Category: Health

• A recent study found that stopping GLP-1s, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, can reverse the cardiovascular benefits they provide.
• The findings show that stopping the medications for as little as 6 months raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
• GLP-1s have been proven to offer not only benefits for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, but also cardiovascular health.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have become popular medications for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. This class of medications may also offer significant cardiovascular benefits.

A recent study published in BMJ Medicine found that when people stop using GLP-1s, they not only tend to regain weight, but they also may experience an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death.

“There is enormous exuberance about starting GLP-1 drugs, but not nearly enough attention to what happens when people stop,” senior study author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, a Washington University School of Medicine clinical epidemiologist and chief of the Research and Development Service at the VA Saint Louis Health Care System, said in a press release.

The researchers noted that many people who use these medications quit them after a short time, typically due to cost, side effects, or shortages.

They wanted to understand the consequences of discontinuing GLP-1 use, particularly on cardiovascular health.

The study analyzed 333,687 veterans. It compared 132,551 individuals who were prescribed a GLP-1 medication to help manage type 2 diabetes with 201,136 who were prescribed sulfonylureas, another type of medication for diabetes. The researchers followed the participants’ outcomes for 3 years.

Sulfonylureas include the medications:

The researchers checked participants’ GLP-1 treatment status every 6 months.

Over the course of the study, 26% of participants stopped taking the medication, and 23% had an interruption of 6 months or more, followed by resuming treatment.

The research team found a positive relationship between continuous use of GLP-1s and fewer cardiovascular events.

“GLP-1 drugs likely help cardiovascular health through several pathways at once, not just by lowering weight,” said 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, who was not involved in the study.

“They improve blood sugar control, modestly lower blood pressure, may improve lipid and vascular function, and seem to reduce inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque growth and progression,” Glatter told Healthline.

“Some evidence also points to direct protective effects on the heart and blood vessels independent of weight loss. In practical terms, they appear to reduce the underlying process of inflammation that drives heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure over time,” he explained.

At the end of the study, compared with those who took sulfonylureas, participants who continuously used GLP-1s over the 3-year period had the most pronounced risk reduction. This group saw 18% fewer major cardiovascular events.

Participants who had taken GLP-1s for 2 or 2.5 years before discontinuing use for the remainder of the study also saw a significant reduction in risk of 7% and 15%, respectively.

Those who took GLP-1s for 18 months or less before discontinuing did not experience a significant reduction in risk.

The study showed that an interruption of GLP-1 use of just 6 months before resuming treatment was enough to significantly decrease the cardiovascular benefit. It led to a 4% to 8% increase in risk compared with those with continuous use.

Discontinued use of 1 to 2 years without resuming resulted in a 14% to 22% increased risk of a cardiovascular event, compared with continuous use.

This shows that cardiovascular benefits gained while using GLP-1s are quickly lost when a person stops taking the medication.

“The main message is that GLP-1 therapy behaves more like a long-term risk-reduction treatment than a short-term fix. The study reinforces a broader lesson in chronic disease management: benefits that accumulate slowly can be lost surprisingly fast when treatment is interrupted, so persistence and follow-up truly matter,” said Glatter.

If you are taking a GLP-1 medication and are considering discontinuing it, you should first speak with your healthcare professional.

“When patients use GLP-1 medications primarily for weight loss, I caution them that it is very easy to regain the weight when these medications are discontinued and subsequently lose the health benefits gained from achieving a healthy weight,” said Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was not involved in the study.

If you suddenly stop taking a GLP-1, like a semaglutide, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. These may include nausea, increased appetite, weight gain, and cardiovascular changes, like elevated blood pressure.

Tapering off the medication slowly may allow your body to gradually adjust to having less support from the GLP-1 medication.

It is also important to maintain your healthy eating habits and get regular physical activity when stopping these medications. This helps you maintain your weight loss.

“Obesity should be viewed as a chronic, long-term disease that requires long-term treatment,” said Ali.

• You don’t need a perfect workout plan to benefit from strength training, according to new recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine.
• A large new review finds that at-home workouts or body weight exercises can be just as effective as complex resistance training routines.
• Strength training can improve everyday function and long-term health when incorporated into a consistent fitness routine.

When it comes to resistance training, doing some is better than doing none, and consistency is key, according to new recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Resistance training, also known as weight or strength training, is linked to numerous health benefits for people of all ages, including improved muscle strength, better metabolic health, and reduced risk of falls in older adults.

“Start now and start simply. You do not need a complicated or perfect programme to benefit. You just need to begin and do it consistently,” said senior author Stuart Phillips, PhD, Distinguished University Professor and Canada Research Chair of the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University.

“Many forms of resistance training can work, which means people have options. That flexibility matters. If someone believes there is only one ‘right’ way to train, the barrier to starting, or continuing, becomes much higher,” he told Healthline.

The recommendations explicitly include home-based routines, body weight training, and the use of resistance bands as forms of resistance training that offer strength and fitness benefits. These approaches may also be more accessible and have a lower barrier to entry for some individuals.

Perhaps surprisingly, some of the key variables people typically associate with resistance training appear to matter far less. Things like training frequency, exercise selection, and equipment type were all found to be less important than overall consistency and effort.

The Position Stand is the first major update from the ACSM on resistance training since 2009.

It’s an “overview of reviews,” meaning researchers pulled together findings from many prior studies to identify the most well-supported evidence. Specifically, they analyzed 137 systematic reviews, including data from more than 30,000 adult participants.

