'100-day cough': Highly contagious infection that could fracture ribs soars 250% in UK

Health officials in the United Kingdom are warning the public about a concerning rise in whooping cough after cases soared 250% this year. 

Between July and November, there were 716 reported cases of pertussis, a bacterial infection of the lungs, which is three times higher than the same period in 2022, the U.K. Independent reported, citing the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Public Health Programmes at the agency, said the number of infections had decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing and lockdown policies, but is now on the rise again, according to the report.

Another expert, Professor Beate Kampmann, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told The Sun, "The rise in cases might be because of missed vaccination appointments, possibly during the pandemic."

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM WHOOPING COUGH

"Severe disease is almost entirely preventable if the mother is vaccinated in pregnancy and her protective antibody reach the baby through the placenta and protect until the baby gets its own vaccines," said Kampmann. 

"It is therefore important that everyone looks at their vaccination records to check if they might have missed this vaccine, which is given with the routine childhood immunizations and in pregnancy."

Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can cause serious illness, especially in babies and children. It is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing that can make it difficult to breathe, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 

In severe cases, intense coughing can lead to vomiting and sore or even fractured ribs. After fits of many coughs, an infected person may need to take deep breaths, which results in the "whooping" sound the disease is named for. Another name for the disease is the 100-day cough, because it may last for several weeks or months, the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) says. 

CDC'S COMMENTS ON TODAY'S PNEUMONIA OUTBREAKS VS. THE EARLY COVID CASES, AS COMPARED BY EXPERTS

The NHS notes whooping cough is easily preventable, and a vaccine is available that protects babies and children. 

However, U.K. government data shows that vaccine rates for pertussis have fallen to their lowest level in seven years.

In 2022, there was an average vaccine uptake of 61.5% in England, a decrease of 3.9% since 2021 and 7.6% from 2020, The Sun reported. 

NHS urges that parents schedule a doctor's appointment if they or their child develop symptoms of whooping cough, or have a cold for more than three weeks that is getting worse. 

CHILDREN'S PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK, ‘LIFE-CHANGING’ FAT DISORDER SURGERY, AND 2024 HEALTH PREDICTIONS

Treatment for the disease depends on the patient's age and how long they've had the infection. Severe cases may require hospital treatment for babies under six months old.

If pertussis is diagnosed within three weeks of infection, the patient will be given antibiotics to fight the illness and prevent its spread to others, NHS says. 

Those who have had whooping cough for more than 3 weeks are no longer contagious and do not need antibiotics.

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'100-day cough': Highly contagious virus that could fracture ribs soars 250% in UK

Health officials in the United Kingdom are warning the public about a concerning rise in whooping cough after cases soared 250% this year. 

Between July and November, there were 716 reported cases of pertussis, a bacterial infection of the lungs, which is three times higher than the same period in 2022, the U.K. Independent reported, citing the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Public Health Programmes at the agency, said the number of infections had decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing and lockdown policies, but is now on the rise again, according to the report.

Another expert, Professor Beate Kampmann, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told The Sun, "The rise in cases might be because of missed vaccination appointments, possibly during the pandemic."

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM WHOOPING COUGH

"Severe disease is almost entirely preventable if the mother is vaccinated in pregnancy and her protective antibody reach the baby through the placenta and protect until the baby gets its own vaccines," said Kampmann. 

"It is therefore important that everyone looks at their vaccination records to check if they might have missed this vaccine, which is given with the routine childhood immunizations and in pregnancy."

Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can cause serious illness, especially in babies and children. It is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing that can make it difficult to breathe, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 

In severe cases, intense coughing can lead to vomiting and sore or even fractured ribs. After fits of many coughs, an infected person may need to take deep breaths, which results in the "whooping" sound the disease is named for. Another name for the disease is the 100-day cough, because it may last for several weeks or months, the U.K. National Health Service (NHS) says. 

CDC'S COMMENTS ON TODAY'S PNEUMONIA OUTBREAKS VS. THE EARLY COVID CASES, AS COMPARED BY EXPERTS

The NHS notes whooping cough is easily preventable, and a vaccine is available that protects babies and children. 

However, U.K. government data shows that vaccine rates for pertussis have fallen to their lowest level in seven years.

