Silent heart threat found in adults under 30 with no known cardiovascular disease

A buildup of artery-clogging plaque may begin much earlier than many people realize, new research has found.

About 1 in 13 adults ages 18 to 29 already had silent atherosclerosis — the hardening of the arteries from plaque — despite having no known cardiovascular disease, while more than half of all healthy adults in the study showed signs of plaque somewhere in their arteries, according to a major new international study.

Researchers from Denmark and Spain used advanced imaging to examine more than 16,800 adults ages 18 to 70 with no known cardiovascular disease. They found plaque in 57.1% of participants, with prevalence increasing steadily with age, from about 1 in 13 adults under 30 to roughly 9 in 10 adults ages 60 to 70, according to the research published in The New England Journal of Medicine in August.

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Atherosclerosis occurs when fatty deposits, cholesterol and other substances build up inside arteries, according to experts. The process often develops silently over many years before causing a heart attack or stroke.

"For decades, we have estimated cardiovascular risk using factors such as age, blood pressure and cholesterol," Dr. Borja Ibáñez, a cardiologist and scientific director of Spain's National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC), said in a statement. "This study shows that we can now go one step further and detect the disease directly before it causes a heart attack or stroke."

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The new findings come from the first phase of the ongoing international REACT study, which is mapping how common silent artery plaque is across adulthood. In the next phase, researchers will test whether earlier detection can improve heart disease prevention.

"Until now, preventive decisions have been based on an estimate of risk, but we did not know whether the disease was already present," Professor Henning Bundgaard, professor of cardiology at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, said. "REACT shows that atherosclerosis can be detected decades before clinical manifestations appear and provides the most comprehensive atlas of the evolution of the disease across adult life."

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The study also revealed that men tended to develop plaque five to 10 years earlier than women, while women experienced their steepest increase between ages 40 and 60.

Researchers also found that commonly used cardiovascular risk scores only identified a small proportion of people who already had silent atherosclerosis, suggesting some cases may go undetected using traditional risk assessments alone.

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While the researchers believe portable ultrasound could eventually help identify hidden plaque earlier, they said further clinical trials are needed.

The findings should encourage people to take heart health seriously, but not to panic, experts note.

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"Finding plaque doesn't mean someone is about to have a heart attack, but finding it gives us an opportunity to address a patient's risk factors," Dr. Sirisha Vadali, a cardiologist at HonorHealth Women’s Heart Health in Arizona, told Fox News Digital. "We shouldn't wait for symptoms to start paying attention to heart health."

"Feeling healthy doesn't necessarily mean your arteries are free of plaque," Vadali, who was not involved in the research, added.

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She cautioned that the study alone does not establish that screening everyone will directly prevent heart attacks or strokes.

Vadali stressed that the findings do not mean everyone under 30 should undergo artery screening, saying decisions about additional testing should be based on a person's individual risk factors. She recommended avoiding tobacco, staying physically active and eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts and fish while limiting saturated fat and excess sodium to help protect heart health.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.

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One group of married Americans is having more sex — and happier marriages

Married couples who regularly attend church report having more frequent sex and greater sexual satisfaction than those who attend less often or not at all, according to a new report from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Researchers analyzed findings from multiple datasets, including the 2026 IFS Religion and Family Survey of 3,125 married adults ages 18–54, the long-running nationally representative General Social Survey, and a separate survey of 1,219 alumni of FOCUS, a Catholic campus ministry.

Regular churchgoers reported having more frequent sex than less religious or non-religious married adults, with regularly attending Catholics reporting some of the highest levels of sexual frequency. The association remained even after accounting for demographic differences.

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Among married adults ages 20 to 54, 62% of regular churchgoers reported having sex at least once a week, compared with 48% of nonreligious spouses, according to the report.

In addition to frequency, sexual satisfaction was also higher among church attendants. Catholics and Protestants who regularly attended religious services were more likely to rate their sex lives positively than those who attended less often or had no religious affiliation.

Daily prayer was linked to greater sexual satisfaction among married Catholics and Protestants, though it was not associated with more frequent sex.