“The message that this delivers is that you don’t need all these complex requirements for resistance training,” said Denice Ichinoe, DO, an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ichinoe wasn’t involved in the research.

“This should be broadly applicable to a larger population and should make it more accessible for the general public,” Ichinoe told Healthline.

Participants were healthy adults ages 18 and older, most of whom were beginners or had limited resistance-training experience.

The included studies looked at people who followed a resistance training program for at least 6 weeks, with some programs lasting up to a year. These programs were compared with either no exercise or alternative training approaches.

The researchers also examined how specific training variables — like frequency, weight, and number of sets — affected outcomes such as strength, muscle growth (hypertrophy), and physical function, which refers to aspects of everyday movement such as walking and balance.

Across the board, resistance training delivered clear benefits. Compared with doing no exercise, strength training significantly improved:

• muscle strength
• muscle size
• power
• endurance
• balance
• walking speed
• overall physical function

In other words, strength training supports both fitness and everyday function, like climbing stairs or getting up from a chair.

The study also identified specific training patterns linked to better results.

For building strength, the strongest gains were seen with heavier weights (about 80% or more of a person’s maximum), 2 to 3 sets per exercise, and at least two sessions per week.

For muscle growth, total workload, known as volume, mattered most, while the exact weight used was less important.

When it came to power (the ability to move quickly and forcefully), the best results came from moderate weights (30% to 70% of maximum) lifted explosively, often with lower overall volume.

Notably, many commonly debated factors — such as training to failure, using machines versus free weights, or complex programming strategies — did not consistently change outcomes, suggesting that simple, consistent training can be just as effective as more complicated approaches.

It’s important to note that the findings represent general recommendations for novice and recreational lifters.

Elite athletes and more experienced lifters may still require more specialized or individualized training approaches.

“With any type of elite athlete, their training is going to look different. But the general consensus here is that for the average adult, the best type of resistance training is one that you’ll stay consistent with,” Ichinoe said.

Whether you are new to resistance training or an experienced weightlifter, the new recommendations offer important insight into your training routine.

The message should be clear: what’s more important than optimizing your workout is finding the consistency to get out there and do it week after week.

“Consistency usually starts with lowering friction. For most people, that means starting with a routine that is realistic, convenient, and not too ambitious: a couple of sessions a week, a few core movements, and a plan that fits their schedule and access to equipment,” Phillips said.

Even for older adults or people who’ve never really considered weightlifting before, starting resistance training is important for overall health.

“With any new activity, there’s always going to be a little bit of hesitance, maybe some fear and trepidation,” Ichinoe said. “I usually try to emphasize to older patients that with strength training, not only does it help build and maintain muscle mass and strength, it also helps with making your bones stronger.”

Ichinoe shared some actionable tips on how to get started:

• Think about your health and fitness goals. Are you training for general strength, or do you just want to feel more confident playing a round of pickleball?
• Start slow: a consistent practice may start with just 10 minutes a day or one weightlifting session per week.
• Get friends and family involved. It may be easier to find motivation when you have people to work out with.
• Remember that anything is better than nothing.

• Researchers found that type 2 diabetes risk varies among adults ages 18 to 40.
• Those with high fasting glucose, especially if they qualified for GLP-1 treatment, had higher risk.
• These findings suggest that tailored interventions may be most beneficial.
• Experts say it’s wise to have screening done since prediabetes may have no symptoms.
• Steps like diet, exercise, good sleep, and stress reduction may help prevent type 2 diabetes.

More than 115 million people in the United States have prediabetes, but an estimated 80% of this group may not be aware they have the condition.

Now, a new study has revealed that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes among adults ages 18 to 40 with prediabetes varies widely.

The findings show that young adults with high fasting glucose levels, especially those who meet criteria for treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medications, face significantly higher risks of progressing to type 2 diabetes within five years.

According to the researchers, these findings suggest the need for earlier, more tailored interventions to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and its serious complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. They note that this challenges the current one-size-fits-all approach to prevention.

Diagnosing prediabetes and managing high blood sugar can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. Early treatment and lifestyle changes are crucial.

The study analyzed data from 662 young adults ages 18 to 40 with prediabetes, who were followed for an average of 7 years.

These individuals were drawn from three well-established U.S.-based cohorts: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, and the Framingham Heart Study Third Generation.

The research team focused on fasting glucose levels to define prediabetes, specifically levels ranging from 100 to 125 mg/dL. However, hemoglobin A1c data, which measure average blood glucose over the past two to three months, were not available for this analysis.

In addition to glucose measurements, investigators collected comprehensive health information, including body mass index (BMI), lipid profiles, and blood pressure readings, taken during study visits from 1985 to 2011, prior to the FDA approval of GLP-1RA medications for weight management.

The researchers applied existing FDA criteria for prescribing GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, which include a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher (obesity), or a BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher (overweight) combined with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Using these criteria, the team estimated the five-year risk of progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. This risk stratification aimed to identify subgroups within the prediabetic population who might benefit from more intensive lifestyle interventions or pharmacologic treatment.

The authors noted that the study’s design, while robust in terms of follow-up length and population diversity, was limited by the absence of hemoglobin A1c measurements and by the lack of GLP-1RA medications during participants’ follow-up period.

Overall, the analysis found that the five-year risk of progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes among young adults was 7.5%.

