• A new study has found that taking semaglutide (Ozempic) was linked with less severe COVID-19.
• People were also less likely to die from any cause while using this drug.
• Semaglutide does not appear to directly affect COVID-19, however.
• Experts say the accompanying weight loss helps make you healthier in general.
• Even with semaglutide, you still need to take precautions like vaccines and masking.

According to a study published online on August 30, 2024, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, people using 2.4-milligram semaglutide were less likely to have severe cases of COVID-19 when using this drug.

They were also less likely to die from any cause, cardiovascular or otherwise.

The study authors further noted that the reduced rate of non-cardiovascular deaths was mainly due to fewer people dying from infections.

Semaglutide is available under the brand names Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss.

However, while Wegovy is available in the 2.4-milligram dose, Ozempic tops out at 2 milligrams.

How semaglutide use may affect COVID-19 risks

The authors state that people with overweight and obesity are at greater risk for dying, both from cardiovascular disease and other causes.

Their goal was to see if semaglutide might help prevent these deaths, looking at both cardiovascular deaths and deaths from other causes, including deaths from COVID-19.

The researchers randomly selected over 17,000 individuals to participate.

Participants were ages 45 and up with a body mass index (BMI) that established them as living with either overweight or obesity.

The study participants also had been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease but not diabetes.

Over a period of 3.3 years, these people received weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo.

During this time, any deaths that occurred were recorded based on the cause of death.

They found that 833 people died during the course of the study, with 58% of these being related to cardiovascular disease, while the remainder were due to other causes.

After analyzing the data, the researchers reached the conclusion that there were fewer deaths from any cause in the group that was treated with semaglutide.

Another salient finding was that, while semaglutide did not reduce the rates of COVID-19, those who contracted the virus had fewer adverse events related to the disease.

How semaglutide might help reduce COVID-19 severity

Dr. Ramit Singh Sambyal, a General Physician associated with ClinicSpots who was not involved in the study, said that GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, were originally designed to treat diabetes.

However, they can improve overall metabolic health by making it easier for people to lose weight, he said.

“When we think about this in the context of COVID-19, there’s a fascinating link: obesity is a known risk factor for severe outcomes from the virus,” Sambyal explained. “So, anything that helps reduce obesity-related issues might also lower the risks if you get infected.”

Sambyal went on to explain that obesity isn’t just about added weight.

“[I]t also put a lot of stress on the body, including chronic inflammation, which makes it harder for your immune system to fight off infections like COVID-19,” he said.

Losing weight with semaglutide allows your body to function better, said Sambyal.

“Blood pressure drops, blood sugar becomes easier to control, and inflammation decreases,” he said. “This makes you healthier overall and less vulnerable to severe complications if you contract COVID-19.”

Sambyal additionally emphasized that drugs like semaglutide do not appear to have any direct effect on the COVID-19 virus, although ongoing research is investigating whether GLP-1 drugs could impact it.

“So, while they can make you healthier and possibly less likely to suffer severe outcomes, they’re not a miracle cure for COVID-19,” he concluded.

Why you should still take precautions against COVID-19

Dr. Michael Lahey, a physician with My Weight Loss Partner, added to Sambyal’s thoughts by noting that while drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can aid with treating obesity and obesity-related diseases, they do not free you from taking precautions against COVID-19.

“These drugs are intended for controlling certain illnesses and must be regarded only as useful adjuncts to a particular disease control program,” he explained.

If you have obesity or accompanying diseases that put you at higher risk for COVID-19 complications — such as cancer, chronic kidney, liver, lung, or heart disease; diabetes; or a compromised immune system — you still need to follow measures such as vaccination, physical distancing, and masking to protect yourself, according to Lahey.

“These medications, when taken, truly lower the risk of severe COVID-19, but they do not eliminate the need for every preventive measure,” he stated.

Sambyal added that it’s important to think of these drugs as “a piece of a bigger puzzle.”

“Yes, they can help reduce your risk by improving your overall health, but they don’t prevent the virus from infecting you,” he said.

Vaccines help train your immune system to fight off the virus. Taking additional precautions can help keep you from getting the virus in the first place, said Sambyal.

Takeaway

A new study has found that people using semaglutide experienced less severe cases of COVID-19.

Additionally, they were less likely to die from any cause during the study.

Experts say this is because weight loss makes you healthier overall, reducing your risk for COVID-19 complications.

Even if you are using drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy, you still need to take precautions against COVID-19 — such as vaccinations, physical distancing, and masking — to reduce your risk.

• Brian May, guitarist for the rock band Queen, revealed he recently experienced a minor stroke.
• Although he is now recovering and in good health, he briefly lost the ability to use his left hand, leaving him unable to play guitar.
• A stroke, no matter the severity, is always a medical emergency. Individuals should know the warning signs of a stroke and seek medical attention.

Brian May, guitarist for the legendary rock group Queen, revealed this week that he experienced a “minor stroke.” 

In a video posted on his personal Instagram account, May explained that the incident required medical attention and briefly left him unable to use his left arm. Fortunately, the rocker is back in good health and, importantly, playing guitar again.

“Good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days and I say this because it was in some doubt,” he said in the video. 

“All of a sudden, out of the blue, I didn’t have any control over this arm,” May recounted.

The incident is an important reminder that strokes can vary drastically in severity and presentation of symptoms. But don’t let the term “minor stroke” mislead you: strokes are a serious medical issue. Even minor strokes, if left untreated, can lead to serious health outcomes and death.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is a minor stroke?

A stroke refers to when areas of the brain are not receiving blood flow, which can result in damage to brain tissue. A minor stroke is a non-scientific term that a doctor may use to describe the general severity of a stroke. However, the term doesn’t make specific reference to the type (ischemic or hemorrhagic) or etiology (cause) of the stroke.