Among churchgoers, 55% of Catholics and 45% of Protestants rated their sex lives as "excellent" or "very good," compared with 45% of nominal Catholics, 35% of nominal Protestants and 40% of religiously unaffiliated respondents.

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Those who viewed marriage as a permanent commitment were more likely to report both frequent and satisfying sex. That belief, along with shared values, was also strongly associated with overall marital quality.

Because the analysis was observational, it cannot determine whether religious practice directly causes better marital or sexual outcomes, the authors acknowledged.

Additionally, the marital outcomes were self-reported, and other unmeasured differences between religious and non-religious respondents could have influenced the results.

Differences in factors such as age and length of marriage could also make it challenging to strike comparisons with the broader population.

The study was funded by FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students.

Jessica Steinman, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex addiction therapist in Los Angeles, spoke with Fox News Digital about the potential relationship between religious activity and the quality of a couple’s sex life.

"When we think of people who are really involved in religion … we might think they're not having a lot of sex or that they're having very constricted views on their sex lives," she said. "And this article and research show that's changing."

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People who actively participate in a shared spiritual or religious life may also feel more connected to one another as partners, according to Steinman, who is also the chief clinical officer for No Matter What Recovery in Los Angeles, Chicago and Austin.

"If they're showing up and looking at things outside themselves — things that are spiritual, things that are religious, things are having them look inward, things that are having them look into larger morals and values within their marriages and partnerships — I think they're going to possibly have happier marriages and partnerships," the therapist said.

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They may also be more vulnerable and open with one another, which could contribute to a more active sex life, she added.

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The rituals and shared practices associated with religious life likely play a role in strengthening that connection, the expert suggested.

"Certain religious settings are really focused on rituals and traditions," Steinman said. "And if you're looking at partnership and marriage … engaging in sexual connection and sexual intimacy can really become a ritual itself."

The research highlighted what has been described as an ongoing "sex recession," where people are not engaging in sexual intimacy as much as they once did.

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Regardless of religious affiliation, Steinman encourages people to find ways to connect with their partners.

"Get off the phones, get off of the internet, turn the TV off and start really connecting with your partner," she advised.

Steinman suggested that partners engage with one another and build connections that go deeper than simply asking, "How was your day?"

That can include building emotional openness and discussing how partners want to connect sexually, she said.

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Taking daily supplement may help preserve muscle as you age — even without exercise

Daily creatine supplementation could help middle-aged and older adults preserve lean muscle mass, gain strength and support cognitive function, whether it's paired with exercise or not, according to a study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

The 12-week study, conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University’s Exercise & Sport Nutrition Lab, evaluated 64 men and women ages 45 to 65.

Participants were divided into non-exercise and exercise-plus-diet groups, then randomly assigned to take either 10 grams of creatine monohydrate per day — administered in two 5-gram doses — or a placebo.

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Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that helps cells regenerate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source for cellular activity in both muscle and brain tissue, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Creatine monohydrate is a dietary supplement that helps muscles produce quick energy during activities like strength training.

Adults naturally lose muscle mass and strength as they age, a condition known as sarcopenia. While dieting can accelerate that muscle loss, the new study found that creatine monohydrate helped counter the effect.

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Adding creatine to an exercise and diet intervention resulted in greater reductions in body fat percentage, better preservation of lean body mass, and marked improvements in upper- and lower-body strength compared to a placebo.

Even among participants who did not engage in exercise or dietary changes, daily creatine supplementation increased lean tissue mass and improved muscular strength and endurance, according to the study.

"The fact that you can increase lean muscle mass even without exercise is remarkable, especially as we age," New York-based fitness coach Jacob Zemer told Fox News Digital. "Between the physical and mental benefits, most people should be considering creatine supplementation."

The expert, who was not involved in the study, noted that even participants who did not exercise saw an increase in their bench press and leg press.

Zemer said the findings suggest creatine may help build actual muscle tissue that generates strength, rather than simply increasing the amount of water stored in muscle cells.