However, this risk was not uniform across all participants. Those who met the eligibility criteria for GLP-1RA treatment due to obesity or overweight status plus a related condition exhibited a higher risk of 10.9%.

The risk escalated further to 15.1% for individuals with fasting glucose levels at the higher end of the prediabetic range (110-125 mg/dL).

Among those with both elevated fasting glucose and GLP-1RA treatment eligibility, the five-year risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes was nearly one in four (24.8%).

These findings highlight significant variability in diabetes risk among young adults with prediabetes as well as the inadequacy of treating all patients with prediabetes in the same manner.

According to Mary Rooney, PhD, MPH, the study’s lead author and an assistant research professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, identifying those at highest risk through blood tests and clinical risk factors could help guide early interventions, including lifestyle modifications and, where appropriate, drug therapy.

The study also raises important considerations about the potential role of GLP-1RA medications.

This class of diabetes and weight loss medications is not currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for diabetes prevention, even in high risk young adults with prediabetes with overweight or obesity.

However, the researchers say the cost-effectiveness and long-term benefits of such an approach remain uncertain.

Bryan Henry, FNP, PhD, president of PeterMD, who was not involved in the research, said that younger people should know that even if they feel well, it doesn’t mean they don’t have metabolic issues.

“People with prediabetes can go years before they feel like something is wrong with them,” he said. “It’s common to feel good but have your body working poorly.”

However, high fasting glucose levels can damage blood vessels, increase inflammation, and strain your pancreas.

“From this study, we need to recognize that some metabolic changes occur without our signs, which is why it is so very important to regularly screen and become aware of this issue as soon as possible after we reach early adulthood,” explained Henry.

“I often emphasize that metabolic health is dependent upon much more than just what we eat and how we exercise; it also depends on achieving an optimal hormonal balance.”

Henry advised establishing regular sleep routines and practicing good stress-reducing behaviors to keep prediabetes from advancing to type 2 diabetes.

Jamie Bovay, DPT, a physical therapist, strength and longevity coach, and owner of KinetikChain Denver, who wasn’t involved in the study, said that investing in muscle mass and metabolic flexibility can help support a healthy metabolism.

“For young adults with prediabetes, focus on regular heavy resistance work to preserve and build muscle, consistent low intensity cardio (zone 2) to support fat burning, and one to two short higher-intensity sessions per week to maintain cardiovascular capacity,” Bovay told Healthline.

“If you can focus on building strength, cardiovascular capacity, and consistency through lower intensity cardio, you can give your body the tools it needs to not only fight off diabetes, but live a healthy and long life as well,” he said.

• 62-year-old Tommy Bell survived three heart attacks in the span of four days.
• Bell received care at the same hospital where he has worked for 10 years.
• He is sharing his story to help raise awareness about heart attack symptoms and prevention.

On November 26, 2025, 62-year-old Tommy Bell had just finished a shift at AdventHealth DeLand Hospital, where he had worked for over 10 years as the Patient Transport Supervisor.

On his drive home while talking with his wife, Joi, he felt pressure in the center of his chest that persisted on and off. The feeling pushed him to drive back to AdventHealth’s ER department.

After doctors performed tests and imaging, Bell was scheduled for a cardiac procedure two days later, on Friday, November 28. During recovery in the hospital, Bell had a heart attack and received a stent to normalize blood flow.

Once stabilized, he was moved to intensive care to recover and was discharged home two days later.

“Prior to that day, I had never experienced anything like that before. The only symptoms of a heart attack that I knew of were what I had seen on TV—chest pain, pain down the arm, etcetera,” Bell told Healthline.

While recovering at home, he still didn’t feel right, and his wife took him back to the ER, where he went on to have a second and third heart attack on December 2, 2025.

Despite the trauma, Bell said it was reassuring to get care in a familiar place.

“Knowing that I was being cared for by the people that I see and make laugh on a daily basis made me feel at home. Just knowing the level of care and support of my co-workers was comforting in my time of need,” he said.

He knew every person who cared for him by name.

“Although it was strange being on the other side of things, I knew I was in good hands by the very best at what they do,” he said.

After two weeks off for recovery and to regain his strength, Bell returned to work.

“My recovery included being surrounded by my work family and my home family,” he said. “There was not a day that went by that someone from the hospital did not reach out to check in on me. The support was phenomenal!”

Bell hopes that sharing his story will help spread awareness about the different heart attack symptoms and who may be at higher risk of recurrent cardiac events.

“I felt it on my heart to share my story because if I can help save a life by reminding people to listen to their bodies, I have done what God has called me to do,” Bell said.

Janak Bhavsar, MD, an interventional cardiologist at AdventHealth, who was part of Bell’s care team, said that recurrent cardiac events like those Bell experienced can occur more often than some people may think, especially if there are multiple risk factors, such as:

“Controlling the risk factors is important for preventing future events. Lifestyle modifications, including exercise programs, diet control, sleep quality, and weight loss, are important elements,” he told Healthline.

Bhavsar added that the fact that Bell did not ignore his symptoms and went to the ER right away when he developed them allowed doctors to recognize his condition and treat him immediately.

“Heart attack can present with some symptoms that are not classic. There can be pain in the neck, jaw, arms, back, or stomach, which can be a symptom/warning sign,” he said. “Sometimes the symptoms can be nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and sweating (diaphoresis).”

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 20% to 50% of heart attacks are “silent” or ignored, often misattributed to indigestion, muscle strain, or fatigue.

