Rising Polio Cases Highlight the Need for Urgent Action on World Polio Day On World Polio Day, UNICEF and other international NGOs like Save the Children have raised alarms about the alarming state of polio among children in fragile and conflict-affected countries. In 2023, a staggering 85% of the 541 children affected by polio globally […]
UNICEF Warns: 85% of Children Affected by Polio Live in Conflict Zones Read More »
According to a study published on October 24, 2024, in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the type 2 diabetes and weight loss drug semaglutide (sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) may reduce people’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Those people who were using semaglutide had a lower risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease than those using other diabetes drugs.
The Alzheimer’s Association states that Alzheimer’s is a common type of dementia, accounting for around 60% to 80% of all dementia cases.
People with this disease experience memory loss and cognitive decline that is severe enough to interfere with their day-to-day life.
It is incurable and becomes progressively worse over time.
The team of Case Western Reserve researchers examined three years of medical records for over 1 million people living with type 2 diabetes in the United States.
Study participants had to be new users of antidiabetic medications, defined as not using these medications within the past 6 months.
Six different populations were identified who had never been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s: all patients, people ages 60 and above, women, men, patients with obesity, and patients without obesity.
For each of these groups, they conducted seven target trials comparing semaglutide with insulins, metformin, dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, and other GLP-1RAs (albiglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide).
Their methodology involved using target trial emulation, a type of study that aims to mimic a randomized controlled trial (RCT) but uses existing data rather than recruiting new participants and studying how the intervention affects their outcomes.
RCTs are considered to be the gold standard for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drug treatments for diseases. However, sometimes, observational studies are conducted instead due to constraints like time, money, or ethical considerations.
A target trial emulation is meant to produce an observational study with better-quality data that is closer to an RCT.
When they analyzed the data, they found that semaglutide use was associated with 40% to 70% less risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in patients with type 2 diabetes. This was in comparison with the seven other similar diabetes drugs.
Results were consistent even when people’s obesity status, biological sex, and age were considered.
However, the study authors did note that the limitations of their study did not allow them to say for certain that semaglutide was responsible for this effect. Further studies are needed to confirm that semaglutide really does protect against Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Ramit Singh Sambyal, a General Physician associated with ClinicSpots who was not involved in the study, explained that semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs).
These drugs work by mimicking the action of the hormone GLP-1; this helps regulate insulin and blood sugar levels.
“Semaglutide has been found to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, which are crucial because inflammation and insulin resistance are both heavily involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.
Sambyal went on to explain that people with type 2 diabetes are up to 50% to 100% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s when compared with those without diabetes.
“Brain insulin resistance is an emerging factor in Alzheimer’s research,” he continued, “sometimes leading to the condition being dubbed ‘type 3 diabetes‘ due to the metabolic dysfunctions observed in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.”
Dr. John Lowe, a Physician at Restore Care who was not involved in the study, spoke about another way that semaglutide might be able to protect the brain. “They [GLP-1 drugs] can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and might aid in the clearance of amyloid-beta, which is a characteristic feature of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said.
Amyloid-beta peptide, also known as beta-amyloid, is a “sticky” substance that can build up in the brain—perhaps due to problems with its production, accumulation, or disposal—leading to the formation of plaques that can disrupt brain cell communication and eventually kill the cells.
“This two-pronged approach—especially the potential for metabolic health and brain health improvement—suggests semaglutide may be the answer for how to lower the risk for the development of Alzheimer’s in diabetic patients,” said Lowe.
According to a new study, the type 2 diabetes and weight loss drug semaglutide might also have applications in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
This progressive and incurable form of dementia has been referred to as “type 3 diabetes” due to the insulin and inflammation that type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s appear to have in common.
Semaglutide can improve insulin resistance and inflammation.
It might also be able to clear amyloid-beta, the damaging substance that is thought to cause Alzheimer’s, from the brain.
However, more research is needed to confirm whether semaglutide can truly protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
Ozempic Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk in People with Type 2 Diabetes Read More »
For the first time in more than 10 years, the Biden-Harris administration has proposed a rule aiming to significantly expand contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
The rule would provide access to over-the-counter birth control pills and other contraceptives to 52 million women in the United States with private health insurance at no cost, the White House announced on October 21.
The proposal from the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury would build on the ACA mandate requiring private health insurers to cover contraception as preventive care without cost-sharing.
This means for the first time, females of reproductive age could obtain OTC contraceptives without a prescription at no additional cost, such as emergency contraception and Opill, the first FDA-approved OTC birth control pill that recently became widely available across the U.S.