Beyond physical performance, the researchers found that the 10-gram daily dose of creatine supported improvements in select tests of memory and cognitive processing.

"My main takeaway from the study is that the benefits of creatine extend far beyond just athletes and bodybuilders," Zemer said. "Creatine continues to be the most scientifically studied and validated supplement on the market."

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However, the trainer emphasized that supplementation should not replace regular physical activity.

"Just because you can increase lean muscle mass by taking creatine without exercise does not mean that it is optimal or a replacement for exercise," Zemer cautioned.

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"The benefits of exercise will always supersede those of creatine alone, and when the two are combined, they are both enhanced."

The study authors noted several limitations to their findings.

Participants chose whether to join the exercise or non-exercise groups before being randomly assigned to receive either creatine or a placebo, which could have introduced lifestyle differences between the groups.

Additionally, because the study lasted just 12 weeks and included only healthy adults, researchers don't yet know whether the benefits would be long-term or whether they would apply to people with serious metabolic or neurological conditions.

For those considering taking creatine, Zemer advised consulting a healthcare professional to determine whether it's right for them, then choosing a reputable brand, staying hydrated and taking it consistently.

"Recommended minimum dosages for creatine are typically 3 grams for women and 5 grams for men," he said. "This study used higher dosages. Creatine is about consistency rather than when you take it, so find a time you can consistently take it daily."

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According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, creatine is generally considered safe for healthy adults, although some people may experience bloating, stomach discomfort or water retention.

Experts recommend talking with a healthcare provider before beginning supplementation, particularly for those with kidney disease or other chronic health conditions.

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Men are hiding potentially deadly disorder amid pressure to build the 'perfect' body

Days after Sylvester Stallone revealed his own history with bulimia, experts are highlighting a growing but often overlooked rise in eating disorders among men.

The Academy Award-nominated actor, 80, revealed during an interview with The New York Times that he developed an "obsession" with eating habits while prepping for his role in the 1982 movie "Rambo."

Stallone said he took pains to appear more "animalistic," drawing inspiration from jaguars and cats. "It became an obsession. Really bad. It got to the point where I became bulimic," he said during the interview.

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Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by episodes of binge eating — consuming a large amount of food while feeling a loss of control — followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting or excessive exercise, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Brian Pollack, a licensed clinical social worker and certified eating disorders specialist at Hilltop Behavioral Health in Summit, New Jersey, specializes in treating males who struggle with eating disorders, which he said is "highly underreported."

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), about 30 million Americans experience an eating disorder during their lifetime, and roughly one-third are male.

"Guys with eating disorders just present differently — for some men, it's about musculature … they continue to build muscle because they are afraid that they are weak, they want their muscles to align," Pollack told Fox News Digital. "We also see people who want to be so lean and pencil-thin that they don't eat whatsoever."

The expert, who has not treated Stallone, compared today's body-image pressures on boys and men with the beauty ideals many girls and women faced during earlier decades.

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"We’re seeing this extreme need for perfection and musculature — and that is leading to bulimia right now," he told Fox News Digital. "It’s particularly in our adolescent boys, who are consuming a lot of information about the ideal of masculinity in the eyes of society at large."

Societal expectations of masculinity can make it harder for men to identify and express feelings of vulnerability or distress, according to Pollack.

"Bulimia, especially, is about control," he said. "And what is it that men want? They want to be in control on a superficial level."

With binging, there is a loss of control over food — and purging is a way to get back in control, Pollack noted.

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The increase in bulimia and other eating disorders among men may also be driven by a desire to emulate celebrities.

"There's a big trend right now called ‘looksmaxxing,' where boys are harming themselves in pursuit of an ideal appearance, including undergoing cosmetic procedures to alter their jawlines," Pollack said. "It’s getting very scary out there, actually."

For many men, it may not be easy for others to recognize that they are struggling with bulimia or other eating disorders, as the binging and purging behaviors are usually done in secret, Pollack said.

"They're hidden," he said. "People are ashamed of them at times."

One red flag, he said, is if a loved one begins purchasing increasing amounts of supplements, such as creatine, or performance-enhancing substances such as human growth hormone.