After people receive a stent, Bhavsar said it’s important that they continue taking medications, especially blood thinners, which can prevent clotting in the stent.

“Monitor for symptoms, including chest pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and seek help if symptoms occur,” he said. “Follow up with cardiology and primary care is important. Patients may also benefit from programs such as cardiac rehabilitation.”

To improve heart health, Bhavsar said controlling risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, as well as quitting smoking, can help. Staying physically active, especially with aerobic exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, following a Mediterranean diet, and getting adequate sleep are also effective lifestyle strategies.

Caring for patients like Bell and seeing them make full recovery and healthy lifestyle adjustments is rewarding for Bhavsar.

“I was able to interact with [Tommy] in several settings, including the ER, procedure room, ICU, medical unit, outpatient office for follow-up, and coming back full circle seeing him in the hallways at the hospital when he returned to work, and providing whole person care for him in these different settings,” he said.

• A federal judge has struck down childhood vaccination recommendations implemented earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• The judge also blocked HHS Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
• Medical professionals praised the judge’s ruling, saying vaccinations are vital in preventing diseases in children.

A federal judge has overturned new childhood vaccination policies implemented earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy ruled that federal health officials under the leadership of HHS Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had acted unlawfully when they issued new childhood vaccination recommendations in January.

Those guidelines reduce the number of childhood vaccinations, indicating vaccination against 11 diseases instead of the 16 diseases recommended under prior guidelines. The HHS policies also downgraded childhood immunization recommendations for other diseases, including rotavirus, influenza, and hepatitis A.

In his ruling, Murphy said that previous childhood vaccination recommendations had been made through “a method scientific in nature and codified into law through procedural requirements.”

The judge said that HHS officials had “disregarded those methods and thereby undermined the integrity of its actions.”

Murphy also ruled that Health Secretary Kennedy’s appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) were not lawfully constituted, and blocked Kennedy’s 13 appointees to the panel.

The plaintiffs in the case argued that the committee had become dominated by people aligned with Kennedy’s anti-vaccine views and was constituted in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act’s mandates that it be fairly balanced and free of inappropriate influence.

After the ruling was issued on March 16, ACIP meetings scheduled for this week were postponed. The panel was scheduled to discuss potential changes to recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

In addition, the judge had put a hold on votes taken by ACIP members since June. That includes a December decision by the panel to roll back recommendations that newborns receive a first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth.

The Trump administration is expected to appeal Murphy’s ruling.

The lawsuit challenging the HHS childhood vaccination recommendations was brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other major medical groups.

“Today’s ruling is a historic and welcome outcome for children, communities, and pediatricians everywhere,” said Andrew Racine, MD, AAP president, in a statement.

This decision effectively means that a science-based process for developing immunization recommendations is not to be trifled with and represents a critical step to restoring scientific decision-making to federal vaccine policy that has kept children healthy for years,” Racine continued.

Medical professionals said the judge’s ruling was an important action and the correct decision.

“The judge’s ruling brings light and focus to the reality that the changes to the vaccine schedule were made by individuals who are not experts in vaccinations, science, or public health and the changes were not based upon any new data, evidence, or scientific basis,” said Graham Tse, MD, a pediatrician and chief medical officer of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA.

“The judge’s ruling is everything that pediatricians and family practice physicians and the AAP have been waiting to hear,” said Danelle Fisher, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.

“There was absolutely no reason to downgrade recommendations on vaccines. The ones who will suffer are the children. Someone needed to stand up to this administration and help our kids,” she told Healthline.

Tse said the judge’s ruling, if upheld on appeal, will send a clear message to parents and other community members.

“I would hope this brings back a single recommended vaccination schedule, supported by all states and the federal government, for the United States,” he told Healthline. “When there are vaccine schedule disagreements and variability across agencies, groups, and states, it leads to confusion, fear, anxiety, and ultimately decreased vaccine acceptance.”

The AAP recommends that children receive vaccinations for 18 different diseases from birth through age 18.

These inoculations include protection against:

Medical professionals point to recent measles outbreaks as an example of what can happen if children aren’t vaccinated. There are now more than 1,300 confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2026. There were only 285 in all of 2024.

“Vaccines prevent many diseases that used to be the scourge of childhood, causing vast amounts of illness, deaths, and suffering,” said William Schaffner, MD, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

“Vaccines have made infancy, childhood, and adolescence much safer than when I grew up, so maintaining a comprehensive infancy and childhood vaccination program across the country is critical, lest we turn back the clock to the bad old days,” he told Healthline.

Schaffner said that widespread vaccination is needed to protect immunocompromised children who can’t be inoculated.

“By all participating in vaccination, we create healthier communities as well as protected individuals,” he said.

“Vaccines are one of the easiest ways to ensure the health of children and the community,” noted Tse. “Vaccines are one of the simplest, safest, and easiest ways to protect your children and others from infections and diseases that have significant and severe consequences.”

“These diseases can cause illness and death. If we can prevent needless suffering, why wouldn’t we?,” said Fisher.

• Researchers say extra abdominal fat is strongly associated with an increased risk of heart failure.
• Excess belly fat contributes to systemic inflammation, which endangers cardiovascular health.
• The researchers recommend that medical professionals measure waist circumference and inflammation to identify people at risk for heart-related conditions.

A new study reports that excess belly fat is more strongly associated with an increased risk of heart failure than a person’s overall body weight or their body mass index (BMI) measurement.

