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Type 2 Diabetes: How Nitrates in Meat and Other Foods Can Increase Risk,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/type-2-diabetes-how-nitrates-in-meat-and-other-foods-can-increase-risk,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/type-2-diabetes-how-nitrates-in-meat-and-other-foods-can-increase-risk,2023-01-17T11:01:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

Nitrates and nitrites are found naturally in soil and water. They are also used in foods to preserve shelf life.
Researchers say nitrates and nitrites found in processed meat and other foods can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Experts point out, however, that some nitrates and nitrites, such as those found in vegetables, can help improve blood pressure as well as gut health.

Consumption of foods and drinks containing nitrates and nitrites can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study published today in PLOS Medicine.

The NutriNet-Sante project is a web-based study initiated in 2009. In the new study, researchers accessed data collected for the cohort NutriNet-Sante from 104,168 participants.

The participants, all 15 years and older, voluntarily self-report their medical history and information on their diet, lifestyle, and significant health updates.

The scientists in the new study looked at detailed nitrite and nitrate exposure data based on the participants’ self-reported diet data.

What researchers found in nitrates study

Nitrites and nitrates occur naturally in soil and water. They are also used in foods, such as highly processed meats, to increase their shelf life.

The researchers reported that participants who reported higher intakes of nitrites had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“This was a groundbreaking study since, as of now, there has not been a consensus on whether nitrites/nitrates are harmful or beneficial regarding insulin resistance and metabolic health,” said Dr. Caroline Messer, an endocrinologist at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York.

“Some animal studies suggested that nitrates/nitrites improve glucose tolerance, while other experimental studies drew the opposite conclusion. Researchers have not explored this properly, except for a small prospective human study in Iran,” Messer told Healthline. “No study has distinguished between food and water sources of nitrites/nitrates versus food additive sources. Given the imminent possibility of nitrite/nitrate bans around the world (to address cancer concerns), this question has recently become even more relevant.”

The study authors reported an association between nitrites and nitrates and type 2 diabetes. However, they noted an association is not the same as causation.

“More research needs to be done so we can give recommendations on what level of nitrate intake might cause health risks as well as if naturally occurring nitrates impact health the same way as nitrates added to food do,” Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDES, a registered dietitian and the author of “2 Day Diabetes Diet,” told Healthline.

Nitrates and nitrites

Some health advocates warn about the dangers of nitrates and nitrites and point to their potential to contribute to the development of cancer.

“Food companies use nitrates as preservatives in processed foods, particularly meats, to stop the growth of bacteria and extend shelf life,” said Dr. Najia Hussain, DO, a specialist in endocrinology at NYU Langone in New York.

“Those notably higher in nitrate content (in the form of sodium nitrate) include ham, bacon, deli meat, and hot dogs,” she told Healthline. “Nitrates are also widespread in our environment and are naturally found in water and plant foods, such as leafy and root vegetables.

“Our bodies convert nitrates into nitric oxide, which has several essential physiological functions, including vascular and metabolic,” Hussain explained. “There has been longstanding debate on whether excess nitrate intake can harm us and whether we should ban these substances as food additives.”

Some studies link nitrates and nitrites with colon, kidney, and stomach cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Where nitrates and nitrites are found

Nitrates and nitrites occur naturally in soil, water, and the human body. Bacteria and enzymes in our bodies break down nitrates, resulting in nitrites that turn to nitric oxide. This chemical is integral to the health of our blood vessels, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular health.

Vegetables with nitrates are responsible for about 85% of our consumption of nitrates, according to the Institute of Food Technologists.

“I think this study helps support a longstanding discussion that nitrates found in processed foods that can be harmful,” Hussain said. “The new piece of evidence we learned is that even nitrates found naturally in food and water can be harmful. Can we conclude that water and plant foods are inherently harmful for this reason? No, but perhaps the amount of nitrates in our environment after generations of soil contamination and pollution may hold some answers.”

Some European countries, such as France and the United Kingdom, have considered banning or reducing nitrates and nitrites in processed meats because of their link to cancer.

Avoiding all nitrates and nitrites isn’t necessarily the answer.

Some nitrates might help to reduce bacterial growth and infection in the gastrointestinal tract and help to regulate blood pressure.

“To minimize exposure to nitrites, one should consider checking labels for sodium and potassium nitrites or limiting one’s intake of processed meats such as bacon, ham, and salami,” said Messer.

“I would not recommend limiting foods naturally high in nitrates,” Palinksi-Wade said. “Some of these foods, such as beetroot, offer benefits such as reducing blood pressure levels (which is very important to people with diabetes who are at a greater risk of heart disease).”

“At this time, there are more positive benefits from consuming these foods (primarily vegetables) than limiting/avoiding them,” Palinksi-Wade added. “If you are concerned about nitrates, focus on reducing your intake of heavily processed foods that use nitrates as a preservative, but don’t avoid vegetables.”","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/deli-meats-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""Some hot dogs and deli meat on a table""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Ftype-2-diabetes-how-nitrates-in-meat-and-other-foods-can-increase-risk&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F01%2Fdeli-meats-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Type%202%20Diabetes%3A%20How%20Nitrates%20in%20Meat%20Can%20Increase%20Risk"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/deli-meats-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Nitrates and nitrites can be found in processed meats but also in vegetables and other foods. Dejan Beokovic/Stocksy</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>Nitrates and nitrites are found naturally in soil and water. They are also used in foods to preserve shelf life.</strong></li><li><strong>Researchers say nitrates and nitrites found in processed meat and other foods can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.</strong></li><li><strong>Experts point out, however, that some nitrates and nitrites, such as those found in vegetables, can help improve blood pressure as well as gut health.</strong></li></ul>

<p>Consumption of foods and drinks containing <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-nitrates-and-nitrites-harmful#what-are-nitrates-and-nitrites"">nitrates and nitrites</a> can increase your risk of developing <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes"">type 2 diabetes</a>, according to a <a href=""https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004149"">study</a> published today in PLOS Medicine.</p>

<p>The <a href=""https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03335644"">NutriNet-Sante project</a> is a web-based study initiated in 2009. In the new study, researchers accessed data collected for the cohort NutriNet-Sante from 104,168 participants.</p>

<p>The participants, all 15 years and older, voluntarily self-report their medical history and information on their diet, lifestyle, and significant health updates.</p>

<p>The scientists in the new study looked at detailed nitrite and nitrate exposure data based on the participants’ self-reported diet data.</p>

<h2><a>What researchers found in nitrates study</a></h2>

<p>Nitrites and nitrates occur naturally in soil and water. They are also used in foods, such as highly processed meats, to increase their shelf life.</p>

<p>The researchers reported that participants who reported higher intakes of nitrites had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.</p>

<p>“This was a groundbreaking study since, as of now, there has not been a consensus on whether nitrites/nitrates are harmful or beneficial regarding insulin resistance and metabolic health,” said <a href=""https://endocrineonfifth.com/dr-caroline-messer-about"">Dr. Caroline Messer</a>, an endocrinologist at Lennox Hill Hospital in New York.</p>

<p>“Some <a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25461274/"">animal studies</a> suggested that nitrates/nitrites improve glucose tolerance, while other experimental studies drew the opposite conclusion. Researchers have not explored this properly, except for a small prospective human <a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34653411/"">study</a> in Iran,” Messer told Healthline. “No study has distinguished between food and water sources of nitrites/nitrates versus food additive sources. Given the imminent possibility of nitrite/nitrate bans around the world (to address cancer concerns), this question has recently become even more relevant.”</p>

<p>The study authors reported an association between nitrites and nitrates and type 2 diabetes. However, they noted an association is not the same as causation.</p>

<p>“More research needs to be done so we can give recommendations on what level of nitrate intake might cause health risks as well as if naturally occurring nitrates impact health the same way as nitrates added to food do,” <a href=""http://erinpalinski.com/"">Erin Palinski-Wade</a>, RD, CDES, a registered dietitian and the author of “2 Day Diabetes Diet,” told Healthline.</p>

<h2><a>Nitrates and nitrites</a></h2>

<p>Some health advocates warn about the dangers of nitrates and nitrites and point to their potential to contribute to the development of cancer.</p>

<p>“Food companies use nitrates as preservatives in processed foods, particularly meats, to stop the growth of bacteria and extend shelf life,” said <a href=""https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1609220854/najia-hussain"">Dr. Najia Hussain</a>, DO, a specialist in endocrinology at NYU Langone in New York.</p>

<p>“Those notably higher in nitrate content (in the form of <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-sodium-nitrate-bad-for-you"">sodium nitrate</a>) include ham, bacon, deli meat, and hot dogs,” she told Healthline. “Nitrates are also widespread in our environment and are naturally found in water and plant foods, such as leafy and root vegetables.</p>

<p>“Our bodies convert nitrates into <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nitric-oxide-foods"">nitric oxide</a>, which has several essential physiological functions, including vascular and metabolic,” Hussain explained. “There has been longstanding debate on whether excess nitrate intake can harm us and whether we should ban these substances as food additives.”</p>

<p>Some studies link nitrates and nitrites with <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/latest-advancements-for-colon-cancer-treatment"">colon</a>, <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-cancer/kidney-cancer-treatments"">kidney</a>, and <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/stomach-cancer-surgery"">stomach cancer</a>, according to the <a href=""https://progressreport.cancer.gov/prevention/nitrate#:~:text=When%20taken%20into%20the%20body,may%20cause%20cancer%20in%20humans."">National Cancer Institute</a>.</p>

<h2><a>Where nitrates and nitrites are found</a></h2>

<p>Nitrates and nitrites occur naturally in soil, water, and the human body. Bacteria and enzymes in our bodies break down nitrates, resulting in nitrites that turn to nitric oxide. This chemical is integral to the health of our blood vessels, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular health.</p>

<p>Vegetables with nitrates are responsible for about 85% of our consumption of nitrates, according to the <a href=""https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/food-technology-magazine/issues/2019/january/features/are-nitrates-and-nitrites-misunderstood"">Institute of Food Technologists</a>.</p>

<p>“I think this study helps support a longstanding discussion that nitrates found in <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health-news/youll-eat-more-if-your-diet-consists-of-processed-foods"">processed foods</a> that can be harmful,” Hussain said. “The new piece of evidence we learned is that even nitrates found naturally in food and water can be harmful. Can we conclude that water and plant foods are inherently harmful for this reason? No, but perhaps the amount of nitrates in our environment after generations of soil contamination and pollution may hold some answers.”</p>

<p>Some European countries, such as France and the United Kingdom, have considered <a href=""https://www.just-food.com/news/france-to-cut-nitrites-in-food-because-of-cancer-risk/"">banning or reducing nitrates and nitrites</a> in processed meats because of their link to cancer.</p>

<p>Avoiding all nitrates and nitrites isn’t necessarily the answer.</p>

<p>Some nitrates might help to reduce bacterial growth and infection in the gastrointestinal tract and help to regulate blood pressure.</p>

<p>“To minimize exposure to nitrites, one should consider checking labels for sodium and potassium nitrites or limiting one’s intake of processed meats such as bacon, ham, and salami,” said Messer.</p>

<p>“I would not recommend limiting foods naturally high in nitrates,” Palinksi-Wade said. “Some of these foods, such as beetroot, offer benefits such as reducing blood pressure levels (which is very important to people with diabetes who are at a greater risk of heart disease).”</p>

<p>“At this time, there are more positive benefits from consuming these foods (primarily vegetables) than limiting/avoiding them,” Palinksi-Wade added. “If you are concerned about nitrates, focus on reducing your intake of heavily processed foods that use nitrates as a preservative, but don’t avoid vegetables.”</p>

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TV Host Samantha Harris Says her Breast Cancer Was Misdiagnosed for Months,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/tv-host-samantha-harris-says-her-breast-cancer-was-misdiagnosed-for-months?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/tv-host-samantha-harris-says-her-breast-cancer-was-misdiagnosed-for-months,2023-02-15T15:00:00+00:00,"The former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ host shares how becoming her own advocate saved her life and why she’s passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga with the breast cancer community.

Share on Pinterest

Just before she turned 40, Samantha Harris, Emmy-winning TV Host and bestselling author, had her first mammogram. Her results came back clear.

However, 11 days later, she felt a lump on her breast, prompting her to visit her OB/GYN who assured her it was nothing. A month after that, she saw her internist, who told her the same thing.

“[That] inner voice was just screaming at me to have this ‘nothing lump’ looked at by someone who looks at breasts every day and knows what to look for,” Harris told Healthline.

She sought out a surgical oncologist, who ordered two ultrasounds and a biopsy. Still, neither detected cancer.

“[This] is where we need to listen to our guts, but also find experts who listen to their guts. My oncologist said, ‘[The] biopsy said it wasn’t cancer, but I want to take it out anyway with a lumpectomy,’” recalled Harris.

A week later, in March 2014, the pathology report showed that she had stage 1 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which means the tumor grows and develops in response to the hormones estrogen or progesterone. About two out of three breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive, reports the American Cancer Society.

The fact that a mammogram didn’t detect Harris’ cancer isn’t unusual, said Dr. Jeffrey B. Hargis, breast medical oncologist at Norton Cancer Institute. While mammography is the best available screening tool for detecting all kinds of breast cancer, in most women, the test is not 100 percent accurate.

“You can have a palpable breast mass [and] imaging studies look normal, mammogram, ultrasound, three-dimensional mammogram, possibly MRI [look normal], but biopsy shows unequivocal breast cancer,” Hargis told Healthline.

Pushing to get answers set the course for early treatment for Harris.

“The biggest lesson I learned through my early cancer journey is that we must be our best own healthcare advocates and we need to know our bodies better than anyone else,” she said.

Undergoing treatment and recovery

Most cancers are treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and various drug therapies, depending on the tumor, how advanced it is, and its aggressiveness, said Susan Brown, MS, RN, senior director of health information and publications at Susan G. Komen.

“When a tumor is hormone receptor-positive, hormone therapy is part of the standard treatment plan, along with surgery, and sometimes, radiation therapy,” Brown told Healthline. “Each cancer is different, and each person is different, so personalized care is offered based on both medical and personal choices.”

Harris chose to have a double mastectomy and during the surgery, her doctor discovered that the cancer spread to her lymph nodes, which meant it was stage 2.

Based on her type of cancer and the fact that genetic testing did not show she is high risk, she decided against chemotherapy or radiation. However, she took tamoxifen for eight years, a medication that reduces the risk of cancer recurrence.

“From the time the cancer first began to grow until it was big enough for her to feel it, we worry about cancers that broke off elsewhere in her body,” said Hargis. “[The] wonderful thing that has saved lives by the thousands is [tamoxifen], which kills off those microscopic cells.”

Leaning into lifestyle changes and yoga

In addition to adhering to treatment, Hargis said diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices are important, including maintaining an ideal body weight, eating four to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and limiting alcohol consumption.

“We know alcohol is one of the very few things that a female can take besides hormone replacement therapy, that actually increases her risk of getting breast cancer,” he said.

As far as exercise, he said data shows engaging in rigorous pseudo-aerobic movement for four to five hours per week can cut risk of recurrence by about 30%.

While Harris was healthy before her diagnosis, after she learned she had cancer, she leaned into eating more healthily, exercising, and prioritizing self-care, such as practicing meditation and breathwork. However, yoga was her go-to.

“I had an incredible amount of anxiety that I had never experienced in my life after my diagnosis and feelings of overwhelm, and I wish I had immediately at that time had the tools that now I have developed as I moved into my healthiest, healthy life,” she said.

Now, when she feels stressed or anxious, she turns to breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, and yoga to calm her.

While she practiced yoga before her diagnosis, she said it was mostly for the extrinsic look of it.

“I loved the strength and muscle definition that you saw on people’s arms who were dedicated yogis and here I was on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ hosting and standing next to these dancers with incredible bodies, wanting to look as light and sculpted as they did,” said Harris.

After her journey with cancer, she realized that the lessons that yoga taught her, such as presence of mind, the ability to slow down and breathe, and embracing the mind-body connection, carried her through her toughest days.

“[But] also what yoga does is allows you to build that body strength that we need when we’re coming out of our recoveries,” she said.

Share on Pinterest

Sharing yoga with others

To spread the benefits of yoga to the breast cancer community, Harris teamed up with Susan G. Komen and YogaWorks’ restorative fitness program YogaWorks Pink. The movement delivers free classes designed specifically for the breast cancer community.

“The program is tailored to you and meets you where you are to help you build core strength and lower body strength that we need to be able to move us around if we have limitations with mobility with our upper bodies after breast surgery,” said Harris. “I wish there had been a program around when I was coming out of my three surgeries in 2014.”

Classes are led by the lead instructor at YogaWorks and include modified poses and practices of yoga for every stage of treatment or recovery after surgery. While most classes are on demand, some are offered live weekly.

“[Usually] at the end of class, the instructor will hang on for a while and answer questions, and there’s also time to see other survivors and chat,” said Harris.

Participants also get full access to the entire YogaWorks platform, which has over 1,300 on-demand classes and more than 25 live classes every day.

People in the breast cancer community, including those with cancer, survivors, thrivers, caregivers, and family members can get the first three months for free. After that, people can receive a reduced rate, in which 25% of the proceeds go directly to Susan G. Komen.

When Harris became a national ambassador for Susan G. Komen in 2014, she learned that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.

The statistic ignited a passion to help others.

In addition to teaming up with Susan G. Komen, in 2018, she wrote the book “Your Healthiest Healthy: 8 Easy Ways to Take Control, Help Prevent and Fight Cancer, and Live a Longer, Cleaner, Happier Life.”

She also became active on Instagram and encourages those in the breast cancer community to reach out to her.

“I remember all the anxiety and fear, and you are overwhelmed with the information coming at you so fast and we have to learn and make decisions, so it’s important to have a community to lean on,” said Harris. “It’s the most rewarding thing to be able to share.”

Hopeful advancements in breast cancer

While Harris felt that mastectomy was right for her, Hargis noted that mastectomy isn’t always the answer for everyone, and in fact, breast conservation is the standard of care today.

Additionally, he said that being diagnosed at a young age like Harris is uncommon. The likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer between your 40 th and 50 th birthday is 1.5% and for women under 40, the number is under 1%, said Hargis.

“It’s a disease of older patients…The average age of breast cancer is 63/64 [and the] age group with highest incidence of breast cancer per year is 70 to 75,” he said.

Additionally, Brown said advancements in oral drug therapies and management of side effects from treatment, as well as the knowledge that not everyone with breast cancer requires extreme treatments, has brought about many improvements for those living with breast cancer.

“We continue to make advances in treatment due to ongoing research and the willingness of patients who agree to participate in clinical trials,” said Brown. “All of this new information gives us hope as we move toward the future to find a cure.”","<article>

<p>The former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ host shares how becoming her own advocate saved her life and why she’s passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga with the breast cancer community.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/samantha-harris-yoga-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""Samantha Harris.""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Ftv-host-samantha-harris-says-her-breast-cancer-was-misdiagnosed-for-months&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F02%2Fsamantha-harris-yoga-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Samantha%20Harris%20Says%20her%20Breast%20Cancer%20Was%20Misdiagnosed%20for%20Months"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/samantha-harris-yoga-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Samantha Harris (pictured above) has teamed up with Susan G. Komen and YogaWorks’ restorative fitness program YogaWorks Pink to help spread the benefits of yoga to the breast cancer community. Image Provided by Samantha Harris</figcaption></figure>

<p>Just before she turned 40, Samantha Harris, Emmy-winning TV Host and bestselling author, had her first mammogram. Her results came back clear.</p>

<p>However, 11 days later, she felt a lump on her breast, prompting her to visit her OB/GYN who assured her it was nothing. A month after that, she saw her internist, who told her the same thing.</p>

<p>“[That] inner voice was just screaming at me to have this ‘nothing lump’ looked at by someone who looks at breasts every day and knows what to look for,” Harris told Healthline.</p>

<p>She sought out a surgical oncologist, who ordered two ultrasounds and a biopsy. Still, neither detected cancer.</p>

<p>“[This] is where we need to listen to our guts, but also find experts who listen to their guts. My oncologist said, ‘[The] biopsy said it wasn’t cancer, but I want to take it out anyway with a lumpectomy,’” recalled Harris.</p>

<p>A week later, in March 2014, the pathology report showed that she had stage 1 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which means the tumor grows and develops in response to the hormones estrogen or progesterone. About two out of three breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive, reports the <a href=""https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/hormone-therapy-for-breast-cancer.html"">American Cancer Society</a>.</p>

<p>The fact that a mammogram didn’t detect Harris’ cancer isn’t unusual, said <a href=""https://providers.nortonhealthcare.com/provider/Jeffrey+B+Hargis/492737"">Dr. Jeffrey B. Hargis</a>, breast medical oncologist at Norton Cancer Institute. While mammography is the best available screening tool for detecting all kinds of breast cancer, in most women, the test is not 100 percent accurate.</p>

<p>“You can have a palpable breast mass [and] imaging studies look normal, mammogram, ultrasound, three-dimensional mammogram, possibly MRI [look normal], but biopsy shows unequivocal breast cancer,” Hargis told Healthline.</p>

<p>Pushing to get answers set the course for early treatment for Harris.</p>

<p>“The biggest lesson I learned through my early cancer journey is that we must be our best own healthcare advocates and we need to know our bodies better than anyone else,” she said.</p>

<h2><a><strong>Undergoing treatment and recovery</strong></a></h2>

<p>Most cancers are treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and various drug therapies, depending on the tumor, how advanced it is, and its aggressiveness, said <a href=""https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-brown-ms-rn-9088874/"">Susan Brown</a>, MS, RN, senior director of health information and publications at Susan G. Komen.</p>

<p>“When a tumor is hormone receptor-positive, hormone therapy is part of the standard treatment plan, along with surgery, and sometimes, radiation therapy,” Brown told Healthline. “Each cancer is different, and each person is different, so personalized care is offered based on both medical and personal choices.”</p>

<p>Harris chose to have a double mastectomy and during the surgery, her doctor discovered that the cancer spread to her lymph nodes, which meant it was stage 2.</p>

<p>Based on her type of cancer and the fact that genetic testing did not show she is high risk, she decided against chemotherapy or radiation. However, she took tamoxifen for eight years, a medication that reduces the risk of cancer recurrence.</p>

<p>“From the time the cancer first began to grow until it was big enough for her to feel it, we worry about cancers that broke off elsewhere in her body,” said Hargis. “[The] wonderful thing that has saved lives by the thousands is [tamoxifen], which kills off those microscopic cells.”</p>

<h2><a><strong>Leaning into lifestyle changes and yoga</strong></a></h2>

<p>In addition to adhering to treatment, Hargis said diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices are important, including maintaining an ideal body weight, eating four to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and limiting alcohol consumption.</p>

<p>“We know alcohol is one of the very few things that a female can take besides hormone replacement therapy, that actually increases her risk of getting breast cancer,” he said.</p>

<p>As far as exercise, he said data shows engaging in rigorous pseudo-aerobic movement for four to five hours per week can cut risk of recurrence by about 30%.</p>

<p>While Harris was healthy before her diagnosis, after she learned she had cancer, she leaned into eating more healthily, exercising, and prioritizing self-care, such as practicing meditation and breathwork. However, yoga was her go-to.</p>

<p>“I had an incredible amount of anxiety that I had never experienced in my life after my diagnosis and feelings of overwhelm, and I wish I had immediately at that time had the tools that now I have developed as I moved into my healthiest, healthy life,” she said.</p>

<p>Now, when she feels stressed or anxious, she turns to breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, and yoga to calm her.</p>

<p>While she practiced yoga before her diagnosis, she said it was mostly for the extrinsic look of it.</p>

<p>“I loved the strength and muscle definition that you saw on people’s arms who were dedicated yogis and here I was on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ hosting and standing next to these dancers with incredible bodies, wanting to look as light and sculpted as they did,” said Harris.</p>

<p>After her journey with cancer, she realized that the lessons that yoga taught her, such as presence of mind, the ability to slow down and breathe, and embracing the mind-body connection, carried her through her toughest days.</p>

<p>“[But] also what yoga does is allows you to build that body strength that we need when we’re coming out of our recoveries,” she said.</p>

<figure><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Ftv-host-samantha-harris-says-her-breast-cancer-was-misdiagnosed-for-months&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F02%2Fsamantha-harris-yoga-seated-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Samantha%20Harris%20Says%20her%20Breast%20Cancer%20Was%20Misdiagnosed%20for%20Months"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/samantha-harris-yoga-seated-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>“The biggest lesson I learned through my early cancer journey is that we must be our best own healthcare advocates and we need to know our bodies better than anyone else,” says Harris. Image Provided by Samantha Harris</figcaption></figure>

<h2><a><strong>Sharing yoga with others</strong></a></h2>

<p>To spread the benefits of yoga to the breast cancer community, Harris teamed up with Susan G. Komen and YogaWorks’ restorative fitness program <a href=""https://yogaworks.com/pink/"">YogaWorks Pink</a>. The movement delivers free classes designed specifically for the breast cancer community.</p>

<p>“The program is tailored to you and meets you where you are to help you build core strength and lower body strength that we need to be able to move us around if we have limitations with mobility with our upper bodies after breast surgery,” said Harris. “I wish there had been a program around when I was coming out of my three surgeries in 2014.”</p>

<p>Classes are led by the lead instructor at YogaWorks and include modified poses and practices of yoga for every stage of treatment or recovery after surgery. While most classes are on demand, some are offered live weekly.</p>

<p>“[Usually] at the end of class, the instructor will hang on for a while and answer questions, and there’s also time to see other survivors and chat,” said Harris.</p>

<p>Participants also get full access to the entire YogaWorks platform, which has over 1,300 on-demand classes and more than 25 live classes every day.</p>

<p>People in the breast cancer community, including those with cancer, survivors, thrivers, caregivers, and family members can get the first three months for free. After that, people can receive a reduced rate, in which 25% of the proceeds go directly to Susan G. Komen.</p>

<p>When Harris became a national ambassador for Susan G. Komen in 2014, she learned that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.</p>

<p>The statistic ignited a passion to help others.</p>

<p>In addition to teaming up with Susan G. Komen, in 2018, she wrote the book <a href=""https://www.amazon.com/Your-Healthiest-Healthy-Control-Prevent/dp/1454928921"">“Your Healthiest Healthy: 8 Easy Ways to Take Control, Help Prevent and Fight Cancer, and Live a Longer, Cleaner, Happier Life</a>.”</p>

<p>She also became active on Instagram and encourages those in the breast cancer community to reach out to her.</p>

<p>“I remember all the anxiety and fear, and you are overwhelmed with the information coming at you so fast and we have to learn and make decisions, so it’s important to have a community to lean on,” said Harris. “It’s the most rewarding thing to be able to share.”</p>

<h2><a><strong>Hopeful advancements in breast cancer</strong></a></h2>

<p>While Harris felt that mastectomy was right for her, Hargis noted that mastectomy isn’t always the answer for everyone, and in fact, breast conservation is the standard of care today.</p>

<p>Additionally, he said that being diagnosed at a young age like Harris is uncommon. The likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer between your 40<sup>th</sup> and 50<sup>th</sup> birthday is 1.5% and for women under 40, the number is under 1%, said Hargis.</p>

<p>“It’s a disease of older patients…The average age of breast cancer is 63/64 [and the] age group with highest incidence of breast cancer per year is 70 to 75,” he said.</p>

<p>Additionally, Brown said advancements in oral drug therapies and management of side effects from treatment, as well as the knowledge that not everyone with breast cancer requires extreme treatments, has brought about many improvements for those living with breast cancer.</p>

<p>“We continue to make advances in treatment due to ongoing research and the willingness of patients who agree to participate in clinical trials,” said Brown. “All of this new information gives us hope as we move toward the future to find a cure.”</p>

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"Dr. Hugo Keim, MD",https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-hugo-keim-1306072681,https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-hugo-keim-1306072681,2022-09-18T00:00:00,"Dr. Hugo Keim, MD is an Orthopedic Surgery Specialist in New York, NY. They specialize in Orthopedic Surgery, has 63 years of experience, and is board certified in Orthopedic Surgery. They graduated from LOYOLA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO / STRITCH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
Dr. Keim works at CUMC Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York, NY. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Hugo Keim, MD is an Orthopedic Surgery Specialist in New York, NY. They specialize in Orthopedic Surgery, has 63 years of experience, and is board certified in Orthopedic Surgery. They graduated from LOYOLA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO / STRITCH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.<br><br>Dr. Keim works at CUMC Herbert Irving Pavilion in New York, NY. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

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"Monkeypox Still a Public Health Emergency, According to Federal Officials",https://www.healthline.com/health-news/monkeypox-still-public-health-emergency-federal-officials,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/monkeypox-still-public-health-emergency-federal-officials,2022-11-02T15:42:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

The HHS renewed its public health emergency declaration for monkeypox.
Over 1 million people have now been vaccinated against the disease.
Shortages of monkeypox vaccines and high demand saw the FDA approve ‘one-fifth’ doses.
The number of follow-up doses has been low due to concerns about side effects, namely soreness and redness at the injection site.

The Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) has renewed its declaration that the monkeypox outbreak is still a public health emergency.

The HHS first issued the public health declaration in August.

The renewal comes after over 28,000 cases of monkeypox have been diagnosed in the U.S. and eight deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After the first case of monkeypox was reported in the U.S. in May, case numbers quickly climbed—and calls for vaccinations soon followed.

Vaccines were introduced in the summer and, so far, over 1 million have been administered across the country. Yet their rollout hasn’t been quite so straightforward.

What’s going on with monkeypox vaccines

Limited dosage supplies meant that only certain individuals were deemed eligible for the jab which created a scramble for vaccination appointments. In light of this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized that a single dosage could be split into five to reach more people—prompting concerns that protection levels may be compromised.

Meanwhile, some recipients are developing a red, painful mark at the injection site.

Some outlets including The Washington Post reported this prospect is deterring recipients—primarily men who have sex with men—from getting either their initial or follow-up dose, partly for fear of stigmatization.

Let’s take a closer look at some issues that have been arising and what implications they have for those receiving the vaccination.

How monkeypox vaccines are being administered

Before delving into concerns around smaller dosage amounts, it’s important to understand how most vaccines are delivered regardless of what disease they provide protection against. There are three types of injectable vaccines: intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular.

“Most vaccinations currently available, like SARS-CoV-2 or influenza vaccines, are intramuscular injections,” Dr Michael Chang, a specialist in infectious diseases at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann Hospital, explained to Healthline.

Common intramuscular injection sites include the upper arm or leg. Furthermore, he noted, “for most authorized or fully approved vaccines, injecting deeper into the muscle maximizes the immune response against the vaccine, optimizing protection. [It also] minimizes the frequency of local injection site reactions.”

In subcutaneous injections, the needle is “inserted into a layer deeper than the skin, usually the fatty layer between the skin and the muscle,” said Chang. The JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine was initially approved for administration in this way.

However, the approach “isn’t used as much for vaccines, as the immune response in the skin may not be as vigorous, and you have more local site injection reactions,” Chang revealed.

This leads us to intradermal injection, whereby the vaccination is delivered to the top layer of the skin. This is now the method being used for monkeypox vaccines. So why the switch?

“Often, intradermal vaccines require a lower dose to receive efficacy,” Dr.Sujal Mandavia, chief medical officer at Carbon Health, told Healthline.

This is because “the immune system of the fine layers of our skin is well primed to receive foreign things, like vaccines, and tends to respond quite vigorously.”

With vaccine shortages a challenge, the intradermal approach enables doses to be split into fifths. The result? “We can stretch the current available supply and vaccinate more at-risk individuals,” noted David M. Souleles, MPH, director of MPH Program and Practice at the University of California, Irvine.

However, Chang explained, it is recommended that those aged under 18 still receive the vaccination subcutaneously rather than intradermally.

Does a lower dose mean weaker protection?

If you only receive 20% of a typical monkeypox vaccine dose, you might think you wouldn’t be protected against the disease.

However, this isn’t the case according to the research.

The FDA made the decision to use a lower amount of vaccination and administer it intradermally “based on this clinical study involving 524 patients,” said Mandavia. “[The study] demonstrated that, when injected [intradermally] into the skin, one-fifth of the JYNNEOS vaccine produces a similar immune response to a ‘full’ dose of subcutaneous administration.”

While the current vaccination certainly offers protection, more research is needed into the defense levels it affords over an extended period. “The effect on long-term immunity and protection against monkeypox from the one-fifth intradermal dose remains unclear at this time,” Chang added.

When to get a follow-up dose

Fortunately, receiving one-fifth of a vaccination dose doesn’t mean you need to have four follow-up injections to obtain optimum benefits.

“With intradermal administration of the monkeypox vaccine, two doses of the vaccine given 28 days apart is considered fully vaccinated and provides protection,” shared Souleles.

If you’re under the age of 18 and receive your vaccination subcutaneously, your second dose should also come 28 days after the first.

“Peak immunity is expected 14 days after the second dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine,” added Chang. “Unfortunately, second dose coverage is low per Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data.”

Painful injection sites

A key reason individuals are skipping their second dose? The appearance of a sore, red mark at the site of their first injection. Yet, this side effect isn’t limited to the monkeypox vaccine.

“This is a common issue with any intradermal injection, and not only the JYNNEOS vaccine,” Chang shared.

The reason this appears, Mandavia explained, is “because the body recognizes the viral load as foreign and sends immune cells to react against it.”

“Think about the COVID-19 vaccine or flu vaccine,” added Souleles. “That can often result in a sore arm at the injection site for days after the injection.”

While potentially unsightly and uncomfortable, “the red welt that commonly develops with the monkeypox vaccine is benign and is not harmful,” assured Mandavia.

For those concerned about developing another red mark in a visible area following the second dose, you have options. Chang explained it is possible to request the injection be given in a less visible “intradermal site, such as the shoulder (over the deltoid) or the upper back over the shoulder blades (scapula).”

How long will the mark last?

Good news: Chang explained that the mark usually subsides “within 72 hours to 1 week” — although, in rare instances, they can remain for three to four weeks.

If, at any point following injection, “you develop worsening tenderness or swelling at the injection site, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider,” urged Chang.

In the meantime, if you develop a red mark at the injection point, following a couple of simple steps may help reduce it.

“Since this is typically related to skin irritation, gentle massage and applying a cold pack to the site can help relieve the symptoms faster,” Chang revealed.

Concerns around scarring

Any damage to the skin (including via vaccination) can potentially leave a mark or scar in the long term. But some individuals are believed to be at greater risk.

For instance, it’s thought that those with keloids —or a history of them—are more likely to develop scarring following intradermal vaccination.

Keloids are excess growths of scar tissue that grow following ‘trauma’ to the skin. They are most often seen in those with darker skin, who are pregnant, or under the age of 30.

As such, the CDC recommends that individuals with keloids, either currently or previously, be given the monkeypox vaccination subcutaneously.

Additionally, the New York City Department of Health mentioned in their monkeypox vaccination leaflet, “that monkeypox infection has high potential for scarring and permanent skin changes.”

Takeaway

The Department for Health and Human Services renewed its declaration that the monkeypox outbreak is still a public health emergency.

The news comes as over 1 million people in the U.S. have received the monkeypox vaccine. Some people eligible for the monkeypox vaccine have brought up concerns about getting their second dose.

However, to obtain optimal protection against monkeypox, receiving the ‘full’ vaccination is essential. This means two injections, 28 days apart.

Having a sore mark “might be uncomfortable for a short time,” stated Mandavia. However, “it is a mild side effect of the vaccine that could save you from more serious illness with symptoms like a painful rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion.”

If you have any concerns about the vaccine, side effects, or potential scarring, always speak with your healthcare or vaccination provider.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/male-monkeypox-vaccine-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""A person gets a monkeypox vaccine.""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fmonkeypox-still-public-health-emergency-federal-officials&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2Fmale-monkeypox-vaccine-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=What%20is%20Going%20on%20With%20the%20Monkeypox%20Vaccination%20Campaign%20Right%20Now"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/male-monkeypox-vaccine-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>The HHS renewed its public health emergency declaration for monkeypox.</strong></li><li><strong>Over 1 million people have now been vaccinated against the disease.</strong></li><li><strong>Shortages of monkeypox vaccines and high demand saw the FDA approve ‘one-fifth’ doses.</strong></li><li><strong>The number of follow-up doses has been low due to concerns about side effects, namely soreness and redness at the injection site.</strong></li></ul>

<p>The Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) has <a href=""https://aspr.hhs.gov/legal/PHE/Pages/mpx-renewal-2Nov2022.aspx"">renewed</a> its declaration that the monkeypox outbreak is still a public health emergency.</p>

<p>The HHS first issued the public health declaration in August.</p>

<p>The renewal comes after over 28,000 cases of monkeypox have been diagnosed in the U.S. and eight deaths, according to the <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/index.html"">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.</p>

<p>After the first case of monkeypox was reported in the U.S. in May, case numbers quickly climbed—and calls for vaccinations soon followed.</p>

<p>Vaccines were introduced in the summer and, so far, over <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/vaccines_data.html"">1 million</a> have been administered across the country. Yet their rollout hasn’t been quite so straightforward.</p>

<h2><a>What’s going on with monkeypox vaccines</a></h2>

<p>Limited dosage supplies meant that only certain individuals were <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health-news/should-you-get-the-monkeypox-vaccine-what-to-know"">deemed eligible</a> for the jab which created a scramble for vaccination appointments. In light of this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <a href=""https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/monkeypox-update-fda-authorizes-emergency-use-jynneos-vaccine-increase-vaccine-supply"">authorized</a> that a single dosage could be split into five to reach more people—prompting concerns that protection levels may be compromised.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, some recipients are developing a red, painful mark at the injection site.</p>

<p>Some outlets including <em>The Washington Post</em> <a href=""https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/10/06/monkeypox-outbreak-scars-vaccine-side-effects/"">reported</a> this prospect is deterring recipients—primarily men who have sex with men—from getting either their initial or follow-up dose, partly for fear of stigmatization.</p>

<p>Let’s take a closer look at some issues that have been arising and what implications they have for those receiving the vaccination.</p>

<h2><a>How monkeypox vaccines are being administered</a></h2>

<p>Before delving into concerns around smaller dosage amounts, it’s important to understand how most vaccines are delivered regardless of what disease they provide protection against. There are three types of injectable vaccines: intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular.</p>

<p>“Most vaccinations currently available, like SARS-CoV-2 or influenza vaccines, are intramuscular injections,” <a href=""https://memorialhermann.org/doctors/pediatric-infectious-disease-specialists/dr-michael-chang-md-1285744045"">Dr Michael Chang</a>, a specialist in infectious diseases at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann Hospital, explained to Healthline.</p>

<p>Common intramuscular injection sites include the upper arm or leg. Furthermore, he noted, “for most authorized or fully approved vaccines, injecting deeper into the muscle maximizes the immune response against the vaccine, optimizing protection. [It also] minimizes the frequency of local injection site reactions.”</p>

<p>In subcutaneous injections, the needle is “inserted into a layer deeper than the skin, usually the fatty layer between the skin and the muscle,” said Chang. The JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine was initially approved for administration in this way.</p>

<p>However, the approach “isn’t used as much for vaccines, as the immune response in the skin may not be as vigorous, and you have more local site injection reactions,” Chang revealed.</p>

<p>This leads us to intradermal injection, whereby the vaccination is delivered to the top layer of the skin. This is now the method being used for monkeypox vaccines. So why the switch?</p>

<p>“Often, intradermal vaccines require a lower dose to receive efficacy,”<a href=""https://theorg.com/org/carbon-health/org-chart/sujal-mandavia""> Dr.Sujal Mandavia</a>, chief medical officer at <a href=""https://carbonhealth.com/"">Carbon Health</a>, told Healthline.</p>

<p>This is because “the immune system of the fine layers of our skin is well primed to receive foreign things, like vaccines, and tends to respond quite vigorously.”</p>

<p>With vaccine shortages a challenge, the intradermal approach enables doses to be split into fifths. The result? “We can stretch the current available supply and vaccinate more at-risk individuals,” noted David M. Souleles, MPH, director of MPH Program and Practice at the <a href=""https://uci.edu/"">University of California, Irvine</a>.</p>

<p>However, Chang explained, it is recommended that those aged under 18 still receive the vaccination subcutaneously rather than intradermally.</p>

<h2><a>Does a lower dose mean weaker protection?</a></h2>

<p>If you only receive 20% of a typical monkeypox vaccine dose, you might think you wouldn’t be protected against the disease.</p>

<p>However, this isn’t the case according to the research.</p>

<p>The FDA made the decision to use a lower amount of vaccination and administer it intradermally “based on this<a href=""https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X15008762""> clinical study</a> involving 524 patients,” said Mandavia. “[The study] demonstrated that, when injected [intradermally] into the skin, one-fifth of the JYNNEOS vaccine produces a similar immune response to a ‘full’ dose of subcutaneous administration.”</p>

<p>While the current vaccination certainly offers protection, more research is needed into the defense levels it affords over an extended period. “The effect on long-term immunity and protection against monkeypox from the one-fifth intradermal dose remains unclear at this time,” Chang added.</p>

<h2><a>When to get a follow-up dose</a></h2>

<p>Fortunately, receiving one-fifth of a vaccination dose doesn’t mean you need to have four follow-up injections to obtain optimum benefits.</p>

<p>“With intradermal administration of the monkeypox vaccine, two doses of the vaccine given 28 days apart is considered fully vaccinated and provides protection,” shared Souleles.</p>

<p>If you’re under the age of 18 and receive your vaccination subcutaneously, your second dose should also come <a href=""https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/monkeypox-update-fda-authorizes-emergency-use-jynneos-vaccine-increase-vaccine-supply"">28 days</a> after the first.</p>

<p>“Peak immunity is expected 14 days after the second dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine,” added Chang. “Unfortunately, second dose coverage is low per Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data.”</p>

<h2><a>Painful injection sites</a></h2>

<p>A key reason individuals are skipping their second dose? The appearance of a sore, red mark at the site of their first injection. Yet, this side effect isn’t limited to the monkeypox vaccine.</p>

<p>“This is a common issue with any intradermal injection, and not only the JYNNEOS vaccine,” Chang shared.</p>

<p>The reason this appears, Mandavia explained, is “because the body recognizes the viral load as foreign and sends immune cells to react against it.”</p>

<p>“Think about the COVID-19 vaccine or flu vaccine,” added Souleles. “That can often result in a sore arm at the injection site for days after the injection.”</p>

<p>While potentially unsightly and uncomfortable, “the red welt that commonly develops with the monkeypox vaccine is benign and is not harmful,” assured Mandavia.</p>

<p>For those concerned about developing another red mark in a visible area following the second dose, you have options. Chang explained it is possible to request the injection be given in a less visible “intradermal site, such as the shoulder (over the deltoid) or the upper back over the shoulder blades (scapula).”</p>

<h2><a>How long will the mark last?</a></h2>

<p>Good news: Chang explained that the mark usually subsides “within 72 hours to 1 week” — although, in rare instances, they can remain for three to four weeks.</p>

<p>If, at any point following injection, “you develop worsening tenderness or swelling at the injection site, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider,” urged Chang.</p>

<p>In the meantime, if you develop a red mark at the injection point, following a couple of simple steps may help reduce it.</p>

<p>“Since this is typically related to skin irritation, gentle massage and applying a cold pack to the site can help relieve the symptoms faster,” Chang revealed.</p>

<h2><a>Concerns around scarring</a></h2>

<p>Any damage to the skin (including via vaccination) can potentially leave a mark or scar in the long term. But some individuals are believed to be at greater risk.</p>

<p>For instance, it’s <a href=""https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/monkeypox/jynneos-intradermal-vaccination.pdf"">thought</a> that those with <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/keloids"">keloids</a>—or a history of them—are more likely to develop scarring following intradermal vaccination.</p>

<p>Keloids are excess growths of scar tissue that grow following ‘trauma’ to the skin. They are most <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/keloids#causes"">often seen</a> in those with darker skin, who are pregnant, or under the age of 30.</p>

<p>As such, the CDC <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/interim-considerations/special-populations.html"">recommends</a> that individuals with <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/keloids"">keloids</a>, either currently or previously, be given the monkeypox vaccination subcutaneously.</p>

<p>Additionally, the New York City Department of Health mentioned in their monkeypox vaccination leaflet, “that monkeypox infection has high potential for scarring and permanent skin changes.”</p>

<h2><a>Takeaway</a></h2>

<p>The Department for Health and Human Services renewed its declaration that the monkeypox outbreak is still a public health emergency.</p>

<p>The news comes as over 1 million people in the U.S. have received the monkeypox vaccine. Some people eligible for the monkeypox vaccine have brought up concerns about getting their second dose.</p>

<p>However, to obtain optimal protection against monkeypox, receiving the ‘full’ vaccination is essential. This means two injections, 28 days apart.</p>

<p>Having a sore mark “might be uncomfortable for a short time,” stated Mandavia. However, “it is a mild side effect of the vaccine that could save you from more serious illness with symptoms like a painful rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion.”</p>

<p>If you have any concerns about the vaccine, side effects, or potential scarring, always speak with your healthcare or vaccination provider.</p>

</article>",en,2022-11-02T15:42:00Z,2022-11-02T15:42:00+00:00,2022-11-02T15:42:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/male-monkeypox-vaccine-732x549-thumbnail.jpg,"[
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How One Conversation With Friends Per Day Can Help Your Mental Health,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-one-conversation-with-friends-per-day-can-help-your-mental-health,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-one-conversation-with-friends-per-day-can-help-your-mental-health,2023-02-08T11:00:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

A study finds talking to friends even for short periods can help your mental health.
Discussing mental health has increasingly become normalized say experts, which can help people prioritize their well-being.
Experts say a study like this shows how important human connection can be and how simple steps can help people preserve their mental health.

A new study suggests that having one conversation with a friend per day can have a significant effect on a person’s mental health.

