Infections from potentially deadly bacteria in baby formula added to CDC watchlist

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will now begin tracking infections caused by Cronobacter, a potentially deadly bacteria that has been found in powdered infant formula.

On Thursday, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists — a nonprofit group that advises the CDC — added Cronobacter-related infections to the national watchlist of serious conditions that should be reported to the public health agency.

Minnesota and Michigan are the only two states currently required to report Cronobacter infections. 

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With this new recommendation, which will officially begin next year, all states will be asked to report cases to the CDC.

It will not be a requirement, however.

In 2021, the discovery of the bacteria in baby formula led to mass recalls and the temporary shutdown of an Abbott Nutrition production plant in Sturgis, Michigan, which led to a widespread shortage. 

The first reported case prior to the formula shortages was in Minnesota in September 2021.

The CDC logged at least four infant illnesses and two deaths, although nine infant deaths were also reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between December and March 2022.

"It's great news that Cronobacteria is being added to the list of infections reported to the CDC," said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog for the Public Interest Research Group in Washington, D.C., in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

"What's shocking here is that this wasn't required a long time ago."

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She added, "And it's a bit troubling that states won't be required to report, even though most likely will."

Each year, around 300 food and beverage recalls are issued through the FDA and the USDA, Murray noted — most of those triggered by reports of illness.

"One of the key ways that regulators find out about problem foods, and are able to connect the dots to issue a recall, is when people get sick and go to their doctor or contact health officials," she explained. 

Many experts believe that virtually all foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella and Listeria, are underreported because many people don't get sick enough to go to the doctor or they write it off as "just a stomach bug," Murray said.

"But to think that we may have had families whose babies got incredibly ill with Cronobacter in the past and it didn't get reported to authorities because no one thought it was necessary is painful to think about," she said.

"We hope this change will allow problems to get detected more quickly so potentially dangerous infant formula and other foods can be recalled more quickly," Murray continued. 

"If that happens, it means fewer babies should get sick or die in the future."

The germ, officially named Cronobacter sakazakii, occurs naturally in the environment.

It is also found in dry foods, including powdered baby formula, powdered milk, herbal teas and starches, per the CDC’s website.

"Cronobacter can easily survive in dry conditions, such as powdered formula, even in closed containers where there is little oxygen," Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., medical toxicologist at the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.

"In the United States, powdered infant formula is not required to be sterile, and this increases the risk of Cronobacter contamination," she continued.

"Because of this, many doctors recommend feeding liquid, not powdered, formula to premature infants or those with weakened immune systems."

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While Cronobacter infections are rare, they can be serious in the first days or weeks of a newborn’s life, potentially causing sepsis or meningitis, which can be life-threatening. 

Infants who are born prematurely or have weakened immune systems are more susceptible, the CDC states. Early symptoms of infections in babies include fever, low energy, excessive crying, poor feeding and possible seizures. 

Only two to four cases, approximately, of Cronobacter infection are reported to the CDC each year — but some experts believe the actual number is much higher.

"Unlike E. Coli, hepatitis A and other serious foodborne diseases, most hospitals were historically not mandated to report Cronobacter infections to public health authorities," Johnson-Arbor explained. 

She added that she hopes "the newly announced reporting of Cronobacter to the CDC will help public officials more rapidly identify and contain outbreaks, reducing the potential mortality from this disease and improving the health of newborns, adults with weakened immune systems and other vulnerable populations."

To help prevent Cronobacter infections in babies, the CDC recommends keeping hands and surfaces clean, properly cleaning and storing feeding items, and preparing and storing powdered formula safely.

Babies who are breastfed and/or fed liquid formula are at lower risk, the agency states.

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Talk therapy? AI may detect 'earliest symptoms' of dementia by analyzing speech patterns

A new artificial intelligence-powered tool aims to detect signs of dementia, Alzheimer’s and other memory disorders by analyzing a person’s speech and language patterns.

The system is called CognoSpeak. Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. developed it. 

In early trials that included both Alzheimer’s patients and cognitively heathy people, the tool showed 90% accuracy in identifying those with dementia — which is just as accurate as "pen-and-paper tests," according to a press release announcing the new tool.

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The patient communicates with a "virtual agent" displayed via a web browser on a computer, laptop or tablet.

The virtual agent poses certain questions to patients — similar to the ones used to test memory skills during in-person consultations — and also asks them to describe pictures and test their verbal fluency.

At that point, CognoSpeak’s built-in AI technology analyzes the patient’s language and speech patterns to detect any cognitive warning signs.

Researchers next plan to test the tool on 700 participants from U.K. memory clinics, with funding provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The goal is for CognoSpeak to help enable faster diagnosis by serving as a "middle man" between the general practitioner and the dementia specialist. 

The physician would refer the patient to CognoSpeak and the test results would be routed back to the doctor — who would then decide whether the patient needed further memory care.

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"Waiting for a possible diagnosis of dementia can be a very anxious time for patients and their families," said Dr. Dan Blackburn from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Neuroscience in the press release. "This tool could help patients start treatments sooner, reduce waiting times and give people certainty earlier."

He added, "This would also free up clinicians’ valuable time and mean that those who need specialist care get access to it as quickly as possible."

One of the earliest symptoms of dementia is struggling to find words and pausing during speech, noted Dr. James Galvin, director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

Galvin was not involved in CognoSpeak’s research or development.

"Using AI to analyze speech in the primary care setting could be a quick, reliable way to assess cognitive status, even if a person does not offer a memory complaint," he said. 

Dr. Michael Kleiman, PhD, a research assistant professor of neurology at the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is a colleague of Galvin’s who has studied the link between speech behavior and detection of early stages of cognitive impairment.

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"Speech patterns in general are highly useful at identifying cognitive impairment, and some of the components of CognoSpeak, including picture descriptions, are frequently used by neuropsychologists and neurologists to assess and diagnose dementia," Kleiman said. (He also has no affiliation with CognoSpeak.)

"If this tool is able to effectively process the speech data in an accurate and efficient manner, as well as keep patients engaged, we would expect that it would be useful for clinicians when assessing cognitive impairment," he added.

As with all diseases, early detection is key, experts agree — which is why the speed of CognoSpeak could be beneficial.

"Given that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are progressive, it is important to catch these changes early in order to implement available interventions when they can be most effective to slow down cognitive decline," Percy Griffin, PhD, the director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, Illinois, said to Fox News Digital.

While experts agree that the role of AI in neurology shows promise, more research is needed before it can be relied upon as a primary indicator.

"Although this technology is encouraging, more work is needed in larger, more representative study populations to further validate the utility of AI tools like this one in helping to diagnose Alzheimer’s," said Griffin.

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"In the future, this could be another tool in the toolbox for early detection of Alzheimer’s," he added.

And while speech testing is useful, experts noted that it’s not the only component necessary for diagnosing dementia.

"Other aspects of cognition — in particular, memory — and a detailed neurological examination must also be examined to establish a true diagnosis," Kleiman said.

Ideally, Percy added, the availability of non-invasive and potentially less expensive approaches to early detection and diagnosis — a combination of blood tests, simple digital tests and other tools — would make cognitive assessments available to more people. 

Around 5.8 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The number of cases is expected to reach 14 million by 2060.

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Gender dysphoria growing among younger adults amid increasing acceptance study finds

Individuals are receiving diagnoses of gender dysphoria (GD) — also known as gender identity disorder — at younger ages, according to a new study published in General Psychiatry, an open access journal that covers mental health issues and more. 