If finalized, the rule is expected to go into effect sometime in 2025. It would be the largest expansion of contraceptive coverage under the ACA since 2012.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Biden-Harris administration has remained committed to reproductive rights by strengthening contraception access and affordability under the ACA through Medicare and Medicaid, the White House said.
While most people with health insurance can already obtain free birth control, the addition of OTC birth control at no additional cost could further improve access.
“When someone needs to get their birth control pills over the counter, it should be covered by health insurance,” said Sarah W. Prager, MD, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
“People need to access over-the-counter contraception for lots of reasons, including traveling and forgetting to bring pills, running out of the prescription, and needing to stay covered until getting in to see a provider. Extending health insurance to birth control pills that are obtained over the counter just makes sense,” Prager told Healthline.
Opill, the only daily birth control pill from drug manufacturer Perrigo, is approved for use without a prescription by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Under the Biden-Harris administration’s proposed rule, OTC contraceptives like Opill would be covered without cost-sharing.
Other methods of birth control, such as sponges, condoms, and spermicides would be covered under the new rule, as well as some contraceptive devices, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs). Emergency contraceptives like Plan B, the morning-after pill, would also be provided at no additional cost.
With reproductive rights at the forefront of the 2024 presidential election, access to effective and affordable contraceptives has never been more important.
Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, double board certified OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist and director of Perinatal Services/Maternal Fetal Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, agreed OTC birth control is key for preventing unintended pregnancies.
“Easier access reduces the likelihood of unintended pregnancies, which can have significant economic, social, and emotional consequences for women and their families,” Gaither told Healthline.
“Allowing OTC birth control enhances [a person’s] autonomy — [they have] more control over their reproductive health without requiring consultation with a healthcare provider,” she added.
Gaither listed other ways OTC birth control is an essential aspect of preventive care:
The Biden-Harris administration proposed a new rule on October 21 that would significantly expand coverage for contraceptives, including OTC birth control and emergency contraception. With reproductive rights at the core of the 2024 presidential race, access to effective and affordable contraceptives has never been more crucial.
Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Insurance Coverage for OTC Birth Control Read More »
Discover the Top Foods to Enhance Your Cognitive Performance and Memory Maintaining sharp focus and cognitive function is essential in today’s fast-paced world. Luckily, certain brain foods can significantly enhance focus factors, improve memory, and boost overall brain health. Whether you’re looking for the best brain food for memory or supplements to elevate cognitive function,
10 Brain-Boosting Superfoods That Sharpen Focus Like Never Before Read More »
High-intensity exercise appears to play an important role in mitigating feelings of hunger, according to a new small study. Those findings were even more prominent among females.
The research, published online on October 24 in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, investigates the complex relationship between exercise, the hormone ghrelin, and perceived hunger.
Ghrelin is popularly known as “the hunger hormone,” due to its ability to stimulate appetite. Researchers also sought to fill in gaps in the literature, specifically related to sex. While there is plenty of research available on exercise and appetite, the study authors note that little of it involves females.
Additionally, prior studies have typically utilized only one form of ghrelin, known as acylated ghrelin (AG), but this latest research offers a more complete picture by including a second form, deacylated ghrelin (DAG).
“The key take-home message from the study is that exercise, particularly at a higher intensity, suppresses total, acylated, and unacylated ghrelin, and this effect appears to be more pronounced in women than men,” Alice Thackray, PhD, a senior research associate in exercise metabolism at Loughborough University who wasn’t affiliated with the research, told Healthline.
Both Thackray and the study authors acknowledge there is still much more to learn about the effects of exercise on appetite, but the study helps to confirm prior findings across sex and hint at a potential mechanism.
Your body is constantly burning calories, even when at rest. When you exercise, your body’s energy requirements ramp up too, burning more calories, which can make you feel hungry. But that isn’t always the case.
Unintuitive though it may seem, exercise can also suppress hunger. The exact reasons for this aren’t entirely certain, but researchers have homed in on the impact of exercise on circulating ghrelin.
In their study, researchers investigated this relationship utilizing 14 adults — eight of them male and six female. The participants were younger adults; the average age for men was 43 years old and 32 years old for women. Participants were not overweight, with both groups having an average body mass index (BMI) of about 22.
Each participant had three randomized visits of exercise. During their visit the participant would take part in no exercise, moderate exercise, or high intensity exercise.
Baseline and post-exercise measurements were taken for AG, DAG, total ghrelin, and lactate. Lactate is a metabolic byproduct that builds up during exercise and serves as a biological marker of muscle fatigue.
