Category: Health

• NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died on May 21, 2026, from a severe case of pneumonia that progressed to sepsis.
• Sepsis is the body’s extreme and potentially life threatening response to an infection.
• Sepsis is both common and unpredictable, meaning it can be easily missed.
• Knowing the “silent signs” of sepsis can lead to earlier intervention that may be lifesaving.

NASCAR fans were shocked to learn that famed driver Kyle Busch died suddenly and tragically on May 21. He was 41.

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died of severe pneumonia that progressed to sepsis, the Busch family announced on May 23.

NASCAR described Busch as “a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans,” NASCAR said in a statement.

Sepsis is a severe and potentially life threatening illness that can develop when an existing infection triggers an extreme immune system response.

“Reports indicate that Kyle Busch appeared to be struggling with what seemed like a sinus infection or a cold just two weeks before his death, and had even won a race the weekend prior,” Robert Glatter, MD, attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, and assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell, told Healthline.

“That rapid reversal — from competing to a fatal crisis — is exactly what makes this progression so dangerous,” he said.

Sepsis accounts for over one-third of all hospital deaths. Sepsis can be treated if caught early. Knowing the signs of sepsis can help you advocate for yourself or loved ones. Healthline spoke with Glatter to learn more.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Glatter: Pneumonia begins as a localized infection. Bacteria, a virus, or fungi take hold in the lung tissue, and the immune system responds with targeted inflammation — swelling, fluid accumulation in tiny air sacs, along with the onset of fever. In most cases, such a response is sufficient, and patients can recover with appropriate therapy.

In severe pneumonia, however — particularly when the pathogen is aggressive, or the infectious burden is high — the immune response can escape its local boundaries and spill into the bloodstream.

At that moment, the body stops fighting an infection in the lungs and begins mounting a systemic war against itself — inflammatory chemicals flood every organ system, blood vessels leak, microscopic clots form throughout the circulation, and blood pressure collapses.

The kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart also begin to fail — not because the infection has physically spread to each organ, but because the immune system’s runaway cascade is damaging them all simultaneously.

Glatter: Sepsis can mimic many other conditions, which contribute to its lethality. The following signs — especially in combination, and in the context of a known or suspected infection — should prompt immediate emergency evaluation:

• fever above 38.3°C (101°F) or an abnormally low temperature below 36°C (96.8°F)
• rapid heart rate (above 90 bpm) or rapid breathing (above 20 breaths per minute)
• sudden confusion, disorientation, or unusual behavior in someone previously alert
• skin that is mottled, pale, or ashen — or conversely, flushed and hot to the touch
• extreme fatigue or weakness disproportionate to the known illness
• decreased urine output, signaling the kidneys are under stress
• powerful, difficult-to-articulate sense that something is seriously wrong — sometimes described as a “feeling of impending doom”.

Clinical literature and personal experience consistently show that when patients or family members insist the person looks dramatically worse than expected, they are often right — and that instinct warrants immediate action.

Glatter: Sepsis is fundamentally a disease of the immune response rather than the infection itself. Two patients can have identical pneumonias — same pathogen, same lobe of lung — and one recovers uneventfully while the other deteriorates into multi-organ failure.

The difference lies in the host: genetic predisposition, underlying health conditions, age, and the specific organism involved all influence whether the immune system mounts a proportionate defense or an uncontrolled, self-destructive cascade.

There is also no reliable early-warning test. Standard blood markers can lag behind the clinical reality by hours.

A patient can appear stable, even functional, while a biochemical storm is already underway internally. By the time blood pressure drops or organ failure becomes evident, the process is often well advanced.

The fact that Busch was competing in races days before his death is a stark illustration of how little warning the body sometimes provides.

• The American Cancer Society (ACS) has updated its colorectal cancer screening recommendations to include new blood and stool-based tests.
• The new guidelines reflect the availability of new disease detection technology and the need to expand access to screenings.
• The ACS states that screenings are vital as colorectal cancer rates continue to rise in adults under 50.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening to include new blood-based and at-home stool tests.

The new blood test screens for tumor DNA, while the at-home tests look for DNA, RNA, and blood markers in stool samples.

The updated guidelines still retain ACS recommendations for starting colorectal cancer screening at age 45 and having colonoscopies done every 10 years for people who are at average risk of colorectal cancer.

ACS officials said the new guidelines reflect advances in disease detection and a shift in public health strategy to expand screening options and lower barriers to access.

“We need to increase our emphasis on colorectal cancer as a highly preventable disease as much as a treatable one,” said Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president for early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the report, in a news release.

“By offering more screening tools in our guideline update, more eligible adults will be able to participate in lifesaving colorectal cancer testing, helping to close the screening gap and catch more cancers at an earlier, treatable stage,” Smith continued.

Experts not involved in the report told Healthline that providing more alternatives to colonoscopy is a good course of action.

“I definitely think that presenting more options is better,” said Babak Firoozi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California. “It helps to have these available. It’s important to increase the number of people who are being screened anyway we can,” he said.

Anton Bilchik, MD, a surgical oncologist, chief of medicine, and the director of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Program at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in California, agreed. “There are so many people who don’t have access or don’t want to do a colonoscopy screening,” he said. “This really will increase the number of people willing to get screened.”

Two at-home stool sample tests are mentioned in the ACS report.

The first is an updated version of the DNA test sold under the brand name Cologuard. This screening analyzes stool samples for specific DNA markers and hemoglobin.

The second is a new multi-target test sold under the brand name ColoSense. This test analyzes stool samples for specific RNA markers and hemoglobin.

