• Your personality may play a role in the type of exercise you prefer, according to a new study.
• Some personality traits were associated with greater baseline fitness levels, while others predicted greater enjoyment of specific types of exercise.
• The research could help to tailor exercise programs to individual preference, leading to greater satisfaction and consistency.

If you find it difficult to stay motivated at the gym, a new study suggests that matching your workouts to your personality type could lead to more consistent, more rewarding sessions.

Researchers at University College London found that personality traits influence exercise enjoyment and preference. The study was published on July 7 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

“We could potentially use this knowledge to tailor physical activity recommendations to the individual — and hopefully help them to become and remain more active,” said Flaminia Ronca, PhD, first author of the study, in an accompanying press release.

The study compared participants’ baseline fitness levels and fitness outcomes, along with enjoyment and exercise preferences, across the five major personality trait domains.

The “Big Five” personality traits include:

• conscientiousness
• agreeableness
• neuroticism
• openness
• extraversion

While everyone’s personalities are unique, these core traits have been widely used by researchers for decades. 

“It’s an innovative study because they are exploring a novel idea: How someone’s personality could indicate how they exercise,” said Brad Donohue, PhD, a professor of psychology and creator of The Optimum Performance Program in Sports (TOPPS) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

“The findings really get you thinking. If someone is introverted or extroverted, maybe that is something they should consider when it comes to a workout routine,” he added. Donohue was not involved in the research.

How personality impacts exercise preference

The researchers examined how the Big Five personality traits influence key aspects of an exercise routine. For example, do certain traits correlate with a preference for higher- or lower-intensity workouts?

They recruited 132 volunteers from the general public, representing diverse backgrounds and fitness levels. Participants were randomly assigned to an eight-week exercise program — combining cycling and strength training — or to a control group that performed brief stretching sessions. Baseline fitness was measured via tests such as push-ups, planks, and VO2 max.

Participants also reported their perceived stress levels. Personality traits were measured with a standard Big Five survey, asking respondents to rate statements such as whether they make friends easily or consistently complete tasks.

A total of 86 participants completed the study. Regardless of personality type, all who finished the exercise program improved their fitness, doing more push-ups and achieving higher VO2 max than at baseline.

Stratifying participants by personality resulted in intriguing associations between those traits and exercise behaviors. 

At baseline, both extraversion and conscientiousness predicted higher baseline fitness. Neuroticism, on the other hand, was associated with poorer heart rate recovery.

Extraverts preferred higher-intensity workouts, such as HIIT sessions and VO₂ max cycling tests. Participants scoring high in neuroticism — which describes a proclivity to be anxious or insecure — preferred light exercise at home, rather than being observed in a lab.

They were also less likely to record their heart rate data, which also suggests a potential preference for private workout conditions. Participants high in agreeableness preferred an “easy long” cycling ride.

Interestingly, conscientiousness wasn’t associated with a preference for any particular form of exercise. Since this trait is a sign of persistence, grit, and goal-setting, the authors suggest that these individuals are strongly motivated by the fitness and health outcomes of exercise and less concerned with enjoyment.

Personality also predicted stress-related outcomes, but only neuroticism showed an effect. Participants high in neuroticism were the only group to experience reduced stress from the exercise intervention.

“Exercise reduces stress. If someone is anxious, we know exercise is going to help them. So it would make sense that they would show greater improvements than someone that’s not demonstrating those characteristics,” said Donohue.

Motivation is key to workout consistency

While the study makes a compelling case for the role that personality can have in exercise enjoyment and preference, Donohue notes that it’s just one piece of the puzzle to helping people find satisfaction with their workouts.

“The task at hand becomes how do we get you motivated? It could be that certain types of personality traits are more motivated to work out under certain circumstances. But at the end of the day, those are generalizations,” Donohue said.

Importantly, he noted, that individuals would rarely only embody a single dominant personality trait.

Instead, people exist on a spectrum of these traits, which makes it more difficult to predict how this would affect exercise preference. Would an individual with apparently contrary traits, such as high extroversion and high neuroticism, enjoy a workout in a crowded gym class? It’s not clear from identifying these traits alone.

Instead, Donohue suggests, people can assess what type of exercise works for them by asking other general questions about their preferences. For example:

• What types of exercise have worked for you in the past?
• Do you prefer to workout with a partner or alone?
• What is your current routine?
• How would you describe your fitness or athletic goals?

“The best predictor is past behavior. When it comes to someone’s workout routine, I really emphasize the things that they’ve already had success with. If someone has already been very successful with a certain type of exercise, that shows they are motivated by that particular type of workout,” Donohue said.

“I don’t think you could just design a workout routine based on someone’s personality traits. We’re not there yet,” he added.

• Omega-3 supplements combined with weightlifting could result in improvements to strength and health.
• A new study suggests that incorporating omega-3s into a strength training regimen positively impacts heart and brain health and can lead to fitness gains.
• Due to the limited scope of the research, it’s unclear whether the findings are applicable to the broader population.

Omega-3 fatty acids play an essential role in numerous bodily functions, including brain and eye health. When consumed in adequate amounts, they’ve also been linked to improved heart health markers and mental health. 

Now, researchers say combining omega-3 supplements with consistent weight training may offer significant health benefits as well.

A study, recently published in Nutrients, found that athletes who supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids during a strength-training regimen experienced improvements in cholesterol profiles, brain-health markers, and, notably, strength gains compared with those who did not.

“The combination of omega-3 supplementation with resistance training resulted in meaningful improvements not only in biochemical markers but also in core components of physical performance such as muscular strength, agility, reaction time, and explosive power,” the study authors wrote.

However, significant limitations remain. The study included only healthy men with a history of strength training, making it unclear if the findings would translate to the general public, particularly those with existing chronic disease.

“Because this excludes the public, it is unclear if there would be such benefits for the entirety of a population,” said Alyssa Kwan, MS, RD, a clinical dietitian in cardiology at Stanford Medicine who wasn’t involved in the study.

Nonetheless, the study suggests that omega-3 supplementation may provide a cost-effective, convenient approach to enhancing exercise performance.

Omega-3s improve cholesterol, brain health, and fitness

Researchers in Turkey conducted a randomized trial to assess the effects of omega-3 supplementation with weight training. Two groups of men followed the same weightlifting regimen, but only one group received the supplements.