“There’s no specific definition of minor stroke. A minor stroke for one person might be much more significant for somebody else. Presumably, the way it’s being used here is that it’s a stroke that hasn’t led to significant or lasting neurologic deficits,” Neil Schwartz, MD, PhD, a Clinical Professor of Neurology at Stanford Medicine, told Healthline.

A minor stroke shouldn’t be confused with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is often described as a “ministroke” or “warning stroke.” A TIA causes stroke-like symptoms, such as limb weakness and drooping face, but resolves on its own without damage to the brain. It is called a “warning stroke” because it may be an early sign of a stroke.

“The difference between a TIA and a minor stroke is that with a TIA, the symptoms go away, and the person recovers before there’s any actual injury to the brain. In other words, the lack of blood flow that is contributing to the problem resolves before there’s any permanent damage to the brain,” Mitchell Elkind, MD, MS, the Chief Clinical Science Officer of the American Heart Association, told Healthline.

“A minor stroke, conversely, is when there may actually be a permanent injury to a small part of the brain, leaving a little scar, but the person’s brain reorganizes, and they’re able to recover from it very quickly,” added Elkind.

Recognizing signs of a stroke

Both TIA and stroke are serious medical conditions. A TIA may resolve on its own, but because it manifests with similar symptoms to a stroke, there is no way of knowing the severity without seeking medical attention. 

A minor stroke may also become a major one without treatment. So, if you are experiencing symptoms of a stroke, always seek aid.

Brian May’s experience of a sudden lack of control over his left arm is one of the classic symptoms of a stroke.

“We often just see one side of the body or the other affected,” said Schwartz. “We typically see a loss of function, such as weakness or numbness, and facial droop. Those are kind of the classic stroke symptoms,” he added.

The hallmark stroke warning signs can be identified through the acronym FAST:

• Face: Part of the face is drooping or numb. The individual may not be able to smile or may have an uneven smile.
• Arm: An arm is weak, numb, or lacking coordination. The individual may not be able to raise their arm, or it may drift downward.
• Speech: An individual has difficulty speaking or slurred speech.
• Time: A stroke is a medical emergency. If any of these symptoms are present, call 911 immediately. Note the time that the symptoms first appeared.

Other symptoms of stroke include:

• Confusion
• Difficulty walking
• Severe headache
• Numbness
• Trouble seeing

Elkind points out that, unlike a heart attack, individuals experiencing a stroke may not experience any pain. 

“Strokes often don’t cause any pain. So, people sometimes get misled because they think of a heart attack and think they should have pain. The brain doesn’t have any sensation itself, so it doesn’t feel pain, it just stops functioning,” he said.

What to do after a minor stroke

What a doctor prescribes for a patient following a stroke will differ based on the severity of the stroke, as well as other health and lifestyle factors.

Brian May says that his doctors “grounded” him, advising him to stay off of airplanes, avoid driving, and keep his heart rate down. However, this advice isn’t generalizable to everyone who has experienced a stroke. Instead, patients should work with their doctors to develop a personalized recovery plan.

Following a stroke, a doctor will order a diagnostic workup, likely including a brain MRI, to determine the cause and extent of the stroke. Depending on the findings, they may prescribe drugs, such as anticoagulants.

A patient’s specific lifestyle and health factors are also key to recovery. During recovery, a doctor will want to address stroke comorbidities such as diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure. 

Patients may also need to modify lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and smoking following a stroke.

“Depending on what the doctors think the specific cause is, they may make specific recommendations about rest, additional testing, or even surgery to the neck,” said Elkind.

The bottom line

Brian May, the guitarist for legendary rock group Queen, recently experienced what his doctors described as a “minor stroke.”

During the incident, May lost the ability to use his left hand. He now appears to be in good health and has regained the use of his hand. 

The severity of a stroke may vary from person to person, but individuals are always urged to know the signs of a stroke and to seek medical attention.

• Many Americans turn to social media for sleep advice.
• A survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that more than 30% of Americans have tried one of this year’s viral sleep trends.
• Experts share the ins and outs of these sleep trends and what you can do to get better sleep.

The battle to get good sleep seems constant. So much so that many Americans turn to social media for advice on the latest sleep trends.

According to a 2024 survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 37% of Americans have tried at least one of this year’s trending sleep practices, with 55% of Gen Z survey respondents leading the way.

“I try not to discourage people from feeling active and empowered through the use of online resources to find community, ideas for solutions, and better understanding of their lived experience,” Dr. Anne Marie Morse, Geisinger sleep medicine physician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, told Healthline.

“Unfortunately, like with a dress, makeup, or your name, it may look glorious on someone else, but it may not fit just right on you.”

Sleep experts break down the implications of top sleep hacks trending on social media.

Bed rotting

“Bed rotting” refers to staying in bed for extended periods of time to boost rest, often to the point of neglecting responsibilities and social interactions, with the hopes of improving restoration. According to the AASM survey, this has been adopted by nearly a quarter (24%) of Gen Z.

“While spending time in bed can be beneficial for rest and recovery, too much time spent in bed can have negative effects on mental and physical health,” said Morse.

While she encourages the occasional relaxation and restoration efforts, she said protracted periods of time spent lying in bed for any other reason than sleep or sex may jeopardize the health of your sleep, and with that, your medical and mental health could be at risk too.

Sound like an overreaction? Morse said it’s not.

“Your mind can be conditioned to associate things that aren’t meant to be together. So, if you retreat to your bed to ‘rot’ away your anxiety, bad day, recent breakup, or other daily challenge, lying in bed can start to make you revisit these negative emotions and lead to difficulties falling and staying asleep,” she said.