"Gender dysphoria" is defined as "psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity," per the American Psychiatric Association.

It’s marked by a "desire and conviction to be the other gender," said Dr. Ryan Sultan, director of integrative psych and a psychiatry professor at Columbia University in New York, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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The average age of those diagnosed was 26 years old in 2021, down from age 31 in 2017, a group of researchers led by the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, Virginia, determined.

"​​Most of this change occurred because rates of GD increased among those between the ages of 15 and 30," said Sultan.

The study focused on 42 million patients — 66,078 of whom were identified to have gender dysphoria. 

Researchers reviewed data between 2017 and 2021 from the TriNetX database, which compiles medical records from multiple health care organizations.

Those who were born female were more likely to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria (58% versus 55% for males).

Females also reported experiencing the disorder at earlier ages than males. 

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Among those born female, gender dysmorphia began to rise at an average age of 11, peaking between ages 17 and 19, the study found. 

Among those born male, diagnoses began to rise at age 13, peaking at the age of 23.

Boys generally enter puberty between 9 and 14 years of age; for girls, it usually begins between 8 and 13, per Cleveland Clinic.

That discrepancy could be part of the reason for girls’ gender dysphoria starting sooner, researchers said.

In terms of why diagnoses are occurring at younger ages for both males and females, researchers said it could be due to "increasing acceptance" and a wider availability of "specialty gender clinics."

In a discussion of the study's findings, the researchers wrote, "Gender identity development heavily leans on social processes, including exploration and experimentation with external feedback."

They added, "There is now increasing acceptance of gender-neutral pronouns and gender-non-congruent chosen names."

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"The decreased mean age of GD suggests less oppression of gender minority youth and increased awareness of gender diversity," they also wrote. 

Gender dysphoria is "not a permanent diagnosis," the researchers wrote in the journal article.

"It can be expected that gender identity will be fluid for some populations across the lifespan," said Dr. Zachary Ginder, a psychological consultant and doctor of clinical psychology at Pine Siskin Consulting, LLC in Riverside, California, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Gender-atypical behavior is common among young children and is considered part of normal development — thus it is hard to determine exactly how common gender dysphoria is," Sultan told Fox News Digital. 

Other studies have shown that gender dysphoria has been increasing since at least 2011 in Europe and the U.S., Sultan noted.

The study did have limitations, the researchers wrote.

The records from the large research database did not include precise location data, race or ethnicity. 

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"Most of the data stemmed from the United States, and it is not necessarily generalizable to populations outside the country," said Ginder. "Within the U.S., it can be inferred that state-to-state prevalence data may vary."

Additionally, the researchers were unable to confirm whether the genders listed in the records correlated to the sex assigned at birth or the "identified gender."

"Although this research identifies a potential trend within this specific data set, findings like this require further study across populations, and necessitate the utilization of other sources of data before anything can be considered set in stone," Ginder said.

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Migraine pain relief tips plus first AI drug reaches humans and uterine cancer is on the uptick

MEDS ON THE MOVE – First-ever AI drug could help chronic lung disease patients. Continue reading…

‘WE NEED TO DO BETTER’ – Oncologist warns of an uptick in uterine cancer. Continue reading…

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Biden has sleep apnea: What is it?

President Biden has sleep apnea, according to a spokesperson, and used a CPAP machine as recently as Tuesday night. 

"Since 2008, the President has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in thorough medical reports. He used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history," White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told Fox News.

Approximately 30 million people in the U.S. are believed to have the condition, according to the American Medical Association. 

However, just around 6 million are diagnosed with sleep apnea.

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So, what is sleep apnea? 

During sleep, a person's breathing stops and restarts many times, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The condition can prevent the body from getting enough oxygen. 

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. 

With obstructive sleep apnea, the most common, the upper airway becomes blocked many times, reducing or completely stopping airflow. Anything that could narrow and airway can increase the risk for obstructive sleep apnea, including large tonsils, obesity and changes in hormone levels. 

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not send the signals needed to breathe and health conditions that impact how the brain controls the airway and chest muscle can cause central sleep apnea. 

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Factors like age, family history, heart or kidney failure, sex and lifestyle habits raise the risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Men are more likely to have serious sleep apnea and to get sleep apnea at a younger age than women.

Age, family history, lifestyle habits, health conditions, opioid use and those who were born prematurely also have a raised risk of central sleep apnea.

Frequent loud snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, and symptoms include breathing that starts and stops, gasping for air during sleep, daytime sleepiness and tiredness, dry mouth or headaches, decreased libido or sexual dysfunction or waking up often during the night to urinate. 

Breathing devices, including continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines and lifestyle changes, are common treatments. 

A CPAP is a motorized device that pumps air through a mask to open a sleeper’s airway, and about 5 million Americans have used them.

If those do not work, surgery may be recommended. 

A third of U.S. adults report that they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Fox News' Adam Sabes, Patrick Ward and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Heads up on migraines as expert reveals tips for finding relief from 'debilitating' headaches

Migraine sufferers are no strangers to major headaches.

The onset of a migraine can be painful, disorienting and sometimes even debilitating.

During National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, Fox News Digital spoke to neurologist and headache specialist Lauren R. Natbony, M.D., to break down a few common myths and misconceptions about the condition.

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Natbony, founder and medical director of Integrative Headache Medicine of New York, described how migraines differ from headaches, as they are a "debilitating neurological disease characterized by recurrent episodes of severe head pain."

Migraines are also associated with sensitivity to light and sound — and can cause nausea and vomiting, according to Mayo Clinic.

Some 31 million adults in the U.S. suffer from migraines, according to 2020 Census data.

More than 90% of people who live with migraines are unable to work or function normally during attacks, the Migraine Research Foundation reported.

College student and migraine sufferer Paige Daufenbach shared with Fox News Digital that a "bad" migraine attack gives her nausea, "drilling" head pain, auras and sensitivity to light and sound. 

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"In the worst cases, I can't even get out of bed and need to lie down with no lights on," she said.

But not all migraine attacks are the same, Natbony explained.

"Each of my patients with migraine is unique and each requires a unique management plan," she said. 

"Migraine treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all."

A "comprehensive treatment strategy" is "vital" to migraine prevention, Natbony suggested. This might include lifestyle modifications, preventative treatment and rescue steps.

"It may take time to find the most effective combination of therapies," she said. "I tell my patients that we need to keep exploring different strategies, such as medication, lifestyle changes and alternative therapies, until we find what works best."

Lifestyle modifications can include getting regular sleep, hydrating with at least 64 ounces of water per day, eating a protein-rich meal or snack every three to four hours, and getting 30-45 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least four times a week, she said.

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Preventative treatment is a must when headaches occur six or more days per month or are "debilitating," the neurologist said.

"Preventative treatment aims to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks," she explained. 

"Preventative therapies include vitamin supplements, prescription medications, medical devices and complementary treatments, such as acupuncture and biofeedback," Natbony added.

Meanwhile, acute "rescue" treatments aim to relieve pain and associated symptoms when attacks occur.

Most of these acute medications are most effective when taken early in an attack, Natbony shared, due to central sensitization — a process that causes the nervous system to become hypersensitive to pain.

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"When taken early, triptans, gepants and over-the-counter pain relievers have a better chance of halting the migraine process before central sensitization becomes fully established," she explained.