Thirty men aged 18 to 30 were recruited for the trial. Participants were only included if they met a stringent set of criteria:

• a strength-training history of at least three years
• absence of chronic medical conditions
• non-smokers
• non-drinkers of alcohol
• ability to train at least three days per week

Participants must not have a history as professional athletes or have used ergogenic aids to enhance performance, such as creatine, omega-3 supplements, protein powders, or branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), within six months of the trial.

A total of 15 participants were randomized to receive omega-3 supplements, while the remaining participants served as controls. The daily omega-3 dosage was 3,150 mg, selected based on prior studies reporting performance-enhancing effects at similar levels.

Both groups performed strength training three days per week, comprising one upper-body day, one lower-body day and one full-body day. Researchers standardized gym conditions — including lighting, temperature and equipment — to minimize performance variability.

Additionally, to minimize confounding factors, both groups followed a rigorously standardized diet supervised by a certified dietitian.

By the end of the trial, supplemented participants experienced multi-systemic health and performance benefits versus controls. Key health outcomes included:

• improved lipid profile: lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides
• reduced inflammatory markers
• enhanced antioxidant capacity: higher glutathione levels
• improved neurochemical markers: increased dopamine and serotonin or brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)

Performance gains included:

• 13.6% increase in bench-press one-rep max (1RM)
• 9.7% increase in squat 1RM
• improved power, speed, agility, and reaction time

“The fact that such improvements were observed even in healthy, physically active individuals suggests that omega-3 can be considered a valuable performance-enhancing aid for athletes and those engaged in regular physical activity,” wrote the study authors.

More research is needed to better understand how these supplements will affect a broader population.

Can omega-3 supplements promote overall health?

It’s unclear whether the health and performance benefits of omega-3 supplementation and weightlifting would extend to the broader population.

Still, the health benefits observed would be meaningful, even if isolated from the aspects related to exercise performance.

“These benefits could have a large impact on longevity. While exercise is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, omega-3s have also been shown to have a beneficial impact as well. Improvements in lipid profiles could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke as well as cognitive decline,” said Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, a nutritionist at the Cleveland Clinic, and co-author of “Regenerative Health,” who wasn’t involved in the study.

Meanwhile, Kwan adds, “We do understand that omega-3s have anti-inflammatory benefits and are very important for immune resilience and a general health benefit.”

Your body doesn’t naturally produce omega-3s, which means they must be obtained from omega-3-rich foods like fatty fish, walnuts, or chia seeds. Omega-3 supplements, typically sold as pills or oils, can help fill the gap for those who don’t regularly consume sufficient amounts of omega-3-rich foods.

However, experts say food-based sources of omega-3s are generally preferable to seeking out a supplement.

“Health benefits can be linked and achieved by just a healthy diet alone, such as eating fish. This supports an overall healthy diet as well,” said Kwan.

Kirkpatrick points out that some may need to avoid omega-3 supplements altogether, such as individuals taking blood thinners. 

Like other significant changes to diet and lifestyle, consult with a registered dietitian or your healthcare provider before taking an omega-3 supplement.

• Researchers say about three-quarters of gastric cancer cases worldwide are caused by the common bacterium Helicobacter pylori .
• H. pylori infection doesn’t always produce symptoms, so it’s important to get screened for any persistent gastric-related pain, such as indigestion and bloating.
• You can lower your risk of gastric cancer by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting tested for H. pylori if you have any symptoms that may indicate infection.

The vast majority of stomach cancer cases have been linked to a common bacteria that often doesn’t produce any symptoms.

A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine reports that 76% of stomach cancers worldwide may be attributed to the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria.

The scientists found that nearly 16 million people born between 2008 and 2017 are expected to develop gastric cancer sometime during their lifetime. Of those cases, around 12 million will be caused by H. pylori bacteria.

They noted that about 8 million of those bacteria-related cases are expected to occur in Asia. Another 1.5 million are predicted for North America and South America.

The researchers said their findings may help explain the rise in gastric-related cancers in younger people in recent years.

They also noted that a vaccine to prevent H. pylori bacteria “would be a powerful tool for gastric cancer prevention,” but there appears to be “little momentum at present to advance its development.”

Experts not involved in the study told Healthline the findings are important and should be noted by medical professionals.

“This is truly a fascinating, practice-changing study,” said Anton Bilchik, MD, a surgical oncologist as well as the chief of medicine and director of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Program at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA. “This tells us that … it is a preventable cancer.”

“We have known that H. pylori infection increases an individual’s risk of developing stomach cancer for many years,” added Joo Ha Hwang, MD, a professor of medicine at Stanford University.

“This study quantifies the estimated number of deaths that would likely occur if we do not start screening individuals who are at moderate to high risk for H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. This study is a call to action to address a preventable cancer,” Hwang noted.

H. pylori bacteria driving stomach cancer rates

Alan Venook, MD, a professor of medical oncology and translational research at the University of California San Francisco, and program development director at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, said the connection between the H. pylori bacteria and gastric cancer has been known for more than 30 years.

He cited older research from 1991 published in the New England Journal of Medicine that first made the connection, and said the findings in the new study aren’t surprising. Still, he expressed concern over the persistent nature of the bacteria’s connection to cancer.

“The most interesting thing in this study to me is that this is still a problem,” Venook said, adding he is “mystified” as to why progress hasn’t been made. “I think the message to medical professionals is that this remains a terrible problem,” he noted. “This is a wake-up call.”

Bilchik, who had attended the 1991 presentation of the original study, said the research was initially dismissed by the medical community. Since then, he said those early findings have proven to be correct.

“This is a clear message to both patients and professionals that stomach cancer is not necessarily caused by smoking and alcohol,” he said.

Nilesh Vora, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist and medical director of the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in California, has some cautions about the new research.

He called it “thought-provoking,” but added that more research is necessary to confirm the data and the conclusions.

What to know about H. pylori bacteria

The Helicobacter pylori bacteria grow in the digestive tract and tend to attack the stomach lining. It has adapted itself to live in the highly acidic world of the human gastrointestinal system.

H. pylori often develops in a person’s stomach during childhood. The bacteria are typically harmless and don’t cause symptoms. However, in some cases, they may lead to stomach ulcers and some diseases, including gastric cancer.