In 2022, there was an average vaccine uptake of 61.5% in England, a decrease of 3.9% since 2021 and 7.6% from 2020, The Sun reported. 

NHS urges that parents schedule a doctor's appointment if they or their child develop symptoms of whooping cough, or have a cold for more than three weeks that is getting worse. 

CHILDREN'S PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK, ‘LIFE-CHANGING’ FAT DISORDER SURGERY, AND 2024 HEALTH PREDICTIONS

Treatment for the disease depends on the patient's age and how long they've had the infection. Severe cases may require hospital treatment for babies under six months old.

If pertussis is diagnosed within three weeks of infection, the patient will be given antibiotics to fight the illness and prevent its spread to others, NHS says. 

Those who have had whooping cough for more than 3 weeks are no longer contagious and do not need antibiotics.

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CDC's comments on today's pneumonia outbreaks vs. the early COVID cases, as compared by experts

Pediatric pneumonia outbreaks in multiple countries have some doctors and families concerned — but statements from public health agencies suggest there’s no cause for alarm. This is similar to their initial reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are saying.

Hospitals in China have reportedly been "overwhelmed with sick children" as a result of the pneumonia outbreak, according to ProMED, the global digital disease surveillance system.

Also, the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) has reported a surge in cases — as have some U.S. states, including Ohio and Massachusetts.

AMID CHILDHOOD PNEUMONIA OUTBREAKS, INFECTIOUS DISEASES EXPERT REVEALS KEY FACTS ABOUT ‘WHITE LUNG SYNDROME’

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Dec. 1 sent the following statement to Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel: "As of today, the CDC is not seeing anything out of the ordinary related to levels of mycoplasma across the country, but we are watching it closely."

On its website, the agency stated that it is "monitoring reports of increased respiratory illness around the world," and that "diagnosis of pneumonia in children, along with other respiratory illnesses, increases every year in the fall and winter months."

The agency also noted that the number of children seeking emergency care for diagnosed pneumonia is "largely consistent with previous years" for children aged 0 to 4 years, with "slight increases above typical levels" for children aged 5 to 17.

CHILDHOOD PNEUMONIA SURGE REPORTED IN NETHERLANDS AMID OUTBREAK IN CHINA

"These increases are likely caused by viruses and bacteria [that] we expect to see during the respiratory illness season," the CDC said.

The World Health Organization (WHO), too, has chalked up the outbreaks to known respiratory diseases rather than novel viruses.

"As of now, at the present time, Chinese surveillance and hospital systems report that the clinical manifestations are caused by known pathogens in circulation," WHO said on its website.

"Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen and a common cause of pediatric pneumonia, and is readily treated with antibiotics," the agency also said.

"Due to the arrival of the winter season, the increasing trend in respiratory illnesses is expected; co-circulation of respiratory viruses may increase the burden on health care facilities," it added.

With the current childhood pneumonia outbreak in China, Siegel said that both the CDC and WHO have been "upfront asserting that it is not a new pathogen."

"There is less of a sense of suppressing information, and the high incidence of resistant mycoplasma infection associated with the outbreak has also been clear," he went on. 

"The CDC has also done a good job of tracking cases here, and asserting that there is no connection and that the incidence of mycoplasma has not increased," said Siegel. "They are monitoring the situation very closely, which appears to be a real improvement over early 2020."

The health agencies’ reactions to the current pneumonia outbreaks in late 2023 have been compared to the agencies' initial reactions to the COVID-19 virus in 2020.

In testimony to Congress on Feb. 27, 2020, then-CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield stated that "most cases of COVID-19 in the United States have been associated with travel from China, but some person-to-person spread among close contacts of travelers has been seen."

CHILDHOOD PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK IS REPORTED IN SOUTHWESTERN OHIO: 'LARGE UPTICK'

He also said, "It’s important to note that this virus is not spreading within American communities at this time."

He went on, "The potential global public health threat posed by this virus is high, but right now, the immediate risk to most Americans is low. The greater risk is for people who have recently traveled to China or been exposed to someone with COVID-19." 

​​Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, noted that in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, before the virus entered the U.S., "the CDC was relatively close-lipped about its specific details."

