Richard Branson’s wife could have survived with crucial medication, coroner finds

The death of Richard Branson's wife, Lady Joan Branson, could have been prevented if she had received medication to prevent blood clots, a British coroner reportedly found.

Lady Branson died at 80 after being admitted to the hospital in November 2025 after a fall weeks earlier on Necker Island, a British Virgin Island owned by her billionaire husband.

Her cause of death was determined to be a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks an artery, the BBC reported.

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Senior coroner Fiona Wilcox told Westminster Coroner's Court earlier this month that Lady Branson did not receive preventive anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, at the hospital despite a "very high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis," according to the outlet.

According to testimony during the legal inquest, Lady Branson's biggest risk factors included her immobility after a fracture following her fall.

"I do find her death would have likely been prevented and the lack of anticoagulation did cause or contribute to her death probably," Wilcox said.

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Wilcox added, however, that the case was not one of neglect because Branson did receive medical care.

The inquest, she said, was to "explore the facts, come to the correct conclusions and learn lessons from this," The Independent reported.

During the inquest, doctors gave differing testimony about whether bleeding risk justified withholding the medication, namely enoxaparin, an injectable blood thinner commonly used to help prevent blood clots in hospitalized patients.

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The hospital's admitting doctor, Dr. Basir Kunduzi, testified that he did not complete a bleeding risk assessment on the day of Lady Branson's admission.

Kunduzi said Lady Branson's death led him to "reflect on [his] role as a doctor" and the importance of "good communication between team members," according to the BBC.

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

The findings highlight the lifesaving role of blood thinners, which are often used in hospitals to help prevent DVT in patients who are unable to move normally after surgery, fractures or prolonged bed rest. They can increase the risk of bleeding, however, so doctors must weigh both risks before giving them.

Nearly all hospitalized adults should receive some form of blood clot prevention, either with blood-thinning medication or mechanical devices that help keep blood flowing in the legs, Dr. Jared Ross, a South Carolina-based emergency medicine physician, told Fox News Digital.

"In the vast majority of cases, the benefits outweigh the risks," Ross, who was not involved in the inquest or Branson's care, added.

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A spokeswoman for Sir Branson said the family does not plan to comment on the inquest and pointed to the numerous social media posts he has made for his wife.

"Life will never be the same without her," Branson wrote on Instagram last year, calling her the "shining star" of the family. "But we have fifty incredible years of memories — years filled with tears and laughter, kindness, and a love that shaped our family more than words could ever capture. It was a relationship that worked. We just had lots of laughs. We were very lucky."

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Although pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening, prompt treatment greatly improves the chances of survival, making early recognition critical.

Symptoms of DVT can include swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth and redness in the affected leg or arm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a clot travels to the lungs, may cause shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, coughing up blood, lightheadedness or fainting.

The CDC and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say anyone with symptoms of a pulmonary embolism should seek immediate medical attention.

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Tropical disease spread by mosquitoes claims first recorded death in southern US state

Florida recorded its first confirmed dengue fever death of 2026 earlier this month, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Gay Small of Hillsborough County died on Sept. 4 — her 80th birthday — from complications of a dengue infection, including septic shock and multi-organ failure, after she was bitten by a mosquito near her home on Bayshore Boulevard, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

"Cheated, just, you know, it’s so unfair because she was in good health, and she worked hard to stay healthy, and she walked, and she ate right and you know, all the things that you’re supposed to do," Small's daughter, Anna Small, told Tampa's WFLA Channel 8.

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"And you know, this virus just kind of comes out of nowhere. She met the wrong mosquito, and that’s it," Anna Small said.

Small's family said they believe Gay Small first caught dengue years ago while traveling abroad but didn't know it. People who have had dengue before are much more likely to develop severe symptoms.

"While in the hospital, Small said her mother was weak, her hands turned red, and she had trembles that she could hear in her voice," reported WFLA. "She had to go into the ICU by the middle of the week."

Small's late husband, Bob Small, spent his career working on dengue vaccines, according to the couple's daughter.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed the death Friday after completing its investigation, but did not release additional information, WFLA reported.

The Times, citing University of South Florida public-health instructor Kristi Miley, reported that a dengue death had not been recorded in the Tampa Bay area in nearly a century.

