Selena Gomez says she was 'misdiagnosed' before receiving bipolar diagnosis

Actress and singer Selena Gomez continues to be outspoken about mental health following her diagnosis with bipolar disorder.

The former Disney star announced her diagnosis in 2020 during an Instagram Live video call with fellow Disney Channel standout Miley Cyrus. Gomez has since described this discovery as a relief, although not an easy path.

In a recent episode of the "Friends Keep Secrets" podcast, Gomez – the co-founder of mental health publication Wondermind – shared details about her journey to diagnosis.

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Fellow musician and husband Benny Blanco asked his wife if she knew she was bipolar before being officially diagnosed.

"I knew something was wrong, but I think I was misdiagnosed," she responded. "I think people were just assuming – and I would try multiple therapists."

"It’s actually really hard when we’re talking about these things, and for me to go, ‘Go get a therapist.’ All of it is so … complicated."

Gomez detailed how her diagnosis required talking to "multiple different people," stressing the importance of not giving up.

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"I’m so grateful I went to four different rehabs because it all helped me understand it," she said.

Blanco revealed that Gomez sometimes experiences a manic episode without recognizing it.

"She’ll start to realize she’s having it after it’s happening, and sometimes she doesn’t even remember when it’s happening," he said.

"It’s such a delicate thing because … you’re not supposed to, technically, talk to the person about it while they’re deep in it."

Blanco added that Gomez is "so hyper aware" of when she’s experiencing mania.

"I’m equally proud to say that I do have moments of mania," she said. "I’m not ashamed at all, because I can catch them a bit quicker."

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"It is helpful to have a partner who will understand … and meet you where you are," the singer added.

Since her diagnosis, Gomez said she lives life more "freely."

"The whole hypocrisy of shaming people for therapy, or people not understanding it, is that it’s just not for you," she said. "But for me, it finally allowed me to go, ‘Oh, that’s why I handled things the way I [did]. That’s why all the other people were able to get over things quickly, and I wasn’t.'"

Gomez added, "I’d act out of fear, I’d act out of love, I’d act out of passion, it was all inconsistent. It was crazy."

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The actress encouraged others that no matter the diagnosis, "you are not defined by a term."

"It’s just informative to seek and talk and listen to podcasts or listen to certain things that will help you get information," she said. "I do believe there is a lot of hope."

About 2.8% of adults in the U.S. have experienced bipolar in the last year, while 4.4% experience it during their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Formerly called manic depression or "manic-depressive disorder," bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic shifts in mood, energy and activity levels, affecting the ability to carry out daily tasks.

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This can include emotional highs, referred to as mania or hypomania, and lows, known as depression, per Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms can differ depending on bipolar type.

Manic and hypomanic episodes typically include three or more of the following symptoms:

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Major depressive episodes typically include five or more of the following symptoms.

Mayo Clinic encourages anyone experiencing these symptoms to seek help from a professional.

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Diagnosis can be made through a physical exam and lab testing, as well as mental health assessments and tracking of moods, sleep patterns and other factors.

After diagnosis, Mayo Clinic recommends paying attention to warning signs to prevent episodes. Getting enough sleep, taking medications as directed, and abstaining from drugs and alcohol can also help.

Fox News Digital reached out to Gomez's representation and Wondermind for comment.

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Happier and healthier people do these 6 things every day, says wellness expert

The goal for most people is to live a long and happy life.

There are several habits that happy and healthy people observe as they age, according to behavioral scientist and happiness expert Arthur Brooks, professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School in Boston.

In a recent appearance on Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s FoundMyFitness podcast, Brooks referenced data from the Harvard Study of Adult Development – an 85-year longitudinal study of adult life – which identified six typical habits of people who are happier and healthier.

HAPPINESS EXPERT SHARES 6-STEP MORNING ROUTINE THAT BOOSTS MOOD AND PRODUCTIVITY

While the first three habits are "obvious," Brooks said, the other three are often overlooked.

Research shows that a nutritious, balanced diet supports both physical health and mental well-being over time.