The study published in Communication Research in January comes three years after COVID-19 spread around the globe. While daily life for many has gotten closer to a pre-pandemic version of normal, those long years of social distancing, remote work, and isolation have taken a dramatic toll on many people’s mental and emotional health.

“Small moments of connection are so important for us as part of the human experience,” said Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. “Post-COVID, many of us still work from home and still have limited social contact. People have moved and changed. Lives are different. Finding places of connection are so important for mental health. Social connection and community have a large effect mitigating depression and anxiety.”

What the study found

The study included 900 participants from five university campuses before, during, and after the pandemic lockdowns. The participants were directed to engage in one of seven communication behaviors during a single day and then report back that night about their feelings of stress, connection, anxiety, well-being, loneliness, and the quality of their day. The seven behaviors included:

Catching up
Meaningful talk
Joking around
Showing care
Listening
Valuing others and their opinions
Offering sincere compliments

The study found that it did not matter which of the behaviors were practiced. It was the act of intentionally reaching out to a friend in general that had the impact.

Having a conversation had a directly positive effect on overall mood and behavior.

The importance of mental health

“Over the pandemic we saw a 25% increase in depression. The quantity of human connection was taken from us. Finding ways to come back to that, even in small ways, can be powerful,” said Gallagher.

Discussing mental health has increasingly become normalized say experts, which can help people prioritize their well-being. Experts say a study like this shows how important human connection can be and how simple steps can help people preserve their mental health.

“Mental health is something that everyone has and we’re just starting to realize that, especially with the pandemic. It affected everyone. This collective traumatic experience we had as a global community brings to the forefront how important mental health is and how much a part of daily life it is,” said Naomi Torres-Mackie, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital. “Something like this study is wonderful because it’s something a lot of us already do.”

Important resources

Experts say conversations don’t have to be long or in-depth, instead, they say look for moments when you have time to reach out, even if it is not a lot of time.

“When we see these articles, we need to be intentional about following through and allowing it into our lives,” said Gallagher. “Call your friends in the car. Look for those small moments of connection. Use this as a way to be more intentional.”

It’s important to note that the study emphasized small, meaningful connections. It does not mean introverts have to go talk to a large crowd of people to benefit. Experts stress that finding some connection is key and that quality is more important than quantity.

Experts also say some people may feel intimidated by reaching out to people and that for some even minimal interaction may be challenging.

“Sometimes people talk themselves out of connections and that might come from a place of social anxiety or depression,” said Gallagher. “If you’re saying you do not need connection every day, just make sure that that is actually accurate and not just something that you have come to accept.”

Why connection is key to health

Connection, even on the smallest level, is something that is a basic human need, say experts.

“As human beings, we thrive in connection with others, not just on a psychological level but on a physiological level. Whether or not you’re an extrovert or an introvert or fall right in the middle, human connection is important. If you are someone who is more introverted, it may make reaching out and connecting a little bit more uncomfortable and that can serve as a roadblock,” said Torres-Mackie.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/female-facetiming-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""A woman talking animatedly on a phone.""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fhow-one-conversation-with-friends-per-day-can-help-your-mental-health&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F02%2Ffemale-facetiming-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=How%20One%20Conversation%20With%20Friends%20Per%20Day%20Can%20Help%20Your%20Mental%20Health"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/female-facetiming-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>A study finds talking to friends even for short periods can help your mental health. </strong></li><li><strong>Discussing mental health has increasingly become normalized say experts, which can help people prioritize their well-being. </strong></li><li><strong>Experts say a study like this shows how important human connection can be and how simple steps can help people preserve their mental health. </strong></li></ul>

<p><a href=""https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00936502221139363"">A new study</a> suggests that having one conversation with a friend per day can have a significant effect on a person’s mental health.</p>

<p>The study published in Communication Research in January comes three years after COVID-19 spread around the globe. While daily life for many has gotten closer to a pre-pandemic version of normal, those long years of social distancing, remote work, and isolation have taken a dramatic toll on many people’s mental and emotional health.</p>

<p>“Small moments of connection are so important for us as part of the human experience,” said <a href=""https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1003153511/thea-gallagher"">Thea Gallagher</a>, PsyD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health. “Post-COVID, many of us still work from home and still have limited social contact. People have moved and changed. Lives are different. Finding places of connection are so important for mental health. Social connection and community have a large effect mitigating depression and anxiety.”</p>

<h2>What the study found</h2>

<p>The study included 900 participants from five university campuses before, during, and after the pandemic lockdowns. The participants were directed to engage in one of seven communication behaviors during a single day and then report back that night about their feelings of stress, connection, anxiety, well-being, loneliness, and the quality of their day. The seven behaviors included:</p>

<ul><li>Catching up</li><li>Meaningful talk</li><li>Joking around</li><li>Showing care</li><li>Listening</li><li>Valuing others and their opinions</li><li>Offering sincere compliments</li></ul>

<p>The study found that it did not matter which of the behaviors were practiced. It was the act of intentionally reaching out to a friend in general that had the impact.</p>

<p>Having a conversation had a directly positive effect on overall mood and behavior.</p>

<h2>The importance of mental health</h2>

<p>“Over the pandemic we saw <a href=""https://www.who.int/news/item/02-03-2022-covid-19-pandemic-triggers-25-increase-in-prevalence-of-anxiety-and-depression-worldwide"">a 25% increase in depression</a>. The quantity of human connection was taken from us. Finding ways to come back to that, even in small ways, can be powerful,” said Gallagher.</p>

<p>Discussing mental health has increasingly become normalized say experts, which can help people prioritize their well-being. Experts say a study like this shows how important human connection can be and how simple steps can help people preserve their mental health.</p>

<p>“Mental health is something that everyone has and we’re just starting to realize that, especially with the pandemic. It affected everyone. This collective traumatic experience we had as a global community brings to the forefront how important mental health is and how much a part of daily life it is,” said <a href=""https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomitorresmackie"">Naomi Torres-Mackie</a>, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital. “Something like this study is wonderful because it’s something a lot of us already do.”</p>

<h2>Important resources</h2>

<p>Experts say conversations don’t have to be long or in-depth, instead, they say look for moments when you have time to reach out, even if it is not a lot of time.</p>

<p>“When we see these articles, we need to be intentional about following through and allowing it into our lives,” said Gallagher. “Call your friends in the car. Look for those small moments of connection. Use this as a way to be more intentional.”</p>

<p>It’s important to note that the study emphasized small, meaningful connections. It does not mean introverts have to go talk to a large crowd of people to benefit. Experts stress that finding some connection is key and that quality is more important than quantity.</p>

<p>Experts also say some people may feel intimidated by reaching out to people and that for some even minimal interaction may be challenging.</p>

<p>“Sometimes people talk themselves out of connections and that might come from a place of social anxiety or depression,” said Gallagher. “If you’re saying you do not need connection every day, just make sure that that is actually accurate and not just something that you have come to accept.”</p>

<h2>Why connection is key to health</h2>

<p>Connection, even on the smallest level, is something that is a basic human need, say experts.</p>

<p>“As human beings, we thrive in connection with others, not just on a psychological level but on a physiological level. Whether or not you’re an extrovert or an introvert or fall right in the middle, human connection is important. If you are someone who is more introverted, it may make reaching out and connecting a little bit more uncomfortable and that can serve as a roadblock,” said Torres-Mackie.</p>

</article>",en,2023-02-08T11:00:00Z,2023-02-08T11:00:00+00:00,2023-02-08T11:00:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/female-facetiming-732x549-thumbnail.jpg,"[
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"Dr. Rafael Jordan, MD",https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-rafael-jordan-1750479911,https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-rafael-jordan-1750479911,,"Dr. Rafael Jordan, MD is an Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist in Augusta, GA. They graduated from University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine - San Juan Puerto Rico and is affiliated with Doctors Hospital.
Dr. Jordan works at Augusta Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists in Augusta, GA with other offices in Evans, GA. They frequently treat conditions like Vaginal Delivery and VBAC, C-Section and Menstrual Disorders (incl. Dysmenorrhea) along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Rafael Jordan, MD is an Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology Specialist in Augusta, GA. They graduated from University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine - San Juan Puerto Rico and is affiliated with Doctors Hospital. <br><br>Dr. Jordan works at Augusta Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology Specialists in Augusta, GA with other offices in Evans, GA. They frequently treat conditions like Vaginal Delivery and VBAC, C-Section and Menstrual Disorders (incl. Dysmenorrhea) along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

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Does Dental Sealant Protection Outweigh Potential Risks?,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/does-dental-sealant-protection-outweigh-risks?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/does-dental-sealant-protection-outweigh-risks,2016-10-24T18:00:00+00:00,"Dental sealants can prevent cavities in children and adults for years, but are they worth the cost and potential risk?

Share on Pinterest

Brushing your teeth is important, but dental sealants may be the best way to prevent kids from getting cavities.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has touted the benefits of the relatively simple and inexpensive procedure in children.

Dental sealants are a thin coating that is painted on teeth to protect them from cavities.

This painless procedure can be $30 to $60 per tooth, although some insurance or discount plans can reduce that cost.

“Considering that less than half of children have them, I’d say [the trend of dental sealants] it still is gaining traction,” Ashley Grill, a New York-based dental hygienist, told Healthline. “Dental sealants are safe and effective, and they’ve been safe and effective for over 40 years.”

What the research shows

The CDC report states that dental sealants prevent 80 percent of cavities for two years after application.

They also continue to protect against 50 percent of cavities for up to four years.

The sealants can be retained in the mouth for up to nine years, according to the CDC.

About 43 percent of 6- to 11-year-old children have a dental sealant. Children from low income households were 20 percent less likely to have sealants than children from higher income households.

School-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.

Applying sealants in school-based programs to the nearly 7 million children from low income households who don’t have them could save up to $300 million in dental treatment costs, the CDC reported.

Dr. Valerie Barba, a dentist in New Jersey, told Healthline that sealants are the “most conservative” noninvasive treatment in dentistry.

The sealants need to be monitored and maintained during regular care visits to ensure they do not wear away.

They are technically sensitive to where they are placed, so practitioners who do not apply them correctly may not have the best success rates.

The skinny on sealants

Grill noted that children can report lost school time due to tooth decay, as it can interfere with sleep, eating, and other regular activities.

In addition to preventing cavities, sealants can ensure the teeth stay intact.

“Once a tooth is drilled and filled, restored, or extracted, the natural structure is compromised. There is a lifetime cost associated with maintaining the restored tooth or implant,” she noted.

There are some disadvantages or potential problems with sealants, Grill said. They may need to be reapplied if they fall out, chip, or wear away. In replacement, excess material may need to be drilled down or removed with a scaler.

“I understand the environmental exposure concern about synthetic estrogens such as bisphenol A (BPA),” Grill said.

Salivary BPA levels from exposure to BPA peak three hours after a procedure and return to baseline within 24 hours, she said. Grill added that blood serum levels of BPA have not been detected in clinical studies, but more research is needed.

“I’ve never observed an adverse reaction to dental sealants, and none have been reported in the literature,” said Grill, who applies sealants. “People tolerate dental sealants well.”

If parents are concerned about BPA more than the risks of tooth decay, they should note that treating tooth decay can involve a wealth of dental materials that have more chemicals than BPA. Alternative sealant materials exist, though Grill is not sure if they work better than those containing BPA.

Another issue with sealants is that a person’s bite can feel abnormal after application due to the extra layer on the tooth, Dr. J. Kolby Robinson, a board certified pediatric dentist from Oregon, told Healthline. Some of that wears away over time.

“The main problem with dental sealants is lack of awareness,” Grill added.

Most children don’t benefit from prevention because of overregulation and restrictions at all levels on preventive dental care, Grill said.

Some are insurance barriers, such as only covering certain teeth for sealants. There are also rules imposed by state boards that only allow hygienists working with dentists to place sealants, or requiring a dental examination with a dentist before prevention is allowed.

Long-term benefits

If the application technique is perfect, dental sealants can last a lifetime. More often than not, though, they do need to be replaced, Grill said.

“As soon as your child is getting new teeth in with grooves called ‘pits and fissures’ like molars and premolars, get them sealed once they are erupted,” she said. This happens at 6, 12, and 18 years of age.

Baby or primary teeth can be sealed, but the child should be old enough to tolerate the painless procedure, which involves being able to hold their mouth open and not move for a few minutes. Usually, treating younger teeth is performed only on those with an increased risk of tooth decay.

“I recommend getting individual advice on when to seal from your dental team. You can seal any vulnerable surfaces, but retention is best in the pits and fissures,” she said.

Adults can also benefit from sealants.

“All people, no matter age can benefit [from sealants], even adults,” Barba said.

With age, our exposure to decay increases, and the protective quality and biochemistry of saliva changes with certain medications over time. That said, adults are also candidates for this treatment.

But if you already have a restoration or implant, then that tooth will not benefit from a sealant, Grill noted.

“Sealants have proven to be safe and effective,” Robinson said. “The benefits outweigh the risks.”","<article>

<p>Dental sealants can prevent cavities in children and adults for years, but are they worth the cost and potential risk?</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/general-health/102416_dentalsealant_THUMB_LARGE.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fdoes-dental-sealant-protection-outweigh-risks&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-prod.healthline.com%2Fhlcmsresource%2Fimages%2FNews%2Fgeneral-health%2F102416_dentalsealant_THUMB_LARGE.jpg&amp;description=Dental%20Sealants%3A%20Are%20They%20Worth%20the%20Risks%20and%20Costs%3F"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/general-health/102416_dentalsealant_THUMB_LARGE.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a></figure>

<p>Brushing your teeth is important, but dental sealants may be the best way to prevent kids from getting cavities.</p>

<p>A <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/"">recent report</a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has touted the benefits of the relatively simple and inexpensive procedure in children.</p>

<p>Dental sealants are a thin coating that is painted on teeth to protect them from cavities.</p>

<p>This painless procedure can be $30 to $60 per tooth, although some insurance or discount plans can reduce that cost.</p>

<p>“Considering that less than half of children have them, I’d say [the trend of dental sealants] it still is gaining traction,” Ashley Grill, a New York-based dental hygienist, told Healthline. “Dental sealants are safe and effective, and they’ve been safe and effective for over 40 years.”</p>

<h2><a>What the research shows</a></h2>

<p>The CDC report states that dental sealants prevent 80 percent of cavities for two years after application.</p>

<p>They also continue to protect against 50 percent of cavities for up to four years.</p>

<p>The sealants can be retained in the mouth for up to nine years, according to the CDC.</p>

<p>About 43 percent of 6- to 11-year-old children have a dental sealant. Children from low income households were 20 percent less likely to have sealants than children from higher income households.</p>

<p>School-age children without sealants have almost three times more cavities than children with sealants.</p>

<p>Applying sealants in school-based programs to the nearly 7 million children from low income households who don’t have them could save up to $300 million in dental treatment costs, the CDC reported.</p>

<p>Dr. Valerie Barba, a dentist in New Jersey, told Healthline that sealants are the “most conservative” noninvasive treatment in dentistry.</p>

<p>The sealants need to be monitored and maintained during regular care visits to ensure they do not wear away.</p>

<p>They are technically sensitive to where they are placed, so practitioners who do not apply them correctly may not have the best success rates.</p>

<h2><a>The skinny on sealants</a></h2>

<p>Grill noted that children can report lost school time due to tooth decay, as it can interfere with sleep, eating, and other regular activities.</p>

<p>In addition to preventing cavities, sealants can ensure the teeth stay intact.</p>

<p>“Once a tooth is drilled and filled, restored, or extracted, the natural structure is compromised. There is a lifetime cost associated with maintaining the restored tooth or implant,” she noted.</p>

<p>There are some disadvantages or potential problems with sealants, Grill said. They may need to be reapplied if they fall out, chip, or wear away. In replacement, excess material may need to be drilled down or removed with a scaler.</p>

<p>“I understand the environmental exposure concern about synthetic estrogens such as bisphenol A (BPA),” Grill said.</p>

<p>Salivary BPA levels from exposure to BPA peak three hours after a procedure and return to baseline within 24 hours, she said. Grill added that blood serum levels of BPA have not been detected in clinical studies, but more research is needed.</p>

<p>“I’ve never observed an adverse reaction to dental sealants, and none have been reported in the literature,” said Grill, who applies sealants. “People tolerate dental sealants well.”</p>

<p>If parents are concerned about BPA more than the risks of tooth decay, they should note that treating tooth decay can involve a wealth of dental materials that have more chemicals than BPA. Alternative sealant materials exist, though Grill is not sure if they work better than those containing BPA.</p>

<p>Another issue with sealants is that a person’s bite can feel abnormal after application due to the extra layer on the tooth, Dr. J. Kolby Robinson, a board certified pediatric dentist from Oregon, told Healthline. Some of that wears away over time.</p>

<p>“The main problem with dental sealants is lack of awareness,” Grill added.</p>

<p>Most children don’t benefit from prevention because of overregulation and restrictions at all levels on preventive dental care, Grill said.</p>

<p>Some are insurance barriers, such as only covering certain teeth for sealants. There are also rules imposed by state boards that only allow hygienists working with dentists to place sealants, or requiring a dental examination with a dentist before prevention is allowed.</p>

<h2><a>Long-term benefits</a></h2>

<p>If the application technique is perfect, dental sealants can last a lifetime. More often than not, though, they do need to be replaced, Grill said.</p>

<p>“As soon as your child is getting new teeth in with grooves called ‘pits and fissures’ like molars and premolars, get them sealed once they are erupted,” she said. This happens at 6, 12, and 18 years of age.</p>

<p>Baby or primary teeth can be sealed, but the child should be old enough to tolerate the painless procedure, which involves being able to hold their mouth open and not move for a few minutes. Usually, treating younger teeth is performed only on those with an increased risk of tooth decay.</p>

<p>“I recommend getting individual advice on when to seal from your dental team. You can seal any vulnerable surfaces, but retention is best in the pits and fissures,” she said.</p>

<p>Adults can also benefit from sealants.</p>

<p>“All people, no matter age can benefit [from sealants], even adults,” Barba said.</p>

<p>With age, our exposure to decay increases, and the protective quality and biochemistry of saliva changes with certain medications over time. That said, adults are also candidates for this treatment.</p>

<p>But if you already have a restoration or implant, then that tooth will not benefit from a sealant, Grill noted.</p>

<p>“Sealants have proven to be safe and effective,” Robinson said. “The benefits outweigh the risks.”</p>

</article>",en,2016-10-24T18:00:00Z,2016-11-12T00:17:36+00:00,2016-11-12T00:17:36Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/102416_dentalsealant_THUMB_LARGE-1200x628.jpg,"[
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]",0.9724202999999999,2022-09-20T00:00:00Z
People with Peanut Allergies Could Get ‘Life Changing’ Benefit from New Antibody Injection,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/peanut-allergies-antibody-injection-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/peanut-allergies-antibody-injection-treatment,2019-11-14T06:00:23+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

Researchers report that an antibody injection helped ease the reaction to peanut protein for 15 study participants with food allergies.
The researchers said all of the 15 participants were able to eat small amounts of peanuts 2 weeks after getting the immunotherapy treatment.
Experts say the new treatment would be “life changing” for people with food allergies if it’s proven safe and effective.

Immunotherapy could provide long-term protection against severe allergic reactions to peanuts, a new study suggests.

The small study reported that most people with severe peanut allergies were able to tolerate consumption of a nut’s worth of peanut protein 2 weeks after getting an antibody shot.

The research was published today in the journal JCI Insight.

The findings are preliminary and the study only involved 15 participants.

However, researchers from Stanford University reported that 73 percent of people with severe peanut allergies could eat a small amount of peanuts 2 weeks after getting the antibody treatment without ill effects.

By contrast, all members of a control group who received a placebo had an allergic reaction to eating the peanut protein.

Even 45 days after the shot, more than half of the treated patients could consume a nut-sized (375 milligram) serving of peanut protein without an allergic reaction while none of the control group could.

No participants experienced severe side effects.

“We were surprised how long the effects of the treatment lasted,” said Kari Nadeau, MD, PhD, senior study author and a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Stanford.

A potential life changer

Experts see some far-reaching changes to people’s lives with a treatment like the one used in the study.

“A vaccine that could limit or end allergic reactions to peanuts would be life changing for patients,” Kathleen Dass, MD, an allergist and immunologist in Oak Park, Michigan, told Healthline.

“A very promising feature of this is that, unlike with desensitization, patients do not have to have exposure to peanut until it is safe to do so…” she said. “If this vaccine was approved for patients, it would be a life saving treatment option that I would implement as soon as I could.”

Punita Ponda, MD, assistant chief of the department of allergy and immunology at Northwell Health in Great Neck, New York, said the findings of the new study are exciting.

“In the past, we just told people to avoid certain foods,” she told Healthline.

Ponda noted the small size of the study and the need for more research, but she added the placebo-controlled Stanford study was well designed with all participants confirmed to have food allergies through oral challenges.

An alternative to desensitization

Experts said the research demonstrates the potential for an alternative or adjunct to desensitization treatment, which is currently the only proven way to combat food allergies.

Desensitization involves giving people with allergies small amounts of their trigger foods, with amounts slowly increasing over a 6-month to 12-month course of treatment.

The lengthy treatment process must be done under medical supervision and allergic reactions can occur.

“What’s great about this treatment as an option for food allergies is that people did not have to eat the food to get desensitized,” Nadeau told Healthline.

“Although this is still in the experimental stages, we’re delivering on the hope of testing a drug that won’t be for one food allergy but for many, and for other allergic diseases, too.”

Nadeau and R. Sharon Chinthrajah, MD, a lead study author, treat allergy, asthma, and immunology patients at Stanford.

Food allergies, which can develop at any point in life, affect an estimated 32 million people in the United States.

After cow’s milk and eggs, peanut allergies are the third most common food allergy (and second most common among children). Peanut allergies affect about 1 in 50 children and 1 in 200 adults.

They’re also the most common food allergen to cause a fatal anaphylactic reaction.

Blocking the allergic reaction

The peanut antibody treatment called etokimab, developed by biotechnology company AnaptysBio, works by interfering with interleukin-33 (IL-33), an immune-signaling molecule that can trigger severe allergic reactions.

IL-33 also activates immunoglobin E (IgE), another antibody activated by the immune system that can cause symptoms ranging from mouth and throat itchiness and hives to breathing difficulties and sometimes fatal anaphylactic shock.

“By inhibiting IL-33, we potentially inhibit features of all allergies, which is promising,” Nadeau said.

More therapies on the horizon

Biotechnology firm Aimmune Therapeutics is developing an immune desensitization therapy called Palforzia that appears to be the closest to winning approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dass noted that some clinicians are already providing oral sensitization therapy under controlled conditions, absent of FDA approval.

DBV Technologies, another biotech company, is developing a transdermal patch that delivers a daily measured dose through the skin. The company submitted its patch, Viaskin, to the FDA for approval in August.

“There are no currently approved therapies, but we could have one or two by this time next year,” Liisa Bayko, a biotech industry analyst with JMP Securities, told Healthline.

Such desensitization treatments and immunotherapy such as etokimab could be used in combination, said Ponda, with IL-33 suppression used to block any dangerous allergic reaction arising from peanut exposure during desensitization.

Northwell Health is one of the study sites looking at combination therapy involving the immunotherapy drug dupilumab, developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

These treatments offer what Ponda termed “bite protection” — a barrier to a severe allergic reaction to accidental ingestion of a small amount of allergenic food.

More elusive is a therapy that would eliminate food allergies altogether.

As Ponda noted, only 20 percent of children with peanut allergies outgrow them naturally. About 10 percent outgrow allergies to tree nuts.

Gene therapy is another area of research for potential allergy treatments.

In 2016, researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine reported that gene therapy derived from omalizumab, an antibody that binds to and neutralizes IgE, prevented allergic reactions in lab mice.

The Stanford researchers are planning a larger follow-up study that will seek to identify biomarkers for people who can best benefit from the etokimab antibody treatment and also to fine tune the amount and timing of the therapy.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Male_Child_Vaccine_1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fpeanut-allergies-antibody-injection-treatment&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2FMale_Child_Vaccine_1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg&amp;description=People%20with%20Peanut%20Allergies%20Life%20Changing%20Benefit%20from%20New%20Injection"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Male_Child_Vaccine_1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Researchers say an immunotherapy injection allowed people with peanut allergies to eat small amounts of peanut protein 2 weeks after getting the treatment. Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>Researchers report that an antibody injection helped ease the reaction to peanut protein for 15 study participants with food allergies.</strong></li><li><strong>The researchers said all of the 15 participants were able to eat small amounts of peanuts 2 weeks after getting the immunotherapy treatment.</strong></li><li><strong>Experts say the new treatment would be “life changing” for people with food allergies if it’s proven safe and effective.</strong></li></ul>

<p>Immunotherapy could provide long-term protection against severe allergic reactions to peanuts, a new study suggests.</p>

<p>The small study reported that most people with severe peanut allergies were able to tolerate consumption of a nut’s worth of peanut protein 2 weeks after getting an antibody shot.</p>

<p>The research was published today in the journal <a href=""https://insight.jci.org/"">JCI Insight</a>.</p>

<p>The findings are preliminary and the study only involved 15 participants.</p>

<p>However, researchers from Stanford University reported that 73 percent of people with severe peanut allergies could eat a small amount of peanuts 2 weeks after getting the antibody treatment without ill effects.</p>

<p>By contrast, all members of a control group who received a placebo had an allergic reaction to eating the peanut protein.</p>

<p>Even 45 days after the shot, more than half of the treated patients could consume a nut-sized (375 milligram) serving of peanut protein without an allergic reaction while none of the control group could.</p>

<p>No participants experienced severe side effects.</p>

<p>“We were surprised how long the effects of the treatment lasted,” said <a href=""https://profiles.stanford.edu/kari-nadeau"">Kari Nadeau,</a> MD, PhD, senior study author and a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Stanford.</p>

<h2><a>A potential life changer</a></h2>

<p>Experts see some far-reaching changes to people’s lives with a treatment like the one used in the study.</p>

<p>“A vaccine that could limit or end allergic reactions to peanuts would be life changing for patients,” <a href=""https://health.usnews.com/doctors/kathleen-dass-748416"">Kathleen Dass</a>, MD, an allergist and immunologist in Oak Park, Michigan, told Healthline.</p>

<p>“A very promising feature of this is that, unlike with desensitization, patients do not have to have exposure to peanut until it is safe to do so…” she said. “If this vaccine was approved for patients, it would be a life saving treatment option that I would implement as soon as I could.”</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/pediatrics/dr-punita-ponda-md-11312728"">Punita Ponda</a>, MD, assistant chief of the department of allergy and immunology at <a href=""https://www.northwell.edu/"">Northwell Health</a> in Great Neck, New York, said the findings of the new study are exciting.</p>

<p>“In the past, we just told people to avoid certain foods,” she told Healthline.</p>

<p>Ponda noted the small size of the study and the need for more research, but she added the placebo-controlled Stanford study was well designed with all participants confirmed to have food allergies through oral challenges.</p>

<h2><a>An alternative to desensitization</a></h2>

<p>Experts said the research demonstrates the potential for an alternative or adjunct to desensitization treatment, which is currently the only proven way to combat food allergies.</p>

<p>Desensitization involves giving people with allergies small amounts of their trigger foods, with amounts slowly increasing over a 6-month to 12-month course of treatment.</p>

<p>The lengthy treatment process must be done under medical supervision and allergic reactions can occur.</p>

<p>“What’s great about this treatment as an option for food allergies is that people did not have to eat the food to get desensitized,” Nadeau told Healthline.</p>

<p>“Although this is still in the experimental stages, we’re delivering on the hope of testing a drug that won’t be for one food allergy but for many, and for other allergic diseases, too.”</p>

<p>Nadeau and <a href=""https://med.stanford.edu/allergyandasthma/news/news-from-our-center/sharon-chinthrajah.html"">R. Sharon Chinthrajah</a>, MD, a lead study author, treat allergy, asthma, and immunology patients at Stanford.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/common-food-allergies"">Food allergies</a>, which can develop at any point in life, affect an estimated <a href=""https://www.foodallergy.org/life-with-food-allergies/food-allergy-101/facts-and-statistics"">32 million people</a> in the United States.</p>

<p>After cow’s milk and eggs, peanut allergies are the <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/common-food-allergies"">third most common food allergy</a> (and second most common among children). Peanut allergies affect about <a href=""https://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/resources/allergy/peanutallergy.pdf"">1 in 50 children and 1 in 200 adults</a>.</p>

<p>They’re also the most common food allergen to cause a fatal anaphylactic reaction.</p>

<h2><a>Blocking the allergic reaction</a></h2>

<p>The peanut antibody treatment called etokimab, developed by biotechnology company <a href=""https://www.anaptysbio.com/"">AnaptysBio</a>, works by interfering with interleukin-33 (IL-33), an immune-signaling molecule that can trigger severe allergic reactions.</p>

<p>IL-33 also activates immunoglobin E (IgE), another antibody activated by the immune system that can cause symptoms ranging from mouth and throat itchiness and hives to breathing difficulties and sometimes fatal anaphylactic shock.</p>

<p>“By inhibiting IL-33, we potentially inhibit features of all allergies, which is promising,” Nadeau said.</p>

<h2><a>More therapies on the horizon</a></h2>

<p>Biotechnology firm Aimmune Therapeutics is developing an immune desensitization therapy called Palforzia that appears to be the <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health-news/first-peanut-allergy-drug"">closest to winning approval</a> from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).</p>

<p>Dass noted that some clinicians are already providing oral sensitization therapy under controlled conditions, absent of FDA approval.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.dbv-technologies.com/"">DBV Technologies</a>, another biotech company, is developing a transdermal patch that delivers a daily measured dose through the skin. The company <a href=""https://www.allergicliving.com/2019/08/09/viaskin-peanut-patch-submitted-to-fda-for-approval-consideration/"">submitted</a> its patch, Viaskin, to the FDA for approval in August.</p>

<p>“There are no currently approved therapies, but we could have one or two by this time next year,” <a href=""https://www.linkedin.com/in/liisa-bayko-373914"">Liisa Bayko</a>, a biotech industry analyst with <a href=""https://www.jmpg.com/"">JMP Securities</a>, told Healthline.</p>

<p>Such desensitization treatments and immunotherapy such as etokimab could be used in combination, said Ponda, with IL-33 suppression used to block any dangerous allergic reaction arising from peanut exposure during desensitization.</p>

<p>Northwell Health is one of the study sites looking at combination therapy involving the immunotherapy drug dupilumab, developed by <a href=""https://www.regeneron.com/"">Regeneron Pharmaceuticals</a>.</p>

<p>These treatments offer what Ponda termed “bite protection” — a barrier to a severe allergic reaction to accidental ingestion of a small amount of allergenic food.</p>

<p>More elusive is a therapy that would eliminate food allergies altogether.</p>

<p>As Ponda noted, only <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/can-you-outgrow-them#1"">20 percent </a>of children with peanut allergies outgrow them naturally. About <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/understanding-tree-nut-allergies"">10 percent </a>outgrow allergies to tree nuts.</p>

<p>Gene therapy is another area of research for potential allergy treatments.</p>

<p>In 2016, researchers from <a href=""https://weill.cornell.edu/"">Weill Cornell Medicine</a> reported that gene therapy derived from <a href=""https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2016/06/new-gene-therapy-protects-against-peanut-allergy"">omalizumab</a>, an antibody that binds to and neutralizes IgE, prevented allergic reactions in lab mice.</p>

<p>The Stanford researchers are planning a larger follow-up study that will seek to identify biomarkers for people who can best benefit from the etokimab antibody treatment and also to fine tune the amount and timing of the therapy.</p>

</article>",en,2019-11-14T06:00:23Z,2019-11-14T06:00:23+00:00,2019-11-14T06:00:23Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Male_Child_Vaccine_1200x628-facebook.jpg,"[
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]",0.96585053,2023-01-12T00:00:00Z
"Dr. Mary Velasquez Purisima, MD",https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-mary-purisima-1003916479,https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-mary-purisima-1003916479,2023-01-30T08:00:00,"Overview of Dr. Mary Velasquez Purisima, MD

Dr. Mary Velasquez Purisima, MD is an Internal Medicine Specialist in Twinsburg, OH. They specialize in Internal Medicine, has 34 years of experience. They graduated from University of The East / Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic and Hillcrest Hospital.
Dr. Velasquez Purisima works at Ccf-twinsburg Ambulatory Pharmacy in Twinsburg, OH with other offices in Beachwood, OH and Cleveland, OH. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<h2>Overview of Dr. Mary Velasquez Purisima, MD</h2>

<p>Dr. Mary Velasquez Purisima, MD is an Internal Medicine Specialist in Twinsburg, OH. They specialize in Internal Medicine, has 34 years of experience. They graduated from University of The East / Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic and Hillcrest Hospital. <br><br>Dr. Velasquez Purisima works at Ccf-twinsburg Ambulatory Pharmacy in Twinsburg, OH with other offices in Beachwood, OH and Cleveland, OH. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,Chevron Icon Monday 8:00am - 5:00pm Tuesday 8:00am - 5:00pm Wednesday 8:00am - 5:00pm Thursday 8:00am - 5:00pm Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm,,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/7600d5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/440x440+10+0/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucmscdn.healthgrades.com%2F83%2F77%2Fa35c37324d02bbe8ab83f32f1b83%2Fprovider-image-1.png,"[
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  {
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  {
    ""name"":""OH"",
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"Dr. Glenn Campbell, MD",https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-glenn-campbell-1740337500,https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-glenn-campbell-1740337500,2022-12-13T00:00:00,"Overview of Dr. Glenn Campbell, MD

Dr. Glenn Campbell, MD is an Ophthalmology Specialist in Venice, FL. They specialize in Ophthalmology, has 37 years of experience, and is board certified in Ophthalmology. They graduated from JEFFERSON MED COLL-THOS JEFFERSON UNIV and is affiliated with Riverside Regional Medical Center, Sentara Careplex Hospital and Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Campbell works at CENTER FOR SIGHT in Venice, FL with other offices in Sarasota, FL and Naples, FL. They frequently treat conditions like Tear Duct Disorders, Dry Eyes and Cataract along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<h2>Overview of Dr. Glenn Campbell, MD</h2>

<p>Dr. Glenn Campbell, MD is an Ophthalmology Specialist in Venice, FL. They specialize in Ophthalmology, has 37 years of experience, and is board certified in Ophthalmology. They graduated from JEFFERSON MED COLL-THOS JEFFERSON UNIV and is affiliated with Riverside Regional Medical Center, Sentara Careplex Hospital and Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. <br><br>Dr. Campbell works at CENTER FOR SIGHT in Venice, FL with other offices in Sarasota, FL and Naples, FL. They frequently treat conditions like Tear Duct Disorders, Dry Eyes and Cataract along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"Dec 13, 2022",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/d9cd619/2147483647/strip/true/crop/120x120+0+20/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.healthgrades.com%2Fimg%2Fprov%2F3%2Fk%2Fv%2F3kvdn_w120h160_vHJgdWKBZMc.jpg,"[
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    ""name"":""FL"",
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]",0.76061743,2023-02-07T00:00:00Z
"Deborah Peterson, APRN",https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/deborah-peterson-1841204005,https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/deborah-peterson-1841204005,2022-06-18T00:00:00,"Deborah Peterson, APRN is a Family Medicine Specialist in Fort Myers, FL.
Deborah Peterson works at Lee Physician Group - Family Medicine in Fort Myers, FL. They are accepting new patients. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Deborah Peterson, APRN is a Family Medicine Specialist in Fort Myers, FL. <br><br>Deborah Peterson works at Lee Physician Group - Family Medicine in Fort Myers, FL. They are accepting new patients. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.<br></p>

</article>",en,"Jun 18, 2022",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/7600d5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/440x440+10+0/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucmscdn.healthgrades.com%2F83%2F77%2Fa35c37324d02bbe8ab83f32f1b83%2Fprovider-image-1.png,"[
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]","Deborah Peterson, APRN is a Family Medicine Specialist in Fort Myers, FL. Book an appointment.","[
  {
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    ""name"":""FL"",
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  {
    ""name"":""Deborah Peterson, APRN""
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]",0.7582957,2023-01-01T00:00:00Z
What to Know About the Dexcom Glucose Monitor from Nick Jonas Super Bowl Ad,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-to-know-about-the-dexcom-glucose-monitor-from-nick-jonas-super-bowl-ad,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-to-know-about-the-dexcom-glucose-monitor-from-nick-jonas-super-bowl-ad,2023-02-13T04:35:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

Singer Nick Jonas unveiled a new blood glucose monitoring system for people with type 1 diabetes during a Super Bowl ad.
Experts say the Dexcom G7 CGM continuous blood monitoring system should make life easier for people with type 1 diabetes as well as caregivers.
They noted that the price may be a barrier and that better insulin delivery systems need to be developed.

Somewhere in all the swirling Super Bowl Sunday commercial silliness about beer, soda, and cellular service was an announcement that could make a serious difference for people with type 1 diabetes.

Like many of the football game’s commercials, the ad was delivered by a celebrity, but in this case, he wasn’t trying too hard to be funny. He didn’t even try to sing the message.

San Diego-based Dexcom introduced its new G7 CGM continuous blood monitoring system with singer Nick Jonas, who has type 1 diabetes, telling the camera “This small thing is the next big thing.”

Then he seemingly flips the device up in the air, catches it, sticks it to his arm, and gets out his cell phone to start taking readings.

“It’s not magic, it just feels that way,” Jonas says, snapping his fingers and disappearing into a puff of black smoke.

Nick Jonas and type 1 diabetes

Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13, so he has some knowledge of the subject.

In a statement from Dexcom released last week, Jonas said “Dexcom CGM has changed my life and revolutionized the way I take care of my health.”

“People with diabetes – whether type 1 or type 2 – should have the best technology available to manage their disease, and with Dexcom G7, they’ll have it. I’m excited for the opportunity to share this new device with the world and to raise awareness around the magic of CGM,” the singer added.

“Raising awareness of this technology for the millions of Americans who need it is one key step toward ensuring people with diabetes have the best technology available to live beyond their diagnosis,” Jonas said.

How the G7 blood monitoring system works

Dexcom says its new G7 device is the most accurate and easy-to-use CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) device on the market.

One of its biggest selling points is not needing multiple daily finger pricks with a sharp lancet to get a blood glucose reading.

Finger pricks sometimes discourage people with diabetes from staying on top of their condition.

Dexcom officials said nearly 5 million people in the United States with diabetes who use insulin were expected to watch Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII. About 3 million of those viewers don’t currently use CGM to manage their diabetes.

The company also said the “low-profile, all-in-one wearable warms up faster than any other CGM on the market, sending real-time glucose readings automatically to a compatible smart device receiver, no painful fingersticks or burdensome scanning required.”

Company officials added that the warm-up time is 30 minutes, compared to most other CGM devices that can take an hour or more.

It also says it’s the only integrated CGM system “trusted for use during pregnancy, delivering better peace of mind to pregnant patients managing type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.”

Issues still need to be worked out

As with any progression of medical technology, there are still issues to be worked out, experts say.

“CGM has been a total game-changer for people living with diabetes and even people without who want to prevent chronic disease,” Karen Kennedy, a certified nutritionist in Washington state specializing in metabolic health supporting the use of continuous glucose monitors, told Healthline.

“The G7 made some nice changes,” Kennedy noted. “The significant size reduction will be great for children particularly.”

“The convenience of this makes better glucose control so much easier for people,” she added. “For children, it’s a gotta-do, as you can monitor your children or other loved ones from other devices. This is lifesaving to many.”

Kennedy said, like most new medical technology, it probably won’t be cheap.

“I’ve not seen USA prices released. Dexcom states they are working to get identical insurance coverage for it, as the G6 which was either 100 percent coverage, or a co-pay of $40 a month for most with private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare,” Kennedy said. “The cash pay has always been high, starting at $700 a month.”

Angie Victorio is a certified diabetes care and education specialist at DiaBettr.com.

She told Healthline CGMs are also great for caregivers, who can help someone with diabetes adjust their diet and lower blood glucose levels.

“The patient benefits as well because they see in real-time how their lifestyle affects their blood sugar. For instance, they can know their blood sugar shortly after a certain meal or after taking a walk – and then adjust accordingly,” she said.

Victorio explained CGMs work by using a sensor that attaches to the skin with a small needle that enters just below the skin. The sensor measures glucose every one to five minutes and transmits readings to the app, which records it.

She said people with diabetes like the convenience. The fingerpick calibration test isn’t too painful but can be uncomfortable over time and can callous the finger.

“And the G7 is accurate enough that calibration is not required,” she said.

Victorio told Healthline that cost will be a factor in how many people use the G7.

“I imagine the G7 won’t be cheap because it’s brand new,” Victorio said. “Most or some of the costs of a CGM may be covered by health insurance but it depends on the provider and the specific plan. But without insurance, the CGM receiver and additional sensors/transmitters can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 a month.”

The delivery of insulin

Kendra Cassillo, a senior communications program manager at Medtronic diabetes operating unit in Northridge, California, told Healthline the initial G7 unit will lack what can be an important component.

“Dexcom offers a standalone CGM, which does provide the benefit of real-time monitoring of blood sugar levels,” Cassillo said. “What it doesn’t do is automatically deliver insulin – based on those levels – to keep an individual from going too high or too low.”

“Several studies point to CGM alone not being enough and there is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the benefits of automated insulin delivery pumps being the preferred option for individuals with type 1 diabetes to lower A1c and increase ‘time in range’ (the amount of time they do not have high or low blood sugar levels),” Cassillo said.

Perhaps that’s an advancement Nick Jonas will discuss during next year’s Super Bowl.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Nick-Jonas-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""A new type 1 diabetes ad by Nick Jonas aired during the Super Bowl""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fwhat-to-know-about-the-dexcom-glucose-monitor-from-nick-jonas-super-bowl-ad&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F02%2FNick-Jonas-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Type%201%20Diabetes%3A%20Nick%20Jonas%20Promotes%20New%20Dexcom%20Glucose%20Monitor"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Nick-Jonas-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Singer Nick Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>Singer Nick Jonas unveiled a new blood glucose monitoring system for people with type 1 diabetes during a Super Bowl ad.</strong></li><li><strong>Experts say the Dexcom G7 CGM continuous blood monitoring system should make life easier for people with type 1 diabetes as well as caregivers.</strong></li><li><strong>They noted that the price may be a barrier and that better insulin delivery systems need to be developed.</strong></li></ul>

<p>Somewhere in all the swirling Super Bowl Sunday commercial silliness about beer, soda, and cellular service was an announcement that could make a serious difference for people with <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-1-diabetes-causes-symtoms-treatments"">type 1 diabetes</a>.</p>

<p>Like many of the football game’s commercials, the ad was delivered by a celebrity, but in this case, he wasn’t trying too hard to be funny. He didn’t even try to sing the message.</p>

<p>San Diego-based Dexcom introduced its new <a href=""https://www.dexcom.com/en-us/g7-magic"">G7 CGM</a> continuous blood monitoring system with singer <a href=""https://www.nickjonas.com/#/"">Nick Jonas</a>, who has type 1 diabetes, <a href=""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpYzhCYaEIM"">telling the camera</a> “This small thing is the next big thing.”</p>

<p>Then he seemingly flips the device up in the air, catches it, sticks it to his arm, and gets out his cell phone to start taking readings.</p>

<p>“It’s not magic, it just feels that way,” Jonas says, snapping his fingers and disappearing into a puff of black smoke.</p>

<h2><a>Nick Jonas and type 1 diabetes</a></h2>

<p>Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13, so he has some knowledge of the subject.</p>

<p>In a <a href=""https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230207005121/en/Dexcom-and-Nick-Jonas-Make-Super-Bowl-Magic-to-Launch-New-Dexcom-G7-Continuous-Glucose-Monitoring-System"">statement</a> from Dexcom released last week, Jonas said “Dexcom CGM has changed my life and revolutionized the way I take care of my health.”</p>

<p>“People with diabetes – whether type 1 or type 2 – should have the best technology available to manage their disease, and with Dexcom G7, they’ll have it. I’m excited for the opportunity to share this new device with the world and to raise awareness around the magic of CGM,” the singer added.</p>

<p>“Raising awareness of this technology for the millions of Americans who need it is one key step toward ensuring people with diabetes have the best technology available to live beyond their diagnosis,” Jonas said.</p>

<h2><a>How the G7 blood monitoring system works</a></h2>

<p>Dexcom says its new G7 device is the most accurate and easy-to-use CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) device on the market.</p>

<p>One of its biggest selling points is not needing multiple daily finger pricks with a sharp lancet to get a blood glucose reading.</p>

<p>Finger pricks sometimes discourage people with diabetes from staying on top of their condition.</p>

<p>Dexcom officials said nearly 5 million people in the United States with diabetes who use insulin were expected to watch Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII. About 3 million of those viewers don’t currently use CGM to manage their diabetes.</p>

<p>The company also said the “low-profile, all-in-one wearable warms up faster than any other CGM on the market, sending real-time glucose readings automatically to a compatible smart device receiver, no painful fingersticks or burdensome scanning required.”</p>

<p>Company officials added that the warm-up time is 30 minutes, compared to most other CGM devices that can take an hour or more.</p>

<p>It also says it’s the only integrated CGM system “trusted for use during pregnancy, delivering better peace of mind to pregnant patients managing type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.”</p>

<h2><a>Issues still need to be worked out</a></h2>

<p>As with any progression of medical technology, there are still issues to be worked out, experts say.</p>

<p>“CGM has been a total game-changer for people living with diabetes and even people without who want to prevent chronic disease,” <a href=""https://www.realfood-matters.net/"">Karen Kennedy</a>, a certified nutritionist in Washington state specializing in metabolic health supporting the use of continuous glucose monitors, told Healthline.</p>

<p>“The G7 made some nice changes,” Kennedy noted. “The significant size reduction will be great for children particularly.”</p>

<p>“The convenience of this makes better glucose control so much easier for people,” she added. “For children, it’s a gotta-do, as you can monitor your children or other loved ones from other devices. This is lifesaving to many.”</p>

<p>Kennedy said, like most new medical technology, it probably won’t be cheap.</p>

<p>“I’ve not seen USA prices released. Dexcom states they are working to get identical insurance coverage for it, as the G6 which was either 100 percent coverage, or a co-pay of $40 a month for most with private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare,” Kennedy said. “The cash pay has always been high, starting at $700 a month.”</p>

<p><a href=""https://diabettr.com/about-diabettr/"">Angie Victorio</a> is a certified diabetes care and education specialist at DiaBettr.com.</p>

<p>She told Healthline CGMs are also great for caregivers, who can help someone with diabetes adjust their diet and lower blood glucose levels.</p>

<p>“The patient benefits as well because they see in real-time how their lifestyle affects their blood sugar. For instance, they can know their blood sugar shortly after a certain meal or after taking a walk – and then adjust accordingly,” she said.</p>

<p>Victorio explained CGMs work by using a sensor that attaches to the skin with a small needle that enters just below the skin. The sensor measures glucose every one to five minutes and transmits readings to the app, which records it.</p>

<p>She said people with diabetes like the convenience. The fingerpick calibration test isn’t too painful but can be uncomfortable over time and can callous the finger.</p>

<p>“And the G7 is accurate enough that calibration is not required,” she said.</p>

<p>Victorio told Healthline that cost will be a factor in how many people use the G7.</p>

<p>“I imagine the G7 won’t be cheap because it’s brand new,” Victorio said. “Most or some of the costs of a CGM may be covered by health insurance but it depends on the provider and the specific plan. But without insurance, the CGM receiver and additional sensors/transmitters can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 a month.”</p>

<h2><a>The delivery of insulin</a></h2>

<p><a href=""https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendrabrogden/"">Kendra Cassillo</a>, a senior communications program manager at Medtronic diabetes operating unit in Northridge, California, told Healthline the initial G7 unit will lack what can be an important component.</p>

<p>“Dexcom offers a standalone CGM, which does provide the benefit of real-time monitoring of blood sugar levels,” Cassillo said. “What it doesn’t do is automatically deliver insulin – based on those levels – to keep an individual from going too high or too low.”</p>

<p>“Several studies point to CGM alone not being enough and there is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the benefits of automated insulin delivery pumps being the preferred option for individuals with type 1 diabetes to lower A1c and increase ‘time in range’ (the amount of time they do not have high or low blood sugar levels),” Cassillo said.</p>

<p>Perhaps that’s an advancement Nick Jonas will discuss during next year’s Super Bowl.</p>

</article>",en,2023-02-13T04:35:00Z,2023-02-13T04:35:00+00:00,2023-02-13T04:35:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Nick-Jonas-732x549-thumbnail.jpg,"[
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]",0.9569525999999999,2023-02-13T00:00:00Z
"Elizabeth Landmann, PA",https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/elizabeth-landmann-1306873146,https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/elizabeth-landmann-1306873146,2017-02-01T00:00:00,"Elizabeth Landmann, PA is a Family Medicine Specialist in Appleton, WI.
Elizabeth Landmann works at ThedaCare Physicians Appleton North in Appleton, WI. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Elizabeth Landmann, PA is a Family Medicine Specialist in Appleton, WI. <br><br>Elizabeth Landmann works at ThedaCare Physicians Appleton North in Appleton, WI. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"Julie in Appleton, WI — Feb 01, 2017",,,,,"Elizabeth Landmann, PA is a Family Medicine Specialist in Appleton, WI. Book an appointment.","[
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Cancer Survivors: Why They May Be at a Higher Risk of Bone Fractures,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cancer-survivors-why-they-may-be-at-a-higher-risk-of-bone-fractures?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cancer-survivors-why-they-may-be-at-a-higher-risk-of-bone-fractures,2022-11-07T00:47:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

Researchers report that people who have survived cancer, especially those treated with chemotherapy, have a higher risk of bone fracture.
They say the higher risk may stem from osteoporosis, low muscle mass, and even balance issues.
They note that bone fractures can lead to other long-term health issues.

