- Do you really need 10,000 steps a day? What’s the magic number? UCHealth
- What happens when you walk 10,000 steps every day? The Indian Express
- Ask the Doc | Boost your health this fall by increasing your daily steps CIProud.com
- In the Know column: Walking yields health benefits Alexandria Echo Press
- Walk 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy WYTV
Category: 8. Health
-
Do you really need 10,000 steps a day? What’s the magic number? – UCHealth
-
Scrolling TikTok on the Toilet Is Giving You Hemorrhoids, Research Says
Filling the time you spend pooping by scanning your algo’s latest or flipping through emails might seem like an ideal form of multitasking. But it turns out, your butt might not love it. A new study found that using your phone on the toilet can significantly increase your risk of hemorrhoids, or swollen blood vessels in and around your rectal area that can cause uncomfortable symptoms, like itching, pain, and bloody poops.
Researchers surveyed 125 people undergoing a routine screening colonoscopy (which is recommended starting at age 45) about their smartphone toilet habits, as well as other lifestyle behaviors related to pooping. What they found: People who reported enlisting their phone as a bathroom companion were at 46% greater risk of having hemorrhoids show up on their colonoscopy. And that was true even after the researchers accounted for things like how much fiber people reported eating and whether they strained to poop (less fiber intake and more pushing have been linked in the past with developing the angry blood vessels).
Why using your phone on the toilet raises your hemorrhoid risk
It likely has to do with how long you wind up hanging out on the toilet when your phone is in the picture. The researchers found that the phone-using participants were five times more likely than no-phone poopers to spend more than five minutes perched on the porcelain throne. And sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods has long been known to raise your risk of hemorrhoids because of some basic physics.
“When you’re on the toilet and your butt’s not supported, everything’s kind of hanging out there,” David Westrich, MD, a gastroenterologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, previously told SELF. That position “increases pressure in the hemorrhoidal cushions,” the study authors write. Cue: puffy blood vessels in your nether regions.
You might be thinking, Okay, so what if I just use my phone on the toilet for a couple minutes? And theoretically, that would be fine. After all, people have been reading physical books or newspapers while on the toilet for as long as those things have existed.
But what the study also found is that most smartphone poopers were not aware that their phone use was extending their toilet time—as the study authors write, it was probably an “inadvertent and unintended consequence.” And that makes sense: Plenty of apps are literally designed to suck us in (against our will). So it’s very likely that if you tote your phone to the toilet, you’ll be there longer than the recommended five minutes, risking the development of hemorrhoids over time.
How to lower your risk of hemorrhoids
For starters, leave your phone out of the bathroom. Without the potential distraction, you’re less likely to sit on the toilet longer than you need to. (Not to mention the ick factor of keeping something you readily touch and hold to your face in such close proximity to poop and pee particles.)
Continue Reading
-
Drugs, diet and AI: the ‘gamechanger’ new findings on tackling heart conditions | Medical research
1. Medicine
Doctors in Madrid hailed a new pill for patients with high blood pressure resistant to existing medication as a “gamechanger” and a “triumph of science”.
Globally, 1.3 billion people have hypertension and in half of cases, their high blood pressure is uncontrolled or resistant to existing treatments. They face a much higher risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and early death.
A new drug – baxdrostat – can significantly lower blood pressure in these people whose levels remain dangerously high despite taking several medicines.
The results of the BaxHTN study showed that after 12 weeks, patients taking baxdrostat saw their blood pressure fall by about 9-10 mmHg (millimetres of mercury, the unit of measurement of blood pressure) more than the placebo – a reduction large enough to cut cardiovascular risk.
There were also exciting discoveries about existing drugs that could help heart patients, delegates were told.
In one trial, researchers found a drug that is better than aspirin at preventing heart attacks and strokes. A new analysis of seven clinical trials showed patients taking clopidogrel had a 14% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events compared with those taking aspirin.
A second study showed weight loss drugs may halve the risk of heart patients being hospitalised or dying early.
2. Diet and exercise
Eating foods rich in potassium, such as avocados, bananas and spinach, could reduce your risk of heart conditions, hospitalisation and death by 24%, Danish researchers told the conference.
Previous research had shown that cutting out salt from meals can slash your risk of heart problems. A new study showed just how much potassium, which increases the amount of salt your body removes from the bloodstream, could help to ward off cardiovascular problems.
Not a fan of spinach? Pulses, fish, nuts and seeds are also good sources of potassium, experts said.
