Traveler infected with confirmed case of measles at Seattle International Airport as cases in US increase

The Public Health – Seattle & King County issued an alert after they were notified that an adult with a confirmed case of infectious measles traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after their travels in Europe.

The confirmed infection came after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert to public health officials warning that the number of U.S. measles cases this year has already matched the entirety of 2023. 

The Seattle & King County alert said that the infectious adult traveled through the international airport on May 10 and 11 and that the person's measle vaccination status was unclear.

Health officials said the individual resided in Arizona and likely picked up the infectious disease while in Europe. The agency did not specify which country or countries the individual traveled.

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Health officials said the individual used the S Concourse (Gate S1) on May 10 between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. They went through customs to the international arrivals facility baggage claim (Carousel 19).

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On May 11, between approximately 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., the individual was at the A Concourse (Gate A8).

Seattle health officials said that if individuals believe they were exposed at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, they should:

If you were at the locations at the times listed above and are not immune to measles, the most likely time you would become sick would be between May 17, 2024, to June 1, 2024. People who are immuno-compromised may take longer to experience symptoms.

The health scare at the international airport came after a CDC alert to public health officials said the number of U.S. measles cases this year has already matched the entirety of 2023.  

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"From January 1 to March 14, 2024, CDC has been notified of 58 confirmed U.S. cases of measles across 17 jurisdictions, including seven outbreaks in seven jurisdictions compared to 58 total cases and four outbreaks reported the entire year in 2023," it said in the release. 

"Among the 58 cases reported in 2024, 54 (93%) were linked to international travel," the CDC continued, adding that, "Many countries, including travel destinations such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom, are experiencing measles outbreaks." 

The CDC describes measles as a "highly contagious viral illness" that "can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and death, especially in unvaccinated persons." 

"To prevent measles infection and reduce the risk of community transmission from importation, all U.S. residents traveling internationally, regardless of destination, should be current on their MMR vaccinations," it said in the alert. "Healthcare providers should ensure children are current on routine immunizations, including MMR." 

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Mental health and stress issues in America get new attention from National Geographic

This month of May, National Geographic has been giving a nod to Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S. — with a new campaign unveiling a series of mental health check-ups in the form of articles, videos, photography and more.

The material includes downloadable phone backgrounds, ASMR nature YouTube videos, sense-soothing Spotify playlists and a "How Stressed Are You?" questionnaire first developed by psychologists in 1983.

The organization also released a series of think pieces about a culture of urgency in America that is apparently leading to burnout; the efficiency and effectiveness of meditation; and multiple takes on experiencing stress.

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"In our ‘always-on’ world, people are more stressed than ever, and the science is clear that chronic stress has a negative impact on our health," National Geographic editor-in-chief Nathan Lump said in a media release. 

"We aim to help people better understand the effects of stress and encourage them to slow down and take the time to prioritize their mental health," Lump also said.

He added that he hoped "these resources will encourage and facilitate that behavior."

The initiative for NatGeo sprouted from a deep dive into how scientists have been attempting to solve stress for generations due to signs that stress can have life-altering consequences, from heart disease to a weakened immune system.

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In an interview with Fox News Digital, NatGeo contributor Yudhijit Bhattacharjee shared details about his research — noting that "stress is all around us."

"Stress permeates our lives," he said. "Stress has some serious impacts on our health, our well-being, even how our brains function, how our immune systems function and so on."

Since the coronavirus pandemic, Bhattacharjee, who’s based in Takoma Park, Maryland, said it's become "clear" that social isolation is a "big contributor to stress."

"In the last 10 to 15 years, there's been a lot more research on precisely how stress affects us," he said. "We didn't know, for example, as clearly as we do now, that stress often plays havoc with our immune system." 

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"When we're significantly stressed, we're more susceptible to viruses and germs … and in this post-COVID world, this is definitely very relevant."

Bhattacharjee’s research also examined how stress can affect adolescents and children.

Aniko Korosi, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam, told NatGeo, "Chronic stress in early life has more serious and lasting effects, because that’s when a lot of connections are being laid down in the brain."

Experts have discovered, according to Bhattacharjee, that high stress can impede the development of a child’s brain.

"Not much attention has been paid to the impact of stress on babies," he said. "The stress that parents experience in trying to earn a livelihood, keep a roof over their heads — all of that stress ends up kind of transmitting to their children." 

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"And while the adults can probably cope with the stress and their brains are already fully formed, it's the children who are going to end up paying a price that lasts their entire lives."

Bhattacharjee said NatGeo’s campaign is "drawing attention" to what stress is doing to our bodies and our children, as well as advocating for people to "try out their preferred ways of de-stressing."

Meditation — a well-known method of de-stressing — has been embraced more openly by the public and is even being introduced to children in schools, NatGeo reported. 

Bhattacharjee assumed that programs like these could make a "big contribution" to society by changing "how humanity responds to day-to-day stress."

"Scientists are learning exactly how meditation ends up helping to reduce stress and thereby helps to control some of the ill effects of stress," he said.

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Bhattacharjee considered other activities to be "meditative" in their ability to control stress, such as playing a sport, singing karaoke, spending time with a pet or going for a walk.

"Meditation is kind of a catchall word for a number of contemplative practices and many of them focus on paying attention to one's breath and one's thoughts," he said.

The NatGeo contributor said many people today are living in a "frenetic social media environment" while surrounded by issues ranging from environmental to political — making it an opportune time to pay attention to our stress levels and learn how to calm them.

"This constant seeking of stimulation, this addiction to stimulation, is contributing to the stress," he said. 

"[Scrolling is] probably not helping … even if you think that it will entertain you. Maybe that's just adding to our stress load."

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He added, "I think we need to spend some time just with ourselves feeling bored in order to increase our well-being."

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Woman who received experimental pig kidney transplant back on dialysis after new organ failed

A woman who received a pig kidney transplant is back on dialysis just 47 days later after surgeons removed the gradually failing organ.

Lisa Pisano was the second person to receive a kidney from a gene-edited pig, and NYU Langone Health announced that she is stable after an operation to remove the organ earlier this week.

The first patient to receive a pig kidney transplant, Richard "Rick" Slayman at Massachusetts General Hospital, died in early May, nearly two months after his transplant. Doctors there said there was no indication he died as a result of the experimental transplant.

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Pisano’s heart and kidneys were failing when, in a dramatic pair of surgeries in April, doctors implanted a mechanical pump to keep her heart beating and then the pig kidney.

At first she seemed to be recovering well. But Dr. Robert Montgomery, who led the transplant, said there were "unique challenges" to managing both the heart pump and new kidney. Her blood pressure dropped too low multiple times for optimal blood flow to the kidney.

The kidney lost function until doctors no longer could justify keeping her on immune-suppressing medications, Montgomery said in a statement Friday.