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Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can cause fever, severe aches, nausea, rash and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The virus is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, including Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa. Though less common in the continental U.S., locally acquired cases have been recorded in Florida, California and Texas.

Florida mosquito-control agencies have stepped up surveillance, inspections and spraying, as locally acquired dengue fever cases — which means people contracted the illness where they live rather than while traveling abroad — have climbed in recent weeks.

The Times reported that since July, Florida "has been experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of locally caught cases." Hillsborough County, where Small lived, "has been at the epicenter of the epidemic."

Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are under mosquito-borne illness alerts issued by the Florida Department of Health.

"Dengue does not stop at county lines," Pinellas County Mosquito Control Director Alissa Berro told Fox 13.

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"The mosquitoes that transmit the virus generally stay within a relatively small area, but people travel throughout the Tampa Bay area every day," he said.

"When someone infected with dengue enters a new area, a local mosquito can bite that person and later spread the virus to others. As cases rise across the region, so does the potential for additional local transmission."

In addition to increasing aerial and ground treatments in areas showing dengue virus activity, Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services has also been inspecting private properties for potential mosquito breeding sites, according to local reports.

The increased application of insecticide and larvicide by helicopters appears to be working, the Times reported, as, "Of the last 1,500 mosquitoes they've sent for testing, all have returned negative for dengue."

The Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) is urging residents to empty or cover standing water around their homes. The mosquito that spreads dengue is a container breeder, meaning it lays eggs in buckets, planters, plant saucers, tires, discarded toys and other objects that collect small amounts of water, experts say.

The FMCA also advises people to follow what it calls the "three Ds."

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Many people infected with dengue have no symptoms, and most people who do become sick recover within a week or two, according to Mayo Clinic. In some cases, however, the illness can progress to severe dengue, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Warning signs can develop quickly, often within a day or two after the fever subsides. Those may include severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising, difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness and irritability, or restlessness. People experiencing warning signs of severe dengue should seek immediate medical care.

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Women turn to testosterone for low sex drive as doctors confront treatment ‘experimentation’

When women ask their doctors about taking testosterone to help with menopause symptoms, they can run into insurance rejections, confusing workarounds and dosing guesswork, as no testosterone product is FDA-approved for women in the U.S.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened a public workshop to examine the evidence, safety and research gaps surrounding testosterone therapy for menopausal women.

Interest in testosterone therapy has grown as more women seek treatment for symptoms such as low sexual desire, fatigue and reduced quality of life during menopause — yet the lack of an FDA-approved product has left physicians relying on off-label prescribing and compounded formulations.

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Dr. Kudzai Dombo, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Menopause Society-certified practitioner, and prescribing physician at Alloy Health, said she sees this dynamic playing out daily in her own Los Angeles practice.

Once patients get settled on standard estrogen and progesterone regimens, "The immediate next question is, do I need testosterone?" Dombo told Fox News Digital.

Although women may hear about a wide range of potential benefits on social media and from friends, current evidence-based guidelines support testosterone therapy for only one indication: hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), or persistently low sexual desire.

Clinical evidence supporting its use for energy, mood, bone health or sleep remains limited — though many patients are eager to try it for those secondary benefits, according to Dombo.

Because no female-specific formulation exists, doctors must navigate off-label workarounds. They typically choose between using custom compounding pharmacies or micro-dosing FDA-approved male gel packets, which patients must carefully measure out at home.

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This lack of standardized options creates administrative and financial hurdles. Because the therapy is off-label, insurance routinely denies coverage, forcing clinicians and patients to improvise — a frustration that Dombo experienced firsthand.

"When I was prescribed testosterone, my insurance denied coverage, and my physician recommended a compounded cream to avoid the administrative burden," Dombo recalled. "I said, 'Well, I've already tried compounded and I actually want to try the gel.'"

Using a discount coupon, she paid out of pocket and discovered that a 10-month supply of male gel packets was actually cheaper than a single month of compounded cream.

"It's just an example, I think, of how we have to adapt to a system that has not supported patients when it comes to access to testosterone therapy," she said.

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Dosing male products can also present clinical challenges. Dombo described a patient in her private practice who precisely measured out one-tenth of a male gel packet daily using a syringe.

Despite three months of consistency, follow-up bloodwork showed no change in hormone levels, and the patient experienced no symptom relief.