Natbony recommends alternative remedies such as nasal sprays to relieve migraine symptoms. These deliver the medication directly to the upper nasal space, avoiding the GI tract — a route that is ideal for central nervous system drugs, according to a 2020 U.S. Neurology review.

"This also allows for fast-acting pain relief no matter when the spray is used during a migraine," she said. 

"It is effective at the onset and after central sensitization has set in," she added. 

So, "with this medication, patients don’t need to worry about missing their treatment window."

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A 2017 survey from The Journal of Head and Face Pain revealed that out of nearly 4,000 respondents who used oral acute prescription medication for migraines, 96% said they were dissatisfied with at least one aspect of their treatment.

"Due to gastric breakdown and absorption in the intestines, oral medications generally take longer to reach therapeutic levels in the bloodstream," Natbony explained. 

"Nasal sprays can also be useful for individuals who experience nausea or vomiting during migraine attacks, as they bypass the gastrointestinal system," she said.

It's important for patients to consult with their doctors to discuss possible side effects before trying nasal treatments, Natbony added.

Migraine sufferers might want to consider setting up a "migraine toolbox" made up of multiple tools and techniques to tackle a migraine at its start.

An ideal toolbox, according to Natbony, should include abortive and rescue medications to stop migraines, preventative treatments, non-invasive medical devices and non-pharmaceutical treatments, such as supplements, acupuncture and biotherapies.

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It may also include over-the-counter tools like ice and heat packs and essential oils.

"A migraine toolbox has everything a patient may need, readily available in case an attack occurs," Natbony said.

"It is important to be prepared with treatment options that work because a migraine can affect your day in a second," she added.

Migraine sufferer Daufenbach revealed that she has multiple oral medications in her migraine toolbox, but she resorts to her "rescue" nasal spray treatment in severe cases.

"My neurologist recommended I try the nasal spray Trudhesa because of its flexibility and ability to give me fast pain relief in as few as 15 minutes," she said. 

"When I sense a bad migraine coming on, I get auras and my left arm goes numb," she described. "That’s my cue that my pills aren’t going to give me the relief I need, and I know I can count on [the spray] when I have an important test or plans that I cannot miss."

Migraine pain affects more than 37 million people in the U.S., according to the American Migraine Foundation. 

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Uterine cancer deaths could soon outnumber deaths from ovarian cancer oncologist says: We need to do better

The most common type of gynecologic cancer in the U.S. has been on the rise in recent years — and there’s no standard screening for it.

Uterine cancer will affect about 66,200 women in 2023 in the U.S. — and around 13,000 will die from the disease, per the American Cancer Society (ACS).

"While we are seeing a downward trend in overall cancer cases, uterine cancer is one of the few types where we're seeing an upward trend," said Dr. Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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"We’re anticipating that the number of deaths in the United States due to uterine cancer is soon going to outnumber the deaths due to ovarian cancer," he added.

To help raise awareness, the International Society of Gynecologic Cancer announced the first-ever Uterine Cancer Awareness Month in June.

Slomovitz — who also serves as chair of the Uterine Cancer Awareness Month initiative — spoke to Fox News Digital about the state of uterine cancer and what women need to know.

The terms "uterine cancer" and "endometrial cancer" are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference, Slomovitz said.

A vast majority of these types of cancers occur in the outer and inner layers of the uterus, known as the endometrium — hence the term "endometrial cancer."

About 4% to 5% of the cancers occur in the muscle of the uterus. These are known as uterine sarcomas.

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"Sarcomas are aggressive diseases with a tremendously high death rate," Slomovitz explained. "But all of them fall in the category of uterine cancers."

Obesity is the biggest risk factor for uterine cancer, Slomovitz said.

"Fat tissue increases the amount of estrogen in the body, and endometrial cancer is a hyper estrogenic," he explained. "It stimulates the lining of the uterus to the point of uncontrolled proliferation into cancer."

Overweight women (with a body mass index of 25 to 29.9) have twice the risk of developing uterine cancer as women at a healthy weight, the ACS website states.

Obese women (BMI of 30 or higher) have three times the risk.

Those with diabetes, which is closely related to obesity, are also at a higher risk.

A less common risk factor could be polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is a hormonal disorder that can lead to enlarged ovaries and the formation of cysts. 

PCOS leads to elevated estrogen levels and lower progesterone levels, which can raise the risk of endometrial cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) website.

Some hereditary syndromes can make women more susceptible to uterine cancer.

"One of those is Lynch syndrome, which was often associated with colorectal cancer," said Slomovitz.

"We know that half the women who develop cancer from Lynch syndrome develop endometrial cancer."

Age is also a risk factor, as most patients are diagnosed in their 50s and 60s, the doctor said.

"The increase in cases may be due to obesity, but we're also seeing longer life expectancy," he noted. "The older people get, the more likely that they are to get endometrial cancer, obviously."

While other cancers have specific, recommended screenings — such as mammograms for breast cancer and colonoscopies for colorectal cancer — there are no pre-symptomatic screenings for uterine cancers, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Pap smear (Pap test) checks for cervical cancer and precancerous cells in the cervix, but does not screen for uterine cancer.

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The most common sign or symptom of uterine cancer is abnormal bleeding, Slomovirz said.

"Most uterine cancer patients have postmenopausal bleeding as an early sign or symptom — however, that's not the case for everyone," he said.

In premenopausal women, it can be more difficult to determine what constitutes "abnormal" bleeding, the doctor noted. 

"They shouldn't just assume it's changes in their menstrual cycle," he said. 

In the absence of a formal screening process, Slomovitz stressed the need to recognize symptoms and take quick action.

"We need to better educate patients to come see their doctors sooner if they have symptoms," he told Fox News Digital. 

In addition to bleeding, other symptoms may include pelvic pain or pelvic pressure.

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"We always tell people that if they have symptoms that are worsening or if they persist after 10 to 14 days, they should come in to see their doctor just to make sure everything's OK," Slomovitz said.

"We're still seeing a large number of patients who are diagnosed with advanced and recurrent disease."

The diagnosis process typically starts with an ultrasound to take images of the uterus, followed by a tissue biopsy — either to diagnose or rule out the disease, said Slomovitz.

In cases of advanced cancer, patients will usually get additional tests — such as chest X-rays, CT scans, MRIs or PET scans — to determine if the disease has spread.

"It traditionally spreads through the lymphatic system, which means lymph nodes can be enlarged," Slomovitz explained. "It can also spread to the liver or the lungs through the blood system."

In patients who have had endometrial cancer in the past, a gynecologic oncologist will instruct them that for any future symptoms, recurring cancer must be ruled out. 

"They're cancer patients — so even in the non-specific symptoms, it's worthy of seeing their oncologist again to make sure it's not coming back," Slomovitz said.

In women who are diagnosed with uterine cancer, one of the first steps is usually a hysterectomy, which is the removal of the uterus.

"Eighty percent of women are cured with a hysterectomy," Slomovitz said.

To further minimize risk, the doctor said medical professionals will often do lymph node sampling as well to make sure the cancer hasn't spread.

"But for the additional 20% of patients who have advanced or recurrent disease, systemic therapies are needed," he said. "We need to do better with treatment options for uterine cancer."

For these aggressive cases, the systemic therapies have been chemotherapy or hormonal therapy, which uses progesterone to slow down tumor growth.