A recent kidney biopsy showed no signs of rejection – the biggest concern in highly experimental animal-to-human transplants – but there was "significant injury" from insufficient blood flow, he said. NYU will further study the explanted kidney for further insight on how it reacted inside a living person.

Montgomery noted Pisano wasn't a candidate for the life-prolonging heart pump while on dialysis, and her heart disease in turn barred a traditional kidney transplant.

"We are hoping to get Lisa back home to her family soon," he said. "Her strength and bravery in the face of adversity inspires and drives us as we continue pursuing the hope and promise of xenotransplantation."

Pisano told the Associated Press in April that she knew the pig kidney might not work but "I just took a chance. And you know, worst case scenario, if it didn’t work for me, it might have worked for someone else."

More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant waiting list, most who need a kidney, and thousands die waiting. In hopes of filling the shortage of donated organs, several biotech companies are genetically modifying pigs so their organs are more humanlike, less likely to be destroyed by people’s immune system.

Formal studies of such organs are expected to begin next year. Meanwhile, NYU and other research teams have temporarily transplanted pig kidneys and hearts into brain-dead bodies, with promising results. In addition to the Mass General pig kidney transplant, the University of Maryland transplanted pig hearts into two men who were out of other options, and both died within months.

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Women experience more dental health issues than men, experts say. Here's what to do about it

Your dental health could depend on your gender.

Male and female teeth are very different, according to a TikTok posted by Dr. Ellie Phillips, DDS, an oral health educator based in Austin, Texas. 

Phillips’ viral video, which has amassed more than one million likes, explained the difference between men's and women’s teeth.

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The dentist, who has worked in the industry for more than four decades, shared that women often tell her that they take great care of their teeth.

"'I always attend dental cleanings,'" she said, quoting the women she treats. 

"'I floss, I brush. I do everything I’m told to do, and my teeth have cavities, I have gum disease, gum recession, all these problems.'"

She added, "'And there is my husband or my fiancé or my boyfriend — he doesn’t even clean his teeth half the time and doesn’t have any of these problems.'"

When Phillips was in dental school in the 1960s, she was "trained to believe" that the pH of all saliva was 7.

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After using a pH meter to test multiple people over the course of many years, however, Phillips discovered that the pH of women’s saliva was frequently 5.5 or 6.

"Acidic saliva in your mouth … can be the very reason that your teeth are weakening, that you are promoting plaque in your mouth, that you’re getting gum disease," she said in the video. 

"Acidic saliva is really damaging to oral health."

Phillips suggested that the assumption of a universal saliva pH was based on studies from the 1950s, when only male dental students were surveyed.

"Even when I went to dental school, [it] was 1% women," she said. "The rest were men."

Dr. Dominik Nischwitz, a specialist in biological dentistry in Tübingen, Germany, noted that several studies have suggested that female patients can have significantly lower pH values, meaning their mouths are more acidic.

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"Women also have, generally speaking, a lower saliva flow rate than men," he told Fox News Digital. 

Saliva's ideal pH rate is between 7 and 7.4, according to Nischwitz.

"If the pH of saliva constantly drops below 5.5, the tooth enamel gets demineralized, which means it will be more prone to tooth decay," he warned. 

"If this is combined with a lower flow rate of the saliva, which can lead to a dry mouth, the tooth becomes weaker, because the remineralization or buffering capacity is too slow."

Dr. Brandon Mack, DDS, a cosmetic dentist who practices in both New York and Florida, agreed in a response sent to Fox News Digital that acidity in the mouth can lead to worsened bacteria and tooth erosion.

"The saliva’s role is to serve as a buffer system that allows us to keep teeth at a certain level that [is] going to promote health and good probiotics inside the plaque biofilm," he said. 

Mack emphasized the question, "Are there influences that disproportionately affect women who shift their acidic environment to a point where it's going to be more detrimental to the mouth?"

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Although Mack could not confirm whether there is a difference in salivary pH between men and women, he "won't deny" the potential for some type of "relative correlation of factors that affect women more than men."

He said, "The quality of saliva is going to vary from individual to individual, and it's going to depend on how many minerals — like calcium, phosphate and fluorohydroxyapatite — are in that saliva. We also have to consider the flow rate of the saliva, or how much saliva is present, and any kind of conditions that are going to affect men and women differently."

In Phillips' TikTok video, she recommends taking a daily dose of xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol, to counteract salivary acidity.

"When you put xylitol, even a tiny 1-gram amount, on the tip of your tongue, you will stimulate a flow of saliva into your mouth," she said.

This extra saliva has "all the minerals you need," Phillips said, as well as reparative cells for gum health.

The expert recommended ingesting xylitol, such as a Zellie’s dental mint, at the end of a meal and then abstaining from eating or drinking for an hour afterward.

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Mack agreed that xylitol is an "incredible tool," as it doesn’t have any carbs that get "metabolized by acid-loving bacteria. Xylitol promotes pH buffering when the salivary flow is reduced," he said. 

Mack recommended other products, such as StellaLife kits and xylitol candy and lozenges.

Patients can also take certain medications to increase salivary flow, he added.

In addition to taking xylitol, it is crucial to adhere to a healthy lifestyle and eat nutrient-rich foods, Nischwitz recommended.

"It is true that having a xylitol mint will lead to more saliva flow in the short term and is definitely recommended, but it won’t solve it completely if the lifestyle doesn’t support the oral microbiome," he told Fox News Digital.

"Processed foods are usually low in key minerals or can even deplete the body's minerals due to chelating agents like phytic acid."

Key micronutrients that help to remineralize teeth include vitamin D3, vitamin K2, magnesium, phosphorus, boron and essential amino acids, according to Nischwitz.

Using more natural toothpaste and ditching the super-acidic, chemical mouthwashes are other factors to consider, he recommended. 

"Instead of chemical mouthwashes, which harm your oral microbiome and make the saliva super acidic, try coconut oil pulling instead," Nischwitz advised. 

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In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Phillips reiterated that it is "paramount" for women to be included in research studies.

"Their hormonal fluctuations, menstrual cycles and biological nuances demand far greater attention and accommodation than they currently receive," she wrote. "I'm thrilled that we're finally delving into the crucial aspects of women's oral health as a society."

The condition of a mother’s oral health during pregnancy has a "direct impact" on her baby’s oral health, which is a "vital yet often neglected conversation," Phillips said.

"It’s astounding that the microbiome that develops before the age of 4 contributes to up to 40% of the mouth bacteria that we have as adults," she said. 

"If we can help mothers create a healthy mouth for themselves, we can start to truly affect the global epidemic of dental disease that's upon us."

More than half of Americans suffer from dental issues that are most likely preventable, according to Phillips.

"This shift requires us to truly evaluate the current dental industry, start asking the right questions and expand the research on gender differences and effective oral care strategies," she said.

