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This Common Form of Arthritis Is Projected to Impact Nearly 1 Billion People By 2050

  • New research predicts that nearly 1 billion people will be living with osteoarthritis by 2050.
  • Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and becomes more common with age; an aging population means more people will face the likelihood of the joint disease.
  • Experts recommend building muscle, eating a nutritious diet, and focusing on lowering your level of inflammation.

Nearly 1 billion people will be living with osteoarthritis by 2050 if a new study's prediction comes true.

Osteoarthritis impacts 32.5 million adults in the U.S. and 7% of the world’s population—or 500 million people. But the new research, published in The Lancet Rheumatology, indicates that by 2050 nearly 1 billion people will be living with this degenerative joint disease.

“The main reason we predict an increased burden for osteoarthritis by 2050 is because of demographic changes—in particular, a growing population of older individuals globally,” said Jaimie Steinmetz, PhD MSc, lead research scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Steinmetz explained that the new study proved that osteoarthritis becomes more common with age.

"About 3.5% of 30 to 60-year-olds experience osteoarthritis, which rises to over 40% as people get into their 80s," she said. "So as the global population ages, we will expect to see more cases of osteoarthritis if nothing else changes."

The research team also found that the cases of osteoarthritis—the most common form of arthritis in adults—have been increasing rapidly over the past three decades.

In 1990, 256 million people had osteoarthritis. By 2020, this number rose to 595 million people—a 132% increase from 1990.

By 2050, this number is projected to approach the 1 billion mark.

Woman rubbing painful hand

Woman rubbing painful hand

Getty Images / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY


Why Osteoarthritis Numbers are Going Up

The new study was part of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 and used 30 years of osteoarthritis data in more than 200 countries to understand the rate of disease.

"We looked at three common sites of osteoarthritis—knee, hand, and hip joints—and a residual category for other joints such as shoulder or elbow," Steinmetz said.

The researchers discovered that the most common areas for osteoarthritis are the knees and hands. And, by 2050, they project that osteoarthritis will increase by the following percentages in these key areas of the body:

  • Knee: +74.9%
  • Hand: +48.6%
  • Hip: +78.6%
  • Other (elbow, shoulder): +95.1%

In addition to age and population growth, the study also showed that obesity also is an important risk factor for osteoarthritis.

Obesity has played a greater role over time in the development of osteoarthritis as rates of obesity have increased. For instance, in 1990, obesity was responsible for 16% of the disability due to osteoarthritis but rose to 20% in 2020.

However, if obesity can be addressed in the global population, Steinmetz notes that the burden of osteoarthritis could potentially decrease by as much as 20%. "Given osteoarthritis is so common and can cause pain and decreased mobility, we think it is a key condition to address," she said.

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Factors Contributing to Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

Generally speaking, osteoarthritis is caused by “wear and tear” damage to your cartilage—the cushion of all of your joints, said Sean S. Rajaee, MD, MS, director of the Outpatient Hip and Knee Center at Cedars-Sinai. 

"More years of walking, running, and being active leads to more wear and tear and hence more osteoarthritis," he told Health.

Other factors that contribute to the development of osteoarthritis include genetics, prior injuries or fractures, and obesity, Rajaee explained. "Osteoarthritis often runs in families and being genetically pre-disposed to it is the most common reason," he said.

One older study notes that there is a 40% probability of inheritability in an osteoarthritic knee and a 65% probability of inheritability in osteoarthritic hands and hips.

Previous injuries can also play a role in the development of osteoarthritis later in life.

Injuries to your knee joint or the surrounding structures—such as meniscus damage, an ACL sprain or tear, or hamstring tendinopathy—can all later lead to osteoarthritis Sarah Trahan, NMD, a staff physician at the Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine told Health.

"Carrying heavy loads and being overweight also increases the force on your knees," she said. "For every pound overweight, there is a four times increase in pressure on your knee joint."

Your sex also can play a role in your development of osteoarthritis. According to Steinmetz and the World Health Organization osteoarthritis is significantly more common in females than males, with 60% of people living with the condition being women. He notes this is particularly true for hand and knee osteoarthritis.

"Research could be stronger to better understand this link, but from our understanding now, hormonal differences…can cause increased inflammation in joints," Trahan said, "and the dramatic decrease in estrogen as we age causes an imbalance in the homeostasis of joint tissue."

Additionally, Trahan pointed out that women usually face an increased quadricep angle, narrower femurs, thinner patellae, and a difference in tibial condylar size that can all contribute to osteoarthritis in the knees.

Working to Prevent Osteoarthritis

Although osteoarthritis is common in older adults, it isn’t inevitable. There are a number of things you can do to support your joint health as you age.

At the top of the list are building muscle strength, eating a nutritious diet, and addressing inflammation.

"Muscle strength is completely in our control," Trahan said. "The stronger we can make our bones, muscles, and ligaments that surround our joints, the more we can offload the forces causing cartilage degeneration."