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This year, Slomovitz said, some breakthrough studies have shown that immunotherapy can be given in the first-line management of the disease.

Immunotherapy treatments work by helping the immune system to slow, stop or destroy cancer cells. It’s shown to be effective for lung cancer, oral cancer and melanoma, the doctor pointed out.

At the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in May 2023, researchers presented promising results for a new class of drugs called antibody-drug conjugates (ADCS), a targeted therapy for treating cancer, Slomovitz said.

Future studies will continue to look at these types of targeted drugs.

"One of my career goals is to use immunotherapy and targeted therapy to eliminate the need for chemotherapy and its associated toxicities and side effects," Slomovitz said.

Another "groundbreaking" advancement Slomovitz is particularly excited about is molecular classification, which divides uterine cancers into four different subtypes — thus allowing for more precise, personalized treatment options.

"We're in a very exciting time," he said. "There are some game-changing studies that are coming out, as we try to fill this unmet need to help our patients live longer."

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First US malaria cases diagnosed in decades: What to know about the disease

The first malaria cases in decades were recently confirmed in two southern states. 

Four cases were confirmed in Florida, and one was reported in Texas. All patients have received treatment and are improving.

There is no evidence to suggest the cases in the two states, confirmed within the past two months, are related. 

The Florida Department of Health has issued a statewide mosquito-borne illness advisory following the cases along the Gulf Coast of south Tampa. 

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Surveillance for additional cases is ongoing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency said locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria has not occurred in the U.S. since 2003, when eight cases of locally acquired Plasmodium vivax malaria were identified in Palm Beach County, Florida.

It noted that, despite recently-confirmed cases, the risk of locally acquired malaria remains extremely low.

Here is what to know to stay healthy. 

Malaria is a potentially fatal disease that is transmitted through the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito and caused by a parasite. Most of the continental U.S. has Anopheles mosquitoes. 

However, in rare cases, it can also be transmitted congenitally from mother to fetus at birth, as well as through blood transfusion, organ transplantation or unsafe needle-sharing practices. 

Malaria is caused by any of these five species: Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi. 

Approximately 2,000 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the country each year, and the majority of U.S. cases are in travelers and immigrants returning from countries where malaria transmission occurs – many from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Around 300 people experienced severe disease, and 5 to 10 people with malaria died yearly before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local U.S. mosquito-borne spread has resulted in more than 150 locally acquired cases and more than 60 limited outbreaks over the past 50 years.

WEST NILE VIRUS CASES, POSITIVE SAMPLES DETECTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Globally, more than 240 million cases of malaria occur each year, with 95% in Africa. 

Most imported cases of malaria in the U.S. are diagnosed during summer and early fall. 

The risk for malaria is higher in areas where local climatic conditions allow the Anopheles mosquito to survive during most of or the entire year, as well as where travelers from malaria-endemic areas are found. 

Clinical manifestations of malaria include fever, chills, headache, myalgias and fatigue. 

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. 

For most people, symptoms star 10 days to four weeks after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as a week after infection or as late as a full year after infection. 

Malaria may progress to severe disease if not treated properly, during which seizures, renal failure, a change of mental status, acute respiratory distress syndrome and coma may occur. 

Malaria in pregnant people is associated with high risks of both maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Patients suspected of having malaria should be urgently evaluated in a facility that is able to provide rapid diagnosis and treatment within 24 hours of presentation. 

There are drugs to treat non-severe malaria and intravenous artesunate is the only medication available in the U.S. for severe cases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Texas postal worker dies while delivering mail in 'dangerous environment' with record-high temps

North Texas postal worker Eugene Gates Jr., 66, died on June 20 after he collapsed while delivering mail amid a dangerously high heat index, according to multiple reports. 

The heat index that day had reached 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest recorded temperature in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1980, according to a local news outlet.

A homeowner rushed outside to perform CPR after Gates lost consciousness, but he was later pronounced dead at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

The cause of death has yet to be determined by the medical examiner. 

SWELTERING TEXAS HEAT WAVE SCORCHES SOUTHERN CITIES, BRINGING TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES

Gates served in the United States Army. He later traded his uniform for another life of service for the United States Postal Service (USPS), as noted in a statement.

He was a member of Lone Star Branch 132 in the National Association of Letter Carriers. During his 36 years of delivering mail, Gates was "beloved by his colleagues and customers," the statement added.

"America’s letter carriers often work in dangerous environments," National Association of Letter Carriers President Brian L. Renfroe, based in Washington, D.C., said in a recent statement.

"The most important and immediate step that can be taken to protect anyone from the hazard of excessive heat is to learn as much as possible about this potentially life-threatening hazard — particularly the warning signs of heat illness," he continued.

HEAT WAVE RESPONSIBLE FOR MULTIPLE DEATHS ACROSS US

Some organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), claim that climate change is causing steadily rising temperatures and increasing exposure to heat.

"Heat stroke can occur whenever one is exposed to excessive heat without protection, cooling measures or fluid and electrolyte repletion," Carl Allamby, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, told Fox News Digital. 

To prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke, it's vital to understand the warning signs.

The heat index measures how hot your body feels when considering both the humidity and the outside temperature, according to the National Weather Service. 

When it gets too hot outside, the body starts to sweat, which has a cooling effect when perspiration starts to evaporate.

As the relative humidity increases, however, it takes longer for the sweat to evaporate, causing people to feel warmer.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses too much salt and water, often through excessive sweating, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The loss of water through sweating and evaporation can cause dehydration and the loss of electrolytes, Allamby said. 

BE WELL: STAY HYDRATED IN THE SUMMER HEAT WITH THESE SMART TIPS

"Symptoms manifest as an elevated heart rate (tachycardia), sweating, nausea/vomiting, headache, weakness and dizziness," he noted.

Some other warning signs include feeling thirsty, sweating profusely or having a decreased urine output, the CDC said.

"These symptoms are usually reversible by removing the person from the heated environment, providing liquids containing electrolytes and using evaporative cooling methods, such as spraying them with water and putting them in front of a fan," the doctor added.

When heat exhaustion symptoms are ignored, they can progress to heat stroke, Allamby warned.

If symptoms worsen, persist for more than one hour or lead to vomiting, it's important to seek immediate medical attention, the CDC warns.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body’s sweating mechanism breaks down and the person can’t cool down, according to the CDC.

"This is where the person’s temperature elevates above 40 degrees Celsius or 104 degrees Fahrenheit, [leading to] neurological changes such as confusion, difficulty walking, seizures, slurred speech, delirium and coma," Allamby said. "They may also stop sweating at this point."

This condition occurs more often in children and the elderly, who may not have a structured environment to protect themselves from the heat, the doctor added.

Heat stroke "is usually fatal if not treated — but even with treatment, a significant amount of people will die as a result," Allamby warned.

A temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit may indicate heat exhaustion, while a temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit could be a sign of heat stroke, Healthline’s website explained.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency, per the CDC, so it’s always important to call 911 when someone shows signs of the condition.

Use cooling measures while awaiting help. This includes getting the person into shade or a cool environment, said Allamby.

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"Time is of the essence, and the earlier treatment starts, the better the chance of survival and recovery," he added.

The most effective treatment for heat stroke is immersion in a cold-water bath, Allamby said.

An alternative treatment is to apply ice packs under the arms, in the groin area and around the neck. 