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Ozempic and Wegovy could double as kidney disease treatment, study suggests

Semaglutide medications — including Ozempic and Wegovy — have been shown to reduce the risk of kidney failure and the risk of death among people with kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

In a trial led by UNSW Sydney between June 2019 and May 2021, researchers found that a small weekly dose of semaglutide lessened the likelihood of "major kidney events" by 24%, according to a press release.

The study, funded by Novo Nordisk and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, included more than 3,500 participants with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease from 28 countries.

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The participants received 1.0 mg per week of semaglutide, which is less than what is typically prescribed for weight loss or diabetes, the release noted. 

The median follow-up was 3.4 years.

"It’s the same chemical compound, but we used a lower dose ... we did that deliberately because people with kidney disease tend to be more sensitive to the effects and side effects of drugs," said the study’s lead author, professor Vlado Perkovic of UNSW Sydney, in the release.

"That’s helpful in terms of being able to perhaps have the drug more widely used than might have otherwise been the case given the current supply limitations."

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The group of people taking semaglutide were also 18% less likely to experience a heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular events, the study found.

Patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease are at a significant risk for kidney failure, cardiovascular events and death, according to Dr. Brett Osborn, a neurologist and longevity expert in Florida.

"The recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights semaglutide's potential to mitigate these risks," Osborn, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. 

Semaglutide works by improving glycemic control, Osborn noted — which is crucial in mitigating diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease). 

"It also lowers inflammation — particularly within the blood vessel lining," he said. 

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This reduces blood vessel damage and improves blood flow through the kidneys.

"Overall, semaglutide offers substantial renal and cardiovascular protection for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease," Osborn said.

"At a base level, semaglutide, through indirect mechanisms, improves vascular health. The better blood flow to your organs — be it your heart, brain or kidneys — the longer you are likely to live."

Outside the spectrum of diabetes, Osborn said he believes these medications will have a major impact on human health, comparing them to the advent of antibiotics at the turn of the century.

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, also said this was a "very important" study.

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"This lifesaving result is likely due to the metabolic effects of the drug, which helps with reducing inflammation, overcoming insulin resistance, and improving insulin function and glucose metabolism at the cellular level," Siegel told Fox News Digital. 

"Improved kidney function means improved heart function, and pressure on the heart from failed kidneys is a major cause of heart attack and death."

Siegel added, "This study has broader implications for all patients who have kidney failure or are at risk for it."

Novo Nordisk, the Denmark-based company that makes Ozempic and Wegovy, announced the positive primary results from the trial at the European Renal Association (ERA) Congress in Sweden last week.

"FLOW is the first ever renal outcomes trial with a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in kidney disease progression, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality risk with semaglutide 1 mg," Michael Radin, executive medical director for diabetes at Novo Nordisk, said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. 

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"This study highlights our drive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with type 2 diabetes and CKD and to deliver innovations to address current unmet medical needs in CKD pending FDA approval."

To leverage semaglutide as a treatment for kidney disease, there is a need to overcome supply shortages and conduct research about combining the medication with other therapies, the researchers stated in the release.

Novo Nordisk will also need to seek regulatory approval for the drug to be used for chronic kidney disease patients.

"The challenge is to get these results into clinical practice, to get the drug used by the people who will benefit from it, who will live longer without dialysis, without heart attacks, without strokes, if they take this drug," Perkovic said.

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First person with MS to play in the NBA shares his inspiring message: 'Make the most of it'

Multiple sclerosis is a life-changing diagnosis for one million people who are affected in the U.S. — but for a professional athlete, its physical limitations can seem particularly challenging.

Chris Wright, 34, the first person with MS to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), has been living with the disorder since his 2012 diagnosis.

Ahead of World MS Day on May 30, Wright and his neurologist, Dr. Heidi Crayton, joined Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview from Washington, D.C., to discuss how he has come to terms with his MS and to share words of wisdom for others facing the diagnosis. (See the video at the top of this article.)

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Wright first experienced symptoms in 2012, he said, when he noticed tingling in his right foot while warming up for an overseas basketball game in Turkey.

"As I was shooting, I felt a tingling sensation in my right hand that eventually spread throughout my entire body within a matter of a minute," he told Fox News Digital.

His coaches sent him to a doctor, who told him to take the day off.

"The next morning I woke up, and I couldn't walk. I couldn't stand up. I couldn't really use my limbs," he recalled.

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Wright returned to the doctor, this time in a wheelchair.

"They sent me to a specialist, where I was quickly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis."

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that can affect movement, vision, speech and other functions.

After going through several other doctors, Wright found Dr. Crayton, a board-certified neurologist who practices at the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Greater Washington.

"What led me to her was her confidence and her ability to simplify what it meant to have MS and to make it manageable for me. [She] helped me understand that I could still go on with my career and my life in a way that I wanted to," he said.

Crayton noted that the patient-doctor relationship is a "marathon, not a sprint." 

She told Fox News Digital, "It's really important to find a doctor they can trust, who they can communicate with, who they can partner with to make decisions."

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"You need a team of people who support you, love you and accept you." 

Less than a year after his diagnosis, Wright became the first person with MS to play in the NBA when he signed with the Dallas Mavericks.

"MS impacted my career tremendously, because there was nobody before me," Wright told Fox News Digital. 

"I had NBA offers that were retracted because of the possibility of me having medical conditions and just being in uncharted territory — but I kept working and overcame it."

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Wright, a husband and father of three, is no longer playing basketball these days, but he is feeling healthy and enjoying life, he said.

"Living with MS, it looks good, it feels good — I feel great," he said. 

"I try to stay active. I try to stay healthy. I try to stay moving. And I've been able to keep myself healthy and continue to be a father and live my life the way I want to live."

For all those facing a new diagnosis, Wright encouraged seeking out resources from people who have "walked these halls" before. 

"There are people who understand what you're going through, and it's important to hear other stories and get a foundational knowledge of what your life will look like moving forward."

Wright is involved with Express4MS, a campaign that encourages people with MS to express themselves, share their stories and discuss treatment options with their doctors.

"It's just something you can put in your toolbox to find information, inspiration and motivation to live every day in a positive way," Wright said.

"I would say to people: Stay with it, go through those tough times, figure out what works for you," he said. 

"Figure out how you can be successful at whatever it is you do."

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Wright urges MS patients to look at the disease not as a hindrance, but as a "badge of honor."

He said, "Walk with pride, and know that you're going to be OK."

Clayton advises her MS patients to "treat your body like a temple."

"It will pay you back in spades if you can invest in your health — eat well, exercise, sleep," she said. 

While people with MS will always have bad days, Wright is focused on maintaining a positive outlook.

"As long as you’re above ground, you have an opportunity to make the most of it," he said. 

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction — so whatever you put out there is the energy that's going to come back."

