Simple diet change could relieve painful bathroom symptoms, experts say

More than half of people over 50 have experienced hemorrhoids, according to the National Institutes of Health and other medical sources.

To help patients and providers navigate this common issue, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recently released updated clinical practice guidelines in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The update focuses on a simple approach, emphasizing lifestyle modifications over quick-fix products.

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Hemorrhoids are swollen, enlarged veins that develop both internally and externally. According to the Cleveland Clinic, they can range from a minor annoyance to a source of significant pain and rectal bleeding.

Experts estimate that one in 20 Americans have hemorrhoids that irritate them. They become more common with age.

They are also particularly common during pregnancy due to increased pelvic pressure, though these cases can usually be managed with conservative symptom care.

One takeaway from the AGA update is that a promising treatment for hemorrhoids is often found in the pantry rather than the pharmacy. The experts labeled increased fiber intake as a "reasonable first-line therapy."

By softening the stool and increasing its bulk, fiber reduces the need for straining, a culprit behind hemorrhoid flare-ups.

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Most Americans are nowhere near the recommended daily fiber intake.

The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend 22 to 28 grams for women and 28 to 45 grams for men, but data suggest that 90% of women and 97% of men fall short.

The AGA highlighted that restroom habits are also a contributing factor.

In an era where many people take their smartphones into the bathroom, prolonged sitting and straining can lead to increased pressure. The updated guidelines recommend avoiding long sessions that exacerbate symptoms.

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People may reach for sitz baths or topical creams at the first sign of discomfort, but the AGA says there is limited data to support their long-term effectiveness.

The guidelines also warn against the overuse of topical steroids. While they can reduce inflammation, using them for more than two weeks can cause the skin to thin and become more irritated.

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While lifestyle changes are important, the AGA emphasizes that a proper diagnosis is vital. Because rectal bleeding can sometimes be a symptom of more serious conditions, a physical exam is recommended before beginning any treatment plan.

For persistent or severe cases, patients may need office-based procedures or surgical intervention.

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Fish oil supplements linked to slower brain repair in some patients, study finds

Fish oil might not be the brain booster you think it is, new research suggests.

The supplement has been touted for its protective benefits, derived from its key component, omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to capsules, it is increasingly appearing in drinks, dairy alternatives and snack products.

Researchers recently found that for certain people, specifically those who have sustained repeated mild head injuries, fish oil might do more harm than good.

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"Fish oil supplements are everywhere, and people take them for a range of reasons, often without a clear understanding of their long-term effects," lead author Onder Albayram, PhD, a neuroscientist and associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina and a member of the National Trauma Society Committee, said in a press release.

In terms of neuroscience, he said, "we still don't know whether the brain has resilience or resistance to this supplement."

MUSC researchers found that a specific part of fish oil called EPA — an omega-3 fatty acid — can interfere with how the brain heals itself after an injury. Instead of protecting the brain, long-term use of fish oil appeared to make it more vulnerable.

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The study focused on the neurovascular system, which is the network of blood vessels that supplies the brain with nutrients and helps it recover, according to the release.

EPA seemed to make the walls of the brain’s blood vessels less stable. After an injury, these vessels need to be strong to help the brain repair itself, the researchers noted.

The chemical also blocked the repair signals that the brain usually sends out after experiencing physical trauma.

Additionally, fish oil use was linked to a buildup of a protein called tau, which is often associated with long-term brain diseases.

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"I am not saying fish oil is good or bad in some universal way," Albayram said.

"What our data highlight is that biology is context-dependent. We need to understand how these supplements behave in the body over time, rather than assuming the same effect applies to everyone."

Most of the core findings were observed in mice, and since human brains are much more complex, the results may not translate perfectly to people, the researchers acknowledged.

Also, because the findings are focused specifically on "repeated mild head injuries," they may not apply to people who have not experienced head trauma and are taking fish oil for heart health or other reasons.

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The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports.

Fox News Digital reached out to supplement manufacturers for comment.

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Damon Wayans reveals the scary symptom that led to his type 2 diabetes diagnosis

Comedy icon Damon Wayans has gone from spreading laughter to spreading awareness about diabetes risk.

The actor, best known for his roles in "In Living Color," "Major Payne" and "My Wife and Kids," has lived several years with his own case of type 2 diabetes, which runs in his family.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Wayans, 65, shared the moment he realized the condition should be taken seriously.

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"It was like 2017 and I just remember going to the bathroom and peeing so much that I thought maybe my blood was draining out, too," he described. "And it kept happening and I'm just like – I'm not even drinking that much water."

This frequent urination was followed by pain in his feet, numbness in his toes, delirium and blurry vision.

"My sister Kim made me go to the doctor because I probably wouldn't have gone," Wayans said.