People with eating disorders may exhibit compulsive behaviors around both exercise and eating, including working out for multiple hours every day and carefully calculating every aspect of their diet.

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Some men become fixated on restrictive eating patterns, Pollack said, including following strict ketogenic diets, consuming excessive amounts of protein, or eating only foods they consider "clean," such as organic, whole-food or non-GMO products.

In some cases, the obsession becomes so extreme that men may avoid eating foods prepared elsewhere or outside their strict standards.

Pollack said some people may have "cheat days" where they visit fast-food restaurants and eat as much as they can, in an attempt to satisfy an "intense urge" stoked by restriction. "They binge, and we often see people hiding in the bathroom within 45 minutes after meals."

Another warning sign is escalating use of laxatives or diuretics, with some people taking increasingly large amounts because smaller doses no longer produce the desired effect of feeling "emptied" or "in control."

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Pollack emphasized that bulimia and other disorders are experienced among men at all ages, from middle school and high school through college and adulthood.

"This is real, and men are afraid to talk about it," he said. "There's a real issue."

The expert said men often don't have the vocabulary to talk about emotional distress, making eating disorders harder to identify.

Instead, Pollack recommended asking questions about body goals — such as whether someone is trying to "sculpt your body" or "make sure that you have a six-pack" — and whether those pursuits are helping them avoid confronting difficult emotions.

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Bulimia is known to have life-threatening health impacts. "Just on a baseline level, with someone who purges, we see electrolyte imbalances, along with kidney and liver damage," Pollack said.

The expert shared that he has seen people go into cardiac arrest because prolonged malnutrition and repeated purging had severely damaged their hearts.

Bulimia patients may face expensive dental work, he added, due to severe erosion of their tooth enamel.

Esophagus issues, such as acid reflux and GERD, may also develop due to purging.

Long-term medical issues can range from treating heartburn with over-the-counter medication to facing life-threating issues, Pollack said.

"It's a very serious scenario."

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Kratom industry warns synthetic opioids should not be called 'kratom'

Amid the ongoing investigation into the deaths of two Ole Miss students, representatives of the kratom industry are speaking out about how the product may have been mischaracterized.

Court documents show that Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were discovered dead on Sept. 21 at two separate locations.

Initial reports stated that products described as "packaged kratom" or "synthetic kratom" were found near both students. In a Sept. 30 statement, however, investigators said only that "packaging associated with kratom-related products" had been recovered at both scenes.

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"During the investigations, packaging associated with kratom-related products was discovered at both locations," Lafayette County Metro Narcotics, a department in the sheriff's office, said in the Wednesday statement.

Toxicology results from the medical examiner are still pending.

Packaging found near both students bears the name Modus, according to court documents. The affidavit describes the tablets as Smax Pseudo-DHM, and lists pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15(DHM) among the ingredients on the pack found near Hamilton.

Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy at the American Kratom Association in Virginia, spoke with Fox News Digital on Thursday about the initial reports of packaged kratom at the two locations where the students were discovered.

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"We were deeply concerned with that characterization, because it is highly unlikely, if not statistically improbable, that a natural kratom leaf product would be the cause of two deaths independently, let alone one," he said.

After attempting to contact the Oxford police department, Haddow said the association held a press conference in Oxford asking for clarification on why officials would have disclosed a packaged kratom product.

The clarification showed that the products recovered were "chemically manipulated opioids, not kratom," Haddow added.

"We are grateful for the clarification, because what they have told us and disclosed is that these, in fact, were highly synthetic and importantly controlled substances under the Federal Controlled Substances Act," he said.

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"Those products never should have been on the market in the first place in those locations."

The Mississippi Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) is a state law that regulates the sale of kratom rather than banning it.

The law establishes standards for who may sell kratom, which products are permitted and how they must be labeled, while prohibiting certain adulterated or high-potency products.

"Why were they not enforcing it?" Haddow questioned.