She also recommends trying glucosamine and chondroitin, though the research on their effectiveness is mixed.

"Utilizing regenerative injection therapies and proper neuromuscular training will also help mitigate joint degeneration due to chronic inflammation and pain as well as avoiding the overutilization of steroid injections, which can progress cartilage degeneration," Trahan said.

Preventing Osteoarthritis at School and Work

Trahan stressed a few ways society can help prevent osteoarthritis:

  • Better educating children in school in certain skills, like lifting weights and practicing balance exercises, to develop skills that support healthy aging
  • Developing workplace accommodations or incentives to keep employees strong and healthy to help mitigate the increased prevalence of osteoarthritis

Finally, controlling your blood sugar also can help prevent osteoarthritis.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, high blood sugar can speed the formation of certain molecules that make your cartilage stiffer and more sensitive to mechanical stress. Plus, having diabetes can trigger systemic inflammation that leads to cartilage loss.

"Maintain good nutrition and eat a balanced diet, including some anti-inflammatory foods," said Rajaee. "Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition and most treatment strategies target decreasing inflammation."

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These 'Healthy' Sodas Claim to Boost Gut Health—But Do They Work?

  • Prebiotic sodas have grown in popularity, due to claims that they support gut health.
  • These sodas, like Olipop and Poppi, contain prebiotics, which are plant fibers that help probiotics thrive.
  • Though prebiotic sodas might be a healthier option than some regular sodas, experts say they can't replace the benefits of a balanced, nutritious diet.

poppi soda in cooler with ice

poppi soda in cooler with ice

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images


Prebiotic soda has grown in popularity, with many people flocking to it under the impression that it’s a healthier soda alternative that can boost gut health, lower cholesterol, promote weight loss, stabilize blood sugar—even improve the complexion of skin.

But if you're a fan of fizzy drinks or simply interested in enhancing your health, you might have some questions: Is prebiotic soda truly better for you than regular soda? And are the health claims valid or simply a baseless marketing tactic? 

Here’s what two registered dietitians had to say about this latest carbonated drink craze.

What Is Prebiotic Soda?

To understand what prebiotic soda is, it helps to know what a probiotic is.

Many people have heard of probiotics, which are live bacteria or yeasts that benefit digestive and immune health when consumed. (The trendy fermented tea kombucha is an example of a probiotic.)

On the other hand, prebiotics are plant fibers that help probiotics thrive, Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD/LDN, a registered dietitian and director of nutrition at Body Beautiful Miami, told Health. After consumed, these non-digestible starches go to the lower digestive tract, feeding healthy bacteria in the gut microbiome.

Several brands have developed prebiotic sodas, but the leading market players are Poppi and Olipop. Like regular soda, prebiotic soda contains carbonation and comes in various flavors, such as cola, lime, and orange. 

Unlike regular soda, they also contain prebiotics. Most of them have a prebiotic fiber called inulin that’s been extracted from its richest source—chicory root, Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and the founder of Real Nutrition NYC, told Health. Shapiro said prebiotic sodas may also include apple cider vinegar—and thus, pectin, a fiber found in fermented apples—as well as a variety of minerals, herbs, and botanicals.

Is Prebiotic Soda Healthier Than Regular Soda?

Shapiro said that most prebiotic sodas are healthier than traditional ones because they contain some fiber and often have less sugar. “In a can of prebiotic soda, there is on average two grams fiber and four to five grams added sugar, while in a can of normal soda, there can be, on average, 35 to to 40 grams of added sugar,” Shapiro noted.

That’s about the upper limit for daily sugar intake recommended by the American Heart Association for men and more than the daily recommended amount of 25 grams for women.

Because prebiotic soda contains less sugar than regular ones, it also tends to have fewer calories—a can of Coke is 150, for example, while a can of the popular prebiotic soda Olipop is 35.

Another advantage of prebiotic sodas is that they don’t contain high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener added to many traditional sodas that’s been linked to health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. “Omission of high fructose corn syrup is a big win for health,” Gormer said.

Does Prebiotic Soda Benefit Health?

Prebiotic fibers are critical to the body because they can stimulate good gut bacteria growth. These fibers are also fermented in the large intestine by bacteria that transform them into health-boosting short-chain fatty acids, Gormer explained. “Studies show that these fatty acids can have beneficial effects on inflammation, appetite, and blood sugar levels,” she said. 

But, according to Shapiro, processed fiber like that in prebiotic soda may offer only limited benefit because it may be fermented faster than fiber from whole foods, stopping short of reaching the microbes in the large intestine.

While Gormer said she thinks the health benefits of prebiotic soda are exaggerated, she noted that these drinks do have something to offer. “Olipop uses a mixture of different prebiotics including cassava root, chicory root, artichoke, nopal cactus, calendula flower, and kudzu root,” she said. “These ingredients add fiber and inulin, which can help with constipation and stabilize blood sugar.” 