Many people with H. pylori don’t have symptoms. However, an estimated 30% of people with the bacteria develop peptic ulcers and other conditions.

Some common symptoms from the bacteria include:

• burning stomach pain
• feeling full quickly
• nausea
• burping
• unexplained weight loss

The bacteria can be transmitted via saliva, contaminated food, and other methods. It can be diagnosed with tests involving breath, stool samples, and blood antibodies. Doctors sometimes order an endoscopy, which involves placing a tube down a person’s throat.

The bacteria are treated with antibiotics. Some people may be prescribed proton pump inhibitors to help the stomach heal.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes there are currently no recommendations for routine stomach cancer screenings for those with average risk.

“Given the relatively low prevalence of gastric cancer in the United States, there is currently no screening recommendation for H. pylori in patients without symptoms,” said Anu Agrawal, MD, vice president of Global Cancer Support at the American Cancer Society.

“The high incidence in Asia particularly could justify screening protocols which, as noted in the publication, have been initiated in a few Asian countries,” he told Healthline.

Bilchik said that people should not ignore gastrointestinal symptoms that linger for an extended period of time. “If the symptoms are persistent, then go to a physician and be proactive,” Bilchik advised.

Vora added that while screenings are important, there are some logistical issues. Endoscopies, he said, are invasive and expensive. He added that the big questions are whether general screenings should be done for this bacterium and whether everyone with long-term gastrointestinal symptoms should be tested for H. pylori.

Hwang agreed that screening should be selective.

“H. pylori often infects family members, so if one family member is diagnosed with H. pylori, family members who live together should be tested for the infection,” he said.

“We have been advocating for individuals who have immigrated from regions that have a high incidence of H pylori infection and gastric cancer, such as East Asia, Eastern Europe, and the west coast of South America, to be tested for H pylori infection and treated if positive.”

What to know about stomach cancer

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates there will be about 30,000 new cases of stomach cancer in the United States this year. More than 10,000 people are expected to die from the disease.

Those numbers represent less than 2% of all cancer cases and all cancer deaths in the United States.

Almost 38% of people in the United States with stomach cancer are expected to live at least five years after diagnosis.

Stomach cancer usually develops over a number of years. Many times, there are no symptoms until the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

The disease is more common in adults over the age of 60 and in those who smoke, have obesity, or have a family history of the disease. It’s also more common in people of Asian descent and people with a diet high in salty foods, meat, and processed products.

Symptoms of stomach cancer include:

• frequent heartburn
• loss of appetite
• bloating or burping
• indigestion
• abdominal pain

The disease can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy.

Experts say you can lower your risk of stomach cancer by:

• eating a healthy diet
• exercising regularly
• quitting smoking if you smoke
• limiting or avoiding alcohol
• treating H. pylori infection if you receive a diagnosis

The American Cancer Society has a list of ways people can lower their risk.

“Obesity, tobacco use, alcohol, diets high in smoked foods or foods preserved by salting, or diets low in fruits and vegetables are risk factors,” said Agrawal. “If you have a family history of stomach cancer, are a first-generation immigrant from a high prevalence area (e.g., East Asia), or have certain genetic cancer predisposition syndromes, you should be screened for stomach cancer.”

Vora said the message is pretty simple: “Eat well and exercise more.”

• The FDA issued its highest-level risk warning for a recent recall of hundreds of boxes of organic blueberries manufactured in Georgia.
• Alma Pak International issued the voluntary recall in June after obtaining positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes in two lots of its products.
• Foodborne illness from listeria can range from mild to severe, and it’s important to seek treatment right away if you think you’ve eaten something contaminated.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its highest-level risk warning over a recent recall of hundreds of boxes of organic blueberries due to possible listeria contamination.

Alma Pak International LLC, a Georgia-based food manufacturer, issued a voluntary recall for 400 boxes of organic blueberries weighing 30 pounds each. The boxes were primarily shipped to one customer in North Carolina.

The manufacturer initiated the recall on June 9 after receiving positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes following routine testing. The affected boxes include the Lot numbers 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096.

On July 1, the FDA issued a Class 1 risk classification for the recall, which indicates “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Healthline couldn’t reach Alma Pak for comment, but the company told Newsweek in a statement that “the affected product was fully recovered prior to reaching the retail market. As a result, no product was sold to consumers, and there was no risk to public health.”

“Alma Pak International has implemented additional corrective actions and preventive controls to further strengthen its already rigorous food safety systems. All products at Alma Pak undergo comprehensive testing, in addition to a strong environmental monitoring program. In response to the incident, intensified vector sampling was conducted to support the company’s proactive ‘seek and destroy’ commitment. All subsequent samples collected during this enhanced monitoring process tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, further confirming the effectiveness of the food safety program,” the statement continued.

What to know about listeria 

Foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may lead to foodborne illnesses ranging from mild to severe symptoms. 

Less severe symptoms of listeria infection (listeriosis) generally resolve in 1–3 days and typically include: 

• fever
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• muscle ache

When foodborne illness from listeria contamination becomes severe, it can be life-threatening. These symptoms may include: 

• headaches, neck stiffness
• confusion, loss of balance
• convulsions

Severe infections are particularly dangerous for newborns, adults over age 65 and those with weakened immune systems.

Young infants, pregnant people, older adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals are most at risk for severe illness from listeria. 

If you experience flu-like symptoms or develop any of the above symptoms after eating, it’s important to contact your doctor right away. Early treatment for listeria infection can help prevent severe illness. 

How does listeria bacteria grow?

Despite the FDA’s recently issued high-level risk warning for blueberries, the general public need not panic. 

“Blueberries are generally safe for consumption. While contamination can happen, it’s rare, and proper handling usually keeps the risk very low,” said Michelle Routhenstein, MS, a registered dietitian with Entirely Nourished, specializing in heart disease.

While the overall risk is low, Listeria monocytogenes may develop in food products during the manufacturing process.

“Listeria can grow if the berries come into contact with contaminated water, dirty equipment, or unclean surfaces during harvesting or packaging. It can also grow if the berries aren’t kept cold enough or if workers don’t follow proper hygiene practices,” Routhenstein told Healthline.

“Listeria can also spread through cross-contamination. This occurs when ready-to-eat foods come into contact with surfaces or equipment that have been contaminated with the bacteria. For example, using the same cutting board for raw meat and then for fruit or vegetables without proper cleaning can lead to contamination and potential illness,” she said. 