The long-term side effects for people who have had cancer range from minor nuisances to life-threatening health issues.

Those potential side effects include hearing loss from high doses of chemotherapy, increased risk of stroke from high doses of radiation to the brain, dental problems, early menopause, and infertility.

A new study from the American Cancer Society shows that bone fractures could also be more common among people who’ve had the disease.

Researchers used data from 92,431 older adults in the US Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort linked with 1999 to 2017 Medicare claims.

The data was analyzed from July 15, 2021, to May 3, 2022.

Researchers investigated the associations between cancer diagnoses, including time since and stage at diagnosis, and risk of pelvic, radial, and vertebral fractures (separately and combined) compared to adults without a history of cancer.

They also examined differences in the risk of fracture stratified by modifiable behaviors, treatment, and cancer type.

The results showed among the92,431 participants included in the study, 12,943 experienced a frailty-related bone fracture.

Compared to participants without a history of cancer, cancer survivors who were more recently diagnosed within five years with an advanced stage cancer had the highest risk of fracture.

What increases bone fracture risk among cancer survivors

Researchers reported the higher fracture risk in cancer survivors was driven largely by vertebral and pelvic fracture sites.

“We found that older cancer survivors, especially survivors who were more recently diagnosed — less than 5 years since diagnosis — or who had a history of chemotherapy, had higher risks of pelvic and vertebral fractures than older adults without a history of cancer,” Erika Rees-Punia, Ph.D., MPH, senior principal scientist and behavioral and epidemiology researcher at the American Cancer Society as well as lead author of the study, told Healthline.

Rees-Punia noted that smoking was also associated with a higher risk and there was some suggestion that physical activity may be associated with a lower risk of fractures in cancer survivors.

“Although we did not study why cancer survivors might be at higher risk of fractures in this paper,” she said, “cancer survivors may be at a higher risk of bone fractures because of higher rates of osteoporosis coupled with low muscle mass and potentially also because of balance issues and unexpected changes in gait associated with chemotherapy.”

Compared to cancer survivors who did not receive chemotherapy, the study found that people who received chemotherapy were more likely to have a fracture.

“Although we did not study why cancer survivors with a history of chemotherapy might be at a higher risk of fractures, they may be at higher risk because of balance issues and unexpected changes in gait associated with chemotherapy,” she said.

Rees-Punia said that cancer survivors should attempt to meet the American Cancer Society’s physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors.

The importance of the research

Dr. Thomas Buchholz, the medical director at the Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center in San Diego and a Scripps Clinic physician, told Healthline that as more people with cancer survive and live longer, the issue of bone health will only become more significant.

“The strength of the study is that it has a large cohort and robust comparisons,’ said Buchholz. “Finding of increased fractures among people with cancer is not surprising, but the study confirms the importance of ongoing wellness and staying in close touch with your doctors.”

“The disease itself can spread to bones and predispose people to have related fractures,” he added. “And our treatments, too, can weaken the bones. Breast cancer patients, for example, are often treated with hormonal therapy and this can reduce bone health, and chemotherapy can affect bone health as well.”

The most important thing that people who have had cancer should know, Rees-Punia said, is that bone fractures, especially fractures of the pelvis and vertebrae, are more than just a broken bone.

“Pelvic and vertebral fractures can cause a lot of issues down the road, including high healthcare costs, limited mobility, and, as some studies suggest, a higher risk of premature mortality,” she said.

Understanding what factors may be associated with a reduced risk of fractures in cancer survivors is key, she said.

“Our study suggests that fracture prevention programs for survivors could include smoking cessation programs and referrals for physical activity with cancer exercise professionals,” Rees-Punia said.

The findings in this study are important, she added, as cancer survivors living in the United States are projected to rise to 26 million by 2040.

“Research like this seeks ways for cancer survivors to have a better quality of life after their diagnosis,” Rees-Punia said in a press statement.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cancer-walking-friend-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""An older woman wearing a scarf walks with the assistance of another woman""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fcancer-survivors-why-they-may-be-at-a-higher-risk-of-bone-fractures&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F11%2Fcancer-walking-friend-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Cancer%20Survivors%20at%20Higher%20Risk%20of%20Bone%20Fractures"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cancer-walking-friend-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Experts say it’s important for cancer survivors to get regular exercise. Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>Researchers report that people who have survived cancer, especially those treated with chemotherapy, have a higher risk of bone fracture.</strong></li><li><strong>They say the higher risk may stem from osteoporosis, low muscle mass, and even balance issues.</strong></li><li><strong>They note that bone fractures can lead to other long-term health issues.</strong></li></ul>

<p>The <a href=""https://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorship-during-and-after-treatment/long-term-health-concerns/long-term-side-effects-of-cancer.html#:~:text=These%20include%3A,spinal%20cord%2C%20called%20peripheral%20neuropathy"">long-term side effects</a> for people who have had cancer range from minor nuisances to life-threatening health issues.</p>

<p>Those potential side effects include hearing loss from high doses of chemotherapy, increased risk of stroke from high doses of radiation to the brain, dental problems, early menopause, and infertility.</p>

<p>A new <a href=""https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2797974"">study</a> from the American Cancer Society shows that bone fractures could also be more common among people who’ve had the disease.</p>

<p>Researchers used data from 92,431 older adults in the US Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort linked with 1999 to 2017 Medicare claims.</p>

<p>The data was analyzed from July 15, 2021, to May 3, 2022.</p>

<p>Researchers investigated the associations between cancer diagnoses, including time since and stage at diagnosis, and risk of pelvic, radial, and vertebral fractures (separately and combined) compared to adults without a history of cancer.</p>

<p>They also examined differences in the risk of fracture stratified by modifiable behaviors, treatment, and cancer type.</p>

<p>The results showed among the92,431 participants included in the study, 12,943 experienced a frailty-related bone fracture.</p>

<p>Compared to participants without a history of cancer, cancer survivors who were more recently diagnosed within five years with an advanced stage cancer had the highest risk of fracture.</p>

<h2><a>What increases bone fracture risk among cancer survivors</a></h2>

<p>Researchers reported the higher fracture risk in cancer survivors was driven largely by vertebral and pelvic fracture sites.</p>

<p>“We found that older cancer survivors, especially survivors who were more recently diagnosed — less than 5 years since diagnosis — or who had a history of chemotherapy, had higher risks of pelvic and vertebral fractures than older adults without a history of cancer,” <a href=""https://www.cancer.org/research/acs-researchers/erika-rees-punia-bio.html"">Erika Rees-Punia</a>, Ph.D., MPH, senior principal scientist and behavioral and epidemiology researcher at the American Cancer Society as well as lead author of the study, told Healthline.</p>

<p>Rees-Punia noted that smoking was also associated with a higher risk and there was some suggestion that physical activity may be associated with a lower risk of fractures in cancer survivors.</p>

<p>“Although we did not study why cancer survivors might be at higher risk of fractures in this paper,” she said, “cancer survivors may be at a higher risk of bone fractures because of higher rates of osteoporosis coupled with low muscle mass and potentially also because of balance issues and unexpected changes in gait associated with chemotherapy.”</p>

<p>Compared to cancer survivors who did not receive chemotherapy, the study found that people who received chemotherapy were more likely to have a fracture.</p>

<p>“Although we did not study why cancer survivors with a history of chemotherapy might be at a higher risk of fractures, they may be at higher risk because of balance issues and unexpected changes in gait associated with chemotherapy,” she said.</p>

<p>Rees-Punia said that cancer survivors should attempt to meet the American Cancer Society’s physical activity <a href=""https://www.cancer.org/health-care-professionals/american-cancer-society-survivorship-guidelines.html"">guidelines</a> for cancer survivors.</p>

<h2><a>The importance of the research</a></h2>

<p><a href=""https://www.scripps.org/physicians/21461-thomas-buchholz?tab=overview&amp;address_id=1260321"">Dr. Thomas Buchholz</a>, the medical director at the Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center in San Diego and a Scripps Clinic physician, told Healthline that as more people with cancer survive and live longer, the issue of bone health will only become more significant.</p>

<p>“The strength of the study is that it has a large cohort and robust comparisons,’ said Buchholz. “Finding of increased fractures among people with cancer is not surprising, but the study confirms the importance of ongoing wellness and staying in close touch with your doctors.”</p>

<p>“The disease itself can spread to bones and predispose people to have related fractures,” he added. “And our treatments, too, can weaken the bones. Breast cancer patients, for example, are often treated with hormonal therapy and this can reduce bone health, and chemotherapy can affect bone health as well.”</p>

<p>The most important thing that people who have had cancer should know, Rees-Punia said, is that bone fractures, especially fractures of the pelvis and vertebrae, are more than just a broken bone.</p>

<p>“Pelvic and vertebral fractures can cause a lot of issues down the road, including high healthcare costs, limited mobility, and, as some studies suggest, a higher risk of premature mortality,” she said.</p>

<p>Understanding what factors may be associated with a reduced risk of fractures in cancer survivors is key, she said.</p>

<p>“Our study suggests that fracture prevention programs for survivors could include smoking cessation programs and referrals for physical activity with cancer exercise professionals,” Rees-Punia said.</p>

<p>The findings in this study are important, she added, as cancer survivors living in the United States are projected to rise to 26 million by 2040.</p>

<p>“Research like this seeks ways for cancer survivors to have a better quality of life after their diagnosis,” Rees-Punia said in a press statement.</p>

</article>",en,2022-11-07T00:47:00Z,2022-11-07T00:47:00+00:00,2022-11-07T00:47:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cancer-walking-friend-732x549-thumbnail.jpg,"[
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]",0.9833000000000001,2022-11-22T00:00:00Z
What It’s Like to Give Birth with COVID-19,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-its-like-to-give-birth-with-covid-19?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-its-like-to-give-birth-with-covid-19,2020-11-21T05:00:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

The loneliness during pregnancy and childbirth in the pandemic has been exacerbated for some moms with COVID-19.
At hospitals, new COVID-19 policies have meant that moms-to-be couldn’t have their partners, doulas, and other support people by their side during childbirth.
A recent study has found that most babies born to people who had COVID-19 late in their pregnancies are largely healthy and well by the time they’re 6 to 8 weeks old.

All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donna Molina was sick throughout most of her fourth pregnancy. Nausea was the norm after taking prenatal vitamins, and she threw up almost every day.

But, in late March, when the 32-year-old found herself with no sense of taste or smell after a week of headaches, body aches, and a stuffy nose, she knew something was wrong.

A test would soon confirm her suspicion of COVID-19.

Things went downhill — fast. She was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey with a 103°F fever, intubated, and induced into a coma for 11 days.

“When I woke up, I was very confused. I had forgotten I was pregnant, and I didn’t know which hospital I was in,” the New Jersey mom says. “A hospital psychiatrist explained that I had delivered a baby girl by emergency C-section at 30 weeks.”

The next day, she got to meet her 3-pound daughter, Harley, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) via FaceTime.

Molina would not get to hold Harley until May 7 (more than a month after she was born), as she had to test negative for COVID-19 twice and recover from ongoing medical complications.

Share on Pinterest

Despite the ordeal, Molina thinks of herself as lucky. She says she received tons of support from her care team.

According to a recent study, 61 percent of people who had babies during the pandemic feel they received inadequate support for childbirth.

It’s just one of the many ways childbirth has changed this year, especially for people who’ve received a diagnosis of COVID-19 during their pregnancies.

Share on Pinterest

Going through pregnancy and childbirth alone

The threat of COVID-19, along with a lack of consistent guidance from health authorities, left hospitals and obstetric care providers to develop their own strategies for keeping expectant parents and healthcare workers safe.

Early in the pandemic, some providers switched to telehealth for prenatal visits and banned partners, friends, and family from accompanying patients to their in-person appointments.

At hospitals, new policies meant that moms-to-be couldn’t have their partners, doulas, and other support people at their side during childbirth.

That left many feeling alone and unsupported during their pregnancies this year, says Dr. Jennifer Conti, a San Francisco Bay Area-based OB-GYN and co-author of “ The Vagina Book.”

“Every single element of that normal support structure is torn down,” she says. “Even the people you’d normally call on to be a support system in the postpartum period can’t be there because of restrictions on travel, stay-at-home orders, and the risk of COVID-19.”

The loneliness and isolation during pregnancy and childbirth in the pandemic have been exacerbated for some moms with COVID-19, such as Kate Glaser, a 32-year-old mom of three in upstate New York.

After she tested positive for the disease during her 39th week of pregnancy, Glaser was no longer allowed to go to her doctor’s office in person for check-ups, and was put on bed rest at home in quarantine. She felt like she had “the flu times 10.”

“It was very isolating,” she says. “I also worried if my husband could be in the delivery room with me. This is our last baby, so there was a lot of worry.”

Wearing a mask, she delivered healthy baby Isla a couple of weeks later with her husband by her side. She was still positive for COVID-19.

Share on Pinterest

Mom guilt and mental health concerns

Mental health issues seem to be on the rise during pregnancy amid the pandemic.

In a recent survey of 885 women who had babies at hospitals across the country between March and July, nearly 34 percent of participants experienced anxiety, up from 20 percent before the pandemic.

The research also showed that depression rates among pregnant women were up to nearly 19 percent, compared with a typical rate of less than 13 percent.

“They don’t know what’s going to happen when they get to the hospital or whether they can or should send their kids to day care or school. A lot of families are also going through financial insecurity because of job losses,” says Dr. Lisa Wynn, OB-GYN and women’s service line chief at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital in Colorado.

“We’re trying to be proactive with patients about managing the stress from both the world and within their homes,” she adds.

On top of depression and anxiety, many who test positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy can add one more condition to their list of emotional concerns: mom guilt.

“When they told me I was COVID-positive, I collapsed into a chair and sobbed,” Glaser recalls.

She had taken every precaution, from wearing a mask and sanitizing her hands to avoiding social gatherings, but she still felt “incredibly guilty” for her illness potentially putting her baby at risk.

The guilt continued during her quarantine, when she couldn’t see or care for her 3-year-old twins.

And after delivery, when she had to watch the nurses swab the inside of her newborn’s nose to test her for COVID-19 and couldn’t have skin-to-skin contact with her right away.

“You feel guilty for even getting sick,” adds Molina, who also serves as a caregiver for her partner with multiple sclerosis.

Molina and Glaser both delivered their infants relatively early in the pandemic, when there were even more unknowns about how COVID-19 could affect pregnancy.

Since then, a study has found that most babies born to moms who had COVID-19 late in their pregnancies are largely healthy and well by the time they’re 6 to 8 weeks old.

The findings should offer some relief for concerned expectant parents, but research is still ongoing.

Improving childbirth for moms with COVID-19

Now that researchers have gotten a better understanding of COVID-19 and how it spreads, many hospitals have started loosening visitor restrictions and allowing at least one support person during childbirth, in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The World Health Organization also encourages support for moms with COVID-19 to breastfeed, share a room with their baby, and have skin-to-skin contact, according to guidelines last updated Sept. 2.

These policies and recommendations should help give people some peace of mind when they’re planning for childbirth during the pandemic, but doctors say that there’s still a lot of room to improve their experience.

“I think it would be amazing if hospitals invested in in-house doulas who are vetted and tested regularly to give moms support during this particularly challenging time,” Conti says.

In the meantime, social media has been filling in some of the support gaps for pregnant women with COVID-19.

After Glaser shared her COVID-19 childbirth experience on Instagram, she has received messages from moms around the world, all going through the same thing.

“I’ve been helping them through their journey. They want to know if there’s hope at the end of this,” she says.

“As hard as the physical symptoms of the virus were, the emotional symptoms were even worse, and it’s really important to lean on other people who have also gone through it,” Glaser says.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Female_Mask_Newborn_1296x728-header-1-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fwhat-its-like-to-give-birth-with-covid-19&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2FFemale_Mask_Newborn_1296x728-header-1-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=What%20It%E2%80%99s%20Like%20to%20Give%20Birth%20with%20COVID-19"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Female_Mask_Newborn_1296x728-header-1-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Kate Glaser received a diagnosis of COVID-19 before she gave birth this spring. Photography courtesy of Kate Glaser </figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>The loneliness during pregnancy and <strong>childbirth</strong> in the pandemic has been exacerbated for some moms with COVID-19.</strong></li><li><strong>At hospitals, new COVID-19 policies have meant that moms-to-be couldn’t have their partners, doulas, and other support people by their side during childbirth.</strong></li><li><strong>A <a href=""https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa1411/5908705"">recent study</a> has found that most babies born to people who had COVID-19 late in their pregnancies are largely healthy and well by the time they’re 6 to 8 weeks old. </strong></li></ul>

<p><em>All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/coronavirus"">coronavirus hub</a> and follow our <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health-news/coronavirus-live-updates"">live updates page</a> for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.</em></p>

<p>Donna Molina was sick throughout most of her fourth pregnancy. Nausea was the norm after taking prenatal vitamins, and she threw up almost every day.</p>

<p>But, in late March, when the 32-year-old found herself with no sense of taste or smell after a week of headaches, body aches, and a stuffy nose, she knew something was wrong.</p>

<p>A test would soon confirm her suspicion of <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/coronavirus"">COVID-19</a>.</p>

<p>Things went downhill — fast. She was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey with a 103°F fever, intubated, and induced into a coma for 11 days.</p>

<p>“When I woke up, I was very confused. I had forgotten I was pregnant, and I didn’t know which hospital I was in,” the New Jersey mom says. “A hospital psychiatrist explained that I had delivered a baby girl by emergency C-section at 30 weeks.”</p>

<p>The next day, she got to meet her 3-pound daughter, Harley, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) via FaceTime.</p>

<p>Molina would not get to hold Harley until May 7 (more than a month after she was born), as she had to test negative for COVID-19 twice and recover from ongoing medical complications.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Family_Outside_Backyard_1296x728-body-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fwhat-its-like-to-give-birth-with-covid-19&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2FFamily_Outside_Backyard_1296x728-body-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=What%20It%E2%80%99s%20Like%20to%20Give%20Birth%20with%20COVID-19"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Family_Outside_Backyard_1296x728-body-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Donna Molina with her children including her youngest child Harley. Photo courtesy of Donna Molina</figcaption></figure>

<p>Despite the ordeal, Molina thinks of herself as lucky. She says she received tons of support from her care team.</p>

<p>According to a recent study, <a href=""https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.15.20213504v1"">61 percent</a> of people who had babies during the pandemic feel they received inadequate support for childbirth.</p>

<p>It’s just one of the many ways childbirth has changed this year, especially for people who’ve received a diagnosis of COVID-19 during their pregnancies.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Baby_Outside_1296x728-Body-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fwhat-its-like-to-give-birth-with-covid-19&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2FBaby_Outside_1296x728-Body-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=What%20It%E2%80%99s%20Like%20to%20Give%20Birth%20with%20COVID-19"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Baby_Outside_1296x728-Body-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Donna Molina was unable to hold her daughter Harley for over a month after giving birth due to her COVID-19 diagnosis. Photo courtesy of Donna Molina</figcaption></figure>

<h2><a>Going through pregnancy and childbirth alone</a></h2>

<p>The threat of COVID-19, along with a lack of consistent guidance from health authorities, left hospitals and obstetric care providers to develop their own strategies for keeping expectant parents and healthcare workers safe.</p>

<p>Early in the pandemic, some providers switched to telehealth for prenatal visits and banned partners, friends, and family from accompanying patients to their in-person appointments.</p>

<p>At hospitals, new policies meant that moms-to-be couldn’t have their partners, doulas, and other support people at their side during childbirth.</p>

<p>That left many feeling alone and unsupported during their pregnancies this year, says <a href=""https://www.drjenniferconti.com/"">Dr. Jennifer Conti</a>, a San Francisco Bay Area-based OB-GYN and co-author of “<a href=""https://www.drjenniferconti.com/the-vagina-book"">The Vagina Book</a>.”</p>

<p>“Every single element of that normal support structure is torn down,” she says. “Even the people you’d normally call on to be a support system in the postpartum period can’t be there because of restrictions on travel, stay-at-home orders, and the risk of COVID-19.”</p>

<p>The loneliness and isolation during pregnancy and childbirth in the pandemic have been exacerbated for some moms with COVID-19, such as Kate Glaser, a 32-year-old mom of three in upstate New York.</p>

<p>After she tested positive for the disease during her 39th week of pregnancy, Glaser was no longer allowed to go to her doctor’s office in person for check-ups, and was put on bed rest at home in quarantine. She felt like she had “the flu times 10.”</p>

<p>“It was very isolating,” she says. “I also worried if my husband could be in the delivery room with me. This is our last baby, so there was a lot of worry.”</p>

<p>Wearing a mask, she delivered healthy baby Isla a couple of weeks later with her husband by her side. She was still positive for COVID-19.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Newborn_Baby_1296x728-Body-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fwhat-its-like-to-give-birth-with-covid-19&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2FNewborn_Baby_1296x728-Body-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=What%20It%E2%80%99s%20Like%20to%20Give%20Birth%20with%20COVID-19"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Newborn_Baby_1296x728-Body-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Kate Glaser gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Isla. Kate Glaser</figcaption></figure>

<h2><a>Mom guilt and mental health concerns</a></h2>

<p>Mental health issues seem to be on the rise during pregnancy amid the pandemic.</p>

<p>In a <a href=""https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.15.20213504v1.full.pdf"">recent survey</a> of 885 women who had babies at hospitals across the country between March and July, nearly 34 percent of participants experienced anxiety, up from 20 percent before the pandemic.</p>

<p>The research also showed that depression rates among pregnant women were up to nearly 19 percent, compared with a typical rate of less than 13 percent.</p>

<p>“They don’t know what’s going to happen when they get to the hospital or whether they can or should send their kids to day care or school. A lot of families are also going through financial insecurity because of job losses,” says <a href=""https://www.uchealth.org/provider/lisa-wynn-md/"">Dr. Lisa Wynn</a>, OB-GYN and women’s service line chief at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital in Colorado.</p>

<p>“We’re trying to be proactive with patients about managing the stress from both the world and within their homes,” she adds.</p>

<p>On top of depression and anxiety, many who test positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy can add one more condition to their list of emotional concerns: mom guilt.</p>

<p>“When they told me I was COVID-positive, I collapsed into a chair and sobbed,” Glaser recalls.</p>

<p>She had taken every precaution, from wearing a mask and sanitizing her hands to avoiding social gatherings, but she still felt “incredibly guilty” for her illness potentially putting her baby at risk.</p>

<p>The guilt continued during her quarantine, when she couldn’t see or care for her 3-year-old twins.</p>

<p>And after delivery, when she had to watch the nurses swab the inside of her newborn’s nose to test her for COVID-19 and couldn’t have skin-to-skin contact with her right away.</p>

<p>“You feel guilty for even getting sick,” adds Molina, who also serves as a caregiver for her partner with multiple sclerosis.</p>

<p>Molina and Glaser both delivered their infants relatively early in the pandemic, when there were even more unknowns about how COVID-19 could affect pregnancy.</p>

<p>Since then, a <a href=""https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa1411/5908705"">study</a> has found that most babies born to moms who had COVID-19 late in their pregnancies are largely healthy and well by the time they’re 6 to 8 weeks old.</p>

<p>The findings should offer some relief for concerned expectant parents, but research is still ongoing.</p>

<h2><a>Improving childbirth for moms with COVID-19</a></h2>

<p>Now that researchers have gotten a better understanding of COVID-19 and how it spreads, many hospitals have started loosening visitor restrictions and allowing at least one support person during childbirth, in line with guidance from the <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/inpatient-obstetric-healthcare-guidance.html"">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</a>.</p>

<p>The <a href=""https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-pregnancy-and-childbirth"">World Health Organization</a> also encourages support for moms with COVID-19 to breastfeed, share a room with their baby, and have skin-to-skin contact, according to guidelines last updated Sept. 2.</p>

<p>These policies and recommendations should help give people some peace of mind when they’re planning for childbirth during the pandemic, but doctors say that there’s still a lot of room to improve their experience.</p>

<p>“I think it would be amazing if hospitals invested in in-house doulas who are vetted and tested regularly to give moms support during this particularly challenging time,” Conti says.</p>

<p>In the meantime, social media has been filling in some of the support gaps for pregnant women with COVID-19.</p>

<p>After Glaser shared her COVID-19 childbirth experience on <a href=""https://www.instagram.com/p/CCOF3F6hz9z/"">Instagram</a>, she has received messages from moms around the world, all going through the same thing.</p>

<p>“I’ve been helping them through their journey. They want to know if there’s hope at the end of this,” she says.</p>

<p>“As hard as the physical symptoms of the virus were, the emotional symptoms were even worse, and it’s really important to lean on other people who have also gone through it,” Glaser says.</p>

</article>",en,2020-11-21T05:00:00Z,2020-11-21T05:00:00+00:00,2020-11-21T05:00:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Female_Mask_Newborn_1200x628-facebook-1200x628.jpg,"[
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"Understanding Borderline Diabetes: Signs, Symptoms, and More",https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/borderline-diabetes-know-the-signs,https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/borderline-diabetes-know-the-signs,2022-11-21T00:00:00,"Share on Pinterest

What is borderline diabetes?

Some people use the term “borderline diabetes” to refer to prediabetes. Prediabetes is a term used by medical professionals and is a condition that may occur before a person develops type 2 diabetes.

Also known as impaired fasting glucose or glucose intolerance, prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but they’re not quite high enough to be considered a sign of diabetes.

During the prediabetes phase, your pancreas still produces enough insulin in response to ingested carbohydrates. But the insulin is less effective at removing the sugar from the bloodstream, so your blood sugar remains high. This condition is called insulin resistance.

If you have prediabetes, you should know you’re not alone. In 2019, it was estimated that 96 million adults in the United States were diagnosed with prediabetes, which translates to around 1 in 3 adults.

Having prediabetes doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop diabetes. But it’s important to make changes to your diet and lifestyle to prevent the condition from progressing.

In fact, it’s estimated that between 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop diabetes within the next 3-5 years if no lifestyle changes are made.

Early warning signs

Someone with insulin resistance in its early stages can develop type 2 diabetes if it continues long enough.

But prediabetes doesn’t usually cause any symptoms and only 20% of people with prediabetes even know they have it.

Determining if you have borderline diabetes

Prediabetes is a silent condition, so getting a regular wellness checkup is important for early detection. If you think you might have borderline diabetes, it’s best to discuss your concerns with a doctor.

If a doctor suspects you may have prediabetes, they’ll most likely perform a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test or oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

HbA1c is an indicator of your blood sugar control over the past 3 months, so it’s often a better overall picture than a single fasting blood sugar check. An HbA1c level between 5.7 and 6.4 indicates prediabetes.

Potential complications of borderline diabetes

High blood glucose levels, especially if they’re left untreated, can affect other systems in your body. This can leave you vulnerable to a variety of health risks and chronic health conditions. For example, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to:

vision loss
nerve damage
kidney damage
cardiovascular disease

The high insulin levels that come with insulin resistance can cause additional problems.

How to reduce risk

A large, multicenter research study called the Diabetes Prevention Program looked into how lifestyle changes could help prevent diabetes. What they found should give people at risk of diabetes a lot of hope.

With modest weight loss and exercise, study participants reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58% over 3 years.

Therefore, making changes to your diet and lifestyle can be especially beneficial for those with prediabetes and may help support blood sugar control and overall health.

Balanced diet

Focus on nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and heart-healthy fats. When choosing grains, be sure to choose complex carbohydrates, like whole grains.

You should also aim to limit your intake of added sugars, like those in processed baked goods or sugar-sweetened beverages. Foods high in added sugar can raise blood sugar levels and are also often lacking in important nutrients.

For help in planning meals to prevent diabetes, consider scheduling an appointment with a dietitian. The American Diabetes Association also offers simple tips for diabetes-friendly cooking.

Physical activity

Aim for 150 minutes of exercise each week, or around 30 minutes of exercise for 5 days per week.

This can include a variety of activities, including walking, biking, swimming, hiking, or dancing.

Maintain a moderate weight

Though you can develop prediabetes at any size, having overweight or obesity can increase the risk.

Talk with a doctor or dietitian about whether making changes to your diet or exercise routine may be beneficial to help you reach or maintain a moderate weight and reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

Medications

If you do have prediabetes, a doctor may prescribe a medication, like metformin (Glumetza, Glucophage, Fortamet, Riomet). This can also help increase insulin sensitivity and keep blood glucose levels in check.

Start today

Talk with your doctor before starting any diet or lifestyle changes. It’ll give you the best chance of preventing diabetes in the first place while also avoiding any potential complications from uncontrolled diabetes.

Keep in mind that being diagnosed with prediabetes doesn’t have to mean you’ll develop diabetes.

In fact, making moderate adjustments to your diet and lifestyle can help prevent prediabetes from progressing while also improving your overall health.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Senior-woman-checking-her-blood-pressure-level-at-home-1296x728-header.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528"" alt=""Woman checking her blood pressure level at home""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth%2Fdiabetes%2Fborderline-diabetes-know-the-signs&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F08%2FSenior-woman-checking-her-blood-pressure-level-at-home-1296x728-header.jpg&amp;description=Borderline%20Diabetes%3A%20Know%20the%20Signs"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Senior-woman-checking-her-blood-pressure-level-at-home-1296x728-header.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>AleksandarNakic/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<h2><a>What is borderline diabetes?</a></h2>

<p>Some people use the term “borderline diabetes” to refer to prediabetes. Prediabetes is a term used by medical professionals and is a condition that may occur before a person develops <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes"">type 2 diabetes</a>.</p>

<p>Also known as impaired fasting glucose or glucose intolerance, prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but they’re not quite high enough to be considered a sign of diabetes.</p>

<p>During the <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/what-is-prediabetes"">prediabetes</a> phase, your pancreas still produces enough insulin in response to ingested carbohydrates. But the insulin is less effective at removing the sugar from the bloodstream, so your blood sugar remains high. This condition is called <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/insulin-resistance-symptoms"">insulin resistance</a>.</p>

<p>If you have prediabetes, you should know you’re not alone. In 2019, it was estimated that <a href=""http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/"">96 million</a> adults in the United States were diagnosed with prediabetes, which translates to around 1 in 3 adults.</p>

<p>Having prediabetes doesn’t mean you’ll definitely develop diabetes. But it’s important to make changes to your diet and lifestyle to prevent the condition from progressing.</p>

<p>In fact, it’s estimated that between <a href=""https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/diabetes/prediabetes/"">15% to 30%</a> of people with prediabetes will develop diabetes within the next 3-5 years if no lifestyle changes are made.</p>

<h2><a>Early warning signs</a></h2>

<p>Someone with insulin resistance in its early stages can develop type 2 diabetes if it continues long enough.</p>

<p>But prediabetes doesn’t usually cause any symptoms and only <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html"">20%</a> of people with prediabetes even know they have it.</p>

<h2><a>Determining if you have borderline diabetes</a></h2>

<p>Prediabetes is a silent condition, so getting a regular wellness checkup is important for early detection. If you think you might have borderline diabetes, it’s best to discuss your concerns with a doctor.</p>

<p>If a doctor suspects you may have prediabetes, they’ll <a href=""https://diabetes.org/diabetes/a1c/diagnosis"">most likely</a> perform a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/ac1-test"">hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test</a> or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/a1c-fpgt-ogtt-tests"">oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)</a>.</p>

<p>HbA1c is an indicator of your blood sugar control over the past <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/managing-blood-sugar/a1c.html"">3 months</a>, so it’s often a better overall picture than a single fasting blood sugar check. An HbA1c level between 5.7 and 6.4 indicates prediabetes.</p>

<h2><a>Potential complications of borderline diabetes</a></h2>

<p>High blood glucose levels, especially if they’re left untreated, can affect other systems in your body. This can leave you vulnerable to a variety of health risks and chronic health conditions. For example, uncontrolled diabetes <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/problems.html"">can lead</a> to:</p>

<ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/retinopathy"">vision loss</a></li><li>nerve damage</li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/kidney-disease"">kidney damage</a></li><li>cardiovascular disease</li></ul>

<p>The high insulin levels that come with insulin resistance can cause additional problems.</p>

<h2><a>How to reduce risk</a></h2>

<p>A large, multicenter research study called the Diabetes Prevention Program looked into how lifestyle changes could help prevent diabetes. What they found should give people at risk of diabetes a lot of hope.</p>

<p>With modest weight loss and exercise, study participants reduced their risk of developing diabetes by <a href=""https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/research-areas/diabetes/diabetes-prevention-program-dpp"">58%</a> over 3 years.</p>

<p>Therefore, making changes to your diet and lifestyle can be especially beneficial for those with prediabetes and may help support blood sugar control and overall health.</p>

<h3>Balanced diet</h3>

<p>Focus on nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and heart-healthy fats. When choosing grains, be sure to choose <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/simple-carbohydrates-complex-carbohydrates"">complex carbohydrates</a>, like whole grains.</p>

<p>You should also aim to limit your intake of <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-is-fructose-bad-for-you"">added sugars</a>, like those in processed baked goods or sugar-sweetened beverages. Foods high in added sugar can raise blood sugar levels and are also often lacking in important nutrients.</p>

<p>For help in planning meals to prevent diabetes, consider scheduling an appointment with a dietitian. The <a href=""http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/"">American Diabetes Association</a> also offers simple tips for <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/diabetic-meal-delivery"">diabetes-friendly cooking</a>.</p>

<h3>Physical activity</h3>

<p>Aim for <a href=""https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity"">150 minutes</a> of <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise"">exercise</a> each week, or around 30 minutes of exercise for 5 days per week.</p>

<p>This can include a variety of activities, including walking, biking, swimming, hiking, or dancing.</p>

<h3>Maintain a moderate weight</h3>

<p>Though you can develop prediabetes at any size, having overweight or obesity <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/prediabetes.html"">can increase</a> the risk.</p>

<p>Talk with a doctor or dietitian about whether making changes to your diet or exercise routine may be beneficial to help you reach or maintain a moderate weight and reduce your risk of developing diabetes.</p>

<h3>Medications</h3>

<p>If you do have prediabetes, a doctor <a href=""https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2612613"">may prescribe</a> a medication, like metformin (Glumetza, Glucophage, Fortamet, Riomet). This can also help increase insulin sensitivity and keep blood glucose levels in check.</p>

<h2><a>Start today</a></h2>

<p>Talk with your doctor before starting any diet or lifestyle changes. It’ll give you the best chance of preventing diabetes in the first place while also avoiding any potential complications from uncontrolled diabetes.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that being diagnosed with prediabetes doesn’t have to mean you’ll develop diabetes.</p>

<p>In fact, making moderate adjustments to your diet and lifestyle can help prevent prediabetes from progressing while also improving your overall health.</p>

</article>",en,"Last medically reviewed on November 21, 2022",2022-11-30T00:00:00,"Updated on November 30, 2022",https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Senior-woman-checking-her-blood-pressure-level-at-home-1200x628-facebook-1200x628.jpg,"[
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]",0.9602016999999999,2022-12-23T00:00:00Z
Novel Form of Light Therapy May Someday Be Used to Treat Brain Disorders,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/will-light-therapy-ever-replace-brain-surgery?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/will-light-therapy-ever-replace-brain-surgery,2019-08-08T13:51:00+00:00,"Light can affect neurons, which can cause Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and other disorders if they stop working.

Share on Pinterest

The brain contains billions of neurons — tiny cells that use electrical impulses and chemical signals to communicate with one another and other parts of the body.

When neurons stop working properly, it can lead to brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, or depression to develop.

To better understand and manage these disorders, scientists have been developing techniques of brain stimulation that allow them to influence neural activity.

In conventional methods of deep brain stimulation, electrical neurostimulators, or “brain pacemakers,” are surgically implanted in the brain.

As brain science continues to advance, researchers have been developing less invasive methods of stimulating cells deep within the brain.

While some experts have been using magnetic pulses or sound waves to stimulate neurons, researchers in the field of optogenetics have been using light.

The winner of this year’s Science and PINS Prize for Neuromodulation, Shuo Chen, PhD, was recognized for his work in this area.

“Dr. Chen and colleagues showed that near-infrared light, when used in combination with certain nanoparticles, allowed stimulation of neurons deep in the brain,” Dr. Karl Deisseroth, a professor of bioengineering and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, told Healthline.

“More work needs to be done to make this a robust and useful process,” he said, “but Dr. Chen and colleagues took a key step.”

Deisseroth is one of the leading pioneers of optogenetics, a technique in which brain cells are genetically engineered to respond to light.

In this method of brain stimulation, scientists transfer pieces of genetic code derived from algae and other microbes into the brain cells of mice or other animals. That genetic code causes neurons to produce light-responsive proteins, known as opsins.

When scientists expose opsin-producing neurons to certain wavelengths of visible-spectrum light, those neurons turn on or off.

By activating or suppressing specific neurons, researchers can learn more about the role those neurons play in brain function and brain disorders.

“In this way, the causal role and functional significance of cellular activity can be determined in any species or tissue or behavior of interest, ranging from memory to mood to movement,” Deisseroth said.

“Optogenetics brings unmatched capability for speaking the natural language of the brain, in terms of cell-type specificity and speed,” he added.

Developing noninvasive techniques

Opsin-producing neurons only respond to visible-spectrum light, which can’t penetrate deeply into brain tissue.

As a result, optogenetic stimulation has historically required the insertion of fiber-optic light sources inside the brain.

To develop a less invasive method of light delivery, Deisseroth and his colleague Polina Anikeeva, PhD, proposed the use of near-infrared (NIR) light.

NIR light can pass through the skull and deep into brain tissue, without the insertion of internal light sources. However, NIR light doesn’t trigger a response from opsin-producing neurons.

To harness the tissue-penetrating power of NIR light, Deisseroth and Anikeeva devised a patented method for coating opsin-producing neurons in tiny nanoparticles that convert NIR light into visible-spectrum light. This technique is known as NIR upconversion.

Chen and his research team applied this method, showing for the first time that NIR upconversion optogenetics can be used to control neurons deep in the brains of mice.

Chen’s research team used this technique to stimulate the release of dopamine in an area of the brain that’s believed to play a role in depression.

“Overcoming the challenge of optical penetration depth will be the key to realizing noninvasive remote optogenetics with high clinical translation potential,” Chen wrote in his prizewinning essay on the topic.

“Our recent study addressed this problem by applying a nanomaterial-assisted approach that ‘shifts’ the existing optogenetic tools into the near-infrared region,” he added.

Applying brain stimulation in humans

While scientists continue to research optogenetics in mice, zebra fish, and other animals, it hasn’t been studied as a treatment for brain disorders in human subjects.

More work needs to be done to develop and test noninvasive methods of light delivery, as well as noninvasive strategies for transferring genetic code into brain cells.

“It is too soon to predict which technique will emerge at the forefront of next-generation noninvasive brain stimulation technology,” Chen said, in a press release issued by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“However, we believe that achievements such as NIR upconversion optogenetics are rapidly unlocking numerous development routes and paving the way towards a bright therapeutic future,” he continued.

In the meantime, other methods of noninvasive brain stimulation are also being developed, tested, and used in humans.

“There are noninvasive methods that don’t require gene therapies, such as transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulation, which are already used commonly with human subjects on an experimental basis,” Ed Boyden, PhD, a professor of neurotechnology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), told Healthline.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure in which magnetic fields are used to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has already permitted the marketing of TMS as a treatment for major depression, as well as obsessive compulsive disorder and migraine headaches.