According to Haddow, natural kratom leaves have been used for centuries in Southeast Asia. He argued there have been no published reports of deaths linked to traditional leaf use in the region, although medical literature does describe some adverse effects associated with long-term use.

Haddow said he believes kratom first spread in the U.S. after the Vietnam War, when returning soldiers and Southeast Asian immigrants brought it back from the region. However, researchers note that this origin story remains unsubstantiated in the published literature.

"And then these amateur chemists got involved and started tinkering with the alkaloids in the natural plant and started to adulterate them, and that appropriately got kratom on the radar of both the DEA and the FDA," he said.

In 2012, the FDA issued an import alert on kratom products, and the DEA sought to temporarily classify kratom's primary alkaloids as Schedule I substances in 2016 before withdrawing the proposal following public comment.

More recently, the agencies have raised concerns about concentrated and chemically modified kratom products, including those containing high levels of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).

"What these bad actors have done is completely alter the composition of the natural kratom plant," Haddow said.

"They rearranged the molecules. They've chemically synthesized them with high-concentration chlorine and baking soda and other nefarious production methods, so that they deliver what is in fact a signature opioid to consumers in the United States."

The association’s focus now is on banning synthetic products and protecting the natural leaf, Haddow said.

"It is improper for any government agency across the country to be blaming natural leaf kratom for any adverse event that is properly attributable to a synthetic opioid," he added, expressing his viewpoint.

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"If we were to take coffee and extract caffeine from it and then highly concentrate it to a level in which it is fatal and someone ingested it and died, we wouldn't blame coffee — we would blame the bad actor that took and extracted that caffeine, because caffeine is in its natural form and coffee is not dangerous. The same is true for natural kratom."

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Haddow said 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products — including Sudendoxyl and compounds known as MGM-15 and MGM-16 — should not be considered kratom.

"[They] are synthetic opioids, all of which should be enforced by both the federal and local law enforcement agencies," he said.

"We advocate strongly for proper clarification of these dangerous products as opposed to natural kratom, which is literally helping people with their health and wellness and saving lives."

Haddow cited an NIH-led study that is moving forward to evaluate whether purified mitragynine, the main alkaloid in the kratom plant, could help treat opioid use disorder.

Haddow said the association supports state regulations that require testing, labeling and age restrictions rather than outright bans.

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"Make sure the product formulations are safe, make sure the products are labeled correctly and make sure they're age-restricted," he urged. "21 and up should be the only people who have access to these products."

"We need to regulate them, and as we represent consumers, we're going to fight for that."

The FDA maintains that kratom has not been approved for any medical use and has warned of some risks, including dependence, contamination and adverse events, while researchers continue to study both the plant and its individual compounds.

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What to know about pentobarbital after death row inmate survives 2 lethal injection doses

A high-profile execution attempt in Nashville ended in chaos and raised urgent medical questions after Tennessee death row inmate Christa Gail Pike survived two separate doses of lethal pentobarbital, the Associated Press reported.

Pentobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate, according to medical authorities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Historically prescribed as a sedative, anti-seizure medication or sleep aid, pentobarbital enhances the activity of GABA, the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, slowing activity throughout the central nervous system.

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In clinical medicine, pentobarbital has been used for several purposes, including:

Because newer, safer drugs with lower risks of overdose have largely replaced barbiturates in hospital settings, pentobarbital is now rarely used in routine patient care.

However, it remains a primary agent in veterinary euthanasia and lethal injection protocols across several U.S. states, according to the National Library of Medicine, FDA-approved veterinary drug labeling and the Death Penalty Information Center.

In a high-dose lethal injection protocol, pentobarbital is administered intravenously in large, ultra-lethal quantities — typically 2.5 to 5 grams (far exceeding clinical therapeutic doses).

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When injected directly into a vein, the progression follows three stages, according to medical sources.

Pike, 50, who was convicted in the 1995 murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer, was slated to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.

Media witnesses observed her asking if her arm was supposed to feel that way (burning), breathing raggedly, and audibly snoring behind closed curtains over an hour-long span.

The incident prompted Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to halt all remaining executions in the state pending an independent investigation.