According to a news release, both tests “demonstrate high sensitivity for colorectal cancer and moderate sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions.

They recommend these tests be conducted on people over the age of 45 with average risk every 3 years.

The report also lists one blood-based test. It’s sold under the brand name Shield. It was approved by federal regulators in 2024. This test is designed to detect tumor DNA in the blood.

The report authors stated that blood tests are not as effective as other colorectal cancer screenings and are recommended only for people who decline or can’t take other tests.

They noted that any positive result from a stool-based or blood-based screening should be followed up with a colonoscopy within 6 months.

The authors added that any screening is preferable to a patient not getting tested at all. “The most effective screening test is the one that the patient completes,” they wrote.

Other ACS guidelines for colorectal cancer screening remain unchanged.

Colonoscopies are still recommended for adults ages 45 and older with average colorectal cancer risk until age 75.

The guidelines recommend that people at higher risk be screened more often. Those at higher risk include people with:

• a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps
• a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease
• a confirmed or suspected hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome
• prior radiation treatment to the abdomen or pelvic area to treat a prior cancer

Firoozi said colonoscopies are the “gold standard” and the best way to detect colorectal cancer in its early stages when it is more easily treated.

However, he agreed that people should get screened in any way they can. “The screenings reduce the risk of getting cancer and dying of cancer,” Firozzi said. “Screening is very important.”

Bilchik said that blood and stool-based tests are easier to administer, less expensive, and don’t require the unpleasant bowel preparation required for colonoscopies. “These are viable alternatives,” he said.

According to the ACS, colorectal cancer is the third most common and second deadliest cancer in the United States.

It’s estimated that nearly 160,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 2026. An estimated 55,000 will die from the disease this year.

Colorectal cancer is now listed as the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women under the age of 50 in the United States.

Concerns have been raised in recent years over the increasing rate of colorectal cancer in adults ages 20 to 49 in the United States.

Factors that may be influencing colorectal cancer risk in younger adults include:

• unhealthy diets
• sedentary lifestyles
• microplastics in the human body

According to SEER data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), early detection of localized colorectal cancer can lead to survival rates of over 90%.

However, they added that about 1 in 3 U.S. adults eligible for colorectal cancer screenings have not been tested as recommended. That adds up to about 20 million people.

“No matter which test you choose, what’s most important is to get screened and that includes underserved, rural, and minority populations,” said William Dahut, MD, the chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society, in a statement.

“These changes were developed to add to the colorectal cancer screening arsenal and help ensure preventive cancer care is available to all,” Dahut said.

There are various symptoms associated with colorectal cancer, such as:

• constipation
• diarrhea
• narrow stools
• blood in the stools
• black stools
• abdominal pain or bloating
• anemia
• fatigue

Firoozi noted that many of these symptoms occur when the cancer is no longer in its early stages. “Don’t wait for the symptoms,” he advised. “Get screened before you have them.”

Firoozi said he advises patients to adopt a diet low in red and processed meats, eating “fish and fowl” instead. He recommended filling your plate with high fiber and low fat foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Bilchik said that exercise is also important. He said a healthy routine of diet and fitness should start well before people reach 45. “The clock starts ticking at a younger age,” he said.

• Eli Lilly recently announced phase 3 trial results for a promising new weight loss drug retatrutide.
• The dramatic results from the TRIUMPH-1 trial represent the greatest weight loss observed in a medication trial, rivaling current GLP-1 drugs and bariatric surgery.
• Retatrutide is a triple hormone receptor agonist that activates receptors for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucagon.
• Retatrutide led to significant improvements across various cardiovascular risk factors, including waist circumference, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

Eli Lilly’s new experimental weight loss drug retatrutide showed the greatest weight loss in a medication trial to date.

The phase 3 results of the TRIUMPH-1 trial showed the drug yielded up to 28% weight loss, with some participants losing up to 85 pounds.

Retatrutide is a triple hormone agonist administered by once-weekly injection.

The drug activates glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucagon, whereas weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy activate only the GLP-1 receptor.

Lilly noted in a press release that at 80 weeks, all the doses of retatrutide “met the primary and key secondary endpoints for obesity, delivering clinically meaningful weight loss.”

“TRIUMPH-1 highlights the importance of options and the potential for retatrutide to help people across various stages of their obesity journey,” Kenneth Custer, PhD, executive vice president and president, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, said in a press release.

“Together with Zepbound and Foundayo, retatrutide could build on Lilly’s commitment to match treatments to the needs and preferences of patients.”

Experts agreed that retatrutide shows promise as a highly effective first-in-class treatment for obesity.

“These results indicate that retatrutide is a promising new drug that appears more effective than currently available medications,” said Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. Ali wasn’t involved in the trial.

In the TRIUMPH-1 trial, participants were given either 4 mg, 9 mg, or 12 mg of retatrutide.

At the end of 80 weeks, participants on each dose lost the following amount of weight on average:

• 4 mg: 19% or around 47 lbs
• 9 mg: 25.9% or about 64 lbs
• 12 mg: 28.3% or around 70 lbs

These numbers compare to participants who received a placebo and lost an average of 2.2%, or about 5.5 lbs.

At 104 weeks, participants with a baseline body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 achieved an average weight loss of 30.3% (85 lbs).

“It was impressive to see that every dose of retatrutide resulted in clinically meaningful weight reduction for nearly all participants, and people with severe obesity on the highest dose lost on average 30% of their body weight over two years,” lead investigator Ania Jastreboff, MD, professor of medicine and pediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale Obesity Research Center, said in a press release.