The researchers say that systemic inflammation is a key factor in the link between abdominal fat and heart disease risk. They estimate that one-quarter to one-third of the association is explained by inflammation.

These findings suggest that reducing inflammation is a potential treatment strategy to reduce the risk of heart failure in people with excess abdominal fat.

The researchers said they hope their analysis will encourage new approaches to heart health monitoring.

“This research helps us understand why some people develop heart failure despite having a body weight that seems healthy,” said Szu-Han Chen, the lead author of the study and a medical student at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, in a statement.

“By monitoring waist size and inflammation, clinicians may be able to identify people with higher risk earlier and focus on prevention strategies that could reduce the chance of heart failure before symptoms begin,” Chen continued.

This new research follows a scientific statement published by the American Heart Association (AHA) in May 2025.

In that statement, medical professionals explained that inflammation in the body can disrupt a person’s immune system, damage blood vessels, and lead to the buildup of scar tissue in the heart.

Experts not involved in the study told Healthline that this new research is important.

“This study reinforces an important concept in cardiology: where fat is stored in the body may matter more than total body weight alone,” said Kevin Shah, MD, a cardiologist and program director of Heart Failure Outreach at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at the Long Beach Medical Center in California.

“One practical takeaway from this study is that clinicians and patients may want to pay more attention to waist circumference and central obesity, since those measures may reveal cardiovascular risk even in individuals whose BMI appears normal,” Shah said.

Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, agreed.

For their study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 African American adults enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study who lived in three counties, both urban and rural, near Jackson, MS.

The participants did not have a diagnosis of heart failure at the time they entered the study between 2000 and 2004.

Participants’ ages ranged from 35 to 84, with an average age of 58. About 36% were female. The subjects were studied for a median of nearly 7 years through December 2016.

Researchers assessed the participants’ body fat by using measures such as overall weight, BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio. Blood samples were used to measure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a commonly used marker of inflammation.

The researchers reported that 112 participants developed heart failure during the follow-up period. They noted that elevated waist circumference was associated with increased heart failure risk, whereas high BMI was not.

They also found that higher waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were associated with an increased risk of heart failure. They further reported that participants with higher inflammation levels were more likely to experience heart failure.

The researchers noted that they did not have access to participants’ heart failure subtypes, so their study reported on overall heart failure risk.

Experts said that, even though this study was limited to African American participants in one part of the country, the findings are pertinent to the nation’s population as a whole.

“I believe these results can be extrapolated to other populations as previous research has demonstrated similar findings across different groups,” Ali said.

“We should be cautious about over-generalizing the findings,” said Shah. “However, the biological mechanisms linking visceral fat, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease are well established across many populations, so the results are likely relevant more broadly, even if additional studies in diverse groups are needed.”

Experts say that excess belly fat contributes to heart health risks in several ways.

“Visceral fat is metabolically active and releases inflammatory molecules that can contribute to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and vascular dysfunction,” Shah said. “Over time, chronic inflammation can damage blood vessels and place stress on the heart muscle, eventually increasing the likelihood of developing heart failure.”

“Belly fat envelops and impairs the function of internal organs,” said Ali. “Furthermore, obesity increases the body’s inflammatory response, which is theorized to stiffen the heart muscle and impair its pumping mechanism.”

Shah and Ali agreed that tracking abdominal fat is important. However, they said BMI measurements shouldn’t be totally disregarded either.

“BMI remains a reasonable tool for assessing obesity levels and associated health risks,” said Ali. “While it is not perfect — as it does not account for body composition or fat distribution — it is simple to calculate and remains the standard used by practitioners and insurance companies to classify obesity.”

“BMI is still a useful screening tool because it is easy to measure and helps identify people at risk for obesity-related disease,” said Shah. “However, BMI does not capture fat distribution, which is why measures like waist circumference or waist-to-height ratio can sometimes provide additional insight into cardiovascular risk.”

It’s estimated that more than 900,000 people die from cardiovascular disease every year in the United States. That accounts for almost one-third of all deaths annually in the country.

Heart disease is listed as the number one cause of death for males, females, and people of most racial and ethnic groups.

A number of factors are considered to be contributors to increased disease risk. Among them:

It’s estimated that 40% of U.S. adults have obesity. The percentages are similar for males and females. Among age groups, the obesity prevalence is highest for people ages 40 to 59.

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of a number of diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Healthline’s 7-day heart health reset offers tips for adopting simple lifestyle behaviors that can support long-term heart health.

Experts say there are daily habits that can help people lose weight and reduce abdominal fat.

“General weight loss is the most effective way to reduce abdominal fat and the resulting inflammation,” said Ali. “It is important to note that you cannot ‘spot-reduce’ fat. While abdominal exercises strengthen muscles, the body burns fat from across the entire body. Significant changes to diet and lifestyle are necessary for meaningful weight loss,” he continued.

Shah recommended implementing several daily routines. These include:

• regular exercise
• a diet rich in whole foods, fiber, nuts, fruits, and vegetables
• avoiding sugar and ultra-processed foods
• quality sleep

“The most effective strategies focus on improving overall metabolic health,” he said.

• Healthgrades recently announced the recipients of the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Awards.
• The awards recognize hospitals that provide the highest quality care and excel at preventing serious safety events.
• The 2026 recipients include 438 hospitals from 40 states and represent the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety.

Healthgrades has announced the recipients of the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Awards, which “recognize hospitals that excel at providing top-quality care while preventing serious safety events during hospital stays.”