"To mitigate the risk of a similar occurrence — and the United States again being caught off-guard — Congress submitted a battery of questions to the CDC demanding answers about the recent pneumonia outbreak in China," Osborn told Fox News Digital. "The agency has yet to respond."

In a Nov. 29 letter from the U.S. Committee on Energy and Commerce to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Mandy Cohen, committee chairs wrote the following: "The Centers for Disease Control and Protection’s (CDC) failure to communicate accurate information in real-time during the COVID-19 pandemic has undermined public trust in the agency. If the CDC is to regain credibility with the American people, it must be transparent and forthcoming with the information it has on public health threats facing our nation."

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"It is widely known that China thwarted international efforts, including efforts by the CDC, to respond to the burgeoning COVID-19 crisis as it began to unfold in China."

"It would be an abdication of the CDC’s duty to the American people if it allows China to repeat its misdeeds from the COVID-19 pandemic. The American people should not have to rely on the unaccountable and untrustworthy WHO to communicate information about Chinese public health threats."

Siegel pointed out that with COVID, "the CDC was caught flat-footed, in large part because China was suppressing crucial public health information and CDC was not allowed to have ‘boots on the ground’ to investigate, which they repeatedly requested through CDC Director Robert Redfield."

He also said, "They did post the structure of the virus online early, but little else."

Adding to the problem, Siegel noted, was that the World Health Organization (WHO) called COVID a "regional problem only."

While preliminary data suggest that the pneumonia outbreaks are caused by known viruses — including RSV, mycoplasma and other common cold viruses — doctors and health authorities are calling for definitive answers.

"The CDC must drill down on the specifics and apply political pressure on China to best prepare the United States for another potential pandemic," said Osborn. "Early warning is critical."

"The CDC is our microbiologic liaison to the world. It is our surveillance system. It is our eyes and ears," he went on. 

"We are reliant on its liability to protect the nation through extreme transparency."

As Osborn pointed out, "It is always best to err on the side of caution and alert the nation early of a potential problem, or else risk another COVID-19."

Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for comment.

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Children's pneumonia outbreak, 'life-changing' fat disorder surgery, and 2024 health predictions

CHILDREN'S HEALTH ALERT – Pediatric pneumonia outbreaks have been reported in China, the Netherlands and parts of the U.S. Doctors weigh in on the situation. Continue reading…

DIET AND DEMENTIA – A time-restricted eating plan could reduce signs of Alzheimer's disease, a study has found. Continue reading…

‘NEWFOUND FREEDOM’ – A California woman with a painful fat deposit disorder shares the story of her "life-changing" surgery. Continue reading…

KIDS ARE ‘SUFFERING’ – Physical therapists reveal the challenging causes of severe staffing shortages. Continue reading…

ZOOM FATIGUE – Staring at screens all day can take a toll on remote workers. Here's what to know. Continue reading…

NEW YEAR, HEALTHIER YOU – A board-certified physician and a biohacking expert share their health predictions for 2024. Continue reading…

BUZZ KILL – Here are 7 ways drinking alcohol can negatively impact your health. Continue reading…

HOLIDAY STRESS BUSTERS – Experts share tips on how to remove tension from family gatherings. Continue reading…

LAB BREAKTHROUGH – An Alzheimer’s blood test could hit the market in early 2024, researchers say. Continue reading…

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Fasting could reduce signs of Alzheimer’s disease, studies suggest: ‘Profound effects’

It’s been proven that what people eat can help prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease — but what about when they eat?

Participating in intermittent (time-restricted) fasting could lead to a reduced risk of cognitive deterioration, a recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism suggests.

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine adjusted the feeding schedule of certain groups of mice so that they only ate within six-hour windows each day.

ALZHEIMER’S BLOOD TEST COULD HIT THE MARKET IN EARLY 2024, RESEARCHERS SAY

(This would be equivalent to 14 hours of fasting for humans, the researchers noted.)

Compared to a control group of mice that ate on demand, the fasting mice showed improvements in memory, were less hyperactive in the evenings and had fewer sleep disruptions.

They also were shown to have less buildup of amyloid proteins in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. 

The goal of the restricted eating is to restore the circadian rhythm, the researchers said, which could help counteract the numerous disruptions that Alzheimer’s patients face when it comes to sleep and schedule-related confusion.

