Many of cancer’s effects are visible — but the causes aren’t always so obvious.

There are hundreds of different types of cancer, and far more causes. 

"Cancer-causing agents, known as carcinogens, can be of various types and forms, working toward triggering mutations in the human body that lead to the development of cancer," said Dr. John Oertle, chief medical director at Envita Medical Centers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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While some causes, such as tobacco use and UV radiation, are widely known for their harmful effects, there are many other hidden carcinogens in the environment that are equally harmful, the doctor told Fox News Digital.

"These hidden carcinogens are ubiquitous but often avoidable if people are aware of their inherent dangers," Oertle said.

"Environmental carcinogens often involve synthetic derivatives of industrial byproducts in addition to solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, radioisotopes and even carcinogenic microbes."

The doctor shared a list of some of these hidden carcinogens, their sources and the types of cancer they cause.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, described Oertle's list as "important."

"Even though we talk about potential carcinogens all the time, the ones mentioned in this list are the major players," he told Fox News Digital. 

"Though we are very familiar with the carcinogenic risks of tobacco, and UV light to the skin, others, like radon, are too frequently underestimated."

This carcinogen comes from cigarettes, leading to about 20% of all cancers and approximately 30% of cancer-related deaths in the country, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

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Tobacco can cause cancer of the mouth, nose, throat, larynx, trachea, esophagus, lungs, stomach, pancreas, liver, kidneys, ureters, bladder, colon, rectum and cervix, as well as leukemia, noted Oertle.

Organochlorines are pesticides that have been used in agriculture around the world since they were introduced in the 1940s, despite having high toxicity. 

While they’ve been largely banned in the U.S. due to health hazards, they are still used in other countries, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Organochlorines can potentially lead to breast, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, lung, oral/nasopharyngeal, thyroid, adrenal and gallbladder cancer, as well as lymphoma, according to Oertle.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals found in coal, crude oil and gasoline, according to the CDC. 

They are emitted into the environment with the burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage and tobacco.

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PAHs can come from cigarette smoke, vehicular exhaust, roofing tar, occupational settings and pharmaceuticals, Oertle said.

Breast, skin, lung, bladder and gastrointestinal cancers can stem from exposure to these chemicals.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted through the creation of paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants, among other products, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

They are also found in industrial solvents, petroleum fuels and dry cleaning agents.

VOCs are commonly found in the air, groundwater, cigarette smoke, automobile emissions and gasoline, Oertle warned.

The compounds can cause lung, nasopharyngeal, lymphohematopoietic and sinonasal cancers, as well as leukemia.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization (WHO) both classify ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and tanning beds as a human carcinogen.

UV rays can cause a variety of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

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Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., affecting one in five Americans in their lifetimes and resulting in 9,500 diagnoses each day.

A radioactive gas, radon is a byproduct of uranium, thorium or radium breaking down in rocks, soil and groundwater, according to the EPA.

When radon seeps into buildings and homes, people can breathe it in — increasing their risk of leukemia, lymphoma, skin cancer, thyroid cancer, various sarcomas, lung cancer and breast cancer, Oertle said.

A mineral fiber in rock and soil, asbestos has historically been used in construction materials. 

Although some uses have been banned, it can still be found in insulation, roofing and siding shingles, vinyl floor tiles, heat-resistant fabrics and some other materials, per the EPA.

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Oertle warned that asbestos exposure can increase the risk of lung, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal, colorectal, throat, kidney, esophagus and gallbladder cancers.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines cadmium as "a soft, malleable, bluish white metal found in zinc ores, and to a much lesser extent, in the cadmium mineral greenockite."

Cadmium can be found in paints, batteries and plastics, Oertle said.

The metal can be a factor in lung, prostate, pancreatic and renal cancers.

There are two types of this trace mineral, as noted on WebMD’s website.

One is trivalent chromium, which is not harmful to humans. The other type, hexavalent chromium, is considered toxic.

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Sources of the harmful chromium include chrome plating, welding, leather tanning and ferrochrome metals.

Inhalation of chromium, a known human carcinogen, has been shown to cause lung cancer in steel workers, per the CDC.

A heavy metal that is a known carcinogen, nickel is found in electroplating, circuitry, electroforming and batteries, noted Oertle.

Nickel has been linked to an increased risk of lung and nasal cancers, per the National Cancer Institute.

Overall, more than 1.9 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the U.S. in 2023, and around 609,820 cancer-related deaths were reported, according to the ACS.