Participants also had to answer questions about their appetite, fullness, and desire to eat to create a composite score of perceived hunger.
In both groups, high-intensity exercise suppressed DAG, but women, whose baseline ghrelin was already higher than men, showed a dramatic drop in AG.
“The decrease in acetylated ghrelin after high intensity was really driven by the female group,” Kara Anderson, PhD, first author of the study and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, told Healthline.
However, decreased ghrelin levels didn’t clearly correlate with a similar drop in perceived hunger for either group.
“The hunger scores in response to exercise are pretty similar between men and women. So, there’s still a lot of research to be done, but this does suggest that males and females may respond to exercise differently, especially considering their ghrelin levels,” said Anderson.
The impact of exercise on hunger and ghrelin levels varied across exercise intensity. High-intensity exercise had the most significant effect on ghrelin across males and females. However, perceived hunger told a different story.
For females, both high-intensity and moderate-intensity exercise resulted in nearly identical hunger scores, both of which were higher than the control (no exercise). For males, high-intensity exercise resulted in diminished perceived hunger compared to the control, while moderate exercise resulted in increased hunger.
But the most important aspect of high-intensity exercise may have to do with lactate, which the authors theorize could be involved in “exercise-induced ghrelin suppression.”
Essentially, when you exercise, your body builds up lactate as a byproduct. When your body produces lactate faster than it can be used aerobically, your body has crossed what’s known as the lactate threshold.
To cross the lactate threshold, you have to be engaged in high-intensity exercise. And it may be the presence of lactate from crossing that threshold that is key for mitigating hunger.
“The exercise-induced changes in ghrelin were observed alongside increases in lactate which has been proposed previously as a potential mechanism for ghrelin suppression with exercise,” Thackray said.
“We need more research to support the mechanisms involved in exercise-related appetite responses, including how exercise influences appetite regulation within the brain,” she noted.
Exercise has a complex relationship with appetite that can both stimulate and suppress hunger.
New research indicates that both exercise intensity and sex are factors for the effects of exercise on appetite.
In their study, researchers from the University of Virginia found that high-intensity exercise resulted in significantly diminished levels of ghrelin, popularly known as the “hunger hormone.”
The effects were more pronounced in females compared to males. More research is needed to better understand the mechanisms involved in exercise-related appetite responses.
High-Intensity Exercise Works Like An Appetite Suppressant, Study Finds Read More »
The death of Liam Payne on October 16th is a tragic reminder of the complexities of navigating mental health and drug misuse, even for those with the resources to do so.
Payne, a singer and former member of the pop group One Direction, fell to his death from the balcony of a hotel in Argentina on October 16, 2024. He was 31 years old.
The incident is still under investigation, and police have yet to determine if the death was caused by accident or suicide.
In the months leading up to his death, Payne had apparently told those in his inner circle that he was sober.
But the scene in his hotel room told a different story, where suspected drug paraphernalia, unknown powder, and anti-anxiety medication were littered around.
According to early toxicology results, a cocktail of drugs, including “pink cocaine,” ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine, were all found in his system.
Reports indicate that an individual at the hotel had been acting erratically before the incident. Police have suggested that a drug-induced hallucination may have led to the fall, but that has not been confirmed at this time.
Nicola Payne, Liam’s sister, wrote a tribute to her brother after the news of his death.
“You led your life with a motto of why bother doing something unless you are brilliant at it, and Liam you were certainly brilliant at everything you did!! … I hope you have finally found peace up there and that you’ll continue to look after us all as you have done in life,” she wrote.
The former One Direction member had been outspoken over the years about his mental health journey and drug misuse, exacerbated by the pressures of fame and celebrity.
The singer, who was only 16 when he joined One Direction, was catapulted to fame after the group took off on the television show “The X Factor” in 2010. Payne left the band in 2015, and the group disbanded in 2016.
Payne later revealed some of his experiences with alcohol and suicidal ideation on the Diary of a CEO podcast, describing going through a “pills and booze phase” while touring with One Direction.
“Where’s rock bottom for me? And you would never have seen it. I’m very good at hiding it. No one would ever have seen it… There is some stuff that I have definitely never, never spoken about. It was really, really, really severe. And it was a problem,” he said.
He also described some of his time with the group as boring and unfulfilling, referring to getting up on stage as “putting the Disney costume on.”
Rachel Goldman, PhD, a licensed psychologist in private practice in NYC and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at New York University, told Healthline that those kinds of negative feelings are all too common.