HIDDEN BELLY FAT COULD SIGNAL ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RISK 15 YEARS BEFORE SYMPTOMS SHOW UP, STUDY FINDS

"Our study emphasizes the power of feeding timing in aligning the circadian clock and its impact on the brain," said senior study author Paula Desplats, PhD, professor in the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

"We were hopeful to see some improvements in pathology, but did not expect such profound effects in reducing plaques and inflammation and improving memory," she went on. 

"The effects of time-restricted feeding on lower amyloid pathology were also measurable in blood using markers found in the clinic, which was another important finding."

The researchers hope that these findings will lead to human trials. 

The goal is to obtain funding to start a pilot study of patients next year.

"Accessible interventions like this have great translational potential, as they are available and are usually very well-tolerated," Desplats said.

"This may have special importance for the elderly, as time-restricted eating does not require limitation in calories or change in the diet, but may offer important benefits ranging from metabolic and sleep regulation to potential cognitive improvement."

TIME-RESTRICTED EATING NO MORE BENEFICIAL THAN CALORIC RESTRICTION IN OBESE PATIENTS, STUDY SAYS

Adopting a new dietary pattern should not be a replacement for medical care, however, as Desplats emphasized the importance of patients' discussions about options with their clinicians.

One major limitation of the study is that it uses animal models that only represent certain aspects of disease and "do not present comorbidities or other clinical diseases associated with aging, which are very common in Alzheimer’s patients," noted Desplats. 

"Furthermore, the study was done under strictly controlled conditions that did not resemble the variety of people’s habits and environments," she added.

THE 8 BIGGEST ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE MYTHS — AND THE TRUTHS BEHIND THEM

The researchers hope that the public recognizes the importance of the circadian clock in regulating many aspects of health.

"Sustaining healthy sleep and eating habits that are more synchronized with the natural environment are vital in a society that is constantly exposed to food, light and shift work," said Desplats.

Previous studies have supported this association between fasting and reduced Alzheimer’s risk.

Last year, a study led by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in Los Angeles also found that mice that followed a fasting diet showed lower levels of "plaques and tangles" in the brain, reduced brain inflammation and better performance on cognitive tests.

"Cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) had strong effects against Alzheimer’s symptoms in two different types of Alzheimer’s mouse models," the lead author of that study, USC biogerontologist Dr. Valter Longo, told Fox News Digital. 

"In mice, the effects of FMD cycles were very strong and wide, meaning they affected both learning and memory and also Alzheimer’s pathology peptides/proteins (amyloid and tau)."

Based on these findings, Longo recommends that people talk to their neurologist about considering fasting-mimicking diets and other nutrition-based approaches in support of standard-of-care drugs and therapies.

"Especially for Alzheimer’s disease, for which pharmacological interventions have had very limited efficacy, it will be very important to continue to study fasting-mimicking diets and other dietary interventions that can make drugs more effective," he added.

Desplats, lead author of the UC San Diego study, told Fox News Digital that Longo’s studies are on a similar track, demonstrating the connection between metabolism, fasting and brain health. 

"The main difference is that we tested an approach that does not require calorie reduction, which may be more sustainable and safer for older people whose metabolisms are already impacted by aging changes," she said.

COLORADO WOMAN WITH ALZHEIMER’S IS STILL VIBRANT AFTER MORE THAN 4 YEARS: ‘I REFUSE TO SURRENDER’

Dr. Joseph Antoun, CEO and chairman of the nutritech company L-Nutra in California, was also involved in the USC study.

"In these studies, mice fed the fasting-mimicking diet showed improved cognitive performance, motor learning and both short- and long-term memory, and promoted the growth of new neurons in the brain," he told Fox News Digital via email. 

"Fasting-mimicking diets have the potential to drastically reduce many aging and disease risk factors by reducing neuroinflammation or superoxide production in the brain."

Fasting can help the brain function in a myriad of ways, said Antoun.

"Fasting decreases pro-aging factors that are secreted after we eat, which can slow down the aging of the brain," he told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement.

Time-restricted eating can also improve the quality of sleep, he noted, which can help the brain recover better.

Because fasting-mimicking diets can be done in longer periods, they can help the body go into higher levels of ketosis, Antoun noted, "which is wonderful for the brain."

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(Ketosis, which is when the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose, has been shown to have cognitive benefits.)