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and owner of Senolytix, a longevity-based health consultancy, pointed out that in addition to being aware of the various carcinogens and limiting exposure to them, it's also important to take measures to quell inflammation.

"Nearly all age-related diseases, of which cancer is one, are underpinned by low levels of inflammation," Osborn told Fox News Digital.

To reduce inflammation, the doctor recommends eating a low glycemic index diet rich in olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids from fish or flax, strength training regularly, getting adequate sleep and using a probiotic supplement.

"Show your body the right signals, and it will respond in kind – you’ll have your health," Osborn said. "Expose it to the wrong signals and you'll turn on the ‘oncogenes’ that cause cancer."

The doctor added, "Cancer, aside from those associated with a specific gene mutation (typically pediatric cancer), is an ‘environmental’ disease, period."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

A family of five was hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday, according to local reports.

Investigators said the poisoning was the result of the family's use of a generator and cooking with propane inside an apartment.

"Someone called 911 because a child approximately 8 years old was found lying in the snow outside," Lt. Terry Foster, a fire inspector for Portland Fire & Rescue, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

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"When crews arrived, they did a search of the apartment and found four people lying on the floor of the apartment and began removing them. They were all transported by American Medical Response."

The investigators found high volumes of carbon monoxide in the apartment, where a generator and camp stove were being used, Foster said.

"These devices were what led to this emergency." 

The occupants were conscious when transported, but were exhibiting symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning, Foster said.

The adjacent apartments were checked and evacuated.

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"Crews were able to ventilate the structure and residents were able to move back in quickly," Foster noted.

A severe winter storm hit Portland on Saturday, leaving thousands of people without power. 

The apartment complex had not had access to heat since a tree fell on a powerline across the street the previous day.

"DO NOT use generators indoors because carbon monoxide is a silent, colorless, odorless, tasteless killer," Portland Fire & Rescue advised in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Isabela Royer, a woman who lives across the hall from the family that was poisoned, called 911 after one of the family members knocked on her door, she told a local news outlet.

"He’s right there and he says, 'Help me, please,'" Royer said. 

"I walk out into the hallway, and I look down the stairs at the bay window seating area and his child is throwing up, heaving, obviously sick."

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"I dragged the kid outside to get some fresh air and some other guy from their family pulled up and started pulling the rest of the people out of the house," Royer continued.

"The door to their apartment was open and I saw the generator and I knew right away," she added.

Foster said he reached out to the investigator on Tuesday, who reported that they had no further information about the patients. 

The lieutenant also reminded residents that if they're unable to warm themselves safely, Multnomah County offers warming shelters throughout the county.

"You can call 2-1-1 to help get you there," he said.

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The most dangerous outcomes of carbon monoxide poisoning can include death, permanent organ damage and long-term neurological effects, according to Dr. Dung Trinh, a brain health expert and owner of The Healthy Brain Clinic in Long Beach, California.

"Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that can bind to hemoglobin in the blood, reducing its ability to carry oxygen, leading to tissue hypoxia and damage to vital organs," he previously told Fox News Digital.

The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can vary depending on the severity of the exposure and individual factors.

Those at highest risk include infants, elderly individuals, pregnant women and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions, Trinh said.

Each year, carbon monoxide poisoning claims at least 420 lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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ATLANTA, USA – New research in this week’s MMWR finds that most nursing home residents haven’t received an updated COVID-19 vaccine or the new RSV vaccine.

This year, for the first time, vaccines are available to protect older adults in the United States against all three fall/winter respiratory illnesses: flu, COVID-19 and RSV. Older Americans who are not vaccinated are at greater risk of serious illness.

Leading up to this virus season, and throughout the fall, CDC has worked with other federal agencies, state and local health departments, and health care partners to address vaccine access issues and encourage uptake.

CDC was a key participant in the Long Term Care Facility Summit on October 18, 2023, which was co-hosted by the secretary of health and human services and the director of the office of pandemic preparedness and response policy.

In addition to other activities, CDC regularly:

• Monitors all reports and data about the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines.
• Convenes bi-weekly calls with long-term care partners to address challenges/develop solutions.
• Works to improve equitable access to vaccines by connecting manufacturers with long-term care pharmacies to prioritize vaccine distribution for the Bridge Access Program.
• Distributes a weekly newsletter with respiratory virus resources and information specific to long-term care providers. (e.g., toolkits, FAQs, clinical resources, vaccine confidence resources)
• Supports the education of partners through participation in speaking engagements and webinars.
• Engages with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify solutions to address feedback from long-term care partners around billing and reimbursement challenges which have been a barrier to vaccine administration. As a result, CMS issued a letter to plans and pharmacy benefit managers to outline the concerns and provide guidance on ways to improve practices.

