Common blood pressure drug helps more stroke survivors reach critical health target

A low-cost medication could help stroke survivors whose blood pressure remains elevated despite treatment, a new study suggests.

The research, known as the REDUCE trial, looked at whether adding spironolactone, a medication commonly known as a water pill, could help lower blood pressure after a stroke. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, Nov. 6-9, 2026, in Chicago.

Participants were split into two groups. One added spironolactone to their regular treatment, while the other continued with usual post-stroke care.

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Researchers tracked the participants' blood pressure at home over the following six months to determine whether adding the medication made a difference.

After three months, the top blood pressure number was nearly eight points lower on average among people taking spironolactone compared with those receiving usual care – about 126 versus 133, the study said.

More patients taking spironolactone also reached the recommended blood pressure goal of less than 130/80. That included 52% of those taking the medication compared with 30% receiving usual care.

"Lowering blood pressure is the most important step in preventing another stroke, yet many survivors struggle to reach recommended blood pressure targets after a stroke," study co-lead author Dr. Jordana Cohen, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a news release.

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"When spironolactone was added to post-stroke care, we saw a meaningful drop in blood pressure that may lower the risk of future strokes and heart attacks," she added.

Dr. Alfred Joshua, a California-based board-certified emergency physician and former chief medical officer who was not involved in the research, said the findings are encouraging, but do not yet show that the medication prevents a subsequent stroke.

"We already know that controlling blood pressure lowers the risk of another stroke," Joshua told Fox News Digital. "This study measured blood pressure, so whether adding spironolactone leads to fewer repeat strokes is still an open question."

Spironolactone works by helping the body get rid of extra salt and water, which can lower blood pressure, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It also causes the body to hold onto potassium, so patients taking it need to have their levels checked, the drug’s prescribing information states.

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Joshua warned that high potassium is one of the main safety concerns because it can develop without symptoms. The risk can be higher for people with kidney problems and those taking certain medications or potassium supplements.

The medication can also lower blood pressure enough to cause dizziness, he added.

"If your blood pressure is still high after a stroke, bring your home readings to your clinician and ask whether this medication is a good fit," Joshua advised.

The trial ended early with 160 participants instead of the planned 200, and about 15% did not have blood pressure readings available at the three-month mark, the researchers noted.

People taking spironolactone were also taking slightly more blood pressure medications overall than those receiving usual care.

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The study was not designed to determine whether spironolactone actually prevents another stroke or heart attack. Larger and longer studies are needed to answer that question, according to the researchers.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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Simple salt substitute could prevent three million deaths a year worldwide, study estimates

Replacing regular table salt with a potassium-enriched alternative could prevent nearly three million deaths and more than 10 million cases of heart and kidney disease worldwide every year, according to a major study published in Nature Health.

Researchers at the Australia-based George Institute for Global Health analyzed dietary patterns and disease risks among 4.6 billion adults across 193 countries to estimate the potential benefits of the switch.

The study relied on mathematical simulations rather than a clinical trial, using estimates that can vary in accuracy, the researchers acknowledged.

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High blood pressure affects roughly 1.4 billion adults worldwide and is a leading cause of strokes, heart attacks and chronic kidney damage, according to the World Health Organization.

Consuming too much salt can contribute to high blood pressure, as its sodium content causes the body to retain water, increasing blood volume and putting added pressure on artery walls.

Potassium-enriched salt replaces some sodium with potassium while looking, tasting and cooking like regular salt. The swap reduces sodium intake while boosting potassium, which helps relax blood vessels and promotes the removal of excess sodium from the body, according to the researchers.

If households replaced only the salt used in home cooking and at the dining table, the model projected 1.85 million fewer deaths and 6.19 million fewer new cases of heart and kidney disease annually.

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In another scenario, replacing salt only in restaurant meals and processed foods was projected to prevent about 1.56 million deaths and 5.46 million new disease cases annually.

In a more targeted scenario, researchers projected that switching 80% of adults with diagnosed high blood pressure to potassium-enriched household salt could prevent about 590,000 deaths worldwide each year.

The projected benefits varied by region, depending on population size and sources of dietary sodium. The largest potential benefit was seen in China, with an estimated 1.08 million deaths averted each year under full replacement. 