Spending a lot of awake time in bed makes people associate the bed with being awake, “making the bed less of a ‘protected’ place for good quality sleep,” Jade Wu, PhD, sleep medicine psychologist and Sleep Advisor at Mattress Firm, told Healthline.

In extreme cases, and for those who may have other medical risk factors, prolonged inactivity from lying in bed can lead to issues like muscle atrophy, decreased cardiovascular fitness, and increased risk of obesity, added Morse.

Sedentariness generally doesn’t make people feel better and can have a negative impact on mood, sleep, and metabolic health, said Wu.

“Sometimes when we’ve been over-doing it, it can help to give ourselves a chance to rest, though generally, I would reserve that for situations where you’ve truly been doing intensive exercise, working overtime, or going through something extraordinarily taxing,” she said. “I wouldn’t make a general habit of it just for the sake of avoiding starting the day.”

Try this instead: if you’re overwhelmed with work or life, rather than staying in bed for prolonged periods of time to refresh, Wu suggested finding a quiet change of scene in nature, practicing mindful meditation or yoga, or reading a book.

Drinking a magnesium “sleepy girl mocktail”

Nearly 9% of survey respondents have tried drinking magnesium to help with sleep. The “sleepy girl mocktail” trending on social media is made of a half-cup of pure tart cherry juice, a tablespoon of magnesium powder, and sparkling water.

Drinking magnesium or taking magnesium supplements is generally safe when done within recommended guidelines, said Morse. Magnesium is a mineral that is important for multiple body functions, especially neurologic functioning, which affects sleep.

However, research on the impact of magnesium supplements on sleep has not yielded consistent results, but some data shows higher dosing may improve sleep quality.

“The limitations of the research are typically related to the type of magnesium studied and small groups of participants, which raises questions on the ability to apply this information,” said Morse.

For instance, a 2023 systematic literature review made a connection to magnesium status and sleep quality in observational studies and a small study from 2012 reported that people who took a daily dose of 500 mg of magnesium for eight weeks indicated that they had fewer subjective insomnia symptoms than people who received the placebo.

However, large-scale randomized control trials have not shown a specific correlation between supplementing with magnesium and improvements in sleep quality.

Morse said that if you’re going to try magnesium to enhance sleep, take note that magnesium formulations are used medically for stomach issues like constipation, indigestion, and heartburn and can cause loose stools or diarrhea.

Try this instead: Talk with your doctor about magnesium before trying it or about other supplements or medications that may be more effective and tailored to your sleep issues.

Sleeping in 90-minute increments

Of those who took the AASM survey, 9% said they tested the effectiveness of sleeping in 90-minute increments.

The idea of sleeping in 90-minute increments is based on the concept of the sleep cycle, which lasts about 90 to 120 minutes for adults and 50-to-60-minute cycles during early childhood.

Each night, the brain goes through multiple sleep cycles, each lasting 90 to 120 minutes, and the cycles consist of different stages of sleep: REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM (NREM) sleep, explained Morse.

“Unfortunately, the idea misses out on the fact that each cycle can vary,” said Morse. “While the 90-minute increment idea can be attractive to some who are trying to get a better handle on achieving their best night’s sleep, it will likely miss the mark. When you prioritize a full night of restful sleep, you’re more likely to feel refreshed and energized, regardless of whether you wake up at the end of a specific cycle.”

For those trying to take a daytime nap, Wu said to aim for around 30 minutes and avoid going over one hour because longer naps can negatively impact nighttime sleep. Also, there is evidence linking longer napping to higher risks for heart disease in the long run.

“If you are sleeping at night, there is no reason to purposefully interrupt sleep at the 90-minute mark,” said Wu.

Extraordinary circumstances are an exception, like a soldier on a mission, an ultramarathoner who is running for 24-plus hours, or someone experiencing jet lag.

“Then it’s okay to nap for any amount of time that is needed to catch up on sleep that the body needs, including a 90-minute nap if that’s what’s feasible,” said Wu. “But there is nothing special about 90-minute cycles that warrants trying to sleep in these increments.”

Try this instead: Instead of sleeping in 90-minute increments, Morse recommended focusing on getting into a regular sleep schedule and shooting for seven to nine hours of sleep a night, which is likely to bring a higher return on investment.

Helpful sleep habits to consider

While there are many attractive sleep “hacks” on social media, they are enticing because they don’t require a lot of effort. “But if good sleep health were as simple as taking a supplement or staying in bed all day, we wouldn’t have so many millions of people with sleep problems in the U.S.,” said Wu.

If you’re at a loss for ways to get better quality sleep, consider the following strategies:

• Don’t force anything related to sleep. Instead, Morse said to uncover what is causing the resistance. “The challenge here is that there are over 70 types of sleep disorders, plus innumerable medical and psychiatric disorders that can contribute to difficulties sleeping,” she said. “Forcing someone to be in bed can actually worsen these issues.”
• Getting lots of bright light exposure during the day, ideally by being physically active outdoors can help boost sleep quality.
• Set a consistent sleep schedule. Going to bed and waking up at the same time, or within an hour of that time, every day helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up naturally.
• Practice good sleep hygiene. Try to create a relaxing bedtime routine by making your bedroom quiet, keeping the room at a comfortable, cool temperature, and limiting exposure to bright light in the evenings, said Morse.
• Discuss hacks you’re interested in with your doctor. Sharing solutions you find online with your doctor is a good first step. “Sometimes what we find is that the solution you want to discuss actually helps you and your [doctor] uncover what the real problem is. And, now they are able to tailor treatment to your specific situation,” said Morse.