For exercise, Brooks noted that doing too much can backfire. Those who are "exercise maniacs" could run the risk of doing "mechanical ill" to the body, he warned.

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"They’re very moderate on substances, none of them were addicts," Brooks said. "Or if they had trouble with it, they quit."

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"Lifelong smokers have a seven in 10 chance of dying of a smoking-related illness – and that’s an unhappy way to go."

"And actually, you’re probably not happy and there’s a lot of compensation that’s going on," he continued. "That’s how a lot of former alcoholics re-sample: They become addicted."

People who are lifelong learners tend to be healthier and happier, according to the expert.

"That’s usually a lot of reading, but it’s just curiosity is how that comes about, which is really, really important," he said on the podcast.

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Brooks described this concept as "your technique for dealing with life’s problems."

"You’ve got to get good at it," he said. "You need skill at dealing with life’s problems. If you don’t get good at it, you’re going to be bad when things actually crop up."

"All the happy and well people have their way [of dealing] with it, and they’re highly skilled in doing it."

Some healthy ways to cope include therapy, meditation, prayer and journaling, according to Brooks.

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"People who have the best lives, who are happy and well when they’re older, have a strong marriage and/or close friendships," Brooks said.

"That’s it. There’s no substitute for love. Happiness is love – full stop."

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Happier and healthier people do these 7 things every day, says wellness expert

The goal for most people is to live a long and happy life.

There are several habits that happy and healthy people observe as they age, according to behavioral scientist and happiness expert Arthur Brooks, professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School in Boston.

In a recent appearance on Dr. Rhonda Patrick’s FoundMyFitness podcast, Brooks referenced data from the Harvard Study of Adult Development – an 85-year longitudinal study of adult life – which identified seven typical habits of people who are happier and healthier.

HAPPINESS EXPERT SHARES 6-STEP MORNING ROUTINE THAT BOOSTS MOOD AND PRODUCTIVITY

While the first four habits are "obvious," Brooks said, the other four are often overlooked.

Research shows that a nutritious, balanced diet supports both physical health and mental well-being over time.

For exercise, Brooks noted that doing too much can backfire. Those who are "exercise maniacs" could run the risk of doing "mechanical ill" to the body, he warned.

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"They’re very moderate on substances, none of them were addicts," Brooks said. "Or if they had trouble with it, they quit."

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"Lifelong smokers have a seven in 10 chance of dying of a smoking-related illness – and that’s an unhappy way to go."

"And actually, you’re probably not happy and there’s a lot of compensation that’s going on," he continued. "That’s how a lot of former alcoholics re-sample: They become addicted."

People who are lifelong learners tend to be healthier and happier, according to the expert.

"That’s usually a lot of reading, but it’s just curiosity is how that comes about, which is really, really important," he said on the podcast.

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Brooks described this concept as "your technique for dealing with life’s problems."

"You’ve got to get good at it," he said. "You need skill at dealing with life’s problems. If you don’t get good at it, you’re going to be bad when things actually crop up."

"All the happy and well people have their way [of dealing] with it, and they’re highly skilled in doing it."

Some healthy ways to cope include therapy, meditation, prayer and journaling, according to Brooks.

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"People who have the best lives, who are happy and well when they’re older, have a strong marriage and/or close friendships," Brooks said.

"That’s it. There’s no substitute for love. Happiness is love – full stop."

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Doctor reveals secrets to lasting weight loss without counting calories

Weight loss is complex – and goes beyond counting calories, according to experts.

Dr. Jason Fung, a kidney specialist and author of the recent book "The Hunger Code," said lasting weight loss requires a shift in how people understand and respond to hunger.

"Most of the time, we focus on eating less or what we're eating, but that's not always a very good approach because it doesn't get to the root of the problem," he told Fox News Digital.

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"We eat because we're hungry, and we stop eating when we're full," Fung went on. "So if you think about the problem of overeating, it's really a problem of over-hunger."

If hunger didn’t exist, he said, it would be easier to eat the right foods or even participate in fasting – the key reason that GLP-1 medications, which suppress hunger, are so effective.

