RELATED: 4 Types of Magnesium Supplements—And Which One’s Right for You.

1. Diarrhea and stomach issues

If you’ve noticed some stomach trouble after changing your magnesium dosage, it might be a warning sign that it’s too high. According to Leann Poston, MD,  a licensed physician working as a health expert for Invigor Medical, some forms of the mineral are even used in laxative products because of the effects they can have on the gastrointestinal system.

“Magnesium salts pull water into the gut, causing loose and watery stools,” she tells Best Life. “Water is retained in the intestines to dilute concentrated magnesium salts. This overstimulates the gut, causing diarrhea.”

Other noticeable symptoms can pop up even earlier. “Along with diarrhea, people can experience stomach cramps and nausea when they take high doses of magnesium for constipation,” says Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, senior medical editor at GoodRx.

2. Confusion

Feeling foggy can happen for many reasons, from not getting enough sleep to coming down with a slight virus. However, overdoing it on magnesium can also cause people to feel lethargic.

“Very high magnesium levels disrupt normal nerve and muscle function,” says Poston. “They can interfere with the release and uptake of brain chemicals that serve as messengers in the brain and body, causing extreme fatigue and confusion.”

RELATED: 3 Best Vitamins to Take for Longevity, According to Doctors.

3. Low blood pressure

Some people seek out magnesium supplements to help manage their blood pressure. And while Poston says these effects are often “not significant and can be inconsistent,” there is the chance that bringing too much magnesium into your system could lead to a problem.

“Magnesium may reduce blood pressure by acting as a natural calcium channel blocker,” she explains. “When magnesium competes with calcium for its binding sites on smooth muscle, it can cause the smooth muscle lining blood vessels to relax and dilate. This lowers resistance to blood flow and blood pressure.”

4. Urine retention

If you’re having trouble relieving yourself in the bathroom, there’s a chance it might have to do with your magnesium dosage.

“Magnesium is involved in regulating smooth muscle contraction,” Poston says. “When blood magnesium levels are too high, it can interfere with bladder muscle contraction. This makes it hard to empty the bladder, even when it is overly full and uncomfortable.”

RELATED: 12 Supplements You Should Never Take Together, Medical Experts Say.

5. Magnesium toxicity

Pinto-Garcia warns that, in some instances, taking very high doses of the mineral leads to a medical emergency known as magnesium toxicity.

“This usually happens when you take more than 5000 mg of magnesium,” she says, adding that this usually happens when people take too much magnesium-containing laxatives or antacids.

Along with the symptoms previously mentioned, magnesium toxicity can appear as a combination of intestinal blockage, flushing, and vomiting. But it can also cause even more serious problems.

“Very high magnesium levels can lead to kidney damage, muscle weakness, trouble breathing, and cardiac arrest,” she says. “It’s rare, but magnesium toxicity can be fatal. If you think you could have taken too much magnesium, call poison control.”

The post 5 Side Effects of Taking Too Much Magnesium, Doctors Say appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: Doctors Say This is the #1 Diet to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

A change in your sense of smell could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s.

The latest data comes from a study conducted by scientists at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) that was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

The researchers began by examining both healthy mice and mice with Alzheimer’s, specifically focusing on the locus coeruleus section of the brainstem (which helps regulate a special kind of neurotransmitter throughout the brain) and how it functioned alongside the olfactory bulb, which handles smell.

The team noted that young mice with Alzheimer’s showed an early degeneration of vital nerve fibers in their locus coeruleus, well before amyloid plaques that typically signify progression of the disease showed up in their brains. This was observed in both imaging performed on the rodent subjects, as well as a decline in smell tests performed on them using food and other odor responses.

The team then carried over the study to humans by examining brain tissue taken from diseased patients who had developed Alzheimer’s, finding that the cadavers showed the same signs of degeneration in their olfactory bulbs. It was again noted in PET scan imaging of living Alzheimer’s patients, whose olfactory bulbs showed signs of inflammation in the same area.

What do these findings mean?

So, what brings about this degeneration? The team says that immune cells known as “microglia” begin to malfunction and remove connections between those two parts of the brain.

“The locus coeruleus regulates a variety of physiological mechanisms. These include, for example, cerebral blood flow, sleep-wake cycles, and sensory processing. The latter applies, in particular, also to the sense of smell,” Lars Paeger, PhD, one of the scientists who worked on the study, said in a press release.

“Our study suggests that in early Alzheimer’s disease, changes occur in the nerve fibers linking the locus coeruleus to the olfactory bulb,” he continued. “These alterations signal to the microglia that affected fibers are defective or superfluous. Consequently, the microglia break them down.”

RELATED: Experts Warn This Common Medication May Be Linked to Dementia Risk.

What caused this degeneration?

The cause for this change remains slightly complicated, but the researchers believe it’s related to the movement of a fatty acid known as phosphatidylserine from the inside of an affected nerve fiber’s membrane to the outside.

“Presence of phosphatidylserine at the outer site of the cell membrane is known to be an ‘eat me’ signal for microglia,” Paeger explained. “In the olfactory bulb, this is usually associated with a process called synaptic pruning, which serves to remove unnecessary or dysfunctional neuronal connections. In our situation, we assume that the shift in membrane composition is triggered by hyperactivity of the affected neurons due to Alzheimer’s disease. That is, these neurons exhibit abnormal firing.”

While the research may not shed light on specific causes, it does help link a longstanding theory that changes in a person’s sense of smell could be used as an early detection tool for cognitive decline.

“Smell issues in Alzheimer’s disease and damage to the associated nerves have been discussed for some time. However, the causes were unclear until yet. Now, our findings point to an immunological mechanism as cause for such dysfunctions—and, in particular, that such events already arise in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,” Joachim Herms, PhD, a research group leader at DZNE and LMU and one of the study’s co-authors, said in the press release.

The takeaway:

Researchers in Germany have published study results suggesting that a loss of the sense of smell could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

Using brain data from mice and both diseased and living patients diagnosed with the condition, the team found that a degeneration of nerve fibers in the area of the brain stem that oversees smell appeared before the amyloid plaque that signifies middle and later phases of progression were spotted.

According to the press release, the early detection capabilities these findings suggest could help doctors begin effective treatment in the typically hard-to-spot early phases of the disease, thanks to newly developed therapies.

“Our findings could pave the way for the early identification of patients at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, enabling them to undergo comprehensive testing to confirm the diagnosis before cognitive problems arise,” Herms said. “This would allow earlier intervention with amyloid-beta antibodies, increasing the probability of a positive response.”

The post How Your Nose Can Predict Alzheimer’s Disease Years Earlier appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: 8 Best Supplements for Hair Growth, Doctors Say.

If you’ve noticed unexplained hair loss, you may need to turn your attention to your diet, as vitamin deficiencies are a surprising—yet somewhat common—cause for hair loss or hair thinning.

“A balanced diet is crucial for healthy hair growth,” explains dermatologist Zein Obagi, MD. “Certain nutritional deficiencies, such as inadequate iron, zinc, biotin, or protein intake, can impact the hair follicles’ ability to produce new hair strands.”

Though most people should be able to get the necessary vitamins and minerals through a balanced diet, “extreme or crash dieting can deprive the body of essential nutrients, including those crucial for maintaining healthy hair growth,” cautions Yoram Harth, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the medical director of MDhair.

On the flip side, sometimes getting too much of a vitamin can backfire. As Best Life recently reported, taking significantly more than the recommended amount of vitamin A in its form retinol (900 micrograms for men and 700 mcg for women) can cause hair loss.

“Taking too many supplements of the retinol kind over a prolonged period results in your hair follicles going into overdrive,” Michael May, FRCS, medical director and principal surgeon at London’s Wimpole Clinic, explained. “This means that your hair will reach the end of its development phase too rapidly and begin to fall out.”

However, when taken appropriately, vitamin A can actually stimulate hair growth.

Add hair loss to the list of reasons soda and other sugary drinks are bad for you.

A 2023 study found that men who drink one sugary beverage a day, or a total of one to three liters a week, are 30 percent more likely to experience male pattern hair loss (MPHL) compared to those who drank none. This included soda, energy drinks, juice, and sweetened coffee drinks.

As Best Life reported at the time, the researchers “speculated that sweet drinks could lead to higher blood sugar levels, which has been found to trigger hair loss.”

And now, a review published last month found that both sugary drinks and alcohol can lead to hair loss. To arrive at this finding, the researchers analyzed 17 studies involving 61,332 participants, 97 percent of whom were women.

RELATED: Dermatologist Says These Are the 3 Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair.

Dermal filler injections, used to treat wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance, can also cause hair loss, according to Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, a medical toxicology physician and interim executive director at National Capital Poison Center.

“When fillers are injected into the subcutaneous tissues, the small volume of fluid injected can cause pressure on blood vessels, blocking blood flow to nearby hair follicles,” she explains. “This is most commonly noted after filler injection into the forehead area. This type of hair loss frequently resolves over a period of several months.”

Hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are two popular types that can lead to hair loss in rare instances. However, Johnson-Arbor notes that Botox is also sometimes used to treat hair loss, “as it relaxes the scalp muscles and leads to potentially improved blood flow to the scalp.”

It’s not a myth that stress can cause your hair to fall out. Obagi notes that emotional and physical stress can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, resulting in hair loss or hair thinning.

“When a person experiences a significant life event, undergoes emotional distress, or endures physical trauma, their body may divert energy away from hair growth, leading to temporary hair loss or telogen effluvium,” he explains.

However, the dermatologist notes that this type of hair loss is often reversible once the stress is managed effectively.

“Hair loss can be an unintended side effect of certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants, beta-blockers, or hormonal treatments,” says Obagi. “These medications can disrupt the hair growth cycle or induce telogen effluvium.”

Cleveland Clinic explains, “Telogen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss caused by a stressor or change to your body.” It speeds up your hair’s natural growth-resting-shedding cycle so that more hair follicles enter that final phase at once.

Specifically, beta-blockers “change your body’s response to stress hormones, like adrenaline, to lower your heart rate and reduce blood pressure,” Brandi Cole, PharmD, pharmacist and nutritionist at Persona Nutrition, previously explained to Best Life. “These changes are thought to impact hair growth at the follicle and may stop new hairs from growing.”