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Early stroke symptoms, plus allergy prevention and foods that promote sleep

EVERY SECOND COUNTS – Jenna Gibson was just 39 when a stroke nearly killed her. Here, she shares her story to help raise awareness among young women. Continue reading…

‘PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN’ – ADHD now affects 1 in 9 kids in the U.S., a new report reveals. Mental health experts discuss reasons for the spike and how families can help. Continue reading…

EAT WELL, SLEEP WELL – Want a better night's sleep? Researchers suggest eating more of these types of foods. Continue reading…

SOMETHING FISHY? – A certain supplement has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular events for some people. Researchers and doctors weigh in. Continue reading…

HELP FOR VETS – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is bringing mobile medical care to homeless vets. Patients share how the initiative is changing their lives for the better. Continue reading…

RISK REDUCTION – Feeding peanut butter to babies — starting during infancy and continuing until age 5 — has been shown effective in reducing allergies into adolescence. Continue reading…

‘HUGE STIGMA’ – For World Schizophrenia Day, a mental health expert debunks some of the most common myths surrounding the disorder. Continue reading…

ILL-EQUIPPED – Half of American adults don't think they can help in a medical crisis, a new poll reveals. Continue reading…

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How to easily start an outdoor exercise routine

Between the sweat smell, fluorescent lights and omnipresent television screens, April Herring has never connected with going to the gym.

Instead, she runs, bikes, hikes, plays tennis, pickleball and football — anything to get her exercise outside as often as possible.

"Fresh air, sunshine, the variety of the trees as the seasons change," said Herring, an administrator at Carroll Community College in North Maryland. "There’s something about the energetic healing quality of nature."

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The health benefits of spending time in nature have long been established, and exercise in general, of course, improves physical and mental well-being.

Combine the two and you double down on what adults need to stay healthy, said Debbie Rhea, professor in kinesiology at Texas Christian University.

"We’ve got to get outside. We’ve got to be active," Rhea said. "If we’re going to live long lives, this is what it’s about."

Getting started on an outdoor routine, however, might not be as easy as signing up for another gym membership. Here’s how to get going.

If you haven’t been active for a while, think back to the activities you enjoyed years ago, suggested Connie Sciolino, founder of the Alpine Training Center in Boulder, Colorado, a gym that trains athletes for outdoor mountain sports.

People who like occasionally hiking or biking should start building an aerobic base by taking progressively longer walks or rides. Once you’re comfortably in the 35- to 45-minute range, start adding some intensity to build strength, she said.

"If jogging is their main activity, I would send them to the bleachers or do some up-down on stairs, either in sprint format or put a pack on their back," she said.

Rhea cautioned against jumping back into a sport you used to play without preparing your body for the proper movement.

"Let’s say they’re in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and they haven’t sprinted and now they try to run around those bases," she said. "They’re probably going to hurt an Achilles or a hamstring or something by doing something too fast."

A side benefit of exercising outside is that there’s no need to buy expensive equipment, trainers say.

After warming up with your preferred aerobic activity, add strength training by using your body weight and what is available in the built environment. That could be finding a picnic table or low wall and placing your hands shoulder-width apart to do leaning pushups. Then turn around, put your hands on the same surface and lower your body for dips that work your triceps.

For working your legs, add squats with your feet shoulder-width apart, looking straight ahead with your back straight. Add lunges by taking giant steps and bending down into the space between your feet. For the core, find a patch of grass to do sit-ups.

Start with eight to 10 repetitions, or no more than you are comfortable with, and add sets with short breaks in between as you get stronger.

For a more complete workout, find a park or trail with outdoor exercise equipment, which is installed in one-third of park agencies, according to the National Recreation and Park Association. The equipment can range from basic pull-up bars to gym-style bench presses and rowing machines.

And many cities, including Chicago, San Antonio and Atlanta, offer free group classes outdoors.

When it inevitably rains or the weather turns colder, it helps to keep in mind an old axiom: There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

"If we have the clothing for whatever the temperatures are that we may be in, then we’re more likely to go outside to be active when we need to," Rhea said.

She suggested investing in a jacket that breathes and a light hat with a brim you can use on sunny or rainy days.

Trainer Katie Higginbotham recommended having a contingency plan for inclement weather. Pick an area with surfaces that won’t get slippery when wet or somewhere with some tree shelter so as not to be bombarded by rain.

On those days, having a regular exercise buddy really helps, said Higginbotham, who oversees quality control for TrainFitness, a U.K.-based private training provider.

"If you know someone is there waiting for you, it’s difficult to say no at the last minute," she said.

Finally, it helps to set a goal, whether that is training for a 5K charity walk or a triathlon. If you’re working toward something, it keeps you motivated to keep going, Sciolino said.

"When you have that day marked on your calendar, you have to perform these things or die out there," she said.

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FDA warns that nicotine-like chemicals in vapes may be more potent than nicotine

Nicotine alternatives used in vapes being launched in the U.S. and abroad, such as 6-methyl nicotine, may be more potent and addictive than nicotine itself, though the scientific data remains incomplete, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and independent researchers.

The synthetic substances - which have a chemical structure similar to that of nicotine - are not subject to U.S. tobacco and vaping regulations that are designed to control traditional nicotine, a highly addictive drug.

That means manufacturers can sell vapes containing synthetic nicotine analogues such as 6-methyl nicotine in the United States without seeking authorization from the FDA - a process that can be costly, time-consuming and is often unsuccessful.

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Big tobacco firms like Altria Group and British American Tobacco have already lost substantial U.S. sales to an influx of disposable vapes containing traditional nicotine that are being illegally sold without FDA authorization.

Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes in the United States, highlighted the emerging use of 6-methyl nicotine in vapes and other smoking alternatives in a May 9 letter to the FDA, according to a copy of the correspondence posted on its website.

It urged the agency to evaluate the compounds and establish what authority it had over them, warning they posed a "new threat" to regulation of the sector.

"The introduction and growth of chemicals intended to imitate the effects of nicotine, if left unchecked, could present unknown risks to U.S. consumers and undermine FDA’s authority," the letter said.

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It cited SPREE BAR, a vape launched in October by Charlie's Holdings Inc that uses 6-methyl nicotine.

The FDA does not comment on its correspondence with individual firms.

In response to Reuters' questions about 6-methyl nicotine and other nicotine alternatives, the FDA said in a statement: "Although more research is needed, some emerging data show these nicotine analogs may be more potent than nicotine – which is already highly addictive, can alter adolescent brain development and have long-term effects on youth's attention, learning and memory."

Traditional nicotine found in many vapes and pouches is extracted from tobacco leaves. 6-methyl nicotine, in contrast, is made entirely in the lab using chemicals.