"We're left to kind of decide, 'Well, what now?'" Dombo said. "It's all experimentation ... We don't have a set guideline for how to be able to do this for women. We have to rely on the art of medicine."

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The latest federal meeting represents a critical step forward, according to Dombo, who believes grassroots advocacy from patients and clinicians is forcing regulatory action.

"We're not going to stop knocking on the door, because there are several of us who believe that women deserve to be able to have access to just what they need," she said.

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"Sexual health is part of your entire health," Dombo emphasized, expressing optimism that regulatory agencies will eventually adapt to support safer, standardized access.

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Kim Kardashian reveals new health scare with haunting connection to father’s cancer death

Kim Kardashian is opening up about a new health diagnosis that hits close to home.

In a new trailer for "The Kardashians," the reality star, 45, revealed that she has esophagitis, which is inflammation of the esophagus.

The diagnosis held a particular significance given that her father, Robert Kardashian Sr., died of esophageal cancer in 2003 at age 59.

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In the episode, the Skims founder is seen lying on a hospital bed as someone off camera asks, "Didn’t your father ... isn’t it what he died of?"

Kardashian’s manager and mother, Kris Jenner, became emotional at this suggestion, saying, "I can’t. It makes me want to cry."

Experts have noted, however, that the two conditions are not the same.

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Kim Kardashian's diagnosis, esophagitis, is an inflammation of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. It is most commonly caused by acid reflux, certain medications, infections or allergies, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Esophageal cancer occurs when malignant cells form in the tissues lining the esophagus, according to the National Cancer Institute. There are two main types: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

While esophagitis itself does not directly cause cancer, the chronic inflammation can in some cases lead to Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition that can increase the higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. This risk is higher among those with ongoing acid reflux (GERD).

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About 5% to 15% of people with GERD develop Barrett's esophagus, although most people with Barrett's do not develop esophageal cancer, the NIDDK states.

For those who have been diagnosed with esophagitis, the Mayo Clinic provides the following recommendations to manage symptoms and reduce future cancer risk.

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In another health scare, Kardashian revealed in 2025 that her doctors discovered a small, unruptured brain aneurysm during an MRI scan.

"They’re like, 'It’s been there for, like, years. It was here a few years ago,’" she said in an episode of "The Kardashians."

Fox News Digital reached out to Kardashian requesting comment.

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Celebrity plastic surgeon reveals when it's too soon for a facelift, and when waiting can backfire

When it comes to getting a facelift, timing may be everything.

Going under the knife too soon could mean having surgery before it’s necessary — but waiting too long can also backfire, according to celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow.

During an episode of Josh Peck’s podcast, "Good Guys," the Beverly Hills-based surgeon said some women are jumping the gun and getting the procedure too soon.

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"For those people in their 30s who want some skin tightening, they need to wait, 'cause there will be the technology that will allow early facelifts without cutting," he said.

Dubrow also mentioned Kris Jenner’s recent facelift, which may have motivated women to seek out the procedure based on her results.

"That made facelifts like, ‘Oh, Kris Jenner did it and made it public. Now it's cool. Everybody get a facelift,’" he said.

"So then you're seeing 38-year-old people in your office wanting a facelift, and you go, ‘OK, hold on a second. You don't even need a facelift. You need to wait, because, you know, a facelift is incisions, and scars, and elevating up the skin, numbness, and all sorts of potential things that can go wrong."

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Dubrow warned that if people have too many facelifts, "when it starts to relax, it can relax in weird ways."

"You've all seen it – people who look pretty good, but there's something about the way their skin lies on their face that looks unnatural, and it ruins the whole look," he warned.

"If you have early laxity, don't go in for your ‘Kris Jenner facelift.’ Still wait, because that technology is just around the corner."

Conversely, the surgeon has warned that waiting too long – while relying on other nonsurgical fixes – can also backfire. "A lot of women are staying on the ‘nonsurgical treadmill’ for too long," Dubrow told Fox News Digital.

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"They keep adding filler, lasers and tightening treatments, when the real problem is that the deeper tissues have dropped."

While it is possible to get a great result with a later-in-life facelift, the doctor pointed out that as the skin becomes looser, the tissues descend further, which may require more extensive surgery.