How to lower your risk of listeria 

You can minimize your risk of listeria contamination in blueberries and other fresh fruits by washing them thoroughly under running water before preparing, cooking, or eating them. 

Routhenstein suggested using a produce brush to wash any fruits with firm skins or rinds.

She noted that properly storing fruits in the refrigerator and keeping them away from raw meats and other possible sources of contamination can also help lower one’s risk. 

“It’s also important to eat them within a few days and to clean your hands, kitchen surfaces, and containers before and after handling fresh produce,” she advised.

While many of us revel in the hot summer sunshine, others are at risk of developing heat-related complications such as sunstroke and heatstroke. In this blog post we will outline how heat affects the body and look at some of the …

• Venus Williams recently shared her journey with uterine fibroids, a condition that impacted her health and quality of life throughout her tennis career.
• Despite her severe symptoms, the Grand Slam champion’s concerns were dismissed by doctors for years.
• Fibroids are noncancerous uterine tumors that often cause heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and fertility issues.
• Experts emphasize self-advocacy and seeking second opinions if your symptoms are dismissed.

Venus Williams, one of the most decorated tennis stars in history, recently opened up about her battle with uterine fibroids.

Williams, 45, said the condition took a toll on her health, tennis career, and quality of life for nearly 30 years.

In an interview with NBC News Now, the seven-time Grand Slam champion described how her fibroid symptoms, ranging from intense cramps to heavy bleeding, nausea, and persistent anemia, became a monthly battle.

“I was hugging the toilet, waiting for it to pass,” she shared.

Williams said that although she knew she had fibroids, she didn’t realize how large or severe they were, and her concerns were repeatedly dismissed by doctors. 

“As bad as things were for me, crazy amounts of bleeding like you couldn’t imagine … my doctors told me it was normal,” she said.

During the 2016 Wimbledon tournament, the pain became so intense that Williams collapsed in the locker room. Her sister Serena Williams had to call for medical aid. “I was lying on the locker room floor, unable to move,” she recalled. 

Williams said it wasn’t until she found NYU Langone’s Center for Fibroid Care that she finally received effective treatment for her fibroids. 

“No one should have to go through this,” she said. “You don’t have to live this way.”

Here’s what to know about fibroids and their symptoms, and why clinicians may dismiss the condition.

What are fibroids? 

While the exact causes of fibroids are not known, hormones and genetic factors may play a role in their development.

“Fibroids are noncancerous tumors of the uterus made of muscle and fibrous tissue,” explained Esohe Faith Ohuoba, MD, MPH, a board certified OB-GYN at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Kingwood and Memorial Hermann Convenient Care Center in Summer Creek, in Humble, TX.

“They can range in size from a seed to a melon,” she told Healthline.

Ohuoba said that around 70% of women will develop fibroids by the age of 50, and that percentage increases for many women of color, specifically Black women, where the number rises to 80%. 

“Black women are three times more likely to develop fibroids than white women. They also tend to be diagnosed younger, often in their 20s and 30s,” Obuoba said.

Fibroids are often asymptomatic, which means you might not experience any symptoms at all. 

However, symptoms can include heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, bloating, frequent urination, and pain during sex.

“In some cases, fibroids can impact fertility or pregnancy, and the chronic nature of these symptoms can interfere with work, relationships, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life,” said Arielle Bayer, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at CCRM Fertility in New York City.

Fibroid pain may be dismissed

Fibroids have been somewhat elusive in clinical settings until recently. They’re notoriously difficult to diagnose and often missed by doctors who might mistake their symptoms for another condition affecting reproductive health.

Fibroid symptoms can be debilitating, however. As with Venus Williams, some women may find their pain is not taken seriously or is even dismissed in clinic settings. This may be particularly true for women of color. 

Ohuoba said a lack of awareness of the condition is a huge part of this issue.

“Unfortunately, patients do not realize their symptoms are a problem that needs attention because having difficulty or pain with menstruation is normalized,” she explained. 

She emphasized the importance of patient and clinician awareness and education. “Even Venus mentioned seeing a social post that caught her attention and prompted her to learn more,” she pointed out. 

“In clinical settings, lack of empathy and unconscious bias are reasons why women of color can be dismissed and minimized,” she continued. 

“Furthermore, with fibroids specifically, there is a huge comfort with offering hysterectomy for fibroids first or in totality, which is another reason why symptom dismissal can occur.” 

Why self-advocacy is so important

If you’re experiencing symptoms that may be fibroids or another reproductive health issue, it’s important to advocate for yourself to get the care you need.

“This is especially important because women of color often receive a delay in diagnosis, which can often lead to larger fibroids and more severe symptoms,” Ohuoba said. 

Bayer recommended trusting your instincts. “If you feel your concerns are being minimized, it’s OK to seek a second, or even third, opinion,” she told Healthline.

“Keep a detailed symptom journal and bring it with you to appointments. Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about imaging, diagnosis, and treatment options,” she added.

Ohuoba said choosing your healthcare provider carefully is also key.

“Seeking out providers experienced in treating fibroids and understanding your health goals will help you feel empowered about your ability to navigate your diagnosis,” she said. 

How are fibroids treated?

As awareness of fibroids broadens, more treatment options have become available.

One approach is watchful waiting. “This is where your healthcare provider will monitor you for changes,” Ohuoba explained. 

“There are also medications such as hormonal birth control, GnRH agonists, and tranexamic acid,” she continued. 

Treatment may depend on whether preserving fertility is a priority. “Uterine artery embolization (UAE) and ultrasound-based fibroid treatments are generally considered options when fertility preservation is not a priority,” explained Bayer. 

“These approaches may be appropriate in select cases but are typically reserved as alternatives when childbearing is not a concern.” 

A hysterectomy is another option, which involves the complete removal of the uterus.

For those who wish to maintain fertility, minimally invasive procedures like hysteroscopic or laparoscopic myomectomy are preferred.

Alternatively, a newer treatment option known as radiofrequency ablation (Acessa procedure) uses heat to destroy fibroid tissue. 

“This procedure is minimally invasive and uses small incisions in the abdomen that allow access to the uterus to target the fibroids,” Ohuoba explained. 