“Importantly, treatment with retatrutide not only resulted in robust weight reduction, but also in clear improvements in assessed cardiometabolic health measures. For patients I see in [the] clinic, retatrutide may potentially be a highly impactful future tool to treat their obesity and transform their health trajectory.”

Participants also saw significant improvements to certain cardiovascular risk factors, including:

“While this medication has the potential to be the most effective option, long-term studies are not yet available,” Ali told Healthline.

“Side-by-side comparisons with currently available medications have yet to be determined. Like all weight loss medications, this drug will require long-term use as obesity is a chronic medical condition. At this point, the biggest hurdles for widespread implementation will be availability and insurance coverage,” he said.

• Research shows that watermelon may help improve heart health and lower your risk of heart disease.
• It also shows that this fruit may aid in overall nutrient intake for both adults and children.
• Individuals who consume more watermelon may have a greater intake of essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.
• Watermelon may also help improve hydration.

Nothing says summertime like biting into a cold, juicy slice of watermelon — and turns out it’s actually really good for you.

Earlier research found the summer staple may help increase your overall nutrient intake and diet quality.

This suggests that watermelon can increase nutrient intake and diet quality in both children and adults, the study authors say.

Research from 2025 also found that watermelon may have cardioprotective health effects. This aligns with 2022 research showing that watermelon may help lower blood pressure and improve overall heart health.

“Watermelon is a great addition to an overall healthy dietary eating pattern because it provides potassium, lycopene, and citrulline, which synergistically can help support blood pressure and blood flow,” said Michelle Routhenstein, preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished. Routhenstein wasn’t involved in any of the studies.

While the review notes that the exact cardiovascular benefits of L-citrulline are not fully clear, the authors state that it appears consuming watermelon may aid in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease.

“Watermelon’s impact on blood vessel health appears to be beneficial to overall cardiovascular health. This may be based on compounds that impact nitric oxide production, impacting overall blood vessel health,” said Kristin Kirkpatrick, president of KAK, Consulting, LLC, and a dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Wellness & Preventive Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. Kirkpatrick wasn’t involved in the studies.

The 2022 research also showed that L-citrulline can help lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness, especially in those with cardiometabolic risk factors. These include traits and lifestyle behaviors that combine to increase your likelihood of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“While watermelon is a heart-healthy addition, in order to truly reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes, it needs to be included within a complete heart-healthy diet,” said Routhenstein.

For watermelon lovers, a simple slice will do the trick. However, there are other nutritious ways to enjoy this tasty summer treat.

Routhenstein shared the following suggestions for maximizing the health benefits of watermelon:

• blend into smoothies
• add to a salad (a feta-and-mint classic)
• make a watermelon gazpacho
• pair with nuts or Greek yogurt

Kirkpatrick added, “Juice it, add it to cottage cheese, make skewers, grill and serve as a side, or even freeze and make watermelon pops.”

As a child, Brie Hyde dreamed of being a veterinarian.

“I’ve always been an outdoorsy person, very animal fascinated,” she told Healthline.

While attending the University of Vermont, she fell in love with dairy farming and started her own farm in Connecticut in 2004.

“I was a first-generation female farmer,” she said. “Farming is crazy active and very strenuous on your body and time, and that’s what completed me. That’s what makes me whole.”

However, early on during her farming days, she began experiencing intense hand pain that she initially attributed to the physical demands of her job.

“There’s pictures and videos and things that I look back at now, and I was constantly rubbing my hands,” said Hyde.

The pain eventually spread to her feet, ankles, knees, and hips, and during the summertime, she developed fevers.

At first, doctors attributed her symptoms to Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted from ticks.

“So they’d put me on prednisone and antibiotics, and 10 days on prednisone, you’re feeling better. So then it would go away, and I would push through,” she said.

Hyde’s symptoms persisted and progressed.

“I’d be in the shower, and my feet would be purple,” she said.

She also noticed a lacy pattern appearing under her skin and a strange reaction to sunlight.

“I would go out in the sun, and it would feel like I was burning from the outside in,” said Hyde.

She also experienced extreme fatigue.

“The crazy fatigue that I was getting and the pain in my hands had gotten to the point where I was like, ‘This is not right. There’s something not right,’” she said.

She went back to her primary care physician, who ordered blood tests. Her doctor noticed Hyde had a high Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test result and suggested she see a rheumatologist to screen for lupus.

“I honestly remember, I said, ‘What the hell is lupus?’” she said. “I had no clue. Not on my radar. No idea what it was.”

Hyde’s challenging journey to diagnosis isn’t unique. In fact, research indicates that it takes an average of nearly 6 years for a person to receive an accurate lupus diagnosis.

“Symptoms can overlap with those of other conditions and are often present at onset. Combined with test results that vary from person to person, this can make the path to diagnosis complex and far from straightforward,” Susan Manzi, MD, Chair of the Allegheny Health Network Medicine Institute, told Healthline.

Hyde’s treatment journey involved a long process of trial and error.

Doctors first prescribed prednisone and hydroxychloroquine, a common medication used to treat lupus, but she developed a severe allergic reaction.

The next medication made her “violently ill,” while another biologic treatment did nothing to improve her symptoms.

As she tried different treatments, lupus slowly altered her daily life and that of her husband and children.

“My husband was taking on more, and the kids were taking on more,” Hyde said. “There were definitely changes. I couldn’t be outside in the sun as much as I used to.”

At one point, the emotional and physical exhaustion became overwhelming and she hesitated to try more treatment.

“I was like, ‘I don’t want to take anything anymore,’” she said. “Either I’m taking too many medications to take the side effects away, or these medications are making me sick and I’m not getting any better.”

