. Dr.[...]
Note: This information was written by the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Vaccine Work Group. Mayo Clinic continues to follow federal and state guidelines in distributing the[...]