Gormer noted that even though there’s no definitive research showing that apple cider vinegar—the ingredient the Poppi brand uses—improves gut health, it’s possible it “may help with blood sugar levels, prevent heartburn, and provide antioxidants.” 

It's important to remember, however, that one product alone can’t replace the benefits of a healthy diet, Gormer said. “If our diet is generally full of sugar, oils, fat, and processed foods and lacks fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, proteins, and healthy fats, then just adding one item may not make a be a lifesaver or rescue device,” she said.

She suggested eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to give your good bacteria the food they need and to provide nutrients that have far-ranging health benefits. “Constipation, which plagues many people, is potentially a non-issue if [people] consume these foods.” 

Are There Downsides to Prebiotic Soda?

Everyone will respond differently to prebiotic soda, said Gormer, but it’s possible that drinking too much could cause gas and bloating due to the fiber content (she advised limiting intake to one a day.)  People with conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, or colitis may want to steer clear of prebiotic soda altogether, she said.

Additionally, one study found an association between consuming 30 grams of inulin daily and inflammation and liver damage biomarkers. However, you'd have to drink several cans a day to reach that dosage, and Shapiro said the soda’s effect is also “dependent on the individual and how they digest and react to the amounts of fiber they consume.” 

Alternatives to Prebiotic Soda

If prebiotic soda interests you for its potential gut-health benefits, whole foods will provide an even bigger boost to digestive health, said Gormer. “Compared to inulin fiber found in the prebiotic sodas, [prebiotic sodas] just can’t hold a candle to eating these plant-based foods," she said.

Good sources of prebiotic fiber include:

  • Bananas
  • Apples
  • Artichokes
  • Asparagus
  • Cherries
  • Flaxseed
  • Garlic
  • Green vegetables, such as asparagus and artichokes
  • Peas and beans
  • Oats
  • Whole grain wheat
  • Soybeans

Likewise, if you’re drawn to prebiotic soda as an alternative to traditional sodas such as Coke and Sprite, Shapiro and Gormer said you can find even healthier ways to satiate your flavored drink cravings. 

Shapiro suggested opting for sparkling water because it has no added sugar and therefore contains no calories. Fresh fruit slices can add flavor without artificial flavoring, she noted.

“Another good alternative is herbal tea,” said Shapiro. “Herbal tea has its own flavor, along with health benefits from antioxidants.”

Are Those Fish Oil Supplements Actually Helping Your Heart? Experts Say Probably Not

  • New research found that many fish oil supplements sold in the United States make health claims that aren't supported by scientific evidence.
  • Claims regarding cardiovascular support were the most common on the fish oil supplements tested.
  • Experts recommend talking to a doctor regarding what supplementation (if any) is best for your unique heart health needs.

The majority of fish oil supplements sold in the U.S. make health claims that may not be supported by scientific evidence, a new study finds.

Fish oil is one of the many supplements making its way around health food stores, with consumers often sharing their success stories with the product online. While there are a variety of health claims around fish oil, a positive impact on the joints, eyes, heart, and skin are among the common benefits discussed.

But anecdotal evidence doesn't equate to scientific research.

A group of researchers out of UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSMC) in Dallas, TX sought to clear up consumer confusion around whether or not fish oil positively impacts heart health.

Ann Marie Navar, MD, PhD, the study author and an Associate Professor of Cardiology at UTSMC, told Health that despite consumer confidence in fish oil, there is little clinical data to confirm its benefits for most people’s heart health.

“The science in this area has evolved considerably—epidemiologists first found that people who eat more fish and who have higher levels of EPA and DHA in their blood have less heart disease," Navar said. "This led people to think there could be a benefit to fish oil."

She explained that this early data even prompted the FDA to approve a qualified health claim in 2003 that fish oil may lower the risk of coronary heart disease.

“Unfortunately, several large, high-quality, placebo-controlled randomized trials done since that time have failed to show any benefit for fish oil supplementation in the general population for prevention of heart disease,” she said.

Still, many supplement companies continue to manufacture fish oil pills and liquids that make claims about their positive effects on heart health. The study found that though these claims are technically legal, they are largely inaccurate.

“Given how often these… claim types are used, we [felt] more research [was] needed to better understand how consumers are actually interpreting these types of statements,” study co-author and fourth-year UTSMC medical student Joanna Assadourian told Health.  

Ultimately, research like this could lead to increased regulation from the FDA or other public health organizations to prevent consumer misinformation.

Fish oil pills

Fish oil pills

Getty Images / Tanja Ivanova


Finding Truth Amidst Supplement Claims

Although supplement manufacturers are not legally allowed to state that fish oil (or any other dietary supplement) “prevents” or “treats” disease, more subtle claims persist on packaging.