"In the hospital, we can give cold [intravenous] fluids and provide other invasive techniques if needed, so getting them to an emergency department right away is of utmost importance," Allamby explained.

"I hope this story helps to remind us to watch out for those who are most vulnerable to heated environments such as this mail carrier, children — especially during the sports training season — and the elderly," he said.

"Please check on your neighbors and the ones you love — and maybe you can save a life."

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First AI-generated drug enters human clinical trials targeting chronic lung disease patients

The first-ever drug generated by artificial intelligence has entered Phase 2 clinical trials, with the first dose successfully administered to a human, Insilico Medicine announced yesterday.

The drug, currently referred to as INS018_055, is being tested to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare, progressive type of chronic lung disease. 

The 12-week trial will include participants diagnosed with IPF.

"This drug, which will be given orally, will undergo the same rigorous testing to ensure its effectiveness and safety, like traditionally discovered drugs, but the process of its discovery and design are incredibly new," said Insilico Medicine’s CEO Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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"However, with the latest advances in artificial intelligence, it was developed much faster than traditional drugs."

For any new drug, there are four steps, explained Zhavoronkov, who is based in Dubai.

"First, scientists have to find a ‘target,’ a biological mechanism that is driving the disease, usually because it is not functioning as intended," he said.

"Second, they need to create a new drug for that target, similar to a puzzle piece, that would block the progression of the disease without harming the patient." 

The third step is to conduct studies — first in animals, then in clinical trials in healthy human volunteers, and finally in patients.

RESEARCHERS USE AI TO UNDERSTAND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, IDENTIFY DRUG TARGETS

"If those tests show positive results in helping patients, the drug reaches its fourth and final step — approval by the regulatory agencies for use as a treatment for that disease," said Zhavoronkov.

In the traditional process, he said, scientists find targets by combing through scientific literature and public health databases to look for pathways or genes linked to diseases. 

"AI allows us to analyze massive quantities of data and find connections that human scientists might miss, and then ‘imagine’ entirely new molecules that can be turned into drugs," Zhavoronkov said.

In this case, Insilico used AI both to discover a new target for IPF and then to generate a new molecule that could act on that target. 

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The company uses a program called PandaOmics to detect disease-causing targets by analyzing scientific data from clinical trials and public databases.

Once the target was discovered, researchers entered it into Insilico’s other tool, Chemistry42, which uses generative AI to design new molecules.

"Essentially, our scientists provided Chemistry42 with the specific characteristics they were looking for and the system generated a series of possible molecules, ranked based on their likelihood of success," Zhavoronkov said. 

The chosen molecule, INS018_055, is so named because it was the 55th molecule in the series and showed the most promising activity, he said.

AI-DISCOVERED DRUG SHOWS 'ENORMOUS POTENTIAL' TO TREAT SCHIZOPHRENIA: ‘REAL NEED FOR BETTER TREATMENT'

The current treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are pirfenidone and nintedanib. 

While these drugs may provide some relief or slow the worsening of symptoms, they do not reverse the damage or stop progression, Zhavoronkov said. 

They also have unpleasant side effects, most notably nausea, diarrhea, weight loss and loss of appetite.

"There are very few options for people with this terrible condition, and the prognosis is poor — most will die within two to five years of diagnosis," Zhavoronkov explained.

"Our initial studies have indicated that INS018_055 has the potential to address some of the limitations of current therapies."

The Insilico team is hopeful the data from this newly launched clinical trial will confirm the drug’s safety and effectiveness.

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"If our Phase IIa study is successful, the drug will then go to Phase IIb with a larger cohort of participants," said Hong Kong-based Sujata Rao, M.D., Insilico’s chief medical officer, in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

During Phase IIb, the primary objective will be to determine whether there is significant response to the drug, Rao said.

"Then, the drug will go on to be evaluated in a much larger group of patients — typically hundreds — in Phase III studies to confirm the safety and effectiveness before it can be approved by the FDA as a new treatment for patients with that condition," he explained.

One of the biggest challenges with these trials is recruiting patients, Rao said, particularly for a rare disease like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. 

"Patients need to fulfill certain criteria in order to be considered for trial enrollment," he noted. 

Despite the challenges, Rao said the research team is optimistic that this drug will be ready to go to market — and reach the patients who may benefit from it — in the next few years.

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IV therapy craze has Americans pumping vitamins into their veins: Results are 'pretty dramatic'

While IV drip therapy has gained popularity as a trendy hangover cure and health trend, the practice of fueling the body with essential vitamins faster than an ingestible can has been around for decades. 

IV clinic owners Dr. Pauline Jose (PH Drip Lab in California) and Dr. Christopher Neary (Prime IV, which has franchises around the country) shared with Fox News Digital the types of vitamin cocktails they’ve been serving up of late.

Dr. Jose, based in California, revealed that about 50% of the national population is deficient in some type of vitamin, which means there's been a major demand in the supplement industry.

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But traditional oral supplements don’t always do the trick, said the allopathic primary care physician.

"When you take something orally, it's not always absorbed 100%," she said. "When you do it either intramuscularly or intravenously, through the vein, it's absorbed almost 100%."

This method can be "very important" for those who are vitamin-deficient, Jose said, which is "the reason why it has become so big."

It's not just people with medical conditions who are seeking out IV treatments.

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Some patients come in for "just a boost" in vitamins to strengthen their immune system before traveling, or to prevent infections such as COVID-19 and the flu, according to Jose.

"Even those who are about to get sick or are feeling under the weather — they go for a drip," she said.

Neary, who is based in Bend, Oregon, added that he believes COVID-19 served as a "catalyst" for the IV therapy craze.

"What we're doing is allowing high, targeted levels of nutrients to be delivered into the cells of the body without interference or issues with the digestive system," he said. 

"There's no question that the GI tract may not be absorbing properly."

IMPROVING MEMORY MAY BE AS EASY AS POPPING A MULTIVITAMIN, STUDY FINDS: ‘PREVENTS VASCULAR DEMENTIA'

Many of Jose's regular patients want to add essential vitamins, such as vitamins C and B, to their drips. 

"It really helps to make them feel better," she said.

Jose mentioned that one of PH Drip Lab’s most popular concoctions is called the Myers Cocktail.

The mix, which includes magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B, is named after Dr. John Myers of Baltimore, Maryland, who first curated the cocktail in the 1960s, Jose said.

Myers used the cocktail to treat multiple conditions, including anemia, depression, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

"This is really an old thing, and it's just coming about because of the onset of functional medicine," Jose said. When people are deficient in vitamins, they don't feel well, she explained, and they have found that the IV infusions make them feel better.

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PH Drip Lab, in its own twist on the Myers Cocktail, adds glutathione, which is an antioxidant that helps boost immunity and promotes anti-aging.

Specific vitamins such as magnesium and potassium can help reduce blood pressure, Jose noted — while vitamin Bs can work as an anti-depressant.

"Many studies have shown that … vitamin Bs, for example, B6, B9 and even B12, can help with depression," she went on. "Many psychiatrists recommend Bs to their patients who have depression or anxiety or conditions like that." 

Neary, who owns Prime IV in Bend, Oregon, as well as a private practice, also advocated for the benefits of B vitamins on both physical and mental health.

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The naturopathic doctor listed the benefits of B vitamins, including hormone regulation, cellular function, energy restoration and mood improvement.