Health care providers can continue to do their part by offering recommended vaccinations to residents. Nursing homes are encouraged to collaborate with state, local and federal public health, and long-term care pharmacy partners to address barriers contributing to low vaccination coverage.

Vaccination is a key way to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death from flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

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Researchers from Stanford University Medicine found that roughly one in every five "reasonably healthy" adults aged 50 or older has at least one organ that is aging at a "strongly accelerated rate," which causes a higher risk of disease and death.

The blood test could help guide therapeutic interventions before symptoms appear, according to senior author Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, the senior author of the study and a professor of neurology at Stanford Medicine in California.

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By looking at specialized proteins in a person’s blood, scientists could detect the biological age of an organ, even if the person appears healthy at the time, Wyss-Coray told Fox News Digital. 

That information could then predict the person’s risk for disease related to that organ.

Wyss-Coray compared it to an auto mechanic plugging a vehicle into a machine to get information about how the different car parts are functioning.

"This is basically what we do, but by looking at the concentration of these highly specialized proteins," he told Fox News Digital in an interview.

The research team — led by Stanford in collaboration with Washington University; the University of California, San Francisco; the Albert Einstein College of Medicine; and Montefiore Medical Center in New York — looked at blood samples from 5,678 people, focusing on proteins in the blood that are unique to specific organs. 

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"For example, because the brain is highly specialized, it uses very special proteins to maintain its function," Wyss-Coray said.

The team then created a model using an algorithm to detect the organs’ biological age.

"When we compared each of these organs’ biological age for each individual to their counterparts among a large group of people without obvious severe diseases, we found that 18.4% of those age 50 or older had at least one organ aging significantly more rapidly than the average," Wyss-Coray said in a news release from the university.

"These individuals were at a heightened risk for disease in that particular organ in the next 15 years."

Human organs age at different rates, lead authors Hamilton Oh and Jarod Rutledge, who are graduate students in Wyss-Coray’s lab, said in the Stanford news release.

Previous studies have examined ways to detect a person’s biological age through biomarkers, but the Stanford team took it a step further by determining scores for specific organs, including the heart, brain, kidney, liver, pancreas, lung, intestines, immune system and tissues. 

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The researchers used an algorithm that included organ-specific protein calculations and came up with an "age gap." That's the difference between an organ’s actual age and its estimated age based on the algorithm’s calculations, Wyss-Cross told Fox News Digital.

Age gaps were found for 10 of the 11 organs studied. An individual who had an accelerated-aging organ carried a 15% to 50% higher mortality risk over the next 15 years depending on which organ was affected, the study found.

Even for people who did not initially show any active disease or abnormal clinical biomarkers, an accelerated aging heart increased their risk of heart failure by 2.5 times, according to the study release.

Those considered to have "older" brains were 1.8 times as likely to show cognitive decline over five years, compared to those with "young" brains, the Stanford release noted.

Accelerated aging of the brain or vasculature (blood vessel) system also predicted risk for Alzheimer’s disease progression, according to the study.

There were also strong associations between an extreme-aging kidney score with diabetes and hypertension, as well as a link between an extreme-aging heart score and atrial fibrillation or heart attack, Wyss-Coray told Fox News Digital. 

A smaller number of individuals (1 in 60 people) had two organs that were aging at a faster pace. Their mortality risk was 6.5 times higher than a person without a significantly aged organ.

"If we can reproduce this finding in 50,000 or 100,000 individuals, it will mean that by monitoring the health of individual organs in apparently healthy people, we might be able to find organs that are undergoing accelerated aging in people’s bodies, and we might be able to treat people before they get sick," Wyss-Coray said in the release.

Another benefit of identifying accelerated organ aging is that it can help with drug repurposing, he noted.

"Let’s say you take a drug for heart disease and we saw that as a result, your lung gets younger," Wyss-Coray told Fox News Digital in the interview. "It could be another effect of that drug. Then maybe we can use that same drug to treat a lung disease."

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Identifying these proteins can also lead to new drug targets, Wyss-Coray added.