“Statements like ‘promotes’ or ‘supports’ heart health are considered ‘structure and function’ claims, which are allowed under current regulations and do not require randomized trial evidence to support,” Assadourian said.

The researchers didn't have a hard time finding examples of these claims.

Among the 2,819 unique fish oil supplements examined, 2,082 (73.9%) made at least one health claim. Of these, 399 (19.2%) used an FDA-approved qualified health claim, while the rest (1,683 or 80.8%) made only structure/function claims like “promotes heart health.”

Cardiovascular health claims were the most common, printed on 62% of fish oil labels. 

In addition to varying health claims, the researchers found that dosage varied widely among fish oil supplements.

In 255 fish oil products across 16 leading brands, there was substantial variability in the amount of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the two active ingredients in fish oil. The amount of EHA ranged from 135-647 milligrams per dose, while DHA ranged from 140-500 milligrams.

As for what constitutes the proper dose of fish oil, Navar is skeptical.

“Zero milligrams—I advise my patients to save their money,” she said. “Fish oil nutritional supplements do not prevent heart attacks or strokes in the general population.”

Here’s How Inflammation and Cholesterol Impact Heart Health

Does Fish Oil Have Any Benefits for Heart Health?

Printed claims and a popular reputation have created a “health halo” around fish oil and its supposed benefits for cardiovascular well-being. Yet experts say taking fish oil for heart health is a largely unfounded practice.

“There have now been a large number of well-conducted studies which have not shown a cardiac benefit to taking over-the-counter fish oil supplements,” Timothy Jacobson, MD, chief cardiologist for Kaiser Permanente in the Northwest, told Health

In fact, Jacobson said, taking fish oil could even have adverse effects for some people. “There is data these supplements may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation,” he said.  

There is one group of people who might be an exception—those with very high triglycerides.

A large 2019 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a high dose of EPA fish oil reduced elevated triglycerides, as well as decreased the risk of heart attack and stroke.

“For people who have extremely high triglycerides…at least 2 grams of combined EPA and DHA is recommended," Navar said, "but in this case, there are safer and more reliable ways to lower triglycerides than fish oil."

Prescription-strength preparations exist that provide 2 or more grams of EPA and DHA, but Navar said these medications were outside the scope of her research. Only 24 of the 2,082 fish oil products studied had 2 grams or more of this combination of ingredients.

How to Select a Dietary Supplement for Heart Health

As this new research shows, dietary supplements may make all sorts of claims that lead you astray. Instead, talk to a doctor or a registered dietitian about which supplements (if any) have evidence-based benefits for your individual heart health concerns.

You might be surprised at their answers.

While Jacobson doesn’t routinely recommend fish oil, there are other supplemental nutrients he says can boost heart health. These include omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, and coenzyme Q10.

A recent meta-analysis in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that omega-3 supplementation decreased cardiovascular mortality risk by 7%, heart attack risk by 15%, and coronary heart disease risk by 14%, Jacobson pointed out.

Folic acid and coenzyme Q10 also had a noteworthy impact, with folic acid supplementation decreasing stroke risk by 16%, and coenzyme Q10 supplementation decreasing all-cause death by 32%. 

Whatever pill or tablet you choose, just remember that supplements are just one piece of the heart health puzzle. Diet, exercise, sleep, stress levels, and genetics all influence the big picture of your cardiovascular well-being.

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These Are the COVID 'Eris' Variant Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing Right Now

  • New COVID-19 subvariant EG.5 currently makes up the majority of cases in the U.S., according to the CDC.
  • Though data on the new variant is lacking, doctors are commonly seeing upper respiratory complaints, like sore throat, cough, congestion, and runny nose.
  • Meanwhile, other COVID-19 symptoms, like loss of taste and smell, are less common with newer variants.

person coughing into elbow

person coughing into elbow

The Good Brigade/Getty Images


After a relatively quiet summer, COVID-19 appears to be gaining traction again in the U.S., with the latest subvariant EG.5 (Eris) causing increases in cases and hospitalizations across the country.

The most recent variant proportion estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), EG.5 makes up the majority of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., accounting for just over 20% of all illnesses.

Hospitalizations are starting to tick up as well: The most recent data, from August 19, shows 15,067 new COVID hospitalizations—a 19% increase from the previous week.

As with most new COVID variants and subvariants, one question seems to come to mind first: “What are the symptoms?”

Though all COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of variant, are unlikely to differ too much, it’s difficult to say for sure which symptoms are specific to EG.5 right now—but here’s what doctors have been seeing recently as the new subvariant gains steam throughout the U.S.

CDC Says New COVID Variant BA.2.86 May Be Better At Causing Breakthrough Infections

What Are the Symptoms of EG.5?

While there is not strong data yet on the kinds of symptoms people are experiencing right now, doctors are anecdotally reporting mostly mild or common symptoms of COVID-19.

Kristina K. Bryant, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist with Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases, told Health that she’s mostly seeing patients with symptoms similar to the prior Omicron subvariant.