Additionally, many people taking Ozempic and similar GLP-1 weight-loss medications have reported hair loss. Dermatologists say this is likely due to rapid weight loss sparking telogen effluvium.

If you suspect medication as the cause of hair loss, Obagi recommends consulting with a healthcare professional to explore alternative options or mitigate the effects.

RELATED: 17 Surprising Signs Your Hair Will Go Gray.

How you style your hair can also determine whether you get to keep it.

“Certain hairstyles that exert excessive tension on the hair follicles, such as tight ponytails, braids, or extensions, can lead to traction alopecia,” explains Obagi. This type of hair loss occurs when prolonged or excessive pulling on the hair follicles causes the hair strands to weaken and then break or fall out.

By opting for looser hairstyles and avoiding excessive heat, you can help prevent this form of hair loss.

If you’re using dry shampoo as directed and still washing your hair with soap and water regularly, you shouldn’t have a problem. “However, overusing it can cause issues like buildup on the scalp, clogged follicles, and even increased shedding if you’re prone to it,” trichologist Hannah Gaboardi recently told Harper’s Bazaar.

“The overuse of dry shampoo can affect the hair follicle and clog the pores. This can cause a delay in the natural hair cycle and slow it down. This blockage does not allow your hair follicles to receive the nutrients and oxygen flow it needs for healthy hair,” she added.

Chemical treatments, including chemical hair straighteners, have also been found to cause hair loss. In fact, a 2022 study found that besides their association with hair loss and scalp inflammation, these types of treatments were also linked to increased incidence of eczema, pain, burns, changes in hair color, and more.

In rare cases, hair loss can indicate a serious underlying condition, such as heavy metal poisoning or exposure to toxic heavy metals. Johnson-Arbor tells Best Life that thallium and arsenic poisoning are the two types most likely to cause hair loss.

“In the human body, these heavy metals interfere with normal cellular metabolism and function, disrupting hair growth and other organ functions,” she explains. “Hair loss associated with heavy metal poisoning is often diffuse in nature and is typically accompanied by other signs and symptoms, including confusion, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and gastrointestinal disturbances.”

RELATED: I’m a Dermatologist and I’d Never Do These 6 Things to My Hair.

Many people report greater hair loss in the fall and winter months—and if that happens, it’s likely nothing to worry about.

“In the summer, we tend to hold on to more hair to provide increased protection from the sun, and in the colder months, more hairs than normal fall out to make way for thicker hair growth for the winter,” Gökhan Vayni, a hair specialist at Vera Clinic, previously told Best Life.

“Excessive hair loss in winter is largely due to the dry air outside that dries moisture from your scalp,” Vayni added. “A dry scalp leads to dry hair, which in turn results in hair damage, breakage, and hair loss.”

If you notice unexplained hair loss, it’s important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They may want to screen you for certain autoimmune conditions, among other things.

“Autoimmune conditions, such as alopecia areata, can cause hair loss by mistakenly attacking the hair follicles,” says Obagi. “This results in the interruption of the hair growth cycle and subsequent hair loss. Treating the underlying autoimmune condition and seeking appropriate medical intervention can help manage hair loss in such cases.”

Finally, hormonal fluctuations can play a significant role in hair loss.

“Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause hormonal imbalances that impact the hair growth cycle,” Harth notes. “These changes can lead to temporary hair loss or even permanent hair thinning.”

Speaking with a healthcare provider specializing in hormonal health can help address the underlying causes and manage any associated hair changes.

The post 12 Sneaky Reasons You’re Losing Hair, According to Doctors appeared first on Best Life.

Between increased travel plans and more time spent indoors due to extreme heat waves, this creates the perfect breeding ground for COVID-19 infections. Keep reading to learn where levels are currently surging and expected to grow.

RELATED: Scientists Make Breakthrough Discovery to Diagnose Long COVID.

Stratus rates are up 22 percent from July, per the WHO.

Now might be a good time to get your updated COVID vaccine. CDC health officials are reporting a spike in positive test results and emergency room visits after two new COVID strains began circulating earlier this summer.

Both omicron subvariants, Nimbus (B. 1.8.1) accounted for nearly 50 percent of COVID cases in June, while XFG or “Stratus” picked up speed in July. Stratus is a mix of two earlier strains: LF.7 and LP.8.1.2. It’s considered the more serious of the two because of how rapidly it’s spreading across the country.

In a recent report, the World Health Organization (WHO) found Stratus to be “the most prevalent variant.” As of Aug. 3, it was linked to 60 percent of all COVID sequences—that’s a 38 percent increase from the month prior.

As Best Life previously explained, “Stratus has nine additional spike protein mutations compared to Nimbus. The WHO said some of these spike mutations have been shown to ‘enhance the evasion’ of antibodies. This essentially means that any antibodies you do have won’t be used as a defense mechanism against Stratus. In other words, your antibodies are useless in this case.”

COVID levels are surging in these 11 states:

The CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) can detect asymptomatic infections and viruses spreading within a community earlier than a clinical testing site or formal doctor diagnosis. Using that data, they’ve created an interactive map that shows “current wastewater viral activity level of SARS-CoV-2.”

For the week ending on Aug. 9, the U.S. region with the highest COVID-19 activity levels was the West. Viral activity levels were considered “very high” in:

• Nevada
• Utah
• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Texas

Moreover, six states had “high” levels:

• California
• Louisiana
• Alabama
• Florida
• South Carolina
• Connecticut.

RELATED: Getting COVID Could Age Your Body 5 Years, Shocking Research Finds.

However, a different report shows COVID-19 infections are “growing” in 36 states.

An Aug. 19 epidemic trend summary report from the CDC shows that COVID-19 infections are “growing ” or “likely growing” in 36 states. What’s even more concerning is that there is no evidence of rates “declining” or “likely declining” across the country.

Probability shows that COVID infections are “growing” in the following states:

• Washington
• Oregan
• Idaho
• California
• Nevada
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Colorado
• Texas
• Nebraska
• Kansas
• Arkansas
• Louisanna
• Mississippi
• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• West Virginia
• Virgina
• Pennsylvania

Their data also shows that COVID rates will “likely grow” in these areas:

• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin
• Maine
• New York
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• Maryland
• Delaware
• Washington D.C.

RELATED: Scientists Find Shocking Link Between COVID and Alzheimer’s.

How to protect yourself from COVID:

Despite surging COVID levels, people shouldn’t “panic,” according to senior clinical epidemiologist Ziyad Al-Aly, MD. However, it’s important to “be aware that numbers are now higher than they were a couple months ago,” he told The New York Times.

The COVID vaccine remains your strongest defense against Stratus. “Currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease,” per the WHO’s report.

However, access to the COVID vaccine might be harder to come by than the influenza vaccine due to changing health mandates imposed by our country’s current political climate.

As Best Life previously reported: “Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said access to COVID booster shots in the fall is likely to be restricted to adults aged 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or pregnancy.”

As always, if you start to experience COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone who tested positive, pick up an at-home test and rest. Reach out to your doctor if symptoms linger or worsen.

The post COVID Levels Are Surging in 11 States As Stratus Variant Spreads appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: If You Can Balance on One Leg for This Long, You’re in Great Shape, Doctors Say.

Hamstrings, a group of muscles found on the back of the thighs, perform a range of important functions, including stabilizing and extending the hip and knee joints, flexing the knee, and offering rotational control.

Sometimes a feeling of tightness in this area can be the result of overuse, injury, prolonged sitting, muscle imbalance, or poor posture. However, your nerves can be a less obvious trigger for that tight feeling you can’t seem to soothe with a stretch.

“More often than not, stretching only provides short-term relief, and then the tight sensation comes right back,” writes Cynthia Weiss, a healthcare communicator working with Mayo Clinic. “The reason for this has to do with how your body is triggering you and with the way your nerve and pain pathways work.”

Weiss explains that oftentimes, a feeling of stiffness in the hamstrings will not necessarily correlate with a lack of mobility or flexibility. Instead, this sensation can be a broader warning signal from your nervous system to your brain, alerting it to a threat.

“In essence, your body is hurting, so the nervous system is sending this message in hopes of getting your attention to slow your movements,” she says. “In some cases, the sensation of tightness and stiffness may signal an injury, but usually it is only an alert from the body in an attempt to help you avoid potential injury. It may tell the brain it is experiencing sensations such as warmth, vibration or light touch, which can be considered potential threats.”

From there, your brain might determine that the signal is actually harmful and act on it by sending a pain sensation to that area, or dismiss it without further action.

“Relating this back to stiffness, this sensation is simply a constant message being sent from the nerve endings about that muscle, and the brain is deciding that the message could potentially be harmful,” Weiss notes.

RELATED: Are You Fit Enough to Pass This “Old Man Test” That Measures Balance and Coordination?

Even if your nerves are more to blame than your functionality or flexibility, experts say that a combination of stretching and strength training—think squats and leg presses—provides long-lasting relief.

In fact, an April 2025 study found that people whose hamstrings were half as strong as their quadriceps were three times more likely to experience a hamstring injury.

As you reduce your odds of injury by strengthening and lengthening your muscles, “the nervous system becomes less concerned about injury because it no longer perceives weakness as a potential threat,” Weiss says.

Many experts also recommend trying dynamic hamstring stretches, which utilize controlled, continuous movements. Because the hamstrings span from the hips to the knees, these might include leg swings, hamstring scoops, and walking hamstring stretches, to name just a few. Supine stretches (those performed while lying down on your back) and standing stretches are equally protective, research shows.

And finally, it’s important to remember that all pain is processed in the brain, meaning it’s no less real. While muscle tightness or tenderness may not be the result of an injury—more a warning to reduce your future risk—it’s still important to listen to your body and adjust accordingly.

Be sure to perform proper warm-ups before physical activity, rest your muscles if you feel pain or fatigue, and seek immediate medical attention if you’re in severe or persistent discomfort.

The post The Surprising Reason Your Hamstrings Are Always Tight That Has Nothing to Do With Flexibility appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: Scientists Find Shocking Link Between COVID and Alzheimer’s.