• GLP-1 drugs mimic hormones that help people block food noise and tune into hunger cues.
• When people cease the use of these medications, they may experience extreme hunger.
• There are ways to manage this hunger, including focusing on specific types of foods and deprioritizing others, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications.

While drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound can help people lose significant weight, individuals who stop using the medications often regain many of the pounds they shed. It’s a phenomenon commonly referred to as Ozempic rebound.

In fact, one clinical trial extension from 2022 indicated that people who ceased 2.4 mg weekly doses of semaglutide (Wegovy) regained about two-thirds of their weight within one year.

One reason people often quickly regain weight is that extreme hunger and food noise blunted by the GLP-1 drugs can return and, in many cases, feel more intense. 

“GLP-1 medications suppress the appetite,” says Dr. Mir Ali, a board certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center. “However, when stopped, the appetite returns and there is likely some dysregulation in the appetite hormones, so the appetite can come back even stronger.”

While these medications are designed for long-term use, access, costs, and side effects may not make that possible for everyone.

However, health experts who specialize in treating obesity say that the following seven tips can help people manage extreme hunger after they stop taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and maintain the weight they’ve lost.

Portion control

Balance is important.

“The plate method divides your plate into three categories,” says Dr. Michael L. Glickman, a triple board certified family and obesity medicine physician who founded Revolution Medicine. 

Glickman says these categories are:

• Non-starchy vegetables: Half of the plate and ideally consumed first
• Protein: One-quarter of the plate
• Carbohydrates: One-quarter of the plate

Some products — and even your own body – can serve as a portion guide.

“There is dinnerware available that can help regulate portions,” Ali says. “Your hands are also a rough guide to portions.”

What fits in the palm of your hand is often an approximate portion size, Ali says.

Ali says you can ask for half of a portion or box half of a meal before eating when dining out.

Eat foods that make you feel full longer

A 2015 review indicated that foods high in fiber and protein were satisfying.

Dr. Christopher McGowan, who is triple board certified in internal medicine, obesity medicine, and gastroenterology, says these foods should be a priority, especially after ceasing the use of a GLP-1 drug.

“GLP-1 medications work by curbing appetite through the brain and slowing stomach emptying, leading to prolonged fullness,” says McGowan, who is also the co-founder of True You Weight Loss. “After stopping a GLP-1 medication, the stomach will rapidly return to its baseline emptying rate, meaning you will feel less satisfied after meals. This sudden feeling of rapid emptying and reduced satiety can be counteracted by focusing on satiating, slow-to-digest foods.”

Additionally, Glickman notes that fiber can help regulate blood sugar, helping to suppress appetite and keep insulin levels in check.

McGowan suggests foods like:

• Lean meats
• Beans
• Legumes
• Grains
• Vegetables

Avoid highly processed, high-sugar foods foods

The quality of food also matters. 

“Avoid foods high in sugar and carbohydrates that cause spikes in insulin,” Glickman says. “Elevated insulin thwarts weight loss and can cause a ‘crash,’ prompting the search for more food high in sugar and carbs.”

Think ahead

Processed foods often have longer shelf lives, fewer storage requirements, and are generally more convenient.

Glickman says having nourishing, satisfying foods, like ready-to-eat fruits and veggies, within reach can counteract the desire to opt for highly processed, sugary foods when you’re hungry.

“Keep the fridge stocked with well-rounded meals — investing, at times, in premade meals through a delivery service,” Glickman says. “Ideally, this helps reduce grazing/snacking in between meals and on the aforementioned processed foods.”

A 2017 study suggested that people who engaged in meal planning had improved diet variety and quality and body weight.

Eat slowly and mindfully

Making time for meals — and eating with intention — might also help with satisfaction.

“Eat mindfully with awareness and intention,” Ali says. “Savor the texture, smell, and taste of food. This may allow your body to be satisfied with less food.”

Mindful eating also slows down the process of food consumption, which could be to a person’s benefit.

“Often, people continue to eat beyond when they are full because they have not allowed enough time for the receptors in the stomach to signal the brain that it is full,” Ali says. “Eating slowly gives time to sense your stomach is full.”

Exercise 

Diet and exercise are two lifestyle pillars of weight management. The two might be intertwined, too. 

“Exercise sends natural signals that may counteract extreme hunger,” Ali says. “The goal with exercise is being consistent.”

Ali recommends shooting for 30 minutes of physical activity daily, five days a week. That puts people at 150 minutes per week.

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. McGowan agrees that exercise is essential and adds that resistance training is also beneficial, which the AHA suggests doing at least twice weekly.

Research from 2023 indicated that people who exercised regularly had better appetite sensitivity, which could assist with long-term caloric intake. 

A 2022 animal study that involved putting mice on treadmills suggested that strenuous exercise could reduce hunger, at least for a couple of hours post-workout. 

Find support

While lifestyle modifications and self-help might assist people in managing extreme hunger, you might need or want more support. 

“Working with a professional, registered dietitian, including weight monitoring, can be critical,” says Dr. Seth Kipnis, the medical director of bariatric and robotic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Additionally, Kipnis notes that the National Institutes of Health website has a wealth of information related to weight management people might find useful. He also notes that it’s important to keep in touch with your medical team to rule out any other underlying conditions that might be contributing to extreme hunger (and following treatment plans for any conditions you have).

Takeaway

When people stop taking GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound, they often experience feelings of extreme hunger, which can be challenging to manage and can contribute to weight gain.

However, health experts say there are strategies that can help reduce extreme hunger and maintain weight after quitting a GLP-1 drug.

These include regular exercise, portion control, and eating in a slow, intentional manner.