If proteins are shown to decline in people who get a disease, scientists could make more of them, for example — or other proteins could be inhibited if they are detrimental.

Dr. Anuradha Lala, M.D., an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City, was not affiliated with the study, but told Fox News Digital that the findings may help to increase organ donations. 

In heart transplant medicine, doctors typically select relatively younger, healthier donors to maximize the longevity of the transplanted organ, Lala noted.

"Yet the authors showed … that aging in one organ did not necessarily mean other organs age at the same rate," she told Fox News Digital. 

"Given the large number of patients awaiting life-saving transplantation of specific organs, being able to decipher which organs may indeed have better chances of doing well could theoretically increase the number of donor [hearts] available," Lala said. 

More research is needed into the implications of race, ethnicity and gender, as well as costs and access, she added.

Sean Clouston, PhD, a professor in the Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine in the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University in New York, was not involved in the study but commented on the research.

"This is a remarkably complicated but intuitive study that used exceptional measurements to examine aging separately across different organ systems," Clouston, who is also the director of public health research, said via email to Fox News Digital.

The study findings could help practitioners identify and treat many types of conditions, he added.

"This could mean that you could go to your doctor to do one blood test to monitor a huge array of conditions … and maybe they could act earlier to intervene for problems that are still only emerging."

Existing treatments, including those for Alzheimer’s disease, could also become much more effective, Clouston noted.

Two doctors from Northwell Health on Long Island, New York — Dr. Christine L. Sardo Molmenti, PhD, an associate professor and cancer epidemiologist, and Dr. Ernesto P. Molmenti, MD, Ph.D., surgical director of kidney transplantation — were not involved in the study but weighed in on the findings.

The findings "bring us closer to the concept of individualized and personalized medicine," they said in a joint statement to Fox News Digital.

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"They are able to identify, in a minimally invasive way, which organs will require immediate, intermediate and/or long-term therapeutic interventions," the doctors said.

"Once an organ has been identified as actively aging, it may allow for providing optimal medical care and improving prognosis and survival," they continued. 

"With our ultimate goal of intervening prior to the progression of disease, this approach also focuses on prevention as a promising strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality of several chronic diseases that are leading causes of death in this country."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

An estimated one in nine adult women struggle with an abnormal and painful fat buildup in the lower body — and no amount of diet or exercise can help.

Lipedema, a relatively common but often overlooked disease, causes fat to accumulate in the lower part of the body, primarily the butt, thighs and calves. 

For many women, like Molly Friar, an event planner in Sacramento, California, it can cause debilitating pain and impaired mobility.

In an effort to raise awareness of this condition, Friar, 53, spoke with Fox News Digital about her long journey to diagnosis — and what she calls her newfound "freedom."

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Friar was just 11 years old when she started to notice that her body was different than everyone else’s, she said during a phone interview.

"The lipedema itself is governed by hormone changes, so that's when things really took off for me," she said. "My legs were different from every other girl in my class, and I started to get a bit of a stomach in my lower abdomen."

It was puzzling for Friar, who was very fit and athletic. 

She played soccer, basketball and softball, and was also a cheerleader — yet no matter how active she was or how carefully she ate, her lower body carried an abnormal amount of fat.

"Somehow my legs and stomach were always disproportionately bigger than everybody else's," she said.

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Adding complexity to the situation, Friar is adopted — so she had no context that might have predicted this genetic condition.

"I don't have pictures of my family to look at, to see a grandmother or an aunt or other women in my life that were affected by it," she said.

Friar felt "completely out of place," she said, as everyone else in her family was "super skinny" and she was not.

Friar was just 12 years old when her parents put her on a Weight Watchers program.

"They felt like that was the best thing they could do to help me," she said. 

Throughout her adolescence and young adulthood, Friar worked out every day, biking to the gym and taking aerobics with all the adults.

"That’s absolutely where I started a battle of shame around my body — something I couldn't control," she said. 

"I would eat less or not eat, and exercise more, and do all the things I could think of to outpace something that I didn't know existed."

She added, "I always felt like there was a person inside of me who was thin and just wanted to get out."

In addition to the body image struggles, Friar’s condition also came with extreme pain.

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Lipedema causes inflammation and extreme bruising — "I would just brush up against something and get a bruise," said Friar.

The activities that were pleasant for other people, like getting a massage during a pedicure, created "excruciating pain" for Friar.