But her doctor urged her not to stop treatment.

“One of the things that’s crazy about lupus is as bad as you feel on the outside, my doctor said, ‘You have to realize what it’s doing inside. You’re trying to save your organs for the long haul,’” said Hyde.

That perspective changed how Hyde viewed the disease.

In March 2023, her rheumatologist suggested she try Saphnelo infusion.

“That was a monumental moment in our lives,” said Hyde. “I remember I called my husband and I was like, ‘I didn’t realize how sick I was until now because I feel better.’”

Today, she has regained parts of her old life. She works on the farm, vacations with her children, and participates in the life she once feared she might lose.

“I’m able to be a normal person,” Hyde said.

Manzi said newer options like the recently FDA-approved Saphnelo Pen, a self-administered, once-weekly treatment for SLE, bring hope to patients like Hyde. Although she is not currently taking this.

On top of standard therapy, Manzi said self-administered biologics will help improve access and convenience of treatment while offering better disease control and reduced complications.

“Treatment is increasingly moving in this direction,” she said. “While approximately half of patients already receive biologics at-home treatment, access can still be challenging, with some needing to travel long distances for care. Self-administered options are helping to change that.”

Giving patients more choice, in collaboration with healthcare professionals, is essential to achieving better outcomes in SLE, she added.

“[It] empowers patients to manage their lupus in a way that best suits their individual needs and lifestyles,” Manzi said.

Hyde still experiences flares, but she said her condition is under control.

“You have to know your limits so that you don’t push yourself too much,” she said.

She carefully plans social events, workdays, and travel to avoid triggering flares. Sun exposure remains a major concern.

“Too much sun, no matter what, will put me into a bad flare,” she said.

“You’ve got to second-guess [whether] this large event is really going to be something that’s worth putting myself at risk of getting sick,” she said.

She also deals with the emotional and mental strains of lupus.

“I always identified myself as a very strong, very active, independent woman,” said Hyde. “And all of a sudden, lupus took that all away from me.”

For a time, she even wondered whether she would have to give up farming altogether.

“There was definitely a time where I thought, ‘This is it,’” she said. “The pain and the fatigue [made me think] I have to find something else in my daily life.”

Questioning her identity is also something she faced.

“You definitely go through the question of, ‘Who am I? What can I do? What do I need to take away from my life right now?’”

However, surviving lupus has reshaped her understanding of resilience.

“I feel like I’m even stronger because I’ve gone through this,” she said. “I’m even more independent. I’m even more resilient.”

She hopes sharing her experience helps others feel less alone when they’re experiencing symptoms, medication failures, and uncertainty.

“There were days when I was so sick, I physically could not get out of bed,” she said. “So, to actually be able to enjoy life and enjoy what makes me happy and makes me feel fulfilled, if I can help somebody else find that, I think it makes it worth it.”

• A recent study suggests that perimenopause offers a “window of opportunity” for females to reassess cardiovascular risk and prompt lifestyle changes.
• The findings show that perimenopausal females may be two times more likely to have lower cardiovascular health scores.
• According to the study authors, lower cardiovascular health scores may be largely due to high cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Perimenopause is considered the transitional period leading up to menopause. During this time, the ovaries begin to gradually produce fewer hormones, particularly estrogen.

According to a nationwide analysis, U.S. females experiencing perimenopause are twice as likely to have a low cardiovascular health score than those who are still regularly menstruating.

“From a cardiovascular standpoint, perimenopause is a very important time in which there are changing hormone levels, specifically with a declining estrogen level, which can have not only an impact on how one may feel but also on how one’s cardiovascular system is impacted and responds,” said Jossef Amirian, MD, a board certified cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology in New York. Amirian wasn’t involved in the study.

“The end result is potentially a change in body fat distribution, cholesterol and blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and this can all have an impact on blood flow and circulation as well,” he told Healthline.

The researchers used the AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) metrics to measure participants’ cardiovascular health scores, along with other factors.

The LE8 scores are scientifically based measures of cardiovascular health as defined by the AHA. The recommendations comprise health behaviors and health factors, including:

Using the LE8 scores, an average of all eight factors on a 100-point scale, the researchers assessed participants’ heart health.

The average LE8 score among the participants declined with menopausal status:

• Premenopausal females (average age of 34): average score of 73.3
• Perimenopausal females (average age of 50.5): average score of 69.1
• Postmenopausal females (average age of 60): average score of 63.9.

After taking into account the effects of aging, the results showed that perimenopausal females were 76% more likely to have a low cholesterol score, meaning they had higher cholesterol levels.

Perimenopausal females were also 83% more likely to have a low score for blood sugar, meaning they had higher glucose levels, when compared to premenopausal females.

“During perimenopause, women commonly experience adverse metabolic changes, including worsening lipid profiles, increased insulin resistance, and greater accumulation of visceral adiposity,” said Jennifer Wong, MD, a board certified cardiologist and medical director of noninvasive cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. Wong wasn’t involved in the study.

“These physiologic shifts contribute to an elevated cardiovascular risk profile and may partially explain the higher prevalence of low cardiovascular health scores in this population,” she told Healthline.

The transitional period of perimenopause marks the beginning of many changes in the female body.

It’s also an opportunity to focus on assessment, intervention, and prevention of cardiovascular risk factors.

“Perimenopause is considered a ‘window of opportunity’ because during this time of changing hormones and a changing body, we have an opportunity such that if we reverse modifiable risk factors and improve our blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol panels, we have an opportunity to lower our risk of cardiovascular disease and as such, mitigate our risk of heart attack and stroke,” said Amirian.