The FDA said it was considering the use of such synthetic compounds from an "agency-wide perspective" and would use all of its resources to protect youth from products that may harm their health. As well as tobacco products, the FDA also regulates drugs, foods, cosmetics and more to ensure safety and efficacy.

"The FDA is a data-driven agency, and we're in the process of reviewing the available data to inform potential actions in this space," it said in response to Reuters' questions.

Three academic researchers told the news agency that current studies of 6-methyl nicotine are too limited to draw definite conclusions on the health impact or to what degree it is addictive.

Imad Damaj, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Virginia Commonwealth University, said his research showed 6-methyl nicotine may be more potent than nicotine, but more extensive tests were needed to say what impact it has on humans.

The limitations of existing research included that some papers were industry funded, while others focused on the short-term impact on animals or cells and were insufficient to understand 6-methyl nicotine's effects on human bodies, the researchers said.

Charlie's Holdings calls the 6-methyl nicotine solution used in SPREE BAR Metatine. SPREE BAR's website says Metatine "may have a toxicity profile similar to nicotine".

SPREE BAR promises users 6,000 puffs from each device and offers fruity flavors including "blue razz ice" and "creamy melon", according to its website.

The FDA has yet to approve any flavored vape using traditional nicotine for sale in the United States, saying companies have not been able to show that the health benefits they offer to smokers outweigh the known risks to young people, who may be more attracted by the flavors.

Charlie's Holdings co-founder Ryan Stump told Reuters that the company only targets adults, adding that flavors played an important role in its mission to help smokers quit cigarettes.

Stump said Charlie's Holdings respects and abides by laws in every market where it operates. He acknowledged that more research is needed on 6-methyl nicotine, adding that the company dilutes it in its products.

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Anes Saleh sells SPREE BAR in his vape shop in Denver, Colorado, called Sultan Smoke. He said he has some customers who only buy Spree Bar instead of a nicotine vape and he hasn't had any negative feedback on the product.

"The only... protest I would hear about people not wanting to try this is that they don't know what Metatine is or does," he said.

Stump said that Charlie's Holdings is working on new varieties of SPREE BAR and new products using 6-methyl nicotine. It will launch SPREE BAR internationally this year. He declined to say where.

The company buys the 6-methyl nicotine solution used in SPREE BAR from another U.S. firm, Novel Compounds, according to Novel Compounds' founder Samuel Benaim.

Novel Compounds imports 6-methyl nicotine from overseas and alters it to make it easier for manufacturers like Charlie's Holdings to use in their products. It sells this solution under the trade name imotine.

Tests commissioned by Novel Compounds have found 6-methyl nicotine to be no more harmful than nicotine, Benaim said. But he also said that more research was needed into the chemical.

Benaim added that Novel Compounds had received legal advice that its product is not classified as a tobacco product or drug in the United States. The company is committed to legal compliance, he said.

Sven Jordt, a professor at Duke University, who has authored papers on products like SPREE BAR, said 6-methyl nicotine could me more addictive and toxic than its traditional cousin.

"Do we want to have such a chemical as a recreational product, available to anyone?," he asked. "That's really questionable."

Neither Jordt nor Damaj - the professor at Virginia Commonwealth University - have received funding from tobacco or vape makers.

As well as the United States, Novel Compounds also sells its 6-methyl nicotine solution around the world, including in the United Kingdom, Indonesia, India and Japan.

Another company, Aroma King, sells 6-methyl nicotine in the United Kingdom in pouches, which users insert under the lip to get a buzz. The pouches are sold in cans emblazoned with graphics of gorillas in suits and sunglasses.

It said in a February blog post that its 6-methyl nicotine products were "less toxic", "less harmful", and "less addictive" than regular nicotine products.

In a statement to Reuters, Aroma King cited existing research, its own toxicology and other tests and its supplier, which classifies 6-methyl nicotine as less toxic under the European Union's Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures (CLP) Regulation.

Aroma King said 6-methyl nicotine was self-classified by its supplier. It declined to say who supplies it with the chemical.

Four Chinese companies hold patents in China related to the production of 6-methyl nicotine, including Zinwi Biotech, a company that makes the liquid used in vapes.

Zinwi Biotech confirmed it is researching 6-methyl nicotine but did not answer further questions, including on whether it has sold any 6-methyl nicotine so far. Reuters was unable to find contact details for the other firms.

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Michigan mom: ‘I had a stroke at 39 — and the warning signs weren’t what you’d expect’

Jenna Gibson was just 39 when she was training for a marathon five years ago — but her plans were cut short by a stroke that almost took her life.

Nearly 60% of stroke deaths occur in women, according to a recent study by Mayo Clinic — and now Gibson, a Michigan mother of two, aims to help others to be more aware and prioritize their health.

"Once I learned that strokes are happening to younger people, I had to share my story," she told Fox News Digital. 

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"In most cases, strokes are preventable if you know what to look for."

On the day of Gibson’s stroke, she was feeling great.

It was a beautiful day, she’d nailed a presentation at work, and she was enjoying a walk outside with her mother after dinner.

"We were talking about how I was training for the Detroit marathon for my 40th birthday, and then all of a sudden, out of the blue, it felt like I was hit with a ton of bricks," she told Fox News Digital.

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Gibson stopped walking, then suddenly fell over into the grass. 

Her mother thought she was joking at first. "She actually took a picture of me lying in the grass, saying, ‘C’mon, get up, what are you doing?’"

Her mother helped her up, but Gibson couldn’t walk straight. 

"I felt like I was drunk — something just wasn't right," she said.

Even so, Gibson did not experience any of the textbook symptoms of a stroke, such as the facial droop, severe headache or vision disturbances.

They made it back home, where Gibson assumed she was having a migraine. She took some headache medicine and went to bed.

"A couple of hours later, I woke up and still didn't feel right — I couldn't get out of bed, I couldn't move," she recalled. 

TIAS AND MINI-STROKE RISKS: CARDIOLOGIST SHARES WARNING SIGNS AND PREVENTION TIPS

That’s when they headed to the emergency room. Gibson’s mother told the medical team that her daughter was having trouble walking and might be having a stroke.

"They checked me over, did all the tests, and didn't see the typical signs that they would be looking for," Gibson said. "Part of it was because I was young."

She added, "I didn't have the facial droop. I could walk, although not very well. I could get some words out."

After a CT scan, the medical team decided that Gibson was likely having an optic migraine. The next morning, when she still wasn’t feeling right, the neurologist ordered another scan with contrast — and that time, the stroke finally showed up.

"They could see that there was a blockage on the left side of my brain, and I was actively having a stroke," she said. 

Gibson was immediately airlifted to another hospital, where she had emergency brain surgery to remove the blood clot. 

"There was obviously a risk of death — if we didn't move fast enough, the time frame would be over," she said.

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As she was flown to the hospital, Gibson said she felt certain she was going to die and would never again see her husband or her daughters, who were just 8 and 4 at the time.