Those symptoms involve mainly upper respiratory complaints, like sore throat, cough, congestion, and runny nose.

“Some people even said they thought they had allergies,” Bryant said. “But EG.5 bears watching. It is the dominant subvariant.”

COVID-19 Symptoms

People with COVID-19 report a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe illness. The most commonly-reported symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Which COVID-19 Symptoms Aren’t So Common Anymore?

As the SARS-CoV-2 virus has mutated throughout the pandemic, certain symptoms have become more common, and some have become less common. But by and large, the virus still primarily affects the respiratory system.

“The picture of COVID (the clinical presentation) seems to be pretty much the same from beginning to end and it resembles influenza and RSV,” said William Schaffner, MD, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “The major impact of this virus is on the respiratory tract, particularly the lungs, and the lung can respond in only so many ways.”

When the virus surfaced in 2020, loss of taste and smell was a common symptom. Now, more than three years later, that specific symptom has significantly decreased in the population.

New research published in the journal Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, found that the risk of losing one’s sense of smell and taste from recent COVID-19 omicron variants is 6–7%—and that moving forward, it’s possible that loss of taste and smell may no longer predict a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Additionally, gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea seem to be less common as time goes on.

Doctors have also reported fewer cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). The CDC reported that in 2020, MIS-C occurred in 1 of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 children and adolescents who had SARS-CoV-2 infection. The condition has become rarer since the start of the pandemic. 

The fact that MIS-C has diminished may be due to the fact that many children have been exposed to COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, said Schaffner.

Do You Still Need to Test for COVID-19?

Testing for COVID-19 Still Important

Because it’s difficult to determine whether you have COVID-19 by symptoms alone, the best way to verify an infection is through testing. All COVID-19 tests—including PCR tests administered by medical professionals and rapid tests administered at home—should be able to detect EG.5.

If you experience trouble breathing or respiratory issues, or if you are at high risk for severe illness due to underlying conditions or because you are pregnant, it’s especially important to get tested, said Schaffner.

“If [your test] turns out positive, please contact your healthcare provider because we have the medicine Paxlovid that can help protect you from this illness getting more severe and putting you in the hospital,” he added.

And as for prevention, experts agree that the newest iteration of the vaccine—based on the XBB variant—will also help to prevent severe illness from EG.5.

“Remember these vaccines do a better job at preventing severe disease than milder infection,” said Schaffner. “But that’s the point; we want to keep you out of the hospital and this updated booster will help you get through the winter.”

It’s also important to remember that SARS-CoV-2 will likely keep evolving, and that there will be certain variants that make some years worse than others when it comes to symptoms and severity of disease.

“Like with flu, some years we have a bad flu season and we have some people with just mild [cold-like] symptoms while others develop severe lower respiratory tract problems,” said Bryant. “I think ultimately, we are going to see the same with SARS-CoV-2; some seasons are going to be worse than others.”

The Newest COVID Variant May Be Better at Causing Breakthrough Infections, CDC Says

  • A new COVID-19 variant, BA.2.86 (nicknamed Pirola) may cause breakthrough infections, according to a new CDC risk assessment.
  • There have been nine confirmed cases of BA.2.86 worldwide—two of those cases have been in the United States.
  • Experts note that treatment options for older COVID variants may be able to treat this new strain as well; but with only nine confirmed cases, more information is needed.

A new COVID-19 variant may be more likely to cause breakthrough infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC released a risk assessment Wednesday, breaking down information regarding the new variant.

“BA.2.86 may be more capable of causing infection in people who have previously had COVID-19 or who have received COVID-19 vaccines,” the assessment read. Meaning, it may be more likely to cause breakthrough infections than previous strains of the virus.

The CDC also broke down where the variant has been spotted, how severe an illness it may cause, and whether current treatments are effective against it.

Here's what experts currently know about BA.2.86.

Woman waiting for COVID test results

Woman waiting for COVID test results

Getty Images / AzmanL


What Is BA.2.86?

Nicknamed “Pirola,” BA.2.86 was first identified on July 24, 2023. The World Health Organization recently added the new variant to its list of “currently circulating variants under monitoring,” noting that the strain has a “large number of mutations identified.”

So far, nine cases of BA.2.86 have been detected—three in Denmark, two in South Africa, two in the U.S., one in the U.K., and one in Israel.

One of the cases in the U.S. was a person in Michigan, with the Michigan Health Department noting in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the patient who contracted the strain is an older adult with “mild symptoms” who hasn’t been hospitalized.

The Impact of BA.2.86 on Infection Rates

BA.2.86 is a subvariant of Omicron, which has been the dominant strain in the U.S. since late 2021, but “it has many, many more mutations than the mutations of each of the variants before,” Timothy Murphy, MD, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, told Health.