"Prolonged fasting can also help with leaky gut, which then can aid the brain," added Antoun.

In addition, intermittent fasting can help to control blood sugar, which can slow down the progression of Alzheimer's, the doctor said.

Over the past several decades, there has been a steady increase in diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, Antoun noted.

"However, when we are able to detect neurodegenerative conditions early, we can take positive steps that may slow the process and mitigate any major side effects of the disorder."

During prolonged periods of fasting, cells undergo a process called autophagy, which involves removing and recycling damaged cellular components, Antoun said. 

"This process is essential for maintaining proper cellular function and can help protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s."

More than six million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's, and every 67 seconds, someone in America develops the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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Alzheimer’s blood test could hit the market in early 2024, researchers say

Could a simple blood test detect Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms appear?

New research from Resonant, a Utah biotech company that develops diagnostic tests for neurodegenerative diseases, suggests it may be possible.

Researchers said its new test achieved 100% accuracy in identifying patients with Alzheimer's disease and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who went on to develop Alzheimer's disease within five years.

THE 8 BIGGEST ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE MYTHS — AND THE TRUTHS BEHIND THEM

In the study, a total of 50 blood plasma samples were tested. These included 25 older control individuals, 13 patients who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, six patients with mild cognitive impairment who later developed Alzheimer's, and six MCI patients who did not develop Alzheimer's. 

The findings were published in Frontiers in Neurology on Oct. 31.

The blood test works by detecting the presence of DNA released from the brain’s neurons, or nerve cells, when they die, according to lead researcher Chad Pollard, a doctorate student and research assistant at Brigham Young University.

"All cells, to some degree, release fragments of DNA called cell-free DNA (cfDNA) into their environment," Pollard, who is also a co-founder of Resonant, told Fox News Digital in an email.

COLORADO WOMAN WITH ALZHEIMER’S IS STILL VIBRANT AFTER MORE THAN 4 YEARS: ‘I REFUSE TO SURRENDER’

"Under normal, healthy conditions, cfDNA from neurons is undetectable in blood circulation, but during neurodegeneration, the amount of cfDNA that is released from these cells significantly increases and can be detected in the blood."

The presence of neuron cfDNA in the blood indicates neurodegeneration, Pollard added.

Beyond Alzheimer’s disease, the researchers are also actively working to apply this technology to other neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease), noted Pollard. 

Pollard pointed out one limitation of the study.

"While the majority of patients with mild cognitive impairment who did not develop Alzheimer’s disease within five years displayed low levels of neuron cfDNA in the blood, some displayed elevated levels," he said.

EATING ONE POPULAR FRUIT COULD HELP REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF DEVELOPING DEMENTIA, STUDY FINDS

"Due to limitations of the dataset, the researchers were not able to obtain more information about these patients to determine whether this minority remained cognitively stable or eventually developed Alzheimer’s disease."

The team is actively working to improve the specificity and predictive power of the test, Pollard said.

Joseph Antoun, M.D., PhD, a longevity expert and CEO of the nutrition tech company Prolon in Los Angeles, was not involved in the study but offered his input on the findings.

"Though the sample size for the study is relatively low, with only 50 participants, this method of measuring DNA methylation shows interesting potential," Antoun told Fox News Digital.

"I would love to see it performed at a larger scale, with a bigger population size, and with other neurodegenerative disorders," he said.

OVARIAN CANCER COULD BE DETECTED EARLY WITH A NEW BLOOD TEST, STUDY FINDS

In future studies, Antoun said he would recommend ensuring that the results aren’t being polluted by a different preexisting condition, as Alzheimer’s patients tend to have other comorbidities such as dementia, depression, obesity and cardiovascular disease. 

"Additionally, I would also be curious to look at the cost of a blood test like this, particularly one that promises such exciting developments in the medical field," he said.

"Overall, I’m interested to see more expansive, specific research to further support this data."

Resonant expects to launch its Alzheimer’s test in the first quarter of 2024. 

There are a few blood tests that are currently available to health care providers to help with diagnosis, but they are not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

"At this time, it is recommended that blood tests only be used by specialty care doctors who are seeing patients with memory complaints," states the association on its website. "They are not recommended for individuals who do not have any cognitive or memory symptoms."