This year’s recipients represent the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient safety and include 438 hospitals from 40 states.

Healthgrades’ annual analysis found that more than 100,000 patient safety events could have been avoided between 2022 and 2024 if all hospitals had performed at the same level as those that received a 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award.

Patients treated at award-winning hospitals were also significantly less likely to experience the four most common patient safety indicators (PSIs)—serious but preventable complications that account for about 78% of all safety events. Those include:

• In-hospital falls that result in fractures (52.4% less likely)
• Collapsed lungs related to procedures or surgery around the chest (57.5% less likely)
• Catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital (67.8% less likely)
• Pressure sores or bed sores developed during a hospital stay (71.9% less likely)

“The data behind this year’s Patient Safety Excellence Award highlights how measurable improvements in safety can prevent thousands of complications,” Alana Biggers, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades, said in a press release.

“Hospitals that prioritize evidence-based safety practices not only achieve better clinical outcomes, but also cultivate a culture where patients come first. These insights give individuals and families the information they need to make confident and better informed healthcare decisions.”

Hospitals recognized with the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award were identified through an analysis by Healthgrades examining how well facilities prevent serious safety complications during hospital stays.

To determine the recipients, Healthgrades analyzed hospital performance using inpatient MedPAR data and evaluated facilities across 13 patient safety indicators (PSIs).

These indicators track serious complications that can occur during hospital care, such as respiratory failure after surgery, surgical infections, and excessive bleeding following procedures.

The analysis compares hospital performance nationwide using risk-adjusted data to account for differences in patient populations.

Results across the 13 indicators are combined into an overall patient safety score for each hospital, enabling facilities to be ranked by how effectively they prevent these complications.

Hospitals that rank among the top 10% nationally for patient safety earn the Patient Safety Excellence Award.

To qualify, facilities must also meet several eligibility requirements, including meeting clinical quality thresholds, reporting data on at least 7 of 8 core patient safety indicators, and having no documented cases of foreign objects left in patients during a procedure.

Hospital rankings and safety awards can provide useful guidance for patients comparing facilities, particularly when they highlight measurable differences in outcomes, such as complication rates and preventable safety events.

“Rankings like those offered by Healthgrades should be able to assist healthcare consumers in making better decisions for themselves and their loved ones,” Robert Bonar, Dr.H.A., the Gordon A. Friesen Professor of Healthcare Administration at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, previously told Healthline.

Still, experts say these ratings are best used as one tool among many when choosing where to receive care. Factors such as a patient’s specific medical needs, individual physicians’ experience, and recommendations from trusted healthcare providers can also play an important role in making the best decision.

Bonar also previously noted that when patients are evaluating health information, they should prioritize sources that “work hard to base their recommendations on statistically sound outcomes, measurable data, complication rates — including surgical infection rates — and morbidity and mortality data.”

Looking at multiple sources of information — including hospital safety ratings, patient reviews, and conversations with healthcare professionals — can help patients get a more complete picture when evaluating their options.

The full Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient list and methodology are available on the Healthgrades website.

*Healthgrades and Healthline are part of the RVO Health portfolio of brands.

• A recent study has shown that adults remain interested in sexual activity and intimacy in relationships into their 80s.
• The study participants emphasized that physical connections are among the most important aspects of a relationship, with some even saying that a lack of intimacy would be a “deal breaker.”
• The findings could help dispel stereotypes and misconceptions about sex and aging, as well as encourage an open discussion about sexual health with older adults.

It’s a common misperception that the desire for sex and romantic relationships wanes as people age.

However, a recent study published in the Journal of Sex Research found that adults ages 60 to 80 expressed not only a desire, but a need for sexual intimacy in a relationship.

In fact, many view a relationship that lacks sexual intimacy as less than a complete relationship, with some even seeing it as falling short of their definition of romance.

“Older adults who report sexual activity report greater overall well-being and life satisfaction, Arien Muzacz, PhD, clinical associate professor of counseling at The College of Education, Oregon State University, told Healthline. Muzacz was not involved in the study.

While older adults may have the same desire for sexual intimacy, they may experience certain challenges.

“Adults don’t become more asexual as they age; however, they may become less sexual, even though the desire for intimacy remains strong,” said Karyne Wilner, PsyD, licensed psychologist and author of “Releasing Toxic Anger for Women,” who wasn’t involved in the study.

“Many in their 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond feel desire and romance, but at the same time, they have more difficulties with sex,” she told Healthline.

The researchers interviewed 100 individuals. The participants were split evenly, with 50 single males and 50 single females, ages 60 to 83, with average ages of 65.6 for males and 66.8 for females.

The study focused on how single older adults framed their desire for new sexual and romantic relationships.

Almost three-quarters of the participants openly stated that they didn’t want to be in a relationship if it didn’t involve sexual activity.

Many participants stated that not having sex was a “deal breaker” in a relationship.

One participant, Dean, 68, said, “That would be a deal breaker. I’m still able to be intimate. So that would be a deal breaker. I mean, it might end up as a friendship instead of a relationship. Period.”

Evelyn, 65, agreed. “No, sex has to be part of your relationship. So, if you don’t want to have sex, then what’s the use of having a relationship? . . . You can be friends without having sex. If you just want to be friends, that’s fine. But if you try to do a relationship, then sex has to be a part of it.”