Adapting heart-healthy behaviors during perimenopause can significantly improve long-term cardiovascular outcomes and overall health.

• Researchers say adults may need to quadruple the current weekly exercise recommendations to achieve substantial heart health benefits.
• Those with lower levels of fitness may need as much as 600 minutes of weekly aerobic activity to lower the risks of heart attack and stroke.
• Experts say the current recommendation of 150 minutes of exercise per week is a solid baseline, but higher levels of activity may yield greater benefits.

A new study suggests that adults should aim for up to 4 times the current recommended amount of aerobic exercise per week for optimal heart health.

The researchers say that adults should engage in aerobic exercise for 560–610 minutes per week to achieve a significant reduction in the risk of heart attack and stroke.

They note that less fit adults may need to exercise more to achieve the same cardiovascular benefits. The results of the study were published on May 19 in published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The American Heart Association (AHA) currently recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity — exercise that gets you breathing harder and raises your heart rate but still allows you to carry on a conversation — such as walking, cycling, and running.

The study authors say the standard exercise advice may need to shift and be replaced with personalized targets geared toward an individual’s fitness level.

“Current [moderate exercise] guidelines provide a universal but modest safety margin, whereas optimal cardiovascular protection may require substantially higher activity volumes,” the researchers wrote.

Experts said the research reaffirms the importance of regular exercise for heart health, but were skeptical about the high weekly targets.

“This study reinforces what a large body of prior research has already shown: higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease,” said Keith Diaz, PhD, a professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, a certified exercise physiologist, and a volunteer member of the AHA’s Physical Activity Science Committee. Diaz wasn’t involved in the study.

“However, I would urge caution in interpreting the specific recommendation that people may need three to four times the current physical activity guidelines to substantially reduce heart disease risk,” Diaz told Healthline.

To reach their findings, researchers at Macao Polytechnic University in China analyzed data from slightly more than 17,000 participants in the UK Biobank study from 2013 to 2015.

The average age of the participants was 57 years. About 96% were white, and 56% were female.

The subjects wore a device on their wrist for 7 consecutive days to record their typical exercise levels. They also completed a cycle test to measure their estimated maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max).

The researchers reported that over a follow-up period of almost 8 years, 1,233 cardiovascular events were reported among participants. These included 874 atrial fibrillation, 156 myocardial infarction, 111 heart failure, and 92 stroke events.

The researchers stated that adults who met the 150 minutes per week exercise guideline experienced a 8% to 9% reduction in cardiovascular risk.

They added that 370 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week was needed for those at the lowest fitness level to achieve a 20% reduction in cardiovascular event risk.

Those at the highest fitness level needed 340 minutes per week to achieve the same results.

To reduce cardiovascular risk by more than 30%, participants needed to engage in 560 to 610 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week.

The researchers suggest that the current 150 minutes of exercise per week recommendation provides some protection for heart health, but a higher volume of aerobic activity yields greater benefits.

“Collectively, these findings confirm that current guidelines provide a robust universal minimum threshold for cardiovascular protection while offering a quantifiable fitness-stratified prescription matrix as a complementary clinical tool to guide motivated patients from baseline adherence toward greater cardiovascular resilience,” the study authors wrote.

Kevin Shah, MD, a cardiologist and program director of Heart Failure Outreach at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in California, wasn’t involved in the study but agreed with the researchers’ conclusions.

“The standard recommendation — 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week — is a solid baseline. But it’s just that: a baseline,” Shah told Healthline.

“More movement can help improve blood pressure, support healthy weight, boost insulin sensitivity, and lower overall cardiometabolic risk. In simple terms, 150 minutes gets you in the door — but doing more may help you feel and function even better,” he said.

Michael Fredericson, MD, a professor of orthopedic surgery at Stanford University, said that while he agreed with the study’s results, he would like to see a different focus. Fredericson wasn’t involved in the study.

“I would change the emphasis of the study results, which suggest that optimal cardiovascular protection may require substantially higher activity volumes than 150 minutes of exercise per week,” he told Healthline.

“This message can be discouraging for those who struggle to exercise. I would rather emphasize that small increases in physical activity and cardiovascular fitness, especially among the least active individuals, produce the largest cardiovascular benefits.”

A sedentary lifestyle can be a major contributor to health issues involving the heart’s muscle, valves, blood vessels, and overall function.

Exercise can also help widen blood vessels, allowing more oxygen to circulate throughout the body.

Regular exercise can also produce other health benefits, including:

• regulation of blood sugar
• improving blood flow
• lowering blood pressure
• balancing cholesterol levels
• maintaining weight
• reducing inflammation

• brisk walking
• hiking
• bicycling
• water aerobics
• jogging

Bert Mandelbaum, MD, a sports medicine specialist, orthopedic surgeon, and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles, wasn’t involved in the new study, but said the findings reveal the effects of exercise on longevity.

“Evolution is the machine,” Mandelbaum told Healthline. “The survivors are the fittest.”

Increasing your weekly exercise goals is great in theory, but it isn’t always achievable in practice.

The 150 minutes per week equate to about 2.5 hours of exercise over 7 days. The 600 minutes per week goal is 10 hours over 7 days. That’s about 1 hour and 25 minutes per day.

The researchers reported that only about 12% of participants reached that higher level.

Experts said 600 minutes of exercise per week is probably unrealistic for many people.

“I do not think 600 minutes per week is a particularly practical or realistic target for most adults,” said Diaz. “Currently, less than half of U.S. adults meet the existing recommendation of at least 150 minutes of exercise per week.”