What happens when blood vessels “age?”

As a 2006 study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal explains, the aging of blood vessels is known as vascular aging.

When this happens, the walls of the arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body) become stiffer and less flexible, which makes it harder for blood to flow. This, in turn, increases the risk for cardiovascular disease (including heart attack and stroke), high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney failure.

What’s the connection between COVID and vascular aging?

A new study published in the European Heart Journal concluded that a COVID infection, particularly in women, may lead to blood vessels aging around five years.

To arrive at their findings, the researchers analyzed the health data of 2,390 people from 16 different countries who were asked to participate between September 2020 and February 2022. They were divided into four groups:

• Never had COVID
• Had COVID but were not hospitalized
• Had COVID and were hospitalized generally
• Had COVID and were hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU)

The researchers then assessed each participant’s vascular age six and 12 months after a COVID infection. As the press release explains, they did this by using a device “that measures how quickly a wave of blood pressure travels between the carotid artery (in the neck) and femoral arteries (in the legs), a measure called carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). The higher this measurement, the stiffer the blood vessels and the higher the vascular age of a person.”

After adjusting for demographic and health factors, the team concluded the following:

• Women with mild COVID cases had a PWV increase of 0.55 meters per second
• Women who were hospitalized with COVID had a PWV increase of 0.60 meters per second
• Women who were admitted to the ICU with COVID had a PWV increase of 1.09 meters per second

To put this all in perspective, the researchers explain that a PWV increase of around 0.5 meters per second is “clinically relevant” and equivalent to aging around five years. In a 60-year-old woman, this increases the risk for cardiovascular disease by 3 percent.

It’s worth noting that vascular aging was less pronounced in those who had been vaccinated against COVID.

RELATED: These Common Meds May Be Helping COVID Spread in Your Body, Scientists Say.

How does COVID age your blood vessels?

As for how the COVID virus ages your blood vessels, the researchers have some theories.

“The Covid-19 virus acts on specific receptors in the body, called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, that are present on the lining of the blood vessels,” explains lead study author Rosa Maria Bruno, MD, PhD, a professor at the Université Paris Cité, France. “The virus uses these receptors to enter and infect cells. This may result in vascular dysfunction and accelerated vascular ageing. Our body’s inflammation and immune responses, which defend against infections, may be also involved.”

Bruno also addresses the fact that women experienced more significant vascular aging: “Women mount a more rapid and robust immune response, which can protect them from infection. However, this same response can also increase damage to blood vessels after the initial infection.”

She and her team will continue monitoring the study participants to better understand how their vascular aging progresses over the coming years.

“Vascular ageing is easy to measure and can be addressed with widely available treatments, such as lifestyle changes, blood pressure-lowering and cholesterol-lowering drugs,” Bruno concludes. “For people with accelerated vascular ageing, it is important to do whatever possible to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.”

The post Getting COVID Could Age Your Body 5 Years, Shocking Research Finds appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: Experts Warn This Common Medication May Be Linked to Dementia Risk.

Many older adults are deficient in vitamin B-12.

There are nine different types of B vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folate, B-6, and B-12—the last of which is associated with dementia protection.

New research out of Tufts University claims “while many elderly people may have B-12 levels that are in the ‘low to normal’ range, they are simultaneously developing neurological deficits linked to vitamin B-12 deficiency.”

The National Institute of Aging (NIA) recommends adults aged 50 and older get 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B-12 every day. This vitamin is naturally found in meat, fish, poultry, milk, and fortified breakfast cereals. However, as we age, our bodies can have difficulty absorbing B-12 from foods, which is why many doctors will advise older patients to take B-12 dietary supplements to prevent deficiency.

Irwin H. Rosenberg, MD, is a researcher and the Jean Mayer University Professor Emeritus at Tufts. In a news release, Rosenberg said the relationship between vitamin B-12 deficiency and cognitive decline, and therefore dementia, is “under-diagnosed and under-reported.”

“Age-related cognitive decline is not just Alzheimer’s,” he continued. “We’ve lumped together many kinds of brain dysfunction under one name. And in doing so, we’ve overlooked how critical blood vessels—and by extension, nutrition—are to preserving brain function.”

Nearly half of adults are unable to absorb “food-bound B-12” by the ages of 75 to 80. “This deficiency leads to a decline in nerve health, particularly in the spine and brain, which can contribute to the risk of developing dementia in older adults,” said Tufts researchers.

RELATED: This Little-Known Supplement Can Improve Your Memory, New Research Shows.

Can strong vitamin B levels ward off dementia effects?

In a previous Best Life interview, registered dietitian Michelle Saari, MS, RD, said evidence suggests “that B-12 can help in reducing brain atrophy and cognitive decline, particularly in older adults.”

Vitamin B-12 is “vital for the maintenance and repair of nerve cells, which benefits our brains. It helps in the formation of the protective covering of nerves, known as the myelin sheath,” further explained Saari, who works with EHealth Project.

“Without B-12, this sheath can deteriorate, leading to nerve damage. Healthy nerve cells are crucial for effective brain function, and B-12 plays a key role in ensuring the proper functioning and communication of these cells,” she added.

But if the correlation between B-12 deficiency and dementia risk is already “under-reported,” then the impact of this deficiency on Alzheimer’s is even more underrecognized.

Alzheimer’s disease develops when there is “an abnormal buildup of two proteins in the brain.” These proteins are called amyloid and tau, and when clustered together, they form “plaques and tangles which are believed to disrupt brain cell function.”

But according to Rosenberg, “cerebrovascular disease and small vessel disease, which in some cases are connected to B vitamin deficiency, is more prevalent with cognitive decline and dementia than the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain.”

And while that may be the case, a majority of Alzheimer’s research and medication development is concentrated on clustered proteins. “Treating people with drugs meant to address the protein buildup will not work if the cause of dementia symptoms is a B12 deficiency,” stated Rosenberg.

Looking towards the future, senior scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) are carrying out multiple vitamin B and brain aging studies to better understand these effects.

“This study should give us a good handle on whether B12 is related to cognitive decline and dementia. If so, hopefully we can identify a simple, inexpensive intervention that could be started years in advance and before real damage occurs,” said Paul Jacques, MS, ScD, HNRCA senior scientist and professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, who is involved in the research.

The post If You’re Getting Older, This Supplement Can Protect Against Dementia, Researchers Discover appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: Taking 1 Common Medicine Could Prevent 100,000 Heart Attacks A Year, Research Finds.

Blood pressure guidelines have been updated for the first time since 2017.

At the beginning of the year, the AHA released its annual update, warning that someone in the U.S. dies of cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds—2,500 people every single day.

“If recent trends continue, hypertension and obesity will each affect more than 180 million U.S. adults by 2050, whereas the prevalence of diabetes will climb to more than 80 million,” said Dhruv S. Kazi, MD, a cardiologist, health economist, and AHA volunteer. “And over the same time period, we expect to see a 300 percent increase in health care costs related to cardiovascular disease.”

Prior to the report, the AHA released a new heart disease risk calculator called PREVENT (Predicting Risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs), which can predict one’s risk at age 30, 10 years younger than previous tools. It also includes, for the first time, one’s risk of heart failure, in addition to heart attack and stroke, as well as kidney health, which contributes to heart disease risk.

Now, the AHA has used PREVENT to inform its updated high blood pressure guidelines.

“By addressing individual risks earlier and offering more tailored strategies across the lifespan, the 2025 guideline aims to aid clinicians in helping more people manage their blood pressure and reduce the toll of heart disease, kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, and dementia,” said Chair of the guideline writing committee Daniel W. Jones, MD, FAHA, dean and professor emeritus of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi, in a press release.

RELATED: Doctors Discover the Optimal Time to Take Your Blood Pressure Medicine.

7 recommendations from the new blood pressure guidelines:

To be clear, blood pressure criteria have not changed.

“Blood pressure is measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg),” explains the National Library of Medicine. “The readings are always given in pairs, with the upper (systolic) value first, followed by the lower (diastolic) value.”

Systolic blood pressure is the force exerted when the heart beats, pumping blood into the arteries. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure on the blood vessels when the heart muscle relaxes between beats. Ranges are:

• Normal blood pressure: Less than 120/80 mm Hg
• Elevated blood pressure: 120-129/80 mm Hg
• Stage 1 hypertension: 130-139 mm Hg or 80-89 mm Hg
• Stage 2 hypertension: ≥140 mm Hg or ≥90 mm Hg

Since 46.7 percent of U.S. adults have stage 1 or 2 hypertension (classified as “high blood pressure”), the AHA has seven recommendations in its guidelines.

RELATED: Lowering Your Blood Pressure Can Reduce Dementia Risk by 15%, Scientists Say.

1. Limit sodium intake

The average American consumes 3,500 mg per day of sodium, most of which comes from packaged and processed foods. However, the AHA recommends “limiting sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day, moving toward an ideal limit of 1,500 mg per day.”

Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, an obesity medicine physician at Drugwatch, previously told Best Life that “Sodium is important in regulating fluid balance through the kidneys. It is commonly said that ‘water follows salt,’ meaning that when sodium is consumed in excess, it leads to water retention.”

“As more water is retained, this can lead to increased blood volume and arterial stress, which can increase blood pressure,” she explained.

2. Limit alcohol intake

Ideally, the AHA says you’ll consume no alcohol. However, at a minimum, they suggest “consuming no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women.”

This recommendation follows similar guidance from former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, who issued a warning to Congress naming alcohol as a leading preventable cause of cancer.

Not only is alcohol full of empty calories, which can cause weight gain that leads to high blood pressure, but it also has a direct effect on the cardiovascular system.

“Drinking elevates our blood levels of a hormone called renin, which can cause blood vessels to narrow. This effect, combined with renin’s ability to decrease our urine output, raises blood pressure,” Toni Golen, MD, wrote in an article for Harvard Health Publishing. “The more often someone drinks, the more likely the habit will produce blood pressure readings beyond normal levels.”