India followed with nearly 400,000 preventable deaths, while the U.S. could potentially avoid roughly 105,000 deaths and 492,000 new disease cases annually.

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In many Asian and African countries, most dietary salt comes from home cooking, suggesting that greater awareness and access to potassium-enriched alternatives could encourage healthier habits, according to the researchers.

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Broader adoption by food manufacturers and restaurants would be needed to maximize the health benefits in Western countries, where more than 70% of dietary sodium comes from processed and restaurant foods, the study suggested.

"This study shows that small changes have an enormous impact on two prominent diseases globally: cardiovascular disease and kidney disease," Dr. Nathan Goodyear of the Williams Cancer Institute in California told Fox News Digital.

Goodyear, who was not involved in the study, said the bigger take-home message is that health is "not something that we’re just born with."

"It’s something that we cultivate. It’s the environment we cultivate," he said. "And this environment influences the potential for disease harvest long before disease is diagnosed."

While the study's models suggested that the heart health benefits outweighed the risks for the overall population, experts cautioned that the substitute may not be safe for everyone.

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Potassium-enriched salt substitutes can also pose risks, including hyperkalemia, a condition in which excess potassium builds up in the blood and can trigger dangerous irregular heart rhythms, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

The body normally removes excess potassium through urine, but people with advanced kidney disease or those taking certain blood pressure medications may have difficulty eliminating it.

The World Health Organization advises against potassium-enriched salt substitutes for people with kidney problems that impair potassium removal, unless recommended by a healthcare professional.

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"We’re constantly in medicine looking for the magic bullet in causation, magic bullet in disease treatment, [but] that does not exist," said Goodyear.

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and cancer often develop over time due to multiple contributing factors, the doctor noted.

Widespread adoption could also face challenges, as potassium-enriched salt costs about twice as much as regular salt on average and would require cooperation from food manufacturers and suppliers, according to the researchers.

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Millions of Americans use marijuana to sleep, but new study raises troubling questions

Marijuana may be making sleep quality worse, despite its widespread use as a sleep aid, a recent Northwestern Medicine study found.

The findings of the study, which included 1,266 participants, showed that both lifetime and recent cannabis users objectively had worse sleep quality, although they did not report their sleep to be worse.

Participants were monitored for almost 35 years, from young adulthood into middle age, with scientists tracking their use of cannabis over time.

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In middle age, participants wore a sleep monitor on their wrist for a week and filled out surveys about their sleep quality.

This allowed researchers to compare objective and subjective reports of participants’ sleep.

"Our data do not support the belief that cannabis is helpful as a sleep aid," said senior study author Mercedes R. Carnethon, Ph.D., as Northwestern Now reported.

"As cannabis becomes increasingly available and accepted, it's important to better understand its long-term associations with health behaviors such as sleep," Carnethon added.

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Among all participants, a greater lifetime exposure to marijuana was linked to worse objective sleep quality.

Those who had a higher cannabis usage over time were generally asleep for a lower percentage of the night and experienced more sleep disruption.

Similarly, recent cannabis users were more likely to have more sleep fragmentation and lower sleep efficiency, compared to people who never used the substance.

The study also found there was a much higher chance that recent cannabis users would sleep longer than eight hours per night. 

The study discusses the differences between objective and subjective reports of sleep quality.

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"What makes this study particularly interesting is that participants who used cannabis demonstrated objectively poorer sleep, yet their own assessments of sleep quality did not reflect those differences," Alfred Joshua, M.D., a board-certified emergency medicine physician based in California, told Fox News Digital. (He was not involved with the new study.)

"In other words, someone may believe marijuana is helping them sleep, while objective measurements suggest otherwise." 

Researchers considered multiple outside factors including age, race, sex, smoking frequency, alcohol consumption, physical activity and more.

Even with these factors taken into account, the study found a consistent correlation between cannabis use and poorer objectively measured sleep.

The mode of cannabis consumption, such as smoking versus taking edibles, was not considered.

"It is not surprising that the actual quality of sleep of these subjects, after chronic marijuana use, is poor compared to those who do not smoke marijuana because people who claim that they need to smoke marijuana before they go to sleep, in order to relax, are only kidding themselves," board-certified psychiatrist Carole Lieberman, M.D., of California told Fox News Digital. (She, too, was not affiliated with the new study.)