Exercise is also key to a healthy heart. It can lower your resting blood pressure and heart rate, improve your cholesterol levels, and help you maintain a healthy weight, which in turn reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In Madrid, doctors heard about another potential benefit of getting active: mending a broken heart.
3. Artificial intelligence
Doctors have developed an artificial intelligence-led stethoscope that can detect three heart conditions in 15 seconds.
Two centuries after the invention of the humble stethoscope, a team at Imperial College London and Imperial College healthcare NHS trust have designed a hi-tech upgrade. It analyses tiny differences in heartbeat and blood flow undetectable to the human ear, and takes a rapid ECG at the same time.
The tool’s AI capabilities mean it can spot heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms almost instantly.
Early diagnosis of these three heart conditions is critical. The AI stethoscope enables patients who need life-saving treatment to be spotted sooner, before they become dangerously unwell.
Meanwhile, a revolutionary AI scanning system is increasing the number of stroke patients avoiding serious disability, tripling the rate of recovery, delegates were told.
And a new generative AI tool – ESC Chat – is transforming the work of cardiologists worldwide. The chatbot responds immediately to questions about clinical guidelines, saving time and providing doctors with access to recommendations, diagnostic criteria and treatment solutions.
4. Children
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), which is typically genetic, is responsible for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children.
Now a simple cheek-swab test can identify children with the condition, five years before they would normally be diagnosed, according to research presented in Madrid.
Experts at Great Ormond Street hospital and City St George’s, University of London are now developing the two-minute test into swab kits that can be used at home and sent away for analysis.
Elsewhere, doctors raised the alarm about high levels of vaping among children, saying they were convinced e-cigarettes were causing irreversible harm to their health.
Cardiologists, researchers and health experts said they were “extremely concerned” about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on millions of teenagers and young people, including exposure to toxins and carcinogens – some of which are still unknown.
5. Vaccines
Vaccination has increasingly been seen as an effective measure not only against specific infections, but also for the prevention of cardiovascular disease or events.
Delegates at the conference were briefed about the world’s first global systematic review and meta analysis of the shingles vaccine. The results showed the jab could lower risk of a heart attack or stroke by as much as 18%.
Continue Reading
-
Report describes N meningitidis conjunctivitis outbreak on US military base that sickened 41
Pawel Kacperek / iStock A study yesterday in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes an outbreak earlier this year of Neisseria meningitidisconjunctivitis of an unknown source among young military trainees living in dormitories on a Texas Air Force base.
Officials at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland led the investigation of 41 N meningitidis conjunctivitis cases, which are uncommon in adults with healthy immune systems, on the 11,800-trainee base from February to May. Eighty percent of patients reported a recent upper respiratory infection. The investigation also revealed 32 cases of Haemophilus conjunctivitis.
All trainees had received the quadrivalent (four-strain) meningococcal vaccine soon after arrival for basic training. N meningitidis is an unusual bacterial cause of conjunctivitis (pink eye), the authors noted.
“Bacterial conjunctivitis in adults involves direct inoculation into conjunctival membranes without entering the bloodstream or central nervous system,” they wrote. “The estimated N. meningitis nasopharyngeal carriage rate (including encapsulated and unencapsulated strains) is as high as 5%-10% in some U.S. populations, with a peak prevalence of 23.7% in adults aged 19 years.”
“Because the average age of a military trainee includes this age, colonization with N. meningitidis is expected to be high,” they added.
Topical antibiotics sufficient for all but 1 patient
Most patients’ infections (85%) were in one eye. One patient was hospitalized and treated for periorbital cellulitis with intravenous antibiotics, while all other patients recovered after they were given topical antibiotics. Whole-genome sequencing of isolates from the first two patients suggested that the bacterium was unencapsulated, and the cases were related.
Findings from this investigation suggest that nongroupable N. meningitidis conjunctivitis in otherwise healthy persons might be successfully treated with topical antimicrobials.
An investigation of trainee hygiene and cleaning practices determined that no protocols were broken, and no outbreak source was identified.
“When outbreaks of mucopurulent conjunctivitis occur in congregate living settings, culturing exudate can identify outbreak etiology, and whole genome sequencing can help guide treatment and response,” the researchers wrote.
“Previous studies indicated that systemic antimicrobial therapy might be needed to prevent invasive infections of N. meningitidis cases; findings from this investigation suggest that nongroupable N. meningitidis conjunctivitis in otherwise healthy persons might be successfully treated with topical antimicrobials,” they added.