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More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, which is the most common form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

That number is projected to reach nearly 13 million by 2050.

Diagnosis has traditionally occurred after symptoms of cognitive decline appear — but identifying the disease sooner could enable patients to access preventive drugs and dramatically slow progression, according to Resonant researchers.

"These data demonstrate significant potential for this technology's use as a clinically actionable predictor of neurodegeneration, which could allow for pre-symptomatic interventions," said Timothy Jenkins, PhD, co-founder of Resonant, in a press release. 

"We believe that such early identification is the key to improving outcomes for patients with neurodegenerative disease."

People can view the company’s peer-reviewed research or join the waitlist for the test at its website, www.resonantdx.com.

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California woman with painful fat deposit disorder gets ‘life-changing’ surgery and ‘newfound freedom’

An estimated one in nine adult women struggle with an abnormal and painful fat buildup in the lower body — and no amount of diet or exercise can help.

Lipedema, a relatively common but often overlooked disease, causes fat to accumulate in the lower part of the body, primarily the butt, thighs and calves. 

For many women, like Molly Friar, an event planner in Sacramento, California, it can cause debilitating pain and impaired mobility.

In an effort to raise awareness of this condition, Friar, 53, spoke with Fox News Digital about her long journey to diagnosis — and what she calls her newfound "freedom."

HIDDEN BELLY FAT COULD SIGNAL ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE RISK 15 YEARS BEFORE SYMPTOMS SHOW UP, STUDY FINDS

Friar was just 11 years old when she started to notice that her body was different than everyone else’s, she said during a phone interview.

"The lipedema itself is governed by hormone changes, so that's when things really took off for me," she said. "My legs were different from every other girl in my class, and I started to get a bit of a stomach in my lower abdomen."

It was puzzling for Friar, who was very fit and athletic. 

She played soccer, basketball and softball, and was also a cheerleader — yet no matter how active she was or how carefully she ate, her lower body carried an abnormal amount of fat.

"Somehow my legs and stomach were always disproportionately bigger than everybody else's," she said.

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR SAYS HER 120-POUND WEIGHT LOSS HELPED SAVE HER LIFE: 'STRONG, CONFIDENT AND HEALTHY'

Adding complexity to the situation, Friar is adopted — so she had no context that might have predicted this genetic condition.

"I don't have pictures of my family to look at, to see a grandmother or an aunt or other women in my life that were affected by it," she said.

Friar felt "completely out of place," she said, as everyone else in her family was "super skinny" and she was not.

Friar was just 12 years old when her parents put her on a Weight Watchers program.

"They felt like that was the best thing they could do to help me," she said. 

Throughout her adolescence and young adulthood, Friar worked out every day, biking to the gym and taking aerobics with all the adults.

"That’s absolutely where I started a battle of shame around my body — something I couldn't control," she said. 

"I would eat less or not eat, and exercise more, and do all the things I could think of to outpace something that I didn't know existed."

She added, "I always felt like there was a person inside of me who was thin and just wanted to get out."

In addition to the body image struggles, Friar’s condition also came with extreme pain.

EXPERIMENTAL WEIGHT LOSS DRUG COULD HELP TREAT FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN PEOPLE WITH OBESITY, STUDY FINDS

Lipedema causes inflammation and extreme bruising — "I would just brush up against something and get a bruise," said Friar.

The activities that were pleasant for other people, like getting a massage during a pedicure, created "excruciating pain" for Friar.

For someone with lipedema, she explained, running a hand over the skin is like touching a rocky beach — "you can feel the nodules like pebbles under the skin."

Other common symptoms include swelling, a feeling of heaviness in the legs and excess fatigue. 

For some patients, the condition can cause difficulty walking, heightened anxiety and depression, joint issues, venous (vein) disease and other complications, according to Cleveland Clinic.

In 2016, when Friar was 45 years old, she lost 50 pounds — but didn’t lose a centimeter in her calves.

She started digging in to figure out what was going on. "I knew something wasn’t right," she said.

In her online research, it wasn’t long before Friar was looking at photos of women with lipedema, with abnormal fat deposits in their lower bodies.

"In that moment, I cried — it was like looking in a mirror," she told Fox News Digital. 

"I felt validated and relieved and ecstatic — I finally had an answer."