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According to statements from the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), officials administered two doses of pentobarbital, in accordance with the state's established single-drug execution protocol.

State officials maintained that they strictly adhered to the protocol and that the chemical supply was verified.

Media witnesses and defense court filings described several problems during the procedure.

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Several possible explanations have been raised in court filings and medical literature, although no cause has been confirmed in Pike’s case.

As state officials investigate the failed execution, Pike remains under medical observation while legal challenges continue over whether Tennessee may legally attempt a second execution, per reports.

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Surprising culprit tied to 1 in 8 cancer cases worldwide, major study reveals

About one in eight new cancer cases worldwide in 2024 — 2.3 million cases — have been linked to infections, according to a new analysis from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

The researchers identified 12 specific infections that were linked to human cancer cases, including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, Schistosoma haematobium, HTLV-1, Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis, Merkel cell polyomavirus and HIV.

The following five infections contributed to nearly all the global cases.

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"The findings underscore the major role that infection control can play in reducing the global cancer burden," said study co-author Dr. Harriet Rumgay, a scientist in the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC, in a press release.

"Despite progress in vaccination and screening, infection-related cancers remain a major global challenge, with the burden falling disproportionately on populations in low- and middle-income countries."

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The researchers say many of these cancers could have been prevented through vaccination, treatment or screenings.

The study, conducted in France, analyzed cancer data from 2024. The findings were published in The Lancet Oncology on Sept. 28.

The study had several limitations, the researchers acknowledged.

Because the study used population-level estimates rather than tracking individual patients over time, the results depended on the quality of available cancer data in each country.

Additionally, it only included infections already proven to cause cancer, so the total impact could be underestimated.

"We know that there are certain infections that we are exposed to over our lifetime that may result in an increased risk of certain cancers," Dr. Joshua Cohen, medical director of the Gynecologic Cancer Program of City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, California, told Fox News Digital.

"However, most cancers are not caused by infection."

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HPV is one of the most common drivers of cancers that arise along the rectum, vagina or cervix, as well as the oropharynx (back of the throat), according to Cohen, who was not involved in the study.

"Eighty percent of the population has been exposed to certain types of HPV strains," he said. "About 40,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with these cancers each year."

For most people who are exposed to HPV, the body will clear the virus on its own, Cohen said.

"We don't know why some patients' immune systems allow them to clear the HPV infection and some don't."

Another very common cancer, although less so in the U.S., is gastric cancer, he noted, which is linked to H. Pylori, an infection in the stomach.

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"We don't screen everybody for H. pylori in the U.S. — it's more common in other parts of the world, like Southeast Asia."

However, those who have peptic ulcer disease or significant epigastric pain should talk with a gastroenterologist about getting screened and treated for H. Pylori, the doctor advised.

There are things people can do to reduce the risk of infection-related cancers, according to Cohen.

"As a patient, the most important thing is to think about your health, what you can do to prevent yourself from developing these infections or your family," he said.

"And if you do have one of these infections, what can you do to reduce your risk of developing a subsequent cancer?"

Cohen emphasized that Americans have access to an HPV vaccination that can help prevent many of these infections.

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"If you’re under the age of 45, and you've not had an HPV vaccination, there is various good safety data that you should get vaccinated," he said. "That will cover, at least in the U.S., most risks regarding oropharyngeal cancers, vaginal cancers, cervical cancers, penile cancers and anal cancers."

The doctor reiterated that developing one of the listed infections doesn’t necessarily mean someone will develop cancer.

"The vast majority of patients who have an HPV infection or H. Pylori, or even hepatitis B or C, are not going to develop cancer," he said.

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But because these infections have been associated with certain cancers, it’s important to seek treatment for them.

Symptoms such as epigastric pain (pain or discomfort in the upper middle part of your abdomen), acid reflux, abnormal vaginal bleeding or pain with swallowing could be related to medical conditions that may be associated with certain infections or cancer, the doctor warned.

"There are steps we can take as doctors to keep you safe and hopefully reduce the risk of developing cancer for those that have had an infection," Cohen added.

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