Getting a diagnosis for fibroids can be a challenge, especially for women of color. This underpins the importance of self-advocacy and finding the right healthcare professional. 

“This area has evolved into a specialized field of its own, offering patients safer, more effective options with faster recovery times,” Bayer said.

• An Ozempic-like drug prescribed for diabetes has been found to reduce the frequency of debilitating migraine.
• Researchers say liraglutide might help migraine frequency and severity by reducing intracranial pressure.
• While promising, it’s too soon to say whether liraglutide will become a migraine treatment.

For millions of people with migraine, finding effective relief can be a frustrating journey marked by trial and error with various therapies. 

Hope may be on the horizon, however, according to a new pilot study published on June 17 in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.

This discovery may lead to a novel treatment approach that targets underlying brain pressure mechanisms rather than just managing symptoms.

The research suggests that liraglutide, a drug originally developed for diabetes (Victoza) and weight management (Saxenda), may significantly reduce the frequency of debilitating migraine. Intriguingly, this benefit appears to come independently of weight loss. 

Liraglutide reduces migraine frequency, severity

The study authors note that migraine is a widespread neurological disorder affecting about 14.7% of the global population, often causing severe disability and impacting quality of life. 

However, while many treatments exist, a significant number of people continue to experience frequent attacks that don’t respond to medication.

This new study aimed to explore whether liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), could be an effective add-on therapy for people with high-frequency or chronic migraine who haven’t responded to at least two conventional preventive treatments.

The study took place in Naples, Italy, between January and July 2024.

Researchers enrolled 31 adults with obesity with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 experiencing high-frequency episodic or chronic migraine (at least eight headache days per month). The subjects were also unresponsive to at least two preventive therapies, including standard care and anti-CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) monoclonal antibodies. 

Those with clinical signs suggestive of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, such as papilledema or sixth nerve palsy, were excluded to focus on migraine without overt intracranial hypertension.

Participants received daily subcutaneous injections of liraglutide, starting at 0.6 milligrams in the first week and increasing to 1.2 mg thereafter, while continuing their existing preventive treatments. 

Over 12 weeks, patients maintained headache diaries to record monthly headache days (MHDs) and completed the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) to evaluate migraine-related disability. 

BMI was measured at baseline and after 12 weeks to assess weight changes.

After 12 weeks, the mean monthly headache days decreased from 19.8 to 10.7, an average reduction of 9.1 days — a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement. 

Nearly half of the participants (48%) experienced at least a 50% reduction in headache frequency, and 23% achieved a 75% or greater reduction. One person reported complete resolution of headaches. 

The MIDAS score, reflecting migraine-related disability, also dropped significantly from 60.4 to 28.6, indicating substantial improvements in daily functioning.

BMI showed only a slight, non-significant reduction from 34.0 to 33.9. Statistical analysis confirmed that the decrease in headache frequency was independent of weight loss. 

Furthermore, age, sex, and concurrent medications did not influence the treatment response, suggesting liraglutide’s migraine benefits are robust across these variables.

Adverse events were mild and primarily gastrointestinal, such as nausea and constipation, occurring in 42% of participants. Importantly, no patients discontinued treatment due to side effects, and these symptoms resolved spontaneously.

These findings offer preliminary clinical evidence that liraglutide can effectively reduce migraine frequency and disability in patients with obesity and refractory migraine, potentially through mechanisms related to intracranial pressure regulation and CGRP modulation rather than weight loss alone. 

This represents a novel therapeutic avenue distinct from current migraine preventives that largely focus on blocking CGRP’s effects rather than preventing its release.

While promising, the study did have limitations, including its open-label design, small sample size, lack of a control group, and relatively short follow-up.

How liraglutide could help treat migraine

The rationale behind this research stemmed from emerging evidence linking increased intracranial pressure (ICP) to migraine mechanisms. 

Chronic migraine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilledema (IIHWOP) — a condition characterized by raised ICP without the typical eye swelling — share many clinical features and risk factors, such as obesity and female sex. 

Both conditions also show elevated levels of CGRP, a molecule known to play a key role in migraine pain pathways. 

Notably, common migraine preventives like topiramate reduce ICP, suggesting that controlling ICP might be an effective migraine treatment strategy.

GLP-1RAs, including liraglutide, have been shown in animal models to reduce ICP by inhibiting the activity in the choroid plexus of an enzyme called the sodium-potassium pump.

The choroid plexus is the brain region responsible for cerebrospinal fluid secretion. This mechanism reduces fluid buildup and pressure inside the skull. 

Additionally, these drugs have been demonstrated to decrease CGRP expression and central nervous system sensitization related to migraine. 

These promising preclinical findings were what led the researchers to test liraglutide’s effects in a clinical migraine population.

However, Peter Soh, MD, MPH, medical director at Soh Headache Center, LLC, who did not take part in the study, clarified that we don’t yet know exactly how GLP-1RAs might reduce migraine frequency.

“[I]n the population studied, several important variables — such as intracranial pressure — were not measured,” Soh told Healthline.

“Without further data, it’s a little early to suggest a mechanism of action in this specific context,” he noted.

Migraine treatment is personal

Liraglutide could one day emerge as a valuable addition to the migraine treatment arsenal, particularly for those with difficult-to-treat migraine, offering hope for more effective and targeted relief beyond current options.

However, liraglutide as a migraine treatment would have to first undergo more rigorous studies and clinical trials.

Stewart Parnacott, PhD, CRNA, MBA, chief clinical officer at Ready Wellness and author of “Too Young to Feel This Old,” said better research is still needed before doctors can recommend liraglutide as a migraine treatment. Parnacott wasn’t involved in the study.

“We don’t know how long the benefits last. We don’t know if the same results happen with other GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide,” he told Healthline. “And I’m not suggesting anyone start Saxenda just to treat their migraine, at least not yet.”

If you’re experiencing frequent migraine, effective interventions can be highly personal.

Soh advised working with a healthcare professional or fellowship-trained headache specialist to optimize your treatment plan. This may include assessing your lifestyle habits and using a headache journal to track your response to therapies.

“Don’t underestimate the impact of food, sleep, stress, hydration, hormones, and blood sugar swings,” Parnacott added. “I’ve had patients cut their migraine days in half just by making small changes they didn’t think would matter.”