• About 1.5 million Americans live with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• Talisa King is sharing her journey to receiving an RA diagnosis, proper treatment, and finding effective pain relief.
• King helps others navigate RA by volunteering with the Arthritis Foundation.

On April Fool’s Day 2012, then 31-year-old Talisa King hit rock bottom with symptoms she had been experiencing for a few years.

While working the night shift at a youth detention center, she suddenly could not move the entire left side of her body.

“I immediately notified my co-worker who was working with me, and we were able to call medical, and of course, the first thing they thought is that I was having a stroke,” King told Healthline.

However, when she went to the emergency room, doctors determined she was not experiencing a stroke. Because her condition was complicated, she stayed in the hospital for six weeks undergoing various tests that ruled out neurological conditions and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

“I was released to physical therapy and to do occupational therapy and to go to a series of neurologists who basically diagnosed me with something different every week and flooded my system with medicine because they were treating me for different conditions I didn’t have,” said King.

She finally met with a rheumatologist who diagnosed her with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, a subtype of RA that is not detected in typical blood tests used to diagnose the condition.

“It can be difficult to determine the type of arthritis by the description of the pain, and many forms of arthritis have similar symptoms,” Dr. Diane Horowitz, director of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Center at Northwell Health, told Healthline.

After a year-and-a-half of having difficulty tying her shoes, cutting her food, and walking on her own, King was relieved to receive an official diagnosis.

She is one of the nearly 1.5 million Americans who live with RA.

How an RA diagnosis led to pain relief

King’s doctor started her on aggressive treatment to control inflammation. However, she still had to go through various forms of treatment, including taking NSAIDs and biologics, before finding one that brought her relief.

“[Keep] in mind that any damage that is done by rheumatoid arthritis is permanent once it becomes any level of erosion, so you have to figure I had lost a year-and-a-half to almost two years of having issues with swelling and erosion on different pieces and parts of my body,” King said.

Managing pain is a constant challenge too.

“One common misunderstanding is that the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis is solely due to joint damage or very active disease,” Dr. M. Elaine Husni, vice chair of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases and director of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Center at Cleveland Clinic, told Healthline.

She said that in addition to joint damage, RA pain can come from soft tissue injury around the joint, such as tendinitis or bursitis, or mechanical wear and tear from cartilage loss, known as osteoarthritis (OA).

“You may need additional treatment for soft tissue condition or OA to your RA treatment to best manage pain,” said Husni.

RA pain may also come from central sensitization, where pain can stem from abnormal processing of pain pathways from the brain.

“So there may not be any actual joint damage but still joint pain. This could be chronic pain or fibromyalgia,” Husni said.

To add to the complications of managing RA pain, arthritis pain is variable, fluctuating with disease activity, stress levels, and even weather changes.

“The complexity of pain in RA includes both nociceptive and neuropathic components, making it a multifaceted experience that requires comprehensive management beyond just treating joint inflammation in some cases,” said Husni.

This is also the case for King.

While most people begin experiencing pain at the onset of the RA, she didn’t have pain initially but graduated into pain over time.

“Once the pain kicked in, it was definitely there,” she said.

She journals to keep track of which parts of her body are in pain and also writes down the foods she eats.

“In your mind, you’re having a rough day, but over time, you may realize you feel that way when you eat a lot of gluten,” said King. “Triggers are something to really keep track of.”

The challenges of consistently managing pain while living with RA

Pain from rheumatoid arthritis can be intermittent and can occur at any time.

“This can be very unsettling for people and can add an element of unpredictability to their life,” said Horowitz.

King manages her pain day by day and sometimes hour by hour.

“At this moment, I’m doing okay, but in an hour, I could get up or lay down and be in a different space,” she said.

RA and other forms of inflammatory arthritis are often considered “invisible diseases” because the debilitating pain and fatigue that people experience may not be apparent to others, including healthcare providers.

“When the manifestations of a disease are not overtly apparent, it can be difficult for others to understand the pain a patient may feel,” said Horowitz.

The invisibility can lead to underestimation of the severity of the disease, delays in diagnosis, and inadequate pain management.

“Patients may face skepticism about the legitimacy of their pain, especially when there is a lack of visible joint deformity or radiographic evidence in the early stages of the disease,” Husni said. “Moreover, societal stigma associated with chronic pain conditions can lead to patients feeling dismissed or misunderstood, further complicating their journey to receive appropriate care.”

King has experienced this firsthand and noted that hospitals may treat people with RA like they are drug-seeking, excessively trying to fill medications.

“You have to be diligent and advocate for what you think you need…if you feel like your level [of pain] is higher than what they’re giving you [medication for], let them know what worked for you in the past…but if you are not careful, some doctors will consider it med seeking,” she said.

Standing up for others with RA

When King was first diagnosed with RA, she reached out to the Arthritis Foundation for support and asked for guidance on how to become a resource to others in her community.

“I never want anybody to go through the things I went through when I was initially diagnosed,” said King. “Not having resources in the area, not having peers who I could connect with or people who I could talk to who understood what the condition was, and the ins and outs of it.”

After becoming trained by the Foundation, she became chair of the Buffalo Walk to Cure Arthritis, an event that she started in 2018. She also speaks at the Foundation’s Pathway Conference, leads webinars, and is the facilitator of the African American Connect Group.

She recently took part in a Foundation initiative that invited people living with arthritis to share words or mantras that inspire their lives. (King chose “grace.”) The words were made into bracelets that the Arthritis Foundation will distribute to more than 50 markets in the U.S. and give out free of charge throughout September in cities like Atlanta, New York City, Phoenix, and D.C.

“Whatever I can do to continue to share the message because it’s a form of therapy for me as well, just knowing my story can help somebody else who is having a rough time and doesn’t know how to get started with navigating their condition,” said King.