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After the doctor revealed that Wayans' blood sugar reading was at a critically high 535 mg/dL, he was "scared straight" into making some "serious" lifestyle changes.

"I used to drink wine, love wine. I don't drink wine [anymore]," he said. "It's a much healthier life I'm living, and I'm aware of all the joys that I have now that I just took for granted back when I wasn't taking care of myself."

Wayans said he stays "disciplined" with a healthy diet and works out every morning, involving a mix of weightlifting strength training using his own body weight, like burpees and yoga.

"I also wear a glucose monitor, so I know what exercise does to me [and] to my blood sugar," he said. "I know if I lift weights, I feel better, and also I'm burning [calories] for the rest of the day."

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While Wayans feels he has his routine under control, the risk of long-term diabetes complications still looms.

The entertainer recently teamed up with biotech company Genentech’s "All Eye on DME" campaign, a movement to spread awareness of diabetes-related vision loss.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss, according to Genentech.

Although Wayans does not have DME himself, he continuously monitors his own symptoms, including depth perception issues, admitting he "needs to get [his] eyes checked."

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"Sometimes God talks to you, and maybe this is something I needed to hear and be a part of in order to keep myself from going blind," he added.

The condition occurs when fluid leaks from weakened or damaged blood vessels (called retinopathy), causing buildup in the macula, a small area in the middle of the retina that is responsible for clear vision.

If left untreated, the buildup can lead to partial or complete vision loss, according to Genentech.

DME, which can occur in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients, is the leading cause of vision loss in "working-age" diabetics.

The condition occurs in about 750,000 diabetics in the U.S., disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic populations, research shows.

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Some symptoms of DME include blurry or doubled vision, floaters or dark spots, difficulty seeing colors or objects when there’s a glare, seeing straight lines as curved or bent, or seeing objects as a different size when one eye is closed.

The condition can be diagnosed by an eye doctor via a visual acuity test, eye exam or optical imaging.

Wayans’ biggest piece of advice for diabetes patients is "don’t be afraid to see a doctor."

"You'd be surprised at how simple the treatments are, but you can't treat it if you don't know what it is [and] if you never get diagnosed," he said.

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"It's important that we let our guard down and let our egos down and go conquer the fear, because the fear is all in your head."

Wayans – a member of the iconic Wayans comedy family, including brothers Keenen Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans, along with son Damon Wayans Jr. – said he hopes that doing his part to spread awareness for DME will help his family talk more openly about health.

"If they see that I'm not afraid, then maybe they'll be less afraid," he said. "And if I can go home and actually talk in-depth about treatments … especially if I got it done myself, I think they'll be more receptive to it."

Wayans acknowledged how cost and access obstacles can hold people back from seeking medical help.

"Even if you have to spend a little money now to get it under control, it's worth it," he said. "Because there's so much life to live, unless you do nothing."

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Dementia risk rises with common food type millions eat every day, study suggests

It’s well-known that ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are not good for overall health — but new research has uncovered further evidence that this diet could negatively impact the brain.

The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia by the Alzheimer’s Association, revealed that UPFs are linked to more than 30 adverse health outcomes, including several dementia risk factors, like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Researchers from Australia’s Monash University analyzed more than 2,000 dementia-free Australian adults between the ages of 40 and 70, comparing their diets to cognitive function.

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They found that each 10% increase in UPF intake was associated with lower attention scores and higher dementia risk, regardless of whether the adults typically followed a healthy diet, like the Mediterranean diet.

There was no significant link found between UPF consumption and memory.

By identifying food processing as a contributor to poorer cognition, the study "supports the need to refine dietary guidelines," the researchers concluded.

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As the data was self-reported, this could pose a limitation to the strength of the findings, the team noted.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen, a California-based psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics, discussed how diet has a "powerful impact" on the brain.

"Your brain is an energy-hungry organ," he said. "It uses about 20% of the calories you consume, so the quality of those calories matters."

Food is either "medicine or poison," according to the doctor, who called out ultraprocessed foods like packaged snacks, soft drinks and ready-made meals that tend to be higher in sugar, unhealthy fats, additives and low-quality ingredients.

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These foods can promote inflammation, insulin resistance, poor blood flow and oxidative stress, all of which are "bad for the brain," according to Amen.

The brain expert noted that the study revealed even a 10% increase in ultraprocessed food intake – equivalent to roughly a pack of chips per day – was linked to a "measurable drop in attention, even when people had otherwise healthy diets."

"Attention is the gateway to learning, memory, decision-making and problem-solving," Amen said. "If you can’t focus, you can’t fully encode information."

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The "big takeaway," according to the doctor, is to "love foods that love you back."