Noting the intricate connections between the gut, brain, and metabolism, Parnacott added that treating migraine is not just about a single drug. “You never know what piece of the puzzle might change everything,” he said.

• The Trump administration reportedly plans to cut almost all funding for HIV vaccine research.
• Experts say the decision comes at a time when research in this field is making substantial progress.
• Many effective treatments are available for HIV, but these are lifelong commitments that manage a chronic disease rather than cure it.

Treatments for HIV infection have come a long way since the 1980s, when too many lives were lost during the epidemic.

Today, antiretroviral therapies and other treatments allow people with HIV to live longer lives and, in many cases, prevent the transmission of the virus that causes the disease to other people.

Scientists now say the next step in the fight is a vaccine that protects against HIV.

However, that next development could be on the chopping block.

Trump administration officials reportedly plan to halt funding for a wide array of HIV vaccine research.

Researchers told CBS News they have been informed by officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has instructed the agency not to issue any more funding during the next fiscal year for HIV vaccine research.

NIH officials said HHS officials have instead decided to “go with currently available approaches to eliminate HIV.”

The decision will close down HIV vaccine research projects at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and the Scripps Research Institute, according to a report in the journal Science.

Officials at Moderna also told CBS News that their current clinical trials on HIV vaccines have been put on hold.

Experts say the decision to cut funding for an HIV vaccine is short-sighted and reckless.

“I’m stunned by this decision,” said Jake Scott, MD, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University in California who specializes in infectious diseases.

“There is no scientific or medical evidence to justify these cuts at the exact moment this field is showing real promise,” he told Healthline.

Carl Baloney Jr., the chief executive officer-elect of AIDS United, agreed.

“Eliminating funding for HIV vaccine research undermines decades of scientific progress and turns our back on a future where HIV could be preventable for all, regardless of where someone lives, their income, or access to healthcare,” he told Healthline.

Why an HIV vaccine is important

Experts say that treatments for HIV are incredibly effective.

However, they note that most involve daily adherence and aren’t necessarily readily available or affordable for many people.

“There are a lot of good options, but they can be really expensive,” Scott said. “These medications are also not a cure. They are a lifetime burden.”

The experts add that people with low levels of HIV in their system can still have weakened immune systems. That can raise the risk of serious infections as well as inflammation that can lead to conditions such as heart disease.

“A vaccine can help prevent all this,” said Scott.

Experts note that a vaccine research program may be difficult to put back together even if a new administration restored funding in the near future.

They say it took decades to build these programs and restarting them would take time. In addition, researchers will leave the field of HIV prevention to set up shop in another industry that is receiving funding.

“We could lose an entire generation of scientists,” said Scott. “This is setting the field back a decade or more at a critical time.”

“This isn’t just about canceling [a] clinical trial. It’s about sidelining the scientists, institutions, and community partners driving innovation forward,” added Baloney. “These setbacks could delay the development of a successful HIV vaccine by years or even decades.”

How scientists fought against HIV

The first treatment for HIV was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987.

Azidothymidine (AZT) was first developed in 1964 as a treatment for cancer. It was ineffective in that usage, but in the 1980s, scientists discovered AZT could suppress HIV replication without damaging healthy cells. It helped treat people with AIDS as well as people who were HIV positive but had no symptoms.

In the 1990s, other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) were developed and approved. Laboratory tests to measure viral load and cell counts accelerated this research.

From there, scientists experimented with combining drugs to help counter the HIV virus’s ability to mutate and replicate. In 1996, a triple-drug therapy proved effective in thwarting HIV replication and creating a barrier against drug resistance.

Since then, these antiretroviral drugs have become more effective and more available.

The effectiveness of these medications is nothing short of miraculous.

In the 1980s, the average life expectancy after an AIDS diagnosis was one year. Today, people who adhere to combination antiretroviral drug therapies can expect to live a near-normal life span.

In some cases, the medications can reduce the HIV viral load in a person to the point where the virus is undetectable and can’t be transmitted to another person.

How is HIV treated today?

More than 50 types of HIV medications are now approved for use. Some of the more commonly used antiretroviral medications are:

• Combination NRTI drugs that include Truvada and Descovy. These medications work by preventing HIV from converting its RNA into DNA. This prevents the virus from making copies of itself..
• Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) that include Vocabria and Biktarvy. These drugs work by blocking an enzyme that HIV uses to put HIV DNA into human DNA inside cells.
• Protease inhibitors (PIs) such as Lexiva and Crixivan. These medications work by blocking an enzyme that HIV needs as part of its life cycle.
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that include Intelence and Viramune. These drugs work by preventing the HIV virus from making copies of itself.
• Entry inhibitors such as Fuzeon and Selzentry. These medications work by blocking HIV from entering CD4 T cells.

In addition, there are drugs known as Cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) inhibitors, such as Tybost and Norvir, that help boost the levels of HIV medications in the bloodstream.

There are also medications known as post-attachment inhibitors that when used with antiretroviral drugs can help prevent HIV from entering immune cells. Trogarzo was the first of these drugs to become available, having been approved in 2018.

In addition, there are attachment inhibitor medications, a newer form of HIV drug that works by attaching to a viral protein, which prevents that protein from entering healthy T cells. Only one type of this medication, Rubokia, is currently available, having been approved in 2020.

Most people with HIV are given medications, but there also are long-acting injections that are given once a month or once every other month.

Scott said these treatments are cures that have turned HIV into a “managed chronic disease” to the point where he and other colleagues now refer to AIDS as “advanced HIV.”

Baloney said, however, there are limits to how much treatments can do.

“Current treatments and prevention tools have transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition, but they are not a cure and they’re not accessible to everyone,” he said. “An HIV vaccine would be a game-changer, especially for communities facing systemic barriers to care.”

Preventive measures for HIV

Even with the available treatments, experts agree that it’s better for a person if they don’t contract HIV in the first place.

They say condom use, along with dental dams and gloves, can be effective barriers to contracting HIV.

Limiting sexual partners is also recommended, as are sterile needles for intravenous drug users.

Getting tested for HIV is also an important component. It’s estimated that more than 1 million people in the United States have HIV, and 13% of them don’t know they have contracted the virus.