"Until you understand what hunger is – what causes it, how to deal with it – then you can't just eat less, because if you simply eat less, your hunger will increase," Fung said. "And then you're always fighting with yourself."

There are three different types of hunger: homeostatic, hedonic and conditioned hunger, Fung shared.

Homeostatic hunger, or physical hunger, is driven by hormones – the body’s natural indication that it requires food.

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"It’s important to understand the hormonal determinants of hunger and why you eat," he said. "And that includes things like insulin and cortisol."

For some people, lack of sleep can increase hunger in some people, as elevated cortisol levels from stress and fatigue drive the body to eat more, the expert noted.

Hedonic hunger is related to pleasure – eating when you want to, not because you’re physically hungry.

"That’s the idea of dessert," Fung said. "It's a rewarding experience. It sets off the pleasure centers in the brain, releases dopamine … and it can go too far."

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Ultraprocessed foods, including products with artificial chemicals and sweeteners, can create more hunger, making it harder to stop eating them.

Conditioned hunger is "social" hunger triggered by the environment.

"You go to the movies; you have to eat. You watch a sporting event; you have to eat," Fung said. "You watch TV; you have to eat," he said. "Everything is creating this conditioned hunger, and that’s the food noise a lot of people talk about."

"You have to start thinking about the broader implications of why you're actually eating what you're eating," he advised. "Why are you so hungry? That's the really important question." 

Fung offered three "golden rules" for long-term weight loss.

Because of the way they’re formulated, ultraprocessed foods can trigger multiple types of hunger at once, Fung said. They tend to be less filling while also increasing the body’s drive to eat, making it easier to overconsume.

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Feeling full has "nothing to do" with calories, he noted.

"For example, you could eat a three-egg vegetable omelet, which might be 700 or 800 calories, and be quite full after breakfast," he said. "Or you could drink a sugary coffee plus a donut and still have the same 800 calories, but be hungry 30 minutes later."

Fasting is an eating pattern that alternates between periods of eating and not eating, and has been shown to support weight loss, improve metabolic health and help regulate hunger signals.

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Fasting can be done at any time during the day. Fung recommends setting a rule that you won’t eat during a specific period of time, such as while watching TV or after 7 p.m.

"Rules like that allow your body to digest," he said. "You digest the calories that you ate … and use those calories and release the body fat."

Equipping yourself with the proper habits and mindset starts with shifting your social and physical surroundings, according to Fung.

"Everywhere we go, we have all this conditioned hunger – but it's also very easy to eat all the time," he said. "You go to the coffee shop, but there are donuts and sandwiches."

Recognizing these temptations and finding a workaround – such as ordering coffee ahead, so there’s no extra time spent in front of the donut case – helps to prevent overeating, he suggested.

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Another example is employees feeling inclined to grab free bagels or cookies that are provided during an office meeting, which cues hedonic and conditioned hunger.

"Now you have to figure out how to redesign that physical and social environment, so that you have the proper mindsets and the proper habits to make you successful in the long term," Fung said.

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Sleeping 11 minutes longer each night shows surprising health benefit, study finds

The secret to a healthier heart may not be a major lifestyle overhaul, but rather a series of small, sustainable daily habits.

New research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that combining modest shifts in daily habits is associated with a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, stroke and heart failure.

The study, which followed more than 53,000 adults over an eight-year period, highlighted how even the smallest increase in rest can yield clinically meaningful benefits.

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Researchers found that sleeping for just 11 minutes more per night was a key component of a lifestyle shift associated with a 10% lower risk of major cardiovascular events.

This modest increase in sleep was most effective when paired with an additional 4.5 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and eating an extra quarter-cup of vegetables every day.

"We show that combining small changes in a few areas of our lives can have a surprisingly large positive impact on our cardiovascular health," said lead author Nicholas Koemel, a research fellow at the University of Sydney.

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While every extra minute counts, the study identified an ideal range for maximum heart protection that could slash the risk of heart disease by 57% compared to those with the least healthy habits.