3. Reduce stress

“The body releases a surge of hormones when under stress. These hormones cause the heart to beat faster and the blood vessels to narrow. These actions increase blood pressure for a time,” explains Mayo Clinic.

To manage stress levels, the AHA suggests exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, or yoga.

4. Maintain a healthy weight

A paper published in the AHA journal Circulation Research states that 65 to 75 percent of the risk for human primary hypertension can be attributed to excess weight, especially when centered around dangerous visceral fat.

“Broadly speaking, when the body carries extra weight, the heart has to work harder,” notes the Obesity Medicine Association. “Increased oxygen and nutrient demands increase cardiac output.”

Visceral fat, the belly fat that surrounds the kidneys, stomach, liver, and intestines, can exacerbate the risk of high blood pressure because it puts extra strain on the organs.

Therefore, the AHA recommends “maintaining or achieving a healthy weight, with a goal of at least a 5 percent reduction in body weight in adults who have overweight or obesity.”

RELATED: Doctors Warn Up to 30% of People With High Blood Pressure Have This Undiagnosed Condition.

5. Follow the DASH diet

The AHA says the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is the most heart-friendly. They explain that it “emphasizes reduced sodium intake and a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and low-fat or nonfat dairy, and includes lean meats and poultry, fish and non-tropical oils.”

Research shows that the DASH diet can also help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia.

6. Increase physical activity

“Regular exercise makes the heart stronger. A stronger heart can pump more blood with less effort,” explains Mayo Clinic. “So, the force on the blood vessels goes down. This lowers blood pressure.”

For this reason, the AHA recommends “increasing physical activity to at least 75-150 minutes each week including aerobic exercise (such as cardio) and/or resistance training (such as weight training).”

7. Monitor blood pressure at home

“Home blood pressure monitoring is recommended for patients to help confirm office diagnosis of high blood pressure and to monitor, track progress and tailor care as part of an integrated care plan,” states the AHA.

This is important because just this week, research came out that up to 30 percent of hypertension cases may be missed by traditional blood pressure cuffs at the doctor’s office.

“It is important for people to be aware of the recommended blood pressure goals and understand how healthy lifestyle behaviors and appropriate medication use can help them achieve and maintain optimal blood pressure. Prevention, early detection and management of high blood pressure are critical to long-term heart and brain health, which means longer, healthier lives,” Jones concluded.

The post 100s of Thousands of Americans Could Be Saved by 7 New Blood Pressure Guidelines appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: This Common Sleep Habit Could Raise Heart Attack and Stroke Risk by 26%, New Study Finds.

A new study looked at the connection between air pollution and blood pressure.

The latest research comes from a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. A team of researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine organized 154 participants with an average age of 41, who lived near major roads or highways.

The group had a mean baseline blood pressure of 118.8/76.5 mmHg at the outset of the study. For reference, “Your blood pressure is high when you have consistent systolic readings of 130 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic readings of 80 mm Hg or higher,” explains the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The researchers set each participant up with either a high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filter or a “sham” version of the device in their homes. They took each participant’s blood pressure and waited a full month before reading it again. The team then instituted another month-long “washout” period during which the devices were removed completely before repeating another month with the opposite device from their first cycle, so that each participant was able to experience both.

HEPA filters helped “significantly reduce” blood pressure.

At the end of the three months, researchers analyzed any changes in blood pressure among the participants. Results found that there was a 2.8 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure (SBP) following the month they had a true HEPA filter running in their homes.

On the other hand, the team recorded a slight increase in SBP in the wake of running the “sham” filters of 0.2 mmHg. In both cases, there were no significant changes in diastolic blood pressure. Given the two figures, the team concluded that using a HEPA filter provided a 3.0 mmHg difference.

RELATED: Eating Dark Chocolate May Slash Your Blood Pressure, New Research Reveals.

Air pollution could be a cardiovascular health risk.

Because the study’s participants resided close to major roadways, one of the most significant takeaways from the study is that the quality of our environment could potentially create health complications. It’s also far from the first study to suggest such a connection.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in November 2023 looked at blood pressure data from 16 participants between the ages of 22 and 45. The group was instructed to drive in traffic in Seattle for three days. The first two days, unfiltered air was allowed into the car. On the third, researchers installed a HEPA filter to scrub the air, most notably removing dangerous PM 2.5 particles that are a part of air pollution.

All participants had their blood pressure recorded every 24 hours during the study. Results found that participants had a 4.5 mmHg increase in their readings when breathing the unfiltered air, with the spike lasting for up to 24 hours. Experts said the findings weren’t surprising.

“PM 2.5 particles can get through the lining of blood vessels and into the circulatory system, affecting the heart and vascular tone, including arterial stiffness,” Loren Wold, PhD, a researcher and professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and an expert on the cardiovascular effects of air pollution, told MedicalNewsToday. “That’s what causes elevated blood pressure.”

Here’s what the results could mean for you.

The UConn researchers admitted there were a few limitations to their study, including the fact that the participant pool lacked socioeconomic diversity or people taking blood pressure medication. But even though the use of a HEPA filter appeared to only lead to a slight drop in participants’ readings, it was still significant.

“The medical literature shows that even at that magnitude there can be a meaningful benefit in terms of reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart attack and stroke,” Douglas Brugge, PhD, the study’s lead author and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at UConn Health, told NBC News.

The team also said their findings warrant further research.

“Overwhelming evidence shows the harmful health effects of PM2.5 exposure, even at levels below current U.S. standards,” Jonathan Newman, MD, an associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, wrote in an editorial comment accompanying the study. “As healthcare professionals, we must educate the public and support policies that protect clean air and improve the health of all Americans.”

RELATED: Taking 1 Common Medicine Could Prevent 100,000 Heart Attacks A Year, Research Finds.

The takeaway.

A new study found that using a HEPA filter could help lower your blood pressure. Researchers found that participants (who lived near busy roads or highways) who had one installed in their homes saw a 3.0 mmHg drop in their readings compared to when they had a “sham” filter installed in their house.

“High blood pressure remains one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease,” Brugge said in a press release. “This research adds to growing evidence that simple interventions, like in-home air filtration, may help improve heart health for people at risk.”

The post Scientists Discover 1 Home Gadget That Can “Significantly Reduce” Your Blood Pressure appeared first on Best Life.

However, in the U.S., colon cancer remains the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Perhaps even more troubling is the fact that 10 percent of these colon cancer cases are being diagnosed in Americans under age 50, with that number steadily rising about two percent each year.

But new results from a clinical trial offer more than just a glimmer of hope in the fight against colorectal cancer. Researchers from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center published findings that an “off-the-shelf” cancer vaccine showed “encouraging early results in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer, two of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies,” states a press release.

RELATED: Colon Cancer Risk Drops With This 1 Simple Snack, Groundbreaking New Study Finds.

How would a colon cancer vaccine work?

These final trial results were published in the journal Nature Medicine and showed how the vaccine, called ELI-002 2P, can stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

The vaccine targets tumors driven by KRAS gene mutations. According to MD Anderson Cancer Center, “KRAS mutations are present in approximately 25 percent of tumors, making them one of the most common gene mutations linked to cancer.” They are responsible for about 50 percent of colorectal cancers and 90 percent of pancreatic cancers.

“This is an exciting advance for patients with KRAS-driven cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer, where recurrence after standard treatment is almost a given and effective therapies are limited,” said first study author Zev Wainberg, MD, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and researcher in the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We observed that patients who developed strong immune responses to the vaccine remained disease-free and survived for much longer than expected.”

To arrive at their findings, Wainberg and his team analyzed the health data of 20 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (which accounts for over 80 percent of pancreatic cancers) and five patients with colorectal cancer, all of whom “had undergone surgery and showed signs of minimal residual disease, or traces of cancer DNA in the blood that often signal relapse,” notes the press release. After a 20-month follow-up, the researchers found that:

• 21 out of 25 patients 21 generated KRAS-specific T cells (immune cells), many of which persisted over time
• In 3 pancreatic and 3 colorectal cancer patients, the biomarkers associated with the tumor were completely cleared
• Patients with higher T-cell responses had a longer relapse-free survival compared to those with lower T-cell responses
• 17 patients developed immune responses to additional tumor-associated mutations, suggesting potential for broader anti-tumor activity

The other important distinction about the ELI-002 2P vaccine is that it would be “off-the-shelf,” meaning it functions in a standardized way, as opposed to many other cancer treatments that need to be personalized for each patient.

“Targeting KRAS has long been considered one of the difficult challenges in cancer therapy,” Wainberg added. “This study shows that the ELI-002 2P vaccine can safely and effectively train the immune system to recognize and fight cancer-driving mutations. It offers a promising approach to generating precise and durable immune responses without the complexity or cost of fully personalized vaccines.”

RELATED: Doctors Say This Cheap Drug May Be a “Game Changer” for Preventing Colon Cancer.

Another cancer vaccine is in the works.

A new mRNA vaccine (the same technology behind the COVID vaccine) has also shown very early positive results in treating all tumor types.

“By pairing an mRNA-style vaccine with traditional cancer immunotherapy drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, [researchers] were able to generate a tumor-fighting response in the rodents, suggesting that the technology could be used to boost the body’s immune system to protect against cancer,” Best Life explained of the study.

The next phase for this vaccine is a human trial.

The post Colon Cancer Vaccine Gets One Step Closer to Reality appeared first on Best Life.

In answer to that question, Cleveland Clinic says most people visit the restroom between four and 10 times a day, and empty their bladders seven times a day on average. Any more than that, and it’s worth discussing with your doctor, their experts say.

According to urologist S. Adam Ramin, MD, the medical director of Urology Cancer Specialists in Los Angeles, feeling like you have to pee all the time can actually indicate two similar but distinct issues: Frequent urination and excessive urination.

“Frequent urination means frequent urges that drive a person to the bathroom to empty the bladder,” says Ramin, explaining that in this scenario, the body may still be making the right amount of urine.

“Excessive urination, on the other hand, means the body produces urine quickly, requiring the need to go to the bathroom frequently. In excessive urination, a high volume of urine production leads to the bladder reaching its fill capacity frequently,” he tells Best Life.