There are medications available that can be taken as a precaution or after potential exposure to HIV. These drugs include:

• Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP): These medications can be taken as a daily pill or a bimonthly injection. The first injectable PrEP drug was Apretude, which was approved by the FDA in 2021. Truvada can also be used as PrEP therapy. These medications help prevent HIV from getting a foothold in the body.
• Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) drugs: These are designed to be taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV. It is a pill ingested once a day for 28 days.
• Lenacapavir: This injectable drug has been tested in clinical trials as a potential PrEP therapy. The FDA is scheduled to vote on its approval on June 19.

Experts say all these preventive measures are good practices, but they note that vaccines are still the most effective.

“None of these replace the potential power of a preventive vaccine, especially in communities where stigma, criminalization, and health disparities limit the reach of existing tools,” Baloney said.

• Rob Lowe shares how three generations of women in his family passed away from breast cancer.
• The acclaimed actor has partnered with Eli Lilly to spread awareness about the benefits of cancer clinical trials.
• Lowe’s grandmother benefited from participating in two clinical trials for breast cancer.  

Iconic actor Rob Lowe credits his grandmother, Mim, for his love of reading.

“My earliest memories are her reading me my favorite book, ‘Peter Rabbit,’ while she sipped her Sanka,” he told Healthline. “I always wanted to have my own coffee, so she would make me a cup of milk and then put a little drop of Sanka in it so it would look like coffee.”

When he was 10 years old, Mim was diagnosed with breast cancer, the same disease her mother had endured.

“It was almost a death sentence,” Lowe said.

Following her diagnosis, Mim underwent a bilateral mastectomy, the standard of care at the time, which can significantly impact quality of life. While double or bilateral mastectomy rates have declined in recent years, some people still require the surgery.

After a cancer recurrence, Mim entered a clinical trial, which Lowe said extended her life. Years later, she participated in a second clinical trial. “Both times had tremendous, tremendous success, and it was a very pivotal moment in my upbringing that I always remember,” he said.

Following his grandmother’s diagnosis, Lowe’s mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer. He said her standard of care was an improvement compared to his grandmother’s.

“There are amazing advances in medicine, particularly breast cancer, and what I’ve seen going through this three times is tremendous enhancements,” Lowe said, noting the impact clinical trials have had on cancer treatments.

Now, Lowe wants more people to participate in clinical trials. Only around 7% of U.S. cancer patients join clinical trials, limiting their access to potential breakthroughs and delaying new medications from helping others.

In honor of the three generations of women he lost to breast cancer, Lowe teamed up with Eli Lilly to bring awareness to the urgent need for more people to participate in cancer clinical trials.

“I thought this was a great way to remember and keep my grandma Mim’s memory alive,” he said.

Clinical trials offer hope to people with cancer. For instance, a new breast cancer vaccine is showing effectiveness in clinical trials at preventing and treating breast cancer. The vaccine works by training the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancerous cells before they develop into invasive tumors.

“Participating in a trial can provide access to cutting-edge drugs that are not yet on the market, improve quality of life, and advance science. The trials of today are the treatments of tomorrow,” Davendra Sohal, MD, associate director for Clinical Research at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, told Healthline. 

Clinical trials are used for all types and stages of breast cancer. People can join any phase of a trial if they meet the criteria, which is based on multiple factors, including type of disease, age, medical history, and current medical condition.

However, barriers to clinical trials prevent many people from enrolling. These include:

• certain beliefs or lack of trust
• distance to trial sites
• insufficient health insurance coverage
• language barriers
• immigration status

In addition to barriers, new treatments developed in clinical trials face a long road before they’re approved for use in the real world.

“New treatments are studied for lengthy periods of time, typically years, before they receive FDA approval,” Irene M. Kang, MD, medical director of women’s oncology at City of Hope Orange County, told Healthline. “This is why clinical trials are critical for studying new drugs, medical devices, products, and additional treatments before they may become standard of care.”

If you want to know more about clinical trials, Lowe encourages you to ask your doctor.

“[There’s] so much hope out there, and it’s not an end-of-the-road ask. If it’s the beginning of the road, ask your doctor,” he said.

Healthline spoke with Lowe to learn more about the women in his life who were diagnosed with breast cancer and his passion for participating in clinical trials.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

Did your grandmother’s experience with clinical trials impact your views on medicine?

Lowe: Yes. Particularly as she got into the second one, where I was much older and really able to understand it more clearly. We were very fortunate to have the experience of watching the miracle of progress in medicine unfold in real time with real results.

Obviously, not everyone has that result, but we did, and that’s where I’ve gotten my lifelong interest in cancer patient advocacy from, because of our experience.

I remember the treatments that were horrifying for my grandma… and then with my mother, it was a completely different experience a decade later. The exponential rate of new technology is truly a marvel, and now with AI, it will be more unbelievable.

How did having three women in your family die from breast cancer affect you? 

Lowe: The new [genetic] tests were not available for them. My brother Chad has three daughters, so they will be getting the test, and I will make sure of it.

Family history is a big deal. Know your family history. Information and asking questions are as critical as any treatment you’re going to get. Be diligent.

What would you say to those who are wary of clinical trials?

Lowe: My number one thing is that all patients have to advocate for themselves. It is the number one game changer in the path you have ahead of you — your ability to advocate, to ask questions, to champion, and guide your own recovery is critical.

Doctors are only as good as the information they get and the questions that they’re asked. One of them that a lot of people don’t ask is: Is there a clinical trial that can be helpful for me? It’s very simple. Less than 7% of patients do it. That number needs to be much, much, much higher.

I would also add that I think one of the reasons that there’s some [hesitation] is that I think people feel like “well, if I’m in a clinical trial, maybe I’m going to get a placebo and I actually want treatment.”

Well, in cancer clinical trials, you get the standard of care. You’re not going to not get the standard of care. You may get a cutting-edge new care in addition, and to me, that’s a no-brainer.

Is it rewarding to work with Eli Lilly to spread awareness about something so personal?

Lowe: I do find it really rewarding and, more than anything, inspiring.

You get inspired by both the patient’s journey, which is always a journey of courage, and by having a front-row seat with a company like Lilly, where you see the strides being made that make me so hopeful for the future; it’s something I get a lot out of personally.

What inspires you to talk about health?

Lowe: One’s health is the great equalizer, as we all know, and nothing reminds you of your humanity more than the frailty of our health and the importance that we all have of doing the best that we can for ourselves in that area.