Members of Boyden’s research group have also conducted research on transcranial electric stimulation (TES), a noninvasive approach to brain stimulation in which electrodes are placed on the scalp. They hope this technique will allow them to reach cells deep within the brain, with greater precision than TMS.","<article>

<p>Light can affect neurons, which can cause Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and other disorders if they stop working.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Female_Doctor_Flashlight_1296x728-header-1-1296x728.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fwill-light-therapy-ever-replace-brain-surgery&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F08%2FFemale_Doctor_Flashlight_1296x728-header-1-1296x728.jpg&amp;description=Light%20Therapy%20May%20Be%20Used%20to%20Treat%20Brain%20Disorders"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Female_Doctor_Flashlight_1296x728-header-1-1296x728.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Light therapy may work by affecting neurons in the brain. Getty Images </figcaption></figure>

<p>The brain contains billions of neurons — tiny cells that use electrical impulses and chemical signals to communicate with one another and other parts of the body.</p>

<p>When neurons stop working properly, it can lead to brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, or depression to develop.</p>

<p>To better understand and manage these disorders, scientists have been developing techniques of brain stimulation that allow them to influence neural activity.</p>

<p>In conventional methods of deep brain stimulation, electrical neurostimulators, or “brain pacemakers,” are surgically implanted in the brain.</p>

<p>As brain science continues to advance, researchers have been developing less invasive methods of stimulating cells deep within the brain.</p>

<p>While some experts have been using magnetic pulses or sound waves to stimulate neurons, researchers in the field of optogenetics have been using light.</p>

<p>The winner of this year’s <a href=""https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/aaft-nro072619.php"">Science and PINS Prize for Neuromodulation</a>, <a href=""https://www.linkedin.com/in/shuo-chen-64742230/"">Shuo Chen</a>, PhD, was recognized for his work in this area.</p>

<p>“Dr. Chen and colleagues showed that near-infrared light, when used in combination with certain nanoparticles, allowed stimulation of neurons deep in the brain,” <a href=""https://web.stanford.edu/group/dlab/about_pi.html"">Dr. Karl Deisseroth</a>, a professor of bioengineering and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, told Healthline.</p>

<p>“More work needs to be done to make this a robust and useful process,” he said, “but Dr. Chen and colleagues took a key step.”</p>

<p>Deisseroth is one of the leading pioneers of optogenetics, a technique in which brain cells are genetically engineered to respond to light.</p>

<p>In this method of brain stimulation, scientists transfer pieces of genetic code derived from algae and other microbes into the brain cells of mice or other animals. That genetic code causes neurons to produce light-responsive proteins, known as opsins.</p>

<p>When scientists expose opsin-producing neurons to certain wavelengths of visible-spectrum light, those neurons turn on or off.</p>

<p>By activating or suppressing specific neurons, researchers can learn more about the role those neurons play in brain function and brain disorders.</p>

<p>“In this way, the causal role and functional significance of cellular activity can be determined in any species or tissue or behavior of interest, ranging from memory to mood to movement,” Deisseroth said.</p>

<p>“Optogenetics brings unmatched capability for speaking the natural language of the brain, in terms of cell-type specificity and speed,” he added.</p>

<h2><a><strong>Developing noninvasive techniques</strong></a></h2>

<p>Opsin-producing neurons only respond to visible-spectrum light, which can’t penetrate deeply into brain tissue.</p>

<p>As a result, optogenetic stimulation has historically required the insertion of fiber-optic light sources inside the brain.</p>

<p>To develop a less invasive method of light delivery, Deisseroth and his colleague <a href=""https://dmse.mit.edu/people/polina-anikeeva"">Polina Anikeeva</a>, PhD, proposed the use of near-infrared (NIR) light.</p>

<p>NIR light can pass through the skull and deep into brain tissue, without the insertion of internal light sources. However, NIR light doesn’t trigger a response from opsin-producing neurons.</p>

<p>To harness the tissue-penetrating power of NIR light, Deisseroth and Anikeeva devised a <a href=""https://patents.google.com/patent/US9522288B2/en"">patented</a> method for coating opsin-producing neurons in tiny nanoparticles that convert NIR light into visible-spectrum light. This technique is known as NIR upconversion.</p>

<p>Chen and his research team applied this method, showing for the first time that NIR upconversion optogenetics can be used to control neurons deep in the brains of mice.</p>

<p>Chen’s research team used this technique to stimulate the release of dopamine in an area of the brain that’s believed to play a role in depression.</p>

<p>“Overcoming the challenge of optical penetration depth will be the key to realizing noninvasive remote optogenetics with high clinical translation potential,” Chen wrote in his <a href=""https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6452/456"">prizewinning essay</a> on the topic.</p>

<p>“Our recent study addressed this problem by applying a nanomaterial-assisted approach that ‘shifts’ the existing optogenetic tools into the near-infrared region,” he added.</p>

<h2><a><strong>Applying brain stimulation in humans</strong></a></h2>

<p>While scientists continue to research optogenetics in mice, zebra fish, and other animals, it hasn’t been studied as a treatment for brain disorders in human subjects.</p>

<p>More work needs to be done to develop and test noninvasive methods of light delivery, as well as noninvasive strategies for transferring genetic code into brain cells.</p>

<p>“It is too soon to predict which technique will emerge at the forefront of next-generation noninvasive brain stimulation technology,” Chen said, in a <a href=""https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/aaft-nro072619.php"">press release</a> issued by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.</p>

<p>“However, we believe that achievements such as NIR upconversion optogenetics are rapidly unlocking numerous development routes and paving the way towards a bright therapeutic future,” he continued.</p>

<p>In the meantime, other methods of noninvasive brain stimulation are also being developed, tested, and used in humans.</p>

<p>“There are noninvasive methods that don’t require gene therapies, such as transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulation, which are already used commonly with human subjects on an experimental basis,” <a href=""http://syntheticneurobiology.org/people/display/71/11"">Ed Boyden</a>, PhD, a professor of neurotechnology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), told Healthline.</p>

<p>Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure in which magnetic fields are used to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. The Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) has already <a href=""https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-permits-marketing-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-treatment-obsessive-compulsive-disorder"">permitted</a> the marketing of TMS as a treatment for major depression, as well as obsessive compulsive disorder and migraine headaches.</p>

<p>Members of Boyden’s research group have also conducted research on <a href=""http://news.mit.edu/2017/noninvasive-method-deep-brain-stimulation-0601"">transcranial electric stimulation</a> (TES), a noninvasive approach to brain stimulation in which electrodes are placed on the scalp. They hope this technique will allow them to reach cells deep within the brain, with greater precision than TMS.</p>

</article>",en,2019-08-08T13:51:00Z,2019-08-08T13:51:00+00:00,2019-08-08T13:51:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Female_Doctor_Flashlight_1200x628-facebook.jpg,"[
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How Applying Honey to Your Face Can Help Your Skin,https://www.healthline.com/health/honey-for-face,https://www.healthline.com/health/honey-for-face,2019-01-04T00:00:00,"Honey is the sweet, sticky substance that bees produce and store in hives.

In its natural form, honey is produced by enzyme activity, plant matter, and live bacteria coming together to create a powerful ingredient with hundreds of practical uses.

The unique process that creates honey makes it especially valuable for cosmetic uses, such as clearing acne, healing scars, and evening out skin tone.

Raw, unpasteurized honey has the most potential for topical application on skin. Keep reading to find out how honey can be applied to your face and help your skin.

Raw honey is packed with components beneficial for your skin, especially if you have acne or autoimmune skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Even Candida overgrowth may be controlled by applying honey to your skin.

Raw honey helps balance the bacteria on your skin, which makes it a great product to use for acne. Manuka honey has been studied as an anti-acne product and found to be significantly more effective than other popular products.

Honey speeds up your skin cells’ healing processes. If you have blemishes or an eczema outbreak, honey that’s unpasteurized could speed healing and reduce inflammation. Manuka honey is so effective at healing wounds quickly that it’s now used by doctors in clinical settings.

Raw honey is also a natural exfoliator, which means applying it to your face takes off dry, dull skin and reveals new skin cells underneath.

Uses of honey on the face

Applying honey to your face is fairly simple, though there are different ways to do it.

Honey for face acne, psoriasis, and eczema

Honey for chronic skin conditions can be treated with a paste, spot-treated, or with a face mask that you leave on for several minutes.

The most important thing about using honey to treat these conditions is to use unpasteurized honey, such as manuka honey.

It’s vital that the honey you use still contains its healthy bacteria to be effective. This will activate your immune system and help with inflammation and redness, as well as heal blemishes.

One way to use honey for your face is to mix it with other ingredients to create a soothing face mask treatment. Before doing this, make sure to do a patch test of the honey and any other ingredients to ensure you won’t have an allergic reaction.

Allergy warning

If you have allergic reactions to pollen, celery, or other bee-related products, steer clear of using honey on your skin.

A mixture of raw honey and cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial combination.

Mix three parts honey and one part freshly ground or pure cinnamon (“true” cinnamon) and warm the mixture slightly using the microwave. Apply to your skin and leave the mixture on for 8 to 10 minutes. Rinse off completely using warm water and pat your skin dry. Don’t use if you’re allergic to cinnamon.

Honey for skin lightening and brightening

Researchers haven’t drawn a direct connection between using honey on your face and lightening dark spots.

But since honey has exfoliating properties, using it on your face can eliminate dead skin cells that make your skin look dull. This can reveal brighter skin.

After washing your face with soap and water, apply manuka honey or another variety of unpasteurized, raw honey to your face. If you’d like, dilute the honey with purified water to make it less sticky and easier to remove. Leave the honey on your skin for several minutes before rinsing off.

Honey for scar fading

Honey helps your body’s healing process, which may help fade acne scars. You can use honey as a spot treatment on scars, applying it every day or every other day as a paste at the site of your scarring.

You may also see results if you use honey face masks as a part of your beauty routine, as described above. Keep in mind that what we know about honey’s healing abilities is limited, and still developing. A study found that honey may not be good for scarring caused by burns and deep cuts.

Side effects of applying honey on face

Honey is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in most people. You should use any of these remedies with caution if you have any known allergies to:

pollen
celery
bee venom

Always test new products on a small area of your skin that’s minimally visible to see if you’re allergic.

Make sure to remove any honey from your face before you go to bed. Honey left on your face can attract dust and other debris, which could aggravate an active breakout.

Takeaway

Using raw honey on your face can work as a treatment for acne, scarring, and dull or dry skin.

Raw honey is more expensive than other kinds of honey, but it’s relatively inexpensive compared to other skin cosmetics for your face.

Researchers are working to find out more about how honey can help your face look its brightest and most clear. As long as you don’t have an allergy, there’s little reason not to give it a try.","<article>

<p>Honey is the sweet, sticky substance that bees produce and store in hives.</p>

<p>In its natural form, honey is produced by enzyme activity, plant matter, and live bacteria coming together to create a powerful ingredient with hundreds of practical uses.</p>

<p>The unique process that creates honey makes it especially valuable for cosmetic uses, such as clearing acne, healing scars, and evening out skin tone.</p>

<p>Raw, unpasteurized honey has the most potential for topical application on skin. Keep reading to find out how honey can be applied to your face and help your skin.</p>

<p>Raw honey is packed with components beneficial for your skin, especially if you have acne or autoimmune skin conditions such as <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis-vs-eczema-pictures"">eczema or psoriasis</a>. Even <em>Candida</em> overgrowth may be controlled by applying honey to your skin.</p>

<p>Raw honey helps balance the bacteria on your skin, which makes it a great product to use for <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/manuka-honey-for-acne"">acne</a>. Manuka honey has been studied as an anti-acne product and found to be significantly more effective than other popular products.</p>

<p>Honey speeds up your skin cells’ healing processes. If you have blemishes or an eczema outbreak, honey that’s unpasteurized could speed healing and reduce inflammation. Manuka honey is so effective at healing wounds quickly that it’s now used by doctors in clinical settings.</p>

<p>Raw honey is also a natural <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/remove-dead-skin-from-face"">exfoliator</a>, which means applying it to your face takes off dry, dull skin and reveals new skin cells underneath.</p>

<h2><a>Uses of honey on the face</a></h2>

<p>Applying honey to your face is fairly simple, though there are different ways to do it.</p>

<h3>Honey for face acne, psoriasis, and eczema</h3>

<p>Honey for chronic skin conditions can be treated with a paste, spot-treated, or with a face mask that you leave on for several minutes.</p>

<p>The most important thing about using honey to treat these conditions is to use unpasteurized honey, such as manuka honey.</p>

<p>It’s vital that the honey you use still contains its healthy bacteria to be effective. This will activate your immune system and help with inflammation and redness, as well as heal blemishes.</p>

<p>One way to use honey for your face is to mix it with other ingredients to create a soothing face mask treatment. Before doing this, make sure to do a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/allergy-testing"">patch test</a> of the honey and any other ingredients to ensure you won’t have an allergic reaction.</p>

<blockquote><strong>Allergy warning</strong><p>If you have allergic reactions to pollen, celery, or other bee-related products, steer clear of using honey on your skin.</p></blockquote>

<p>A mixture of raw <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/honey-and-cinnamon-for-acne/"">honey and cinnamon</a> is a powerful <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained"">antioxidant</a> and antimicrobial combination.</p>

<p>Mix three parts honey and one part freshly ground or pure cinnamon (“true” cinnamon) and warm the mixture slightly using the microwave. Apply to your skin and leave the mixture on for 8 to 10 minutes. Rinse off completely using warm water and pat your skin dry. Don’t use if you’re allergic to cinnamon.</p>

<h3>Honey for skin lightening and brightening</h3>

<p>Researchers haven’t drawn a direct connection between using honey on your face and lightening dark spots.</p>

<p>But since honey has exfoliating properties, using it on your face can eliminate dead skin cells that make your skin look dull. This can reveal brighter skin.</p>

<p>After washing your face with soap and water, apply manuka honey or another variety of unpasteurized, raw honey to your face. If you’d like, dilute the honey with purified water to make it less sticky and easier to remove. Leave the honey on your skin for several minutes before rinsing off.</p>

<h3>Honey for scar fading</h3>

<p>Honey helps your body’s healing process, which may help fade <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/acne-scars"">acne scars</a>. You can use honey as a spot treatment on scars, applying it every day or every other day as a paste at the site of your scarring.</p>

<p>You may also see results if you use honey face masks as a part of your beauty routine, as described above. Keep in mind that what we know about honey’s healing abilities is limited, and still developing. A study found that honey may not be good for scarring caused by burns and deep cuts.</p>

<h2><a>Side effects of applying honey on face </a></h2>

<p>Honey is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in most people. You should use any of these remedies with caution if you have any known allergies to:</p>

<ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/pollen"">pollen</a></li><li>celery</li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/bee-sting-anaphylaxis#1"">bee venom</a></li></ul>

<p>Always test new products on a small area of your skin that’s minimally visible to see if you’re allergic.</p>

<p>Make sure to remove any honey from your face before you go to bed. Honey left on your face can attract dust and other debris, which could aggravate an active breakout.</p>

<h2><a>Takeaway</a></h2>

<p>Using raw honey on your face can work as a treatment for acne, scarring, and dull or dry skin.</p>

<p>Raw honey is more expensive than other kinds of honey, but it’s relatively inexpensive compared to other skin cosmetics for your face.</p>

<p>Researchers are working to find out more about how honey can help your face look its brightest and most clear. As long as you don’t have an allergy, there’s little reason not to give it a try.</p>

</article>",en,"on January 4, 2019",2019-01-04T00:00:00,"Last medically reviewed on January 4, 2019",https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Honey_Honeycomb_Overhead_Blue-1200x628-Facebook.jpg,,"Using raw honey on your face can work as a treatment for acne, scarring, and dull or dry skin. Raw honey is relatively inexpensive compared to other skin cosmetics for your face. Here's how to use it safely.",,"[
  {
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"Dr. Jonathan Fishman, MD",https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-jonathan-fishman-1104813559,https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-jonathan-fishman-1104813559,2022-05-01T00:00:00,"Dr. Jonathan Fishman, MD is a Gastroenterology Specialist in Denver, CO. They graduated from University of Witwatersrand and is affiliated with Rose Medical Center.
Dr. Fishman works at Denver Digestive Health Specialists in Denver, CO. They frequently treat conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Benign Neoplasm of the Digestive System and Hemorrhoids along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Jonathan Fishman, MD is a Gastroenterology Specialist in Denver, CO. They graduated from University of Witwatersrand and is affiliated with Rose Medical Center. <br><br>Dr. Fishman works at Denver Digestive Health Specialists in Denver, CO. They frequently treat conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Benign Neoplasm of the Digestive System  and Hemorrhoids along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"Craig M. — May 01, 2022",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/382e60b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/120x120+0+20/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.healthgrades.com%2Fimg%2Fprov%2F3%2Fg%2Fq%2F3gqwt_w120h160_vSkmBTFekAB.jpg,"[
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"Dr. Daniel Bochner, PHD",https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/daniel-bochner-1104987320,https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/daniel-bochner-1104987320,2022-04-13T00:00:00,"Dr. Daniel Bochner, PHD is a Psychologist in Savannah, GA.
Dr. Bochner works at LifeStance Health in Savannah, GA. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Daniel Bochner, PHD is a Psychologist in Savannah, GA. <br><br>Dr. Bochner works at LifeStance Health in Savannah, GA. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"Connelly Savannah — Apr 13, 2022",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/8641c85/2147483647/strip/true/crop/440x440+10+0/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucmscdn.healthgrades.com%2Fb9%2F60%2F37b650f74d10939847af8a7ac798%2Fprovider-image.png,"[
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"Dr. Tasneem Malik, MD",https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-tasneem-malik-1639156946,https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-tasneem-malik-1639156946,2020-02-13T00:00:00,"Dr. Tasneem Malik, MD is an Internal Medicine Specialist in Lanham, MD. They graduated from Saint George's University / School Of Medicine and is affiliated with Doctors Community Hospital.
Dr. Malik works at Luminis Health Primary Care in Lanham, MD. They are accepting new patients and accepts Anthem, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Tasneem Malik, MD is an Internal Medicine Specialist in Lanham, MD. They graduated from Saint George's University / School Of Medicine and is affiliated with Doctors Community Hospital. <br><br>Dr. Malik works at Luminis Health Primary Care in Lanham, MD. They are accepting new patients and accepts Anthem, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"Chuck — Feb 13, 2020",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/f611813/2147483647/strip/true/crop/120x120+0+20/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.healthgrades.com%2Fimg%2Fprov%2FY%2F9%2F4%2FY94BG_w120h160_v52336.jpg,"[
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"Crossword Puzzles May be Better for Improving Memory Than Sudoku, Wordle",https://www.healthline.com/health-news/crossword-puzzles-may-be-better-for-improving-memory-than-sudoku-wordle?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/crossword-puzzles-may-be-better-for-improving-memory-than-sudoku-wordle,2022-11-02T01:02:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

For people with mild cognitive impairment, stimulating mental tasks can slow the symptoms of cognitive decline.
In a new study, crossword puzzles were more effective than other “brain games” after a year and a half.
Experts say the familiarity with crosswords as well as their more challenging cognitive demands may be factors.

About 1 in 9 adults in the United States reports experiencing worsening symptoms of confusion or memory loss associated with cognitive decline.

This is especially true of older adults. Some 5.6 million Americans aged 65 and over have some form of dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease.

Dementia often affects not only the individuals experiencing its symptoms but also the people closest to them, causing a significant societal impact.

Anything that can be done to slow the progression of cognitive impairment is welcome news.

A “brain game” industry has developed over the past two decades, with web-based and app-based programs providing a variety of cognitively stimulating puzzles.

But how do these types of games stack up against a classic: the crossword puzzle?

To find out, researchers from Columbia University in New York and Duke University in North Carolina collaborated on a study, published recently in the journal NEJM Evidence.

What they found surprised them.

Crosswords vs other games

In this study, researchers recruited 107 participants (45 male, 62 female) between the ages of 55 and 95 years (average age of 71) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

MCI increases the risk of dementia.

Of note, all participants were required to be English speakers due to the nature of crossword puzzles and other word games.

Participants were then split randomly into two groups: those who would play crosswords (56) and those who would play other cognitive games (51).

Both groups completed their tasks electronically after receiving 12 weeks of training, with additional training sessions up to a year and a half later.

Participants were assessed for cognitive impairment and functional ability. They also underwent functional MRI scans to measure their hippocampal volume. This part of the brain is involved in long-term memory storage.

At the end of the study’s 78 weeks, the researchers reported that the participants who played crossword puzzles didn’t experience as much decline in cognitive or functional ability as those who played other games.

Additionally, the MRI scans revealed less brain shrinkage for the group that played crossword puzzles.

Why crossword puzzles may have performed better

Does this mean crossword puzzles are definitely better than other games at preventing cognitive decline?

Stella Panos, PhD, a neuropsychologist and director of neuropsychology for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California, told Healthline, “While this was a surprising finding when I read it (and to the authors themselves as they noted), there may be other reasons for this.”

She noted, for example, that crossword puzzles have been around for longer than most other specifically-designed cognitive games, so it’s possible that participants were simply more familiar with crossword puzzles to begin with.

“Computer games may also have stimulated a broader range of cognitive functions which may possibly not have been captured as well with their primary outcome measures,” said Panos.

Dr. Emer MacSweeney, the chief executive officer and consultant neuroradiologist at Re:Cognition Health, told Healthline, “The more the brain is exercised the better it will be able to function. And the better the quality of the brain exercise the more effective the result is likely to be.”

“It is the process of learning new information that is most important for the brain. Overall, I suspect the people doing crosswords were continually learning new information, compared to those doing the games, practicing the same or similar processes repetitively,” MacSweeney added.

Crossword puzzles may have been more engaging, encouraging participants to look up new words and definitions.

Other games may not have inspired learning and brain growth in the same way.

Should you do crosswords or other games such as Wordle?

Does this mean cognitive games don’t have any value, or that you shouldn’t bother playing games such as the Jumble?

Not necessarily.

“I’m not certain Wordle and Sudoku will be as effective as crosswords as they do not require looking up and learning new information. But certainly [they’re] very likely to be better than not doing them at all,” said MacSweeney.

“In general, if cognitive tasks are stimulating, they may have a positive effect, though different games likely have different cognitive burden and may impact the brain differently. [For example,] Wordle is also about strategy and cognitive burden is lessened once there’s a strategy,” said Panos.

It’s also possible that people who become familiar with cognitive games may experience different results. Larger studies will be needed before we know for sure.

What to do if you notice signs of dementia

Panos suggests seeking medical care if you — or a loved one — notices an increase in symptoms of cognitive impairment.

These can include:

repetitively asking the same question
forgetting words, phrases, or ideas when speaking
using the wrong words during conversation (like saying “couch” instead of “chair”)
taking longer to complete common tasks
misplacing things around the house
getting lost while walking or driving in relatively familiar areas
having sudden or unexplained changes in mood, personality, or behavior","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/older-female-crossword-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""An older woman tackles a crossword puzzle""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fcrossword-puzzles-may-be-better-for-improving-memory-than-sudoku-wordle&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F11%2Folder-female-crossword-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Crossword%20Puzzles%20Better%20for%20Improving%20Memory"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/older-female-crossword-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Experts say crossword puzzles tend to require more cognitive effort than other games. Bianca Loðbrók/Stocksy</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>For people with mild cognitive impairment, stimulating mental tasks can slow the symptoms of cognitive decline.</strong></li><li><strong>In a new study, crossword puzzles were more effective than other “brain games” after a year and a half.</strong></li><li><strong>Experts say the familiarity with crosswords as well as their more challenging cognitive demands may be factors.</strong></li></ul>

<p>About <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/aging/data/subjective-cognitive-decline-brief.html"">1 in 9 adults</a> in the United States reports experiencing worsening symptoms of confusion or memory loss associated with cognitive decline.</p>

<p>This is especially true of older adults. Some <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/Alz-Greater-Risk.html"">5.6 million</a> Americans aged 65 and over have some form of <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/dementia-symptoms"">dementia</a>, which includes <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-facts"">Alzheimer’s disease</a>.</p>

<p>Dementia often affects not only the individuals experiencing its symptoms but also the people closest to them, causing a significant societal impact.</p>

<p>Anything that can be done to slow the progression of cognitive impairment is welcome news.</p>

<p>A “brain game” industry has developed over the past two decades, with web-based and app-based programs providing a variety of cognitively stimulating puzzles.</p>

<p>But how do these types of games stack up against a classic: the crossword puzzle?</p>

<p>To find out, researchers from Columbia University in New York and Duke University in North Carolina collaborated on a <a href=""https://evidence.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/EVIDoa2200121"">study</a>, published recently in the journal <em>NEJM Evidence</em>.</p>

<p>What they found surprised them.</p>

<h2><a>Crosswords vs other games</a></h2>

<p>In this study, researchers recruited 107 participants (45 male, 62 female) between the ages of 55 and 95 years (average age of 71) with <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/mild-cognitive-impairment"">mild cognitive impairment</a> (MCI).</p>

<p>MCI increases the risk of dementia.</p>

<p>Of note, all participants were required to be English speakers due to the nature of crossword puzzles and other word games.</p>

<p>Participants were then split randomly into two groups: those who would play crosswords (56) and those who would play other cognitive games (51).</p>

<p>Both groups completed their tasks electronically after receiving 12 weeks of training, with additional training sessions up to a year and a half later.</p>

<p>Participants were assessed for cognitive impairment and functional ability. They also underwent functional MRI scans to measure their hippocampal volume. This part of the brain is involved in long-term memory storage.</p>

<p>At the end of the study’s 78 weeks, the researchers reported that the participants who played crossword puzzles didn’t experience as much decline in cognitive or functional ability as those who played other games.</p>

<p>Additionally, the MRI scans revealed less brain shrinkage for the group that played crossword puzzles.</p>

<h2><a>Why crossword puzzles may have performed better</a></h2>

<p>Does this mean crossword puzzles are definitely better than other games at preventing cognitive decline?</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/people/stella-panos/"">Stella Panos</a>, PhD, a neuropsychologist and director of neuropsychology for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California, told Healthline, “While this was a surprising finding when I read it (and to the authors themselves as they noted), there may be other reasons for this.”</p>

<p>She noted, for example, that crossword puzzles have been around for longer than most other specifically-designed cognitive games, so it’s possible that participants were simply more familiar with crossword puzzles to begin with.</p>

<p>“Computer games may also have stimulated a broader range of cognitive functions which may possibly not have been captured as well with their primary outcome measures,” said Panos.</p>

<p><a href=""http://www.recognitionhealth.com/"">Dr. Emer MacSweeney</a>, the chief executive officer and consultant neuroradiologist at Re:Cognition Health, told Healthline, “The more the brain is exercised the better it will be able to function. And the better the quality of the brain exercise the more effective the result is likely to be.”</p>

<p>“It is the process of learning new information that is most important for the brain. Overall, I suspect the people doing crosswords were continually learning new information, compared to those doing the games, practicing the same or similar processes repetitively,” MacSweeney added.</p>

<p>Crossword puzzles may have been more engaging, encouraging participants to look up new words and definitions.</p>

<p>Other games may not have inspired learning and brain growth in the same way.</p>

<h2><a>Should you do crosswords or other games such as Wordle?</a></h2>

<p>Does this mean cognitive games don’t have any value, or that you shouldn’t bother playing games such as the Jumble?</p>

<p>Not necessarily.</p>

<p>“I’m not certain Wordle and Sudoku will be as effective as crosswords as they do not require looking up and learning new information. But certainly [they’re] very likely to be better than not doing them at all,” said MacSweeney.</p>

<p>“In general, if cognitive tasks are stimulating, they may have a positive effect, though different games likely have different cognitive burden and may impact the brain differently. [For example,] Wordle is also about strategy and cognitive burden is lessened once there’s a strategy,” said Panos.</p>

<p>It’s also possible that people who become familiar with cognitive games may experience different results. Larger studies will be needed before we know for sure.</p>

<h2><a>What to do if you notice signs of dementia</a></h2>

<p>Panos suggests seeking medical care if you — or a loved one — notices an increase in symptoms of cognitive impairment.</p>

<p>These can include:</p>

<ul><li>repetitively asking the same question</li><li>forgetting words, phrases, or ideas when speaking</li><li>using the wrong words during conversation (like saying “couch” instead of “chair”)</li><li>taking longer to complete common tasks</li><li>misplacing things around the house</li><li>getting lost while walking or driving in relatively familiar areas</li><li>having sudden or unexplained changes in mood, personality, or behavior</li></ul>

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What Does It Mean to Be Asexual?,https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-asexual,https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-asexual,2021-11-17T00:00:00,"Asexuality, defined

Someone who is asexual experiences little to no sexual attraction.

Sexual attraction, in basic terms, means you find a specific person sexually appealing and want to have sex with them.

Asexual people, who might use the term “ace” or “aces” for short, typically don’t experience sexual attraction or want to pursue sexual relationships with other people.

That said, being asexual means different things to different people.

Some people might only experience sexual attraction in very limited circumstances. For example, someone who is demisexual — which some say falls under the asexual umbrella — experiences sexual attraction only when they experience a deep connection.

To put it another way, they might only feel sexually attracted to people in the context of a loving romantic relationship.

Some people might not experience any sexual attraction and still choose to have a sexual relationship.

To put it simply, everyone has a different experience with being asexual, and there’s no single way to be asexual.

Some people don’t experience sexual attraction at all

Asexual people who don’t experience any sexual attraction can still experience other forms of attraction.

Aside from sexual attraction, you can also experience:

Romantic attraction: desiring a romantic relationship with someone
Aesthetic attraction: being attracted to someone based on how they look
Sensual or physical attraction: wanting to touch, hold, or cuddle someone
Platonic attraction: wanting to be friends with someone
Emotional attraction: wanting an emotional connection with someone

It’s possible for asexual people to experience all these forms of attraction, plus plenty of others.

You’ll find a whopping 37 terms to describe different types of attraction here.

Facts about asexuality

Wondering exactly what it means to be asexual? Here are the basics.

Asexual people can have a sex drive and experience sexual desire

There’s a difference between libido, sexual desire, and sexual attraction.

Libido. Also known as your “sex drive,” libido involves wanting to have sex and experience sexual pleasure and sexual release. For some people, it might feel a little like wanting to scratch an itch.
Sexual desire. This refers to the desire to have sex, whether it’s for pleasure, a personal connection, conception, or something else.
Sexual attraction. This involves finding someone sexually appealing and wanting to have sex with them.

Plenty of people who aren’t asexual have a low libido and may not desire sex. Similarly, many asexual people still have a libido and might experience sexual desire.

Asexual people might still masturbate or have sex.

After all, sexuality doesn’t always mean someone doesn’t enjoy sex. It just means they don’t experience sexual attraction.

An asexual person might want to have sex for plenty of reasons, including:

to satisfy their libido
to conceive children
to make their partner happy
to experience the physical pleasure of sex
to show and receive affection
for the sensual pleasure of sex, including touching and cuddling

Of course, some asexual people have little to no sex drive or sexual desire — and that’s also OK since asexuality means different things to different people.

Many asexual people desire and have romantic relationships

An asexual person might not experience sexual attraction, but they could certainly experience romantic attraction.

An asexual person could be romantically attracted to people of the same gender, people of another gender, or people of multiple genders.

Many asexual people want — and have — romantic relationships. They might build these romantic relationships with other asexual people, or with people who aren’t asexual.

Asexual people may engage in sexual intimacy with partners

As mentioned, some asexual people do have sex, because sexual desire differs from sexual attraction.

In other words, you might not look at someone and feel the need to have sex with them, but you might still want to have sex on occasion.

Every asexual person is different. Some might feel repulsed by sex, some might feel nonchalant about it, and some might enjoy it.

Sexuality is a spectrum

Many people view sexuality as a spectrum.

Asexuality can be a spectrum too, with some people experiencing no sexual attraction, others experiencing a little sexual attraction, and others experiencing a lot of sexual attraction.

Graysexual people rarely experience sexual attraction, or they experience it at a very low intensity. As the Asexual Visibility & Education Network (AVEN) explains, many people recognize graysexuality as a midpoint between sexuality and asexuality.

Sexual attraction and desire aren’t the same as romantic attraction and desire

Wanting to have sex with someone is different from wanting a romantic relationship with them.

Similarly, it’s important to remember that just as sexual attraction differs from romantic attraction, sexual desire also differs from romantic desire.

You can desire a romantic relationship without also desiring sex and vice versa.

Some people prefer nonromantic relationships

Some asexual people have no interest in romantic relationships.

As asexual people experience little to no sexual attraction, aromantic people experience little to no romantic attraction. Some — but not all — asexual people are aromantic.

Queerplatonic, a word that originated in the asexual and aromantic communities, offers one way to describe nonromantic relationships.

According to AVEN, a queerplatonic relationship is a very close relationship. Though it doesn’t involve romance, people in a queerplatonic relationship are just as committed as those in a romantic relationship.

Anybody can have a queerplatonic relationship, no matter their sexual or romantic orientation.

Some find their capacity for attraction or desire shifts over time

Many people consider their identity somewhat fluid.

One day, they might feel like they’re asexual because they experience little or no sexual attraction. Weeks or months later, they might feel a shift and find they experience sexual attraction more often.

Similarly, someone might identify with the term heterosexual or bisexual, then later realize they’re asexual.

This doesn’t mean they were wrong or confused before. It also doesn’t mean sexual orientation is a “phase” or something you’ll grow out of.

Your capacity for attraction isn’t set in stone

Some people find their attraction to others changes over time. This is completely healthy.

Just because an asexual person felt sexual attraction before doesn’t erase their identity now.

If you experienced sexual attraction in the past but no longer do, your asexual identity is still valid.

The same goes for people who no longer identify with the term asexual.

You might be asexual and later come to realize you experience sexual attraction often. This doesn’t mean you were never really asexual. Your orientation could simply have changed over time.

Myths and misconceptions

Now, let’s clear up a few of the myths around asexuality.

It means celibacy or abstinence

Many people falsely believe asexuality is the same thing as celibacy or abstinence.

Abstinence is about deciding not to have sex. This is usually temporary. Someone may choose to abstain from sex:

until they get married
during a difficult period in their life

Celibacy is about deciding to abstain from sex, and possibly marriage, for a longer period of time. Many people make a lifelong commitment to celibacy for religious, cultural, or personal reasons.

One key difference lies in the fact that abstinence and celibacy represent choices. Asexuality does not.

What’s more, asexual people might not actually abstain from sex at all — and people who choose celibacy or abstinence can certainly experience sexual attraction.

It’s a medical condition

Many people think there is something “wrong” with asexual people.

The world seems to assume that everyone feels sexual attraction. As a result, asexual people might worry there’s something wrong with them if they don’t feel that same attraction.

But asexuality isn’t a medical concern or something that needs to be fixed.

It should go without saying, but being asexual isn’t the same thing as experiencing:

Anyone can develop one or more of these conditions, regardless of their sexual orientation.

It only happens because someone can’t find the right partner

Some well-meaning people may assume asexual people will feel sexual attraction when they meet the “right” person — but that’s not how asexuality works. It’s not a matter of finding love or romance.

As a matter of fact, many asexual people desire romantic relationships — and many asexual people have happy healthy romantic relationships.

Romance doesn’t have to involve sex, just as sex doesn’t require romance.

How asexuality works in relationships

A romantic relationship where one partner is asexual and the other isn’t can absolutely work — with plenty of honest communication. Not much different from any other healthy relationship, right?

If you’re asexual, you’ll want to talk to your partner about the types of sexual activity you’re open to (if any) plus any other boundaries you have around sex.

Maybe you and your partner both want a long-term romantic relationship, but your partner has a much higher sex drive. You might try an open relationship, where your partner has other sexual partners but maintains an emotional commitment to you.

What’s most important is that both partners express their needs honestly and recognize that while sexual attraction can shift over time, it may not. So, it generally won’t help to assume an asexual partner will suddenly experience sexual attraction.

Keep in mind, too, that it’s OK (and very healthy) to have a high sex drive and want to have sex often. Sometimes, people simply aren’t compatible. If your partner is asexual and doesn’t want to have sex, but they aren’t willing to consider an open relationship, you might want to consider whether the relationship meets your needs (which are entirely valid, too).

Is there an underlying ‘cause’?

As with homosexuality or bisexuality, there’s no underlying “cause” of asexuality. It’s just the way someone is.

Asexuality isn’t genetic, the result of trauma, or caused by anything else.

That said, if you experience any distress as a result of your orientation, or you feel uncertain about your orientation or what your lack of sexual attraction might mean, talking to a compassionate, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist can help.

How do I know if I’m asexual?

Although you can’t take a specific test to figure out whether you’re asexual or not, you can ask yourself a few key questions to evaluate your desires and consider whether they align with common asexual characteristics.

Some questions to consider:

What does sexual attraction mean to me?
Do I experience sexual attraction?
How do I feel about the concept of sex?
Do I feel like I should have interest in sex only because others expect it?
Is sex important to me?
Do I see attractive people and feel the need to have sex with them?
How do I enjoy showing affection? Does sex factor in?

These questions don’t have any “right” or “wrong” answers, but they can help you think about your sexuality.

Helping your loved ones understand asexuality

If you realize you’re asexual, you might wonder how to explain your orientation to the people in your life, particularly those who may be less familiar with the term.

You can always start by explaining that asexuality is an orientation, just like being gay, queer, or pansexual. Some people have an attraction to people of one gender, others to people of many genders, and some don’t experience sexual attraction at all.

Family or friends might worry asexuality means you’ll never have a loving relationship, so you can also reassure them that you won’t be lonely — you can and do experience the desire for friendship and other close bonds.

It can also help to keep in mind you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone if you don’t want to. Your romantic and sexual desires (or lack thereof) are your business. That said, many people find that being open about their sexuality helps them live more authentically.

Of course, you’ll definitely want to share your orientation with someone you have a romantic interest in.

Need to talk?

Reach a trained, compassionate counselor at The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults.

Get support 24/7, 365 days a year, by:

calling 1-866-488-7386
texting START to 678-678
chatting online

Counselors can listen, offer support and information, and help connect you with additional resources.

The bottom line

Maybe you experience a little sexual attraction or none at all. The way you define your sexuality, orientation, and identity is your choice, and only you get to decide what asexual means to you.

Ultimately, you can always choose the identifier(s) you’re most comfortable with for yourself. If you decide not to use any labels to describe yourself, that’s OK, too!

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information.","<article>

<h2><a>Asexuality, defined</a></h2>

<p>Someone who is asexual experiences little to no sexual attraction.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/sex-emotions"">Sexual attraction</a>, in basic terms, means you find a specific person sexually appealing and want to have sex with them.</p>

<p>Asexual people, who might use the term “ace” or “aces” for short, typically don’t experience sexual attraction or want to pursue sexual relationships with other people.</p>

<p>That said, being asexual means different things to different people.</p>

<p>Some people might only experience sexual attraction in very limited circumstances. For example, someone who is <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/demisexual"">demisexual</a> — which some say falls under the asexual umbrella — experiences sexual attraction only when they experience a deep connection.</p>

<p>To put it another way, they might only feel sexually attracted to people in the context of a loving romantic relationship.</p>

<p>Some people might not experience any sexual attraction and still choose to have a sexual relationship.</p>

<p>To put it simply, everyone has a different experience with being asexual, and there’s no single way to be asexual.</p>

<h3>Some people don’t experience sexual attraction at all</h3>

<p>Asexual people who don’t experience any sexual attraction can still experience other forms of attraction.</p>

<p>Aside from sexual attraction, you can also experience:</p>

<ul><li><strong>Romantic attraction:</strong> desiring a romantic relationship with someone</li><li><strong>Aesthetic attraction:</strong> being attracted to someone based on how they look</li><li><strong>Sensual or physical attraction:</strong> wanting to <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/touch-starved"">touch</a>, hold, or cuddle someone</li><li><strong>Platonic attraction:</strong> wanting to be friends with someone</li><li><strong>Emotional attraction:</strong> wanting an <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/emotional-attraction"">emotional connection</a> with someone</li></ul>

<p>It’s possible for asexual people to experience all these forms of attraction, plus plenty of others.</p>

<p>You’ll find a whopping 37 terms to describe different types of attraction <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-attraction"">here</a>.</p>

<h2><a>Facts about asexuality</a></h2>

<p>Wondering exactly what it means to be asexual? Here are the basics.</p>

<h3>Asexual people can have a sex drive and experience sexual desire</h3>

<p>There’s a difference between libido, sexual desire, and sexual attraction.</p>

<ul><li><strong>Libido.</strong> Also known as your “sex drive,” libido involves wanting to have sex and experience sexual pleasure and sexual release. For some people, it might feel a little like wanting to scratch an itch.</li><li><strong>Sexual desire. </strong>This refers to the desire to have sex, whether it’s for pleasure, a personal connection, conception, or something else.</li><li><strong>Sexual attraction.</strong> This involves finding someone sexually appealing and wanting to have sex with them.</li></ul>

<p>Plenty of people who aren’t asexual have a low libido and may not desire sex. Similarly, many asexual people still have a libido and might experience sexual desire.</p>

<blockquote><p>Asexual people might still <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/solo-sex"">masturbate</a> or have sex.</p><p>After all, sexuality doesn’t always mean someone doesn’t <em>enjoy sex</em>. It just means they don’t experience sexual attraction.</p></blockquote>

<p>An asexual person might want to have sex for plenty of reasons, including:</p>

<ul><li>to satisfy their libido</li><li>to conceive children</li><li>to make their partner happy</li><li>to experience the physical pleasure of sex</li><li>to show and receive affection</li><li>for the sensual pleasure of sex, including touching and cuddling</li></ul>

<p>Of course, some asexual people have little to no sex drive or sexual desire — and that’s also OK since asexuality means different things to different people.</p>

<h3>Many asexual people desire and have romantic relationships</h3>

<p>An asexual person might not experience sexual attraction, but they could certainly experience romantic attraction.</p>

<p>An asexual person could be romantically attracted to people of the same gender, people of another gender, or people of multiple genders.</p>

<p>Many asexual people want — and have — romantic relationships. They might <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/relationships/asexual-dating"">build these romantic relationships</a> with other asexual people, or with people who aren’t asexual.</p>

<h3>Asexual people may engage in sexual intimacy with partners</h3>

<p>As mentioned, some asexual people do have sex, because sexual desire differs from sexual attraction.</p>

<blockquote><p>In other words, you might not look at someone and feel the need to have sex with them, but you might still want to have sex on occasion. </p></blockquote>

<p>Every asexual person is different. Some might feel repulsed by sex, some might feel nonchalant about it, and some might enjoy it.</p>

<h3>Sexuality is a spectrum</h3>

<p>Many people view sexuality as a spectrum.</p>

<p>Asexuality can be a spectrum too, with some people experiencing no sexual attraction, others experiencing a little sexual attraction, and others experiencing a lot of sexual attraction.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/graysexual"">Graysexual</a> people rarely experience sexual attraction, or they experience it at a very low intensity. As the <a href=""https://www.asexuality.org/?q=general.html"">Asexual Visibility &amp; Education Network (AVEN)</a> explains, many people recognize graysexuality as a midpoint between sexuality and asexuality.</p>

<h3>Sexual attraction and desire aren’t the same as romantic attraction and desire</h3>

<p>Wanting to have sex with someone is different from wanting a romantic relationship with them.</p>

<p>Similarly, it’s important to remember that just as sexual attraction differs from romantic attraction, sexual desire also differs from romantic desire.</p>

<p>You can desire a romantic relationship <em>without </em>also desiring sex and vice versa.</p>

<h3>Some people prefer nonromantic relationships</h3>

<p>Some asexual people have no interest in romantic relationships.</p>

<p>As asexual people experience little to no sexual attraction, aromantic people experience little to no romantic attraction. Some — but not all — asexual people are <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/aromantic-asexual"">aromantic</a>.</p>

<p>Queerplatonic, a word that originated in the asexual and aromantic communities, offers one way to describe nonromantic relationships.</p>

<p>According to <a href=""http://wiki.asexuality.org/Queerplatonic"">AVEN</a>, a queerplatonic relationship is a very close relationship. Though it doesn’t involve romance, people in a queerplatonic relationship are just as committed as those in a romantic relationship.</p>

<p>Anybody can have a queerplatonic relationship, no matter their sexual or romantic orientation.</p>

<h3>Some find their capacity for attraction or desire shifts over time</h3>

<p>Many people consider their identity somewhat fluid.</p>

<p>One day, they might feel like they’re asexual because they experience little or no sexual attraction. Weeks or months later, they might feel a shift and find they experience sexual attraction more often.</p>

<p>Similarly, someone might identify with the term heterosexual or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-bisexual"">bisexual</a>, then later realize they’re asexual.</p>

<p>This doesn’t mean they were wrong or confused before. It also doesn’t mean sexual orientation is a “phase” or something you’ll grow out of.</p>

<h3>Your capacity for attraction isn’t set in stone</h3>

<p>Some people find their attraction to others changes over time. This is completely healthy.</p>

<p>Just because an asexual person felt sexual attraction before doesn’t erase their identity now.</p>

<ul><li>If you experienced sexual attraction in the past but no longer do, your asexual identity is still valid. </li></ul>

<p>The same goes for people who no longer identify with the term asexual.</p>

<ul><li>You might be asexual and later come to realize you experience sexual attraction often. This doesn’t mean you were never really asexual. Your orientation could simply have changed over time. </li></ul>

<h2><a>Myths and misconceptions</a></h2>

<p>Now, let’s clear up a few of the myths around asexuality.</p>

<h3>It means celibacy or abstinence</h3>

<p>Many people falsely believe asexuality is the same thing as celibacy or abstinence.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/abstinence"">Abstinence</a> is about deciding not to have sex. This is usually temporary. Someone may choose to abstain from sex:</p>

<ul><li>until they get married</li><li>during a difficult period in their life</li></ul>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/celibacy"">Celibacy</a> is about deciding to abstain from sex, and possibly marriage, for a longer period of time. Many people make a lifelong commitment to celibacy for religious, cultural, or personal reasons.</p>

<p>One key difference lies in the fact that abstinence and celibacy represent choices. Asexuality does not.</p>

<p>What’s more, asexual people might not actually abstain from sex at all — and people who choose celibacy or abstinence can certainly experience sexual attraction.</p>

<h3>It’s a medical condition</h3>

<p>Many people think there is something “wrong” with asexual people.</p>

<p>The world seems to assume that everyone feels sexual attraction. As a result, asexual people might worry there’s something wrong with them if they don’t feel that same attraction.</p>

<p>But asexuality isn’t a medical concern or something that needs to be fixed.</p>

<p>It should go without saying, but being asexual isn’t the same thing as experiencing:</p>

<p>Anyone can develop one or more of these conditions, regardless of their sexual orientation.</p>

<h3>It only happens because someone can’t find the right partner</h3>

<p>Some well-meaning people may assume asexual people will feel sexual attraction when they meet the “right” person — but that’s not how asexuality works. It’s not a matter of finding love or romance.</p>

<p>As a matter of fact, many asexual people desire romantic relationships — and many asexual people <em>have </em>happy healthy romantic relationships.</p>

<p>Romance doesn’t have to involve sex, just as sex doesn’t require romance.</p>

<h2><a>How asexuality works in relationships</a></h2>

<p>A romantic relationship where one partner is asexual and the other isn’t can absolutely work — with plenty of honest <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/lack-of-communication"">communication</a>. Not much different from any other <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-relationship"">healthy relationship</a>, right?</p>

<p>If you’re asexual, you’ll want to talk to your partner about the types of sexual activity you’re open to (if any) plus any other <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/set-boundaries"">boundaries</a> you have around sex.</p>

<p>Maybe you and your partner both want a long-term romantic relationship, but your partner has a much higher sex drive. You might try an <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/open-relationship"">open relationship</a>, where your partner has other sexual partners but maintains an emotional commitment to you.</p>

<p>What’s most important is that both partners express their needs honestly and recognize that while sexual attraction <em>can </em>shift over time, it may not. So, it generally won’t help to assume an asexual partner will suddenly experience sexual attraction.</p>

<p>Keep in mind, too, that it’s OK (and very healthy) to have a high sex drive and want to have sex often. Sometimes, people simply aren’t compatible. If your partner is asexual and doesn’t want to have sex, but they aren’t willing to consider an open relationship, you might want to consider whether the relationship meets <em>your</em> needs (which are entirely valid, too).</p>

<h2><a>Is there an underlying ‘cause’? </a></h2>

<p>As with homosexuality or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-bisexual"">bisexuality</a>, there’s no underlying “cause” of asexuality. It’s just the way someone is.</p>

<p>Asexuality isn’t genetic, the result of trauma, or caused by anything else.</p>

<p>That said, if you experience any distress as a result of your orientation, or you feel uncertain about your orientation or what your lack of sexual attraction might mean, talking to a compassionate, <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-lgbt"">LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist</a> can help.</p>

<h2><a>How do I know if I’m asexual?</a></h2>

<p>Although you can’t take a specific test to figure out whether you’re asexual or not, you can ask yourself a few key questions to evaluate your desires and consider whether they align with common asexual characteristics.</p>

<p>Some questions to consider:</p>

<ul><li>What does sexual attraction mean to me?</li><li>Do I experience sexual attraction?</li><li>How do I feel about the concept of sex?</li><li>Do I feel like I should have interest in sex only because others expect it?</li><li>Is sex important to me?</li><li>Do I see attractive people and feel the need to have sex with them?</li><li>How do I enjoy showing affection? Does sex factor in?</li></ul>

<p>These questions don’t have any “right” or “wrong” answers, but they <em>can</em> help you think about your sexuality.</p>

<h2><a>Helping your loved ones understand asexuality</a></h2>

<p>If you realize you’re asexual, you might wonder how to explain your orientation to the people in your life, particularly those who may be less familiar with the term.</p>

<p>You can always start by explaining that asexuality is an <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/different-types-of-sexuality"">orientation</a>, just like being gay, queer, or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/pansexual"">pansexual</a>. Some people have an attraction to people of one gender, others to people of many genders, and some don’t experience sexual attraction at all.</p>

<p>Family or friends might worry asexuality means you’ll never have a loving relationship, so you can also reassure them that you won’t be lonely — you can and do experience the desire for <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-friendship"">friendship</a> and other close bonds.</p>

<p>It can also help to keep in mind you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone if you don’t want to. Your romantic and sexual desires (or lack thereof) are your business. That said, many people find that being open about their sexuality helps them live more authentically.</p>

<p>Of course, you’ll definitely want to share your orientation with someone you have a romantic interest in.</p>

<h3>Need to talk?</h3>

<p>Reach a trained, compassionate counselor at <a href=""https://www.thetrevorproject.org/"">The Trevor Project</a>, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults.</p>

<p>Get support 24/7, 365 days a year, by:</p>

<ul><li>calling 1-866-488-7386</li><li>texting START to 678-678</li><li>chatting <a href=""https://trevorproject.secure.force.com/apex/TrevorChatPreChatForm?endpoint=https%3A%2F%2Ftrevorproject.secure.force.com%2Fapex%2FTrevorChatWaitingScreen%3Flanguage%3D%23deployment_id%3D57241000000LPlc%26org_id%3D00D410000005OLz%26button_id%3D57341000000LTDX%26session_id%3DKp+zFwJZc75Weg=="">online</a></li></ul>

<p>Counselors can listen, offer support and information, and help connect you with additional resources.</p>

<h2><a>The bottom line</a></h2>

<p>Maybe you experience a little sexual attraction or none at all. The way you define your sexuality, orientation, and identity is your choice, and only you get to decide what asexual means to you.</p>

<p>Ultimately, you can always choose the identifier(s) you’re most comfortable with for yourself. If you decide not to use any labels to describe yourself, that’s OK, too!</p>

<p><em>Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information.</em></p>

</article>",en,"Updated on November 17, 2021",2021-11-17T00:00:00,"Updated on November 17, 2021",https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Female_Photo_Booth_1200x628-facebook.jpg,,"The way you define your sexuality, orientation, and identity is your choice, and only you get to decide what asexual means to you. ","[
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome: How Psychological Stress Contributes to IBS Symptoms,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/irritable-bowel-syndrome-how-psychological-stress-contributes-to-ibs-symptoms,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/irritable-bowel-syndrome-how-psychological-stress-contributes-to-ibs-symptoms,2022-11-14T01:18:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

Researchers say psychological stress can produce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
They say the research could lead to new treatments for IBS.
Experts say it’s possible to manage IBS symptoms with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.