"It is more a psychological addiction than a physical one," she added. "They enjoy the high that they get right away, but the marijuana doesn't help them to sleep better."

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"The researchers found that greater cumulative cannabis exposure was associated with reduced sleep efficiency, increased sleep fragmentation and more time spent awake after initially falling asleep," said Joshua, the board-certified emergency medicine physician. 

"These findings raise important questions about whether habitual marijuana use is a sustainable strategy for managing sleep problems," he added. 

Fox News Digital recently reported on other cannabis findings.

A study of nearly 450,000 American adults, for instance, linked cannabis use to an increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

The findings were scheduled for presentation at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago Nov. 6–9. They showed that both casual and heavy marijuana users have higher odds of heart conditions compared to non-users.

Khloe Quill of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. 

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US reportedly loses longstanding measles elimination status as cases surge nationwide

The U.S. has reportedly lost its measles-elimination status after 26 years, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Loss of this status means measles is spreading continuously within the U.S. again, with the same chain of transmission persisting for at least 12 months, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

PAHO had planned to announce the determination publicly on Tuesday, Nov. 17, according to KFF Health News, which separately reported the decision, citing researchers with direct knowledge of the deliberations.

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The country has held elimination status since 2000. Isolated cases and shorter outbreaks can still occur without forfeiting that status.

PAHO’s independent regional verification commission reviewed countries’ elimination status during its Nov. 10-13 meeting in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. reported 5,412 confirmed measles cases in 2026 through Nov. 12, more than double the 2,289 cases reported in all of 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a New York City-based emergency medicine physician and Fox News medical contributor, said the loss of measles elimination status is a "public health setback," emphasizing the danger posed by the infection.

"Measles isn’t just a childhood rash. It can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation, permanent neurological damage and death," she told Fox News Digital on Saturday. "As an emergency physician, I can tell you these complications are not something we should ever take lightly."

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"Losing elimination status doesn’t mean the vaccine stopped working," she went on. "It means we no longer have enough protection in some communities to prevent sustained transmission."

The doctor emphasized that infants who are too young to be vaccinated and people with compromised immune systems are "paying the price for gaps in community immunity."

The loss of measles elimination status "signals that the virus is spreading continuously and that too many people remain unprotected," according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

"It does not mean the MMR vaccine has stopped working," the AAFP said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "It means we must restore confidence in the safety and efficacy of life-saving public health tools."

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Measles is highly contagious, infecting up to nine in 10 people without immunity who are close to an infected person, the CDC states. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after that person leaves.

Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine have been shown to be about 97% effective at preventing the disease.

The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first given at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years.

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Most adults without evidence of immunity need one MMR dose, while certain higher-risk adults need two, according to the agency. People with two appropriately spaced doses generally do not need a measles booster.

"Restoring elimination status requires an organized and sustained response that includes increased support for state and local health departments, timelier surveillance and communications, clear information for families and an easier path to vaccination," the AAFP said.

Fox News Digital reached out to PAHO and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requesting comment.

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New prostate cancer guidelines urge men to start screening at specific age

The American Cancer Society is recommending regular prostate cancer screening starting at age 50 for men at average risk under updated guidelines released Nov. 12.

The update shifts from emphasizing individual decisions about screening to explicitly recommending regular testing for eligible men.

The new guidelines call for PSA testing every two years for average-risk men ages 50 through 69. Black men should begin annual screening at 45, regardless of family history. Other men with a father, brother or son diagnosed with prostate cancer should also begin at 45, with the frequency depending on their family history.

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Men ages 70 to 74 should discuss whether to continue screening with their doctors; routine screening is not recommended at 75 and older.

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among U.S. men. For disease that has not spread beyond the prostate or nearby areas, the five-year relative survival rate is nearly 100%, according to the American Cancer Society.

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"Men think it is going to happen to someone else," Dr. Ash Tewari, chair of the Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, told Fox News.

The doctor, who has performed more than 10,000 prostate cancer operations, said the success rate of treating patients is exceedingly high, but that many men still need to be nudged to get screened.