"I thought I’d never get to see my children grow up and get married, or that I’d have to live in some kind of vegetative state and would never work again."

"I was thinking, ‘Did I tell my girls enough times that Mommy loves them? Does my husband know how proud I am of him?’"

The next thing she knew, Gibson was waking up from surgery in the ICU — and facing a long road to recovery.

"At first, I couldn't speak at all. I couldn't move my right side. I was trapped in my head — I could see what was happening and hear people asking me questions, but I couldn't answer."

Over the next few days, Gibson said her capabilities slowly started coming back. 

She received speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy — and over time began to regain movement on her right side. 

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Her first "assignment" was to tell her daughters that she loved them and that "Mommy’s going to be OK."

After a couple of weeks, Gibson returned home and continued with outpatient therapy for three hours a day, three days a week for a four-month period.

"It was during the first six weeks that we saw the quickest improvement, and then after that, it was slower and slower," she said.

"I had to relearn everything. And now, by the grace of God, I can do all the things."

Today, Gibson is still completely numb on the entire right side of her body. She also still sometimes struggles with finding the right words while speaking, she said, especially when she’s tired or stressed.

"But if you saw me, I look like a normal person," she said.

And in a full-circle moment, Gibson was finally able to complete the half-marathon last October.

Dr. Annie Tsui, chief of neurology at Access TeleCare, who is based in Texas, emphasized the prevalence of strokes among women and urged awareness.

"Strokes can occur for various reasons across different age groups and genders," Tsui, who was not involved in Gibson’s care, told Fox News Digital. "Even though strokes can occur at any age, women between the ages of 20 and 39 are at twice the risk compared to men."

While the primary risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, obesity and diabetes, the causes for strokes in younger age groups differ from those typically associated with older people, Tsui noted. 

Those may include cardiac issues, blood clotting disorders, genetic predispositions, vascular abnormalities or trauma.

"Although no one is completely immune to the risk of stroke, individuals at higher risk should work with their doctor to develop a prevention plan," Tsui advised. "In general, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial, as up to 80% of strokes can be prevented."

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It's crucial to be aware of the symptoms to receive treatment as quickly as possible, according to Tsui.

She recommends using the FAST acronym, shown below, as a convenient tool for identifying stroke indicators. 

"The chances of survival and positive outcomes are highest when the patient receives prompt medical attention," Tsui told Fox News Digital. 

Some stroke treatments are only effective if administered within three hours of when symptoms begin, she warned — with the risk of permanent brain damage or death rising with each passing minute.

"It's important to be vigilant in recognizing stroke symptoms and to seek medical assistance immediately at the first sign," Tsui said. 

"Every second counts in reducing the risk of brain injury, permanent disability or even death."

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Feeding peanuts to babies could prevent allergies through the teen years, study finds

Feeding peanut butter to babies — starting during infancy and continuing until age 5 — has been shown effective in reducing allergies into adolescence, according to a new study by King’s College London.

The LEAP-Trio study, published on Tuesday in NEJM Evidence, showed that children who consumed peanuts early in life were 71% less likely to develop peanut allergies all the way up to 13 years of age.

This was a follow-up to the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) clinical trial. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) sponsored and co-funded both studies. 

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In the original trial, half the participants were asked to consume peanuts regularly from infancy until age 5, while the other half were asked to avoid the food during that period.

Researchers found that early introduction of peanuts reduced the risk of peanut allergy at age 5 by 81%.

This latest trial included 508 participants from the original study, averaging 13 years of age. 

The children were given peanuts in a "carefully controlled setting" to gauge any allergic reactions.

Peanut allergies were "significantly more prevalent" among the children who avoided peanuts in the first five years of life.

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"Regular, early peanut consumption reduced the risk of peanut allergy in adolescence by 71% compared to early peanut avoidance," the study authors wrote.

This effect persisted regardless of whether the children had eaten peanuts regularly or avoided them over a period of many years.

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"The key finding of this study is that early consumption of peanut, starting early in the first year of life, confers long-term protection against peanut allergy all the way into adolescence, even without continued consumption of peanut beyond the age of five years," lead study investigator Gideon Lack, a professor at King’s College London, told Fox News Digital. 

"This is the first study to establish long-term oral tolerance as a protective strategy against peanut allergy."

To prevent peanut allergy, young babies as early as 4 months of age should be given peanuts in the form of peanut puffs or peanut butter "regularly and frequently" — at least three times a week — over the first four to five years of life, the researchers recommended.

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"I was not entirely surprised, but nevertheless impressed by the strong protective effect of early peanut consumption preventing peanut allergy all the way into adolescence," Lack noted. 

"This indicates that lifelong tolerance may have been achieved."

Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian in Marietta, Georgia, was not involved in the study but shared her insights on the topic.

"Early introduction of infant-safe peanut foods has been proven to help prevent peanut allergies, especially but not exclusively in infants at risk for peanut allergies," she told Fox News Digital. 

"In this study, they found that even if children who ate peanut foods in infancy stopped eating peanuts for a period of time, they were still protected against developing a peanut allergy," Collins continued. 

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This supports the idea that tolerance to foods developed in infancy can extend into adolescence, according to Collins. 

"Infants who have moderate to severe eczema and/or egg allergy should discuss early introduction of peanut foods to help prevent peanut allergies because they are at highest risk," she advised.

The study did have some limitations, Lack acknowledged.

"One weakness of the study is that it was carried out in a high-risk population of babies with severe eczema or hens egg allergy," he told Fox News Digital. 

"However, the findings of the original LEAP study have now been replicated in other lower-risk normal populations and therefore are applicable to the general population."

These findings could likely be effective for other types of food allergies, the researchers said.

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For a better night's sleep, try eating more of these foods, researchers say

Fruits and veggies are an important part of a balanced diet — and also balanced sleep.

A new study from Finland looked into how fruit and vegetable consumption in Finnish adults impacted sleep duration.

The research considered data from the National FinHealth 2017 Study, which involved 5,043 adults over the age of 18.

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These respondents reported their dietary consumption as well as their sleep habits, the latter of which was compared across three sleep categories: short, normal and long.

Compared to normal sleepers, short sleepers consumed 37 fewer grams of fruits and vegetables per day, while long sleepers consumed 73 fewer grams per day.

The study concluded that there is a "consistent pattern where deviation from normal sleep duration was associated with decreased [fruit and vegetable] consumption."

These findings suggest the need for "considering sleep patterns in dietary intervention," researchers added. 

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"Further research, including longitudinal studies, is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying these associations," the study noted. 

Study co-author Timo Partonen, M.D., a research professor at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) in Helsinki, Finland, reacted to his findings in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

Sleeping fewer than seven hours per night or more than nine hours per night was associated with reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables, he noted.

