A stunning diagnosis: takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The condition is better known as broken heart syndrome. Researchers have confirmed in recent years what people long suspected: Extreme stress can literally break your heart. Although rare, it can happen when people or pets die, during stressful medical treatments, after a job loss, or when other overwhelming... Read more

More than $12 billion is at stake for the nation’s health insurers Tuesday when the Supreme Court hears a case involving the Affordable Care Act. For the federal government, the potential damages could be far greater, as its reputation as a reliable partner to private businesses is on the line. Unlike... Read more

In the ORs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Dr. Laurie Punch treats gunshot victims, removing bullets that studies show can poison bodies with lead and trigger depression. And in her violence-wracked community, she teaches people how to use tourniquets to stop bleeding, creating a legion of helpers while building trust between... Read more

Individual plans for 2020 are cheaper — premiums are lower, on average, and in some areas, people who qualify for government subsidies could end up with no monthly payment. Do check the fine print of your policy; in some cases, the patient’s share of other costs may have gone... Read more

President Trump has made price transparency a centerpiece of his health care agenda. Friday he announced two regulatory changes in a bid to provide more easy-to-read price information to patients. The first effort targets hospitals, finalizing a rule that requires them to display their secret, negotiated rates to patients starting in January... Read more