"My feeling is that once those treatments stop producing a natural result, continuing to postpone surgery can actually make you look less natural."

That’s not to say that non-surgical treatments don’t have their place, he noted.

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"Fillers, lasers and tightening treatments can buy you time when they are used intelligently – but fillers cannot lift sagging tissue, and too much filler can make someone look distorted."

Aggressive energy treatments can also create scarring under the skin and make surgery more difficult later, Dubrow cautioned – "so, ask whether a treatment is truly delaying a facelift or just delaying the decision."

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There is no "magic age" in terms of best results with a facelift, according to Dubrow.

"For some women, it is their late 40s. For others, it is their 50s or 60s," he said. "It comes down to genetics, skin quality, and what is happening along the jawline and neck."

Advice for facelift timing can vary depending on what type of expert you see, and every specialist tends to see the problem through the treatments they perform, the doctor noted.

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"A dermatologist may explain what can still be accomplished without surgery, and a board-certified plastic surgeon can tell you when those options have reached their limit … and when it is time to actually reposition the anatomy," he said.

Ultimately, he suggests getting opinions from both sides.

"The right time should be based on your face, not the doctor’s menu," Dubrow said. "Choose what makes sense for your anatomy, your goals and your tolerance for surgery."

"The best facelift is the one nobody knows you had, but the best advice often comes from hearing more than one point of view."

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Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals

Exhaustion has become the default state for a vast majority of Americans.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics shows that more than seven in 10 U.S. adults experience fatigue over any given three-month period — a drain that public health officials say is taking a heavy toll on work and daily life.

The report, based on the 2024 National Health Interview Survey of roughly 27,000 adults, revealed that exhaustion is one of the most common health complaints nationwide.

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The CDC defines fatigue as a state of physical or mental exhaustion that does not improve with rest, distinguishing it from simple sleepiness.

Overall, 71.5% of respondents reported feeling fatigued on at least some days, with 16.6% reporting "frequent fatigue" — defined as feeling exhausted most days or every day.

"Fatigue can be caused by numerous issues," Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, told Fox News Digital.

While underlying hormonal, cardiac or neurological conditions can play a role, "a vast majority of fatigue people experience is probably related to poor sleep quality as well as psychosocial stress, which a lot of times go hand-in-hand."

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Frequent fatigue is significantly more common among women (20%) than men (13%).

The data also shows that younger adults ages 18 to 34 reported the highest rates of frequent exhaustion at 19.5%, while adults 65 and older reported the lowest rate at 12.9%.

Fatigue also increases among lower-income households, residents in rural areas and those living in the South and Midwest.

About 50.9% of adults with frequent fatigue reported having difficulties in three or more functional areas, including mood, mobility and memory. More than one-third of frequently fatigued adults said exhaustion limits their ability to work, while 29% reported cutting back on social activities.

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"Quality of sleep is very important for restoration of both the mental and physical body," Murray said. "The fatigue that results from poor quality of sleep contributes to slower thought processing, decreased concentration, and a less productive and happy workforce."

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Although the report doesn't identify specific causes, experts say workplace culture and constant digital connectivity may contribute to fatigue.

"The advancements of instant communication technologies certainly have benefits; however, we are not able to disconnect from our work life any longer," Murray said.

"There are now expectation issues from work that can be dealt with quickly over our phone, even late at night. Also, social media and constant scrolling have certainly contributed to a reduced quality of sleep."

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Experts say constant interruptions and digital multitasking can leave people feeling mentally drained. Research has found that frequently switching between emails, chat messages and other work tasks forces the brain to repeatedly refocus, contributing to mental fatigue.

To combat the growing exhaustion, Murray stressed the need for setting boundaries and seeking medical evaluation as needed.

"It is important to disconnect from work and our electronic devices in the hours leading up to sleep," he advised. "Also, if fatigue is becoming a problem, it is important to seek medical attention to ensure there's no underlying medical reason contributing to the fatigue."

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Champion athlete soils herself mid-race and keeps going, prompting fitness competition to change rules

A popular global fitness competition is changing its rules after an explosive incident at a Sept. 12 competition.

Australian professional athlete Joanna Wietrzyk won the race at HYROX Beijing — but the victory did not come without struggle.

During the race, Wietrzyk experienced fecal incontinence but continued competing. Despite the incident, judges and officials did not instruct her to stop, prompting concerns about potential health and safety risks for other competitors.