“From a public health perspective, I worry that setting extremely high targets could discourage people who are currently inactive,” he added. “The important message remains that meaningful health benefits occur well below 600 minutes per week, and even modest increases in activity can improve heart health.”

Fredericson shared a similar opinion. “To exercise 600 minutes per week, you need to average 85 minutes per day, which is far beyond what is necessary for substantial health benefits and not feasible for most of the population,” he said. “The key principle is that any increase from baseline provides benefit.”

Fredericson shared some practical tips for getting more exercise:

• Substitute vigorous activity for moderate activity to save time.
• Accumulate activity in shorter bouts throughout the day.
• Use wearable devices and smartphone apps for motivation.
• Integrate activity into daily routines.

Shah said that you don’t have to make the leap to a higher level of exercise all at once. “You don’t have to carve out a full hour at the gym to make exercise count,” he said.

“Small bursts of activity throughout the day can add up. A quick morning bike ride, a walk after dinner, taking the stairs, or even short movement breaks between meetings all contribute. The goal is to build movement into your routine in a way that feels doable. Consistency matters more than doing everything perfectly,” Shah continued.

Shah noted there’s no need to let the number of minutes overwhelm you.

“If you’re not even getting 150 minutes a week, don’t let that number discourage you,” Shah said. “The biggest health gains often come from going from no activity to some activity. Even a few minutes of movement a day can start to improve heart health. Focus on taking that first step — then build from there. Over time, those small efforts can lead to meaningful, lasting change,” he continued.

Mandelbaum encouraged people to “stay away from pills and peptides” and focus on exercise. He noted that aerobic activity is free, accessible to most people, and easy to do.

“The most powerful drug is to step your fitness,” he said. “Everybody is the master of their fate. They’re the captain of their destiny.”

• A new study found that diets rich in plant foods and low in processed meats and salt may help with menopause weight gain.
• Plant foods have nutrients linked with better metabolic health and a healthy gut microbiome.
• Experts recommend starting a plant-forward diet with foods you already enjoy.

Weight gain is common during menopause, a life stage accompanied by significant changes in the body.

The study, conducted by researchers from Harvard and the National University of Singapore, tracked eating habits and weight changes during the time surrounding menopause.

The findings suggest that adopting certain healthy dietary patterns, especially those rich in plant foods and low in processed meats and salty snacks, may help females better manage their weight during this transition. The study was published on May 20 in JAMA Network Open.

The research offers important insights for women and healthcare providers seeking effective strategies to support metabolic health during midlife and beyond.

The study was based on the Nurses’ Health Study II, a large ongoing research project that began in 1989 and includes female nurses from across the United States.

For this particular investigation, the researchers focused on females going through menopause and followed them for about 12 years: six years before and six years after their reported menopause. Over 38,000 females took part.

Menopause was defined as the point at which females stopped menstruating for at least one year.

Every four years, participants completed detailed food questionnaires that captured their usual intake of various foods.

The research team then analyzed these responses to calculate scores for 11 different dietary patterns.

These patterns included well-known diets like the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet (designed to lower blood pressure), and plant-based diets, as well as newer approaches like the Planetary Health Diet, which emphasizes sustainability and heart health.

They also looked at diets categorized by their effects on insulin and inflammation, as well as the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Participants self-reported their weight every 2 years, and the team calculated the annual weight gain or loss for each woman during the study. They also tracked which females developed obesity during the follow-up period.

To ensure accurate results, the researchers accounted for factors like age, race, income, physical activity, smoking, hormone therapy use, and baseline body weight.

The study found that participants’ diets were strongly associated with differences in weight gain and obesity risk during menopause.

Those who followed healthier eating patterns — such as plant-based diets, the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and especially the Planetary Health Diet — tended to gain less weight over time compared to those with less healthy diets.

Overall, these healthy diets were generally rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, and lower in red and processed meats, salty foods, potatoes, and fried snacks like french fries, according to the authors.

One particularly important finding was the role of diets that keep insulin levels steady.

The researchers used a score called the Empirical Dietary Index for Hyperinsulinemia (EDIH) to assess how different diets might affect insulin in the body, finding that diets with a low insulin-boosting potential were linked to the smallest weight gain and lowest risk of obesity.

On the other hand, foods that tended to increase insulin levels, such as red and processed meats, salty snacks, and fried potatoes, were associated with more weight gain.

They further noted that the Planetary Health Diet stood out as offering the greatest protection against obesity.

This diet emphasizes sustainable eating by focusing on plant proteins like nuts and legumes, healthy fats, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables, while limiting red meat and refined carbohydrates.

Females who scored high on the Planetary Health Diet had the lowest risk of obesity throughout the study.

The team also observed that consuming ultra-processed foods — like packaged snacks and sugary drinks — was linked to more weight gain and higher obesity risk.

This supports previous studies suggesting that limiting heavily processed foods is beneficial for weight management.

Additionally, the research highlighted that not all low-carbohydrate diets are equal.

Those that relied on healthier sources of fats and proteins, such as vegetable proteins and unsaturated fats, seemed to protect against weight gain, while diets high in animal fats and proteins were linked to more weight gain.

Overall, the findings paint a clear picture: diets rich in whole, plant-based foods and low in processed meats, fried snacks, and salty foods may help females maintain a healthier weight during the hormonal and metabolic changes of menopause.

Jennifer Pallian, a registered dietitian, food scientist, and founder of Foodess, wasn’t involved in the study, but said that weight management during menopause can be difficult because metabolism slows.

She explained that as female sex hormones like estrogen decline, abdominal fat storage may start to increase.

“Reduced physical activity, Westernized eating patterns, and emotional eating may further contribute to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction during this stage of life,” Pallian told Healthline.