The primary pillar of that profile was achieving eight to nine hours of sleep per night, the study noted.

This optimal routine also included completing 42 minutes or more of moderate physical activity per day and maintaining a diet high in fish, whole grains, and dairy while remaining low in processed meats and sugary drinks.

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"Making even modest shifts in our daily routines is likely to have cardiovascular benefits as well as create opportunities for further changes in the long run," Koemel added. "I would encourage people not to overlook the importance of making a small change or two to your daily routine, no matter how small they may seem."

Researchers utilized wearable devices to track the sleep and movement of participants, providing more accurate data than previous self-reported studies.

Several limitations were noted for the research.

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The study was observational, meaning it showed a strong link between these small habits and heart health but could not prove that one directly caused the other.

The findings were also based on participants reporting their own dietary habits, which may not always be perfectly accurate.

The researchers emphasized that studying these behaviors together is more meaningful than looking at them in isolation because sleep, diet and movement are constantly influencing one another in a daily cycle.

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Cases of 'white plague' rising in US as doctors warn of 'rebound effect'

A potentially deadly disease known as "the white plague" has been rising in the U.S. since the pandemic, health officials have warned.

Tuberculosis (TB) gets its nickname from the pale appearance of those affected with the disease.

After a dip in 2020 with the onset of COVID – likely due to underdiagnosis and reduced screenings, according to health experts – cases of TB have increased every year since.

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More than 10,600 cases were confirmed in 2024, which is around three people for every 100,000, per the latest available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This marks the third consecutive annual increase, and the total 2024 case count is the highest annual number since 2013.

Despite the recent increase, TB rates in the U.S. remain relatively low compared to many parts of the world, as the global average is about 131 cases per 100,000, per the World Health Organization. That’s approximately 40 times higher globally compared to the U.S.

TB is a curable bacterial infection that targets the lungs, but can also infect other organs, according to Johns Hopkins. It is spread through airborne particles released when an infected person coughs, speaks or sneezes.

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Renuga Vivekanandan, MD, professor at Creighton University School of Medicine and VP and CMO of CHI Health Physician Enterprise Midwest, said the rise in tuberculosis cases in the U.S. is concerning, but noted that it was foreseeable.

"The COVID-19 pandemic effectively disrupted TB surveillance and treatment programs across the country," the doctor, who is board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases, told Fox News Digital. 

"What we're seeing now is largely a rebound effect – latent TB infections that went undetected or untreated during the pandemic are now activating."

Another factor is a return to international travel and increased migration from countries where TB is more prevalent, according to Vivekanandan.

The uptick has also strained healthcare systems. "Local and state public health TB programs became understaffed during the pandemic, and that capacity hasn't fully recovered," the doctor said.

While around 25% of people have likely been infected with the TB bacteria, about 5% to 10% will go on to develop active disease, according to health agencies.

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A person with a latent infection has been infected with the tuberculosis bacteria, but the bacteria are inactive in the body. While latent-stage TB is not contagious, it can develop into active disease in 5% to 10% of people. 

Only people with active TB disease in the lungs or throat can spread the infection.

Those who get sick with TB may experience mild symptoms, including coughing, chest pain, fatigue, weight loss, weakness, fever and night sweats, per the CDC. In some cases, however, the disease can also affect the kidneys, spine, skin and brain.

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"TB can affect any organ of the body, but it causes disease in the lung in over 80% of cases," Masae Kawamura, M.D., a former TB control director in San Francisco and a tuberculosis clinician, previously told Fox News Digital. "This is dangerous because it causes cough, the mechanism of airborne spread."

In more severe cases, patients may cough up blood, noted Kawamura, who serves on the board of directors of Vital Strategies, a global public health organization.

"Often, there are minimal symptoms for a long time, and people mistake their occasional cough with allergies, smoking or a cold they can't shake off," she added.

"The good news is that TB is both preventable and treatable," Vivekanandan said.