Specifically, BA.2.86 has more than 35 amino acid changes to its spike protein than the recently circulating XBB.1.5, which the fall COVID-19 booster was based on, Murphy said.

The CDC pointed out that this change is “roughly of the same magnitude” as the switch between the Delta strain of COVID-19 and the initial Omicron variant, BA.1.

It's the spike protein mutations that make this variant likely to cause breakthrough infections.

“The virus uses the spike protein to bind the disease to cells,” Murphy said. “That’s what the vaccines are directed against.”

With so many mutations in the spike protein, there is a greater chance that the vaccine and having previously been infected with COVID-19 won’t offer as much protection against BA.2.86 as prior strains of the virus, William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Health.

“Initially, officials thought that BA.2.86 was not all that much different but, now that they’ve noted there are many mutations, they’ve at least raised the question about whether there may be some immune evasion on the part of this strain,” Schaffner said.

The CDC said it’s “too soon to know the real-world impacts on immunity” of BA.2.86. However, the agency noted that many people have immunity, either from previous infection, the vaccine, or both.

“It is likely that these antibodies will continue to provide some protection against severe disease from this variant,” the CDC said.

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Testing and Treating BA.2.86

While testing for COVID-19 is highly encouraged, new variants can be tricky to accurately test for.

“We have no lab data or experimental data whatsoever to say how this will impact immunity,” Murphy said. “It simply hasn’t been studied at this point, but likely will be soon.”

Samples of the new strain aren’t broadly available for reliable lab testing at this point, but are expected to happen eventually.

Meanwhile, existing treatments for older COVID-19 strains can most likely provide relief for patients who are infected with BA.2.86.

According to the CDC, the mutation profile of BA.2.86 suggests that treatments like Paxlovid, Veklury, and Lagevrio will be effective against the variant.

“The medications don’t target the spike protein—they go after different proteins in the virus and those do not appear to be any different,” Murphy said.

Schaffner agreed. “The treatments for sure ought to work, but we’ll see whether over-the-counter tests continue to be able to detect this new variant as we go forward,” he said.

Overall, it's hard to say how different BA.2.86 is from other variants. The CDC stressed that there have just been nine cases, making it hard to know how infectious this variant is and how severe of an illness it may cause.

“There’s really zero information here,” Murphy said. “With nine cases, it’s just not enough to know anything.”

When To Get Boosted After Having a COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies—They Could Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer’s

  • New research found that micronutrients in fruits and vegetables could lower someone's risk of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Carotenoids—a natural compound found in certain foods, like vegetables—were seen in lower amounts in patients with Alzheimer's.
  • Experts recommend people prioritize vegetables like tomatoes, egg yolks, and sunflower seeds to boost their intake of carotenoids.

Certain micronutrients in fruits and vegetables could lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds.

More than 6.5 million Americans develop Alzheimer’s disease, with over seventy percent of this group aged 75 years old or older. The brain disorder negatively affects memory and thinking skills, eventually making it challenging for patients to carry out simple tasks or recall certain memories.

Alzheimer’s Disease risk is linked to many factors—genetics, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, sleep health, and social health. Along with the aforementioned factors, one other should not be ignored—diet.

The new study, out of Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, looked at how certain aspects of diet interacted with the brain health of people with Alzheimer's. The research team found that carotenoids—a micronutrient in the brain—were found in lower amounts among those with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis compared to those without the disease. 

Here's how certain dietary choices could impact the brain, as well as how to up the intake of this powerful nutrient in your diet.

Woman peeling carrots

Woman peeling carrots

Getty Images / FreshSplash


A Potential Link Between Carotenoid Intake and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

The new study confirms that dietary choices may impact the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

This supports what a previous study suggested regarding patients' intake of a specific micronutrient—carotenoid.

The previous, older study, called The Rush Memory and Aging Project, used annual records of the dietary intake of 1,489 participants who were retired or lived in nursing homes to analyze any potential relationship between dietary habits and brain health.

The research team found that intake of carotenoids, or natural compounds found in many foods, was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Examples of carotenoids evaluated in this study include beta-carotene (found in carrots, cantaloupe, spinach, and sweet potatoes) and lutein (found in egg yolks, watercress, and pistachios). 

The new study dug deeper into the topic, analyzing micronutrients found “in donor's brains with neuropathologist-confirmed Alzheimer’s Disease and neuropathologist-confirmed absence of pathology,” C. Kathleen Dorey, Ph.D., Professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute and one of the researchers of the study, told Health.

In other words, Dorey and her colleagues compared the carotenoid levels of the brains of those with the disease and those without.

They found that concentrations of certain carotenoids in the brain—namely lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E)—were found in lower amounts among those with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis compared to those without the disease. 

According to Dorey, inflammation and oxidation are considered part of the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Since these “carotenoids are anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory agents,” this may be why the differences in concentration were observed. 