For someone with lipedema, she explained, running a hand over the skin is like touching a rocky beach — "you can feel the nodules like pebbles under the skin."

Other common symptoms include swelling, a feeling of heaviness in the legs and excess fatigue. 

For some patients, the condition can cause difficulty walking, heightened anxiety and depression, joint issues, venous (vein) disease and other complications, according to Cleveland Clinic.

In 2016, when Friar was 45 years old, she lost 50 pounds — but didn’t lose a centimeter in her calves.

She started digging in to figure out what was going on. "I knew something wasn’t right," she said.

In her online research, it wasn’t long before Friar was looking at photos of women with lipedema, with abnormal fat deposits in their lower bodies.

"In that moment, I cried — it was like looking in a mirror," she told Fox News Digital. 

"I felt validated and relieved and ecstatic — I finally had an answer."

But the relief was short-lived, as Friar quickly realized there was no cure for her condition. "It’s something that you have to try to battle for the rest of your life."

There are, however, options to alleviate some symptoms that come with lipedema, as Friar found out when she began seeing her doctor, Jaime S. Schwartz, M.D., in Beverly Hills, California.

A board-certified plastic surgeon and world-renowned lipedema specialist, Schwartz has dedicated much of his career to raising awareness for fat disorders like lipedema.

He launched Total Lipedema Care to help women like Friar.

"Most people will tell you that the lower half of their body just started growing a lot larger than the upper half, usually during puberty," Schwartz told Fox News Digital.

"It doesn't start as pain, but they start seeing physical changes that don’t really make sense."

Lipedema is usually misdiagnosed as morbid obesity, Schwartz noted.

"In the U.S., many doctors tell women, ‘You're fat, you did this to yourself,’" he said.

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But the good news, he said, is that awareness is slowly starting to grow.

"Over the past five years, it's gone from no one knowing about it to a lot of people knowing about it, so it's definitely getting better."

As Schwartz told Friar, he recommends surgery as the best option to relieve lipedema symptoms.

At his practice, Schwartz performs a patented procedure called manual lipedema extraction, which involves a combination of liposuction and the removal of underlying nodules of fat through small incisions.

"When I take the ‘bad tissue’ out, people feel better as soon as the next day," Schwartz said. "That's the only thing that I've seen that works — and I've seen everything that's out there."

Friar ended up having a total of three surgeries — one on the back of her legs, one in the stomach area and one on the front of her legs.

"For me, the surgery was life-changing," Friar said. "I feel it changed the game for me — it extended my life and I gained back probably 75% to 80% of my mobility."

Each surgery required around six weeks of recovery time.

"It isn’t easy, but I would do it 1,000 times over," she said.

One caveat is that some insurance companies have been slow to cover the cost of lipedema surgeries. Friar had to pay out of pocket for the procedures, which can range from $4,000 to $16,000, according to Schwartz's website.

"I was very, very lucky — there are so many women who want the surgery that can't afford it," she said.

In addition to the surgeries, dietary changes have had a big impact on Friar’s quality of life.

"The optimal diet for me is gluten-free and dairy-free, with no added sugars, no processed foods, low salt and very little alcohol," she said.

She also wears medical-grade compression gear at night and lighter-compression leggings during the day.

"It helps alleviate a lot of the inflammation and excess fluid in the body," she said.

Other non-surgical options for relief include exercise and medications or supplements to reduce inflammation.

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As Schwartz told Fox News Digital, Friar’s case was pretty typical of most women’s experiences with lipedema, although he noted her positive mindset.

"A lot of women have had this for so long, and it defeats them emotionally, psychologically and mentally," he said. "But Molly has always had such an amazing outlook and personality."

He added, "Obviously, it's been emotional for her at times, but she never let it defeat her."

Friar said her life now is "like night and day" compared to before.

"Getting a massage for me is now enjoyable," she said through tears. "I can climb to the top of a mountain, and I can walk six miles and not stop."

"It’s like your mobility gets taken away from you, and when you instantly get it back, it's newfound freedom."

Friar’s goal is to increase awareness around this condition, among patients and doctors alike, so other women don’t have to live in shame for years like she did.

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"It’s something we need to be talking about," she said. "It’s such a visual thing, involving our bodies and how we present ourselves to the world, and it’s something we can’t control."

"I'm willing to shout from the rooftops if I can help even one person recognize the symptoms and be able to help themselves."

For many of Schwartz’s patients, he said, the disease has "destroyed their lives."