Continue Reading
-
Bevacizumab plus erlotinib is highly active in HLRCC-associated papillary renal cell carcinoma
The combination of bevacizumab (Avastin) plus erlotinib (Tarceva) elicited encouraging anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC)-associated papillary renal-cell carcinoma, according to findings from a phase 2 trial (NCT01130519)published in the New England Journal of Medicine.1
A phase 2 trial is ongoing to assess the efficacy of bevacizumab and erlotinib in combination with atezolizumab.
The combination also yielded durable responses in a subset of patients with sporadic papillary renal cell carcinoma.
“Few effective options exist for other variants of renal-cell carcinoma, which is exemplified by HLRCC-associated papillary renal-cell carcinoma,” the authors explained. “This variant is typically associated with an aggressive clinical course; most patients die from progressive disease, with a median overall survival of 16 to 21 months in most retrospective series.”
To address this unmet need, the trial enrolled 43 patients (30 male, 13 female) with HLRCC-associated papillary renal cell carcinoma and 40 patients (26 male, 14 female) with sporadic papillary renal cell carcinoma. Patients in the study received bevacizumab 10 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks plus erlotinib 150 mg once daily.
The primary end point was overall survival (OS), with progression-free survival (PFS) as a key secondary end point. Median follow-up was 71.9 months in patients with HLRCC-associated papillary renal cell carcinoma and 63.6 months in patients with sporadic papillary renal cell carcinoma.
Among patients with HLRCC-associated papillary renal cell carcinoma, 72% (n = 31; 95% CI, 57 to 83) achieved a confirmed response, including 2 patients (5%) with a complete response. The median time to response was 1.8 months (range, 1.7 to 18.3). Responses were observed across all IMDC risk scores, with a rate of 64% in patients with favorable risk disease, 75% among patients with intermediate risk disease, and 75% among patients with poor risk disease.
Notably, the median OS was 44.6 months (95% CI, 32.7 to NE), and the median PFS was 21.1 months (95% CI, 15.6 to 26.6). On multivariable analysis, previous treatment was shown to be associated with worse OS (HR, 5.2; 95% CI, 2.1 to 13.1).
Among patients with sporadic papillary renal cell carcinoma, 35% (n = 14; 95% CI, 22 to 51) achieved a confirmed response to treatment. The median time to response was 1.8 months (range, 1.7 to 7.3). Responses were observed across all IMDC risk scores, with a rate of 67% in patients with favorable risk disease, 31% among patients with intermediate risk disease, and 38% among patients with poor risk disease.
In these patients, the median OS was 18.2 months (95% CI, 12.6 to 29.3), and the median PFS was 8.9 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 18.3). The authors noted, “In a post hoc subgroup analysis, previous radical nephrectomy, previous use of a VEGF TKI, and IMDC risk category were not correlated with overall survival.”
Safety data in the study were consistent with the known profile for this combination. The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were acneiform rash (93%), diarrhea (89%), and proteinuria (78%). The most common TRAEs of grade 3 or higher were hypertension (34%) and proteinuria (17%).
Based on these data, the authors reported, “This study showed that the combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib was highly active in advanced HLRCC-associated papillary renal-cell carcinoma and was approximately half as effective in sporadic papillary renal-cell carcinoma.”
They suggest that further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms fostering resistance to this regimen. Additionally, a phase 2 trial (NCT04981509) is ongoing to assess the efficacy of bevacizumab and erlotinib in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq).
Overall, the authors hope to build on the findings from the current analysis.
“The median survival now is almost 4 years with this combination treatment,” concluded W. Marston Linehan, MD, in a news release on the findings.2 “We’re thrilled about that. This has now become a standard treatment of this disorder worldwide.”
REFERENCES
1. Srinivasan R, Gurram S, Singer EA, et al. Bevacizumab and erlotinib in hereditary and sporadic papillary kidney cancer. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(23):2346-2356. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2200900
2. Combining bevacizumab with erlotinib shrinks tumors in patients with rare and aggressive kidney cancer. News release. National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research. July 11, 2025. Accessed September 5, 2025. https://ccr.cancer.gov/news/article/combining-bevacizumab-with-erlotinib-shrinks-tumors-in-patients-with-rare-and-aggressive-kidney-cancer
Continue Reading
-
Inherited Variants in 16 Genes May Double the Risk of Multiple Primary Cancers
Individuals carrying a rare pathogenic variant in one of 16 cancer-associated genes were 1.9 times more likely to develop a single cancer and 2.6 times more likely to develop multiple primary cancers, according to the results of a genetic association study published in JAMA Oncology.