"The key takeaway is that shortage of sleep coincides with an unhealthy diet," Partonen said. "This means that weight-watching programs need to pay attention to sleep habits as well … as it may ruin or promote the outcome."

While the study took into account each person's chronotype (classifying people as an "early bird" or "night owl"), the impact of this trait on the link between sleep duration and fruit and veggie consumption was "minimal," the researcher said.

Partonen identified this study as "cross-sectional by design," which means the researchers were not able to analyze any "causal relationships."

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Based on these findings, people should eat more fruits and vegetables daily to get better sleep, he recommended.

"Sleep, nutrition and physical activity form a unity," he said. "A positive change in one of these is reflected in a positive change in the other two."

New Jersey-based dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade also reacted to these findings, telling Fox News Digital that it is "not surprising that increasing your dietary intake of fruits and vegetables may improve both sleep quality and quantity." 

She added, "Fruits and vegetables contain a variety of nutrients that can support healthy sleep. Some fruits, such as tart cherries and bananas, contain melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle."

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Eating these fruits may increase melatonin levels in the body, which will promote better sleep onset and quality, according to the dietitian.

Embracing a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can also help increase antioxidant intake, she said, which can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. 

Sleep may improve as these factors are reduced, Palinski-Wade added.

Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale are good sources of magnesium, a nutrient that can also help support sleep, the dietitian said.

"Diets lacking in magnesium have been found to increase the risk of insomnia, so it makes sense that eating a magnesium-rich diet may improve sleep," she added.

Fruits and veggies like spinach and tomatoes also contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which is a "precursor to serotonin," a neurotransmitter involved in producing melatonin and aiding in sleep regulation, according to Palinski-Wade.

"By increasing your dietary intake of tryptophan, you can promote relaxation and improvements in falling and staying asleep," she said.

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Nurses speak out: 'What I wish I'd known before entering the profession'

FIRST ON FOX: With nearly two-thirds of nurses in the United States experiencing burnout — including 69% of those under 25 years of age, according to the American Nurses Association — many in the industry are calling for change.

A recent survey by AMN Healthcare, a health care workforce solutions company based in Texas, found that most nurses aren’t optimistic about improvements, with 80% saying they think the year 2024 will be either "no better or worse" than last year and 38% of nurses expecting it to be worse.

"The concerns that many nurses have about their profession were not created by COVID-19 and have not gone away now that the crisis has passed," Robin Johnson, group president of nursing solutions at AMN Healthcare, who administered the survey, told Fox News Digital.

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"Many nurses still feel overworked and undercompensated," she said. 

"What they want to see is a change in their daily working conditions — better hours, fair compensation and more time with their patients."

Amid the ongoing challenges faced by today’s nurses, six people in the profession shared what they wish they’d known before they decided to enter the field — and what advice they'd give to newcomers.

Lisbeth Votruba, a third-generation registered nurse in Belmont, Michigan, is also the chief clinical officer of AvaSure, a virtual health care platform. 

"When I first entered the profession in the 1990s, I was surprised to learn that although nurses are held to high ethical and legal standards, they do not have the influence to match that level of accountability," said Votruba. 

"I see trends to show this is changing, and I am doing what I can as a member of the senior leadership team of a technology company to make sure the voice of nurses is heard as health care technology is being designed," she said. 

"Nurses must be at the table for every discussion about technology that impacts the patient," she said. 

Mat Wellnitz, a registered nurse in Big Rapids, Michigan, recently retired from a rural hospital after more than 34 years, most of them spent in critical care.

"I wish I’d known the amount of stress that's involved in nursing," said Wellnitz. 

"I would have taken more time off for myself. It wasn't until about a week after I retired that I realized how much stress I was blinded to." 

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He added, "I used to lie down and instantly could feel my heart pounding, always thinking about work. But not anymore — and I sleep better."

Larry Williams worked as a registered nurse at California’s Stanford Hospital in the intensive care unit before retiring in 2021.

"I went into nursing with my eyes wide open … There were no surprises because I worked in two different hospitals while going to school," said Williams. 

"My advice to anyone considering nursing and health care in general is to find a way to actually work in a hospital prior to graduating. Pay attention to your strengths and weaknesses and choose an area that fits you as a person."

He also told Fox News Digital, "While you are working, pay attention to how your work is impacting your overall health. Not everyone is cut out to work in the ICU. I still have occasional work dreams, and I remember the names and faces of people I cared for who did not survive."

Said Williams, "That is balanced by the happy memories of my peers as well as lives that I have touched … It is not the career for everyone, but it was for me."

Karie Ryan, currently the chief nursing officer at health tech firm Artisight, spent 27 years as a nurse in Florida, with a specialty in medical/surgical/orthopedics.

"I wish I had known that bedside nursing is not the only option available in order to make an impact," she told Fox News Digital. 

"There are so many specialty opportunities, including nursing informatics."

She added, "If nursing schools offered exploration in nursing informatics and other subspecialties, it would open a new world of possibilities not only to those entering the field, but as a consideration for nurses later in their career who may want to transition but remain in the profession."

Katelynn Blackburn, a former nurse who is now an entrepreneur, worked 12-hour night shifts for parent access care in Chico, California, for over two years before leaving the field.

"I wish I would have known more about how my personality would affect my profession in the medical field," said Katelynn Blackburn. 

"I am empathetic and caring; however, the field itself comes with a lot of pain and anxiety for patients and their families," she said. 

"The constant exposure to hardships, on top of the pressure of providing comfort and support to patients and their families, definitely took its toll on me."

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She added, "I wish I had thought less about the income and salary and more about what the actual job entails. You must find something you are passionate about and ensure that it will secure your family financially."

Noted Blackburn, "I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset and a personality driven to achieve more — so I decided to leave to pursue something I felt more aligned with."

Michele Acito is executive vice president and chief nursing officer at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey. She joined Holy Name in 1989 as a telemetry nurse, working in the cardiovascular and intensive care units before she was promoted. Earlier in her career, she worked as a staff nurse in orthopedics at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center.

"I wish I’d known about the emotional commitment I was making," said Acito.  

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"We know we will be committed to providing the best care … but the emotional bond and commitment you make to patients and families as they navigate through life-changing events is deep. As a nurse, you quickly learn how to comfort, celebrate, support and educate patients and families through the good and the difficult times."

She added, "Today, nearly 40 years into my career, I am able to reflect on how my training as a nurse helped me to help patients and families during their most vulnerable moments. It is what makes me proud to be a nurse."

"Another thing I wish I had known before entering the profession," said Acito, "was how complex it would be to blend a career, a young family and a household."

But "what I realized was that nursing was the perfect career for someone striving to manage it all and find fulfillment and purpose on a personal and professional level. It requires thoughtful prioritization, planning and support."

Acito also shared the importance of ongoing education to set up nurses for success.