A prostate cancer screening involves a simple blood test for PSA, which measures the level of prostate-specific antigen, the protein produced by normal and cancerous cells in the prostate gland.

Under the updated guidelines, a PSA level of 3 ng/mL or higher in men younger than 70 warrants a repeat test to confirm the result. There are other explanations for higher PSA levels beyond the existence of prostate cancer, such as an enlarged prostate, inflammation or an infection.

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Screening can also identify slow-growing cancers that may never cause harm. The society recommends discussing screening’s benefits and possible harms with a healthcare provider and offering close monitoring as an initial approach for low-risk cancers.

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"We know how to cure 95% of them," said Tewari, referring to prostate cancer patients. "I can operate, we have developed medications … to get to them in time, my approach is very simple: Go right where they are."

To reach more men, Tewari and Mount Sinai have created mobile prostate cancer screening vehicles that are deployed in neighborhoods so men can be examined where they live.

The first bus, the Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit, was sent out in New York City in 2022. Last month, another bus was deployed to the Atlanta Falcons-Chicago Bears game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University offered free screenings in partnership with the Atlanta Falcons during the game.

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Tewari and Mount Sinai are engaged in other ways to get the word out to men.

Last month, actress Brooke Shields joined Tewari and directed a public service announcement advocating screening and early detection. The goal is to screen more than one million men for prostate cancer under Tewari's Million Strong Men Initiative.

"We need to be able to talk about ...down there," a son says to his father in the PSA video.

"I never got to have the talk with my dad early enough," says Shields in the video. Her father, Frank, died of prostate cancer in 2003 at 61 years old.

"Prostate cancer is treatable when detected early," she adds.

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"Prostate cancer is often a disease that families don't talk about until there is a reason to," said Tewari. "We want to change that. Starting the conversation early can give men an opportunity to learn about their risk, talk with their doctors about screening and act when appropriate."

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. The ACS estimates that more than 333,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed in 2026, and about 36,000 will die from the disease.

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Stroke survivors get FDA-approved daily pill shown to cut repeat risk by 26%

The FDA has approved Sunharbo (asundexian) to reduce the risks of a recurring stroke in some adults.

The medication is taken as one 50-mg pill each day, along with standard blood-clot-preventing medicine, such as aspirin.

It is designed to lower the risk of another stroke in adults who recently had a stroke caused by a blood clot (not a heart-related clot) or a mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack, or TIA), which is a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain, according to the FDA release.

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Sunharbo is the first medication of its kind to block a specific protein in the blood (factor XIa) that helps blood clots form.

"This blocks a very specific protein that’s part of the cascade of blood clotting," Dr. Richard Kovacs, a cardiologist at Indiana University School of Medicine and chief medical officer of the American College of Cardiology, told Fox News Digital.

Approval followed a phase 3 randomized trial involving 12,327 patients across 37 countries, all of whom had a recent non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA.

Among those who took 50 mg of asundexian orally once daily plus antiplatelet therapy for a period of 14.2 months, there was a 26% relative reduction in ischemic stroke compared to groups who took a placebo along with antiplatelet therapy.

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Although there was not a significant overall increase in major bleeding, the risk of that side effect was higher in certain subgroups. However, gastrointestinal bleeding was more common with asundexian, and major bleeding was increased among patients older than 75 during the first 90 days.

Patients who took asundexian also had a lower risk of stroke, heart attack or death compared with those who received a placebo.

About 6.6% of patients taking asundexian experienced a stroke, compared with 8.8% in the placebo group.

"So it doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of a second stroke," Kovacs said.

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The risk of death from heart-related causes, heart attack or stroke was also lower among patients taking asundexian (9.2% versus 11.1%).

Similarly, 10.5% of patients taking the medication experienced death from any cause, compared with 12.3% of those receiving a placebo.

The findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Nov. 9.

The trial, which was funded by Bayer, the manufacturer of asundexian, had several limitations.

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Because patients were treated for an average of about 14 months, long-term safety and effectiveness of the medication are unclear.

The study also excluded patients with certain heart conditions and those with more severe strokes.

"Importantly, this drug is not for patients who have had strokes due to atrial fibrillation or due to a valve problem in their heart," Kovacs said.