“Mental health concerns and mental health illnesses don’t discriminate. Celebrities have a lot of pressure; they often have a different persona on stage or on camera than in real life, and that isnt easy to manage. Mental health resources need to be more readily available, accessible, encouraged, and normalized — even for celebrities,” she told Healthline.
Goldman also points out that discussing mental health is still heavily stigmatized, especially for men.
“We can do better regarding raising awareness around men’s mental health and continuing to break the stigma regarding asking for help and seeking help,” she said.
It can be difficult to identify the signs of drug misuse and emotional distress.
Payne’s story highlights how even when an individual is adamant about their sobriety, they can still relapse. But if you’re worried about someone and suspect they are struggling somehow, there are still things to look out for.
“In general, I like to ask people if they have noticed changes in mood, sleep, energy, focus/concentration, appetite, or motivation,” said Goldman.
Emotional distress can manifest in specific ways, including:
Signs of drug misuse may overlap with signs of emotional distress and include:
Drug misuse and mental health are complex issues, but Goldman suggests that beginning by validating someone’s feelings is a good place to start addressing them.
“Oftentimes, people need to know their feelings are valid and want to be heard. Many times people aren’t looking for advice or others to solve their problems (although sometimes that is what people want). Just simply listening and offering a listening ear can show that you care and you are concerned,” she said.
“Making the connection, validating their feelings, and showing that you care and are concerned is often the first step as it gives them a safe space,” added Goldman.
Liam Payne, a former member of the pop group One Direction, died on October 16 in Argentina after falling from his hotel balcony.
His death is still under investigation by police, but early reports indicate that drug use was a potential contributing factor.
Payne was outspoken about his struggles with mental health and drug misuse over the years.
Identifying the signs of drug misuse and emotional distress can be difficult. They often include changes to sleep, mood, social life, and performance at work.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the United States, call or text the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.
Liam Payne Toxicology Report Suggests ‘Pink Cocaine’ May Have Led to Death Read More »
Do you have a sweet tooth? According to Statista, many people in the U.S. do. In fact, when they surveyed Americans in 2022 and 2023, 41% said they ate sweets regularly.
However, if you consume a lot of sugary foods, research indicates that you may want to reconsider your choices.
In the October 2024 study, which was published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, the researchers found that people who favored sweets had a higher risk of depression than those who preferred healthier foods.
These individuals also had higher levels of inflammation, blood sugar, and lipids, which can indicate a risk of metabolic disease.
On the other hand, those people who had a more health-conscious eating pattern had reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, per the authors.
The researchers examined data from blood samples taken from the UK Biobank, a large database containing health and genetic information for half a million volunteers in the U.K.
The data contained information about 2,923 proteins and 168 metabolites that had been measured to look for changes.
The research team used unsupervised machine learning to look for patterns in this data, finding three distinct groups based on people’s food preferences: Health-conscious (preferring vegetables and fresh fruit to animal-based foods and sweets), Omnivore (preferring all foods), and Sweet-tooth (having a high preference for sweet foods and beverages).
Looking at the various proteins and metabolites, they found those in the sweet tooth group had higher C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation.
They also had higher blood sugar and worse lipids, elevating their risk of metabolic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
The team further found that having a preference for sweets was linked with a greater likelihood of having depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease compared with the other two groups.
On the other hand, the Health-conscious group had a reduced risk of heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and stroke; and the Omnivore group had only moderate health risks.
While they did not directly observe what people ate, the researchers noted that food preferences alone could potentially be used to predict people’s risk for metabolic diseases.
However, more research is required to confirm their findings.
Dr. Michael O. McKinney, a physician and nutritionist with Healthy Outlook, said that the risks to physical and mental health increase when we eat a lot of sugar because of how sugar affects the body’s functioning.
He said that when you consume sugar, your blood sugar rises, which in turn increases the amount of insulin produced to cope with the added sugar.
“The consumption of food items containing excessively high glucose levels in the long course can result in insulin resistance,” said McKinney, “which is a root cause of metabolic illnesses such as Type II diabetes.”
Ingesting excess sugar and carbohydrates can also lead to high levels of inflammation, he said, which is linked with heart disease, stroke, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
“Inflammation can damage the brain and impair the body’s capacity to govern emotions, increasing mental illness susceptibilities,” explained McKinney.
Dr. Ramit Singh Sambyal, an MD/General Physician associated with ClinicSpots, said that reducing your sugar consumption doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
“Small, gradual changes can make a huge difference,” he said.
The first step is becoming aware of all the places that sugar can hide.
“Many everyday foods, even ones marketed as ‘healthy,’ contain hidden sugars,” said Sambyal.