"If we can support just basic biology and chemistry with nutrients, that's always beneficial," he said.

Neary's clinic offers different formulas, including mixes that support energy, sleep, mood, detoxification and specific benefits like skin health.

"We've even stepped more into post-surgical type drips, and bariatric drips to replenish nutrients that are difficult to get after those procedures," he said.

"We have some for athletic performance recovery and some for chronic disease," Neary explained. "And, of course, there's the hangover drip."

While it might seem that the hangover drip would be the most popular treatment at Prime IV, Neary revealed that the clinic’s "Glow" drip is actually the one that clients seek most.

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This cocktail leans on B vitamins to detox the liver and promote healthier-looking skin.

At its core, Prime IV offers drips for enhanced hydration and electrolyte intake for people who are recovering from an event or who experience chronic dehydration from caffeine or other substances.

Many Prime IV patients have sought out drip therapy to overcome addiction using supplements like NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), Neary said.

Originally developed for opiate and alcohol addiction, NAD can help enable different biochemical processes, like energy production, sleep, detoxification and nerve function, Neary explained.

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The doctor added that "results across the board are pretty dramatic," as the quality of nutrients is "far superior to what it used to be" in terms of access and compound complexity.

"Everything is individualized, and we can customize just about anything," Neary said. "There are reasons to add things and remove things. It just depends on what each person needs."

Before starting IV hydration treatments, it's best to talk with a health care provider about possible risks and complications — and anyone with an existing medical condition should do so for sure, states WebMD.

While vitamins are inherently beneficial for most people, having too many vitamins injected into the bloodstream at once can lead to toxicity, per the same site.

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Overly frequent sessions can also cause nutritional imbalances in the body or even overhydration — which can lead to headaches and nausea.

Other potential side effects include swelling, redness or infection at the injection site. 

While IV therapy is not covered by insurance, Jose shared her hope for coverage in the future, even though "it’s a stretch."

"Even vital treatments these days are not getting covered," she said. "But that’s my wish."

Neary was more skeptical about future coverage for IV therapy, but he still encourages interested patients to try it out.

"There are reasons not to do it, and we want to make sure we're being safe," he said. "But with proper training, it is very safe."

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As Lyme disease tests miss many acute infections potential at-home test offers hope for earlier diagnosis

When Americans spend time in the great outdoors this summer, they don’t want to come back home with any uninvited guests. 

Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, can have severe complications if left untreated or unnoticed.

Prompt treatment is essential to prevent the spread of the disease elsewhere in the body.

TICK BITES AND LYME DISEASE: WHAT TO DO IF A TICK BITES YOU OR YOUR PET

Yet the current recommended laboratory test to diagnose Lyme disease misses many early cases.

Now, a Virginia Tech research team is developing a promising at-home test that can diagnose the illness within hours of transmission, according to a recent report.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, borrelia mayonii, which is transmitted to humans after an infected blacklegged tick bites them, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"The only FDA-approved diagnostic for Lyme disease measures antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, not the presence of the bacterium itself," Linda Giampa, executive director of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation in San Francisco, California, told Fox News Digital. 

"It misses up to 60% of acute cases of Lyme, as it takes several weeks for these antibodies to rise to detectable levels in people," she added.

TICK BITES ON THE RISE: HOW TO STAY SAFE AS YOU HEAD OUTDOORS

"Lyme disease has been commonly misdiagnosed by unreliable tests for far too long, and there are currently no reputable at-home tests on the market," she also said.

Some 35,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC every year, but the number of cases is grossly underreported — with insurance records estimating the true annual number around 476,000, according to experts. 

The infection was named where it was first discovered: Lyme, Connecticut.

Within several days to one month after a tick bite, someone may experience symptoms that could mimic the flu, such as fever, chills, muscle and joint aches, per the CDC.

In 70-80% of cases, a classically non-itchy rash that resembles a "bull’s-eye" develops at the site of the bite, often within a week of the infection, the agency added.

In later stages of the disease, such as days to months after the tick bite, untreated Lyme disease can spread to other parts of the body in about 60% of the patients.

Prompt treatment helps decrease signs and symptoms of the disease and prevents spread to later stages of illness. 

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Diagnosis relies on the body’s immune response to the Lyme bacteria because it’s very difficult to culture the bacteria directly in lab. 

"This requires both a healthy immune system and time to produce a robust enough response that can be detected (i.e., anti-B. burgdorferi titer)," Dr. Brandon Jutras, associate professor in the department of biochemistry and a member of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, told Fox News Digital via email.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, a nonprofit to advance research of Lyme disease, initiated a competition known as the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.

The goal was to inspire researchers to develop better diagnostic tests to detect active Lyme disease infections in people more accurately. 

There are 10 teams competing in the second round, including the team at Virginia Tech.

"Among the promising diagnostics supported by the LymeX Diagnostics Prize are at-home tests, which are being developed by a research group at Virginia Tech to enable direct detection of the Lyme disease bacterium within hours of transmission," Giampa noted. 

The Jutras team is focusing on a component in the cell wall that’s unique to the bacteria that cause the disease.

"Virtually all bacteria have layer(s) of peptidoglycan, and many of the components that make up peptidoglycan are highly similar," Jutras told Fox News Digital.

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"As it turns out, the peptidoglycan from the bacterium that causes Lyme disease is vastly different."

As the bacteria grow, they shed these unique pieces of their peptidoglycan that are highly abundant — which makes it a "perfect biomarker for diagnostics," he added.

"We have created several monoclonal antibodies that are capable of specifically detecting the peptidoglycan pieces," he said.

Antibodies to the Lyme bacteria can linger for months, he said. 

So it’s not always clear from the current recommended testing available if the patient has an active infection — or was infected in the past.

Although it will be likely several years before his test may be ready for use, "our approach would, in theory, work immediately after transmission because as long as the bacterium is replicating, [it is] shedding peptidoglycan," he said.

"This is a basic feature of this unusual organism," he added.

"Our test exploits this process," he said — noting that he hopes it "will lead to a rapid, specific test that doesn't rely on a patient response."

LymeX Diagnostic Prize officials note on the competition's website, "As the geographic range of ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas that can transmit pathogens and cause disease expands within the United States, the need for diagnostic innovation will only become more urgent."

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Jutras also said, as noted on that site, that he hopes long term, "we can do exactly what happened with COVID-19 and turn it into an at-home test. You wouldn’t be able to do a blood test; that’s not safe. But where we would optimize this is the urine test."

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Locally acquired malaria cases confirmed in Texas and Florida as CDC calls for action plan

Several locally acquired malaria cases have been confirmed in Texas and Florida within the past two months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in an alert on Monday.

The agency also expressed a concern that an increase in international travel throughout summer could lead to an uptick of cases.

For treatment of potentially adverse effects, the CDC called for a plan to ensure quick access to intravenous artesunate, the only medication for severe malaria available in the country.

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Malaria is a disease that is transmitted by infected female mosquitoes. 

In rare cases, it can be spread from a mother to a fetus or via a blood transfusion, organ transplant or infected needle.

In Florida, four cases have been confirmed within the same area. One case has been reported in Texas.

These are the first locally acquired diagnoses since 2003, the alert stated.

"There is no evidence to suggest the cases in the two states (Florida and Texas) are related," the CDC announced. 

"All patients have received treatment and are improving." 

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These recent cases involved the parasite Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax), which is the most easily treated type that causes milder disease, according to Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor.