• CDC guidelines for the 2024–25 flu season recommend the flu shot for all individuals ages 6 months and older, with rare exceptions.
• The recommendations include two key updates: a return to trivalent flu vaccines and high dose vaccines for adults receiving organ transplants.
• Infectious disease experts recommend getting both your flu shot and updated COVID-19 shot simultaneously, ideally from late September through October.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2024–25 influenza season guidelines recommend the annual flu shot for all individuals ages 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. 

The recommendations highlight two key updates: 

• After more than a decade of quadrivalent formulations, this year’s flu shot is a trivalent vaccine that does not include an Influenza B/Yamagata component. The trivalent vaccine will target three flu strains: two influenza A viruses — H1N1 and H3N2 — and an influenza B/victoria virus. The B/Yamagata lineage has not been detected globally since March 2020, which suggests it may have been eliminated. 
• Flu shots for adult solid organ transplant recipients ages 18–64 on immunosuppressive medications will include HD-IIV3 (trivalent high dose inactivated influenza vaccine) and allV3 (trivalent adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine). These high dose vaccines help boost immune response in older adults.

Infectious disease experts say the optimal time to receive both the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccine is late September and during October. 

This gives both vaccines their best chance to protect during the winter months, according to William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases in the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Healthline spoke with Schaffner to learn more about the upcoming flu season and why it’s important to get vaccinated against respiratory illnesses like influenza and COVID-19.

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

Why are flu shots trivalent this year?

Schaffner: Flu vaccines in recent years have protected against four different strains of the influenza virus: two influenza A strains and two influenza B strains. We always do that because although there’s a dominant strain, numerous strains are usually circulating. 

This year, the influenza vaccine will protect against three strains because one of the B strains has disappeared from the world and has not been detected in two years, so there’s no need to include it in the vaccine anymore. That’s a good thing.

How bad will the flu season be this year?

Schaffner: We can all hope for a very mild influenza season, but it’s very hazardous to predict the severity of the upcoming flu season. It’s much easier after the flu season to go back and say how severe it was. 

We can look to the Southern Hemisphere — where they have their winter during our summer — but what happens there is not always predictive of what will happen here. 

We have included the strains that were active in the Southern Hemisphere this summer in our flu vaccine, and at the moment, it looks as though we have a very good match between what’s in our flu vaccine and what we anticipate the dominant strains will be.

Can you get your flu shot and COVID shot at the same time? 

Schaffner: Yes, you have to get both shots, whether in the same arm or the other arm, because the flu vaccine won’t protect against COVID-19, and the COVID vaccine will not protect against the flu. 

The recommendations for both vaccines are identical (6 months and older). Both of these vaccines are very important — and that goes for anyone who’s eligible.

Are you concerned about vaccine hesitancy as students return to school?

Schaffner: I’m always concerned about that because familiarity breeds, if not contempt, a certain nonchalance, and so we have come to accept and live with the annual influenza virus outbreaks.

Those of us in infectious diseases and public health take flu very seriously because we know that this nasty family of viruses can take a normal, healthy young person and put them in the emergency room in the hospital. Within 48 hours, every major hospital in the country sees this sort of thing happening every year. 

Yes, most flu in children is mild, and they get over it very easily.  But on occasion, a normal, healthy child can be made morbidly, gravely ill. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) agree 100% with the CDC that children should be vaccinated, and that goes along with adolescents and young and middle-aged adults. 

Why is it important for people to receive the flu vaccine?

Schaffner: Getting vaccinated against the flu is the most comfortable and reassuring thing you can do to protect yourself against severe disease, but you also protect your family and your community.

Older persons, frail persons, people with underlying chronic medical conditions, and people who are immunocompromised are at the greatest risk for severe disease from the flu. 

The flu vaccine is best at preventing severe disease and has some impact on reducing transmission. So if you get the flu vaccine, you will provide some modicum of protection to those around you.

For those who are immune compromised who can’t respond to the vaccine very well because their immune system doesn’t work as well, the best way we can protect them is for everybody else around them to be protected, providing a kind of a cocoon of protection for those who are among the most fragile in our communities. 

Takeaway

The CDC’s recommendations for the 2024–25 flu season include two key updates: a return to trivalent flu shots and high dose vaccines for adults receiving organ transplants.

To protect themselves during the winter months, everyone ages 6 months and older should get their flu and COVID shots, ideally at the same time and before the end of October.

Getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 helps prevent severe illness, even in young, healthy individuals.

With kids getting back into the classroom, now is a good time for parents to familiarise themselves with some of the common illnesses that could disrupt children’s studies or even cause more serious illness during the colder months. This blog …

With kids getting back into the classroom, now is a good time for parents to familiarise themselves with some of the common illnesses that could disrupt children’s studies or even cause more serious illness during the colder months. This blog …

• Researchers report that people with coronary artery disease can reduce their risk of heart attack by 44% by quitting smoking.
• The risk for people with this condition increases by 8% for every year they continue to smoke.
• People who only reduce the amount they smoke don’t lower their risk when compared to people who continue to smoke, researchers say.
• Experts advise people both with and without coronary artery disease to stop smoking as soon as possible.

Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of a heart attack for those diagnosed with coronary artery disease, according to a new study.

However, researchers report that simply cutting back on smoking doesn’t appear to do much to lower the risk.

In addition, people who have never smoked still have a lower overall risk of a major cardiovascular event than a person who has quit smoking, even if that person has stopped tobacco use for years.

These findings were presented on August 29 in London at the ESC Congress 2024, the annual meeting of the European
Society of Cardiology.