He suggests taking a closer look at labels, especially those of products like sauces, salad dressings, and flavored yogurts.
Sambyal also advised learning to look for sugar’s different names, such as glucose or maltose.
Another step in reducing your sugar consumption is to reach for whole fruits like apples and berries rather than grabbing a candy bar or other sugary snack.
“They provide natural sweetness while also offering fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar,” he said.
However, you don’t need to make any drastic changes right away.
“Start by making small adjustments — like using less sugar in your coffee or choosing whole grains over sugary cereals,” suggested Sambyal. “This makes the change more manageable and sustainable in the long term.”
Finally, he advises looking at any sugary drinks that you regularly indulge in. “Sodas, fruit juices, and energy drinks are some of the biggest sources of added sugar in our diets,” said Sambyal. “Switching to water, sparkling water, or herbal tea can make a big difference.”
While cutting out sugar can result in some temporary sugar detox symptoms, you may find that you feel better within just a few short weeks.
In fact, Sambyal mentioned that those with depression may experience changes in their well-being relatively quickly.
“Patients who reduce their sugar intake often notice improvements in their energy levels and mood,” said Sambyal. “They feel less sluggish and experience fewer mood swings.”
And, of course, in the long term, you reduce your risk of not only depression but also conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
“Reducing sugar is one of the best steps you can take for your health,” said Sambyal. “Even small changes can significantly improve your physical and mental well-being over time.”
According to a new study, having a sweet tooth may be linked with a greater risk for depression.
These people also had higher inflammation, blood sugar, and lipids, which may indicate a greater risk for metabolic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
To eat less sugar, you can start slowly by reading labels and making better choices, like having whole fruits when you crave sweetness and putting less sugar in your coffee.
Small changes will add up over time to a happier, healthier you.
Many people are familiar with the modern-day sedentary routine: you sit all day at your work computer, and then you decompress by sitting at home watching television. All that sitting has serious negative effects on health.
Excessive sitting has been linked to everything from increased risk of cardiovascular disease to early death.
Standing desks and other innovations have made standing a popular antidote to extended periods of sitting. Unfortunately, standing may not be enough to offset those risks, according to new research.
A new study published in International Journal of Epidemiology suggests that prolonged standing may not offer much in the way of health benefits and raise the risk of orthostatic circulatory disease.
Australian researchers cast doubt on the benefits of standing and underscored the necessity for daily activity to combat sedentary behavior.
“Standing, although not associated with higher risk for heart disease, was also not associated with lower risk. More time spent standing was associated with higher risk for circulatory conditions,” Matthew Ahmadi, MD, first author of the study, research fellow, and deputy director of the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub at the University of Sydney, told Healthline.
Using accelerometer data from more than 83,000 adults in the United Kingdom, researchers investigated the outcomes of sedentary behavior on cardiovascular disease and orthostatic circulatory disease outcomes.
Orthostatic circulatory disease refers to a cluster of conditions related to circulation, including orthostatic hypotension and varicose veins.
The findings were confirmatory of the risks related to sitting.
Sitting for more than 10 hours per day increased both cardiovascular and orthostatic disease risk. For every hour of sitting above 10 hours, cardiovascular disease risk increased by 15%, and orthostatic disease risk increased by 26%.
“Stationary behavior,” which includes both standing and sitting without movement, showed similar risks when performed more than 12 hours per day: for every additional hour CVD risk increased by 13% and orthostatic disease risk jumped by 22%.
Standing time was not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but was positively associated with orthostatic disease risk.
After 2 hours of standing per day, every additional 30 minutes was associated with an 11% increased risk.
“It’s not sitting or standing, it’s the lack of movement or continuous uninterrupted sedentary behavior that’s problematic and you can still do that when you’re standing. You can be sedentary while standing,” Scott Lear, PhD, a professor of health sciences and Chair in Cardiovascular Prevention Research at Simon Fraser University, told Healthline.
Despite the findings, other experts maintained that standing is still likely a better option than sitting, although the health benefits may be limited.
“For the same amount of sedentary time, standing was better than sitting,” Michael McConnell, MD, a clinical professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medicine told Healthline. “But more standing is not a panacea in that it doesn’t decrease CVD risk — you need to move for that,” he added.
Evan L. Brittain, MD, MsC, an associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, agreed that standing still has health benefits.
“I disagree with the idea that standing isn’t ever a valuable replacement for sitting. If you’ve got to be in one place and you’ve got to be stationary, then I think these data do support standing,” he told Healthline.
Although standing may not be protective against CVD or orthostatic disease risk, it was still associated with a lower risk overall than sitting.