"Vivax is the most widespread malaria and the biggest obstacle to eradication," he told Fox News Digital.

"It is concerning that there is local transmission because there are many anopheles mosquitoes, especially in this region," he continued. "However, the chance of sustained spread is very low."

While Siegel does not believe locally acquired malaria will become a widespread problem, he said the biggest concern is travelers bringing it into the country.

WEST NILE VIRUS CASES, POSITIVE SAMPLES DETECTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Approximately 2,000 cases of malaria are reported annually in the U.S., but these are primarily among international travelers and immigrants returning from countries where the disease is prevalent, per the CDC.

Of the 240 million cases of malaria that occur globally each year, 95% of them are in Africa.

Those infected with malaria may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, per the CDC alert.

Symptoms usually begin anywhere from 10 days to four weeks after infection.

Without treatment, severe malaria can lead to seizures, disorientation, renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or coma.

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"Malaria is a medical emergency and should be treated accordingly," the CDC stated. 

"Patients suspected of having malaria should be urgently evaluated in a facility that is able to provide rapid diagnosis and treatment, within 24 hours of presentation."

Drugs to treat non-severe malaria include Artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem®) and Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®).

"Chloriquine is a good prophylaxis [disease prevention] against vivax, and several very promising vaccines are in clinical trials to prevent disease," Dr. Siegel told Fox News Digital.

For severe cases, intravenous artesunate is the only medication available in the U.S.

To prevent mosquito-borne illness, the CDC suggests researching the risk of disease for any destination prior to travel.

Before traveling to a country with a high malaria risk, the agency recommends asking a health care provider about medications for prevention.

Those who have symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, the CDC advises.

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Be well: Prevent dangerous falls among older adults by taking key steps

More than one out of four older people experience a fall each year — and three million of them are treated in the emergency room for their injuries, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dangerous falls can be prevented by following safety protocols. 

Christynne Helfrich, PT, a physical therapist commercial consultant for Hinge Health in Illinois, shared some expert tips with Fox News Digital.

Going for daily walks or engaging in other low-impact physical activities can help to strengthen muscles, keep joints flexible and maintain overall endurance, Helfrich said. 

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"By finding ways to stay physically active each day, older adults can greatly improve their ability to live independently and with full function while decreasing their risk of falling," she said. 

Finding an activity that you enjoy — whether it’s swimming, yoga or Tai Chai — is the key to staying engaged and making it a daily habit, Helfrich added.

Sixty percent of falls happen inside the home, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) — which highlights the importance of making homes as safe as possible for older people.

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"Using brighter lighting and removing clutter on the floor will help keep you on your feet," Helfrich said. 

"It can also be helpful to add grab bars in the bathroom, where there are slippery surfaces that can increase the risk of falling."

Other tips include removing rugs that could pose tripping hazards, adding railings to staircases and installing ramps as needed.

Less than half of older adults who experience a fall don’t tell their doctors about it, the CDC reports — but discussing fall prevention with health care providers can be life-saving, Helfrich said.

"Your doctor can refer you to physical therapy or a local fall prevention program," she told Fox News Digital. 

She said health care providers "can also review your current medications to determine whether [these] might cause a loss of balance as a side effect."

The CDC also recommends asking a health care provider about taking vitamin D supplements, as some studies have found they can help reduce falling risk. 

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Staying up to date on eye exams is also critical, Helfrich added, since vision is critical in determining where the body is in the environment and helping with orientation. 

Standing up too quickly can result in a phenomenon called ortostatic hypotension, which is when blood pressure drops too quickly and causes dizziness. 

"As you age, blood pressure changes can cause you to feel dizzy if you move positions too quickly, which can increase your risk of falling," Helfrich said. 

"Take your time when getting out of bed or out of your chair to prevent this from happening," she said.

Older adults are more prone to experiencing fatigue, which can make them more susceptible to falling, multiple studies have shown.

"Making sure you get enough sleep at night is really important in helping your body recover from the previous day," Helfrich said.

To read more pieces in Fox News Digital's "Be Well" series, click here.

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Hydration nation: Clients clamor for IV therapy on demand even though its not FDA-approved

For an increasing number of people, "getting more fluids" has taken on new meaning as IV hydration bars and clinics pop up across the country and "clients" book time at these locations.

At spa-like clinics, patrons can receive intravenous (IV) fluids on demand, even when such hydration is not specifically recommended or prescribed by their doctor.

The IV drips can contain saline solutions or a blend of vitamins or electrolytes designed to counter the dehydration that can result from overexertion, flu-like symptoms or lack of fluids.

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People often seek IV fluid treatment for relief of hangovers, jet lag and nausea. They do so for aesthetic reasons, too — such as improving the appearance of their skin, according to health professionals who work at these hydration stations.

"When dehydrated, a person’s electrolytes are off, and they can experience altered mental status, fatigue or constipation," Stephanie Lopez, a registered nurse who works at IV Bars in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

She added that IV hydration "is good for the skin, and supports organs and muscles."

The IV fluid hydration center is set up with a "spa-like" feel, as the person sits in a recliner in a relaxing environment, Lopez explained.

A licensed nurse or paramedic administers the IV into an arm vein using a sterile technique. 

The hydration session typically lasts about 30 to 50 minutes, said Lopez. 

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"Each client is screened [according to] our regulations and parameters before an IV is administered," she said. 

"All clients are required to fill out a health assessment, which is then reviewed by the medical director through our EMR [electronic medical record] system."

Before the IV is administered, the facility’s trained and licensed RNs and paramedics perform an assessment of the clients to ensure they meet the approved parameters.

The benefits of IV hydration are countered by some degree of risk.

"There is always some risk when opening the skin, but we have paramedics and nurses who are already trained in IV administration and we keep it as aseptic as possible," Lopez told Fox News Digital.

Jennifer M., who asked that her last name be withheld, visited an IV hydration center in Annapolis, Maryland in early June.

"I read about IV therapy when my 80-year-old mom came to stay with me," she said. 

"She was told by her physician that if she didn’t stay hydrated, she would get more confused and be more likely to have recurrent UTIs [urinary tract infections]. My friend suggested seeing an IV nurse. After getting the OK from her physician, we went."

Jennifer M. noticed a positive change in her mother after just one treatment, she said.

"That evening, her confusion, low energy and irritability took a turn for the better," she noted. "She also admitted to feeling more alert and her skin wasn’t as dry the next morning."

HEALTHY AGING AND DRINKING WATER: FASCINATING FINDINGS FROM A NEW STUDY

The average cost of an IV hydration session currently ranges from $100 to $500, depending on the type of hydration chosen, according to those in the business. 

Insurance does not cover the service.

Some companies offer mobile services — so the IV hydration clinic will come to your location.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a spike in IV spas nationwide as people developed a stronger interest in health and wellness, some hydration spa owners told Fox News Digital.

"COVID boosted our numbers threefold," said Aaron Roberts, the CEO and founder of IV Bars, a national chain of IV hydration spas based in Texas. 

"The number of IV hydration clinics nationwide jumped to nearly 600 sites post-COVID."

He also said, "More people became aware of the importance of treating dehydration and boosting the immune system."

With the sudden growth of these spas came greater scrutiny by health care associations.

Connie Sullivan, president and CEO of the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) in Alexandria, Virginia, shared a statement with Fox News Digital. 