Plant-forward diets can be helpful during menopause because they are lower in calories per volume while higher in fiber and water, helping females feel satisfied and reducing energy intake.

Fiber, in particular, helps with appetite regulation and satiety, Pallian said, since it slows gut transit time and forms viscous gels that absorb water and help people feel fuller for longer.

“Fermentation of fiber by gut bacteria also produces short-chain fatty acids that may stimulate hormones involved in appetite regulation and gastric emptying,” said Pallian.

Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and plant polysaccharides may also promote greater bacterial diversity and higher levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which has been associated with better metabolic health and reduced inflammation.

“Saturated fat intake may be another important factor,” she said. “Saturated fats commonly found in animal-based foods may impair insulin signaling and contribute to insulin resistance.”

Plant-forward diets, which are naturally lower in saturated fat, are associated with improved insulin sensitivity.

Plant-forward diets have also been linked to lower trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) production.

Pallian explained that TMAO is produced when gut bacteria and the liver metabolize certain compounds found in meat, which has been associated with:

In contrast, there are myriad health benefits associated with plant-forward eating patterns.

“Researchers also observed that a higher plant-to-animal protein ratio was associated with better preservation of lean mass among menopausal women.”

Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian with MyHealthTeam, who was also not a part of the study, said the best way to get started with eating more plant-based foods is to add rather than subtract.

“That could mean eating fully plant-based right away, or it could mean simply reducing meat intake,” she said. “You can experience health benefits even from small changes.”

Zenker suggested starting with foods that you already enjoy.

You can also learn to cook your own plant-based meals by looking at online recipes and recipe books for inspiration. And don’t forget to use herbs and spices, she said, because they contain their own nutrient and flavor benefits.

Not sure where to begin? Try out new plant-based foods in restaurants. “This helps you explore new foods and figure out what you like so you can incorporate them into your diet at home,” said Zenker.

If you’re concerned about not getting enough nutrients with a plant-based diet, dietary supplements may help prevent deficiencies. Zenker said vitamin B12 and vitamin D are two to consider, particularly if you are adhering a fully plant-based diet.

You may also need to be more intentional in consuming enough calcium, iron, and zinc, Zenker noted.

“Focus on whole, plant foods, and limit ultra-processed foods,” she said. “Processed plant-based foods, like meat alternatives, can be helpful, but can lead to poor diet when consumed in excess.”

Finally, Zenker suggested consulting with a dietitian if you need extra support.

“Dietitians can help you make sure you’re supporting your health goals, meeting your nutrient needs, and enjoying your eating patterns in a sustainable way,” she said.

It may also be helpful to seek out a support group, whether in your own community or online.

“Connecting with others who are choosing a more plant-forward eating pattern can help make it easier and more enjoyable,” said Zenker. They can also help with recipes and suggestions for products and restaurants.

• A recent study found that using GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, can help reduce food cravings.
• The researchers found that GLP-1 medications can reduce “food noise” better than behavioral therapy alone.
• Food noise refers to persistent and intrusive thoughts about food that make healthy eating habits difficult.

The concept of “food noise” has garnered attention since the introduction of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro for weight management.

Food noise is defined as intrusive and persistent thoughts about food that can interfere with daily life and make healthy behaviors more difficult.

Most of the evidence suggesting that GLP-1 medications helped quiet food noise was anecdotal — until recently.

A new study examined short-term changes in food noise in a digital behavioral weight management program both with and without GLP-1 drugs.

The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but were presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 12–15.

“Food noise is powerful, so when the noise is less, and the environment is more ‘quiet,’ the individual is less likely to consume foods that may contribute to weight gain,” said Kristin Kirkpatrick, president of KAK Consulting and dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Wellness & Preventive Medicine in Cleveland, OH. Kirkpatrick wasn’t involved in the study.

“Typically, food noise is the loudest for foods that are often additive in nature, such as ultra-processed foods,” she told Healthline. “Think candy, cookies, bread-based snacks and meals, snack foods, pizzas, etc. Food noise is not the same as hunger. It’s instead tied to powerful, often intrusive cravings.”

This observational study included 417 adults who were participating in a digital behavioral weight management program.

The researchers evaluated a one-month change in food noise using the Food Noise Questionnaire (FNQ). They then compared outcomes between participants who used GLP-1 medications and those who did not.

The FNQ asks five questions and scores each answer on a scale of 0 to 4, for a maximum total score of 20. Users rate the questions on a scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

Each participant completed a questionnaire as a baseline, then another at a one-month follow-up.

The participants were categorized into two groups: those who began a GLP-1 medication at baseline and those who used only the behavioral weight management program.

The results showed that those who used a GLP-1 drug alongside the weight management program saw a more significant decrease in food noise at the follow-up than those who did not.

“The freedom from food noise is a common benefit I hear from my patients on GLP-1s,” Kirkpatrick said.

“In fact, it’s often mentioned to be as impactful as weight loss and blood sugar benefits. I am not surprised by this data as GLP-1 use and reduction of food noise seem to go hand in hand.”

Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished, said that quieting food noise can lead to healthier habits that extend beyond meals and snacks. Routhenstein wasn’t involved in the study.

“Many of my clients also notice a reduced desire for alcohol and smoking, likely because GLP-1s act on the brain’s reward pathways, not just on appetite,” she told Healthline.

There are other ways to help reduce food noise besides GLP-1 medications.

“One of the most important things I encourage my clients to focus on is creating a consistent meal timing pattern with nourishment so the body feels adequately fueled throughout the day,” said Routhenstein.