“This is the first report of carotenoid levels in confirmed Alzheimer’s disease brains,” Dorey said. “Carotenoids can help minimize the damage caused by normal brain metabolism, and a diet rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene (as well as an overall healthy diet) may help keep our brain fit and functioning well."

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How To Include More Brain Health-Supporting Carotenoids In Your Diet

Your mom wasn’t wrong when she would pester you to eat more vegetables. Not only are vegetables packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but they are also typically a source of carotenoids.

“With only 1 in 10 Americans meeting their vegetable needs, this study is just one more reason to add more vegetables to your diet,” said Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND award-winning nutrition expert and Wall Street Journal best-selling cookbook author of Up Your Veggies: Flexitarian Recipes for the Whole Family.

Based on these new findings, food sources of lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) should have a place on your plate to support your brain health.

If you are looking for specific foods to include to reach this goal, here are some ideas:

  • Lycopene: tomato, watermelon, guava
  • Zeaxanthin: yellow corn, egg yolks, orange peppers
  • Lutein: watercress, egg yolks, kiwi fruit, pistachios
  • Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, pumpkin, peanuts

Eating to Support Brain Health

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans do not provide specific targets for carotenoid intake, but it suggests aiming for at least 3 servings of vegetables and two fruit servings daily.

Including carotenoid-rich produce in your diet can help fuel your body with brain health-supporting compounds.

“It’s important to try to eat a variety of different veggies,” said Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and board-certified sports dietitian. “Eating the rainbow is important, as each veggie has a different nutritional profile and offers you a different array of nutrients.”

Certain eating habits can provide a framework for getting more carotenoids in your diet.

For instance, following the MIND diet—a diet combining Mediterranean and DASH diets—may help slow cognitive decline.

Among recommendations like having at least one meal a week that includes fish and enjoying at least three whole grain servings daily, the MIND diet emphasizes vegetable consumption. Specifically, it encourages participants to eat at least one serving of non-green leafy vegetables and at least six servings of green leafy vegetables a week.

Specific guidelines for the MIND diet are as follows:

  • 3+ servings a day of whole grains
  • 1+ servings a day of vegetables (other than green leafy)
  • 6+ servings a week of green leafy vegetables
  • 5+ servings a week of nuts
  • 4+ meals a week of beans
  • 2+ servings a week of berries
  • 2+ meals a week of poultry
  • 1+ meals a week of non-fried fish
  • Olive oil is the fat choice

The MIND diet, while certainly not a guaranteed method for preventing cognitive decline, does provide helpful guidance toward eating more brain-boosting foods.

That said, each case of Alzheimer's is different, and individuals should consult a healthcare professional to discuss their own circumstances and needs surrounding cognitive longevity.

“Some processes associated with Alzheimer’s pathology can be slowed with carotenoids, but we have no metric that would let us predict if that is enough to affect the disease," said Dorey. "But getting exercise and following a healthy diet is our best bet to keep our brains in optimal condition."

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Don’t Rely on the ‘Fat-Burning Zones' on Your Gym’s Cardio Equipment

  • New research shows “fat-burning zone” recommendations on commercial cardio equipment may not provide accurate information.
  • For information on how to best burn fat, people should rely on clinical exercise tests or other, more individualized heart rate data.
  • Experts note that exercise is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to fat loss—diet, hydration, and other lifestyle factors play a role in successful weight loss.

person pressing treadmill buttons

person pressing treadmill buttons

FreshSplash/Getty Images


The “fat-burning zone” recommendations on commercial cardio equipment may be leading people astray, a new study finds.

Many pieces of commercial cardio equipment recommend that people stay within a certain heart rate range in order to enter a “fat-burning zone” as they exercise. However, new research found that those metrics may not be accurate for every person.

Researchers out of Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine looked at data from 26 participants and tracked their heart rate and peak fat-burning rate during exercise. They found that individuals’ optimal heart rate for burning fat often varied widely from what exercise machines’ fat-burning zones recommended for them.

“The ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach for exercise that is often used in the field can result in many individuals exercising at intensities that are inconsistent with their goals,” Hannah Kittrell, RD, lead study author and director of the Physiolab at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Health.

Rather than relying on heart rate recommendations from these fat-burning zones, people may want to seek out more individualized guidelines if they’re looking to lose weight.

Kittrell suggests tests that measure a person’s physiological response to exercise may be “useful [tools] for tailoring ‘precision’ exercise prescriptions.”

Here’s what experts had to say about why cardio machines’ fat-burning zones may be inaccurate, and ways that people can optimize their own individual fat loss.

Using Metrics to Understand Fat-Burning Execution

Kittrell and the other researchers wanted to examine how each of the study participants’ optimal heart rate for fat loss compared with what was suggested by cardio machines’ fat-burning zones.

In order to make this comparison, subjects were given a clinical exercise test to measure their Fatmax—this is short for “maximum fat oxidation rate,” explained Haley Perlus, PhD, fitness coach and sport and exercise psychologist.