While nothing can take the place of a doctor’s evaluation of your specific symptoms, knowing the most common causes behind a constant urge to go can be a good place to start. Read on for seven suspects behind your frequent need to pee, according to urologists.

RELATED: Doctor Shares 3 Easy Ways to Stop Peeing So Much at Night.

Inflammation can trigger more frequent urination, as in the case of a urinary tract infection and other genitourinary tract infections.

“When bacteria enter the urinary tract, they cause urinary tract infections,” explains Martina Ambardjieva, MD, a urologist and the in-house medical expert for bedbible.com. “Bacteria irritate the wall and cause inflammation of the bladder and urethra. This makes you urinate more often, but usually with a small amount of urine.”

Other symptoms can include pain while urinating or pain in your lower back. UTIs are typically treated with antibiotics.

If you suspect you may be dealing with a UTI, know that it’s extremely common. Cleveland Clinic states that about half of females will get a UTI at some point, and doctors treat 8 to 10 million people each year for UTIs.

Your mental health can have a tremendous effect on your physical health, and that includes your urinary system.

“Frequent urination may sometimes be a reaction to anxiety or stress. It might be related to your body’s natural fight-or-flight response to stress,” Ambardjieva tells Best Life.

However, she admits that “scientists still don’t know what brain pathophysiological processes cause stress to affect the micturition reflex,” making it a difficult issue to address.

Ambardjieva says that sometimes an abnormal structure in the body resulting from a pathological condition can cause a frequent need to pee. This can include cancerous or benign (non-cancerous) tumors in or near the bladder, a pelvic mass, bladder stones, and other obstructions.

To rule out the most serious possibilities, your doctor may begin by performing a non-invasive urinalysis test or opt for a cytology test.

Having an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is another common mechanical cause that affects millions of men, mostly over the age of 50.

“BPH puts pressure on the urethra due to a prostate that has grown larger, which can block the flow of urine. As a result, this irritates the bladder so that even the slightest amount of urine can cause the bladder to contract, triggering the need to urinate,” explains David Samadi, MD, a prostate cancer surgeon and urologist located in New York City.

RELATED: What Happens to Your Body When You Hold Your Pee, According to Doctors.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition that causes the bladder muscle to involuntarily contract, even when the bladder is almost empty.

“People with overactive bladder will feel a sudden, strong urge to get to a bathroom right away. If left untreated, it can lead to urinary incontinence,” explains Samadi.

Lifestyle changes, pelvic floor exercises, and medication may all help alleviate your symptoms.

You might not guess that your frequent need to urinate could be due to a spinal nerve irritation or injury, but Ramin says this neurogenic cause could be to blame.

Mount Sinai experts explain that this can occur because “neurological disorders and injuries to the nerves can interfere with the nerve messages between the brain and muscles that control the bladder and cause problems with bladder control and emptying (voiding dysfunction).”

Several underlying conditions can be associated with this type of irritation or injury, including Alzheimer’s, cerebral palsy, stroke, nerve disorders, diabetes, and Parkinson’s.

Infections caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are another common cause of frequent urination.

“A multitude of bacteria and viruses, including Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Herpes simplex, may infect the urethra and produce urethritis,” says Ambardjieva. “Urethritis may also induce frequent urination.”

Staying up to date on testing can help ensure you receive prompt treatment if an STD is behind your symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s important for most people to be tested for STDs at least once a year. However, they urge that “those who have multiple or anonymous partners” should be tested more often—every three to six months.

RELATED: 12 Safe and Easy Ways to Poop Instantly.

Ambardjieva adds that certain foods and beverages—alcohol, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners, for example—have a diuretic effect, which could increase your urge to urinate.

Similarly, many medications “are designed to clear the body of any extra fluid that may be present. As a direct result of this, they cause the patient to have to urinate more often,” she says.

Lithium, SGLT2 inhibitors used to treat diabetes (such as Jardiance and Farxiga), SSRIs (including Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac), Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), antihistamines, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), alpha blockers used to treat high blood pressure like (Flomax), the blood pressure medicine clonidine, and benzodiazepines can all cause excessive urination, according to GoodRX.

The post Doctors Reveal 7 Reasons You Feel Like You Have to Pee All the Time appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: The 5 Best Colors to Wear If You Sweat a Lot, Experts Say.

Excessive facial sweating is known as hyperhidrosis.

If your face sweats regularly and excessively, you could be suffering from hyperhidrosis, a condition that most often causes irregular sweating from the face, armpits, feet, or the palms of the hands. It can be especially noticeable in the face and scalp, an area of the body with a high concentration of sweat glands.

People with this condition (2 to 5 percent of the population) sweat four to five times more than the average person, and their sweating often occurs in the absence of normal stimuli—meaning even without added heat or humidity, symptoms persist. Right now, up to 365 million people across the globe are believed to have hyperhidrosis.

Though people with hyperhidrosis may experience facial sweating at any time, there are certain circumstances that make it more likely to occur. Common triggers include humid or hot weather, eating spicy foods, and even mild exercise.

Feeling stressed, anxious, or afraid can also increase your sweat levels, according to a 2009 study.

RELATED: Suffering From Night Sweats? These Simple and Safe At-Home Remedies Can Help.

An underlying condition or certain medications could be to blame.

Studies have shown that between 30 and 50 percent of people with hyperhidrosis have a family history of the condition. However, it can also be caused by one of several underlying maladies that make it more likely; when this happens, it is known as secondary hyperhidrosis.

Conditions that can lead to excessive sweating include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, menopause, and spinal cord injury. Sweating can also be a side effect of several medications, including certain kinds of antidepressants.

Certain medications can lead to hyperhidrosis as a side effect as well. The most common is the antidepressant bupropion, commonly branded as Wellbutrin, which causes excessive sweating in one out of every five people taking it.

Other medications that can cause hyperhidrosis include migraine medications and certain over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Opioids are also known to cause excessive sweating. People who take medication to treat more serious conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease have also reported hyperhidrosis as a side effect.

RELATED: 11 Best Sweat-Proof Makeup Items, Beauty Experts Say.

These medications and procedures treat hyperhidrosis.

If your hyperhidrosis is the result of an underlying condition, treating that condition may help the sweating resolve on its own. Otherwise, the following treatments can help:

Prescription antiperspirant

Think antiperspirant is only for your underarms? Think again.

“Some people may find relief from using an over-the-counter antiperspirant or prescription medication specifically designed for the face,” says board-certified dermatologist Allison Leer, MD.

Facial antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride or aluminum chlorohydrate, which shrink and block the pores to prevent sweat from escaping, she explains, though it’s worth noting that these can sometimes agitate sensitive skin.

Anticholinergics

Your doctor may also prescribe an oral medication known as an anticholinergic, which can help minimize sweating throughout the body.

A 2015 study found that oxybutynin, an anticholinergic prescribed under the brand names Oxytrol or Ditropan, is effective in treating hyperhidrosis, as it blocks the acetylcholine receptors on sweat glands.

Botox

“Botox injections are used to significantly decrease the activity of nerves impacting the sweat glands,” says Shawnda Dorantes, APRN, FNP-C, nurse practitioner and founder of Beauty Lounge Medical Spa. “Sometimes, several treatments are necessary for the injections to begin working. Fortunately, the injections can help with face sweat symptoms for up to 12 months.”

Of course, when you use Botox for sweat, there will also be other side effects, such as paralysis of the forehead (a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your preference!).

Mental health medications

Because the sweat glands in the face, scalp, hands, feet, and armpits are often activated by emotional responses such as stress and anxiety, certain mental health medications may help resolve the problem. Beta blockers, which work by lessening the effects of adrenaline and lowering blood pressure, may help reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, including excessive sweating.

Lontophoresis

Another treatment option is lontophoresis, a procedure in which a doctor runs a low-level electrical current through the body while the patient is submerged under water. However, experts say this is more effective for those with sweating in the hands, feet, and armpits, rather than the face.

Surgery

In more extreme cases, your doctor may also recommend surgery to remove sweat glands or block the nerves connected to your sweat glands.

Natural remedies

If you’re not ready to try clinical intervention just yet, there may be ways to improve your symptoms at home.

Bathing regularly, applying antiperspirant frequently, and using unscented face powder to absorb excess moisture can all help reduce your sweat. Additionally, avoiding hot and humid weather, limiting your intake of spicy foods and caffeine, and drinking plenty of water may improve some of your symptoms.

Professional makeup artist Mary Winkenwerder suggests carrying around rice paper with you.

“When you feel a major glow coming on, pull out a single sheet of rice paper and gently blot the area with a press and roll motion,” she suggests. If you’re blemish-free, you can use one sheet of paper on the entire face. However, if you have a pimple or two, “use more than one sheet per face zone to eliminate the spread of the breakouts,” Winkenwerder adds.

Speak with your doctor to determine whether your at-home remedies will suffice or if clinical treatment is necessary.

The post Is Your Face Always Sweaty? This Could Be Why—And What to Do About It appeared first on Best Life.

“Ibuprofen is used so frequently because it works effectively, it can be absorbed quickly, and is available everywhere. To be fair, the occasional dose (once or twice a week, or just after an injury) usually does not cause big problems,” shares double board-certified pain expert Thomas Pontinen, MD. “The issue is taking two, maybe three, tablets every morning ‘just in case,’ or reaching for it after every minor ache.”

“What most people do not realize is that chronic use, even at ‘safe’ over-the-counter doses of 400 to 600 milligrams per day, builds a slow, cumulative toll,” he continues. “That kind of routine always puts a strain on your organs, and you do not need to be popping eight pills a day to end up in trouble. I have seen people end up with acute kidney injury after taking just two Advil tablets daily for three weeks straight.”

Ahead, doctors explain all the ways that taking Advil too regularly can wreak havoc on your health.

RELATED: Doctors Warn This Popular Med Is “The Most Dangerous OTC Drug.”

When it comes to overusing ibuprofen, Pontinen says your kidneys are particularly vulnerable.

“NSAIDs restrict blood flow through the renal arteries, which over time impairs the filtration process, and that can mean a drop in kidney function over prolonged use, even with low-dose regular use,” he states.