Around 30 of the participants stated they may be somewhat open to a romantic relationship that didn’t involve sexual activity. However, these statements were generally either contradictory or came with caveats.

“Older adults [may] need to look at sexuality in a new way,” said Wilner.

“It can be the touch of a hand on the small of [the] back, sitting or lying close together, a tender massage, or rubbing against each other. It may not end in the strong orgasm or release of yesteryear, but there may be moments of great intimacy with loving bodies intertwined,” she said.

Those who did entertain the idea of a relationship without sexual intercourse typically included stipulations, such as:

• having non-penetrative forms of sexual contact
• changing their partner’s mind
• already loving someone when the sex stopped later in the relationship

“I think sexuality needs to be encouraged among older adults, married and partnered, as well as single,” said Wilner.

“I hope that this study and others like it will encourage people to follow their desires and be realistic about their needs, but also to be flexible in how they define sexuality. If it’s pleasurable, it’s sexual, even when it doesn’t look like the sex you used to have.”

When people talk about sexuality in older adults, they often focus on ability, finding that older adults may have less or no sex, or that the quality of sex is lower, due to bodily changes that come with age.

“Your body may change as you age due to physiological processes such as menopause, the type of exercise you get, or the medicines you take. However, sexuality is still important; it is part of the joie de vivre, it empowers your life force and energizes you,” said Wilner.

The participants in this study also mentioned that biological issues, such as difficulty with erections and lubrication, were among their concerns about having sex at an older age. However, they viewed these as inevitabilities to overcome, not enough to prevent their pursuit of sex.

“Open yourself to a new form of intimacy based on sensual touch or scents,” suggested Wilner.

While the study participants were clear that sex is an important part of romantic relationships, they also showed flexibility in the details of sex. They were aware that the type of sexual experiences one can have may change with age.

Both males and females noted that, as long as the relationship included sex, the frequency of sex was less important.

One of the participants, Howard, 62, said that it was the physical connection, not the frequency, that was essential to the health of the relationship.

“I would think you have to have some kind of intimacy, sexual relations somewhere. It might not be a once a month or twice a month, but [it is necessary] to keep the flow in the relationship going,” he said.

Some of the participants also alluded to the way sex as an older adult may not have the same vigor and pleasure of sex as a younger adult. However, this did not negate the value or importance of sex in a relationship.

Wilner said the study is important because it’s “more in touch with reality than the myth that when people reach a certain age, they lose interest in sex.”

She noted that the results may be reassuring to those who desire sexual connections but feel it may not be appropriate behavior at their age.

The study may not only help dispel the myth and stereotype that older adults lose interest in sex, but it may also help open the conversation about sexual health with these individuals.

“STI prevention is essential for any older adults due to increased risks like thinning of the vaginal walls and reduced lubrication in the vaginal canal (the latter can be addressed by using water-based lubes that do not erode latex prophylactics),” said Muzacz.

“There is also a reality that older adults in communal settings like retirement communities may have multiple partners, so STI prevention and testing are recommended for any older adults engaging in partnered sexual activity,” she added.

The recent study researchers suggested that older adults and their healthcare professionals may often avoid the topic of sexual health. However, the study shows that sexual activity remains a vital piece of relationships to many older adults.

This makes it even more important to incorporate sexual wellness into routine healthcare for older adults.

“People — no matter what their age — need to have a sense of the person they are being intimate with and some knowledge of that person’s dating or marital history. I also think that conversations with physicians, gynecologists, or urologists about safe sex would be helpful in learning how best to protect yourself,” said Wilner.

• In a TikTok video, pop music artist Doja Cat shared that she may have lipedema, a condition that causes abnormal fat buildup in the lower body.
• The singer said the condition influenced her decision to undergo liposuction in 2023.
• Lipedema most commonly affects the hips, thighs, and legs and typically does not respond to diet or exercise.
• Experts say increased awareness from public figures can help more people recognize symptoms and seek medical care earlier.

Grammy-winning pop artist Doja Cat recently shared a video explaining that she believes she may have lipedema, a condition that causes body fat to abnormally accumulate in the lower part of the body.

The singer opened up about the condition in a TikTok video, explaining how it contributed to her decision to have liposuction in 2023.

In the video, Doja Cat reflected on the way fat accumulated in her lower body throughout her life, particularly around her thighs, knees, calves, and hips.

“If you look at my knees… Like I had big ass knees, like big fat f*ing knees.” Doja said.

“Basically, I wasn’t horrendously, deeply overweight or anything. I was just building up all this ass, and ankle, and calves, and knee, and thigh. I had a whole ton of it,” she continued.

Lipedema is a chronic condition that may lead to an abnormal buildup of fat tissue, mostly in the hips, thighs, and legs, explained Raj Dasgupta, MD, chief medical advisor at Garage Gym Reviews.

“The fat tends to accumulate symmetrically and typically does not respond well to typical weight loss strategies such as diet or exercise,” Dasgupta told Healthline.

People with lipedema may also experience tenderness, easy bruising, and swelling in the affected areas.

“Over time, the condition can lead to discomfort, mobility issues, and in some cases, problems with the lymphatic system,” Dasgupta said.

“Although lipedema is not primarily caused by lymphatic issues, the accumulation of abnormal fat can place pressure on the lymphatic vessels, compromising the body’s ability to properly circulate and drain lymph fluid, which can result in swelling, tightness, heaviness, and pain, particularly in the legs,” he explained.

Research suggests that lipedema affects 10–11% of adult women. The condition is often underdiagnosed.