"The NHIA has serious concerns about the way states are allowing IV spas and hydration clinics to operate without appropriate licensure or oversight."

She added, "The vast majority of the compounded IV solutions being made and marketed by these entities have no scientific evidence supporting their safety or use in healthy individuals and potentially diverts drugs in shortage away from patients who have legitimate medical needs and require these products to live."

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In response to the pushback, Lopez — of IV Bars in North Carolina — released a statement to Fox News Digital about the controversy surrounding IV hydration bars.

"Even though vitamin supplements are not FDA-approved, we still adhere to medical board regulations when administering IVs to our clients," she said. 

"We are licensed by the state and have medical director oversight at each of our locations."

Lopez said that highly trained, licensed registered nurses and paramedics staff the IV Bar locations.

"We also uphold standards when it comes to our vitamins, as we only use 503B compounding pharmacies that derive their vitamins from natural sources with no synthetic product or fillers," she added.

IV hydration services could help alleviate the strain on hospital emergency departments by preventing health issues caused by significant dehydration, said Lopez.

Still, hydration bars should not be used like hospital emergency rooms, Lopez said. 

If patients appear to be in distress, they are immediately referred to their health care professional or to an emergency department.

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It is important for individuals to vet an IV fluid hydration spa before getting treatment, multiple health experts said. 

That means ensuring that a licensed nurse, physician assistant or paramedic is administering the IV; asking about infection protocols; verifying that the vitamins and solutions are from a legitimate medical supply company; and asking whether a medical doctor oversees the site.

"While the IV hydration sites might make you feel better, they aren't FDA-approved," Dr. Fred Davis, an associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

"This means they are not regulated the same way medications would be," he went on. 

"There are also no clinically validated studies that confirm IV hydration therapy actually does what it claims to do."

It is also important to recognize signs of dehydration, Davis noted. 

These include fatigue, dry mouth, decreased urination and thirst. It can also lead to elevated heart rates in some cases.

To stay hydrated, Davis emphasized the importance of drinking plenty of water. 

He recommends six to eight 8-ounce glasses per day for those who don’t have a medical condition that requires the restriction of fluids.

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AI helps dentists catch more cavities and gum disease: It's 'unbiased' and gives 'more accurate' diagnoses

Gum disease (periodontitis) affects more than 47% of Americans — or nearly 65 million people — including former Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez, who recently announced he has the condition.

As artificial intelligence continues to expand into dental and medical uses, dentists are relying on the technology to quickly and accurately detect and prevent periodontitis, decay, bone loss and other gum health issues.

Now, VideaHealth, a medical technology company in Boston, has created a dental AI platform that is available to 90% of dental practices in the U.S., the company said. 

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The FDA-approved system analyzes patients’ X-ray images using an algorithm trained on hundreds of millions of data points — more than 50 times the number of X-rays most dentists see in their lifetime, according to the company — to provide treatment recommendations for patients.

"VideaAI lets dentists examine X-rays for cavities and radiographic bone level findings, comparing them against our AI algorithms," Boston-based Florian Hillen, VideaHealth’s founder and CEO and an AI research fellow at Harvard Business School, told Fox News Digital. 

With traditional dental screenings, X-ray analysis is used for diagnosis and treatment planning — but 50% of dental decay is missed and 30% results in wrongful diagnosis, he also said.

His company's system "identifies 43% more cavities and reduces the error rate of misdiagnosis by 50%, and also reduces false positives by 15%," he said. 

"Our analysis enables more accurate diagnoses and better preventative care."

In addition to enabling faster, more accurate findings, VideaAI also gives dentists the data and confidence to engage better with their patients, Hillen said.

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"It also helps dentists achieve more streamlined workflows in their offices, resulting in reduced human error and mistakes," he added.

For patients, the AI tool helps to improve their dental health by catching cavities, abscesses, lesions and oral diseases before these issues evolve into much larger problems. 

"With the right dental care, the risk of medical complications from diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses can be significantly decreased," Hillen said.

AI also helps increase patients’ trust by showing them "the complete picture," Hillen said.

"Today, a lot of dental relationships are asymmetric," he said. "Patients don’t know if they need the X-rays or the treatment plan — and sometimes they want a treatment they don’t need."

Historically, patients don’t always accept their dentists’ recommendations, Hillen pointed out — "the majority of the time, they don’t," he said. 

As a result, the dental issues continue to worsen until there is a significant issue.

"You wouldn’t walk around with an infection in your finger — you’d treat it and deal with the issue immediately," he said. 

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"So why do so many adults walk around with mouth infections? And do they even know they’re increasing their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac issues and dementia?"

Hillen said he sees AI as "the great equalizer" in that it can provide an unbiased, data-driven analysis that the dentist and patient can review and discuss together.

"With AI, findings are easier to explain to patients, who trust their dentists more — which means patients are more likely to move forward with necessary treatments rather than delay care," he said.

A dental service organization in Boston called 42 North Dental was one of the earliest adopters of the VideaAI tool.

"We're big believers in technology and aiding our doctors to provide the best care possible," the company’s chief clinical officer, Boston-based Michael A. Scialabba, DDS, told Fox News Digital. 

"AI is essential for practitioners because it is unbiased, and it provides us with the opportunity to identify lesions that we might miss without it."

When 42 North Dental started reviewing dental AI options, the dentists first examined 100+ images with the naked eye.

When they viewed those same images again with VideaAI, they found nearly 20% more cavities, Scialabba said.

The practice has also seen its treatment acceptance rates increase by 20%.

"The common misconception is that dentists overdiagnose, but this is not accurate," Scialabba said. 

Rather, he said, dentists "are conservative, and underdiagnosis is the bigger issue. VideaAI can help us see issues before they are visible to the naked eye, so we can offer recommendations and stave off bigger issues."

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Implementing AI has helped 42 North Dental prevent mistakes, reduce missed diagnoses and improve oral health by detecting cavities and early bone loss, which is an indication of gum disease, Scialabba said. 

"This will help drive better overall health and reduce instances of chronic diseases," he said. "Increasingly, AI in dentistry can help detect and prevent issues ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disease and early-onset dementia."

He added, "This isn't aspirational — this is the truth."

The practice's patients have also enjoyed having a clearer, more visual window into their own dental health, Scialabba said.

"Patients now have an unbiased and data-backed understanding of their X-rays and diagnosis," he said. "AI takes out the emotion and bias for both the dentist and the patient, and provides a straightforward way to talk about treatment plans using just the facts."

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He added, "This approach puts more control into the hands of patients, so they can make the smartest and most meaningful decision for their oral care."

More than a year after implementing VideaAI, 42 North Dental is now in the process of rolling out the tech to all of its locations.

While dental AI has been shown to improve outcomes for patients and efficiency for practices, it’s not meant to replace trained professionals, experts say.

"Dentists and hygienists will always remain a critical part of the equation in disease diagnostics, as they have the context of years of experience, patient histories and in-person examinations," Scialabba told Fox News Digital.

"At the end of the day, it’s a combination of AI and using human experience — a tool for the dentists to use," he added.

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Beyond just analyzing X-rays, Scialabba said that clinicians serve as their patients' collaborators, advisers, educators and partners — and AI helps them deliver the best care possible.

"The clinical experience and insights dental professionals bring to the table cannot be underestimated, but the AI offers objective, consistent observations to consider when making their decisions and recommendations," he added.

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