"They don't go out, they don't socialize, they're afraid to work or wear certain clothes in public," he said.

Some women can't have their grandchildren sit on their lap or can't hold their spouse's hand because it’s too painful, he said. 

"So when they have surgery and they're not in pain, not only do they look different and they're so happy to rediscover their body, but they can even have their dog sit in their lap for the first time," he said.

"It’s a very overwhelming reality for them in a beautiful way," he also said.

It is estimated that around 11% of women are living with lipedema today.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Heading into the party season, partaking of too many holiday spirits can leave you with an unwelcome hangover — and can also wreak havoc on your gut health.

"In addition to being a significant contributor to weight gain due to high-calorie density, alcohol can also reduce our ability to fight infections and increase the risk of developing diseases, food intolerances and sensitivities — all as a result of poor gut health," said Dr. Gill Hart, biochemist and scientific director at U.K.-based YorkTest, a health and wellness company that provides lab tests for food sensitivities and allergies.

"Gut health" refers to the health of your entire gastrointestinal tract, including all the bacteria within your digestive system. 

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When the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria is thrown out of whack, it can have a ripple effect on all aspects of your health. 

Hart shared with Fox News Digital seven ways that alcohol can impact gut health. She also shared tips on how to reduce those negative effects.

"Alcohol impacts our gut, causing imbalances in our healthy/unhealthy gut bacteria, exacerbating gut permeability and impacting our immune systems," Hart said.

A majority of the immune system — around 70% — is found in the gut, she said.

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"Since alcohol can compromise healthy bacteria, it’s essential to take steps to protect your gut biome when you drink to protect your immune system," she said.

Hart recommends aiming to stay within drinking guidelines, whatever that means for you.

That might mean having a minimum of three sober days per week, or only having alcohol with or after a meal to reduce absorption.

"Focusing on consuming foods rich in prebiotics, probiotics and fiber can help to restore a healthy gut biome and support your immune system," Hart said.

It’s not always just the alcohol (ethanol) that can irritate the gut. Sometimes other ingredients in alcoholic drinks can have negative effects, some of which aren’t always obvious, Hart warned.

"The grapes, wheat, barley, hops, yeast and other ingredients — such as fruits and dairy in cocktails and mixers — can all irritate your gut, causing inflammation," she said.

Those ingredients can also contribute to food intolerances and sensitivities, causing symptoms such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, low energy, low mood, headaches and even skin issues like eczema or psoriasis.

"Gassy drinks, such as mixers, often include artificial sweeteners that are not usually gut-friendly, so try to avoid these," Hart recommended.

It’s also important to consider the impact of the added sugars that are often present in alcoholic drinks, which are known to contribute to a higher risk of diabetes. 

"Those with type 2 diabetes may have a less diverse and balanced gut biome than non-diabetic individuals," Hart said.

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"Diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis, a condition that affects how you digest your food," she said.

Symptoms of this condition include nausea, heartburn and bloating.

"To reduce diabetes risk, try to reduce or avoid consuming alcoholic drinks that are higher in sugar, such as cocktails, pre-mixed drinks, alcopops, liqueurs, cider, fortified wines and sherry," Hart suggested.

"A key takeaway is the effect of alcohol on the liver, which is also linked to gut health," Hart said. 

"Imbalances in the gut biome are linked to gastritis, which causes the stomach lining to become inflamed, and fatty liver disease, which leads to fatty tissues affecting optimal digestive function," she went on.

While only 60% of liver diseases are caused by alcohol, studies have shown that the most common cause of alcohol-related death in the U.S. is alcoholic liver disease.

An estimated one in eight total deaths among U.S. adults aged 20 to 64 years is attributed to excessive alcohol use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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"The best way to reduce the effect of alcohol-related liver disease is to stop drinking alcohol or stick to the recommended Dietary Guidelines for Americans, limiting intake to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less for women," said Hart.

Excessive alcohol consumption can also inhibit the production of digestive enzymes, Hart warned, making it more difficult for your body to break down, digest and absorb food.

"This leads to an imbalance in the gut biome, with partially digested food being a cause of bloating and gas," she said.

When planning meals during a "heavy drinking season," she suggests focusing on foods that help to optimize your gut microbiome — "the 100 trillion bacteria that live in your gut that are crucial for your health."

Fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut, contain probiotics that help to nourish and protect the gut, Hart added.

"The long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption really are sobering," said Hart. 