"You may love the taste of chips, cookies and candy, but they don’t love you (or your brain) back," he said. "Ultraprocessed foods may claim to be sugar-free, low-carb or keto-friendly, but researchers noted that ultraprocessing can destroy the natural structure of food – and can introduce additives or processing chemicals that may affect cognition."

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Amen suggests sticking to real food that grows on plants or animals, instead of food "made in plants."

"Build meals around colorful vegetables and fruits, clean protein, healthy fats, nuts, seeds and high-fiber carbohydrates," he recommended. "Start by replacing one ultraprocessed food per day with a brain-healthy option."

That might mean swapping out chips for nuts, soda for water or unsweetened green tea, and packaged sweets for berries. "Small choices done consistently can change your brain and your life," the doctor emphasized.

As UPFs have been shown to worsen several dementia risk factors, Amen stressed that people at risk of cognitive decline should "get serious about prevention as early as possible."

"If you have a family history of dementia, memory concerns, diabetes, high blood pressure or weight issues, your diet is not a side issue – it's a primary brain-health intervention," Amen said.

"Remember, you’re not stuck with the brain you have. You can make it better, and it starts with the next bite."

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

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Heart attacks and strokes rising with extreme weather events, research suggests

Extreme weather is fueling a rise in heart attacks and strokes, with heat waves and cold snaps contributing to the rise, according to new research reported by SWNS.

The findings, presented last week at the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) congress, analyzed data from more than 8 million residents of Eastern Poland between 2011 and 2020.

During that decade, researchers recorded over 573,000 major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).

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"Climate change is driving extreme weather events, yet temperate climates remain understudied," professor Lukasz Kuzma, of the Medical University of Bialystok, told SWNS. "Poland is now seeing unprecedented heat waves alongside existing cold waves."

The study found that while both types of temperature extremes are dangerous, they attack the body in different ways.

In heat waves, the impact is immediate. On the day of the weather occurrence, major cardiovascular events spiked by 7.5%, while cardiovascular deaths jumped by 9.5%, according to the report.

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The impact of a cold wave is delayed but sustained. The risk of major events rose between 4% and 5.9% in the days following exposure.

Air pollution intensified the risks of extreme temperatures, the data showed. Approximately 13% of all cardiovascular deaths were attributed to pollution, representing more than 71,000 years of life lost over the 10-year period.

"Our results highlight that the problems of climate change now extend to Northern Europe and demonstrate the considerable combined hazards of temperature extremes and air pollution on increasing cardiovascular events," Kuzma said.

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Contrary to traditional medical assumptions, the study found that monthly increases in pollution exposure were particularly dangerous for demographics often considered lower risk.

The risk of cardiovascular events was 5% higher in women than in men, and 9% higher in people under age 65 compared to those older than 65.

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"Even though air pollution is recognized as a major cardiovascular risk factor, it is still underappreciated," said Dr. Anna Kurasz of the Medical University of Bialystok, per SWNS.

"These results challenge the traditional risk factor paradigm about which groups of individuals are most susceptible."

Looking ahead, Kuzma plans to investigate the impact of light and noise pollution, with the goal of modernizing how doctors predict patient risk.

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"We also aim to develop a method to incorporate environmental factors into a cardiovascular risk prediction algorithm to enable more effective targeting of preventive efforts," he added.

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Pancreatic cancer patient Ben Sasse sees 'massive' tumor reduction with experimental new drug

Months after revealing his stage 4 cancer diagnosis, former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse is speaking out about an experimental therapy that could extend his life.

Sasse, a Republican who represented Nebraska between 2015 and 2023, shared in December 2025 that he has metastatic pancreatic cancer, which has spread to multiple organs — including his liver and lungs.

After initially being given three to four months to live, Sasse, 54, entered a clinical trial for a drug called daraxonrasib, an oral therapy (pill) that is designed to block the defective gene that triggers uncontrolled cellular growth.

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The California-based drugmaker, Revolution Medicines, recently shared data from a phase 3 clinical trial of people with metastatic pancreatic cancer who did not respond to standard chemotherapy. 

Patients on the treatment lived a median of 13 months, compared to around six months for those who continued with chemo.

"I have much, much less pain than I had four months ago when I was diagnosed, and I have a massive 76% reduction in tumor volume over the last four months," Sasse told "60 Minutes" in a recent interview.

Daraxonrasib works by going after a key growth "switch" in many cancers called RAS, according to Sarbajit Mukherjee, M.D., chief of gastrointestinal medical oncology at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida. 

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"In pancreatic cancer, that switch is stuck in the ‘on’ position in the vast majority of tumors, constantly telling the cancer cells to grow and spread," the doctor, who was not involved in the trial and did not treat Sasse, told Fox News Digital.