Longer-term studies are needed to identify safety and effectiveness among older patients, underrepresented populations and patients with greater stroke severity, the researchers noted.

Kovacs emphasized that patients should discuss the medication with their care team soon after a stroke.

"In the clinical trial that approved this drug, this drug was given very soon after the stroke – within 72 hours," he said. "So it’s important to have that conversation about whether this is a drug for the patient early on, often in the hospital."

Medication is only one part of preventing another stroke, the cardiologist emphasized.

"The cause of the stroke in many of these patients was atherosclerosis," he said, describing the condition as "plaque buildup that can cause circulation problems and the lack of blood flow to the brain."

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"So it’s important for any stroke patient to do all the other things that you can do in addition to this medicine to prevent a second stroke – like stopping smoking, keeping your cholesterol low, eating healthy, and most importantly, getting exercise."

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More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year, including about 185,000 who have had one before, according to the CDC.

About one in four stroke survivors experiences another within five years.

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Severe allergic reaction after sipping energy drink traced to unexpected source

Anaphylaxis – a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction – is usually tied to peanuts or shellfish, but a recent case has brought up a new concern.

According to a report by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), a teen experienced a severe allergic reaction from an energy drink.

The case, which was presented at the ACAAI’s 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting held Nov. 12–16 in Phoenix, Arizona, involved a 15-year-old boy who developed "widespread hives," wheezing and difficulty breathing after trying a new beverage.

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The teen was reportedly taken to the hospital, where he received two doses of epinephrine, albuterol — a medication commonly used in rescue inhalers to help open the airways — an antihistamine and IV fluids. His symptoms resolved after treatment.

A review of the drink’s label revealed that it contained 5 grams of collagen derived from cod.

According to the report, the teen reported mild throat itching and lip swelling when eating canned tuna, although he had eaten salmon without an issue. He also has eczema, asthma and allergic rhinitis (commonly called hay fever).

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Despite the teen's symptoms, a skin prick testing for tuna, cod and flounder allergy all returned negative.

These findings represent initial research presented at the ACAAI conference, and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Allergist Annabelle Rowland, M.D., study author and ACAAI member based in Georgia, commented in a news release that this case shows "how tricky fish allergy can be."

"Collagen from fish is showing up in a growing number of products, from drinks to supplements," she said. "Standard fish allergy tests mostly look for a different fish protein and contain very little collagen, so a person can test negative and still react."

In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the Council for Responsible Nutrition in Washington, D.C., said that collagen ingredients can come from several animal sources, like fish, cattle and pigs.

"While collagen has been studied for potential benefits related to skin and joint health, consumers should consider their individual health needs and sensitivities when choosing products," they advised.

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"Fish-derived collagen can pose an allergy risk for people sensitive to fish, and processing or hydrolysis does not necessarily eliminate that risk."

The spokesperson recommended those with fish allergies should carefully review product labels, which are required to identify major food allergens, such as fish. Consumers should also consult with their healthcare provider before considering these products.

"The case presented at ACAAI highlights the importance of allergen awareness, but a single suspected reaction does not establish how frequently such reactions occur," they added.

"Product manufacturers are required by law to provide accurate ingredient information and major allergen disclosures so consumers can make informed choices."

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Sung Poblete, Ph.D., CEO of Virginia-based Food Allergy Research & Education, told Fox News Digital that fish collagen is increasingly being used in products like supplements, beverages and wellness items.

"While many people with fish allergy avoid all finned fish, reactions can vary between individuals and between different fish-derived proteins," she said. "So someone can be allergic to one type of fin fish and not another."

Poblete added that labels must identify the species of fish. Crustacean shellfish, such as shrimp, crab and lobster, must also be specifically identified, according to the FDA.

"For someone managing fish or shellfish allergy, 'marine collagen' on a label calls for a closer look at the ingredient list and 'contains' statement," she said. "If the source still isn’t clear, FARE encourages people to call the manufacturer before using the product."

Consumers are encouraged to ask the manufacturer what the collagen is made from, and how the product is sourced, packaged and tested for allergens.

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"This case offers a timely reminder to read every label, including on drinks and supplements, and talk with an allergist about any reaction, even if a test came back negative," Poblete added.

Fox News Digital reached out to energy drink manufacturers for comment.

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