It can be helpful when public figures like Doja Cat speak openly about their health, especially when they have conditions like lipedema that can be difficult to detect.

“Visibility usually helps people recognize symptoms in themselves and seek medical care earlier.

With lipedema, awareness is especially important because the condition is often dismissed as just weight gain,” Dasgupta said.

“Discussing it publicly can help shift the conversation from blame toward recognition that this is a condition that deserves proper attention,” he noted.

• A recent study found that, over time, stressful relationships may accelerate biological aging.
• The researchers refer to those who create problems or make life more difficult as “hasslers.”
• The study also found that a greater number of “hasslers” in your life can lead to a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and poorer overall health.

Spending time with someone who consistently creates problems or makes life more difficult can accelerate biological aging and affect your overall health.

A recent study found that spending more time with people the researchers call “hasslers” and having more of them in your life can negatively affect various aspects of your life and health.

The researchers also noted that “social relationships are fundamental to human health.”

However, past research has mostly focused on the supportive nature of these relationships. This recent study focused on the “hasslers” in the close social networks of individuals and the role these stressful people play.

“Those around us can either increase or decrease our stress levels because we are wired for social connection and our social relationships can significantly influence and shape our mood, perspectives, motivation, and energy, on a daily basis, and for future goals/visions,” said Menije Boduryan-Turner, PsyD, licensed psychologist, and founder of Embracing You Therapy. Boduryan-Turner was not involved in the study.

The study analyzed data from 2,345 participants in a health survey in Indiana. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 103, with an average age of about 46.

The individuals answered questions about their relationships, focusing on the previous 6 months.

The researchers defined “hasslers” as people whom the participants reported as “often hassling them, causing them problems, or making life difficult.”

The average network size among participants was just over 5, with a maximum size of 25. On average, the individuals reported around 8.1% of the network members as “hasslers.”

Of the participants, 28.8% reported having at least one “hassler” in their social network, and 10% reported having two or more. This suggests that persistently negative ties are not rare among personal relationships.

“We resonate with people, and when someone creates problems, ideally, we would leave such a situation,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

“Dealing with a hassler definitely takes a toll on mental health, and I see that in my work every day,” Dimitriu told Healthline.

The researchers then examined the association between having “hasslers” in your life and biological aging.

They compared biological aging using saliva samples from participants, enabling the researchers to measure specific epigenetic markers.

This analysis showed a clear pattern. For each “hassler” a person interacted with, their biological aging pace increased by about 1.5%. This means that someone with an extra difficult person in their life may age about 1.015 biological years for each chronological year.

It’s important to note that this study does not definitively show that having difficult people in your life directly causes aging.

The researchers observed an association between “hasslers” and the rate of aging. They also noted that certain groups of people may be more likely to have or report “hasslers” in their lives.

Females were less likely than males to report having zero “hasslers” in their social networks. They also reported higher levels of “hasslers” in their lives in general than males.

There were also various psychosocial factors that emerged as important predictors of the presence of “hasslers.”

For example, individuals with adverse childhood experiences were more likely to have “hasslers” in their social network.

People with a larger social network were less likely to report zero “hasslers” and were more likely to have a higher number.

Daily smokers and people with less favorable health were also less likely to report zero “hasslers.” This suggests that “hassler” exposure is not random. Rather, it clusters around certain individuals with greater psychosocial and health vulnerabilities.

“Hasslers” were also more likely to be family members, with parents and children more likely to be reported as difficult than spouses.

Outside of the family, participants were more likely to report co-workers, neighbors, and roommates as “hasslers” than friends.

The researchers also examined whether the association with “hasslers” was specific to biological aging or extended across health outcomes.

They found that the number of hasslers in a person’s social group was consistently associated with worse health across multiple domains. The strongest associations were among mental health outcomes.

Each additional “hassler” was associated with an increase in the severity of both depression and anxiety. This was followed closely by less favorable self-rated mental health outcomes.

“When stress becomes too hard to manage, it creates insomnia, poor concentration, depression, anxiety, and/or irritability,[an] increase and/or a decrease in appetite, isolation, and paralysis,” said Boduryan-Turner.

The associations found with physical health and adiposity-related (excess fat) outcomes were more modest, but still significant.

Additional “hasslers” were associated with:

“Stress can increase our blood pressure and affect our gastrointestinal and immune systems, among many other organ systems in the body,” Nissa Keyashian, MD, board certified psychiatrist and author of “Practicing Stillness,” who was not involved in the study, told Healthline.

Many may say that the obvious solution is to reduce contact with “hasslers” in your life. However, this may not always be possible. Certain people, such as family members or co-workers, may be part of your daily life.

Dimitriu recommended that you control what you can, which is most often yourself. A strong emphasis on self-care, time to journal, and grounding yourself through meditation, exercise, or both is essential.

Boduryan-Turner said that it is fundamental to set clear, value-based boundaries.

“The keyword here is value-based, because often we make fear-based decisions. When setting boundaries, we want to keep our values in mind and communicate our needs from that place,” she added.

Keyashian agreed. “Practicing setting healthy boundaries is one of the most important skills in our lives,” she said.

Boduryan-Turner noted that people should set limits with love.

“We can set our boundaries lovingly and compassionately,” she said. “It doesn’t have to feel like a fight or a conflict to set them. Often taking breaks and engaging in activities that soothe are necessary ways to cope with these kinds of people in our lives.”