These findings highlight a greater need for gene panel testing among patients with multiple primary cancer diagnoses.
“As more patients survive their first cancer, we’re learning that many carry inherited genetic mutations that put them at risk for developing additional cancers,” said senior study author Kathleen Cooney, MD, George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Chair in the Department of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. “Knowing this opens the door to earlier screening, more personalized treatment, and the chance to protect family members through genetic testing.”
Study Methods and Rationale
Previous explorations of rare pathogenic variants and cancer risk have been attained from family-based studies, which may have provided a degree of selection bias or limited sample sizes, explained the study authors. They wanted to look at these associations in a larger population-based study.
The researchers conducted a genetic association study in an unselected population of 183,627 participants from the United Kingdom. All participants were between the ages of 40 and 69 years at enrollment and had released whole-exome sequencing data of 200,000 genomes to the UK Biobank. The study only looked at White participants, as the proportions of patients belonging to other racial and ethnic groups were too small.
The team sequenced a set of 96 previously implicated cancer predisposition genes across 11 common solid tumors (bladder, breast, central nervous system, colorectal, lung, melanoma, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, renal, and thyroid) and compared the results across two methods.
Key Study Findings
Of the participants, 25,824 individuals received at least one cancer diagnosis by March 2024; 91.8% of these were single-cancer diagnoses and 8.2% were two or more cancer diagnoses.
The median age was 57 (interquartile range [IQR] = 50–63 years) in participants who did not develop cancer vs 62 years (IQR = 56–65 years) in those with at least one cancer diagnosis.
Genetic variants from 16 genes (including ATM, BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, CDKN2A, CHEK2, HOXB13, MITF, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, NF1, PALB2, RAD51C, and RAD51D) were considered significantly associated with at least one cancer of interest, which built upon established associations seen in prior research. The presence of a rare pathogenic variant among these genes was associated a greater risk for having at least one cancer diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.76–1.98) and for having multiple primary cancers (OR = 2.56; 95% CI = 2.18–2.99).
The study also confirmed that there are associations between BRCA2 and the development of bladder and lung cancers, which have not commonly been linked with this gene.
Carrier rates for rare pathogenic variants were 6.28% among individuals with at least one cancer diagnosis and 8.36% for individuals with multiple cancer diagnoses.
“We’ve now implicated some potential cancers that patients may be at risk for, which is different than what we’re seeing during family-based studies,” said first study author Jeffrey Shevach, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, clarifying that population-based studies can help refine risk estimates raised in family-based studies. “As we uncover new gene-cancer associations, it may lead to changes in screening guidelines to reflect this broader understanding of inherited risk.”
Disclosure: Research was funded by the National Institutes of Health. For full disclosures of the study authors, visit jamanetwork.com.
Continue Reading
-
Bad oral hygiene linked to cancer, heart attacks
IT’S NORMAL to have bacteria in your mouth. But harmful bacteria have been linked to a host of health problems. Medical scientist Glenda Davison and microbiologist Yvonne Prince, who have researched the oral cavity, explain why it’s so important to practise good oral hygiene.
Poor oral hygiene can lead to serious diseases.
In fact, bacteria in the mouth may lead to the development of liver disease, renal failure, cancers, heart disease and hypertension.
This is because the mouth is home to the second largest microbial community in humans, after the gut. The mouth is home to over 700 species of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. They thrive in and around the teeth, the gums, tongue, palate and saliva. Indeed, there are over 39 trillion microbes in the human body in the stomach, skin, lung, seminal and vaginal fluid, eyes, scalp and mouth and so on. They outnumber more than the 30 trillion human cells.
They may cause other diseases when the acidity or alkalinity (pH) in the mouth changes. Or when the temperature and oxygen level encourage the abnormal growth of bacteria. An overabundance of these bacteria may lead to the development of diseases.
The journey may start in a simple oral health issue: gum disease. When it develops into something more serious – like periodontitis, bleeding gums and tooth decay – the gum gets eroded to the bone. This is the time when inflammatory molecules called cytokines play a more dangerous role – when they enter the blood stream.
The type II diabetes develops. Atherosclerosis or thickening of the arteries may follow.