"Having graduated from a BSN program, I thought I was educationally set for my entire career," she said. "I quickly realized that was not true."

She noted, "A nurse is a career learner. Obtaining degrees is very important to remain current with theory — but learning through continuing education is paramount to staying current in practice."

"Technologically, nothing remains the same in health care," said Acito. "It’s an ever-evolving field. Pursuing a nursing career in hospitals and health systems that are committed to investing in innovation and technological advancements is critically important."

Acito also pointed out, "What I did not know then, but I know today, is that I made the best career choice when I decided to be a nurse. The hours are difficult, the stress intense, the emotional commitment deep — but the rewards are innumerable."

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8 of the biggest health stories from this week in case you missed them

Fox News Digital publishes a range of health pieces every day of the week to keep you up-to-date on the most important wellness news.

Cutting-edge medical research, breakthrough medications, mental health challenges, personal medical dramas and more are all covered.

In case you missed them, here are a few of the biggest health stories from this week.

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As always, you can see a full list of recent health pieces at http://www.foxnews/health. 

Check out these eight key stories. 

A new study suggests that taking a popular form of supplements could make a certain group of people more susceptible to experiencing heart disease and strokes. 

A cardiologist and nutritionist weighed in. Click here to get the story.

Only 51% of polled Americans know how to perform hands-only CPR, and only 49% could assist with serious bleeding. 

ER doctors shared tips on how people can be better prepared. Click here to get the story.

Families may want to wait before making the "irreversible decision" to take loved ones off life support after a traumatic brain injury, some doctors and researchers say. Click here to get the story.

For Women’s Health Month, three mothers and grandmothers — ages 41, 55 and 64 — revealed how they're defying their chronological ages. Click here to get the story.

Dr. Brooke Goldner of Cornell University, who lives with lupus, has dedicated her life to raising awareness of the disease. She shared the truths behind some of the biggest misconceptions. Click here to get the story.

Research from Massachusetts General Hospital found that people who have specific genetic traits, paired with anxiety or depression, are at a "significantly higher heart attack risk" during periods of social or political stress. Click here to get the story.

Those who experience vivid nightmares and odd hallucinations might be at a higher risk of lupus, a new study suggests. Researchers and doctors revealed the link. Click here to get the story.

Ninety percent of paralyzed patients regained strength or function in their upper limbs after receiving an experimental therapy, a new study found. Experts weighed in on why this could be a "game-changer" for some patients. Click here to get the story.

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Mobile medical clinics bring health care directly to homeless veterans in 25 cities

More than 35,000 veterans in America are homeless — and health care is not always their top priority. 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) aims to bridge that gap by bringing medical care to homeless vets.

"The mobile medical unit is a physical truck or van that goes out into the community setting and brings … health care services, those wraparound resources, directly to veterans in the community setting to reduce the barrier of transportation, which is a very significant barrier for this population," Dr. Jillian Weber, national program manager for Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams in Nevada, told Fox News.

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Morgan Spicer, who served in the Air Force before retiring in 1990, is currently staying at the Salvation Army shelter in Las Vegas. 

When he needs to get a checkup at the clinic, Spicer said it's typically been a day-long affair.

"If you have an appointment at the hospital, you have to take the Salvation Army bus up there, you have to go at 7:30 am, and then you either have to take a civilian bus back or wait until 1 in the afternoon until he picks you up," Spicer told Fox News.

But now, the VA's mobile medical team brings the clinic directly to its patients.

"I just had to walk out the front door," Spicer said.

Elizabeth Jarman, a coordinator for VA Southern Nevada Health Care, told Fox News how the initiative works.

"We go out to one of our community shelters or our transitional housing sites, and we are usually there from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.," she said.

"We're able to see veterans all day long, and then drive [the bus] back to the hospital. So, veterans are able to access primary care on it."

Jarman added, "It's everything that you would do in a regular primary care clinic. It's literally a clinic on wheels."

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The portable clinics are available in 25 cities across the nation, including Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago and Seattle.

"We know from evidence that veterans experiencing homelessness have unmet health care needs, and they face numerous barriers and challenges to not only accessing medical services and resources, but also engaging in long-term care," Weber noted.

The mobile units are just one way the VA is trying to fight veteran homelessness — by providing them first with housing and then with health care and other support, according to the team. 

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To learn more, or to reach out, anyone can check out details at va.gov/homeless/nationalcallcenter/asp.

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Undercooked bear meat to blame for infecting family with rare roundworm parasite: CDC

At least six family members, including a 12-year-old, who gathered for a meal of black bear meat during a family reunion in South Dakota were infected by a rare roundworm parasite known as trichinellosis, the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said in a release on Thursday. 

Eight members of the family ate a meal together in South Dakota in 2022 that included the meat which one of them had been harvested in Saskachewan, Canada, and frozen for 45 days after a hunting outfitter recommended that as a way to get rid of parasites.

"Persons who consume meat from wild game animals should be aware that adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill Trichinella parasites, and that infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods," the CDC said in the release. 

The meat was then grilled and served with vegetables as kebabs. Two of the infected family members had only eaten the vegetables. 

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Because the meat was darker, it was inadvertently served rare, which some of the family members mentioned and then recooked. 

In July 2022, six days after the meal, one of the family members, a 29-year-old who had returned to Minnesota, began to experience symptoms, including fever, severe muscle aches, periorbital edema (swelling around the eyes), and eosinophilia. 

After the 29-year-old was hospitalized for the second time in 17 days, health care providers found out he had eaten bear meat, and he was diagnosed with the parasite and the Minnesota Department of Health was notified. 

The man was prescribed empiric albendazole as a treatment. 

"Albendazole is used to treat infections caused by worms," according to the Mayo Clinic. "It works by keeping the worm from absorbing sugar (glucose), so that the worm loses energy and dies."

Eight family members, who live in Minnesota, South Dakota and Arizona, were interviewed by public health officials and six of them were found to have the parasite.

A ninth person, who is a minor and whose exposure to the meat couldn't be confirmed, appeared to be healthy, the CDC said. 

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Another two of the infected family members were hospitalized and prescribed albendazole, and all six family members recovered.  

After the infected meat is ingested and "After exposure to gastric acid and pepsin, the larvae are released from the cysts and invade the small bowel mucosa where they develop into adult worms," the CDC said of the parasite. "Females are 2.2 mm in length; males 1.2 mm. The life span in the small bowel is about four weeks. After one week, the females release larvae that migrate to striated muscles where they encyst."

The larvae can move through the body to muscle tissue and even to the brain, CBS reported. 

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The CDC advised: "Cooking meat to an internal temperature of ≥165°F (≥74°C) is necessary to kill Trichinella spp. parasites. Trichinella-infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods, and raw meat should be kept and prepared separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination."

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