“It may not be a big deal at 28 years old, but at 48, add some dehydration, high blood pressure, or other health complications, and you might be at risk of chronic kidney disease,” he adds.

“The average person taking daily ibuprofen without food is essentially sanding down the protective mucus layer in the stomach and small intestine,” cautions Pontinen. “This can lead to bleeding or ulcers, even without symptoms.”

“Many chronic ibuprofen users think that if they are not feeling heartburn, they are in the clear, but that isn’t accurate at all,” he adds. “I have seen patients whose hemoglobin levels dropped significantly in just a few months, without any external bleeding or symptoms, after taking NSAIDs daily.”

“It is also not unusual for someone on chronic NSAIDs to need two or three extra days in the hospital just to stabilize after a complication,” Pontinen notes. “NSAIDs put thousands of people in the hospital every year.”

RELATED: ​​What Happens If You Take Benadryl Before Bed Every Night, Doctors Say.

“For people diagnosed with conditions like Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), even regular doses of ibuprofen can cause flare-ups and result in blood in stools, abdominal pain, and other GI symptoms,” cautions Rani Aravamudhan, MD, a senior medical director at Nomi Health.

If these conditions worsen, microscopic, slow bleeds from the stomach and intestines could develop over time, which puts you at risk for developing iron deficiency anemia.

John-Paul Andersen, PhD, the chief pharmaceutical scientist at Phi Health, warns that long-term ibuprofen use can also contribute to heart troubles.

“Research shows that chronic NSAID use may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke,” he explains. “This increase in risk applies even to people without previous heart disease, though it’s greater for those who do have heart conditions.”

“Notably, serious cardiovascular side effects can arise within the first weeks of daily ibuprofen use, and the risk continues to rise the longer you take it,” he continues. “Regular ibuprofen has also been associated with higher blood pressure and even heart failure in susceptible individuals.”

In fact, over the past 20 years, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has twice issued warnings that NSAIDs can increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

RELATED: Experts Warn This Common Medication May Be Linked to Dementia Risk.

If you take Advil often to treat headaches, it could actually backfire.

“Frequent use of pain relievers, including ibuprofen, may lead to ‘rebound’ or medication-overuse headaches over time,” says Andersen.

According to Mayo Clinic, accompanying symptoms may include nausea, restlessness, trouble concentrating, or irritability. However, they note that “medication overuse headaches most often go away after stopping the pain medicine.”

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, is a frustrating condition that affects 15 to 20 percent of people, especially older adults, according to Mayo Clinic.

Though it’s often brought on by age-related hearing loss or an ear injury, it can also be caused by circulatory problems.

Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, medical director for Saint Mary’s Urgent Care Group in Reno, Nevada, tells Best Life that taking ibuprofen for a prolonged time can bring on tinnitus by “reducing the amount of blood that flows to the inner ear.”

Of course, before taking any new medication, always speak to your doctor.

“The lesson here is simple–it is perfectly safe to use OTC ibuprofen for a headache or fever or after a minor injury for a few days at a time,” says Aravamudhan. “If pain, inflammation, or fever does not resolve within 5-7 days of taking OTC ibuprofen, it’s best to talk to a physician or other healthcare provider to ensure that further investigation and examination are done for an appropriate diagnosis.”

“In such cases, where longer-term anti-inflammatory therapy is needed, it is critical that people follow their doctor’s orders and are monitored for side effects appropriately,” she adds.

The post What Really Happens When You Take Advil Every Day, Doctors Say appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: 50% of Colon Cancer Cases in Young People Tied to 1 Common Factor, Researchers Discover.

The rise of liver cancer is a “looming crisis,” health experts warn.

The global incidence of liver cancer cases is projected to double by 2050, according to a new analysis published in the journal The Lancet. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with a majority of cases occurring in China, America, Japan, and India. It’s the fifth and ninth most common cancer in men and women, respectively, per the World Cancer Research Fund.

Data shows there were 870,000 cases of liver cancer in 2022. At this rate, that number is expected to skyrocket to more than 1.5 million in 2050. It’s an “alarming projection,” wrote the authors.

“Liver cancer is a growing health issue around the world. It is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately five percent to 30 percent. We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a century without urgent action to reverse this trend,” Jian Zhou, PhD, lead author and University of China professor, told The Guardian.

The good news is that researchers have identified the three leading causes of liver cancer. Through health screenings and target management, they believe at least 60 percent of cases could be prevented.

RELATED: Your Diet Could Raise Lung Cancer Risk by 44%, Shocking New Research Finds.

Viral infections, obesity, and increased alcohol intake are the leading causes of liver cancer.

A majority of liver cancer cases can be traced back to viral infections, such as hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (Hep C). While both hepatitis viruses attack the liver, they differ in transmission, severity, and treatment. Notably, HBV is preventable with a vaccine, while Hep C is not.

In 2022, 39 percent of liver cancers were attributed to HBV, and Hep C accounted for 29.1 percent of cases. Both of these statistics are projected to drop between 2.1 and 3.2 percent by 2025.

But experts are predicting a higher prevalence of liver cases linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic disease (MASLD) and alcohol consumption.

“MASLD is emerging as a major contributor to the epidemiology of liver cancer, driven by rising obesity and diabetes and ageing populations. About a third of adults worldwide have MASLD,” wrote the authors.

According to Cleveland Clinic, MASLD manifests when there is a buildup of fat in the liver. Obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are all MASLD contributors.

Metabolic dysfunction accounted for eight percent of liver cancer cases in 2022. Per the analysis, a 10.8 percent increase is projected for 2025. Meanwhile, alcohol-caused liver cancer is said to jump from 18.8 percent to 21.1 percent in 2050.

“Liver cancer was once thought to occur mainly in patients with viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease. However, today, rising rates of obesity are an increasing risk factor for liver cancer, primarily due to the increase in cases of excess fat around the liver,” Hashem B. El-Serag, MD, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine, told The Guardian.

RELATED: High Body Fat Linked to 78% Greater Risk of Death—How to Know If You’re in Danger.

How to reduce your risk:

In a positive outlook, experts say 17.3 million new cases of liver cancer could be prevented “through targeted management of modifiable risk factors,” including reduced alcohol consumption and weight control. This could end up “saving around 15.1 million lives over the next 25 years.”

“Compared with other cancers, liver cancer is very hard to treat but has more distinct risk factors, which help define specific prevention strategies. With joint and continuous efforts, we believe many liver cancer cases can be prevented, and both the survival and quality of patients with liver cancer will be considerably improved,” added coauthor Valérie Paradis of Beaujon hospital in France.

The post Doctors Warn Liver Cancer Cases Could Double by 2050—But You Can Reduce Your Risk appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: This Is the No. 1 Heart Attack Symptom People Ignore, Doctors Say.

These are the most commonly cited diabetes symptoms.

First, it’s important to understand the difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

The former “is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas for unknown reasons,” explains Cleveland Clinic. It affects about 10 percent of those with diabetes and is typically diagnosed in childhood or early adulthood.

With type 2 diabetes, “your body doesn’t make enough insulin and/or your body’s cells don’t respond normally to the insulin (insulin resistance),” Cleveland Clinic states. It is more commonly associated with lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity.

Diabetes can come with a wide range of symptoms or none at all—especially in its earliest stages. These symptoms often include frequent urination, increased hunger and thirst, blurry vision, numbness or tingling in the extremities, dry skin, slow-healing sores, and repeated infections, says the CDC.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to discuss them with your doctor. The sooner you have a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin managing your blood sugar.

RELATED: Eating These 2 Beans Slashes Your Risk of Heart Disease and Diabetes, New Study Finds.

This is the diabetes symptom people most often ignore.

Several symptoms of diabetes are subtle and may be misattributed to other causes. However, experts say one symptom regularly flies under the radar of doctors and patients alike.

“The diabetes symptom that is most often overlooked is fatigue, because there are so many other potential causes of it,” explains David Culpepper, MD, clinical director of the telehealth company LifeMD. “Many people have other potential reasons for feeling fatigued, such as overwork, stress, not enough sleep, depression or other mood disorders, or even recovering from COVID, so those experiencing fatigue from diabetes are likely to attribute it to one of these other factors.”

In fact, a 2015 study published in the Industrial Psychiatry Journal found that 68 percent and 53 percent of those with type 2 diabetes suffer from fatigue and depression, respectively.

“Diabetic patients were 10.37 times and 4.80 times more likely to suffer from fatigue and depression respectively,” the study states. “Both fatigue and depression were found to be significantly associated with duration of illness, fasting and post prandial blood glucose level, diabetic complications and Body Mass Index (BMI).”

One way to determine whether your fatigue is the result of diabetes is to pay attention to when you experience it. Though fatigue experienced at any time may indicate a blood sugar imbalance, Culpepper says fatigue after a meal—a symptom known as postprandial somnolence—is especially suggestive of the condition.

RELATED: Experts Raise Alarm on The Most Lethal Disease in America: “It’s Killing Every 34 Seconds.”

Here’s how to lower your diabetes risk.

The best way to lower your diabetes risk is by eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. In fact, one large study found that people who reduced their body weight by seven percent saw a 60 percent reduced risk of later developing diabetes, says the American Diabetes Association.

For this reason, the organization advises that individuals with pre-diabetes should aim to lose a minimum of seven to 10 percent of their body weight to slash diabetes risk. Mayo Clinic says the best way to achieve this is by “skipping fad diets” in favor of eating more plant-based foods and healthy fats, while exercising regularly.

If you are concerned about your diabetes risk, speak with your doctor or other healthcare provider.

The post This Is the No. 1 Diabetes Symptom People Ignore, Doctors Say appeared first on Best Life.

RELATED: COVID-Like Vaccine Could Help Cure “Every Single Cancer Patient,” Scientists Announce.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lung cancer “is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for the highest mortality rates among both men and women.”

In the U.S., it’s the second most common cancer in both men and women, if you omit skin cancer (prostate cancer is the most common among men and breast cancer among women).

However, as the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports, “Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.”

There are two main types of lung cancer: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the latter of which grows more slowly and accounts for 87 percent of U.S. cases.