“Less harmful is the same as being beneficial. If you’ve got to be in one place in front of your computer, then compared to sitting, standing is beneficial. That’s another way of interpreting these data,” said Brittain.
According to the CDC, about 1 in 4 Americans sit for more than 8 hours per day, and the average U.S. adult sits between 6.5 to 8 hours per day.
There’s no clear solution on how to solve the sedentary behavior problem in America, but the experts interviewed by Healthline offered a variety of strategies, including:
“To optimize cardiovascular health and lower the risk for circulatory conditions, standing should be mixed with periods spent walking or doing other forms of activity that gets the body moving. Such as taking the stairs or a short walk around the block mixed in with standing,” said Ahmadi.
A new study of more than 83,000 individuals investigated the effects of sitting and standing on cardiovascular disease risk and circulatory disease risk.
Contrary to popular belief, standing was not shown to be protective against cardiovascular disease risk. And, like sitting, extended periods of standing may increase the risk of circulatory diseases, such as varicose veins.
To offset the deleterious health effects of sedentary behavior, doctors recommend periodic exercise and activity throughout the day. This could include set periods of walking or light activity, or incorporating activity into work itself, such as through walking meetings or phone calls.
Standing More May Not Offset Effects of Sitting, Could Cause Circulatory Issues Read More »
Where you live may determine the kind of mental health care you can access.
For instance, if you’re in Vermont, you’re in good shape, but if you’re in Texas, not so much, according to Forbes Advisor Health Insurance, which analyzed seven data points to reveal the worst states for mental health care.
For the second year in a row, Texas tops the list of worst states due to having a large population of uninsured adults with mental illness and having significant barriers to mental health resources. Vermont ranks as the best.
Six of the top 10 worst states for mental health care are located in the South, whereas five of the top 10 best states for mental health care are in the Northeast.
“Research reports that mental health care is significantly influenced by a person’s beliefs and their place of residence, with urban and northern states having more positive overall mental health,” Deborah Serani, PsyD, psychologist and professor at Adelphi University, told Healthline.
Below are the top rankings, according to Forbes Advisor Health Insurance.
The disparity between the South and the Northeast underscores the need for more investment and attention to mental health infrastructure in the most underserved states, said Jason Metz, lead insurance editor at Forbes Advisor.
“It’s a positive federal policy that health insurance plans cover mental health, but the study emphasizes significant gaps still exist when it comes to regional access to care,” he told Healthline.
Texas tops the list as the worst state for mental health care for the second time in two years due to a combination of factors that create significant barriers to accessing treatment, said Metz.
“The state has a high rate of uninsured adults with mental health illness, 21.4%, the second highest in the U.S. Additionally, nearly 75% of youth with depression do not receive mental health services, and 19.4% of youth with private insurance lack coverage for mental health problems,” he told Healthline.
Financial barriers also factor into the ranking, with nearly one-third of those with a mental illness unable to afford a doctor’s visit.
“Texas has a limited mental health infrastructure, ranking the third lowest in the number of treatment centers, with only 8.4 per 10,000 businesses,” said Metz. “Overall, two-thirds (62.3%) of adults with mental illness in Texas go untreated, highlighting the state’s challenges in mental health care.”
Serani noted that socio-cultural beliefs with regard to mental health care also play a part. Statistically speaking, she said people who live in the South tend to have beliefs that seeking help for mental health suggests personal weakness and would harm their reputations.
“Clinically called public stigma and self-stigma, these assumptions prevent others from getting the help they need,” she said.
Vermont has great access to services, comprehensive insurance coverage, and strong support for mental health initiatives, said Metz.
“The state has a well-developed mental health care system, with 34 treatment centers per 10,000 businesses—only bettered by 4 states,” he said. “Vermont also has lower rates of uninsured individuals with a mental illness (6%), with more residents having health insurance that covers mental health services, reducing financial barriers to care.”
The state also has one of the lowest percentages of untreated mental illnesses (43%), demonstrating its healthcare system’s ability to meet the mental health needs of its population.
Reduced stigma around mental health may also have influence, noted Serani.
“People in the Northeast are socialized in ways that asking for help is not viewed as a vulnerability, so mental health care and treatment are accessed more,” she said.
Sarah Davis, senior managing editor at Forbes Health, said while the stigma traditionally associated with mental health conditions is beginning to dissipate, it still exists and can impact insurance coverage.
She pointed to a 2024 study in The Lancet that found structural stigma of mental health disease refers to the “inequitable deprioritization, devaluation, and othering of mental health and substance misuse health (compared with physical health)” in healthcare systems.