“When the body is deprived of food, food noise can become louder because the body is biologically driven to seek out food and protect against perceived starvation,” she added.

Kirkpatrick said that using distraction methods can also help. She gave the following examples:

• going for a walk
• leaving an area that has food present
• performing another task, such as folding laundry, talking with a friend, or building Legos

Routhenstein said that minimizing ultraprocessed and refined foods, which can drive cravings and reward-seeking behavior, may also help.

“Reducing food noise is often about helping the person become adequately nourished rather than relying solely on willpower,” said Routhenstein.

• A study has found that treatment with semaglutide led to reduced triptan usage in women.
• However, no significant effect was observed in men with overweight or obesity.
• Experts say reductions in inflammation or intracranial pressure could play a role.
• Sex-related differences in how the body handles semaglutide also appear to be important.
• More research is needed before semaglutide can be recommended as a migraine treatment.

A recent nationwide study in Denmark has revealed that women who start using semaglutide, a popular medication prescribed for weight loss, may experience a decrease in the need for standard migraine treatments.

The researchers found that females using semaglutide had a noticeable reduction in their use of a class of drugs called triptans.

Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark collaborated with Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes control), to analyze data from Danish health registries.

These registers contain comprehensive health information on the entire population, enabling a detailed examination of medication use patterns.

The study focused on adults who began semaglutide treatment for weight management between December 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024. It included nearly 150,000 people who started semaglutide during the study period, of whom about two-thirds were females.

For each individual, the researchers tracked their use of triptans — the drugs commonly taken for acute migraine relief — for two years before starting semaglutide and for one year afterward. This approach enabled the researchers to observe changes over time and to compare triptan use before and after semaglutide initiation.

The team used statistical models to examine monthly triptan consumption, measured in defined daily doses, among the participants.

They also looked at the number of new triptan users during the study and analyzed differences among people who had already been using triptans before starting semaglutide.

To better understand who was most affected, the researchers broke down the data by sex, age groups, how consistently people remained on semaglutide, and whether they had previously used preventive migraine medications.

Overall, around 4.6% of the individuals used triptans during the study period.

Before beginning semaglutide, it was found that triptan use was on the rise among participants.

However, after starting the medication, this trend reversed, and triptan use began to decline gradually over the following year.

At the one-year mark, there was a modest but clear reduction in triptan consumption compared to what would have been expected based on previous trends.

This decrease was mainly seen in people who were already using triptans before starting semaglutide, suggesting that the drug might reduce the need for migraine relief in those with a history of migraine.

There was no significant change in the number of new triptan users, however, indicating that semaglutide does not appear to prevent new cases of migraine from developing.

When comparing males and females, the study also found that females experienced an 8% reduction in triptan use after starting semaglutide, whereas males showed no significant change. This sex-specific effect may be linked to differences in how males and females respond to semaglutide, including typically greater weight loss among females.

Age also played a role, with the largest reductions in triptan use seen in younger adults aged 18 to 35.

Additionally, people who had previously taken preventive migraine medications saw a more pronounced decrease in their need for triptans.

The researchers further observed that the changes in triptan use happened gradually rather than immediately after starting semaglutide, suggesting a slow but steady improvement in migraine symptoms over time.

While the exact reasons for these findings are not fully understood, several factors might contribute.

Tom Lavin, MD, a board certified surgeon and founder of the telehealth company yourEra, said that inflammation and intracranial pressure may play a role, given how GLP-1 medications function in the body and brain. Lavin wasn’t involved in the study.

“GLP‑1 medications like semaglutide reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in the brain,” he told Healthline. “Neuroinflammation is a major driver of migraine, so lowering inflammation can significantly reduce both the frequency and severity of headaches.”

These medications also lead to gradual weight loss, which can reduce intracranial pressure.

“Elevated pressure inside the skull is linked to certain headache disorders, so reducing that pressure can directly improve migraine symptoms,” Lavin said.

GLP‑1 medications interact with several brain regions involved in migraine pathways, he added, including the hypothalamus, brainstem centers like the nucleus tractus solitarius, and reward circuits.

According to Lavin, these systems all affect inflammation, pain signaling, and hormonal regulation, which can contribute to migraine activity.

Jill White, PharmD, CEO of Innovate Wellness, told Healthline that “even a modest reduction in triptan utilization could be meaningful for migraine patients.” White wasn’t involved in the study.

Lower triptan use could mean patients are having fewer attacks, experiencing less severe attacks, or relying less on rescue medication, White told Healthline.

“This is important because frequent triptan use can contribute to medication-overuse headache and reduced quality of life,” said White.

“If GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce migraine burden indirectly while simultaneously improving obesity-related comorbidities such as sleep apnea, hypertension, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation, some patients may experience broad neurologic and metabolic benefits simultaneously,” she added.

White further noted the importance of the sex-specific findings, discussing how a variety of factors, such as differences in hormonal influences, immune signaling, distribution of fatty tissues, sensitivity of the CGRP pathway, and hypothalamic regulation, might influence the higher frequency of migraine in females.

“It is possible that GLP-1-mediated metabolic or inflammatory improvements interact differently with female neuroendocrine physiology, leading to greater observable benefit in women,” said White.

It might also be that females obtaining obesity treatments have a higher baseline migraine prevalence or higher triptan utilization, she said, making it easier to detect reductions in usage.

White concluded her remarks by saying, “The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting GLP-1 receptor agonists may have broader neurologic and anti-inflammatory effects beyond weight loss alone.”

While more research is needed before GLP-1s can be recommended as a migraine therapy, this study offers the promise that semaglutide might also ease the burden of migraine for many females.