For decades, it’s been established that smoking is the main driver of lung cancer. Both in the U.S. and worldwide, approximately 85 percent of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking tobacco, whether via cigarettes, pipes, or cigars.

Other well-documented causes of lung cancer include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and exposure to chemicals such as radon, asbestos, or diesel exhaust. But new research finds that your diet could also be a major risk factor.

RELATED: Experts Sound the Alarm on Rare Cancer That’s Quadrupled in Young People.

A new study links higher ultra-processed food consumption with an increased risk of lung cancer.

A new study, published in the respiratory journal Thorax, concluded that a higher intake of ultra-processed food (UPF) correlates with an increased risk for lung cancer.

To arrive at these findings, the researchers analyzed the health data of more than 100,000 people aged 55 to 74 from the years 1993 to 2001. “Cancer diagnoses were tracked until the end of 2009 and cancer deaths until the end of 2018,” notes a press release.

The participants completed Food Frequency questionnaires that divided what they ate into four categories:

• Unprocessed or minimally processed
• Containing processed culinary ingredients
• Processed
• Ultra processed

Examples of ultra-processed foods included ice cream and frozen yogurt, baked goods, salty snacks, breakfast cereals, instant noodles, store-bought soups and sauces, soft drinks, and hot dogs. However, the three most commonly consumed UPFs were:

• Lunch meat (11%)
• Diet or caffeinated soft drinks (just over 7%)
• Decaffeinated soft drinks (nearly 7%)

The team found that participants who consumed the most UPFs were 41% more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than those who ate the fewest. “Specifically, they were 37% more likely to be diagnosed with NSCLC and 44% more likely to be diagnosed with SCLC,” states the press release.

“Industrial processing alters the food matrix, affecting nutrient availability and absorption, while also generating harmful contaminants,” said the researchers, noting that packaging materials are likely also playing a role. They added that acrolein, a toxic component of cigarette smoke, can be found in grilled sausages and caramels.

“These findings need to be confirmed by other large-scale longitudinal studies in different populations and settings….If causality is established, limiting trends of UPF intake globally could contribute to reducing the burden of lung cancer,” they concluded.

RELATED: Colon Cancer Risk Drops With This 1 Simple Snack, Groundbreaking New Study Finds.

Ultra-processed foods are also linked to the rise of colon cancer in young people.

This is certainly not the first time ultra-processed foods have made headlines for their role in increasing cancer risk.

As Best Life reported last year, a study published in the journal Nutrients found that a typical Western diet high in ultra-processed foods was behind the alarming surge in colon cancer in Americans under age 50.

“A high-fat, low-fiber diet has been associated with intestinal dysbiosis, which disrupts intestinal bacterial homeostasis. An increased inflammation state characterizes dysbiosis and may promote an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and suppress antitumor immune surveillance,” stated the study.

A second study published in the journal Gut had similar findings.

“It is well known that patients with unhealthy diets have increased inflammation in their bodies,” said Timothy Yeatman, MD, FACS, a physician-scientist and professor of surgery in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and associate center director for Translational Research and Innovation at the TGH Cancer Institute, in a press release.

“We now see this inflammation in the colon tumors themselves, and cancer is like a chronic wound that won’t heal—if your body is living off of daily ultra-processed foods, its ability to heal that wound decreases due to the inflammation and suppression of the immune system that ultimately allows the cancer to grow,” he added.

The post Your Diet Could Raise Lung Cancer Risk by 44%, Shocking New Research Finds appeared first on Best Life.

Obesity alone can increase the chance of mortality, while also putting individuals at greater risk for other comorbidities, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. But new research says the way we measure obesity risk is outdated and results in misdiagnoses.

RELATED: 10 Best Ways to Strip Away Your Unhealthiest Belly Fat, According to Doctors.

BMI vs. body fat: How the measurements differ

Body fat percentage is “far more accurate” at predicting risk of heart disease and death than body mass index (BMI), according to a new research analysis published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine.

Researchers involved in the study “urged physicians to move away from BMI as the standard body composition measure,” per a news statement shared by University of Florida Health.

BMI measures “the ratio of your height to your weight to estimate the amount of body fat you have,” according to Cleveland Clinic. An “optimum” or healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. Someone is considered overweight if their BMI is between 25 to 29.9, and obese if they have a BMI of 30 or above.

A higher BMI typically indicates a higher amount of body fat. However, “BMI alone doesn’t diagnose health” and “it’s not accurate in some cases,” says the clinic.

Meanwhile, body fat percentage is determined using a bioelectrical impedance device. It “measures the electrical impedance of body tissues and can be used to assess fluid volumes, total body water, and fat-free body mass,” as explained in the study.

Lead researcher Arch Mainous, PhD, called body fat percentage a “practical alternative” for body mass index.

“One of the routine measures we take alongside traditional vital signs is BMI. We use BMI to sort of screen for a person having an issue with their body composition, but it’s not accurate for everyone like vital signs are,” said Mainous, who is also a professor and vice chair of research at the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Community Health and Family Medicine.

RELATED: If You Can Lift This Many Pounds, You’re in Great Shape, Doctors Say.

BMI is more likely to miss health risks and misdiagnose people as obese.

One of the biggest hiccups with BMI is that it can’t differentiate muscle mass from fat mass. In other words, someone who is extremely muscular (like athletes or bodybuilders) could be under the impression that they’re “obese” due to a higher-than-normal BMI. But that would be inaccurate, because the BMI equation doesn’t account for muscle mass.

“Body mass index can potentially misclassify individuals with a muscular physique as overweight or obese,” wrote the authors. Moreover, patients with a “normal” BMI but “elevated” body fat percentage “may be unaware of their significantly increased risk of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.”

The team also noted that BMI categories “inaccurately predict both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.”

RELATED: Experts Raise Alarm on The Most Lethal Disease in America: “It’s Killing Every 34 Seconds.”

Research shows high body fat can significantly increase the risk of death.

A new study makes a strong case for using body fat percentage over BMI scores.

Researchers analyzed the health data of 4,252 adults, ages 20 to 49, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They conducted a statistical analysis comparing body mass index to body fat percentage (the latter via a bioelectrical impedance device) to see which was more accurate at calculating 15-year mortality outcomes.

According to their results, there was only 60 percent overlap accuracy between the two measurements. Individuals with high body fat had a 78 percent greater risk of death. Additionally, they were at a 3.6 times increased risk of heart disease-caused mortality.

What’s more is that over the 15 years, high BMI was not linked to a significant risk of all-cause mortality. And there was no considerable link to death by heart disease, either.

The authors note that bioelectrical impedance scales are “inexpensive, reliable, valid, and can be easily integrated into a clinic setting.” (You might even see them in your gym—mine has one!)

“BMI is just so ingrained in how we think about body fat,” said Mainous. “I think the study shows it’s time to go to an alternative that is now proven to be far better at the job.”

The authors concluded: “This study demonstrates the value of a new and relatively unused measure of body composition to predict health risk…These results suggest rethinking how we should measure body composition in the clinical setting.”

The post High Body Fat Linked to 78% Greater Risk of Death—How to Know If You’re in Danger appeared first on Best Life.

And as the World Health Organization (WHO) points out, more than 80 percent of cardiovascular deaths are caused by heart attacks and strokes, with one third of these deaths occurring prematurely in patients aged 70 years or younger. Therefore, recognizing the signs of a heart attack—especially those that are more subtle—is one of the best ways to prevent a sudden and life-threatening episode.

RELATED: Taking 1 Common Medicine Could Prevent 100,000 Heart Attacks A Year, Research Finds.

Half of all Americans are at heightened risk of a heart attack.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly half of Americans are believed to be at heightened risk of a heart attack. That’s because “half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking.”

Other factors may also compound this risk: The presence of other underlying health conditions, certain lifestyle factors, advanced age, and a family history of heart problems are all associated with higher rates of heart attack.

“Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control,” says the CDC. These include quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and treating underlying health conditions.

RELATED: Cardiologist Says These 3 Blood Tests Could Save You From Heart Disease.

This is the number one heart attack symptom people ignore.

Earlier this month, researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington published a paper titled “Heart attacks don’t follow a Hollywood script.”

“Many patients don’t experience the dramatic, big-screen version of a heart attack,” explains a press release. “Instead, symptoms can be complex and even mild.”

Basically, the researchers want the public to understand that cardiac episodes aren’t necessarily accompanied by intense, stabbing chest pains and a person collapsing.

“We often tell people chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack, but what we don’t tell them is what they might actually feel,” Ann Eckhardt, a nursing professor and researcher at The University of Texas at Arlington, explained. “For a lot of people, it’s not pain in the traditional sense. It’s more discomfort, pressure, tightness. They just don’t feel quite right, but they can’t really put their finger on it.”

In speaking with Best Life, Richard Wright, MD, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, says he completely agrees with this sentiment.

“Although it is possible to have severe chest pain during heart injury, most of the time the signs and symptoms are more subtle,” Wright notes. “Usually, people describe a feeling of oppressive discomfort and a heavy feeling that they don’t call ‘pain,’ most often located in the center of the chest.”

Some patients may describe this sensation as one of pressure, squeezing, or fullness, the CDC notes.

Wright adds that this discomfort may also present “in other areas of the body above the waist, including the left side of the chest, the neck and throat, the lower jaw, either shoulder, and/or the upper arms (most commonly the left arm).”

This feeling can last for several minutes uninterrupted, or stop and start.

RELATED: The Best and Worst Supplements for Heart Health, Doctors Say.

Be aware of these additional symptoms of a heart attack.

Wright adds that several other heart attack symptoms are similarly nonspecific and therefore easy to overlook. These include “a cold sweat, nausea, indigestion, heartburn, belching, ‘feeling poorly,’ and/or shortness of breath.”

The cardiologist notes that these types of symptoms “are far more common in older people and particularly in older women, as they typically don’t have heart attacks until 10 years after most men have heart attacks.