Although the research has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, experts say it sends an important and strong message.

“This analysis reinforces what has been known from previous smaller studies in years past: there is no safe level of cigarette smoking,” said Richard Wright, MD, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

“The noxious components of smoke immediately lead to a chain of noxious events, and whether one
smokes a quarter-pack or two packs of cigarettes is irrelevant with regards to the increase in cardiac
risk. This enhanced risk also extends to those exposed to second-hand smoke,” Wright told Healthline.

Smoking and heart attack risk

In their study, researchers assessed data from the international CLARIFY registry, a databank that has
been used in past cardiovascular research.

The researchers examined 32,378 people with coronary artery disease. The participants were studied at an average of about six years after their disease diagnosis.

Among the participants at the start of the study:

• 41% had never smoked
• 46% were former smokers
• 12% were current smokers

Among the former smokers who were smoking at the time of their coronary artery disease diagnosis:

• 73% had discontinued smoking within a year of their diagnosis
• 27% quit in subsequent years

Researchers reported that people who quit smoking after their diagnosis saw an overall reduction of 44% in the risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event, regardless of when they stopped tobacco use.

The researchers noted, however, that the risk of a heart attack or other cardiovascular event increased by 8% for each additional year of active smoking.

They pointed out that study participants who reduced the amount they smoked didn’t have a significantly lower risk than participants who continued to use tobacco.

They added that the former smokers “never achieved the cardiovascular risk level of patients who never smoked, even after years of smoking cessation.”

“I like to tell my patients that it is never too soon or too late to stop smoking, though the sooner a patient stops, the better to lower cardiovascular risk,” study author Jules Mesnier, MD, a cardiologist at the Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard in Paris, in a statement.

“And it is not enough to reduce smoking. Short, clear-cut messages are needed for smokers at every medical intervention highlighting the need to quit,” Mesnier continued.

How smoking affects cardiovascular health

Robert Page, PharmD, professor of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and member of the Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use Committee of the American Heart Association’s Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health, said the information contained in the new study is powerful. Page was not involved in the study.

“What is quite compelling is that even after quitting smoking, patients did not return to their prior baseline cardiovascular risk status before they began smoking,” he told Healthline. 

“While this study was based on registry data, I want to point out that this is only an association and not direct causation; however, with the amount of robust data on the [cardiovascular] effects of smoking and consistent biological plausibility, these data are quite powerful, especially when educating patients,” Page continued.

Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in California, agreed with the strong message of the research. Chen wasn’t involved in the study.

“This study found that quitting smoking, and not just cutting down on smoking, can reduce the risk of a major cardiovascular event by half. This is consistent with our current understanding and recommendations to completely quit smoking rather than cutting down, in order to gain the most health benefits. However, cutting down on smoking can potentially be useful if it puts someone on the path to eventually quit,” Chen told Healthline.

“Our advice is very clear to people with coronary artery disease who smoke: quitting smoking is essential to minimize the risk of a future cardiovascular event, and can potentially be life-saving,” he added.

Jayne Morgan, MD, a cardiologist and vice president of medical affairs at Hello Heart, who is not involved in the study but is attending the ESC conference, said smoking can produce a number of health issues for people with coronary artery disease.

“Smoking damages the endothelial lining of the coronary arteries in an irreversible fashion. This sets a
person up for the development of atherosclerosis. which can then lead to a heart attack and heart
failure,” Morgan told Healthline.

“Additionally, smoking further accelerates the development of atherosclerosis where it is already present, further narrowing the coronary arteries and reducing blood flow and critical oxygen supply to the heart,” she said.

“Moreover, smoking increases levels of certain blood clotting factors further complicating the picture and putting the patient at risk of a cardiovascular event,” Morgan added. 

“And then when you just think about nicotine itself, which causes vasoconstriction or tightening of the coronary arteries further reducing blood flow that may already be reduced by atherosclerosis. Then we must consider that inflammatory response of the body to smoking, including the coronary arteries,” Morgan continued.

Health dangers of smoking

Page said the dangers of smoking extend far beyond people with coronary artery disease.

“Active smoking and secondhand smoke exposure determine over 30% of coronary heart disease deaths,” he explained.

“While the exact mechanisms of cardiovascular damages are not well known, the detrimental effect of smoking on endothelial function has long been recognized. Smoking elicits oxidative processes, negatively affects platelet function, fibrinolysis, inflammation and vasomotor function. All of these accelerate early onset ASCVD disease. Thus, I tell patients, ‘Why even start smoking?,’ he added.

Page said he tries to hammer home this message in particular to young adults and teens.

“I have found that teens and young adults believe they are invincible and that ‘this won’t happen to me’ or ‘I just smoke socially.’ These are urban myths and completely false assumptions based on these data,” he said.

Morgan said the health dangers from tobacco use can be particularly acute for women.

“If you are a female, the coronary arteries are generally smaller and these effects of smoking (cardiac events, i.e. heart attacks) may therefore become evident sooner with earlier cardiac events,” she said.

“If you are in perimenopause or menopause (generally 35 to 60 years of age), you may be at particularly high risk. Further, if you have other risk factors that put your body at risk of chronic inflammation, such as obesity and diabetes — even more of a reason to quit smoking,” Morgan noted.

Strategies to quit smoking

Mesnier said measures to promote smoking cessation should include advice, counseling, behavioral interventions, and pharmacological therapy when necessary. Talking with a healthcare professional can be an important step to quit smoking.

Page noted that smokers, as well as medical professionals, must acknowledge how difficult it can be to quit this unhealthy habit.

“It is hard to believe that after more than a half century of research, people continue to smoke, which speaks to the great addiction potential of cigarettes,” he said. “It is important to note that patients have to want to quit, and having them tell you directly a specific quit date is essential.”