"People who are at higher risk – including those born in or traveling frequently to high TB-burden countries, individuals living in crowded conditions, or those who are immunocompromised – should speak with their doctor about TB testing."

Other high-risk groups include people who have diabetes, are malnourished, use tobacco and/or drink excess amounts of alcohol. Babies and children are also more vulnerable to the disease.

Doctors typically use a skin or blood test to detect TB infection, followed by imaging or sputum (mucus) testing to confirm active disease, per the CDC.

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The disease is treated with antibiotics that are taken every day for four to six months, the CDC states. Some of the most common include isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol.

Failure to take the complete course of medications can cause the bacteria to become drug-resistant, which means it does not respond to standard antibiotics. Drug-resistant TB is more difficult and costly to treat and requires longer, more complex medication regimens, according to experts.

If TB goes untreated, it is fatal in about half of its victims.

"Latent TB, which causes no symptoms and is not contagious, can be treated and cured before it ever progresses to active TB, which is infectious," Vivekanandan said.

"Identifying and treating latent infection is one of the most powerful tools we have for protecting both individual patients and the broader community."

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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening only for populations at increased risk rather than for the general population.

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Hormone therapy boosts weight loss drug results by 35% in women, study finds

For women struggling with weight gain after menopause, a new study suggests that adding hormone therapy to a popular obesity drug may lead to greater weight loss.

Postmenopausal women lost about 35% more weight when using menopausal hormone therapy alongside tirzepatide — a GLP-1-based, Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for overweight and obesity — compared to those taking the drug alone, according to a Mayo Clinic study.

The findings, published in February in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health, highlight a possible new strategy for addressing weight gain after menopause, when hormonal shifts can increase the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

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"This study provides important insights for developing more effective and personalized strategies for managing cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women," Dr. Regina Castaneda, the study’s first author, said in a statement. 

Researchers analyzed 120 postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity who took tirzepatide for at least 12 months, including 40 who also used hormone therapy and 80 who did not.

Hormone therapy is commonly used to treat menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, while tirzepatide helps regulate appetite and blood sugar.

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Women in the hormone therapy group lost an average of 19.2% of their body weight, compared to 14.0% in the non-hormone group — about 35% greater relative weight loss — with more women reaching significant weight-loss thresholds, according to the study.

Despite the results, researchers emphasized that the study was observational and cannot prove cause and effect.

"Because this was not a randomized trial, we cannot say hormone therapy caused additional weight loss," said Dr. Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study.

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Outside experts agree that the findings must be interpreted cautiously.

"As with all observational studies, we need to interpret this study with a grain of salt," Dr. Gillian Goddard, a board-certified endocrinologist, told Fox News Digital. 

Goddard, who is also an adjunct assistant professor of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, noted that the findings show a link, but do not prove that hormone therapy, which usually includes estrogen, directly caused the additional weight loss.

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"There may be important differences between the two groups," she added. "For one thing, the group taking estrogen may be healthier than the groups that didn't take estrogen … Healthier people are more likely to eat a healthy diet and exercise in addition to taking tirzepatide. That could lead to more weight loss." 

Symptom relief from the therapy may have also improved sleep and well-being, making it easier for the group to maintain diet and exercise routines, Hurtado Andrade noted.

Researchers also pointed to a possible biological explanation. Preclinical data suggest estrogen may enhance the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1-based medications like tirzepatide, according to the study.

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Goddard said that theory is plausible but unproven.

"The other possibility is that estrogen interacts with tirzepatide in some way that makes it more potent," she said, adding, "We will need randomized studies to get a better handle on that."

As for safety, experts say using the two together appears safe for most women. However, hormone therapy is not recommended for all patients, especially those with a history of certain cancers, blood clots or other underlying health risks, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Researchers say future randomized trials will aim to confirm the findings and explore whether the combination also improves broader cardiometabolic health outcomes, according to the study.

"If confirmed, this work could speed the development and adoption of new, evidence-based strategies to reduce this risk for millions of postmenopausal women navigating this life stage," said Hurtado Andrade.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the study authors for comment.

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