The link between stress and gastrointestinal distress is well known.

The Italian word “agita,” for example, means a feeling of anxiety or agitation, but it is also derived from the word for “heartburn.”

Now, a new study finds that stress can cause far more than an upset stomach.

Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science reported that mice subjected to psychological stress developed symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that includes a cluster of related gastrointestinal problems that can include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

“For many years mental health professionals like myself have been aware of the ‘gut-brain axis,’ which refers to the belief that prolonged psychological stress can create intestinal conditions that are experienced as similar to IBS,” Dr. Faisal Tai, a psychiatrist with PsychPlus, told Healthline. “This study demonstrates for the first time using animals that certain types of psychological stress alone can cause IBS-like symptoms.”

Dr. Mark E. Tanchel, a gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, told Healthline that “individuals who experience symptoms of IBS are more likely to report a history of stress than those without IBS, even though a specific link has not been definitively established.”

Details from the study of stress and IBS

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, reported that “chronic vicarious social defeat stress” (cVSDS) — a form of imposed psychological stress — was linked to higher intestinal transit ratio and visceral pain-related behaviors in mice.

Both conditions are considered hallmarks of IBS.

The IBS-like symptoms persisted a month after the imposed stress ended, researchers reported. Symptoms were relieved when mice were given a traditional Japanese herbal medicine called keishikashakuyakuto, known to relieve IBS symptoms.

Psychological stress was induced by forcing test animals to witness physical aggression for 10 minutes per day for 10 consecutive days.

Psychological stress vs. physical stress

Researchers reported that the mice subjected to psychological stress suffered more gastrointestinal distress than a control group of mice that were not subjected to stress.

On the other hand, mice that were directly subjected to physical stress also did not have the IBS symptoms experienced by the mice that were forced to witness physical aggression but were not physically attacked themselves.

“We’ve long thought that the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine are implicated in gut motility and see corresponding changes when we use medicines that alter serotonin and dopamine,” Kathryn Werner, a physician’s assistant and wellness practitioner with a background in treating gastrointestinal disorders, told Healthline.

“We also know that there are huge numbers of receptors for serotonin in the gut, likely more than there are in the brain. The microbiome in the gut also produces lots of serotonin. So anything that can disrupt serotonin, such as stress, can affect how our gut functions,” she added.

Researchers assessed stress levels in mice by measuring cortisol levels and other indicators.

“Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, rises in response to stress and anxiety,” said Dr. Onyx Adegbola, a physician who founded Casa de Sante, which provides interventions for IBS.

“High cortisol levels can induce colon spasms that are more commonly felt as stomach cramps, which are the most common IBS symptom,” she told Healthline. “People living with IBS show elevated levels of cortisol even right after waking up, compared to non-IBS patients. This means that people who experience chronic stress are more prone to getting more frequent stomach cramps due to IBS.”

Study could lead to new IBS treatments

The findings from the Japanese study could point the way to new therapies for stress-induced gastrointestinal problems, experts said.

“I believe this could be a clear step toward a better understanding of the relationship between the gut and the brain, and could indeed result in designing better treatments for IBS and perhaps even for stress-related conditions,” said Tai.

How to manage IBS symptoms

People who experience IBS-like symptoms related to stress can take steps to address their gastrointestinal distress and its underlying cause.

“Identifying and working to resolve underlying stressors which may contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms is important,” said Tanchel. “This may be done through lifestyle changes to reduce stress, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, finding a balance between work and other activities, getting enough sleep, and seeking mental health support if needed.

“There are a variety of natural treatments to support gut health such as diets (low FODMAP), fiber supplements, probiotics, and herbal remedies such as peppermint oil,” he added. “Prescription drugs to treat IBS can include antispasmodics and or anti-depressants, which are used to manage pain.”","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/male-stress-plants-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""A man kneels among plants while wiping his brow""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Firritable-bowel-syndrome-how-psychological-stress-contributes-to-ibs-symptoms&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F11%2Fmale-stress-plants-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=IBS%3A%20Psychological%20Stress%20Contributes%20to%20Symptoms"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/male-stress-plants-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Experts say psychological stress can produce gastrointestinal issues. FG Trade/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>Researchers say psychological stress can produce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).</strong></li><li><strong>They say</strong> <strong>the research could lead to new treatments for IBS.</strong></li><li><strong>Experts say it’s possible to manage IBS symptoms with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.</strong></li></ul>

<p>The link between stress and gastrointestinal distress is well known.</p>

<p>The Italian word “agita,” for example, means a feeling of anxiety or agitation, but it is also derived from the word for “heartburn.”</p>

<p>Now, a new study finds that stress can cause far more than an upset stomach.</p>

<p>Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science reported that mice subjected to psychological stress developed symptoms similar to <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome"">irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)</a>, a condition that includes a cluster of related gastrointestinal problems that can include abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.</p>

<p>“For many years mental health professionals like myself have been aware of the ‘gut-brain axis,’ which refers to the belief that prolonged psychological stress can create intestinal conditions that are experienced as similar to IBS,” <a href=""https://psychplus.com/our-team/"">Dr. Faisal Tai</a>, a psychiatrist with PsychPlus, told Healthline. “This study demonstrates for the first time using animals that certain types of psychological stress alone can cause IBS-like symptoms.”</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.ganjllc.com/physician/dr-tanchel/"">Dr. Mark E. Tanchel</a>, a gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, told Healthline that “individuals who experience symptoms of IBS are more likely to report a history of stress than those without IBS, even though a specific link has not been definitively established.”</p>

<h2><a>Details from the study of stress and IBS</a></h2>

<p>The <a href=""https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.993132/full"">study</a>, published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, reported that “chronic vicarious social defeat stress” (cVSDS) — a form of imposed psychological stress — was linked to higher intestinal transit ratio and visceral pain-related behaviors in mice.</p>

<p>Both conditions are considered hallmarks of IBS.</p>

<p>The IBS-like symptoms persisted a month after the imposed stress ended, researchers reported. Symptoms were relieved when mice were given a traditional Japanese herbal medicine called <em>keishikashakuyakuto</em>, known to relieve IBS symptoms.</p>

<p>Psychological stress was induced by forcing test animals to witness physical aggression for 10 minutes per day for 10 consecutive days.</p>

<h2><a>Psychological stress vs. physical stress</a></h2>

<p>Researchers reported that the mice subjected to psychological stress suffered more gastrointestinal distress than a control group of mice that were not subjected to stress.</p>

<p>On the other hand, mice that were directly subjected to physical stress also did not have the IBS symptoms experienced by the mice that were forced to witness physical aggression but were not physically attacked themselves.</p>

<p>“We’ve long thought that the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine are implicated in gut motility and see corresponding changes when we use medicines that alter serotonin and dopamine,” <a href=""https://www.kathrynwernerwellness.com/"">Kathryn Werner</a>, a physician’s assistant and wellness practitioner with a background in treating gastrointestinal disorders, told Healthline.</p>

<p>“We also know that there are huge numbers of receptors for serotonin in the gut, likely more than there are in the brain. The microbiome in the gut also produces lots of serotonin. So anything that can disrupt serotonin, such as stress, can affect how our gut functions,” she added.</p>

<p>Researchers assessed stress levels in mice by measuring cortisol levels and other indicators.</p>

<p>“Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, rises in response to stress and anxiety,” said <a href=""https://casadesante.com/pages/our-clinicians"">Dr. Onyx Adegbola</a>, a physician who founded Casa de Sante, which provides interventions for IBS.</p>

<p>“High cortisol levels can induce colon spasms that are more commonly felt as stomach cramps, which are the most common IBS symptom,” she told Healthline. “People living with IBS show elevated levels of cortisol even right after waking up, compared to non-IBS patients. This means that people who experience chronic stress are more prone to getting more frequent stomach cramps due to IBS.”</p>

<h2><a>Study could lead to new IBS treatments</a></h2>

<p>The findings from the Japanese study could point the way to new therapies for stress-induced gastrointestinal problems, experts said.</p>

<p>“I believe this could be a clear step toward a better understanding of the relationship between the gut and the brain, and could indeed result in designing better treatments for IBS and perhaps even for stress-related conditions,” said Tai.</p>

<h2><a>How to manage IBS symptoms</a></h2>

<p>People who experience IBS-like symptoms related to stress can take steps to address their gastrointestinal distress and its underlying cause.</p>

<p>“Identifying and working to resolve underlying stressors which may contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms is important,” said Tanchel. “This may be done through lifestyle changes to reduce stress, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, finding a balance between work and other activities, getting enough sleep, and seeking mental health support if needed.</p>

<p>“There are a variety of natural treatments to support gut health such as diets (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-fodmap-diet"">low FODMAP</a>), fiber supplements, probiotics, and herbal remedies such as peppermint oil,” he added. “Prescription drugs to treat IBS can include antispasmodics and or anti-depressants, which are used to manage pain.”</p>

</article>",en,2022-11-14T01:18:00Z,2022-11-14T01:18:00+00:00,2022-11-14T01:18:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/male-stress-plants-732x549-thumbnail.jpg,"[
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"Glaucoma: Poor Sleep, Insomnia and Snoring May Increase Risk",https://www.healthline.com/health-news/glaucoma-poor-sleep-insomnia-and-snoring-may-increase-risk?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/glaucoma-poor-sleep-insomnia-and-snoring-may-increase-risk,2022-11-01T15:59:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

A large study with more than 400,000 participants found a link between poor sleep and an increased risk of glaucoma, a condition that can lead to irreversible vision loss.
Researchers found that insomnia, sleeping less than seven hours or longer than nine, and snoring were all associated with raised glaucoma risk.
The findings also suggest that participants who developed glaucoma tended to be older, male, have smoked, and have high blood pressure or diabetes compared to those who didn’t have glaucoma.

Poor quality sleep could be associated with developing glaucoma, which leads to irreversible vision loss, according to a large study published in the BMJ Open.

“Inadequate sleep amount or poor quality sleep is linked to many chronic health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, depression and as pointed out in this article, glaucoma,” Thomas M. Kilkenny, MS, DO, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, part of Northwell Health in New York, told Healthline.

What is glaucoma?

“Glaucoma is eye pressure-related damage to the optic nerve that slowly leads to vision loss, starting in the periphery initially before affecting the central vision,” explained Brian Boxer Wachler, MD, ophthalmologist and medical reviewer at All About Vision.

Wachler said the most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma from high pressure in the eye, and a less common type is low-tension glaucoma.

Other less common types include angle-closure glaucoma and congenital glaucoma.

“Risk factors include [being] over age 55, male, smoker, African American, Asian and Hispanic, family history of glaucoma, high blood pressure, diabetes, migraine headaches, and sickle cell anemia,” he said.

Large study on sleep and glaucoma risk

Researchers analyzed data from over 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank, who were between 40 and 69 years old when they participated from 2006 to 2010, and provided details of their sleep behaviors.

The study defined normal sleep duration as anywhere from seven to less than nine hours per day.

Anything outside of this range was considered as under or oversleeping. Researchers also categorized participants by chronotype, whether they were morning people or “night owls,” and if they snored.

Findings show that during the average monitoring period (about 10.5 years), there were 8,690 cases of glaucoma diagnosed among study participants.

The findings also indicate that participants who developed glaucoma tended to be older, male, have smoked, and have high blood pressure or diabetes compared to those who didn’t.

“This is an excellent observational study that opens up opportunities for future studies to try to better understand the mechanisms behind its findings,” said Wachler.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about three million Americans have glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Researchers grouped participants by the degree of insomnia severity, such as trouble falling asleep at night or frequently waking, which was classified as never, sometimes, or usually.

Daytime sleepiness was categorized as never, rarely, sometimes, or frequent.

Questionnaires filled during recruitment were used to discover potentially influential factors, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, lifestyle, and weight.

Researchers looked at medical records and death registration data to track the health and survival of all the participants until the first diagnosis of glaucoma, death, emigration, or the end of the monitoring period (March 31, 2021) – whichever came first.

Researchers discovered that sleeping less than seven hours or longer than nine was associated with an eight percent increased glaucoma risk.

They also found while insomnia increased risk by 12% and snoring by four – daytime sleepiness raised that risk by 20 percent.

“In the analyses of sleep pattern, we found that compared with individuals with a healthy sleep pattern, a risk elevation of glaucoma was observed among individuals with snoring and daytime sleepiness,” the study authors wrote.

They also found that being a day or night person had no effect on glaucoma risk, and the results were similar when categorized by different types of glaucoma.

What causes poor sleep?

Kilkenny explained that there is a “multitude of reasons” why a person has poor sleep.

“First is taking sleep for granted,” he said. “Many people do not realize how important sleep is for good health. If one were never allowed to sleep, the person would die.”

Kilkenny said that too much caffeine can disrupt sleep, especially in the evening.

“The caffeine in tea and coffee is a stimulant that prevents you from sleeping well, especially when taken close to bedtime,” he cautioned.

He added that eating too late or eating close to bedtime could cause a full feeling in the chest and trigger heartburn, making it difficult to fall asleep.

Exercise and blue light can disrupt sleep

“Exercising too close to sleep time or even exposure to blue light from computer games and TV can disturb sleep if these devices are used too close to bedtime,” said Kilkenny.

“Stress is one of the most common issues,” he continued. “Everyday living can [be] stressful, which can interfere with sleep quality. We all need a period of relaxation in the evening to wind down before sleep.”

He emphasized that medical disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome easily disrupt sleep.

“They are very common in the population and need to be treated by a physician,” said Kilkenny.

Kilkenny said sleeping more than nine hours a night is called hypersomnia and is associated with many medical conditions.

These include increased inflammation in the body, decreased immune function, and increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, depression, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

“Combined, this leads to a 20 to 30 percent higher mortality risk than someone who sleeps the usual seven hours a night,” he said.

The bottom line

New research finds that poor sleep quality can significantly increase our risk of developing glaucoma, which can lead to blindness.

Experts say sleeping less than seven or more than nine hours is associated with various adverse health outcomes, including diabetes and strokes.

They also say stress is a common reason for poor sleep, and it’s important to have a period of relaxation before going to bed for healthy sleep.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/female-bed-hand-face-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""Woman in bed.""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fglaucoma-poor-sleep-insomnia-and-snoring-may-increase-risk&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F11%2Ffemale-bed-hand-face-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Glaucoma%3A%20Poor%20Sleep%2C%20Insomnia%2C%20and%20Snoring%20May%20Increase%20Risk"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/female-bed-hand-face-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Natalie Board/EyeEm/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>A large study with more than 400,000 participants found a link between poor sleep and an increased risk of glaucoma, a condition that can lead to irreversible vision loss.</strong></li><li><strong>Researchers found that insomnia, sleeping less than seven hours or longer than nine, and snoring were all associated with raised glaucoma risk.</strong></li><li><strong>The findings also suggest that participants who developed glaucoma tended to be older, male, have smoked, and have high blood pressure or diabetes compared to those who didn’t have glaucoma.</strong></li></ul>

<p>Poor quality sleep could be associated with developing glaucoma, which leads to irreversible vision loss, according to a large study published in the <em><a href=""https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/11/e063676"">BMJ Open</a></em>.</p>

<p>“Inadequate sleep amount or poor quality sleep is linked to many chronic health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, depression and as pointed out in this article, glaucoma,” <a href=""https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/sleep-medicine/dr-thomas-michael-kilkenny-do-11364888"">Thomas M. Kilkenny</a>, MS, DO, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, part of Northwell Health in New York, told <em>Healthline</em>.</p>

<h2><a>What is glaucoma?</a></h2>

<p>“Glaucoma is eye pressure-related damage to the optic nerve that slowly leads to vision loss, starting in the periphery initially before affecting the central vision,” explained <a href=""https://www.allaboutvision.com/masthead-brian-boxer-wachler.htm"">Brian Boxer Wachler</a>, MD, ophthalmologist and medical reviewer at <a href=""https://www.allaboutvision.com/"">All About Vision</a>.</p>

<p>Wachler said the most common type of glaucoma is <a href=""https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/types-glaucoma"">open-angle glaucoma</a> from high pressure in the eye, and a less common type is <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2019/18_0534.htm#:~:text=Low%2Dtension%20glaucoma%20(LTG),the%20probable%20pathogenesis%20is%20vascular."">low-tension glaucoma</a>.</p>

<p>Other less common types include <a href=""https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/types-glaucoma"">angle-closure glaucoma</a> and <a href=""https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/types-glaucoma"">congenital glaucoma</a>.</p>

<p>“Risk factors include [being] over age 55, male, smoker, African American, Asian and Hispanic, family history of glaucoma, high blood pressure, diabetes, migraine headaches, and sickle cell anemia,” he said.</p>

<h2><a>Large study on sleep and glaucoma risk</a></h2>

<p>Researchers analyzed data from over 400,000 participants in the <a href=""https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/"">UK Biobank</a>, who were between 40 and 69 years old when they participated from 2006 to 2010, and provided details of their sleep behaviors.</p>

<p>The study defined normal sleep duration as anywhere from seven to less than nine hours per day.</p>

<p>Anything outside of this range was considered as under or oversleeping. Researchers also categorized participants by chronotype, whether they were morning people or “night owls,” and if they snored.</p>

<p>Findings show that during the average monitoring period (about 10.5 years), there were 8,690 cases of glaucoma diagnosed among study participants.</p>

<p>The findings also indicate that participants who developed glaucoma tended to be older, male, have smoked, and have high blood pressure or diabetes compared to those who didn’t.</p>

<p>“This is an excellent observational study that opens up opportunities for future studies to try to better understand the mechanisms behind its findings,” said Wachler.</p>

<p>According to the <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/resources/features/glaucoma-awareness.html"">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</a>, about three million Americans have glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.</p>

<p>Researchers grouped participants by the degree of insomnia severity, such as trouble falling asleep at night or frequently waking, which was classified as never, sometimes, or usually.</p>

<p>Daytime sleepiness was categorized as never, rarely, sometimes, or frequent.</p>

<p>Questionnaires filled during recruitment were used to discover potentially influential factors, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, lifestyle, and weight.</p>

<p>Researchers looked at medical records and death registration data to track the health and survival of all the participants until the first diagnosis of glaucoma, death, emigration, or the end of the monitoring period (March 31, 2021) – whichever came first.</p>

<p>Researchers discovered that sleeping less than seven hours or longer than nine was associated with an eight percent increased glaucoma risk.</p>

<p>They also found while insomnia increased risk by 12% and snoring by four – daytime sleepiness raised that risk by 20 percent.</p>

<p>“In the analyses of sleep pattern, we found that compared with individuals with a healthy sleep pattern, a risk elevation of glaucoma was observed among individuals with snoring and daytime sleepiness,” the study authors <a href=""https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063676"">wrote</a>.</p>

<p>They also found that being a day or night person had no effect on glaucoma risk, and the results were similar when categorized by different types of glaucoma.</p>

<h2><a>What causes poor sleep?</a></h2>

<p>Kilkenny explained that there is a “multitude of reasons” why a person has poor sleep.</p>

<p>“First is taking sleep for granted,” he said. “Many people do not realize how important sleep is for good health. If one were never allowed to sleep, the person would die.”</p>

<p>Kilkenny said that too much caffeine can disrupt sleep, especially in the evening.</p>

<p>“The caffeine in tea and coffee is a stimulant that prevents you from sleeping well, especially when taken close to bedtime,” he cautioned.</p>

<p>He added that eating too late or eating close to bedtime could cause a full feeling in the chest and trigger heartburn, making it difficult to fall asleep.</p>

<h3>Exercise and blue light can disrupt sleep</h3>

<p>“Exercising too close to sleep time or even exposure to blue light from computer games and TV can disturb sleep if these devices are used too close to bedtime,” said Kilkenny.</p>

<p>“Stress is one of the most common issues,” he continued. “Everyday living can [be] stressful, which can interfere with sleep quality. We all need a period of relaxation in the evening to wind down before sleep.”</p>

<p>He emphasized that medical disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome easily disrupt sleep.</p>

<p>“They are very common in the population and need to be treated by a physician,” said Kilkenny.</p>

<p>Kilkenny said sleeping more than nine hours a night is called <a href=""https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/hypersomnia#:~:text=Publications-,Definition,sleepiness%20or%20prolonged%20nighttime%20sleep."">hypersomnia</a> and is associated with many medical conditions.</p>

<p>These include increased inflammation in the body, decreased immune function, and increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, depression, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.</p>

<p>“Combined, this leads to a 20 to 30 percent higher mortality risk than someone who sleeps the usual seven hours a night,” he said.</p>

<h2><a>The bottom line</a></h2>

<p>New research finds that poor sleep quality can significantly increase our risk of developing glaucoma, which can lead to blindness.</p>

<p>Experts say sleeping less than seven or more than nine hours is associated with various adverse health outcomes, including diabetes and strokes.</p>

<p>They also say stress is a common reason for poor sleep, and it’s important to have a period of relaxation before going to bed for healthy sleep.</p>

</article>",en,2022-11-01T15:59:00Z,2022-11-01T15:59:00+00:00,2022-11-01T15:59:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/female-bed-hand-face-732x549-thumbnail.jpg,"[
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]",0.9460938,2022-12-13T00:00:00Z
Alzheimer's Drug Lecanemab Shows Promise in Clinical Trial: What Experts Think,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/alzheimers-drug-lecanemab-shows-promise-in-clinical-trial-what-experts-think,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/alzheimers-drug-lecanemab-shows-promise-in-clinical-trial-what-experts-think,2022-09-28T04:43:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

A potential new Alzheimer’s drug, lecanemab, showed promise in slowing cognitive decline in a recent phase 3 clinical trial
Officials at an Alzheimer’s organization called the trial results “modest” but said they are nonetheless encouraging.
Some experts have said lecanemab may simply reduce symptoms and not improve brain function.

A potential new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease showed promise in a recent clinical trial, although not all experts are convinced the medication is an effective treatment.

Researchers said the drug, lecanemab, slowed cognitive and functional decline by 27% when given to people with Alzheimer’s in a phase 3 clinical trial.

In a statement, officials at the Alzheimer’s Discovery Drug Foundation (ADDF) said the findings showed “modest effectiveness,” but they are still encouraged by the news.

“The combination of the biomarker change – reduced amyloid – plus slowing of cognitive decline in this study is encouraging news for the 57 million patients around the world living with Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Howard Fillit, the co-founder and chief science officer at the ADDF. “However, amyloid-clearing drugs will provide an incremental benefit at best and there is still a pressing need for the next generation of drugs focused on other targets based on our knowledge of the biology of aging. We are optimistic about the future as many of these drugs are in development, with 75% of drugs in the pipeline now targeting non-amyloid pathways of neurodegeneration.”

Lecanemab is used to treat early Alzheimer’s disease. In earlier clinical trials, it was shown to lower levels of beta-amyloid plaque, a biomarker of the disease found in the brain.

“Lecanemab… is a monoclonal antibody infusion therapy that targets components of beta-amyloid, which build up… as part of the plaques and tangles that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. And these new therapies effectively clear those amyloid plaques. It’s an exciting new chapter in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Scott A. Kaiser, a geriatrician and the director of geriatric cognitive health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

“We know that it clears the beta-amyloid plaque,” Kaiser told Healthline. “The question is whether or not that actually helps with brain function. But the idea is that these plaques are interfering with the effective communication and overall interaction between brain cells and that clearing them could have positive effects.”

The toll from Alzheimer’s disease

It’s estimated that nearly 6 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that can progress from mild memory loss in the early stages to the potential for a person with the disease to have difficulty engaging in conversation or responding appropriately to what is around them.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and treatment options are limited.

“There aren’t a lot of alternatives, particularly when it comes to drugs. There are drugs that can boost certain levels of neurotransmitters and, otherwise, potentially enhance cognition. But they don’t modify the actual underlying disease pathology or disease course,” Kaiser said.

“There are some minor symptomatic treatments. It’s akin to cough syrup for somebody who has a cold. It doesn’t actually cure or treat the underlying cold, it can just provide some symptomatic relief. And in terms of pharmacotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease… that’s all there is. That’s all that’s been approved in decades,” he added.

Some hesitation about lecanemab

Lecanemab was granted breakthrough therapy designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021.

This status is designed to speed up the development of new drugs that will address medical needs that are currently unmet for serious or life-threatening conditions.

However, some scientists have expressed concern that the earlier phase 2 trials of lecanemab had flaws and that the actual benefit of the drug to people could be limited.

“The phase 2B lecanemab studies were fatally flawed because the high dose versus placebo analysis (that supposedly showed some clinical benefit) was profoundly compromised,” Dr. Michael Greicius, a professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University in California, told Healthline.

Greicius argues that in the phase 2B trial, people who were carriers of APOE4, a type of gene associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, were prevented midway through the trial from receiving a high dose of the treatment.

“This means that there were many more APOE4 carriers in the placebo group (71 percent) than in the high dose group (30 percent),” Greicius explained. “This difference in percentage of APOE4 carriers is as likely (or in my view more likely) than the drug to account for the difference in clinical outcomes.”

A similar drug, Aduhelm, has been cleared for use.

In 2021, Aduhelm received FDA approval as the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease since 2003. It received approval on the basis of the drug being effective at reducing beta-amyloid plaque.

“This approval was met with a great deal of criticism by the scientific community because there are no compelling data to show that reducing amyloid plaque is associated with improved clinical outcomes,” Greicius said.

“Lecanemab also has a similar profile of dangerous side effects related to brain swelling and brain bleeding that we see with Aduhelm, though lecanemab is probably a bit friendlier than Aduhelm on this front in that ‘only’ 10 percent of patients in the high dose groups showed these side effects [in the phase 2 trial],” Greicius added.

He said that unless the phase 3 trials show a meaningful clinical slowing of decline in people, lecanemab is unlikely to be of much use.

“If these larger studies do show some benefit, it is likely (based on the skewed phase 2B results) to be small and of limited benefit to patients and their families,” he said.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/senior-man-cares-for-olive-tree-1296x728-header.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528"" alt=""A man trims an olive tree""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Falzheimers-drug-lecanemab-shows-promise-in-clinical-trial-what-experts-think&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F03%2Fsenior-man-cares-for-olive-tree-1296x728-header.jpg&amp;description=Alzheimer's%20Drug%20Lecanemab%20Does%20Well%20in%20Trial"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/senior-man-cares-for-olive-tree-1296x728-header.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Some experts question how effective lecanemab will be for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Manu Padilla/Stocksy United</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>A potential new Alzheimer’s drug, lecanemab, showed promise in slowing cognitive decline in a recent phase 3 clinical trial</strong></li><li><strong>Officials at an Alzheimer’s organization called the trial results “modest” but said they are nonetheless encouraging.</strong></li><li><strong>Some experts have said lecanemab may simply reduce symptoms and not improve brain function.</strong></li></ul>

<p>A potential new drug to treat <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-facts"">Alzheimer’s disease</a> showed promise in a recent clinical trial, although not all experts are convinced the medication is an effective treatment.</p>

<p>Researchers <a href=""https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eisai-says-alzheimers-drug-succeeds-slowing-cognitive-decline-2022-09-27/"">said</a> the drug, <a href=""https://www.alzforum.org/therapeutics/lecanemab"">lecanemab</a>, slowed cognitive and functional decline by 27% when given to people with Alzheimer’s in a phase 3 clinical trial.</p>

<p>In a <a href=""https://www.alzdiscovery.org/news-room/announcements/addf-statement-on-topline-results-of-phase-3-trial-of-amyloid-clearing-drug-lecanemab"">statement</a>, officials at the Alzheimer’s Discovery Drug Foundation (ADDF) said the findings showed “modest effectiveness,” but they are still encouraged by the news.</p>

<p>“The combination of the biomarker change – reduced amyloid – plus slowing of cognitive decline in this study is encouraging news for the 57 million patients around the world living with Alzheimer’s,” said <a href=""https://www.alzdiscovery.org/about-addf/staff"">Dr. Howard Fillit</a>, the co-founder and chief science officer at the ADDF. “However, amyloid-clearing drugs will provide an incremental benefit at best and there is still a pressing need for the next generation of drugs focused on other targets based on our knowledge of the biology of aging. We are optimistic about the future as many of these drugs are in development, with 75% of drugs in the pipeline now targeting non-amyloid pathways of neurodegeneration.”</p>

<p>Lecanemab is used to treat early Alzheimer’s disease. In earlier clinical trials, it was shown to lower levels of beta-amyloid plaque, a biomarker of the disease found in the brain.</p>

<p>“Lecanemab… is a monoclonal antibody infusion therapy that targets components of beta-amyloid, which build up… as part of the plaques and tangles that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. And these new therapies effectively clear those amyloid plaques. It’s an exciting new chapter in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” said <a href=""https://www.providence.org/doctors/profile/764297-scott-andrew-kaiser"">Dr. Scott A. Kaiser</a>, a geriatrician and the director of geriatric cognitive health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.</p>

<p>“We know that it clears the beta-amyloid plaque,” Kaiser told Healthline. “The question is whether or not that actually helps with brain function. But the idea is that these plaques are interfering with the effective communication and overall interaction between brain cells and that clearing them could have positive effects.”</p>

<h2><a>The toll from Alzheimer’s disease</a></h2>

<p>It’s estimated that nearly <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm"">6 million</a> people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/dementia-symptoms"">Alzheimer’s disease</a> is a form of dementia that can progress from mild memory loss in the early stages to the potential for a person with the disease to have difficulty engaging in conversation or responding appropriately to what is around them.</p>

<p>There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and treatment options are limited.</p>

<p>“There aren’t a lot of alternatives, particularly when it comes to drugs. There are drugs that can boost certain levels of neurotransmitters and, otherwise, potentially enhance cognition. But they don’t modify the actual underlying disease pathology or disease course,” Kaiser said.</p>

<p>“There are some minor symptomatic treatments. It’s akin to cough syrup for somebody who has a cold. It doesn’t actually cure or treat the underlying cold, it can just provide some symptomatic relief. And in terms of pharmacotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease… that’s all there is. That’s all that’s been approved in decades,” he added.</p>

<h2><a>Some hesitation about lecanemab</a></h2>

<p>Lecanemab was <a href=""https://alzheimersnewstoday.com/2021/06/29/with-new-trial-data-lecanemab-wins-fda-breakthrough-status-early-alzheimers/"">granted</a> breakthrough therapy designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021.</p>

<p>This status is designed to speed up the development of new drugs that will address medical needs that are currently unmet for serious or life-threatening conditions.</p>

<p>However, some scientists have expressed concern that the earlier phase 2 trials of lecanemab had flaws and that the actual benefit of the drug to people could be limited.</p>

<p>“The phase 2B lecanemab studies were fatally flawed because the high dose versus placebo analysis (that supposedly showed some clinical benefit) was profoundly compromised,” <a href=""https://profiles.stanford.edu/michael-greicius"">Dr. Michael Greicius</a>, a professor of neurology and neurological sciences at Stanford University in California, told Healthline.</p>

<p>Greicius argues that in the phase 2B trial, people who were carriers of APOE4, a type of gene associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, were prevented midway through the trial from receiving a high dose of the treatment.</p>

<p>“This means that there were many more APOE4 carriers in the placebo group (71 percent) than in the high dose group (30 percent),” Greicius explained. “This difference in percentage of APOE4 carriers is as likely (or in my view more likely) than the drug to account for the difference in clinical outcomes.”</p>

<p>A similar drug, <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health-news/fda-now-says-new-alzheimers-drug-should-have-limited-use-what-are-the-implications"">Aduhelm</a>, has been cleared for use.</p>

<p>In 2021, Aduhelm received FDA approval as the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease since 2003. It received approval on the basis of the drug being effective at reducing beta-amyloid plaque.</p>

<p>“This approval was met with a great deal of criticism by the scientific community because there are no compelling data to show that reducing amyloid plaque is associated with improved clinical outcomes,” Greicius said.</p>

<p>“Lecanemab also has a similar profile of dangerous side effects related to brain swelling and brain bleeding that we see with Aduhelm, though lecanemab is probably a bit friendlier than Aduhelm on this front in that ‘only’ 10 percent of patients in the high dose groups showed these side effects [in the phase 2 trial],” Greicius added.</p>

<p>He said that unless the phase 3 trials show a meaningful clinical slowing of decline in people, lecanemab is unlikely to be of much use.</p>

<p>“If these larger studies do show some benefit, it is likely (based on the skewed phase 2B results) to be small and of limited benefit to patients and their families,” he said.</p>

</article>",en,2022-09-28T04:43:00Z,2022-09-28T04:43:00+00:00,2022-09-28T04:43:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/senior-man-cares-for-olive-tree-1200x628-facebook-1200x628.jpg,"[
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Exercise at Middle Age Reduces Risk for Dementia,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/exercise-at-middle-age-reduces-risk-for-dementia?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/exercise-at-middle-age-reduces-risk-for-dementia,2018-03-23T21:00:00+00:00,"A new study followed nearly 200 women for 44 years. Those who exercised more had a lower risk of dementia, backing up other research on this topic.

Share on Pinterest

Is a healthy heart linked to a healthy brain? New research from Sweden suggests that it is.

In a study reported early this month in the journal Neurology, researchers found that women with higher cardiovascular fitness at midlife were less likely to develop dementia later in life.

The research team followed 191 women over the course of 44 years, from 1968 to 2012.

Among women who had the lowest cardiovascular fitness at midlife, 32 percent developed dementia by the end of the study.

In comparison, 25 percent of women with medium cardiovascular fitness at midlife developed dementia.

Only 5 percent of women with high cardiovascular fitness at midlife developed dementia.

This study contributes to a growing body of research that shows associations between physical fitness, heart health, and cognitive function.

When the study began in 1968, researchers asked participating women between the ages of 38 and 60 to complete a cardiovascular fitness test.

Over the next four decades, psychiatric professionals examined participants for signs and symptoms of dementia.

According to the results of participants’ examinations and hospital records, 44 of them developed dementia by the end of the study.

Women with high cardiovascular fitness at midlife were 88 percent less likely to develop dementia than women with medium cardiovascular fitness.

The average age of onset of dementia was also more than nine years higher among women with high cardiovascular fitness, compared to women with medium cardiovascular fitness.

According to the lead author of the study, these results are similar to the findings of past studies that included men.

“There are two previous longitudinal studies on cardiovascular fitness and dementia that all include men. These show similar association as ours, but not that strong,” Helena Hörder, PhD, lead author and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, told Healthline.

This latest addition to the research literature provides additional support for the idea that regular exercise and good cardiovascular health might help lower your risk of dementia.

“It’s confirmatory of what the rest of the literature is showing, which is that people that do have a healthier lifestyle at midlife are less likely to develop dementia over time,” Keith Fargo, PhD, director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association, told Healthline.

But Fargo and Hörder were careful to note that the findings are associational in nature, not causal.

In other words, the researchers can’t be certain that higher cardiovascular fitness was directly responsible for lowering participants’ risk of dementia.

It’s possible that other variables that affected participants’ cardiovascular fitness also affected their risk of dementia.

More research is needed

To investigate the nature of the link between physical fitness and dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association has recently launched the U.S. Pointer study.

This clinical trial will follow 2,500 people over the course of two years.

Half of the participants will be randomly assigned to a low-intensity intervention.

The other half will be randomly assigned to a high-intensity intervention.

“It’s going to be multimodal,” Fargo said, “so they’re going to be doing exercise four times a week, they’re going to be on a new diet, they’re going to be getting close monitoring of their blood pressure, and so on.”

“We’ll follow those people for two years,” he continued, “to see whether it’s made a difference in terms of their cognition.”

People who are interested in taking part in studies on dementia can learn about opportunities to participating in research by visiting http://www.alz.org/trialmatch.

The U.S. Pointer study might shed more light on the potential role that physical fitness plays in keeping our brains healthy.

In the meantime, the Alzheimer’s Association already encourages people to participate in cardiovascular exercise on a regular basis.

Dr. Douglas Scharre, director of the division of cognitive neurology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, also advises people to get moving.

Taking part in regular exercise and social activities might help build your cognitive reserve and maintain your cognitive function, he suggested.

“Both physical and mental activity are fabulous brain activities. We know this from different studies that have measured how much the brain is involved in both those types of activities,” Scharre said.

It’s also important to take steps to protect your brain from trauma and other sources of damage, which can raise your risk of experiencing cognitive decline and dementia.

“When it comes to modifiable risk factors, avoid toxins, avoid trauma, get good oxygenation to your brain, and try not to damage it too much,” Scharre said.

“Eat a well-balanced diet. And then socialize and exercise. That’s probably the bottom line,” he added.","<article>

<p>A new study followed nearly 200 women for 44 years. Those who exercised more had a lower risk of dementia, backing up other research on this topic.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/6303-women_exercise-1296x728-header.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fexercise-at-middle-age-reduces-risk-for-dementia&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-prod.healthline.com%2Fhlcmsresource%2Fimages%2FNews%2F6303-women_exercise-1296x728-header.jpg&amp;description=Dementia%3A%20Exercise%20in%20Middle%20Age%20Can%20Help"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/6303-women_exercise-1296x728-header.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a></figure>

<p>Is a healthy heart linked to a healthy brain? New research from Sweden suggests that it is.</p>

<p>In a <a href=""http://n.neurology.org/content/early/2018/03/14/WNL.0000000000005290"">study reported early this month</a> in the journal Neurology, researchers found that women with higher cardiovascular fitness at midlife were less likely to develop dementia later in life.</p>

<p>The research team followed 191 women over the course of 44 years, from 1968 to 2012.</p>

<p>Among women who had the lowest cardiovascular fitness at midlife, 32 percent developed dementia by the end of the study.</p>

<p>In comparison, 25 percent of women with medium cardiovascular fitness at midlife developed dementia.</p>

<p>Only 5 percent of women with high cardiovascular fitness at midlife developed dementia.</p>

<p>This study contributes to a growing body of research that shows associations between physical fitness, heart health, and cognitive function.</p>

<p>When the study began in 1968, researchers asked participating women between the ages of 38 and 60 to complete a cardiovascular fitness test.</p>

<p>Over the next four decades, psychiatric professionals examined participants for signs and symptoms of dementia.</p>

<p>According to the results of participants’ examinations and hospital records, 44 of them developed dementia by the end of the study.</p>

<p>Women with high cardiovascular fitness at midlife were 88 percent less likely to develop dementia than women with medium cardiovascular fitness.</p>

<p>The average age of onset of dementia was also more than nine years higher among women with high cardiovascular fitness, compared to women with medium cardiovascular fitness.</p>

<p>According to the lead author of the study, these results are similar to the findings of past studies that included men.</p>

<p>“There are two previous longitudinal studies on cardiovascular fitness and dementia that all include men. These show similar association as ours, but not that strong,” Helena Hörder, PhD, lead author and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, told Healthline.</p>

<p>This latest addition to the research literature provides additional support for the idea that regular exercise and good cardiovascular health might help lower your risk of dementia.</p>

<p>“It’s confirmatory of what the rest of the literature is showing, which is that people that do have a healthier lifestyle at midlife are less likely to develop dementia over time,” Keith Fargo, PhD, director of scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association, told Healthline.</p>

<p>But Fargo and Hörder were careful to note that the findings are associational in nature, not causal.</p>

<p>In other words, the researchers can’t be certain that higher cardiovascular fitness was directly responsible for lowering participants’ risk of dementia.</p>

<p>It’s possible that other variables that affected participants’ cardiovascular fitness also affected their risk of dementia.</p>

<h2><a>More research is needed</a></h2>

<p>To investigate the nature of the link between physical fitness and dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association has recently launched the <a href=""https://alz.org/us-pointer/"">U.S. Pointer study</a>.</p>

<p>This clinical trial will follow 2,500 people over the course of two years.</p>

<p>Half of the participants will be randomly assigned to a low-intensity intervention.</p>

<p>The other half will be randomly assigned to a high-intensity intervention.</p>

<p>“It’s going to be multimodal,” Fargo said, “so they’re going to be doing exercise four times a week, they’re going to be on a new diet, they’re going to be getting close monitoring of their blood pressure, and so on.”</p>

<p>“We’ll follow those people for two years,” he continued, “to see whether it’s made a difference in terms of their cognition.”</p>

<p>People who are interested in taking part in studies on dementia can learn about opportunities to participating in research by visiting <a href=""http://www.alz.org/trialmatch"">http://www.alz.org/trialmatch</a>.</p>

<p>The U.S. Pointer study might shed more light on the potential role that physical fitness plays in keeping our brains healthy.</p>

<p>In the meantime, the Alzheimer’s Association <a href=""https://www.alz.org/brain-health/10_ways-to-love-your-brain.asp"">already encourages people</a> to participate in cardiovascular exercise on a regular basis.</p>

<p>Dr. Douglas Scharre, director of the division of cognitive neurology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, also advises people to get moving.</p>

<p>Taking part in regular exercise and social activities might help build your cognitive reserve and maintain your cognitive function, he suggested.</p>

<p>“Both physical and mental activity are fabulous brain activities. We know this from different studies that have measured how much the brain is involved in both those types of activities,” Scharre said.</p>

<p>It’s also important to take steps to protect your brain from trauma and other sources of damage, which can raise your risk of experiencing cognitive decline and dementia.</p>

<p>“When it comes to modifiable risk factors, avoid toxins, avoid trauma, get good oxygenation to your brain, and try not to damage it too much,” Scharre said.</p>

<p>“Eat a well-balanced diet. And then socialize and exercise. That’s probably the bottom line,” he added.</p>

</article>",en,2018-03-23T21:00:00Z,2018-03-30T16:47:37+00:00,2018-03-30T16:47:37Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/6303-women_exercise-1296x728-header-1200x628.jpg,"[
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]",0.9730401999999999,2023-01-10T00:00:00Z
"Dr. Charles Mark Riggenbach, MD",https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-charles-riggenbach-1346225240,https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-charles-riggenbach-1346225240,2020-09-01T00:00:00,"Dr. Charles Mark Riggenbach, MD is a Gastroenterology Specialist in Fort Walton Beach, FL. They graduated from UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA and is affiliated with HCA Florida Fort Walton-destin Hospital.
Dr. Riggenbach works at White Wilson Medical Center - Gastroenterology in Fort Walton Beach, FL. They frequently treat conditions like Constipation, Dysphagia and Hemorrhoids along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Charles Mark Riggenbach, MD is a Gastroenterology Specialist in Fort Walton Beach, FL. They graduated from UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA and is affiliated with HCA Florida Fort Walton-destin Hospital. <br><br>Dr. Riggenbach works at White Wilson Medical Center - Gastroenterology in Fort Walton Beach, FL. They frequently treat conditions like Constipation, Dysphagia and Hemorrhoids along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"THEODORE SUMRALL — Sep 01, 2020",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/ed2c046/2147483647/strip/true/crop/120x120+0+20/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphotos.healthgrades.com%2Fimg%2Fprov%2Fy%2F3%2Ff%2Fy3ft8_w120h160_vBkP5gMsJ7.jpg,"[
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Where Does Breast Cancer Spread?,https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer-metastasis-sites,https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer-metastasis-sites,2022-02-24T00:00:00,"Breast cancer is cancer that begins in the breast. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, making up about 30 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in women.