“The study notes an example of this as a hospital emergency department having a patient-to-nurse ratio of 3:1 for physical health patients but a 6:1 ratio for mental health patients,” Davis told Healthline.
The 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires certain health plans to provide physical and mental health benefits equally.
“[But] the National Alliance of Mental Health points out parity laws mean nothing if there are factors like inadequate provider network coverage in certain geographical areas, which you can see in our survey findings,” said Davis.
To ensure proper coverage, Metz said consider the following.
If you have a provider in mind, it’s always best to confirm it’s in-network with the plan you’re considering.
“In-network versus out-of-network providers will make a difference on how much you pay for care,” Metz said.
Health insurance costs include both your monthly premium and all of your out-of-pocket costs.
“So when comparing health insurance quotes, review all costs like copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums,” said Metz.
Many health insurance companies include prescription drug coverage, but the covered medications and your copay can vary by plan.
“If you’re already taking medication, confirm its coverage with the potential plan,” said Metz.
While treatment for mental health services is generally preferred to occur in person, Serani said the pandemic proved that virtual therapy can be effective too.
“So, if you’re homebound, live too far from mental health resources, or can’t find a mental health practitioner that has a specialty in your concerns, the option to get treatment virtually opens many more possibilities,” she said.
Some health insurance plans require a referral from a primary care provider for mental health services.
“For example, an HMO usually requires referrals for most types of specialized coverage, while a PPO and EPO do not,” said Metz.
When choosing an insurance plan for mental health care, Serani said to choose a plan with an out-of-network benefit so you can go to a specialist.
“You really want to find someone who has training in the issues with which you are struggling,” she said.
If you must stay in-network, Serani said there are ways to access expert mental health care if there isn’t a specialist in your network.
“The insurance term called a single case agreement can help you work with a trained mental health specialist that you may not be able to find in your HMO network,” she said.
Below are some of the services that the best insurance plans for mental health cover, said Metz.
Talk therapy includes specific therapy modalities like general counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. “If you’re meeting one-on-one with a therapist or psychologist, the session is typically covered by insurance, less out-of-pocket costs,” said Metz.
Inpatient hospitalization involves intensive mental health treatment, which can be voluntary or involuntary. “You stay in a hospital or facility for a short period and receive continuous care through individual and group therapy, medication management, and coping strategies,” Metz said.
Partial hospitalization includes a structured program of psychiatric treatments during the day only.
Substance misuse treatment addresses drug and alcohol addiction. “Health insurance plans may cover talk therapy, medication management, 12-step programs, or medical detox for people going through substance abuse treatment,” said Metz.
Emergency psychiatric care or crisis intervention might include self-harm or overdose treatment, however coverage varies by plan.
Medication coverage usually includes at least partial coverage of pharmaceutical treatment for mental health disorders, with some plans requiring a copay or other out-of-pocket costs for these medications.
In Serani’s book, “Living with Depression,” she included the below options for accessing mental healthcare if you don’t have insurance.
Many psychotherapists make accommodations to see children and adults at low fees or pro-bono fees.
“Check with local mental health organizations to discover which professionals offer low or no-fee sessions,” said Serani.
Frequently, university and college programs will offer psychotherapy to children and adults at low fees.
“Generally staffed by graduate students earning degrees in related psychotherapy fields, the treatment takes place in the university setting,” she said.
Consider working with an already licensed mental health expert who is pursuing a postgraduate degree in psychotherapy. Similar to university centers, they offer low-fee treatment, yet the sessions commonly occur in the therapist’s office.
“By and large, these professionals have a desire to become even more specialized in the field of psychotherapy, and they seek training programs to hone their skills,” Serani said.
There are over 1,500 free clinics in the United States, providing health services to children and adults who have no health care coverage.
“As a rule, you go through a clinic screening where your overall health is evaluated. With regard to mental health, a case manager helps you get to a therapist,” said Serani.
Reach out to nationwide non-profits such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, or Bring Change to Mind to ask for support and resources. Additionally, online services like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offer free help around the clock.
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A pill that costs less than a dollar has been called the “Ozempic for drinking” after helping people cut back on how much alcohol they consume.
This prescription medication, known as naltrexone, is used to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder by reducing cravings and feelings of euphoria associated with the use of alcohol or opioids.
Here’s what to know about naltrexone.
Naltrexone is a prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. Naltrexone can be prescribed by any health care practitioner licensed to prescribe medications.