Over 1,000 species of bacteria may reside in the large intestine. No problem: these bacteria are important in digestion, absorption, immunity and protection against other harmful bacteria.
However, an abnormal gut biome may cause autoimmunity, obesity, cardiovascular disease and even Alzheimer’s.
These oral health issues may be avoided by simple measures such as going to the dentist regularly for check-ups, at least twice or once a year. Brushing the teeth religiously prevent plaque from developing. Carbohydrates and sugar should be avoided as much as possible as they encourage the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is a big help. So is regular physical activity. In other words – healthy habits should be encouraged at all times.
Here’s good advice from the Mayo Clinic:
* Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Use a brush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste. Brush your tongue too.
* Clean between your teeth daily with floss, a water flosser or other products made for that purpose.
* Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary food and drinks.
* Replace your toothbrush every three to four months. Do it sooner if bristles are worn or flare out.
* See a dentist at least once a year for checkups and cleanings. Your dentist may suggest visits or cleanings more often, depending on your situation. You might be sent to a gum specialist, called a periodontist, if your gums need more care.
* Don’t use tobacco.
***
Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
***
Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
Continue Reading
-
Could a Nasal Spray Help Protect Patients With Cancer Against COVID-19 Infection
Use of a daily interferon-α nasal spray could significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection among adult patients with cancer, according to the results of a multicenter, randomized trial published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
The results suggest that the nasal spray could be a potential new tool for protecting vulnerable populations from the virus.
“This is the first randomized, controlled trial to show that an intranasal interferon-α spray can safely and effectively prevent COVID-19 in this group,” stated lead study author Michelle K. Yong, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, MPH, Associate Professor and Infectious Disease Researcher at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia. “Even with vaccination, cancer patients remain more vulnerable to COVID-19 and its complications. It’s an additional layer of defense, especially for those who can’t mount strong responses to vaccines.”
Study Methods and Key Findings
A total of 433 participants were enrolled in the multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial and randomized 1:1 to receive either daily 40,000 IU of an interferon-α nasal spray or a saline placebo. All patients with influenza-like symptoms took self-collected nasal swabs for polymerase chain reaction testing.
Rates of COVID-19 infection were lower in the interferon-α spray arm, at 8.3%, compared with 14.4% in the placebo arm (relative risk [RR] = 0.60; 95% credible interval [CrI] = 0.33‒0.97). Other respiratory viral infections were reported at a rate of 5.1% in both groups (RR = 1.12; 95% CrI = 0.43‒2.34).
In the per-protocol cohort of 389 patients, the incidence rates for COVID-19 infection were 7.7% in the interferon-α nasal spray arm and 16.0% in the placebo arm (RR = 0.50; 95% CrI = 0.26‒0.84). Other respiratory viruses were reported at a rate of 4.6% in the interferon-α arm and 5.7% in the placebo arm.
Subgroup analyses showed that COVID-19 infection rates were lower in the interferon-α group for patients younger than age 65 years (RR = 0.48; 95% CrI = 0.20‒0.92); women (RR = 0.44; 95% CrI = 0.19‒0.85), and those that were vaccinated against COVID-19 (RR = 0.50; 95% CrI = 0.26‒0.82). No differences were observed according to underlying malignancy.
No differences were noted between the arms in regard to severity of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, or mortality.
The nasal spray was considered safe and well tolerated.
“A safe, easy-to-use nasal spray with broad antiviral activity could benefit not just cancer patients, but other high-risk groups such as transplant recipients, people with chronic illnesses, and the elderly,” said senior author Monica Slavin, MBBS, FRACP, MD, FAAHMS, FECMM, Professor, Head of Infectious Diseases Department and National Centre for Infections in Cancer and Transplantation, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. “While it’s not a replacement for vaccination, it adds to our prevention toolkit and could help reduce illness, treatment delays, and hospitalizations.”
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit academic.oup.com.
Continue Reading
-
AIC ‘aware’ of suspected botulism cases which reports claim have left ‘hundreds of cows’ dead | Farm News
All material is copyright Farmers Guardian Limited. Farmers Guardian and Farmersguardian.com are registered trademarks of Farmers Guardian Limited, Unit 4 Fulwood Park, Caxton Road, Fulwood, Preston, England, PR2 9NZ. Farmers Guardian Limited is registered in England and Wales with company registration number 07931451. Part of Arc network, www.arc-network.com.
Continue Reading