It does keep you connected to your fellow human beings.

Have your views on health changed as you’ve gotten older?

Lowe: I’ve been fortunate that I’ve always kept it [a priority] since my early 20s when I stopped drinking and had a very healthy path of recovery and mental healthcare.

I was kind of early to the party and stayed the course, and it’s been unbelievably beneficial to me as I’ve gotten older. [Now, I] offer that advice, as I can, even to my sons, who are in their early 30s.

• A new study indicates there may be an association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Researchers say an altered gut microbiome may be one of the main factors for this connection.
• Further study is warranted, as one expert doesn’t believe there is a correlation between the two conditions.

In a new meta-analysis, scientists say they have established a “significant positive association” between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The researchers said an altered gut microbiome may be the “potential link that bridges the gap between ADHD and intestinal disorder.”

Their findings were published recently in the journal Scientific Reports.

The researchers said their analysis has significance in the daily lives of people with ADHD.

“IBS considerably affects quality of life in affected patients. Its presence in ADHD patients may further complicate the management of ADHD,” they wrote.

“Our results suggest that gut microbiome may explain the link between ADHD and IBS. Our finding of the positive association between ADHD and IBS suggests that clinicians should be aware of gastrointestinal symptoms in children and adults with ADHD,” they added.

The researchers noted there were several limitations to their analysis. They said that nearly half of the studies they examined were from Asia and only two studies included people of all ages.

One expert not involved in the study is highly critical of the research.

“I am highly critical of the study design, findings, and conclusions. The studies included into this meta-analysis are very heterogenous in terms of age, geographical region, study size, study design and probably in terms of diagnostic criteria used for IBS and ADHD,” said Emeran Mayer, MD, a professor of psychology medicine at the University of California Los Angeles and the director of the UCLA Gail and Gerald Oppenheimer Family Center for Neurobiology of Stress.

“It is also highly likely that different diagnostic criteria were used for some of the IBS studies. Previous well-designed studies have shown no correlation between IBS and ADHD,” Mayer told Healthline.

Are IBS and ADHD linked?

To reach their conclusions, the researchers analyzed 11 past studies with 3.8 million individuals, including about 175,000 people with ADHD.

The 11 studies that were examined were all published within the past 25 years.

The researchers reported that the risk of IBS in people with ADHD was 1.63 times greater than in people who don’t have ADHD.

They added their research did not demonstrate an association between ADHD and other intestinal disorders.

The scientists noted that an altered gut microbiome has been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

They added that children with ADHD tend to have more gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation and flatulence, than children without the condition.

They said these past studies have indicated that there is a connection between the gut-brain axis and ADHD.

Mayer isn’t convinced.

“The study is purely correlational and does not provide any evidence for a causal relationship between ADHD and IBS, or between gut microbiome and ADHD prevalence,” he said.

“On the other hand, given the high comorbidity of ADHD with other psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, and the high comorbidity of IBS with anxiety and depression, a correlation between IBS and ADHD is likely. IBS is a disorder of altered gut-brain interactions characterized by higher anxiety levels. Consistent alteration in the gut microbiome in IBS patients has not been reported.”

Max Wiznitzer, MD, pediatric neurologist at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, professor of pediatrics and neurology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and co-chair of the Professional Advisory Board at the Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (CHADD), said there are other better explanations for the association between ADHD and IBS. Wiznitzer wasn’t involved in the study.

“It is likely due to comorbid anxiety and/or depression,” Wiznitzer told Healthline.

“With the failure [of the researchers] to recognize or comment on the likely association with comorbid depression or anxiety by Ng et al in the Scientific Reports, the value of their conclusions is questionable (i.e., it is likely that the comorbid condition and not the ADHD is the reason for the association). Furthermore, they focus so much on gut microbiota that they overlook other potential reasons,” he noted.

What to know about ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is described as a mental health condition that can cause impulsive behaviors.

Symptoms of ADHD include:

• difficulty focusing on a task
• being easily distracted
• unable to sit still for an extended period time
• interrupting people while they are talking

The American Psychiatric Association lists three different types of ADHD. They are:

• predominantly inattentive
• predominantly hyperactivity-impulsive
• a combination of both types

Scientists are still uncertain of the underlying cause of ADHD, although they believe genetics may be involved.

The researchers in the current study note that ADHD has been linked to a wide range of consequences for individuals.

These included an increased risk of smoking, substance-related disorders, sexual risk-taking behavior, greater driving risk, and suicidal behavior. They added that the chronic condition also poses a significant economic burden on families and society.

The researchers noted that ADHD can co-occur with other neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder.

ADHD is generally diagnosed in children, although the condition can be present in adults. The condition is more prevalent in boys than in girls.

Treatments for ADHD include behavioral therapy and medication. A balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and limiting screen time on phones, computers, and television are also recommended.

Mayer said there are therapies that can be beneficial.

“There is a number of behavioral techniques that have been used successfully in patients with ADHD. Similar cognitive behavioral techniques have been shown to benefit patients with IBS,” he said.

What to know about IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of intestinal symptoms that can include abdominal cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

The condition is more common in women than in men. It also tends to affect younger adults more often than older adults.

The symptoms are mild in some people but can be serious enough in other people to disrupt their daily lives.

The exact cause of IBS is not known, although an oversensitive colon and immune system difficulties are potential factors.

Triggers for IBS can include stress and anxiety. Some foods can also trigger IBS. They include:

• beans
• onions
• fruits
• certain dairy products
• certain carbohydrate-rich products

There are ways to help relieve IBS symptoms. These include:

• regular exercise
• limiting consumption of caffeinated beverages
• minimizing stress
• taking probiotics
• quitting smoking

Some nutritionists recommend that people with IBS adhere to a low FODMAP diet, an eating plan that focuses on avoiding certain carbohydrates.

“I recommend a multi-component treatment plan including personalized dietary recommendations, behavioral techniques, including self-relaxation techniques, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and cognitive behavioral therapy,” said Mayer.

“In more refractory cases, centrally acting medications like low dose tricyclic antidepressants. In patients with severe psychiatric comorbidity (anxiety or depression, less than 10% of all patients), I prescribed SSRIs,” he added.

Wiznitzer shared some simple advice for people with IBS. “Manage the anxiety and depression, and the IBS should improve,” he said.