"Alcohol is a depressant — it contributes to depression, anxiety and heightened stress levels, and its negative effects on mental health are far more than most of us are ever likely to admit."

High levels of stress can inhibit the digestive system in similar ways to alcohol, she warned — "although the heightened stress levels after drinking alcohol often linger longer, making any dietary efforts to improve gut health after a drinking session less impactful."

To help calm the digestive system and support gut health and immunity, Hart said it’s important to cultivate a "relaxation response."

"Taking time to rest and recharge after a night of drinking alcohol, in whatever way that works for you, is essential to support your mental wellness and gut health," she added.

"While it’s important to keep hydrated when drinking alcohol, drinking more water or soft drinks isn’t going to offset the effect that alcohol has on your gut," Hart said.

"However, if drinking more water — or soft drinks such as kombucha tea or low- to no-alcohol beverages — means drinking less alcohol, then this is the best way to reduce the risk of negative effects that alcohol can have on your gut and overall health."

Hart suggests starting the evening with a zero- or low-alcohol drink, then alternating consuming alcoholic drinks with water to avoid dehydration (and a hangover).

Better yet, low-alcohol or no-alcohol wine and beers make it easier to drink socially without alcohol, which Hart said is a much better choice for your health.

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"Aside from reducing alcohol consumption as a whole, simple diet changes such as avoiding sugary and carbonated mixed drinks, replacing alcohol with low- or no-alcohol alternatives, and only drinking alcohol with or after food can reduce the negative effects of alcohol on your gut health," Hart added. 

Additionally, making an effort to consume fermented foods post-drinking is important to restore your microbiome for a healthy gut. 

Hart added, "Taking a closer look at the ingredients in alcoholic drinks and taking a food sensitivity test can also be important to identify any foods in your diet that could contribute to discomfort and poor gut health."

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The first of its kind in the region, Grenada observed International Men’s Day by staging a 4-day International Men’s Day Regional Conference

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday announced its approval of Ixchiq, the first chikungunya vaccine.

The vaccine, which is made by Valneva, is approved for anyone age 18 and older who has a risk of being exposed to the virus.

The chikungunya virus is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes. 

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"This virus is in a similar category as dengue or Zika and is carried by the same mosquitoes," noted Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor.

The FDA described chikungunya as an "emerging global health threat," with at least five million cases reported over the past 15 years. 

"Infection with chikungunya virus can lead to severe disease and prolonged health problems, particularly for older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions," said Peter Marks, M.D., PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a press release on Thursday. 

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"Today’s approval addresses an unmet medical need and is an important advancement in the prevention of a potentially debilitating disease with limited treatment options," he also said.

Before the FDA’s approval, the vaccine’s safety was tested in clinical trials that included 3,500 adults.

Participants most commonly reported headache, muscle pain, fatigue, joint pain, nausea, fever and tenderness at the injection site as side effects.

A small share of recipients (1.6%) experienced adverse reactions, with two of the recipients needing to be hospitalized, per the FDA’s release.

In a separate study, the vaccine’s efficacy was measured based on the immune response data of 266 adult participants. 

Almost all of them were shown to have protective antibody levels.

The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, with some people also experiencing headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Symptoms usually begin within three to seven days after transmission.

Most people who contract the virus get better within a week.

In rare cases, the virus can cause severe and long-lasting joint pain.

Those at highest risk for adverse health effects include older adults, newborns who contract the infection at birth, and people with heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, per the CDC.

Deaths from the virus are very rare.

Mosquitoes carrying the chikungunya virus are endemic in Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of the Americas, the FDA stated in its release.

Before 2013, cases of the chikungunya virus were primarily documented in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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In late 2013, the first local cases were documented in Caribbean countries, which then led to the virus spreading throughout the Americas, the CDC stated.

For those who have been exposed and have symptoms, a blood test can confirm the presence of chikungunya or other similar viruses.

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People who are infected and experience symptoms should rest, stay hydrated with fluids and take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol, to relieve and reduce fever, according to the CDC.

People who are traveling to countries where the virus is prevalent can reduce their risk by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying indoors or in screened areas.

Siegel noted that the vaccine — which he deems "safe and effective" — contains a live weakened version of the virus vaccine.

"That means it is not intended for [the] immunocompromised, but it is useful for those at risk of severe cases of chikungunya," he told Fox News Digital.

Added the doctor, "The vaccine is being fast-tracked, which for me means I would give it to those most at risk first, while watching post-marketing studies over next year."