“Thus, although it is said that women feel heart attacks differently than do men, most of the time this is related to the fact that they are older at the time of their event,” he explains. “It is commonplace that older people fail to appreciate that their symptoms are related to an ongoing heart attack, and simply think that they are ‘ill’—perhaps related to a gastrointestinal problem.”

Don’t attempt to evaluate possible heart attack symptoms alone.

If you’re unsure whether you’re having a heart attack, do not ignore your concerns. It’s crucial to seek medical attention so a doctor can help assess your condition.

“Unfortunately, there is no simple way that someone can determine whether they themselves are having a heart attack if they have these signs or symptoms,” says Wright. “To distinguish whether these problems are related to a possible heart attack, an electrocardiogram, blood tests, or imaging studies are usually required—and typically these are only available in a medical environment.”

“If someone is concerned that they might be suffering from a heart attack, they need to immediately contact their medical professional, [go] to an emergency room, or call for paramedic assistance,” he urges.

Speak with your doctor for more information on possible heart attack symptoms, and call 911 immediately if you believe you may be experiencing heart attack symptoms.

The post This Is the No. 1 Heart Attack Symptom People Ignore, Doctors Say appeared first on Best Life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning about the deadly mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, which is gaining prevalence in South Asia and Europe, and now affecting U.S. travelers. Here’s everything we know.

RELATED: New COVID Strain Is Spreading, WHO Warns—The #1 Symptom to Know.

What is the chikungunya virus?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans by the bites of infected female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, also known as tiger mosquitoes. This species is also linked to the Zika virus.

If you live in tropical regions with warm temperatures and high humidity, you know mosquitoes are most active in the hours after sunset. However, tiger mosquitoes tend to attack “primarily during daylight hours,” says the WHO.

Although rarely fatal, the chikungunya virus can cause “an abrupt onset” of symptoms. These typically appear within four to eight days post-bite and can linger up to 12 days—though, in most cases, mild symptoms subside by the third day. Chikungunya is known for causing “debilitating” joint pain that can last for weeks or months.

“The name ‘chikungunya’ derives from a word in the Kimakonde language of southern Tanzania, meaning ‘that which bends up and describes the stooped appearance of infected people with severe joint pain (arthralgia),'” explains the WHO.

Other common symptoms of the chikungunya virus include:

• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Rash

In healthy people, full recovery is expected. However, the elderly and people who are pregnant or immunocompromised are at higher risk. In more advanced cases, hospitalization might be necessary as the virus can cause:

• Eye, heart, and neurological complications
• Organ damage
• Death

RELATED: Researchers Warn Hantavirus Has “Pandemic Potential”—How to Stay Safe.

Where is the chikungunya virus spreading?

Chikungunya isn’t spreading locally in the U.S., but there have been incidences of travelers bringing the virus into the country. Thus far in 2025, the CDC has reported 45 travel-associated cases of chikungunya. This refers to people who became infected with chikungunya while in another country, prior to visiting/returning to the U.S.

As Best Life previously reported, “It’s not endemic in the U.S., mainly reported in travelers returning from affected areas in Asia, Africa, or the Indian Ocean, per the CDC. However, in late 2013, local transmission of the virus (meaning mosquitoes in the area were infected and spreading the virus to people) was reported in Caribbean countries and territories. The following year, the virus was reported in U.S. travelers returning from these affected areas in the Americas, with local transmission then identified in Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

But now, chikungunya cases are ramping up across the globe.

“Chikungunya is not a disease that is widely known, but it has been detected and transmitted in 119 countries globally, putting 5.6 billion people at risk,” WHO medical officer Diana Rojas Alvarez, PhD, said in a recent press conference, as reported by Science Alert.

The virus has made landfall in Madagascar, Somalia, and Kenya, with epidemic transmission also occurring in South Asia. “One-third of the population of Reunion is estimated to have been infected already,” said Rojas Alvarez.

A chikungunya outbreak has also been confirmed in the Indian Ocean islands, which is fueling local transmission in Europe—specifically in France and possibly Italy.

Rojas Alvarez said, “these patterns of transmission” have medical experts on high alert.

“Because these patterns of transmission were seen in the outbreak from 2004 onwards, WHO is calling for urgent action to prevent history from repeating itself,” she said.

RELATED: Experts Warn Flesh-Eating Bacteria Is Rising at Beaches—How to Stay Safe.

Is there a vaccine for the chikungunya virus?

The IXCHIQ vaccine (made by Valneva) is currently available for adults 18 and over. It’s a “live-attenuated vaccine,” which means it “uses a weakened form of the chikungunya virus to prompt an immune response to help prevent disease,” per the CDC. It was licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Nov. 2023.

“According to a press release from Valneva, the single-dose shot might also be considered for those traveling to an area where there is evidence of transmission (not a full outbreak) in the last five years. This includes travelers older than 65 with underlying conditions who have a moderate risk of exposure to mosquitoes, and those traveling for longer than six months. It is also recommended for laboratory workers who could be exposed to chikungunya,” Best Life previously explained.

The post Deadly Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Virus Shows Up in U.S. Travelers—How to Stay Safe appeared first on Best Life.

However, there are also an estimated 18.1 million cancer survivors living stateside, thanks in part to the fact that research and technology continue to improve our ability to detect the disease early and treat it effectively. But what if the long-sought-after goal of curing or preventing cancer altogether were somehow a reality? Scientists now say that a new COVID-like mRNA vaccine could help cure “every single cancer patient” based on new research.

RELATED: 85% of Unvaccinated Women Will Likely Get This Virus—And New Research Links It to Heart Disease.

New research suggests mRNA vaccines could fight tumors.

In a study published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering on July 18, a team of researchers at the University of Florida (UF) shared a groundbreaking discovery made in a lab experiment conducted on mice.

By pairing an mRNA-style vaccine with traditional cancer immunotherapy drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, they were able to generate a tumor-fighting response in the rodents, suggesting that the technology could be used to boost the body’s immune system to protect against cancer.

“This paper describes a very unexpected and exciting observation: that even a vaccine not specific to any particular tumor or virus—so long as it is an mRNA vaccine—could lead to tumor-specific effects,” Elias Sayour, MD, PhD, the study’s lead other and a UF Health pediatric oncologist, said in a press release. “This finding is a proof of concept that these vaccines potentially could be commercialized as universal cancer vaccines to sensitize the immune system against a patient’s individual tumor.”

How do mRNA vaccines work?

If the term “mRNA vaccine” is giving you flashbacks to the pandemic, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. The technology was put to use in the production of COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and currently remains as one of the only widespread uses of the treatment, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Like other vaccines, mRNA versions work by priming the body to fight off potential invaders and pathogens that can be harmful. However, this new technology doesn’t rely on using dead or weakened versions of a virus (or parts of a virus) to generate an immune system response and provide antibodies.

These vaccines use mRNA (or the molecule that transports the blueprints for protein production in our cells) that provides the information needed for the body to produce specific proteins.

So, how does it work in practice? In the case of COVID-19, this means shots carry the mRNA required for cells to produce the virus’s unique spike protein. Cells then produce this single piece, which the body then sees as an invader and begins an immune response to remove it, creating a roadmap that helps protect against future infections by the genuine virus.

The mRNA injected into the body as part of the vaccine breaks down within days after receiving the shot (as does all mRNA in the human body as part of cell metabolism).

The development of safe and effective mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines that have saved countless lives was developed and administered quickly, but the technology they’re based on has been the subject of intense research since the 1970s, according to Cleveland Clinic.

After finally developing a way to administer mRNA without the body destroying it outright over the last few decades, the technology was first approved seven years ago for a drug used to treat a rare nerve disorder before it was used during the pandemic.

RELATED: 50% of Colon Cancer Cases in Young People Tied to 1 Common Factor, Researchers Discover.

The latest study builds on other promising research.

Last year, Sayour successfully used mRNA technology to treat glioblastoma (an aggressive form of brain tumor) in a human trial. In this case, patients received mRNA shots based on the specific tumor cells taken from their bodies that allowed the immune system to mount a more “vigorous” response, according to a press release.

For the latest study, scientists used mRNA technology to treat different forms of cancer in mice. However, instead of drawing specific cells and manufacturing vaccines specific to each tumor, the scientists saw success when experimenting with a general version administered alongside a typical form of monoclonal antibody used in cancer treatment.

For the next phase of the experiment, researchers treated mice with brain, skin, and bone cancers using only the mRNA vaccine. Even without the use of additional treatments, the team noted “beneficial effects,” with some tumors even being completely eradicated by the technology.

RELATED: Doctors Detect Cancer 3 Years Before Diagnosis in Groundbreaking New Study—Here’s How.

What does it mean for the future of cancer treatment?

The team concluded that mRNA vaccines could be an effective tool in spurring the body into using its resources to fight off different forms of cancer.

“This study suggests a third emerging paradigm,” Duane Mitchell, MD, PhD, one of the study’s co-authors, said in a press release. “What we found is by using a vaccine designed not to target cancer specifically but rather to stimulate a strong immunologic response, we could elicit a very strong anticancer reaction. And so this has significant potential to be broadly used across cancer patients—even possibly leading us to an off-the-shelf cancer vaccine.”

Mitchell added that while there is a great chance mRNA technology could be used in conjunction with other treatments, there’s a significant chance that the vaccine itself could be an effective treatment in the future. The team said they were now working to further their research by launching a human clinical trial after finalizing new formalizations.

“This could potentially be a viable approach for every single cancer patient,” Sayour said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

RELATED: 14 Cancer Types Are Increasing in Americans Under 50, Shocking New Research Finds.

The takeaway:

The same technology that helped save countless lives during the COVID-19 pandemic may now be able to do the same against another formidable foe: Cancer.

Researchers at the University of Florida found that mRNA vaccines prompted a robust immune response in mice with different forms of the disease. Remarkably, the team saw positive results when using a more generalized version of the vaccine than had been used in previous studies—in some cases by removing tumors entirely.

“It could potentially be a universal way of waking up a patient’s own immune response to cancer,” Mitchell said in a press release. “And that would be profound if generalizable to human studies.”

The post COVID-Like Vaccine Could Help Cure “Every Single Cancer Patient,” Scientists Announce appeared first on Best Life.