While breast cancer begins in the breast, it can also spread to other areas. When a cancer spreads to more distant tissues from where it started, it’s called metastatic cancer. Research estimated that about 155,000 women were living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States in 2017.

Below, we’ll explore more about metastatic breast cancer and the most common areas where it’s detected. Then, we’ll cover how this type of cancer is diagnosed and treated, plus steps you can take to prevent it.

What is metastatic cancer?

Metastatic cancer is cancer that’s spread to a different part of the body than where it originated. You may also see metastatic cancer referred to as stage 4 cancer.

In some cases, the cancer may have already spread by the time of initial diagnosis. Other times, the cancer may spread after the initial treatment. For example, a person who has been treated for early-stage breast cancer may later be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

Metastasis can occur with almost every type of cancer and is considered advanced-stage cancer. Cancer metastasis may occur months to years after initial breast cancer treatment.

There’s also a type of metastatic cancer called oligometastatic cancer. This is where there’s only a few small areas of metastatic cancer. Because this type of metastatic cancer is only found in a few locations, researchers hope it will be more treatable.

What’s the difference between metastatic and recurring breast cancer?

Recurrent cancer is cancer that comes back after your initial treatment. This can happen when treatment doesn’t completely destroy all of the cancer cells in a tumor. As time passes, these remaining cancer cells can begin to grow into detectable tumors.

Like metastasis, recurrence can happen with almost every type of cancer. As we’ll see below, some types of recurrent cancer can happen distantly and therefore also fall under the umbrella of metastatic cancer.

Breast cancer may recur locally, regionally, or distantly:

Local recurring breast cancer occurs when a new tumor develops in the breast that was originally affected. If the breast has been removed, the tumor may grow in the chest wall or nearby skin.
Regional recurring breast cancer happens in the same region as the original cancer. In the case of breast cancer, this may be the lymph nodes above the collarbone or in the armpit.
Distant recurring breast cancer happens when cancer cells travel to a different part of the body. This new location is far away from the original cancer. When cancer recurs distantly, it’s considered metastatic cancer.

Where are the common sites that breast cancer metastasizes to?

According to the National Cancer Institute, the most common metastasis locations for breast cancer are the:

bones
lungs
liver
brain

The frequency that breast cancer metastasizes to each of these sites can vary based off of the population studied. A 2017 study in Scientific Reports included a group of 4,932 people with metastatic breast cancer. Researchers determined the metastatic site (or sites) for each person and found that:

65.1 percent of people had bone metastases
31.4 percent of people had lung metastases
26 percent of people had liver metastases
8.8 percent of people had brain metastases

Additionally, 33.5 percent of people had metastasis in multiple organs. The most common combination of sites were the bones and lungs.

Bone metastasis

Bones are often the first site that breast cancer metastasizes to. Any bone can be affected, although the most common ones include the:

spine
pelvis
ribs
long bones in the arms and legs

Initially, it can be hard to tell the difference between a bone metastasis and the effects of much more common conditions like arthritis or a strain. However, pain from a bone metastasis eventually becomes persistent and doesn’t go away with rest.

Lung metastasis

It’s possible to have a lung metastasis and not know it, as symptoms aren’t always present. In fact, your doctor may first find a lung metastasis during a follow-up scan after your initial treatment.

When symptoms are present, it’s easy to initially mistake them from those of a pre-existing lung condition or a respiratory infection like the common cold or the flu. However, symptoms will continue to linger long after a respiratory infection should have cleared.

Liver metastasis

Similar to a lung metastasis, breast cancer that’s spread to the liver may not cause noticeable symptoms at first. Because of this, it may first be detected when routine blood tests show elevated liver enzymes, which can be a sign of liver damage.

Brain metastasis

In many people with a brain metastasis, breast cancer has already spread to other areas of the body. According to this 2016 study, the spread of breast cancer to the brain is more common with aggressive types of breast cancer like triple-negative or HER2-positive breast cancer.

Other, less common areas breast cancer may spread to

Breast cancer metastasis isn’t just limited to the sites we’ve listed above. Breast cancer can also spread to other areas of the body, although this is much less common. Some examples include the:

female reproductive tract, like the ovaries, cervix, and endometrium
digestive tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, and colon
pancreas
kidneys
thyroid
eye

What are the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer?

As mentioned earlier, not everyone with metastatic breast cancer experiences symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can vary and depend on the location of the metastasis and its severity. Let’s look at the symptoms for each common metastatic site now.

Bone metastasis symptoms

Metastasis to the bones may cause:

severe bone pain
bones that are more brittle and can break easily
spinal cord compression, which can lead to:

pain in your back or neck

weakness or numbness in a particular area

trouble urinating or having a bowel movement

low blood cell counts, which can cause symptoms like:

anemia

easy bruising or bleeding

frequent infections

As bone tissue continues to be damaged, calcium can be released into the blood, leading to a condition called hypercalcemia, which causes symptoms like:

fatigue
nausea
increased thirst
constipation
irritability
confusion

Lung metastasis symptoms

Metastasis to the lungs may cause:

chronic cough
chest pain
fatigue
shortness of breath
wheezing
coughing up blood

Liver metastasis symptoms

Metastasis to the liver may cause:

jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
upper right abdominal pain
bloating
itchiness
loss of appetite
nausea or vomiting
fatigue

Brain metastasis symptoms

Metastasis to the brain may cause:

headache
nausea or vomiting
weakness or numbness in your limbs
seizures
changes in personality or behavior
trouble with memory
slurred speech or difficulty speaking
difficulties with balance or walking
changes in vision like blurry vision or vision loss

Symptoms that may accompany any form of metastatic breast cancer

Nonspecific symptoms that may accompany any form of metastatic breast cancer include:

Some symptoms may not be caused by the cancer itself, but by the treatment that you’re undergoing. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a therapy to alleviate some symptoms.

What causes metastatic breast cancer and who’s at risk?

Metastatic breast cancer happens when cancer cells break away from the original tumor site. These cells then make their way to other parts of the body via the circulatory or lymphatic systems.

Once the cells settle somewhere in the body, they have the potential to form a new tumor. This can happen quickly or develop years after initial treatment.

Anyone that’s been diagnosed with breast cancer can go on to develop metastatic breast cancer. Generally speaking, some of the factors below may increase the likelihood of breast cancer metastasizing:

having a more aggressive type of breast cancer like triple-negative breast cancer
being diagnosed with breast cancer that’s at a later stage, such as cancer that’s already spread to nearby lymph nodes or the chest wall
having a cancer that’s growing quickly

How is metastatic breast cancer diagnosed?

Several tests are used to confirm a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. These include:

Blood tests: In these tests, a sample of blood is taken from a vein in your arm. Some common blood tests that may be ordered include a complete blood count and a metabolic panel. Your doctor may also order tests for breast cancer tumor markers.
Imaging tests: Imaging tests allow your doctor to see what’s going on inside of your body and check for the presence of suspicious areas. Some examples of imaging tests that may be used include:

X-rays

ultrasound

computed tomography (CT) scan

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

positron emission tomography (PET) scan

bone scan

Tissue biopsy: If imaging shows a suspicious area, your doctor will take a biopsy from that area to be analyzed in a laboratory. The results of a tissue biopsy can confirm a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.

The tests that are used as a part of the diagnostic process can vary based on where the cancer has spread to. For example, imaging like a bone scan would be used to check for a bone metastasis while a head MRI would be used to check for a brain metastasis.

Similarly, additional tests may be used as well, based off of the site. An example of this is bronchoscopy to check for signs of cancer in the airways when a lung metastasis is suspected.

How is metastatic breast cancer treated?

There isn’t a cure for metastatic breast cancer. However, there are treatments aimed at preventing further progression, reducing symptoms, and improving the quality and length of life.

Treatments are highly individualized. What’s recommended can depend on things like:

the location and extent of the metastasis
whether or not the cancer is positive for hormone receptors (HR) or HER2
whether or not certain genetic changes are present
which treatments you’ve previously received
your age and overall health
your personal preference

Potential treatment options for metastatic breast cancer include:

Hormone therapy

If the cancer is positive for hormone receptors (estrogen or progesterone), hormone therapy may be recommended. This prevents hormones from acting on these cancer cells, thereby slowing or stopping their growth.

Drugs that are used for hormone therapy include tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors like:

anastrozole (Arimidex)
exemestane (Aromasin)
letrozole (Femara)

Sometimes, hormone therapy will also be combined with a targeted therapy drug.

Chemotherapy

If the cancer is negative for hormone receptors or hasn’t responded to hormone therapy, chemotherapy may be recommended. This treatment uses drugs that kill cancer cells or slow their growth.

Chemotherapy can also be combined with other treatments, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy. For example, if the cancer is HR-negative and HER2-positive, chemotherapy may be combined with targeted therapy drugs that target the HER2 protein.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that target specific proteins that are on or inside of breast cancer cells. There are many types of targeted therapy drugs:

drugs for HER2-positive cancers, including but not limited to:

trastuzumab (Herceptin)

pertuzumab (Perjeta)

lapatinib (Tykerb)

tucatinib (Tukysa)

ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), a targeted therapy drug linked to a chemotherapy drug

drugs for HR-positive cancers like:

palbociclib (Ibrance)

ribociclib (Kisqali)

abemaciclib (Verzenio)

everolimus (Afinitor)

alpelisib (Piqray)

drugs that target cancers with mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 like olaparib (Lynparza) and talazoparib (Talzenna)

Additionally, the drug sacituzumab-govitecan (Trodelvy) may be used for triple-negative breast cancer. This treatment is a targeted therapy drug that’s linked to a chemotherapy drug.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system respond to cancer cells. An example of immunotherapy for metastatic breast cancer is pembrolizumab (Keytruda).

Researchers continue to work on new immunotherapy approaches. For example, in February 2022, a clinical trial of a personalized immunotherapy treatment for metastatic breast cancer yielded promising results. This treatment harnesses the power of tumor-fighting cells isolated from trial participants to help shrink tumors.

Other treatments

Generally speaking, the main treatments for metastatic breast cancer are the systemic treatments listed above. A systemic treatment impacts the entire body, as opposed to one location. However, other treatments can also be used for metastatic breast cancer as well.

For example, radiation therapy or surgery may be used to help with cancer that’s spread to specific areas. These include the:

bones
brain
spinal cord
chest wall

Bone-building drugs called bisphosphonates can also be used to reduce bone pain and increase bone strength in people with bone metastasis.

Deciding which treatment is best for you

Deciding on the best treatment option for you requires both information and careful consideration. Although you should work with your doctor to understand your options, the choice is ultimately up to you. As you consider the possibilities, keep these tips in mind:

Don’t rush into anything: Take time to consider your choices, and get a second opinion if necessary.
Bring someone with you to your doctor appointments: Take notes or ask your doctor if you can record your visit. This can help ensure that you don’t forget anything that’s discussed.
Ask questions: Have your doctor explain all of the potential benefits, risks, and side effects associated with each treatment.
Consider a clinical trial: Find out if there are any clinical trials for which you may be eligible. There may be an experimental treatment option available for your specific cancer.

Although receiving a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, there are many treatment options that can help reduce symptoms and prolong life expectancy. Though there isn’t a current curative treatment, some women will live for many years with metastatic breast cancer.

Research on how to stop cancer cell growth, boost the immune system, and disrupt cancer metastasis is ongoing, and new treatment options may be available in the future.

Can you prevent or lower your risk for metastatic breast cancer?

There isn’t a definitive way to guarantee that your cancer won’t recur or metastasize after treatment, but there are steps you can take that may reduce your risk. These steps include:

Managing weight: If you have obesity or are overweight, talk to your doctor about healthy ways to manage your weight. A 2017 research review notes that increases in inflammation associated with obesity may create an environment that promotes cancer growth and metastasis.
Staying active: Keeping active is great for your overall health. It may also reduce recurrence and metastasis, perhaps due to the beneficial effect that physical activity can have on the immune system.
Eating a balanced diet: While we’re still learning more about diet and breast cancer, a 2017 research review suggests that excess intake of fats and carbs may impact the development of metastatic breast cancer. To eat a balanced diet, aim to do the following:

eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, poultry, and fish

lower your consumption of red or processed meats

avoid sugar-laden foods

Cutting back on alcohol: Drink in moderation or not at all. Moderate drinking is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. Alcohol is a risk factor for developing breast cancer, but its impact on cancer metastasis or recurrence is still unclear.

Takeaway

Metastatic cancer happens when cancer spreads to more distant areas of the body. The most common locations that breast cancer metastasizes to are the bones, lungs, liver, and brain.

The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer depend on which part of the body is affected. A doctor will use blood tests, imaging tests, and tissue biopsies to help make a diagnosis.

While metastatic breast cancer doesn’t currently have a cure, there are treatments available that can help to reduce the cancer and improve quality of life. Additionally, researchers continue to develop newer, more effective treatments for metastatic breast cancer.","<article>

<p>Breast cancer is cancer that begins in the breast. According to the <a href=""https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html"">American Cancer Society</a>, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, making up about 30 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in women.</p>

<p>While breast cancer begins in the breast, it can also spread to other areas. When a cancer spreads to more distant tissues from where it started, it’s called metastatic cancer. Research estimated that <a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5833304/"">about 155,000 women</a> were living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States in 2017.</p>

<p>Below, we’ll explore more about metastatic breast cancer and the most common areas where it’s detected. Then, we’ll cover how this type of cancer is diagnosed and treated, plus steps you can take to prevent it.</p>

<h2><a>What is metastatic cancer?</a></h2>

<p>Metastatic cancer is cancer that’s spread to a different part of the body than where it originated. You may also see metastatic cancer referred to as <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/beating-stage-4-breast-cancer-it-possible"">stage 4 cancer</a>.</p>

<p>In some cases, the cancer may have already spread by the time of initial diagnosis. Other times, the cancer may spread after the initial treatment. For example, a person who has been treated for early-stage breast cancer may later be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.</p>

<p>Metastasis can occur with almost every type of cancer and is considered advanced-stage cancer. Cancer metastasis may occur months to years after initial breast cancer treatment.</p>

<p>There’s also a type of metastatic cancer called oligometastatic cancer. This is where there’s only a few small areas of metastatic cancer. Because this type of metastatic cancer is only found in a few locations, researchers hope it will be <a href=""https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/oligometastatic-cancer-directly-treating-cancer-metastases"">more treatable</a>.</p>

<h2><a>What’s the difference between metastatic and recurring breast cancer?</a></h2>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-recurrence"">Recurrent cancer</a> is cancer that comes back after your initial treatment. This can happen when treatment doesn’t completely destroy all of the cancer cells in a tumor. As time passes, these remaining cancer cells can begin to grow into detectable tumors.</p>

<p>Like metastasis, recurrence can happen with almost every type of cancer. As we’ll see below, some types of recurrent cancer can happen distantly and therefore also fall under the umbrella of metastatic cancer.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer"">Breast cancer</a> may recur locally, regionally, or distantly:</p>

<ul><li><strong>Local recurring breast cancer</strong> occurs when a new tumor develops in the breast that was originally affected. If the breast has been removed, the tumor may grow in the chest wall or nearby skin.</li><li><strong>Regional recurring breast cancer</strong> happens in the same region as the original cancer. In the case of breast cancer, this may be the lymph nodes above the collarbone or in the armpit.</li><li><strong>Distant recurring breast cancer</strong> happens when cancer cells travel to a different part of the body. This new location is far away from the original cancer. When cancer recurs distantly, it’s considered metastatic cancer.</li></ul>

<h2><a>Where are the common sites that breast cancer metastasizes to?</a></h2>

<p>According to the <a href=""https://www.cancer.gov/types/metastatic-cancer"">National Cancer Institute</a>, the most common metastasis locations for breast cancer are the:</p>

<ul><li>bones</li><li>lungs</li><li>liver</li><li>brain</li></ul>

<p>The frequency that breast cancer metastasizes to each of these sites can vary based off of the population studied. A <a href=""https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10166-8"">2017 study</a> in Scientific Reports included a group of 4,932 people with metastatic breast cancer. Researchers determined the metastatic site (or sites) for each person and found that:</p>

<ul><li>65.1 percent of people had <strong>bone </strong>metastases</li><li>31.4 percent of people had <strong>lung</strong> metastases</li><li>26 percent of people had <strong>liver</strong> metastases</li><li>8.8 percent of people had <strong>brain</strong> metastases</li></ul>

<p>Additionally, 33.5 percent of people had metastasis in multiple organs. The most common combination of sites were the bones and lungs.</p>

<h3><strong>Bone metastasis</strong></h3>

<p>Bones are often the first site that breast cancer metastasizes to. Any bone can be affected, although the most common ones include the:</p>

<ul><li>spine</li><li>pelvis</li><li>ribs</li><li>long bones in the arms and legs</li></ul>

<p>Initially, it can be hard to tell the difference between a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/metastatic-breast-cancer-in-bones"">bone metastasis</a> and the effects of much more common conditions like <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/arthritis"">arthritis</a> or a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/sprain-vs-strain"">strain</a>. However, pain from a bone metastasis eventually becomes persistent and doesn’t go away with rest.</p>

<h3><strong>Lung metastasis</strong></h3>

<p>It’s possible to have a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/metastatic-breast-cancer-in-lungs"">lung metastasis</a> and not know it, as symptoms aren’t always present. In fact, your doctor may first find a lung metastasis during a follow-up scan after your initial treatment.</p>

<p>When symptoms are present, it’s easy to initially mistake them from those of a pre-existing lung condition or a respiratory infection like the <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/cold"">common cold</a> or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/flu"">the flu</a>. However, symptoms will continue to linger long after a respiratory infection should have cleared.</p>

<h3><strong>Liver metastasis</strong></h3>

<p>Similar to a lung metastasis, breast cancer that’s spread to the liver may not cause noticeable symptoms at first. Because of this, it may first be detected when routine blood tests show <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/liver-function-tests#interpreting-results"">elevated liver enzymes</a>, which can be a sign of liver damage.</p>

<h3><strong>Brain metastasis</strong></h3>

<p>In many people with a brain metastasis, breast cancer has already spread to other areas of the body. According to this <a href=""https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11060-016-2075-3"">2016 study</a>, the spread of breast cancer to the brain is more common with aggressive types of breast cancer like <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/triple-negative-breast-cancer-outlook-survival-rates-stage"">triple-negative</a> or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/her2-positive-survival-rates-statistics"">HER2-positive</a> breast cancer.</p>

<h3>Other, less common areas breast cancer may spread to</h3>

<p>Breast cancer metastasis isn’t just limited to the sites we’ve listed above. Breast cancer can also spread to other areas of the body, although this is much less common. Some examples <a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8797987/"">include</a> the:</p>

<ul><li>female reproductive tract, like the ovaries, cervix, and endometrium</li><li>digestive tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, and <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/metastatic-breast-cancer-colon"">colon</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-metastasis-to-pancreas"">pancreas</a></li><li>kidneys</li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/thyroid-and-breast-cancer"">thyroid</a></li><li>eye</li></ul>

<h2><a>What are the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer?</a></h2>

<p>As mentioned earlier, not everyone with metastatic breast cancer experiences <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/metastatic-breast-cancer-end-of-life-symptoms"">symptoms</a>. When symptoms do occur, they can vary and depend on the location of the metastasis and its severity. Let’s look at the symptoms for each common metastatic site now.</p>

<h3><strong>Bone metastasis symptoms</strong></h3>

<p>Metastasis to the bones may cause:</p>

<ul><li>severe <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-pain-or-tenderness"">bone pain</a></li><li>bones that are more brittle and can break easily</li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/spinal-cord-compression"">spinal cord compression</a>, which can lead to:<ul><li>pain in your back or neck</li></ul><ul><li>weakness or numbness in a particular area</li></ul><ul><li>trouble urinating or having a bowel movement</li></ul></li><li>low blood cell counts, which can cause symptoms like:<ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/anemia"">anemia</a></li></ul><ul><li>easy <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/bruises-easily"">bruising</a> or bleeding</li></ul><ul><li>frequent <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/bacterial-vs-viral-infections"">infections</a></li></ul></li></ul>

<p>As bone tissue continues to be damaged, calcium can be released into the blood, leading to a condition called <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/hypercalcemia"">hypercalcemia</a>, which causes symptoms like:</p>

<ul><li>fatigue</li><li>nausea</li><li>increased thirst</li><li>constipation</li><li>irritability</li><li>confusion</li></ul>

<h3><strong>Lung metastasis symptoms</strong></h3>

<p>Metastasis to the lungs may cause:</p>

<ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-cough"">chronic cough</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/causes-of-chest-pain"">chest pain</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/fatigue"">fatigue</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/what-does-shortness-of-breath-feel-like"">shortness of breath</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/wheezing"">wheezing</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/coughing-up-blood"">coughing up blood</a></li></ul>

<h3><strong>Liver metastasis symptoms</strong></h3>

<p>Metastasis to the liver may cause:</p>

<ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/jaundice-types"">jaundice</a>, or yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes</li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/right-upper-quadrant-pain-under-ribs"">upper right abdominal pain</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/abdominal-bloating"">bloating</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/itching"">itchiness</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/appetite-decreased"">loss of appetite</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/nausea-and-vomiting"">nausea or vomiting</a></li><li>fatigue</li></ul>

<h3><strong>Brain metastasis symptoms</strong></h3>

<p>Metastasis to the brain may cause:</p>

<ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/headache"">headache</a></li><li>nausea or vomiting</li><li>weakness or numbness <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/numbness-of-limbs"">in your limbs</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/seizures"">seizures</a></li><li>changes in <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/behavior-unusual-or-strange"">personality</a> or behavior</li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/memory-loss"">trouble with memory</a></li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/dysarthria"">slurred speech</a> or difficulty speaking</li><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/gait-and-balance-problems"">difficulties with balance or walking</a></li><li>changes in vision like <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/hazy-vision"">blurry vision</a> or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/blindness"">vision loss</a></li></ul>

<h3><strong>Symptoms that may accompany any form of metastatic breast cancer</strong></h3>

<p>Nonspecific symptoms that may accompany any form of metastatic breast cancer include:</p>

<p>Some symptoms may not be caused by the cancer itself, but by the treatment that you’re undergoing. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, speak with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a therapy to alleviate some symptoms.</p>

<h2><a>What causes metastatic breast cancer and who’s at risk?</a></h2>

<p>Metastatic breast cancer happens when cancer cells break away from the original tumor site. These cells then make their way to other parts of the body via the <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/circulatory-system"">circulatory</a> or lymphatic systems.</p>

<p>Once the cells settle somewhere in the body, they have the potential to form a new tumor. This can happen quickly or develop years after initial treatment.</p>

<p>Anyone that’s been diagnosed with breast cancer can go on to develop metastatic breast cancer. Generally speaking, some of the factors below may increase the likelihood of breast cancer metastasizing:</p>

<ul><li>having a more aggressive type of breast cancer like <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/triple-negative-breast-cancer-recurrence"">triple-negative breast cancer</a></li><li>being diagnosed with breast cancer that’s at a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer-diagnosis"">later stage</a>, such as cancer that’s already spread to nearby lymph nodes or the chest wall</li><li>having a cancer that’s growing quickly</li></ul>

<h2><a>How is metastatic breast cancer diagnosed?</a></h2>

<p>Several tests are used to confirm a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. These include:</p>

<ul><li><strong>Blood tests:</strong> In these tests, a sample of blood is taken from a vein in your arm. Some common blood tests that may be ordered include a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/cbc"">complete blood count</a> and a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/basic-metabolic-panel"">metabolic panel</a>. Your doctor may also order tests for <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/tumor-markers-for-breast-cancer"">breast cancer tumor markers</a>.</li><li><strong>Imaging tests:</strong> Imaging tests allow your doctor to see what’s going on inside of your body and check for the presence of suspicious areas. Some examples of imaging tests that may be used include:<ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/x-ray"">X-rays</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/ultrasound"">ultrasound</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/ct-scan"">computed tomography (CT) scan</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/ct-scan-vs-mri"">magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/pet-scan"">positron emission tomography (PET) scan</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-scan"">bone scan</a></li></ul></li><li><strong>Tissue biopsy:</strong> If imaging shows a suspicious area, your doctor will take a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/biopsy"">biopsy</a> from that area to be analyzed in a laboratory. The results of a tissue biopsy can confirm a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.</li></ul>

<p>The tests that are used as a part of the diagnostic process can vary based on where the cancer has spread to. For example, imaging like a bone scan would be used to check for a bone metastasis while a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/head-mri"">head MRI</a> would be used to check for a brain metastasis.</p>

<p>Similarly, additional tests may be used as well, based off of the site. An example of this is <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/bronchoscopy"">bronchoscopy</a> to check for signs of cancer in the airways when a lung metastasis is suspected.</p>

<h2><a>How is metastatic breast cancer treated?</a></h2>

<p>There isn’t a cure for metastatic breast cancer. However, there are treatments aimed at preventing further progression, reducing symptoms, and improving the quality and length of life.</p>

<p>Treatments are highly individualized. What’s recommended can depend on things like:</p>

<ul><li>the location and extent of the metastasis</li><li>whether or not the cancer is positive for hormone receptors (HR) or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/her2-positive-vs-her2-negative"">HER2</a></li><li>whether or not certain genetic changes are present</li><li>which treatments you’ve previously received</li><li>your age and overall health</li><li>your personal preference</li></ul>

<p>Potential treatment options for metastatic breast cancer include:</p>

<h3><strong>Hormone therapy</strong></h3>

<p>If the cancer is positive for hormone receptors (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/er-positive-prognosis-life-expectancy"">estrogen</a> or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/progesterone-function"">progesterone</a>), hormone therapy may be recommended. This prevents hormones from acting on these cancer cells, thereby slowing or stopping their growth.</p>

<p>Drugs that are used for <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer-hormone-therapy-how-it-works-side-effects-more"">hormone therapy</a> include <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/tamoxifen-oral-tablet"">tamoxifen</a> and aromatase inhibitors like:</p>

<ul><li>anastrozole (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/arimidex"">Arimidex</a>)</li><li>exemestane (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/aromasin"">Aromasin</a>)</li><li>letrozole (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/femara"">Femara</a>)</li></ul>

<p>Sometimes, hormone therapy will also be combined with a targeted therapy drug.</p>

<h3><strong>Chemotherapy</strong></h3>

<p>If the cancer is negative for hormone receptors or hasn’t responded to hormone therapy, <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/chemotherapy"">chemotherapy</a> may be recommended. This treatment uses drugs that kill cancer cells or slow their growth.</p>

<p>Chemotherapy can also be combined with other treatments, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy. For example, if the cancer is HR-negative and HER2-positive, chemotherapy may be combined with targeted therapy drugs that target the HER2 protein.</p>

<h3><strong>Targeted therapy</strong></h3>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/your-advanced-breast-cancer-journey/targeted-treatment"">Targeted therapy</a> uses drugs that target specific proteins that are on or inside of breast cancer cells. There are many types of targeted therapy drugs:</p>

<ul><li>drugs for HER2-positive cancers, including but not limited to:<ul><li>trastuzumab (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/side-effects-of-herceptin"">Herceptin</a>)</li></ul><ul><li>pertuzumab (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/side-effects-of-perjeta"">Perjeta</a>)</li></ul><ul><li>lapatinib (Tykerb)</li></ul><ul><li>tucatinib (Tukysa)</li></ul><ul><li>ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), a targeted therapy drug linked to a chemotherapy drug</li></ul></li><li>drugs for HR-positive cancers like:<ul><li>palbociclib (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/ibrance"">Ibrance</a>)</li></ul><ul><li>ribociclib (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/kisqali-side-effects"">Kisqali</a>)</li></ul><ul><li>abemaciclib (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/verzenio"">Verzenio</a>)</li></ul><ul><li>everolimus (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/afinitor-side-effects"">Afinitor</a>)</li></ul><ul><li>alpelisib (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/piqray-side-effects"">Piqray</a>)</li></ul></li><li>drugs that target cancers with mutations in <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/brca-gene""><em>BRCA1</em> and <em>BRCA2</em></a> like olaparib (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/lynparza-dosage"">Lynparza</a>) and talazoparib (<a href=""https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325689"">Talzenna</a>)</li></ul>

<p>Additionally, the drug sacituzumab-govitecan (<a href=""https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-trodelvy"">Trodelvy</a>) may be used for triple-negative breast cancer. This treatment is a targeted therapy drug that’s linked to a chemotherapy drug.</p>

<h3><strong>Immunotherapy</strong></h3>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/metastatic-breast-cancer-immunotherapy"">Immunotherapy</a> is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system respond to cancer cells. An example of immunotherapy for metastatic breast cancer is pembrolizumab (<a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/keytruda"">Keytruda</a>).</p>

<p>Researchers continue to work on new immunotherapy approaches. For example, in February 2022, a clinical trial of a personalized immunotherapy treatment for metastatic breast cancer yielded <a href=""https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-advances-personalized-immunotherapy-metastatic-breast-cancer"">promising results</a>. This treatment harnesses the power of tumor-fighting cells isolated from trial participants to help shrink tumors.</p>

<h3><strong>Other treatments</strong></h3>

<p>Generally speaking, the main treatments for metastatic breast cancer are the systemic treatments listed above. A systemic treatment impacts the entire body, as opposed to one location. However, other treatments can also be used for metastatic breast cancer as well.</p>

<p>For example, <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/radiation-for-breast-cancer"">radiation therapy</a> or surgery may be used to help with cancer that’s spread to specific areas. These include the:</p>

<ul><li>bones</li><li>brain</li><li>spinal cord</li><li>chest wall</li></ul>

<p>Bone-building drugs called <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoporosis-treatments#medications"">bisphosphonates</a> can also be used to reduce bone pain and increase bone strength in people with bone metastasis.</p>

<h3><strong>Deciding which treatment is best for you</strong></h3>

<p>Deciding on the best treatment option for you requires both information and careful consideration. Although you should work with your doctor to understand your options, the choice is ultimately up to you. As you consider the possibilities, keep these tips in mind:</p>

<ul><li><strong>Don’t rush into anything:</strong> Take time to consider your choices, and get a second opinion if necessary.</li><li><strong>Bring someone with you to your doctor appointments:</strong> Take notes or ask your doctor if you can record your visit. This can help ensure that you don’t forget anything that’s discussed.</li><li><strong>Ask questions:</strong> Have your doctor explain all of the potential benefits, risks, and side effects associated with each treatment.</li><li><strong>Consider a clinical trial:</strong> Find out if there are any <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/clinical-trial-phases"">clinical trials</a> for which you may be eligible. There may be an experimental treatment option available for your specific cancer.</li></ul>

<p>Although receiving a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, there are many treatment options that can help reduce symptoms and prolong <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/metastatic-prognosis"">life expectancy</a>. Though there isn’t a current curative treatment, some women will live for many years with metastatic breast cancer.</p>

<p>Research on how to stop cancer cell growth, boost the immune system, and disrupt cancer metastasis is ongoing, and new treatment options may be available in the future.</p>

<h2><a>Can you prevent or lower your risk for metastatic breast cancer?</a></h2>

<p>There isn’t a definitive way to guarantee that your cancer won’t recur or metastasize after treatment, but there are steps you can take that may reduce your risk. These steps include:</p>

<ul><li><strong>Managing weight:</strong> If you have <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/obesity"">obesity</a> or are overweight, talk to your doctor about healthy ways to manage your weight. A <a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5591063/"">2017 research review</a> notes that increases in <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/inflammation"">inflammation</a> associated with obesity may create an environment that promotes cancer growth and metastasis.</li><li><strong>Staying active:</strong> Keeping active is great for your overall health. It may also <a href=""https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.557997/full"">reduce</a> recurrence and metastasis, perhaps due to the beneficial effect that physical activity can have on the immune system.</li><li><strong>Eating a balanced diet:</strong> While we’re still learning more about diet and breast cancer, a <a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318212/"">2017 research review</a> suggests that excess intake of fats and carbs may impact the development of metastatic breast cancer. To eat a <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/balanced-diet"">balanced diet</a>, aim to do the following:<ul><li>eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, poultry, and fish</li></ul><ul><li>lower your consumption of red or processed meats</li></ul><ul><li>avoid sugar-laden foods</li></ul></li><li><strong>Cutting back on alcohol:</strong> Drink in moderation or not at all. Moderate drinking is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/breast-cancer/alcohol-and-breast-cancer"">Alcohol</a> is a risk factor for developing breast cancer, but its impact on cancer metastasis or recurrence is still <a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590626/"">unclear</a>.</li></ul>

<h2><a>Takeaway</a></h2>

<p>Metastatic cancer happens when cancer spreads to more distant areas of the body. The most common locations that breast cancer metastasizes to are the bones, lungs, liver, and brain.</p>

<p>The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer depend on which part of the body is affected. A doctor will use blood tests, imaging tests, and tissue biopsies to help make a diagnosis.</p>

<p>While metastatic breast cancer doesn’t currently have a cure, there are treatments available that can help to reduce the cancer and improve quality of life. Additionally, researchers continue to develop newer, more effective treatments for metastatic breast cancer.</p>

</article>",en,"Last medically reviewed on February 24, 2022",2022-02-24T00:00:00,"Updated on Feb 24, 2022",https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/11899-Breast_Cancer_and_Metastasis_1200x628-facebook-1200x628.jpg,,"Metastasis is when cancer spreads to another part of the body from its original site. The most common locations that breast cancer metastasizes to are the bones, lungs, liver, and brain. Learn more.","[
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Warren Guinn works at Southwest Medical Associates in Henderson, NV. They are accepting new patients. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Warren Guinn, PA is a Geriatric Medicine Specialist in Henderson, NV. <br><br>Warren Guinn works at Southwest Medical Associates in Henderson, NV. They are accepting new patients. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.<br></p>

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Big Pharma Creating Startup Firms to Do Drug Research,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/big-pharma-creating-start-ups-to-do-drug-research,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/big-pharma-creating-start-ups-to-do-drug-research,2017-10-11T21:00:00+00:00,"Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies are investing in independent startups, hoping to find the next popular and profitable drug.

Pharmaceutical companies are trying to capture a little bit of the startup magic.

Pfizer and several other firms have invested in a small spinoff company that will develop drug therapies for underserved patients.

With $103 million in initial funding, SpringWorks Therapeutics will focus at first on therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and three rare forms of cancer.

Pfizer owns the rights to the drugs that will be tested.

This is good news for people with diseases that are harder to treat.

But it may also be a sign that Big Pharma is willing to step outside the bureaucratic box in search of the innovation that startup companies are so well known for.

Biotech startups focused on drug development aren’t new phenomena.

What’s different about this particular startup is that it’s heavily financed by large pharmaceutical companies.

Different… but not unique.

Another startup, Symic Bio, received $73 million in funding over the past three years, including money from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.

Still, for each of these, there are dozens more startups that see pharmaceutical companies as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, not at the beginning.

Small but agile

Getting a new drug into the hands of patients who need it isn’t an easy thing.

“Most people don’t know the painstaking labor and efforts that go into the development of a drug from inception to the patient finally taking it,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hausfeld, chairman of the board and chief medical officer of BioFactura, a pharmaceutical startup that develops and commercializes biosimilar drugs.

It can take years for scientists to identify or create promising new compounds for treating disease.

This is followed by several rounds of laboratory and clinical testing before the drug hits the pharmacy’s shelves.

Hausfeld pointed out that while the early stages of this drug development pipeline thrive on innovation, later steps like manufacturing and distribution depend more on consistency and reliability.

The large size of a pharmaceutical company — with tens of thousands of employees — can make it ideally suited for the later stages of the pipeline, but it may hinder its ability to come up with new products.

“Smaller companies are much better at innovating and potentially taking a product pretty far down the road as they grow,” Darryl Sampey, PhD, president and chief executive officer of BioFactura, told Healthline.

Startups — sometimes with only half a dozen employees — are built for creativity and agility.

“If somebody has a great idea,” Hausfeld told Healthline, “we have the ability and the nimbleness to check it out and do an experiment or two, and see whether or not our idea has merit.”

Some startups innovate by developing new drug compounds. Or by looking for new uses of existing compounds.

Others find better ways to move compounds through early laboratory and clinical testing.

If successful, a startup may hand off a promising new compound to a pharmaceutical company for further testing — in exchange for an upfront payment and royalties on successful drugs.

Or a larger pharmaceutical company may acquire a startup outright, along with its new compound.

This happened with San Diego-based Trius Therapeutics, which researches antibiotics.

In 2013, Cubist Pharmaceuticals acquired Trius and Optimer Pharmaceuticals for more than $1 billion.

The next year Merck spent $8.4 billion to buy up Cubist.

Big payout, big risk

For successful startups like Trius, the payout at the end of the R&D rainbow can be huge.

But successful startups have to overcome several challenges.

A big one is money.

“Startups have a lot less money, and they have to be very efficient in the way that they spend their money,” said Joseph Mallon, JD, PhD, an intellectual property attorney at Knobbe Martens.

“This is essentially the difference between them and a larger pharmaceutical company, which doesn’t have that life-or-death struggle over funding that the startups have,” Mallon told Healthline.

This is especially true for drug development, where doing science is expensive.

“It’s not uncommon for drug startups to make hundreds — if not thousands — of brand new compounds and test them,” said Mallon, “not knowing which one is going to have the perfect balance of properties to treat a human being without adverse effects.”

So, in order for a startup to succeed, it needs more than just great ideas. It needs a steady flow of cash.

“It’s my job to go out and find investors who are willing to take a risk on a small biotech firm that could potentially give them a nice return, even though there are no guarantees,” said Hausfeld.

Startups also have to find talented staff willing to work in a less stable environment, where employees have to be more independent and fend for themselves.

“Startups really appeal to creative people that are do-it-yourselfers. I think that’s where a lot of the great ideas come from,” said Sampey. “Those are typically people who take more risk and are looking for some kind of reward.”

Although the financial rewards of a new drug entice many to ride out the rough waters of the startup world, there are also other benefits.

“This is not easy. This takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of money,” said Hausfeld. “Hopefully at the end it will benefit society by the advances that we make.”","<article>

<p>Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies are investing in independent startups, hoping to find the next popular and profitable drug.</p>

<p>Pharmaceutical companies are trying to capture a little bit of the startup magic.</p>

<p>Pfizer and several other firms have invested in a small spinoff company that will develop drug therapies for underserved patients.</p>

<p>With <a href=""https://www.dddmag.com/news/2017/09/springworks-therapeutics-launches-103m-funding"">$103 million in initial funding</a>, SpringWorks Therapeutics will focus at first on therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and three rare forms of cancer.</p>

<p>Pfizer owns the rights to the drugs that will be tested.</p>

<p>This is good news for people with diseases that are harder to treat.</p>

<p>But it may also be a sign that Big Pharma is willing to step outside the bureaucratic box in search of the innovation that startup companies are so well known for.</p>

<p>Biotech startups focused on drug development aren’t new phenomena.</p>

<p>What’s different about this particular startup is that it’s heavily financed by large pharmaceutical companies.</p>

<p>Different… but not unique.</p>

<p>Another startup, Symic Bio, received <a href=""https://endpts.com/eli-lilly-backed-symic-raises-30m-round-as-it-preps-for-a-pivotal-trial"">$73 million in funding</a> over the past three years, including money from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.</p>

<p>Still, for each of these, there are dozens more startups that see pharmaceutical companies as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, not at the beginning.</p>

<h2><a>Small but agile</a></h2>

<p>Getting a new drug into the hands of patients who need it isn’t an easy thing.</p>

<p>“Most people don’t know the painstaking labor and efforts that go into the development of a drug from inception to the patient finally taking it,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hausfeld, chairman of the board and chief medical officer of <a href=""http://www.biofactura.com"">BioFactura</a>, a pharmaceutical startup that develops and commercializes <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health-news/biosimilar-drugs-may-save-billions"">biosimilar drugs</a>.</p>

<p>It can take years for scientists to identify or create promising new compounds for treating disease.</p>

<p>This is followed by several rounds of laboratory and clinical testing before the drug hits the pharmacy’s shelves.</p>

<p>Hausfeld pointed out that while the early stages of this drug development pipeline thrive on innovation, later steps like manufacturing and distribution depend more on consistency and reliability.</p>

<p>The large size of a pharmaceutical company — with tens of thousands of employees — can make it ideally suited for the later stages of the pipeline, but it may hinder its ability to come up with new products.</p>

<p>“Smaller companies are much better at innovating and potentially taking a product pretty far down the road as they grow,” Darryl Sampey, PhD, president and chief executive officer of BioFactura, told Healthline.</p>

<p>Startups — sometimes with only half a dozen employees — are built for creativity and agility.</p>

<p>“If somebody has a great idea,” Hausfeld told Healthline, “we have the ability and the nimbleness to check it out and do an experiment or two, and see whether or not our idea has merit.”</p>

<p>Some startups innovate by developing new drug compounds. Or by looking for new uses of existing compounds.</p>

<p>Others find better ways to move compounds through early laboratory and clinical testing.</p>

<p>If successful, a startup may hand off a promising new compound to a pharmaceutical company for further testing — in exchange for an upfront payment and royalties on successful drugs.</p>

<p>Or a larger pharmaceutical company may acquire a startup outright, along with its new compound.</p>

<p>This happened with San Diego-based Trius Therapeutics, which researches antibiotics.</p>

<p>In 2013, Cubist Pharmaceuticals acquired Trius and Optimer Pharmaceuticals for <a href=""http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-merck-buying-cubist-pharmaceuticals-for-84b-2014dec08-story.html"">more than $1 billion</a>.</p>

<p>The next year Merck spent $8.4 billion to buy up Cubist.</p>

<h2><a>Big payout, big risk</a></h2>

<p>For successful startups like Trius, the payout at the end of the R&amp;D rainbow can be huge.</p>

<p>But successful startups have to overcome several challenges.</p>

<p>A big one is money.</p>

<p>“Startups have a lot less money, and they have to be very efficient in the way that they spend their money,” said Joseph Mallon, JD, PhD, an intellectual property attorney at Knobbe Martens.</p>

<p>“This is essentially the difference between them and a larger pharmaceutical company, which doesn’t have that life-or-death struggle over funding that the startups have,” Mallon told Healthline.</p>

<p>This is especially true for drug development, where doing science is expensive.</p>

<p>“It’s not uncommon for drug startups to make hundreds — if not thousands — of brand new compounds and test them,” said Mallon, “not knowing which one is going to have the perfect balance of properties to treat a human being without adverse effects.”</p>

<p>So, in order for a startup to succeed, it needs more than just great ideas. It needs a steady flow of cash.</p>

<p>“It’s my job to go out and find investors who are willing to take a risk on a small biotech firm that could potentially give them a nice return, even though there are no guarantees,” said Hausfeld.</p>

<p>Startups also have to find talented staff willing to work in a less stable environment, where employees have to be more independent and fend for themselves.</p>

<p>“Startups really appeal to creative people that are do-it-yourselfers. I think that’s where a lot of the great ideas come from,” said Sampey. “Those are typically people who take more risk and are looking for some kind of reward.”</p>

<p>Although the financial rewards of a new drug entice many to ride out the rough waters of the startup world, there are also other benefits.</p>

<p>“This is not easy. This takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of money,” said Hausfeld. “Hopefully at the end it will benefit society by the advances that we make.”</p>

</article>",en,2017-10-11T21:00:00Z,2017-10-19T22:59:42+00:00,2017-10-19T22:59:42Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2042-New_ALS_Drug_Clinical_Trial-1296x728-header-1200x628.jpg,,"Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies are investing in independent startups, hoping to find the next popular and profitable drug.","[
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"Dr. Blanca Martinez Hoppe, DMD",https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-blanca-martinez-hoppe-1942342753,https://care.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-blanca-martinez-hoppe-1942342753,2020-12-03T00:00:00,"Dr. Blanca Martinez Hoppe, DMD is a Dentistry Practitioner in Jacksonville, FL.
Dr. Martinez Hoppe works at Hodges Family & Cosmetic in Jacksonville, FL. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthCare as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Blanca Martinez Hoppe, DMD is a Dentistry Practitioner in Jacksonville, FL. <br><br>Dr. Martinez Hoppe works at Hodges Family &amp; Cosmetic in Jacksonville, FL. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthCare as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"Peter — Dec 03, 2020",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/7600d5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/440x440+10+0/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucmscdn.healthgrades.com%2F83%2F77%2Fa35c37324d02bbe8ab83f32f1b83%2Fprovider-image-1.png,"[
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"Dr. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD",https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-vasileios-vasilakis-1255623153,https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-vasileios-vasilakis-1255623153,2021-04-21T00:00:00,"Dr. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD is a Cosmetic, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Specialist in Houston, TX. They specialize in Cosmetic, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, has 15 years of experience, and is board certified in General Surgery. They graduated from UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA / ANCHORAGE CAMPUS and is affiliated with HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress.
Dr. Vasilakis works at Memorial Plastic Surgery in Houston, TX. They are accepting new patients. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<p>Dr. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD is a Cosmetic, Plastic &amp; Reconstructive Surgery Specialist in Houston, TX. They specialize in Cosmetic, Plastic &amp; Reconstructive Surgery, has 15 years of experience, and is board certified in General Surgery. They graduated from UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA / ANCHORAGE CAMPUS and is affiliated with HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress. <br><br>Dr. Vasilakis works at Memorial Plastic Surgery in Houston, TX. They are accepting new patients. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.<br></p>

</article>",en,"Apr 21, 2021",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/8641c85/2147483647/strip/true/crop/440x440+10+0/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucmscdn.healthgrades.com%2Fb9%2F60%2F37b650f74d10939847af8a7ac798%2Fprovider-image.png,"[
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  {
    ""name"":""Dr. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD""
  }
]",,0.75070983,2023-01-04T00:00:00Z
Incorporating Plant-Based Meat Alternatives into Your Healthy Diet,https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-plant-based-meat-healthy,https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-plant-based-meat-healthy,2022-01-04T00:00:00,"You’ve probably noticed that plant-based meats are becoming more widely available. These are products made with plant ingredients that can be used in recipes that traditionally use meat, making them vegan or vegetarian.