But the relief was short-lived, as Friar quickly realized there was no cure for her condition. "It’s something that you have to try to battle for the rest of your life."

There are, however, options to alleviate some symptoms that come with lipedema, as Friar found out when she began seeing her doctor, Jaime S. Schwartz, M.D., in Beverly Hills, California.

A board-certified plastic surgeon and world-renowned lipedema specialist, Schwartz has dedicated much of his career to raising awareness for fat disorders like lipedema.

He launched Total Lipedema Care to help women like Friar.

"Most people will tell you that the lower half of their body just started growing a lot larger than the upper half, usually during puberty," Schwartz told Fox News Digital.

"It doesn't start as pain, but they start seeing physical changes that don’t really make sense."

Lipedema is usually misdiagnosed as morbid obesity, Schwartz noted.

"In the U.S., many doctors tell women, ‘You're fat, you did this to yourself,’" he said.

MORE THAN HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION WILL BE OBESE OR OVERWEIGHT BY 2035, SAYS NEW REPORT

But the good news, he said, is that awareness is slowly starting to grow.

"Over the past five years, it's gone from no one knowing about it to a lot of people knowing about it, so it's definitely getting better."

As Schwartz told Friar, he recommends surgery as the best option to relieve lipedema symptoms.

At his practice, Schwartz performs a patented procedure called manual lipedema extraction, which involves a combination of liposuction and the removal of underlying nodules of fat through small incisions.

"When I take the ‘bad tissue’ out, people feel better as soon as the next day," Schwartz said. "That's the only thing that I've seen that works — and I've seen everything that's out there."

Friar ended up having a total of three surgeries — one on the back of her legs, one in the stomach area and one on the front of her legs.

"For me, the surgery was life-changing," Friar said. "I feel it changed the game for me — it extended my life and I gained back probably 75% to 80% of my mobility."

Each surgery required around six weeks of recovery time.

"It isn’t easy, but I would do it 1,000 times over," she said.

One caveat is that some insurance companies have been slow to cover the cost of lipedema surgeries. Friar had to pay out of pocket for the procedures, which can range from $4,000 to $16,000, according to Schwartz's website.

"I was very, very lucky — there are so many women who want the surgery that can't afford it," she said.

In addition to the surgeries, dietary changes have had a big impact on Friar’s quality of life.

"The optimal diet for me is gluten-free and dairy-free, with no added sugars, no processed foods, low salt and very little alcohol," she said.

She also wears medical-grade compression gear at night and lighter-compression leggings during the day.

"It helps alleviate a lot of the inflammation and excess fluid in the body," she said.

Other non-surgical options for relief include exercise and medications or supplements to reduce inflammation.

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As Schwartz told Fox News Digital, Friar’s case was pretty typical of most women’s experiences with lipedema, although he noted her positive mindset.

"A lot of women have had this for so long, and it defeats them emotionally, psychologically and mentally," he said. "But Molly has always had such an amazing outlook and personality."

He added, "Obviously, it's been emotional for her at times, but she never let it defeat her."

Friar said her life now is "like night and day" compared to before.

"Getting a massage for me is now enjoyable," she said through tears. "I can climb to the top of a mountain, and I can walk six miles and not stop."

"It’s like your mobility gets taken away from you, and when you instantly get it back, it's newfound freedom."

Friar’s goal is to increase awareness around this condition, among patients and doctors alike, so other women don’t have to live in shame for years like she did.

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"It’s something we need to be talking about," she said. "It’s such a visual thing, involving our bodies and how we present ourselves to the world, and it’s something we can’t control."

"I'm willing to shout from the rooftops if I can help even one person recognize the symptoms and be able to help themselves."

For many of Schwartz’s patients, he said, the disease has "destroyed their lives."

"They don't go out, they don't socialize, they're afraid to work or wear certain clothes in public," he said.

Some women can't have their grandchildren sit on their lap or can't hold their spouse's hand because it’s too painful, he said. 

"So when they have surgery and they're not in pain, not only do they look different and they're so happy to rediscover their body, but they can even have their dog sit in their lap for the first time," he said.

"It’s a very overwhelming reality for them in a beautiful way," he also said.

It is estimated that around 11% of women are living with lipedema today.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

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