“Of the medications that are available [to treat alcohol use disorder], naltrexone is the one with the most clinical research and evidence to support its safety and effectiveness,” said Keith Heinzerling, MD, addiction medicine specialist, and director of Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Treatment & Research in Psychedelics Program at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif.
However, “naltrexone works best in combination with significant behavioral support, internal motivation by the patient and psychosocial support,” he told Healthline.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol use disorder is a “medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational or health consequences.” Alcohol use disorder can range from mild or moderate to severe or even life threatening, said Heinzerling.
Treatment with naltrexone lasts three to four months. For alcohol use disorder, it is available in pill form or as an extended-release injection, which is given every four weeks.
Naltrexone works by binding to opioid receptors in the body. This “helps decrease cravings for alcohol,” which helps them consume less alcohol, said Natalie Klag, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.
It “also makes it easier to put the brakes on and stop drinking if there is a return to use,” she told Healthline.
Some people take naltrexone regularly to abstain from alcohol use.
Others take it in pill form an hour before drinking alcohol to reduce the risk of alcohol overuse. This is known as the Sinclair Method. When done this way consistently over several months, a person may lose the desire to drink entirely.
“Naltrexone is an incredibly safe and effective medication,” said Klag. However, “with any medications, but particularly for those used to treat any substance use disorder, the most important factor is working with a provider that you trust and who will work with you in a collaborative relationship.”
The World Health Organization recommends the use of naltrexone and acamprosate for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in adults.
Clinical studies from 2001 found that 78% of people who took naltrexone in pill form one hour before drinking were able to stop drinking altogether or drink very infrequently. This has helped people stay sober for longer periods.
In addition, “if people do return to drinking [while using naltrexone], they drink less, which can be important,” said Heinzerling, “because they might be more likely, if they have a slip-up and begin drinking, to be able to get back on track and not go into a full-blown relapse.”
Klag pointed out that naltrexone does not make you sick if you drink while taking it. “This means that if someone taking it has a return to [alcohol] use, it is helpful to continue taking naltrexone,” she said.
However, the effects of naltrexone can wear off after several hours. In addition, people who continue to drink after taking naltrexone can undo the protective effects of the medication. When that happens, people may feel the alcohol “buzz” again, which can lead to increased alcohol use.
In spite of the studies showing that naltrexone and other medications help people reduce or stop drinking, these drugs are not prescribed very often. In 2023, of the estimated 28.9 million people 12 years of age and older in the United States with alcohol-use disorder over the past year, only 554,000—or 1.9%—received medication-assisted treatment.
Heinzerling recommends that people who are looking for help to stop drinking or reduce their overall intake consider naltrexone as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
“That should also involve counseling, psychological counseling, and behavioral support,” he said.
Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and others can also help people stay sober.
“Self-help groups are not a professional treatment, but [they can] provide people with ongoing support and accountability,” said Heinzerling.
Common side effects of naltrexone may include:
Naltrexone may also cause serious side effects such as liver damage, severe reactions at the injection site, severe allergic reactions, pneumonia, or depressed mood.
Klag emphasized that while naltrexone is suitable for many people who live with alcohol use disorder, it’s not recommended for everyone.
People with existing liver impairment need to be monitored closely while taking naltrexone, she said. If their liver impairment is severe enough, they may not be able to take naltrexone.
Also, because naltrexone is an opioid blocker, it can cause problems for people who are using opioids, either prescription medicines or illegal drugs, she said. So people taking naltrexone would not be able to use opioid pain medications if they needed them for surgery or other pain.
And people with a history of depression may find that naltrexone can worsen their mood, she added.
Your cost for naltrexone will depend on your treatment plan and insurance coverage. You may also have to pay for an office visit with a doctor to receive an injection of naltrexone or a prescription for the pill form.
Optum Perks lists the cost of 30 tablets of naltrexone as low as $11.99 with a coupon from the site. This coupon can be presented to the pharmacist when filling or refilling your prescription.
The cost for a naltrexone injection is around $1,738 for a one-month supply, according to Drugs.com.
Prescription medication naltrexone is used to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. It works by reducing cravings for alcohol and the “buzz” associated with alcohol use. This can help people stop or control their alcohol use.
Naltrexone is available in pill form or as an extended-release injection, which is given every four weeks. Some people take naltrexone regularly. Others take it in pill form an hour before drinking alcohol to reduce their risk of overusing alcohol.
Naltrexone has been shown to help people reduce or stop drinking. However, doctors recommend that it be used in combination with behavior support and psychosocial support programs. This may include support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Why Naltrexone Is Considered the ‘Ozempic for Alcohol’ Use Disorder Read More »