As someone who follows a plant-based diet, I can attest that many meatless alternatives can be used in the same ways you might use meat. For example, there are meatless burgers, hot dogs, bacon, ground crumbles, meatballs, and even deli slices.

Many of them are so versatile and delicious that people who don’t necessarily follow a plant-based diet enjoy eating them too.

However, despite their popularity, you may be wondering whether plant-based meat alternatives are healthy.

This article examines the nutritional value of some of the most commonly used plant-based meat alternatives, as well as benefits and downsides to consider.

Share on Pinterest

Types of plant-based meat alternatives

A growing number of plant-based meat alternatives are available today. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular varieties.

Seitan

Seitan is a plant-based meat substitute made from vital wheat gluten. It has a savory flavor and chewy texture that works well in stir-fry, sandwiches, stews, and pasta dishes.

Nutritionally, seitan is a high protein plant-based meat alternative. It generally also contains small amounts of iron, calcium, and potassium (1, 2).

In many grocery stores, you can find seitan in the form of cubes, strips, or thin deli slices that are ready to use.

You can also make seitan at home using vital wheat gluten, vegetable broth, and flavoring agents such as soy sauce or liquid aminos and garlic. All you have to do is combine ingredients in a mixer, create a dough, and then boil slices of the dough to cook it.

However, because it’s made with gluten, seitan isn’t appropriate for people who have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Beyond Meat products

Beyond Meat is a popular brand of plant-based meat products. While it was initially recognized for its debut vegan burger, called the Beyond Burger, this brand now also makes plant-based ground meat, sausage, meatballs, and chicken.

The primary ingredient in a Beyond Burger is pea protein. It also contains refined coconut oil, rice protein, cocoa butter, and dried yeast.

Beyond Burgers are free from soy and gluten and are naturally colored using beet juice. One patty provides 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin B12, 40% for zinc, and 20% for iron (3).

Impossible Burgers

Impossible Burgers are a similar concept to the Beyond Burger. Impossible Foods, the brand behind these burgers, also makes meatless sausage, chicken-style nuggets, and pork alternatives using plant ingredients.

Instead of pea protein, Impossible Burgers use potato and soy proteins.

They get their meat-like flavor from heme iron. While it’s normally derived from animal products, the heme iron used for Impossible Burgers is derived from the root nodules of soybean plants and made through the fermentation of genetically engineered yeast (4).

The Impossible Burger offers an array of micronutrients. For instance, one patty offers 50% of the Daily Value for zinc, 130% for vitamin B12, and 25% for iron (5).

Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a large tropical fruit that grows in Asia, Africa, and some areas in South America. It has a thick, green, bumpy rind and soft, stringy inner flesh with edible seeds (6).

Because of its consistency and mild flavor, jackfruit flesh is often used in place of meat dishes such as pulled pork. For instance, I like to put plain jackfruit in the slow cooker with barbecue sauce and onions to make sandwiches.

Jackfruit is low in calories and doesn’t have much protein or fat compared to other plant-based meat alternatives. However, it does offer some fiber and a small number of micronutrients, such as iron, potassium, and calcium (7).

Soy-based foods

Soy is a legume and one of the original plant-based meat alternatives. Soy-based foods tend to have a mild flavor and versatile texture that make them ideal for use in many traditionally meat-based dishes.

Soy-based foods include the following popular choices:

Soybeans. Also called edamame, soybeans are a great addition to stir-fry. You can also cook them and eat them as a snack.
Tofu. A spongy cake made from soybeans and water, tofu can be pressed, cubed, and cooked. You can use it in stir-fry or salads, slice it and add it to sandwiches, or crumble it and cook it with vegetables (similar to the way some folks might use scrambled eggs).
Tempeh. This is a fermented soybean product sold in long blocks. Tempeh works well sliced into thin strips and added to stir-fry or crumbled and used in stews, chilis, tacos, or sloppy joes.
Soy-containing meat alternatives. Some of the more processed plant-based meat alternatives, such as premade veggie burgers, use soy protein in their recipes.

SUMMARY

There are more plant-based meat alternatives today than ever before. Some of the most common are seitan, jackfruit, soy foods, and premade products that mimic traditional meats, such as those from the brands Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat.

Nutritional profiles of plant-based meat alternatives

Below is a comparison chart of the basic nutritional composition of the plant-based meat alternatives discussed above.

The nutritional information provided is for a single serving, the size of which can differ among products and brands and is noted below.

Calories Protein (grams) Total fat (grams) Saturated fat (grams) Total carbs (grams) Fiber (grams) Sodium (mg)
Seitan, 100 grams (4 ounces) sliced (1) 141 25 2.3 0 6 1.2 447
Beyond Burger, 113-gram (4-ounce) patty (3) 230 20 14 5 7 2 390
Impossible Burger, 113-gram (4-ounce) patty (5) 240 19 14 8 9 3 370
Jackfruit, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) (8) 33 1.3 0 0 6.7 4 20
Tofu, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) (9) 49 4.4 2.2 0 1.1 0 16

SUMMARY

Among popular meat alternatives, seitan, Beyond Burgers, and Impossible Burgers are highest in sodium, protein, and calories. The latter two are high in total and saturated fat. Jackfruit and tofu are low in calories and sodium and free from saturated fat.

Benefits of plant-based meat alternatives

Some of the main benefits of consuming plant-based meat alternatives are subjective in that many people choose to consume them for a variety of personal reasons.

For example, I eat plant-based meat alternatives because they are more aligned with my personal ethics than eating meat.

Eating plants means that I’m not supporting industrialized animal agriculture or its effects on animal welfare, the environment, and public health (10, 11).

Additionally, certain plant-based meats are free from nutrients that some people may want to limit for heart health, such as saturated fat and sodium — though the amounts depend on the specific product (12).

In recent years, research has linked a high intake of processed and red meats to an increased risk of developing certain cancers, particularly colon and breast cancers (13, 14).

On the other hand, most Western diet patterns are lacking in important nutrients such as fiber, which is known to help reduce risk for several chronic diseases (15, 16).

Because plants are the only natural sources of fiber, adopting a more whole food-based, plant-centric diet is a simple way to increase fiber intake — in addition to getting more vitamins, minerals, and compounds that offer further health protection (17).

Plus, a great thing about plant-based meats is that many of them offer a similar taste, texture, and versatility to meat, so they can work well for people who don’t want to consume animal products.

SUMMARY

Many people prefer to eat plant-based meat alternatives due to their stances on animal welfare and the environment. Some meat alternatives are also free from certain nutrients some folks want to limit, such as saturated fat and sodium.

Downsides of plant-based meat alternatives

While plant-based meat alternatives can offer a number of benefits, they may also have some downsides to consider.

For instance, not all plant-based meats are created equally.

Some highly processed products, such as those from Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger, are just as high in total and saturated fat as their meat counterparts. The burgers even contain more sodium than a single beef patty, which may not support heart health (12, 18, 19).

Additionally, many packaged meat alternatives contain other ingredients that some people don’t wish to consume, such as refined oils, modified cornstarch, dextrose, or added sugar.

The best way to avoid any ingredients that are of concern to you is to read the ingredient list on any packaged plant-based meat alternative.

Finally, while tofu is inexpensive, other plant-based meat alternatives can be more costly per serving.

SUMMARY

Not all plant-based meat alternatives are inherently healthy. Some still contain large amounts of saturated fat and sodium, as well as other ingredients you may want to avoid. Additionally, some of the more processed options can be fairly expensive.

What is the healthiest plant-based meat alternative?

As with any food, the healthiest options among plant-based meat alternatives are the ones you can eat in as close to their original, whole form as possible.

For example, jackfruit flesh or a soy food like tofu undergoes significantly less processing than products like the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger.

However, this doesn’t mean the other plant-based meat alternatives can’t also fit into an overall healthy diet. Although they’re more processed, Impossible and Beyond Burgers are good sources of plant protein. They could arguably be healthier choices than fast-food hamburgers.

When choosing a plant-based meat alternative, it’s a good idea to opt for ones like jackfruit and soy foods most often and incorporate the highly processed options into your diet less frequently.

Don’t forget, you can also use legumes — such as beans, peas, and lentils — in place of meat in many recipes. These are not only inexpensive but also full of beneficial nutrients and easy to incorporate into homemade veggie burgers, chilis, soups, stews, tacos, and salads.

SUMMARY

The healthiest way to enjoy plant-based meat alternatives is to choose the least processed options, such as whole soy foods, jackfruit, and legumes, most of the time and consume premade burgers and other meat alternatives less often.

The bottom line

A growing number of plant-based meat alternatives are available today. Many of them are so delicious and easy to access that even people who don’t follow a plant-based diet enjoy eating them.

From a nutritional standpoint, many of the more highly processed meat alternatives aren’t necessarily healthy choices. For instance, they tend to be high in sodium and saturated fat.

While I’d recommend emphasizing less-processed meat alternatives most of the time — such as seitan and whole soy foods — products like the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger can still be enjoyed on occasion as part of an overall healthy diet.","<article>

<p>You’ve probably noticed that plant-based meats are becoming more widely available. These are products made with plant ingredients that can be used in recipes that traditionally use meat, making them vegan or vegetarian.</p>

<p>As someone who follows a plant-based diet, I can attest that many meatless alternatives can be used in the same ways you might use meat. For example, there are meatless burgers, hot dogs, bacon, ground crumbles, meatballs, and even deli slices.</p>

<p>Many of them are so versatile and delicious that people who don’t necessarily follow a plant-based diet enjoy eating them too.</p>

<p>However, despite their popularity, you may be wondering whether plant-based meat alternatives are healthy.</p>

<p>This article examines the nutritional value of some of the most commonly used plant-based meat alternatives, as well as benefits and downsides to consider.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/veggie-meatless-burger-on-plate-1296-728-header.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528"" alt=""A meatless burger on a plate.""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fnutrition%2Fis-plant-based-meat-healthy&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F09%2Fveggie-meatless-burger-on-plate-1296-728-header.jpg&amp;description=Is%20Plant-Based%20Meat%20Healthy%3F%20Nutrients%2C%20Benefits%2C%20Downsides"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/veggie-meatless-burger-on-plate-1296-728-header.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Kostikova/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<h2><a>Types of plant-based meat alternatives</a></h2>

<p>A growing number of plant-based meat alternatives are available today. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular varieties.</p>

<h3>Seitan</h3>

<p>Seitan is a plant-based meat substitute made from vital wheat gluten. It has a savory flavor and chewy texture that works well in stir-fry, sandwiches, stews, and pasta dishes.</p>

<p>Nutritionally, <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/seitan"">seitan</a> is a high protein plant-based meat alternative. It generally also contains small amounts of iron, calcium, and potassium (<a href=""https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2026764/nutrients"">1</a>, <a href=""https://www.uptonsnaturals.com/products/traditional-seitan"">2</a>).</p>

<p>In many grocery stores, you can find seitan in the form of cubes, strips, or thin deli slices that are ready to use.</p>

<p>You can also make seitan at home using vital wheat gluten, vegetable broth, and flavoring agents such as soy sauce or <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-aminos"">liquid aminos</a> and garlic. All you have to do is combine ingredients in a mixer, create a dough, and then boil slices of the dough to cook it.</p>

<p>However, because it’s made with gluten, seitan isn’t appropriate for people who have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.</p>

<h3>Beyond Meat products</h3>

<p>Beyond Meat is a popular brand of plant-based meat products. While it was initially recognized for its debut vegan burger, called the Beyond Burger, this brand now also makes plant-based ground meat, sausage, meatballs, and chicken.</p>

<p>The primary ingredient in a Beyond Burger is pea protein. It also contains <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/refined-vs-unrefined-coconut-oil"">refined coconut oil</a>, rice protein, cocoa butter, and dried yeast.</p>

<p>Beyond Burgers are free from soy and gluten and are naturally colored using beet juice. One patty provides 100% of the Daily Value for vitamin B12, 40% for zinc, and 20% for iron (<a href=""https://www.beyondmeat.com/products/the-beyond-burger"">3</a>).</p>

<h3>Impossible Burgers</h3>

<p>Impossible Burgers <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/impossible-burger-vs-beyond-burger"">are a similar concept to the Beyond Burger</a>. Impossible Foods, the brand behind these burgers, also makes meatless sausage, chicken-style nuggets, and pork alternatives using plant ingredients.</p>

<p>Instead of pea protein, Impossible Burgers use potato and soy proteins.</p>

<p>They get their meat-like flavor from heme iron. While it’s normally derived from animal products, the heme iron used for Impossible Burgers is derived from the root nodules of soybean plants and made through the fermentation of <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gmo-pros-and-cons"">genetically engineered</a> yeast (<a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5813221/"">4</a>).</p>

<p>The Impossible Burger offers an array of micronutrients. For instance, one patty offers 50% of the Daily Value for zinc, 130% for vitamin B12, and 25% for iron (<a href=""https://impossiblefoods.com/products/burger"">5</a>).</p>

<h3>Jackfruit</h3>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/jackfruit-benefits"">Jackfruit</a> is a large tropical fruit that grows in Asia, Africa, and some areas in South America. It has a thick, green, bumpy rind and soft, stringy inner flesh with edible seeds (<a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30723733/"">6</a>).</p>

<p>Because of its consistency and mild flavor, jackfruit flesh is often used in place of meat dishes such as pulled pork. For instance, I like to put plain jackfruit in the slow cooker with barbecue sauce and onions to make sandwiches.</p>

<p>Jackfruit is low in calories and doesn’t have much protein or fat compared to other plant-based meat alternatives. However, it does offer some fiber and a small number of micronutrients, such as iron, potassium, and <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/15-calcium-rich-foods"">calcium</a> (<a href=""https://www.uptonsnaturals.com/products/original-jackfruit"">7</a>).</p>

<h3>Soy-based foods</h3>

<p><a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-soy-bad-for-you"">Soy</a> is a legume and one of the original plant-based meat alternatives. Soy-based foods tend to have a mild flavor and versatile texture that make them ideal for use in many traditionally meat-based dishes.</p>

<p>Soy-based foods include the following popular choices:</p>

<ul><li><strong>Soybeans.</strong> Also called edamame, soybeans are a great addition to stir-fry. You can also cook them and eat them as a snack.</li><li><strong>Tofu.</strong> A spongy cake made from soybeans and water, <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tempeh-vs-tofu"">tofu</a> can be pressed, cubed, and cooked. You can use it in stir-fry or salads, slice it and add it to sandwiches, or crumble it and cook it with vegetables (similar to the way some folks might use scrambled eggs).</li><li><strong><strong>Tempeh.</strong></strong> This is a fermented soybean product sold in long blocks. <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tempeh"">Tempeh</a> works well sliced into thin strips and added to stir-fry or crumbled and used in stews, chilis, tacos, or sloppy joes.</li><li><strong>Soy-containing meat alternatives.</strong> Some of the more processed plant-based meat alternatives, such as premade veggie burgers, use soy protein in their recipes.</li></ul>

<blockquote><strong>SUMMARY</strong><p>There are more plant-based meat alternatives today than ever before. Some of the most common are seitan, jackfruit, soy foods, and premade products that mimic traditional meats, such as those from the brands Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. </p></blockquote>

<h2><a>Nutritional profiles of plant-based meat alternatives</a></h2>

<p>Below is a comparison chart of the basic nutritional composition of the plant-based meat alternatives discussed above.</p>

<p>The nutritional information provided is for a single serving, the size of which can differ among products and brands and is noted below.</p>

<table><tbody><tr><td></td><td><strong>Calories</strong></td><td><strong>Protein (grams)</strong></td><td><strong>Total fat (grams)</strong></td><td><strong>Saturated fat (grams)</strong></td><td><strong>Total carbs (grams)</strong></td><td><strong>Fiber (grams)</strong></td><td><strong>Sodium (mg)</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Seitan, 100 grams (4 ounces) sliced (<a href=""https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2026764/nutrients"">1</a>)</strong></td><td>141</td><td>25 </td><td>2.3 </td><td>0</td><td>6 </td><td>1.2</td><td>447</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Beyond Burger, 113-gram (4-ounce) patty (<a href=""https://www.beyondmeat.com/products/the-beyond-burger"">3</a>)</strong></td><td>230</td><td>20</td><td>14</td><td>5</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>390</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Impossible Burger, 113-gram (4-ounce) patty (<a href=""https://impossiblefoods.com/products/burger"">5</a>)</strong></td><td>240</td><td>19</td><td>14</td><td>8</td><td>9</td><td>3</td><td>370</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Jackfruit, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) (<a href=""https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1965456/nutrients"">8</a>)</strong></td><td>33</td><td>1.3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6.7</td><td>4</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Tofu, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) (<a href=""https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1863123/nutrients"">9</a>)</strong></td><td>49</td><td>4.4</td><td>2.2</td><td>0</td><td>1.1</td><td>0</td><td>16</td></tr></tbody></table>

<blockquote><strong>SUMMARY</strong><p>Among popular meat alternatives, seitan, Beyond Burgers, and Impossible Burgers are highest in sodium, protein, and calories. The latter two are high in total and saturated fat. Jackfruit and tofu are low in calories and sodium and free from saturated fat. </p></blockquote>

<h2><a>Benefits of plant-based meat alternatives</a></h2>

<p>Some of the main benefits of consuming plant-based meat alternatives are subjective in that many people choose to consume them for a variety of personal reasons.</p>

<p>For example, I eat plant-based meat alternatives because they are <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/raising-kids-vegetarian"">more aligned with my personal ethics</a> than eating meat.</p>

<p>Eating plants means that I’m <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/eco-friendly-meat-eating"">not supporting industrialized animal agriculture</a> or its effects on animal welfare, the environment, and public health (<a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30496108/"">10</a>, <a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27868444/"">11</a>).</p>

<p>Additionally, certain plant-based meats are free from nutrients that some people may want to limit for heart health, such as saturated fat and sodium — though the amounts depend on the specific product (<a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29174025/"">12</a>).</p>

<p>In recent years, research has linked a high intake of processed and red meats to an increased risk of developing certain cancers, particularly colon and breast cancers (<a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28450127/"">13</a>, <a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28913916/"">14</a>).</p>

<p>On the other hand, most Western diet patterns are lacking in important nutrients such as fiber, which is known to help reduce risk for several chronic diseases (<a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27422499/"">15</a>, <a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24876314/"">16</a>).</p>

<p>Because plants are the only natural <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/22-high-fiber-foods"">sources of fiber</a>, adopting a more whole food-based, plant-centric diet is a simple way to increase fiber intake — in addition to getting more vitamins, minerals, and compounds that offer further health protection (<a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4991921/"">17</a>).</p>

<p>Plus, a great thing about plant-based meats is that many of them offer a similar taste, texture, and versatility to meat, so they can work well for people who don’t want to consume animal products.</p>

<blockquote><strong>SUMMARY</strong><p>Many people prefer to eat plant-based meat alternatives due to their stances on animal welfare and the environment. Some meat alternatives are also free from certain nutrients some folks want to limit, such as saturated fat and sodium.</p></blockquote>

<h2><a>Downsides of plant-based meat alternatives</a></h2>

<p>While plant-based meat alternatives can offer a number of benefits, they may also have some downsides to consider.</p>

<p>For instance, not all plant-based meats are created equally.</p>

<p>Some highly processed products, such as those from Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger, are just as high in total and saturated fat as their meat counterparts. The burgers even contain more <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/salt-good-or-bad"">sodium</a> than a single beef patty, which may not support heart health (<a href=""https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29174025/"">12</a>, <a href=""https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1996978/nutrients"">18</a>, <a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5098396/"">19</a>).</p>

<p>Additionally, many packaged meat alternatives contain other ingredients that some people don’t wish to consume, such as refined oils, modified <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-cornstarch-bad-for-you"">cornstarch</a>, dextrose, or added sugar.</p>

<p>The best way to avoid any ingredients that are of concern to you is to read the ingredient list on any packaged plant-based meat alternative.</p>

<p>Finally, while tofu is inexpensive, other plant-based meat alternatives can be more costly per serving.</p>

<blockquote><strong>SUMMARY</strong><p>Not all plant-based meat alternatives are inherently healthy. Some still contain large amounts of saturated fat and sodium, as well as other ingredients you may want to avoid. Additionally, some of the more processed options can be fairly expensive.</p></blockquote>

<h2><a>What is the healthiest plant-based meat alternative?</a></h2>

<p>As with any food, the healthiest options among plant-based meat alternatives are the ones you can eat in as close to <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dietitian-eating-story-whole-foods-diet"">their original, whole form</a> as possible.</p>

<p>For example, jackfruit flesh or a soy food like tofu undergoes significantly less processing than products like the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger.</p>

<p>However, this doesn’t mean the other plant-based meat alternatives can’t also fit into an overall healthy diet. Although they’re more processed, Impossible and Beyond Burgers are good sources of plant protein. They could arguably be healthier choices than fast-food hamburgers.</p>

<p>When choosing a plant-based meat alternative, it’s a good idea to opt for ones like jackfruit and soy foods most often and incorporate the highly processed options into your diet less frequently.</p>

<p>Don’t forget, you can also use legumes — such as <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-beans-vegetables"">beans</a>, peas, and lentils — in place of meat in many recipes. These are not only inexpensive but also full of beneficial nutrients and easy to incorporate into homemade veggie burgers, chilis, soups, stews, tacos, and salads.</p>

<blockquote><strong>SUMMARY</strong><p>The healthiest way to enjoy plant-based meat alternatives is to choose the least processed options, such as whole soy foods, jackfruit, and legumes, most of the time and consume premade burgers and other meat alternatives less often.</p></blockquote>

<h2><a>The bottom line</a></h2>

<p>A growing number of plant-based meat alternatives are available today. Many of them are so delicious and easy to access that even people who don’t follow a plant-based diet enjoy eating them.</p>

<p>From a nutritional standpoint, many of the more highly processed meat alternatives aren’t necessarily healthy choices. For instance, they tend to be high in sodium and saturated fat.</p>

<p>While I’d recommend emphasizing less-processed meat alternatives most of the time — such as seitan and whole soy foods — products like the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger can still be enjoyed on occasion as part of an overall healthy diet.</p>

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"Science Finds Simple Way to Lower Diabetes, High Blood Pressure Risk: Fiber",https://www.healthline.com/health-news/fiber-can-help-with-t2d-and-heart-disease?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/fiber-can-help-with-t2d-and-heart-disease,2019-10-04T00:00:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

New research finds a diet high in fiber, like shredded wheat, can help combat effects of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Those on a high-fiber diet had lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar.
Only 25 percent of adults get the recommended amount of fiber daily.

Fighting back against rising rates of type 2 diabetes and hypertension has been a losing battle for the medical community in the United States.

Now, new research finds that adding fiber to your diet may help stave off these serious health conditions.

Roughly 1 in 3 U.S. adults lives with high blood pressure and about 100 million have diabetes or prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Both conditions carry a strong risk of cardiovascular disease.

New research to be presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Middle East Conference 2019 this week found that patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes who consume a high-fiber diet were able to significantly cut their risk of these health conditions.

What the study found

Researchers tracked the fiber consumption of 200 participants, average age of 50, with diabetes and hypertension. They were given ‘diet prescriptions’ that included a detailed list of different foods and portion sizes. Health checks were performed at the beginning, then at 3 and 6 months into the study.

“I’ve done a lot of work in obesity and atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes and hypertension cases, so this time I wanted to see how dietary modifications, especially a high-fiber diet in this population, can help my patients improve their various cardiovascular risk factors,” lead study author Dr. Rohit Kapoor, medical director of Care Well Heart and Super Specialty Hospital, told Healthline.

The participants consumed 1,200 to 1,500 calories and the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for fiber in this group was about 30 grams. Their fiber intake was increased up to 25 percent, to about 38 grams, for this study. (This equates to about 1.5 cups of high-fiber cereal.)

Over 6 months, the high-fiber diet improved several cardiovascular risk factors:

9 percent reduction in serum cholesterol
23 percent reduction in triglycerides
15 percent reduction of systolic blood pressure
28 percent reduction of fasting blood sugar

“The results were amazing! These findings underscore the importance of dietary counseling, as well as the role of dietitians and diabetes educators,” said Kapoor.

Fiber intake was tracked several ways, including by sending photos of meals using WhatsApp. This helped verify fiber intake and portion sizes. Participants were also called three times a week to record a detailed dietary recall.

Probiotic fiber

According to Dr. William Li, author of “ Eat To Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself,” fiber from food has been part of a heart healthy diet since the 1970s.

He said foods high in fiber have long been associated with lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, improving blood sugar metabolism, and even helping with weight loss.

“It was originally thought that fiber latches onto the bad cholesterol in the intestines before it can be absorbed in the blood, and that fiber stimulates the gut to keep moving, helping us poop out harmful fats and even sugars,” said Li. “But researchers have discovered that fiber may actually work by feeding our healthy gut bacteria, the microbiome.”

Li explained that bacteria digest the fiber into useful fragments called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

These benefit health by improving lipid metabolism, lowering cholesterol, helping control blood sugar, and reducing inflammation.

“The connection of dietary fiber as ‘prebiotic’ to gut health and metabolic changes that protect the heart is changing the way we understand how fiber protects against heart disease,” said Li.

Two types of fiber — both are important

“Fiber is the part of plant foods that is non-digestible and there are two types: soluble and insoluble,” said Shelley Wood, MPH, RDN, clinical dietitian at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

Wood explained that both types of fiber are helpful for weight management and eating a high-fiber diet can reduce the risk for some cancers, such as colorectal cancer.

“Soluble fiber is helpful in lowering unhealthy LDL cholesterol. It also helps slow down digestion and can assist with controlling blood glucose in diabetics. You can find soluble fiber in foods such as beans, oats, and peas,” said Wood.

However, insoluble fiber can prevent constipation and helps remove waste from the body. It speeds up the transit of food through your system and promotes regularity. Wood said you can find insoluble fiber in “foods such as wheat bran, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits eaten with their skin.”

“Studies have shown that diets higher in fiber often result in a healthier weight, which by itself is helpful in preventing many chronic diseases,” said Wood. “Fiber is also essential for good digestive health because it acts as a laxative and fermentative agent as well as providing necessary food for our gut microbiota.”

Getting more fiber in your diet

“The easiest way you’re going to get foods with the most fiber is by sticking to fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable skin in particular has the majority of the fiber present in them — so if you’re eating an apple, instead of peeling it, leave the skin on,” Tasha Temple, MS, CDE, registered dietitian with Gwinnett Medical Center in Atlanta, told Healthline.

When it comes to fiber, more isn’t necessarily better. Temple cautioned that eating too much, especially if you’re not drinking water, can cause discomfort and constipation.

She added that we should shoot for 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day, however, “anything over that and you need to make sure you’re drinking enough water to make sure that fiber is activated and able to move through the digestive system.”

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, foods with the highest fiber content include:

high-fiber bran ready-to-eat cereal: 14 grams in ¾ cup
cooked yellow, navy, or small white beans: almost 10 grams in 1/2 cup
shredded wheat: 5 grams in 1 cup

The bottom line

New research confirms that increasing fiber intake can significantly improve the cardiovascular health of people with high blood pressure and diabetes.

Eating just 25 percent more than the RDA of fiber was all that was needed to see the benefits for this population.

Experts say eating fiber can benefit everyone’s health, and the best sources are fruits and vegetables.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Oats_Berries_1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Ffiber-can-help-with-t2d-and-heart-disease&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F10%2FOats_Berries_1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg&amp;description=Science%20Finds%20Fiber%20Can%20Lower%20Diabetes%2C%20High%20Blood%20Pressure%20Risk"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Oats_Berries_1296x728-header-1296x728.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>New research confirms that increasing fiber intake can significantly improve the cardiovascular health of people with high blood pressure and diabetes. Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>New research finds a diet high in fiber, like shredded wheat, can help combat effects of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.</strong></li><li><strong>Those on a high-fiber diet had lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar. </strong></li><li><strong>Only 25 percent of adults get the recommended amount of fiber daily.</strong></li></ul>

<p>Fighting back against rising rates of type 2 diabetes and hypertension has been a losing battle for the medical community in the United States.</p>

<p>Now, new research finds that adding fiber to your diet may help stave off these serious health conditions.</p>

<p>Roughly 1 in 3 U.S. adults lives with high blood pressure and <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf"">about 100 million</a> have diabetes or prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p>

<p>Both conditions carry a strong risk of cardiovascular disease.</p>

<p>New <a href=""https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/acoc-hfd093019.php"">research</a> to be presented at the <a href=""http://www.acc.org/middleeast2019"">American College of Cardiology (ACC) Middle East Conference 2019</a> this week found that patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes who consume a high-fiber diet were able to significantly cut their risk of these health conditions.</p>

<h2><a>What the study found </a></h2>

<p>Researchers tracked the fiber consumption of 200 participants, average age of 50, with diabetes and hypertension. They were given ‘diet prescriptions’ that included a detailed list of different foods and portion sizes. Health checks were performed at the beginning, then at 3 and 6 months into the study.</p>

<p>“I’ve done a lot of work in obesity and atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes and hypertension cases, so this time I wanted to see how dietary modifications, especially a high-fiber diet in this population, can help my patients improve their various cardiovascular risk factors,” lead study author <a href=""https://health.usnews.com/doctors/rohit-kapoor-499147"">Dr. Rohit Kapoor</a>, medical director of Care Well Heart and Super Specialty Hospital, told Healthline.</p>

<p>The participants consumed 1,200 to 1,500 calories and the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for <a href=""https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/interactivenutritionfactslabel/dietary-fiber.html"">fiber</a> in this group was about 30 grams. Their fiber intake was increased up to 25 percent, to about 38 grams, for this study. (This equates to about 1.5 cups of high-fiber cereal.)</p>

<p>Over 6 months, the high-fiber diet improved several cardiovascular risk factors:</p>

<ul><li>9 percent reduction in serum cholesterol </li><li>23 percent reduction in triglycerides </li><li>15 percent reduction of systolic blood pressure </li><li>28 percent reduction of fasting blood sugar</li></ul>

<p>“The results were amazing! These findings underscore the importance of dietary counseling, as well as the role of dietitians and diabetes educators,” said Kapoor.</p>

<p>Fiber intake was tracked several ways, including by sending photos of meals using <a href=""https://www.whatsapp.com/"">WhatsApp</a>. This helped verify fiber intake and portion sizes. Participants were also called three times a week to record a detailed dietary recall.</p>

<h2><a>Probiotic fiber </a></h2>

<p>According to Dr. William Li, author of “<a href=""https://drwilliamli.com/book-li/"">Eat To Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself</a>,” fiber from food has been part of a heart healthy diet since the 1970s.</p>

<p>He said foods high in fiber have long been associated with lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, improving blood sugar metabolism, and even helping with weight loss.</p>

<p>“It was originally thought that fiber latches onto the bad cholesterol in the intestines before it can be absorbed in the blood, and that fiber stimulates the gut to keep moving, helping us poop out harmful fats and even sugars,” said Li. “But researchers have discovered that fiber may actually work by feeding our healthy gut bacteria, the microbiome.”</p>

<p>Li explained that bacteria digest the fiber into useful fragments called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).</p>

<p>These benefit health by improving lipid metabolism, lowering cholesterol, helping control blood sugar, and reducing inflammation.</p>

<p>“The connection of dietary fiber as ‘prebiotic’ to gut health and metabolic changes that protect the heart is changing the way we understand how fiber protects against heart disease,” said Li.</p>

<h2><a>Two types of fiber — both are important</a></h2>

<p>“Fiber is the part of plant foods that is non-digestible and there are two types: soluble and insoluble,” said <a href=""https://norcalsci.org/shelley-wood"">Shelley Wood</a>, MPH, RDN, clinical dietitian at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.</p>

<p>Wood explained that both types of fiber are helpful for weight management and eating a high-fiber diet can reduce the risk for some cancers, such as colorectal cancer.</p>

<p>“Soluble fiber is helpful in lowering unhealthy LDL cholesterol. It also helps slow down digestion and can assist with controlling blood glucose in diabetics. You can find soluble fiber in foods such as beans, oats, and peas,” said Wood.</p>

<p>However, insoluble fiber can prevent constipation and helps remove waste from the body. It speeds up the transit of food through your system and promotes regularity. Wood said you can find insoluble fiber in “foods such as wheat bran, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits eaten with their skin.”</p>

<p>“Studies have shown that diets higher in fiber often result in a healthier weight, which by itself is helpful in preventing many chronic diseases,” said Wood. “Fiber is also essential for good digestive health because it acts as a laxative and fermentative agent as well as providing necessary food for our gut microbiota.”</p>

<h2><a>Getting more fiber in your diet </a></h2>

<p>“The easiest way you’re going to get foods with the most fiber is by sticking to fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable skin in particular has the majority of the fiber present in them — so if you’re eating an apple, instead of peeling it, leave the skin on,” <a href=""https://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/bariatrics/our-bariatric-center/tasha-temple"">Tasha Temple</a>, MS, CDE, registered dietitian with Gwinnett Medical Center in Atlanta, told Healthline.</p>

<p>When it comes to fiber, more isn’t necessarily better. Temple cautioned that eating too much, especially if you’re not drinking water, can cause discomfort and constipation.</p>

<p>She added that we should shoot for 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day, however, “anything over that and you need to make sure you’re drinking enough water to make sure that fiber is activated and able to move through the digestive system.”</p>

<p>According to the <a href=""https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/appendix-13/"">Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion</a>, foods with the highest fiber content include:</p>

<ul><li>high-fiber bran ready-to-eat cereal: 14 grams in ¾ cup</li><li>cooked yellow, navy, or small white beans: almost 10 grams in 1/2 cup</li><li>shredded wheat: 5 grams in 1 cup</li></ul>

<h2><a>The bottom line</a></h2>

<p>New research confirms that increasing fiber intake can significantly improve the cardiovascular health of people with high blood pressure and diabetes.</p>

<p>Eating just 25 percent more than the RDA of fiber was all that was needed to see the benefits for this population.</p>

<p>Experts say eating fiber can benefit everyone’s health, and the best sources are fruits and vegetables.</p>

</article>",en,2019-10-04T00:00:00Z,2019-10-04T00:00:00+00:00,2019-10-04T00:00:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Oats_Berries_1200x628-facebook.jpg,"[
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]",New research confirms that increasing fiber intake can significantly improve the cardiovascular health of people with high blood pressure and diabetes. Eating just 25 percent more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fiber was all that was needed to see the benefits for this population.,"[
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]",0.9671755,2022-11-12T00:00:00Z
New App Rewards Your ‘Healthy Actions’ with Money Off Wellness Brands,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-app-lets-you-earn-redeem-points-for-healthy-actions,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-app-lets-you-earn-redeem-points-for-healthy-actions,2022-05-18T12:00:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

A new app promises to reward people for ‘healthy actions’ they already do, like exercising.
Points earned through the Ness Rewards App can be redeemed at popular wellness brands.
Users will also have access to wellness experts like dietitians and health coaches.
The company is launching a suite of credit cards to help users earn even more points.
Experts say apps like Ness can be useful tools in your pursuit of better health.

Would you like to be rewarded for doing the things that you know you should be doing anyway to take care of yourself, like working out and visiting your doctor?

While the health benefits of doing those things should be reward enough, it sure wouldn’t hurt to have a little extra cash to spend on healthy groceries or an exercise class, right?

In order to help with your wellness efforts, the fintech company Ness has now launched the Ness Rewards App.

Introducing the Ness Rewards App

Ness says their new app will eventually allow people to earn points for “healthy actions” they are already doing, like getting regular checkups and going to the gym.

Points earned will then be eligible for redemption at their partner wellness brands.

Among the many well-known brands that they are working with are Barry’s Bootcamp, Sweetgreen, and Thrive Market.

They have also acquired WellSet, a provider of virtual holistic wellness classes. WellSet has a 4,000-strong network of health coaches, doulas, dietitians, and therapists that can be accessed by using your points.

Additionally, Ness is creating a suite of credit cards to help their customers build up rewards faster.

Future plans include offerings of medical benefits, supplemental insurance, and comprehensive health insurance.

Why the Ness Rewards App was created

Derek Flanzraich, who was previously the CEO and founder of Greatist, which was acquired by Healthline Media in 2019, says he started Ness because he was frustrated that his insurance provider wouldn’t pay for therapy visits during the pandemic.

As a result, he became determined to make wellness more accessible and affordable to everyone.

Greatist was created to take care of the accessibility part and now Ness will help reduce the costs of staying well.

“Ultimately, we see credit cards as the best platform for consumers to get health insurance that’ll stick with them for 30 to 40 years, not just 3 to 4,” explained Flanzraich.

“When we can justify investing in long-term health right now, that’ll lead to a healthier society with health plan incentives totally aligned for the first time.”

Can Ness Help With Your Wellness Efforts?

Behnaz Bojd, PhD, assistant professor at the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, said she had heard about the Ness App through an Instagram fitness influencer that she follows named Megan Roup and thinks it’s “a very interesting idea.”

She feels that it is very likely to be effective.

“There are research findings that show financial incentives can motivate people to engage in healthy behaviors such as going to the gym,” she noted.

She says there may be some drawbacks, however. For example, people who are not interested in Ness’ wellness partners might be less incentivized to use it. In addition, people who are already happy with their current health insurance might be less inclined to use it.

She suggests that expanding the number of retailers available for redeeming points or having a cashback or points donation feature might encourage even more people to use the app.

She feels that, since we are social beings, incentives like the ability to receive likes and share pictures can be good motivational tools as well.

However, Bojd cautions that, while external incentives like points can be a good way to jumpstart your wellness, research indicates that in the long-term people need to have their own internal motivation to remain committed.

Anamara Ritt-Olson, PhD, associate professor and director of training and engagement of the CERES Network at the UC Irvine Program in Public Health, was a little more tentative.

“There are tons of lovely apps out there, but enticing people to use them, and keep using them is a huge challenge that few apps do well,” she said.

She expressed concern that Ness appears to be designed to increase consumerism rather than behavioral change.

“I haven’t seen any data that supports that spending money on ‘healthier brands’ leads to an actual healthier lifestyle,” she said. “But, that said, if it can reduce barriers to engaging in a healthier lifestyle, that is a wonderful goal.”

Ritt-Olson agrees with Bojd that it’s important to have motivation outside of an app to achieve your wellness goals.

“A healthy lifestyle is not dependent on any app. They are tools only. More effective means to achieve well-being and a healthier lifestyle mean connecting with a trusted medical provider and crafting a personalized plan for you and your needs,” she said.

However, she notes that there are some very good apps that she personally uses, including MyFitnessPal for tracking activity and food intake, the Calm app for stress reduction, and Open for mind-body workouts.

She also agrees with Bojd that friends can be good influences on our wellness efforts.

“A text to go hike or go to the gym gets me out the door way more than any app,” she explained.","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/artificial-limb-amputee-athlete-phone-1296x728-header.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528"" alt=""Person uses a smartphone while sitting on steps outside.""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fnew-app-lets-you-earn-redeem-points-for-healthy-actions&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F05%2Fartificial-limb-amputee-athlete-phone-1296x728-header.jpg&amp;description=New%20App%20Rewards%20Your%20%E2%80%98Healthy%20Actions%E2%80%99%20with%20Money%20Off%20Wellness%20Brands"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/artificial-limb-amputee-athlete-phone-1296x728-header.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>The Ness Rewards app allows users to earn points for actions such as going to the gym or getting regular checkups. They can then redeem earned points for deals with partner brands. Westend61/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>A new app promises to reward people for ‘healthy actions’ they already do, like exercising.</strong></li><li><strong>Points earned through the <a href=""https://www.nesswell.com/"">Ness Rewards App</a> can be redeemed at popular wellness brands.</strong></li><li><strong>Users will also have access to wellness experts like dietitians and health coaches.</strong></li><li><strong>The company is launching a suite of credit cards to help users earn even more points.</strong></li><li><strong>Experts say apps like Ness can be useful tools in your pursuit of better health.</strong></li></ul>

<p>Would you like to be rewarded for doing the things that you know you should be doing anyway to take care of yourself, like working out and visiting your doctor?</p>

<p>While the health benefits of doing those things should be reward enough, it sure wouldn’t hurt to have a little extra cash to spend on healthy groceries or an exercise class, right?</p>

<p>In order to help with your wellness efforts, the fintech company Ness has now launched the <a href=""https://www.nesswell.com/"">Ness Rewards App</a>.</p>

<h2><a>Introducing the Ness Rewards App</a></h2>

<p>Ness says their new app will eventually allow people to earn points for “healthy actions” they are already doing, like getting regular checkups and going to the gym.</p>

<p>Points earned will then be eligible for redemption at their partner wellness brands.</p>

<p>Among the many well-known brands that they are working with are Barry’s Bootcamp, Sweetgreen, and Thrive Market.</p>

<p>They have also acquired WellSet, a provider of virtual holistic wellness classes. WellSet has a 4,000-strong network of health coaches, doulas, dietitians, and therapists that can be accessed by using your points.</p>

<p>Additionally, Ness is creating a suite of credit cards to help their customers build up rewards faster.</p>

<p>Future plans include offerings of medical benefits, supplemental insurance, and comprehensive health insurance.</p>

<h2><a>Why the Ness Rewards App was created</a></h2>

<p>Derek Flanzraich, who was previously the CEO and founder of <a href=""https://greatist.com"">Greatist</a>, which was acquired by <a href=""https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthline-acquires-healthy-living-property-greatistcom-300796947.html"">Healthline Media</a> in 2019, says he started Ness because he was frustrated that his insurance provider wouldn’t pay for therapy visits during the pandemic.</p>

<p>As a result, he became determined to make wellness more accessible and affordable to everyone.</p>

<p>Greatist was created to take care of the accessibility part and now Ness will help reduce the costs of staying well.</p>

<p>“Ultimately, we see credit cards as the best platform for consumers to get health insurance that’ll stick with them for 30 to 40 years, not just 3 to 4,” explained Flanzraich.</p>

<p>“When we can justify investing in long-term health right now, that’ll lead to a healthier society with health plan incentives totally aligned for the first time.”</p>

<h2><a>Can Ness Help With Your Wellness Efforts?</a></h2>

<p><a href=""https://merage.uci.edu/research-faculty/faculty-directory/behnaz-bojd.html"">Behnaz Bojd</a>, PhD, assistant professor at the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, said she had heard about the Ness App through an Instagram fitness influencer that she follows named Megan Roup and thinks it’s “a very interesting idea.”</p>

<p>She feels that it is very likely to be effective.</p>

<p>“There are research findings that show financial incentives can motivate people to engage in healthy behaviors such as going to the gym,” she noted.</p>

<p>She says there may be some drawbacks, however. For example, people who are not interested in Ness’ wellness partners might be less incentivized to use it. In addition, people who are already happy with their current health insurance might be less inclined to use it.</p>

<p>She suggests that expanding the number of retailers available for redeeming points or having a cashback or points donation feature might encourage even more people to use the app.</p>

<p>She feels that, since we are social beings, incentives like the ability to receive likes and share pictures can be good motivational tools as well.</p>

<p>However, Bojd cautions that, while external incentives like points can be a good way to jumpstart your wellness, research indicates that in the long-term people need to have their own internal motivation to remain committed.</p>

<p><a href=""https://ceres.uci.edu/people/anamara-ritt-olson"">Anamara Ritt-Olson</a>, PhD, associate professor and director of training and engagement of the CERES Network at the UC Irvine Program in Public Health, was a little more tentative.</p>

<p>“There are tons of lovely apps out there, but enticing people to use them, and keep using them is a huge challenge that few apps do well,” she said.</p>

<p>She expressed concern that Ness appears to be designed to increase consumerism rather than behavioral change.</p>

<p>“I haven’t seen any data that supports that spending money on ‘healthier brands’ leads to an actual healthier lifestyle,” she said. “But, that said, if it can reduce barriers to engaging in a healthier lifestyle, that is a wonderful goal.”</p>

<p>Ritt-Olson agrees with Bojd that it’s important to have motivation outside of an app to achieve your wellness goals.</p>

<p>“A healthy lifestyle is not dependent on any app. They are tools only. More effective means to achieve well-being and a healthier lifestyle mean connecting with a trusted medical provider and crafting a personalized plan for you and your needs,” she said.</p>

<p>However, she notes that there are some very good apps that she personally uses, including MyFitnessPal for tracking activity and food intake, the Calm app for stress reduction, and Open for mind-body workouts.</p>

<p>She also agrees with Bojd that friends can be good influences on our wellness efforts.</p>

<p>“A text to go hike or go to the gym gets me out the door way more than any app,” she explained.</p>

</article>",en,2022-05-18T12:00:00Z,2022-05-18T12:00:00+00:00,2022-05-18T12:00:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/artificial-limb-amputee-athlete-phone-1200x628-facebook-1200x628.jpg,"[
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]",The Ness Rewards app allows users to earn points for actions such as going to the gym or getting regular checkups. They can then redeem earned points for deals with a growing list of partner brands. ,"[
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    ""name"":""Home"",
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    ""name"":""Wellness Topics"",
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    ""name"":""Nancy Schimelpfening, MS"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Nancy Schimelpfening, MS""
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]",0.9715735,2022-09-26T00:00:00Z
"Dr. Michael Davis, MD",https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-michael-davis-1437320785,https://www.healthline.com/find-care/provider/dr-michael-davis-1437320785,2022-11-29T00:00:00,"Overview

Dr. Michael Davis, MD is an Ophthalmology Specialist in Los Angeles, CA. They specialize in Ophthalmology, has 19 years of experience, and is board certified in Ophthalmology. They graduated from NORTHEASTERN OHIO UNIVERSITIES / COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
Dr. Davis works at Acuity Eye Group in Los Angeles, CA with other offices in Pomona, CA. They frequently treat conditions like Macular Edema, Progressive High Myopia and Degenerative Disorders of Globe along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.","<article>

<h2>Overview</h2>

<p>Dr. Michael Davis, MD is an Ophthalmology Specialist in Los Angeles, CA. They specialize in Ophthalmology, has 19 years of experience, and is board certified in Ophthalmology. They graduated from NORTHEASTERN OHIO UNIVERSITIES / COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.<br><br>Dr. Davis works at Acuity Eye Group in Los Angeles, CA with other offices in Pomona, CA. They frequently treat conditions like Macular Edema, Progressive High Myopia and Degenerative Disorders of Globe along with other conditions at varying frequencies. They are accepting new patients and accepts Aetna, Anthem and Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as other major insurance plans. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment and to confirm all accepted insurance plans.</p>

</article>",en,"Julia Laureano (patient) — Nov 29, 2022",,,https://dims.healthgrades.com/dims3/MMH/8641c85/2147483647/strip/true/crop/440x440+10+0/resize/224x224!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fucmscdn.healthgrades.com%2Fb9%2F60%2F37b650f74d10939847af8a7ac798%2Fprovider-image.png,"[
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Will ‘Chemical Surgery’ Become Common in Embryos?,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/chemical-surgery-embryo-mutations?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/chemical-surgery-embryo-mutations,2017-10-15T13:00:00+00:00,"Chinese scientists report they have used genetic “base editing” to create mutations in cloned human embryos. Ethical questions, however, remain.