"Daraxonrasib is designed to bind to RAS in its active state and turn down that signal, which can slow or shrink the cancer."

Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose early because there are generally no symptoms — or only subtle gastrointestinal symptoms — until it is already widespread, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst.

"This is the first-of-its-kind targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer," Siegel, who also was not involved in the research or the senator’s treatment, told Fox News Digital. "The drug is in the final stages of clinical trials, where it has been shown to double the survival of those previously treated for metastatic pancreatic cancer."

Mukherjee noted that the survival boost seen in the trial is a "big difference" for a disease that typically has much shorter survival times.

"From my perspective, as someone who treats pancreatic cancer every day, daraxonrasib is the first targeted pill in this disease that truly feels like a step change rather than a small incremental improvement," he said.

"It opens the door to much more personalized strategies going forward. For a cancer where progress has been painfully slow, it could reshape how we care for patients with advanced disease."

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While current chemotherapy options can shrink pancreatic tumors and help people live longer, they are "tough," Mukherjee noted — "and once they stop working, our options are limited and survival is usually measured in just a few more months."

Early data also suggests that when daraxonrasib is combined with standard chemotherapy as the first treatment, there is more shrinkage of tumors and more patients doing well at six months than they typically would only with chemotherapy.

If the drug is approved, it will likely become an important option for patients when standard chemotherapy stops working, Mukherjee suggested.

"Ongoing trials are now asking whether it should also be used as part of the very first treatment plan," he added.

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Although the drug is described as "well-tolerated" compared to chemotherapy, the doctor noted that, like any strong cancer drug, daraxonrasib has side effects. 

"The ones we see most often include rash, diarrhea, mouth sores and fatigue, with patients needing regular blood tests and close follow‑up while on treatment," Mukherjee said. 

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In the clinical trials, most of these problems have been managed by adjusting the dose or adding supportive medications.

"The limitations are important to be transparent about — it is still not yet FDA‑approved, and it is not a cure," Mukherjee noted. 

"Over time, most cancers will eventually find ways to grow around the drug."

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In addition to daraxonrasib, which he calls a "miracle" drug, Sasse credits his faith for helping him beat his original prognosis.

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"It's weird to be in your early 50s and get a terminal diagnosis, and people all of a sudden act like you're 93 or 94, and you have a lot of wisdom," he said. 

"I don't know that I have a lot of wisdom, but I have a lot of things that I think we should be reflecting on together."

Fox News Digital reached out to Sasse for further comment, and to the head of the clinical trial as well.  

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Rectal cancer deaths rising up to three times faster in specific age group, study finds

Rectal cancer deaths are rising at a significantly faster rate than colon cancer among younger Americans, a trend that researchers warn will continue to escalate without a shift in treatment.

Mortality rates for rectal cancer are growing two to three times faster than those for colon cancer among adults aged 20 to 44, according to a study to be presented at Digestive Disease Week 2026 in Chicago.

The data suggests that for older millennials, specifically those between the ages of 35 and 44, rectal cancer mortality is projected to escalate through 2035.

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"Colorectal cancer is no longer considered predominantly a disease of older adults," said lead author Mythili Menon Pathiyil, a gastroenterology fellow at SUNY Upstate Medical University. "Rectal cancer, especially, is becoming a growing problem in younger individuals."

The researchers analyzed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) death records from 1999 to 2023. 

Using a machine learning model to project future trends, the team found that the mortality gap between the two types of cancer is widening across every demographic.

Hispanic adults and residents of Western states experienced the steepest increases in rectal cancer deaths, the study found.

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A primary concern raised by the research is the diagnostic delay often experienced by younger patients.

"Young people are being diagnosed with rectal cancers at increasingly younger ages — and often at more advanced, aggressive stages of disease," Rachel Gordon, M.D., a New York-based colorectal and general surgeon at Episcopal Health Services, told Fox News Digital.

"We’re seeing a combination of lifestyle and environmental exposures, including diet and changes in the gut microbiome, potentially playing a role," said Gordon, who was not involved in the study.

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Older adults tend to begin treatment within a month of symptoms starting — but young adults face an average seven-month delay before getting care.

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Pathiyil noted that primary care providers often dismiss red-flag symptoms in young people — such as rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habits — as benign conditions like hemorrhoids.

"If something doesn’t feel right, or if you experience symptoms such as rectal bleeding (bright red or dark), persistent changes in bowel habits (including diarrhea or constipation), narrow stools, a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or fatigue, it’s important to see your doctor promptly," Gordon advised.

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The findings suggest that current screening strategies may need to be reevaluated, according to Pathiyil.

"Our study shows that rectal cancer is driving much of the increase in colorectal cancers," she added. 

"It’s likely to worsen over time if we don’t change what we are doing right now."

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