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The incident has sparked online debate — some people have supported Wietrzyk for her perseverance, while others suggested that her accident posed a potential biohazard.

Wietrzyk reportedly addressed the incident in a social media post, which has since been deleted.

"Go hard or go home … a win is a win. In all seriousness, thank you for all the support. I’ll be back soon x," she wrote, according to multiple news outlets.

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The athlete has since faced criticism from those who argue that her decision posed a health risk to other competitors.

Wietrzyk’s coach, Chris Bayens, posted a statement on social media in her defense. "What happened was an extraordinary set of circumstances that were unforeseen, rapidly evolving and almost impossible to fully comprehend in real time," he wrote on Instagram.

"Decisions were made under competition conditions by an athlete, judges and officials, all responding to a situation none of them could reasonably have prepared for."

Bayens continued that these decisions can be reviewed and lessons can be learned, but "judging someone’s intent, character or morality through the clarity of hindsight is neither fair nor honest."

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"Sport occasionally produces moments that are imperfect and deeply human," he said. "Discussion is legitimate. The hatred and personal attacks that have followed are not."

Moritz Furste, co-founder of HYROX, also released a statement following the incident.

"I apologize to all that were directly or indirectly affected, as well as to everyone who felt like we did not handle the situation like we should have," he wrote. "HYROX made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race. In the end, it is my job to foresee these potential incidents – and I did not."

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The statement continued, "Of course, we started improving event processes, plus making rulebook changes immediately. As of this moment, there are new rules and procedures in place to prevent situations like this from happening again. We learn and try to get better every day."

According to HYROX, the race combines cardio with weight training, involving a total of eight kilometers (about five miles) of running and eight functional workout stations.

The structure of the competitions layers a one-kilometer run with one functional workout station, including SkiErg (a machine that simulates cross-country skiing), sled push, sled pull, burpee broad jumps, rowing, farmers carry, sandbag lunges and wall balls.

Launched in Germany in 2017, HYROX has grown rapidly worldwide, with recent reports putting participation at more than 1.4 million competitors globally. The organization describes the race as the world's fastest-growing fitness sport.

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More than 98% of HYROX competitors complete the race, with no time limit to finish and no qualification required to enter.

"The structure of HYROX eliminates the generic fear of ‘coming last,’" the brand wrote on its website.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, California-based certified fitness trainer Ryan Read shared why the HYROX format can be so physically demanding.

"Your body doesn't get much time to fully recover between efforts," he said. "You may go from running directly to sled pushes, lunges or rowing. That forces your heart, lungs and muscles to work hard for a long period."

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As the race progresses, maintaining proper form can become more difficult, according to Read, as the combination of intensity, duration and repetitive exercises can put a "significant amount of stress on the body."

"Muscles become fatigued and the body uses up stored energy and fluids," he said. "During hard exercise, more blood is directed toward working muscles and away from the digestive system. That can make digestion more difficult."

Running in particular creates a repetitive movement that can upset the stomach. Combining this with dehydration, heat and eating too close to competition can worsen symptoms, Read cautioned.

"This is why some athletes experience nausea, cramping, diarrhea or even vomiting during endurance events."

There is a "big difference" between working through normal discomfort and ignoring a medical warning sign, according to the trainer.

Elite athletes are often conditioned to push through pain, a mindset that can intensify during competition. Adrenaline can also make it harder to recognize when the body is in distress, Read said.

Symptoms like vomiting, fainting, severe chest pain or extreme weakness "should not be treated as proof that someone is working hard enough."

"Pushing through certain symptoms can turn a manageable problem into a medical emergency," he emphasized. "Real toughness also means knowing when your body is telling you to stop."

Read suggested that fitness organizations should have "clear rules" for when an athlete needs to be evaluated or removed from a competition, and medical staff should be easily accessible throughout the event.

"Equipment that becomes contaminated with vomit, blood or other bodily fluids should be taken out of use immediately," he said. "Simply wiping it quickly and sending the next competitor through may not be enough."

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Bodily fluids can contain germs that may spread through contaminated surfaces or direct contact, Read said.

"The exact risk depends on the fluid, organism and type of exposure. Competitor safety should come before keeping the event moving on schedule."

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