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Better care for cancer patients may be on the horizon.

A new prescription medicine for treating cervical cancer has been showing positive results in clinical trials.

In phase 3 global trials, TIVDAK (tisotumab vedotin) was linked to a 30% overall reduction in the risk of death compared to chemotherapy.

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TIVDAK also demonstrated a 33% decrease in the risk of worsening disease or death.

In addition, the intravenous drug showed an improved objective response rate of 17.8% compared to chemotherapy at 5.2%.

The trial also measured the disease control rate, which is the percentage of patients who experience complete response, partial response or stable disease.

TIVDAK displayed a 75.9% disease control rate, while chemo showed a 58.2% rate.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, emphasized the importance of these findings.

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"To have an overall survival advantage in this disease is extremely, extremely rare," he said.

"It changes the second-line standard of care for this disease. Now, all patients who recur after first-line therapy should be considered for this therapy," Slomovitz added. "So it's a game-changer."

Slomovitz, who has been directly involved in the trials, explained that the new class of drugs attacks a certain protein on the cell, which allows chemotherapy to be delivered to the cell "in a precise fashion."

He said, "So, it doesn't give a lot of the peripheral side effects that we see with traditional chemotherapy."

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, is not involved in the drug's development or testing, but he believes the drug shows promise as an effective treatment.

"Cervical cancer can be a very aggressive disease, difficult to diagnose early, with a poor prognosis when it is metastatic," he told Fox News Digital.

"It is generally treated with multiple drugs, including chemo and radiation, which can shrink the tumor but very often does not cure it," he added. "The new targeted therapy TIVDAK, which includes a monoclonal antibody against the tissue factor associated with the tumor, is an "effective additional and useful therapy with a high response rate."

TIVDAK has shown ocular side effects such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), peripheral neuropathy (weakness, numbness, and pain from nerve damage) and some bleeding, but Dr. Kathleen Moore, associate director of clinical research at Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City, said she felt that is manageable.

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Moore has been administering TIVDAK to her patients since the FDA’s accelerated approval in 2021. 

She reported that they haven’t had a difficult time managing and offsetting side effects. Patients usually find relief by using prescription eye drops prior to beginning treatment and cold compresses to mitigate potential toxicity, Moore said.

"There's not been a single issue with a patient not being able to use the eyedrops and be compliant with all the mitigation strategies in order to obtain the benefit from this medication," she said.

Only 5% of patients have had to discontinue treatment due to side effects, Slomovitz reported.

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Chemotherapy, comparatively, shows a "much higher risk" of side effects, including anemia, nausea, hair loss and neutropenia, according to Slomovitz.

"We’re hoping that a treatment like [TIVDAK] is something that the patients prefer as opposed to the chemotherapy option," he said.

"As clinicians, we feel that the side effects are very manageable — and given the overall increase in efficacy, it's something that our patients are willing to have."

Moore mentioned that Oklahoma has "quite a bit of experience" with TIVDAK, since there is a large population of cervical cancer patients who present with "very advanced disease or metastatic disease at diagnosis" and require the treatment.

The doctor, who is also a drug developer, said her patients have done "very well" with the drug and appreciate its effectiveness and accessibility through insurance.

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"That's unheard of," she said. "In the past, we just did not have active medications and our patients really were left with ineffective therapies, and they just died."

Patients are recognizing that TIVDAK has worked to shrink their tumors, Moore said, which then leads to less pain and reduced dosage of medication.

"They’re feeling better because their disease is shrinking," she said.

TIVDAK has been used in practice since phase 2 trials led to accelerated approval by the FDA in the U.S.

The drug, however, could not earn full FDA approval until phase 3 was complete, Slomovitz noted.

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"We're hoping that the FDA approves this for a confirmatory trial in the setting, which would obviously have a great impact on the care of our patients," he said.

Slomovitz said he’s optimistic the FDA will give full approval for the drug in the "near future."

Both doctors shared their hopes for FDA drug clearance globally.

"We're starting to see, finally, improvements in therapies for patients who have advanced metastatic cervical cancer, all improving overall survival," Moore said. "So it is looking brighter."

Cervical cancer is the fourth most deadly cancer in female patients, according to Slomovitz.

Moore pointed out that the best way to avoid cervical cancer is to prevent it through annual screenings and vaccinations.

"This is an entirely preventable disease," she said. 

"The correct way to cure is to prevent, so that’s what we should be doing, too."

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