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Is it possible to eliminate disease-causing mutations from the human genome?

In a study reported in the journal Protein & Cell, researchers from China have used genetic editing to correct disease-causing mutations in cloned human embryos.

The investigators used a procedure known as base editing to repair mutations in the HBB gene that give rise to beta thalassemia.

Beta thalassemia is an inheritable blood disorder. It causes potentially life-threatening anemia in people who carry two copies of the mutated HBB gene.

“Our study demonstrated the feasibility of correcting pathogenic mutation by base editing in human cells and embryos,” Puping Liang, PhD, the first author of the study, told Healthline.

While more research is needed on the efficiency, safety, and precision of base editing in human embryos, the investigators believe it holds promise for curing genetic diseases.

“Germline gene therapy by base editor still needs to be investigated and discussed thoroughly,” Liang said. “But clinical applications of somatic cell gene therapy by base editors might be available in the near future.”

This study is the first to use base editing to correct disease-causing mutations in human embryos.

Base editing was pioneered by David Liu, PhD, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University.

Also known as “chemical surgery,” base editing uses an RNA-protein complex to catalyze conversions in the nucleotides that make up human genes.

This process allows scientists to target and change specific nucleotides in mutated genes with more precision than CRISPR-Cas9, an older genetic editing technique.

“For some applications, traditional CRISPR nuclease is a preferred approach,” Liu told Healthline.

“But many human genetic diseases are caused by single point mutations that need to be precisely corrected, rather than disrupted, in order to treat or study the corresponding disease,” he continued.

Beta thalassemia is one of those diseases.

In earlier studies, Liang and other Chinese researchers tried to correct HBB mutations using CRISPR-Cas9 and another technique known as homology directed repair.

Compared to those earlier efforts, base editing proved to be more precise.

“The researchers observed quite efficient correction of the target mutation, by in vivo genome editing standards,” Liu said.

Ongoing technical advancements might help further improve efficiency in base editing.

For example, Liu’s team at Harvard has recently developed fourth-generation base editors. They show improved editing efficiency and product purity.

“We are hopeful that base editing might advance the study and treatment of genetic diseases, and our laboratory is working hard toward this goal,” he said.

Ethical concerns remain

None of the edited embryos in Liang’s study were implanted in utero or allowed to develop into fetuses.

But the changes made to the mutated HBB genes are heritable.

In other words, they could theoretically be passed from parent to child.

This possibility has raised concerns among bioethicists, scientists, and policymakers.

“There has been a long-standing debate in bioethics and the public forum about the idea of making permanent or heritable changes to the genome of individuals,” Josephine Johnston, director of research at the Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute, told Healthline.

“There are a lot of broadly writ safety concerns that are heightened by the idea that the change would be heritable. Because how do you assess intergenerational safety? It’s very difficult to know how you actually design those studies and whether it’s ethical to do that,” she continued.

“There are also concerns that some people have about whether or not it’s the appropriate role for humans to play in human evolution,” she added.

Some stakeholders have taken the position that heritable human genome editing should be avoided entirely.

Others have argued that it might be ethically permissible to use heritable human genome editing to prevent or treat serious genetic diseases.

Earlier this spring, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report on the subject.

It took the position that clinical trials for genome editing of the human germline “could be permitted in the future, but only for serious conditions under stringent oversight.”

For now, however, federal regulations limit this field of research in the United States.

“In the U.S., if you are going to develop this [procedure] in order to offer it to patients, you would need to go to the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] with your study. And the FDA is currently prohibited from considering any application that involves germline or heritable modification,” Johnston said.

“It’s not exactly illegal, but you could not do human clinical trials of this,” she continued.

Liang thinks that more research and discussion are needed to address ethical concerns about base editing in human embryos.

“From the view of technology, the safety issues associated with gene editing may be solved one day in the future,” he said.

“As to the ethics issues, the public, the scientists, the bioethicists, and the governments should reach a consensus on when it is ethical to modify the human germline.”","<article>

<p>Chinese scientists report they have used genetic “base editing” to create mutations in cloned human embryos. Ethical questions, however, remain.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/3069-dna-1296x728-header.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fchemical-surgery-embryo-mutations&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-prod.healthline.com%2Fhlcmsresource%2Fimages%2FNews%2F3069-dna-1296x728-header.jpg&amp;description=%E2%80%98Chemical%20Surgery%E2%80%99%20Gene%20Editing%20Embryos%3F"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/3069-dna-1296x728-header.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a></figure>

<p>Is it possible to eliminate disease-causing mutations from the human genome?</p>

<p>In a <a href=""https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13238-017-0475-6"">study</a> reported in the journal Protein &amp; Cell, researchers from China have used genetic editing to correct disease-causing mutations in cloned human embryos.</p>

<p>The investigators used a procedure known as base editing to repair mutations in the <em>HBB </em>gene that give rise to beta thalassemia.</p>

<p>Beta thalassemia is an inheritable blood disorder. It causes potentially life-threatening anemia in people who carry two copies of the mutated <em>HBB </em>gene.</p>

<p>“Our study demonstrated the feasibility of correcting pathogenic mutation by base editing in human cells and embryos,” Puping Liang, PhD, the first author of the study, told Healthline.</p>

<p>While more research is needed on the efficiency, safety, and precision of base editing in human embryos, the investigators believe it holds promise for curing genetic diseases.</p>

<p>“Germline gene therapy by base editor still needs to be investigated and discussed thoroughly,” Liang said. “But clinical applications of somatic cell gene therapy by base editors might be available in the near future.”</p>

<p>This study is the first to use base editing to correct disease-causing mutations in human embryos.</p>

<p>Base editing was pioneered by <a href=""http://evolve.harvard.edu/"">David Liu, PhD</a>, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University.</p>

<p>Also known as “chemical surgery,” base editing uses an RNA-protein complex to catalyze conversions in the nucleotides that make up human genes.</p>

<p>This process allows scientists to target and change specific nucleotides in mutated genes with more precision than CRISPR-Cas9, an older genetic editing technique.</p>

<p>“For some applications, traditional CRISPR nuclease is a preferred approach,” Liu told Healthline.</p>

<p>“But many human genetic diseases are caused by single point mutations that need to be precisely corrected, rather than disrupted, in order to treat or study the corresponding disease,” he continued.</p>

<p>Beta thalassemia is one of those diseases.</p>

<p>In earlier studies, Liang and other Chinese researchers tried to correct <em>HBB </em>mutations using CRISPR-Cas9 and another technique known as homology directed repair.</p>

<p>Compared to those earlier efforts, base editing proved to be more precise.</p>

<p>“The researchers observed quite efficient correction of the target mutation, by in vivo genome editing standards,” Liu said.</p>

<p>Ongoing technical advancements might help further improve efficiency in base editing.</p>

<p>For example, Liu’s team at Harvard has <a href=""http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/8/eaao4774"">recently developed</a> fourth-generation base editors. They show improved editing efficiency and product purity.</p>

<p>“We are hopeful that base editing might advance the study and treatment of genetic diseases, and our laboratory is working hard toward this goal,” he said.</p>

<h2><a>Ethical concerns remain</a></h2>

<p>None of the edited embryos in Liang’s study were implanted in utero or allowed to develop into fetuses.</p>

<p>But the changes made to the mutated <em>HBB </em>genes are heritable.</p>

<p>In other words, they could theoretically be passed from parent to child.</p>

<p>This possibility has raised concerns among bioethicists, scientists, and policymakers.</p>

<p>“There has been a long-standing debate in bioethics and the public forum about the idea of making permanent or heritable changes to the genome of individuals,” <a href=""http://www.thehastingscenter.org/team/johnston/"">Josephine Johnston</a>, director of research at the Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute, told Healthline.</p>

<p>“There are a lot of broadly writ safety concerns that are heightened by the idea that the change would be heritable. Because how do you assess intergenerational safety? It’s very difficult to know how you actually design those studies and whether it’s ethical to do that,” she continued.</p>

<p>“There are also concerns that some people have about whether or not it’s the appropriate role for humans to play in human evolution,” she added.</p>

<p>Some stakeholders have taken the position that heritable human genome editing should be avoided entirely.</p>

<p>Others have argued that it might be ethically permissible to use heritable human genome editing to prevent or treat serious genetic diseases.</p>

<p>Earlier this spring, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a <a href=""http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=24623"">report</a> on the subject.</p>

<p>It took the position that clinical trials for genome editing of the human germline “could be permitted in the future, but only for serious conditions under stringent oversight.”</p>

<p>For now, however, federal regulations limit this field of research in the United States.</p>

<p>“In the U.S., if you are going to develop this [procedure] in order to offer it to patients, you would need to go to the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] with your study. And the FDA is currently prohibited from considering any application that involves germline or heritable modification,” Johnston said.</p>

<p>“It’s not exactly illegal, but you could not do human clinical trials of this,” she continued.</p>

<p>Liang thinks that more research and discussion are needed to address ethical concerns about base editing in human embryos.</p>

<p>“From the view of technology, the safety issues associated with gene editing may be solved one day in the future,” he said.</p>

<p>“As to the ethics issues, the public, the scientists, the bioethicists, and the governments should reach a consensus on when it is ethical to modify the human germline.”</p>

</article>",en,2017-10-15T13:00:00Z,2017-10-22T14:51:42+00:00,2017-10-22T14:51:42Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/3069-dna-1296x728-header-1200x628.jpg,"[
  {
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]",0.96740043,2022-10-24T00:00:00Z
It's Not Too Late: Quitting Smoking After a Lung Cancer Diagnosis Can Help,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/its-not-too-late-quitting-smoking-after-a-lung-cancer-diagnosis-can-help?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/its-not-too-late-quitting-smoking-after-a-lung-cancer-diagnosis-can-help,2021-07-26T14:01:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

Researchers report that a smoker who is diagnosed with lung cancer can significantly improve their health outcomes by stopping smoking.
They note that quitting smoking can also improve a person’s overall health and reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke.
They add that quitting smoking is a difficult thing to accomplish even after a cancer diagnosis.

A study published July 26 suggests that quitting smoking after receiving a lung cancer diagnosis can significantly improve your likelihood of surviving cancer and other complications down the line.

Quitting smoking may sound like an obvious decision in these circumstances, but as many as 50 percent of smoking cancer survivors reportedly continue to light up.

“Several studies have found a fatalistic attitude among some smokers,” explained Dr. Matthew Triplette, MPH, medical director of the lung cancer screening program at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). “They know smoking is bad for them but continue smoking with the attitude that ‘what will happen will happen.’ When they develop cancer, sometimes they think the worst has happened and that any further smoking is unlikely to harm them.”

But though it might be intuitive that quitting smoking while trying to get free of lung cancer makes sense, there has not been much direct research on that front – something these researchers aim to change.

In the new study, which looked at 500 people with early stage non-small cell lung cancer, researchers reported that those who quit smoking after diagnosis lived longer in general and longer cancer-free than people who received treatment but did not quit.

All told, people who quit smoking lived 6.6 years on average versus 4.8 years among smokers. They also lived longer cancer-free (5.7 versus 3.9 years) and lived longer before dying from lung cancer, at 7.9 years versus 6 years.

That makes sense, said Dr. Andrew Brown, a medical oncologist at The Cancer Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey.

“Continued smoking during cancer treatment can put you at higher risk for infections like bronchitis and pneumonia,” Brown told Healthline. “In a person going through cancer treatment, even a small infection can become very serious quickly. Quitting smoking almost instantaneously lowers your risk of pulmonary infection and each day and week and month the risk is lower.

“Also, stopping smoking makes it safer to perform surgery and/or tolerate radiation therapy if that is part of the treatment plan” he added.

It’s not just that quitting smoking improves your ability to survive lung cancer, it can also have a positive impact on your overall health, experts said.

“Non-smokers, or those who quit, are less likely to develop or have complications from other medical problems like heart disease and strokes,” Triplette said. “Among smokers, recurrence of lung cancer or a second lung cancer is common, so quitting smoking reduces the likelihood of developing a second lung cancer or another type of cancer.”

But the main reason people don’t quit smoking is likely the same reason they never quit smoking before a cancer diagnosis: It’s tough to quit.

“Nicotine is a very hard addiction to beat, comparable to heroin, cocaine, and other highly addictive substances,” said Dr. Maher Karam-Hage, the medical director of the Tobacco Treatment Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Osita Onugha, a thoracic surgeon and assistant professor of thoracic surgery at Saint John’s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, agreed.

“Smoking is an addiction, and people usually use vices like smoking, alcohol use, or eating to deal with stress,” Onugha told Healthline. “Getting a diagnosis of lung cancer not only causes stress but can lead to anxiety. So, it can be even harder to quit smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis.”

But that’s not a reason to despair.

Start with tackling your anxiety without cigarettes, Dr. Robert Y. Goldberg, a pulmonologist with Providence Mission Hospital in Southern California, suggests.

“If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, daily breathing exercises can help to reduce stress and anxiety as you go through treatment,” Goldberg told Healthline. “Make sure to eat healthy and nutritious meals, along with physical activity to help to reduce fatigue, improve your overall mood and manage your weight, can also help you to best manage your cancer journey.”

“It’s important to recognize that you aren’t alone. Close friends and family can be a great support system,” he added. “But don’t discount cancer support groups. Joining a group is a good way to connect with others who understand what you are going through. Plus, it is a safe place where you can voice any fears or concerns you might have during treatment.”","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Male_Walking_Bridge_1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fits-not-too-late-quitting-smoking-after-a-lung-cancer-diagnosis-can-help&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F07%2FMale_Walking_Bridge_1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=Quitting%20Smoking%20After%20Lung%20Cancer%20Diagnosis%20Helps"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Male_Walking_Bridge_1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>Experts say quitting smoking helps improves health outcomes after a lung cancer diagnosis and improves a person’s overall health. Westend61/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>Researchers report that a smoker who is diagnosed with lung cancer can significantly improve their health outcomes by stopping smoking.</strong></li><li><strong>They note that quitting smoking can also improve a person’s overall health and reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke.</strong></li><li><strong>They add that quitting smoking is a difficult thing to accomplish even after a cancer diagnosis.</strong></li></ul>

<p>A <a href=""https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0252"">study</a> published July 26 suggests that quitting smoking after receiving a lung cancer diagnosis can significantly improve your likelihood of surviving cancer and other complications down the line.</p>

<p>Quitting smoking may sound like an obvious decision in these circumstances, but <a href=""https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6546630/#:~:text=Most%20patients%20quit%20or%20attempt,%25%20(17-24)."">as many as 50 percent</a> of smoking cancer survivors reportedly continue to light up.</p>

<p>“Several studies have found a fatalistic attitude among some smokers,” explained <a href=""https://www.seattlecca.org/providers/matthew-triplette"">Dr. Matthew Triplette, MPH</a>, medical director of the lung cancer screening program at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). “They know smoking is bad for them but continue smoking with the attitude that ‘what will happen will happen.’ When they develop cancer, sometimes they think the worst has happened and that any further smoking is unlikely to harm them.”</p>

<p>But though it might be intuitive that quitting smoking while trying to get free of lung cancer makes sense, there has not been much direct research on that front – something these researchers aim to change.</p>

<p>In the new study, which looked at 500 people with early stage non-small cell lung cancer, researchers reported that those who quit smoking after diagnosis lived longer in general and longer cancer-free than people who received treatment but did not quit.</p>

<p>All told, people who quit smoking lived 6.6 years on average versus 4.8 years among smokers. They also lived longer cancer-free (5.7 versus 3.9 years) and lived longer before dying from lung cancer, at 7.9 years versus 6 years.</p>

<p>That makes sense, said <a href=""https://www.rwjbh.org/doctors/andrew-brown-md/"">Dr. Andrew Brown</a>, a medical oncologist at The Cancer Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey.</p>

<p>“Continued smoking during cancer treatment can put you at higher risk for infections like bronchitis and pneumonia,” Brown told Healthline. “In a person going through cancer treatment, even a small infection can become very serious quickly. Quitting smoking almost instantaneously lowers your risk of pulmonary infection and each day and week and month the risk is lower.</p>

<p>“Also, stopping smoking makes it safer to perform surgery and/or tolerate radiation therapy if that is part of the treatment plan” he added.</p>

<p>It’s not just that quitting smoking improves your ability to survive lung cancer, it can also have a positive impact on your overall health, experts said.</p>

<p>“Non-smokers, or those who quit, are less likely to develop or have complications from other medical problems like heart disease and strokes,” Triplette said. “Among smokers, recurrence of lung cancer or a second lung cancer is common, so quitting smoking reduces the likelihood of developing a second lung cancer or another type of cancer.”</p>

<p>But the main reason people don’t quit smoking is likely the same reason they never quit smoking before a cancer diagnosis: It’s <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health/quit-smoking"">tough to quit</a>.</p>

<p>“Nicotine is a very hard addiction to beat, comparable to heroin, cocaine, and other highly addictive substances,” said <a href=""https://faculty.mdanderson.org/profiles/maher_karam-hage.html"">Dr. Maher Karam-Hage</a>, the medical director of the Tobacco Treatment Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.providence.org/doctors/profile/299517-osita-innocent-onugha"" data-type=""URL"" data-id=""https://www.providence.org/doctors/profile/299517-osita-innocent-onugha"">Dr. Osita Onugha</a>, a thoracic surgeon and assistant professor of thoracic surgery at Saint John’s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, agreed.</p>

<p>“Smoking is an addiction, and people usually use vices like smoking, alcohol use, or eating to deal with stress,” Onugha told Healthline. “Getting a diagnosis of lung cancer not only causes stress but can lead to anxiety. So, it can be even harder to quit smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis.”</p>

<p>But that’s not a reason to despair.</p>

<p>Start with tackling your anxiety without cigarettes, <a href=""https://www.providence.org/doctors/profile/849636-robert-yale-goldberg"">Dr. Robert Y. Goldberg</a>, a pulmonologist with Providence Mission Hospital in Southern California, suggests.</p>

<p>“If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, daily breathing exercises can help to reduce stress and anxiety as you go through treatment,” Goldberg told Healthline. “Make sure to eat healthy and nutritious meals, along with physical activity to help to reduce fatigue, improve your overall mood and manage your weight, can also help you to best manage your cancer journey.”</p>

<p>“It’s important to recognize that you aren’t alone. Close friends and family can be a great support system,” he added. “But don’t discount cancer support groups. Joining a group is a good way to connect with others who understand what you are going through. Plus, it is a safe place where you can voice any fears or concerns you might have during treatment.”</p>

</article>",en,2021-07-26T14:01:00Z,2021-07-26T14:01:00+00:00,2021-07-26T14:01:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Male_Walking_Bridge_1200x628-facebook-1200x628.jpg,"[
  {
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  },
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  {
    ""name"":""Christopher Curley"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Christopher Curley""
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]",0.9834615999999999,2022-11-23T00:00:00Z
3 More COVID-19 Vaccines Move Toward Final Stage of Testing,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/3-more-covid-19-vaccines-move-toward-final-stage-of-testing?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/3-more-covid-19-vaccines-move-toward-final-stage-of-testing,2020-07-21T09:46:00+00:00,"Share on Pinterest

Early-stage clinical trials show that three COVID-19 vaccines are generally safe and induce an immune response in healthy people.
The results of two of these studies were published online yesterday in The Lancet. One is a phase 1 and 2 trial by researchers at Oxford University with support from AstraZeneca.
The other is a phase 2 trial by Chinese researchers supported by CanSino Biologics.

All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three more COVID-19 investigational vaccines have been shown in early clinical trials to be generally safe and to induce an immune response in healthy volunteers.

The results of two of these studies were published online yesterday in The Lancet. One is a phase 1 and 2 trial by researchers at Oxford University with support from AstraZeneca. The other is a phase 2 trial by Chinese researchers supported by CanSino Biologics.

The third is a phase 1 and 2 study by U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German biotechnology company BioNTech. These results were published yesterday to the online preprint server medRxiv.org and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Deborah Fuller, PhD, a professor of microbiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, who was not involved in these studies, said the results are “promising,” but more research is needed.

“Both groups saw the immune responses that they were hoping to see,” she said, “and the adverse effects weren’t severe enough to keep them from moving forward.”

“What those levels of immune responses mean, in terms of protection from SARS-CoV-2 [the coronavirus that causes COVID-19], we’re not going to learn until they do the phase 3 trials,” she added.

Results from Oxford phase 1 trial

The Oxford candidate vaccine induced an antibody immune response within 28 days after vaccination and a T-cell immune response within 14 days after vaccination.

These were still present 56 days after vaccination. Researchers will continue monitoring participants for at least 1 year to see how long the immune responses last.

Neutralizing antibodies — at a level that could potentially neutralize the virus — were detected in most people after one dose of the vaccine and in all who had a second booster dose 28 days after the first.

Only 10 people received the second dose.

Although neutralizing antibodies have been found in the plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19, scientists don’t yet know what level of antibodies will protect people against the new coronavirus.

However, Fuller says the induction of both kinds of immune responses specific for the new coronavirus is a good sign.

“There’s increasing evidence to suggest that T-cell responses may play an important role in protection from SARS-CoV-2,” she said.

Antibodies prime the immune system to target viruses and other invaders in the blood or lymphatic system. T cells are part of the cellular immune response and help the immune system attack infected cells.

“T cells are like a backup plan,” said Fuller. “If you don’t have sufficient antibodies to block the infection, T cells would come in and find infected cells, and eliminate them quickly.”

The vaccine trial included 1,077 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years from the United Kingdom. None of them had a history of infection with SARS-CoV-2. About half were female and over 90 percent were white.

Given the limited range of people included in the trial, it’s not clear how well the vaccine would perform in older adults, people with other health conditions, or ethnically and geographically diverse populations.

Mild or moderate side effects were fairly common among people given the vaccine, with fatigue or headache the most frequent. Other common side effects included pain at the injection site, muscle ache, chills, and high temperature.

Certain side effects were reduced in people who took a pain reliever before and for 24 hours after their vaccination. Side effects were also less common in people after the second dose of the vaccine.

Researchers have already begun phase 3 trials of the candidate vaccine in Brazil, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

AstraZeneca says it has the capacity to produce 2 billion doses of the vaccine should it prove effective in later clinical trials, reports CNN.

There are 24 COVID-19 candidate vaccines in clinical trials around the world, with another 141 at earlier stages of development, according to the World Health Organization.

CanSino vaccine finishes phase 2 trial

The phase 2 trial of the CanSino candidate vaccine showed that it was generally safe and induced an immune response.

The vaccine trial, conducted in Wuhan, China, included 508 healthy adults up to 83 years. People had not previously had COVID-19.

Researchers randomly assigned people to receive either a high or low dose of the candidate vaccine, or an inactive placebo.

Fewer people developed neutralizing antibodies than in the Oxford study — 59 percent of the high-dose group and 47 percent of the low-dose group.

However, the candidate vaccine induced a T-cell response in 90 percent of the high-dose group and 88 percent of the low-dose group.

Both types of immune responses were present at 28 days.

This vaccine uses a weakened human common cold virus (adenovirus) to deliver the genetic code for the new coronavirus’ spike protein to the body’s cells.

The cells then produce the spike protein, which teaches the immune system to recognize that protein and fight the new coronavirus.

Fuller says many people in the world have already been exposed to the common cold virus, so they have some immune protection to it. This could interfere with the immune response generated by a vaccine that uses the adenovirus as a delivery system.

Chinese researchers saw this kind of blunted immune response in people who had pre-existing immunity to the adenovirus.

The Oxford vaccine also uses an adenovirus to deliver the new coronavirus’ genetic code, but it is a chimp adenovirus, so it should be less of a concern, says Fuller.

“We haven’t been exposed to that adenovirus yet,” she said, “so it should have the potential to induce full immune responses.”

The antibody response with the CanSino candidate vaccine was also lower in people 55 years or older. This is concerning because this age group is at higher risk of a severe form of COVID-19. Age did not affect the T-cell response.

Most adverse reactions for this candidate vaccine were mild or moderate. However, 9 percent of people in the high-dose group had a severe adverse reaction, with fever as the most common.

published in The Lancet, Naor Bar-Zeev, PhD, and Dr. William J. Moss of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health wrote that the trials were “broadly similar and promising,” and the safety data “reassuring.”

However, “Much remains unknown about these and other COVID-19 vaccines in development,” they added, “including longevity of response and [immune responses] in older adults or other specific groups, such as those with comorbidities who are often excluded from clinical trials, or ethnic or racial groups more severely affected by COVID-19.”

Some of these answers will come from phase 3 clinical trials. In these larger studies, researchers will follow people who are vaccinated to see if they are exposed to the new coronavirus or develop COVID-19.

These studies, though, will need to include a more diverse group of volunteers.

“That’s something that needs to be done in the next set of studies, to really look at whether or not you’re going to be able to immunize these [other] populations,” said Fuller of the Oxford vaccine. “Or is this going to be a vaccine that’s restricted to the healthy and the young?”","<article>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AstraZeneca_COVID_Vaccine_1296x728-header-1-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268"" alt=""""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2F3-more-covid-19-vaccines-move-toward-final-stage-of-testing&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fpost.healthline.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F07%2FAstraZeneca_COVID_Vaccine_1296x728-header-1-1296x729.jpg&amp;description=3%20More%20COVID-19%20Vaccines%20Move%20Toward%20Final%20Stage%20of%20Testing"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AstraZeneca_COVID_Vaccine_1296x728-header-1-1296x729.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a><figcaption>A COVID-19 vaccine is closer to becoming reality. Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<ul><li><strong>Early-stage clinical trials show that three COVID-19 vaccines are generally safe and induce an immune response in healthy people.</strong></li><li><strong>The results of two of these studies were published online yesterday in The Lancet. One is a phase 1 and 2 trial by researchers at <a href=""https://www.thelancet.com/lancet/article/s0140-6736(20)31604-4"">Oxford University</a> with support from AstraZeneca. </strong></li><li><strong>The other is a phase 2 trial by Chinese researchers supported by <a href=""https://www.thelancet.com/lancet/article/s0140-6736(20)31605-6"">CanSino Biologics</a>.</strong></li></ul>

<p><em>All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/coronavirus"">coronavirus hub</a> and follow our <a href=""https://www.healthline.com/health-news/coronavirus-live-updates"">live updates page</a> for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.</em></p>

<p>Three more COVID-19 investigational vaccines have been shown in early clinical trials to be generally safe and to induce an immune response in healthy volunteers.</p>

<p>The results of two of these studies were published online yesterday in The Lancet. One is a phase 1 and 2 trial by researchers at <a href=""https://www.thelancet.com/lancet/article/s0140-6736(20)31604-4"">Oxford University</a> with support from AstraZeneca. The other is a phase 2 trial by Chinese researchers supported by <a href=""https://www.thelancet.com/lancet/article/s0140-6736(20)31605-6"">CanSino Biologics</a>.</p>

<p>The third is a phase 1 and 2 study by U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German biotechnology company BioNTech. These results were published yesterday to the online preprint server <a href=""https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.17.20140533v1"">medRxiv.org</a> and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.</p>

<p><a href=""https://microbiology.washington.edu/users/deborah-fuller"">Deborah Fuller</a>, PhD, a professor of microbiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, who was not involved in these studies, said the results are “promising,” but more research is needed.</p>

<p>“Both groups saw the immune responses that they were hoping to see,” she said, “and the adverse effects weren’t severe enough to keep them from moving forward.”</p>

<p>“What those levels of immune responses mean, in terms of protection from SARS-CoV-2 [the coronavirus that causes COVID-19], we’re not going to learn until they do the phase 3 trials,” she added.</p>

<h2><a>Results from Oxford phase 1 trial</a></h2>

<p>The Oxford candidate vaccine induced an antibody immune response within 28 days after vaccination and a T-cell immune response within 14 days after vaccination.</p>

<p>These were still present 56 days after vaccination. Researchers will continue monitoring participants for at least 1 year to see how long the immune responses last.</p>

<p>Neutralizing antibodies — at a level that could potentially neutralize the virus — were detected in most people after one dose of the vaccine and in all who had a second booster dose 28 days after the first.</p>

<p>Only 10 people received the second dose.</p>

<p>Although neutralizing antibodies have been found in the plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19, scientists don’t yet know what level of antibodies will protect people against the new coronavirus.</p>

<p>However, Fuller says the induction of both kinds of immune responses specific for the new coronavirus is a good sign.</p>

<p>“There’s increasing evidence to suggest that T-cell responses may play an important role in protection from SARS-CoV-2,” she said.</p>

<p>Antibodies prime the immune system to target viruses and other invaders in the blood or lymphatic system. T cells are part of the cellular immune response and help the immune system attack infected cells.</p>

<p>“T cells are like a backup plan,” said Fuller. “If you don’t have sufficient antibodies to block the infection, T cells would come in and find infected cells, and eliminate them quickly.”</p>

<p>The vaccine trial included 1,077 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years from the United Kingdom. None of them had a history of infection with SARS-CoV-2. About half were female and over 90 percent were white.</p>

<p>Given the limited range of people included in the trial, it’s not clear how well the vaccine would perform in older adults, people with other health conditions, or ethnically and geographically diverse populations.</p>

<p>Mild or moderate side effects were fairly common among people given the vaccine, with fatigue or headache the most frequent. Other common side effects included pain at the injection site, muscle ache, chills, and high temperature.</p>

<p>Certain side effects were reduced in people who took a pain reliever before and for 24 hours after their vaccination. Side effects were also less common in people after the second dose of the vaccine.</p>

<p>Researchers have already begun phase 3 trials of the candidate vaccine in Brazil, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.</p>

<p>AstraZeneca says it has the capacity to produce 2 billion doses of the vaccine should it prove effective in later clinical trials, <a href=""https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/20/health/oxford-covid-19-vaccine-results-cansino-pfizer-study/index.html"">reports CNN</a>.</p>

<p>There are 24 COVID-19 candidate vaccines in clinical trials around the world, with another 141 at earlier stages of development, <a href=""https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-landscape-of-covid-19-candidate-vaccines"">according to the World Health Organization</a>.</p>

<h2><a>CanSino vaccine finishes phase 2 trial</a></h2>

<p>The phase 2 trial of the CanSino candidate vaccine showed that it was generally safe and induced an immune response.</p>

<p>The vaccine trial, conducted in Wuhan, China, included 508 healthy adults up to 83 years. People had not previously had COVID-19.</p>

<p>Researchers randomly assigned people to receive either a high or low dose of the candidate vaccine, or an inactive placebo.</p>

<p>Fewer people developed neutralizing antibodies than in the Oxford study — 59 percent of the high-dose group and 47 percent of the low-dose group.</p>

<p>However, the candidate vaccine induced a T-cell response in 90 percent of the high-dose group and 88 percent of the low-dose group.</p>

<p>Both types of immune responses were present at 28 days.</p>

<p>This vaccine uses a weakened human common cold virus (adenovirus) to deliver the genetic code for the new coronavirus’ spike protein to the body’s cells.</p>

<p>The cells then produce the spike protein, which teaches the immune system to recognize that protein and fight the new coronavirus.</p>

<p>Fuller says many people in the world have already been exposed to the common cold virus, so they have some immune protection to it. This could interfere with the immune response generated by a vaccine that uses the adenovirus as a delivery system.</p>

<p>Chinese researchers saw this kind of blunted immune response in people who had pre-existing immunity to the adenovirus.</p>

<p>The Oxford vaccine also uses an adenovirus to deliver the new coronavirus’ genetic code, but it is a chimp adenovirus, so it should be less of a concern, says Fuller.</p>

<p>“We haven’t been exposed to that adenovirus yet,” she said, “so it should have the potential to induce full immune responses.”</p>

<p>The antibody response with the CanSino candidate vaccine was also lower in people 55 years or older. This is concerning because this age group is at <a href=""https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html"">higher risk of a severe form of COVID-19</a>. Age did not affect the T-cell response.</p>

<p>Most adverse reactions for this candidate vaccine were mild or moderate. However, 9 percent of people in the high-dose group had a severe adverse reaction, with fever as the most common.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.thelancet.com/lancet/article/s0140-6736(20)31611-1"">published in The Lancet</a>, <a href=""https://www.jhsph.edu/departments/international-health/the-globe/summer-2018/naor-bar-zeev.html"">Naor Bar-Zeev, PhD</a>, and <a href=""https://www.jhsph.edu/faculty/directory/profile/497/william-john-moss"">Dr. William J. Moss</a> of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health wrote that the trials were “broadly similar and promising,” and the safety data “reassuring.”</p>

<p>However, “Much remains unknown about these and other COVID-19 vaccines in development,” they added, “including longevity of response and [immune responses] in older adults or other specific groups, such as those with comorbidities who are often excluded from clinical trials, or ethnic or racial groups more severely affected by COVID-19.”</p>

<p>Some of these answers will come from phase 3 clinical trials. In these larger studies, researchers will follow people who are vaccinated to see if they are exposed to the new coronavirus or develop COVID-19.</p>

<p>These studies, though, will need to include a more diverse group of volunteers.</p>

<p>“That’s something that needs to be done in the next set of studies, to really look at whether or not you’re going to be able to immunize these [other] populations,” said Fuller of the Oxford vaccine. “Or is this going to be a vaccine that’s restricted to the healthy and the young?”</p>

</article>",en,2020-07-21T09:46:00Z,2020-07-21T09:46:00+00:00,2020-07-21T09:46:00Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AstraZeneca_COVID_Vaccine_1200x628-facebook-1200x628.jpg,"[
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]",0.9775022999999999,2023-02-03T00:00:00Z
Cannabis Product May Reduce Epilepsy Seizure Rate,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cannabis-product-may-reduce-epilepsy-seizure-rate?utm_source=ReadNext,https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cannabis-product-may-reduce-epilepsy-seizure-rate,2018-03-07T19:00:00+00:00,"Researchers sift through dozens of studies and conclude that cannabidiol can reduce seizures in half of epilepsy patients, and improve their quality of life.

Share on Pinterest

Can cannabis help fight epileptic seizures in children? Some families have sworn by the medication to treat their children’s epilepsy, with some parents even moving across the country to states where medicinal marijuana is legal.

But medical experts have been hesitant about using a cannabis derivative called CBD as a treatment for epilepsy without more evidence.

This week, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry looked for clear evidence that cannabidiol was effective at treating epilepsy, and could help reduce or stop seizures.

Researchers from National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Australia, King’s College in London, and other institutions reviewed data from 36 published studies on cannabidiol (CBD) treatment for epilepsy.

Cannabidiol is one of the approximately 200 compounds found in cannabis, or marijuana. However, this marijuana-derived compound does not result in the user becoming high after usage, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The evidence that CBD works

The research team looked at six randomized control studies and 30 observational studies.

Most of the studies involved children with a mean age of 16 years.

From the available research, the team found evidence that CBD can reduce seizures as well as improve quality of life for some patients with epilepsy.

The researchers concluded that evidence pointed to a dramatic drop in seizure frequency in about half the people who took CBD in the studies.

According to two randomized control trials and 17 observational studies, researchers said CBD was associated with a significant drop in seizures.

They also found about 48 percent of people were able to have a reduction of seizures by 50 percent or more.

Most of the patients in the studies were children with the catastrophic forms of epilepsy Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). These ailments can cause severe impairment in young children, but are not the most common cause of epileptic seizures.

After looking at 14 observational studies, the researchers also concluded that almost 1 in 10 of the study’s subjects became seizure free.

The most common side effects included drowsiness, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. These symptoms led some participants to withdraw from the studies.

“In many cases, there was qualitative evidence that cannabinoids reduced seizure frequency in some patients, improved other aspects of the patients’ quality of life, and were generally well tolerated with mild-to-moderate [adverse effects],” the study authors wrote.

The researchers called for more random controlled trials to better understand if there are types of epilepsy that respond better to CBD, what dosage should be given, and to confirm findings that CBD helps reduce seizure rates.

They also said there needs to be more research for adults to see if these early findings hold up.

“Most studies in this review were observational and used self-report data, raising concerns about possible patient selection and self-reporting bias,” the authors said. “This concern especially applies to self-report surveys of parents, most of whom were self-selected and so may only include the most satisfied users of cannabinoids.”

While some countries, including Israel, Germany, and Canada, have legalized the drug for medical treatment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve any CBD treatment.

A British company has submitted a CBD-based epilepsy medication to the FDA for approval.

What we still don’t know about CBD

Dr. Fred Lado, Northwell Health’s regional director of epilepsy in New York, said the study published this week was a “valuable contribution” to epilepsy research.

For “cannabidiol, there is some benefit at least in specific types of epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome and LGS,” Lado told Healthline.

Lado said for other forms of epilepsy, the benefits of CBD remain less clear, but this study has helped show why more random control trials are needed to verify early results.

“By looking at the broader literature of experience outside of those narrow types of epilepsy, what they’re saying is ‘Yes there may be some benefit.’ It’s difficult to be sure because of all the limitations of nonrandomized trials,” Lado said.

He said more research and especially double-blind placebo trials are needed in order to account for the placebo effect.

“In order to really know if you’re really helping, you’ve got to really do very, very rigorous studies,” he explained.

He pointed out that the researchers determined from the studies that “you have to treat 171 people to have one person become seizure free, that’s not in excess of what would have happened with a placebo,” he said.

Lado said that while the studies show some benefit of CBD, it’s likely not a silver bullet to stop epilepsy. He added there can be serious side effects, including sedation and a change in liver enzymes.

The CBD findings, are “very much in line with the seizure medicines that we have. This is not a panacea,” he said. “It’s a tool and in some cases, it may be particularly useful, and it also comes with some risks.”

Is CBD Legal? Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level, but are still illegal under some state laws. Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level, but are legal under some state laws. Check your state’s laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.","<article>

<p>Researchers sift through dozens of studies and conclude that cannabidiol can reduce seizures in half of epilepsy patients, and improve their quality of life.</p>

<figure><img src=""https://i0.wp.com/images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/5976-CBD_oil-1296x728-header.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=1528""><a data-event=""Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked"" data-element-event=""OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|"" href=""https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth-news%2Fcannabis-product-may-reduce-epilepsy-seizure-rate&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-prod.healthline.com%2Fhlcmsresource%2Fimages%2FNews%2F5976-CBD_oil-1296x728-header.jpg&amp;description=Epilepsy%20Seizures%3A%20Cannabis%20Products%20Might%20Help"" title=""Share on Pinterest"" data-pin-custom=""true"" data-share-url=""https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/News/5976-CBD_oil-1296x728-header.jpg"">Share on Pinterest</a></figure>

<p>Can cannabis help fight epileptic seizures in children? Some families have sworn by the medication to <a href=""https://www.facebook.com/jasonandjaydensjourney/photos/a.383360958384651.90363.260703283983753/1314500975270640/?type=1&amp;theater"">treat</a> their children’s epilepsy, with some parents even <a href=""https://www.yahoo.com/news/4-year-old-done-drugs-anyone-know-095149048.html"">moving across the country</a> to states where medicinal marijuana is legal.</p>

<p>But medical experts have been hesitant about using a cannabis derivative called CBD as a treatment for epilepsy without more evidence.</p>

<p>This week, a meta-analysis published in the <a href=""http://jnnp.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/jnnp-2017-317168"">Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry</a> looked for clear evidence that cannabidiol was effective at treating epilepsy, and could help reduce or stop seizures.</p>

<p>Researchers from National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Australia, King’s College in London, and other institutions reviewed data from 36 published studies on cannabidiol (CBD) treatment for epilepsy.</p>

<p>Cannabidiol is one of the <a href=""http://www.who.int/features/qa/cannabidiol/en/"">approximately 200 compounds found in cannabis</a>, or marijuana. However, this marijuana-derived compound does not result in the user becoming high after usage, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).</p>

<h2><a>The evidence that CBD works</a></h2>

<p>The research team looked at six randomized control studies and 30 observational studies.</p>

<p>Most of the studies involved children with a mean age of 16 years.</p>

<p>From the available research, the team found evidence that CBD can reduce seizures as well as improve quality of life for some patients with epilepsy.</p>

<p>The researchers concluded that evidence pointed to a dramatic drop in seizure frequency in about half the people who took CBD in the studies.</p>

<p>According to two randomized control trials and 17 observational studies, researchers said CBD was associated with a significant drop in seizures.</p>

<p>They also found about 48 percent of people were able to have a reduction of seizures by 50 percent or more.</p>

<p>Most of the patients in the studies were children with the catastrophic forms of epilepsy Dravet syndrome or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). These ailments can cause severe impairment in young children, but are not the most common cause of epileptic seizures.</p>

<p>After looking at 14 observational studies, the researchers also concluded that almost 1 in 10 of the study’s subjects became seizure free.</p>

<p>The most common side effects included drowsiness, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. These symptoms led some participants to withdraw from the studies.</p>

<p>“In many cases, there was qualitative evidence that cannabinoids reduced seizure frequency in some patients, improved other aspects of the patients’ quality of life, and were generally well tolerated with mild-to-moderate [adverse effects],” the study authors wrote.</p>

<p>The researchers called for more random controlled trials to better understand if there are types of epilepsy that respond better to CBD, what dosage should be given, and to confirm findings that CBD helps reduce seizure rates.</p>

<p>They also said there needs to be more research for adults to see if these early findings hold up.</p>

<p>“Most studies in this review were observational and used self-report data, raising concerns about possible patient selection and self-reporting bias,” the authors said. “This concern especially applies to self-report surveys of parents, most of whom were self-selected and so may only include the most satisfied users of cannabinoids.”</p>

<p>While some countries, including Israel, Germany, and Canada, have legalized the drug for medical treatment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve any CBD treatment.</p>

<p>A <a href=""https://mjbizdaily.com/gw-pharma-aiming-fda-approval-cbd-drug-year/"">British company</a> has submitted a CBD-based epilepsy medication to the FDA for approval.</p>

<h2><a>What we still don’t know about CBD</a></h2>

<p>Dr. Fred Lado, Northwell Health’s regional director of epilepsy in New York, said the study published this week was a “valuable contribution” to epilepsy research.</p>

<p>For “cannabidiol, there is some benefit at least in specific types of epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome and LGS,” Lado told Healthline.</p>

<p>Lado said for other forms of epilepsy, the benefits of CBD remain less clear, but this study has helped show why more random control trials are needed to verify early results.</p>

<p>“By looking at the broader literature of experience outside of those narrow types of epilepsy, what they’re saying is ‘Yes there may be some benefit.’ It’s difficult to be sure because of all the limitations of nonrandomized trials,” Lado said.</p>

<p>He said more research and especially double-blind placebo trials are needed in order to account for the placebo effect.</p>

<p>“In order to really know if you’re really helping, you’ve got to really do very, very rigorous studies,” he explained.</p>

<p>He pointed out that the researchers determined from the studies that “you have to treat 171 people to have one person become seizure free, that’s not in excess of what would have happened with a placebo,” he said.</p>

<p>Lado said that while the studies show some benefit of CBD, it’s likely not a silver bullet to stop epilepsy. He added there can be serious side effects, including sedation and a change in liver enzymes.</p>

<p>The CBD findings, are “very much in line with the seizure medicines that we have. This is not a panacea,” he said. “It’s a tool and in some cases, it may be particularly useful, and it also comes with some risks.”</p>

<p><strong>Is CBD Legal?</strong><em>Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level, but are still illegal under some <a href=""http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx"">state laws</a>. Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level, but are legal under some state laws. Check your state’s laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.</em></p>

</article>",en,2018-03-07T19:00:00Z,2019-11-18T23:49:18+00:00,2019-11-18T23:49:18Z,https://post.healthline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cannabis_weed_mariajuana-1200x628-faceboo-1200x628.jpg,"[
  {
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