Morgan has straightforward advice for people who don’t smoke: “Don’t start. If you have started, there is no better time than now to quit,” she said.

Wright also has some direct advice: “The message is simple. Don’t take up smoking, especially if you are known to have coronary disease,” he said. 

“If you do smoke, quit. Now. You will benefit by next month. In about a decade, that excess risk will evaporate — but only if abstention from cigarette smoke is complete,” Wright concluded.

Takeaway

In a new study, researchers say people with coronary artery disease who stop smoking can lower their risk of heart attack or other major cardiovascular event by 44%, no matter when they quit tobacco use.

However, researchers noted that the risk increases by 8% for every year a person with coronary artery disease continues to stop. They added that people with this condition who reduce the amount they smoke don’t appear to have a lower risk than people who continue to smoke.

Experts say the sooner anyone quits smoking the healthier they will be.

• Real Housewives of Orange County‘s Vicki Gunvalson recently opened up about a health scare she experienced.
• What she initially thought was a stroke turned out to be pneumonia and sepsis.
• Sepsis is a potentially fatal overreaction of the immune system to an infection.
• The businesswoman said she was given a 10% to 20% chance of survival.
• She is now recovering but still dealing with low energy.

Real Housewives of Orange County’s Vicki Gunvalson spoke recently about a health scare that she went through earlier this month.

On an episode of My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast, she shakily told host Christian Gray Snow that she had nearly died.

The reality star explained that she was having her boyfriend Michael Smith join her because she had experienced amnesia and couldn’t remember all of the events that had occurred.

“Michael’s going to come in when I get blank,” she said.

Gunvalson then went on to relate how she had gotten her hair done and then went to the office on the day that it happened.

When she arrived at the office, Smith’s daughter Olivia, who worked there, was the first to notice something wasn’t right, she said.

She told the businesswoman that she was “speaking gibberish” and that an email she was typing didn’t make sense.

Luckily for Gunvalson, the client she was meeting with, who happened to be an emergency room doctor, suggested that she might be having a stroke, prompting her boyfriend’s daughter to take her to the hospital.

“And so, really, from that point on, I don’t recall much,” she said, breaking into tears.

She went on to reveal that the hospital “misdiagnosed” her with a sinus infection and released her that night.

Taking over, Smith told Snow that about three weeks earlier, Gunvalson had gotten on antibiotics to treat a sinus infection that was taking longer than usual to go away.

Smith then discussed coming home and finding the star “passed out” in the bathtub, after which he put her in bed to allow her to rest.

When he woke her “about 13-14 hours later,” Smith said she was “so discombobulated” that he was afraid she was having a stroke.

This led to a quick trip to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis and was given what Gunvalson recalled as a “10% to 20% [chance] of survival.”

After hospitalization and treatment with multiple antibiotics and steroids, Gunvalson is now home. However, she said that she is still low on energy. “I’m having a hard time getting it up. So that’s my biggest thing,” she said. 

What is sepsis?

Dr. Steve R. Fallek, who is a board-certified plastic surgeon and Medical Advisor to the Maskad and Revivv brands, explained that sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when an infection causes widespread inflammation.

“This inflammation can trigger a cascade of changes that damage multiple organ systems, leading them to fail, sometimes resulting in death,” he explained.

Fallek added that any type of infection — whether it’s bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic — can potentially lead to sepsis.

If a person is experiencing sepsis, the symptoms can vary, he said, but generally, people will have a combination of the following:

• High fever or very low body temperature
• Rapid heart rate
• Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Confusion or disorientation
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Clammy or sweaty skin

How can sepsis happen?

“Sepsis can happen when an infection that is not properly managed spreads into the bloodstream or throughout the body,” said Fallek.

“This triggers an immune response that, instead of only attacking the infection, also damages healthy tissues and organs,” he said.

Among the conditions that can cause sepsis are pneumonia, urinary tract infections, abdominal infections, and blood infections.

Having a weakened immune system, chronic illnesses, recent surgery, or hospitalization, particularly in intensive care units, can also set the stage for sepsis to occur, according to Fallek.

Dr. John C. Lowe, a physician with Restore Care, described sepsis as being caused by “the hyperactivity of the immune system.”

“The molecules are put in the blood to suppress the infection but in most victims, this leads to too much irritation,” he explained.

When this occurs, people can experience localized blood clotting, increased permeability of the blood vessels, low blood pressure, fluid accumulation in the tissues, and poor blood flow to the brain and organs.

“If the events are not rapidly intervened, they may culminate in dysfunction of more organs, development of septic shock and eventual death,” said Lowe.

What should you do if you suspect you have sepsis?

Lowe said that sepsis is an emergency, which means that every minute counts.

“In case you think you have sepsis or someone else has it, then do not wait and consult the physician,” he said.

Lowe further explained that treatments for sepsis, such as antibiotics and intravenous fluids, are only effective if administered quickly.

“In case there is a persistent rapid heart rate with confusion, breathlessness, or other features of sepsis, do not hesitate—either call out for an ambulance or rush to the hospital,” he advised.

“This is the kind of state where every second can count for life or death,” Lowe concluded.

Takeaway

Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson recently spoke on My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast about a close brush with death that she experienced a few weeks prior.

The reality star, who was being treated for a sinus infection, thought she was having a stroke, but it turned out that she had pneumonia and sepsis.

Sepsis is an overreaction of the immune system to a bad infection. If not treated quickly, it can cause people to go into septic shock and die.

If you are ever experiencing symptoms of sepsis — such as rapid heart rate, confusion, and breathlessness — experts say you shouldn’t hesitate to seek out emergency medical care.