The term refers to “the intensity at which your body burns the highest amount of fat calories per minute,” she told Health.

This number represents a single exercise intensity, Kittrell said, in contrast to traditional fat-burning zones, which recommend a range of some percentage of a person’s max heart rate.

More specifically, the fat-burning zone is meant to elevate a person’s heart rate up to 60% or 70% of its maximum, Tracie Massey, a certified personal trainer and manager of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio, told Health.

“Typically, about 65% of the calories you burn in this zone are from fat,” she said.

A person’s maximum effort in this fat-burning zone would be their Fatmax number. However, the study found that this isn’t always the case.

Fat-burning zones recommended by exercise machines are often based on age, heart rate, and sex. But even after taking these factors into consideration, they don’t always do a good job of predicting a person’s Fatmax.

Kittrell offered an example in a press release: Two participants were told that their fat-burning zone would be between 55% to 75% of their max heart rate. However, after doing the clinical exercise test, the researchers found that one participant’s actual Fatmax was 50% max heart rate, while the other’s was 80%.

If both strictly followed the fat-burning zone recommendations on exercise equipment, one would be working out too intensely, while the other would be working out too leisurely. Neither participant would be burning fat most efficiently.

The study authors found an average difference of 23 beats per minute between a person’s predicted fat-burning zone and their actual Fatmax score.

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A Better Way to Measure Optimal Fat-Burning

Though frustrating for people who typically rely on the fat-burning zone metrics on their workout equipment, the results of the study aren't actually that shocking, Perlus explained.

“Our bodies are complex and respond differently to exercise, making it reasonable to expect that the optimal heart rate for fat burning can vary among individuals,” she said. 

Because of this, a more individualized process might be more effective if a person wants to know how to most efficiently lose weight through exercise—the study authors offered up clinical exercise tests as one possible alternative.

Clinical exercise tests—which were also conducted during the study itself—evaluate a number of physiological parameters, such as heart and lung capacities, as well as physical ability, said Massey.

“It’s typically conducted in a medical or research setting and provides valuable information about how the body burns fat during different exercise intensities,” she said. Experts can get this information during walk tests, shuttle walk tests, cardiac stress tests, and more.

These kinds of “data-driven approaches” can help tailor exercise to the needs and goals of each individual, said Massey.

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Fat Loss Beyond the Numbers

According to Perlus, individualized heart rate recommendations for fat loss may certainly be helpful, but this data may not be necessary for every person who’s trying to lose weight.

“Practical lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity, remain the foundation of effective and sustainable fat loss,” she said.

Even more so than exercise, nutrition usually plays the biggest role in burning fat, Steven Batash, MD, a gastroenterologist currently affiliated with NYU Medical Center, Lenox Hill Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, told Health.

“People who are mostly interested in achieving weight loss goals should start with their diet and incorporate moderate exercise that they enjoy doing to achieve long-term weight loss,” he said.

Perlus recommended people strive for a balanced diet with lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Portion control and balanced food choices are also “essential for utilizing stored fat as energy,” she said.

When it comes to physical activity for fat loss, experts agree that it’s best to focus on a combination of cardiovascular exercises and strength training to build lean muscle mass. Cardio may be typically thought of as the best exercise to lose weight, but any activity that gets a person’s heart rate into a fat-burning zone will work, Kittrell said.

“Cardio burns more calories during your workout, while strength training helps you build muscle so that you’ll burn more calories 24/7,” Batash said.

Current physical activity guidelines recommend that adults should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity.

Specifically, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be a good addition to people’s workout routines if they’re looking to burn fat, Perlus said. For a more tailored fat loss plan, Massey suggested personal trainers may be helpful.

Ultimately, burning fat looks different for every person. And since the most effective weight loss plans are often ones that are balanced, avoid focusing on just one rule, Massey recommended.

In addition to exercising and eating a nutritious diet, she said to prioritize good sleeping habits, stay hydrated, and seek out services from a qualified medical fitness specialist or personal trainer for clinical exercise testing to find your fat-burning sweet spot.

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You Might Not Be Walking the Right Way—Here's How to Fix It

  • Research suggests that it may take far fewer than 10,000 steps a day to see health benefits from walking.
  • Though walking is a very low-impact, low-risk activity, you still want to make sure you’re using the proper form to avoid any potential injuries.
  • Proper body alignment, gait, and well-fitting sneakers are all important when beginning a walking program.

woman walking in park

woman walking in park

SeventyFour/Getty Images


Good news: It takes far fewer than 10,000 steps a day to reap the health benefits of walking, according to a handful of recent studies.

Though the exact number of steps varies—anywhere from 4,000 steps a day to 8,000 steps a few times a week—it’s clear that adding more movement to your day can pretty much guarantee some extra health benefits, including a reduced risk of dementia, cardiovascular disease-related death, and all-cause mortality.

If that news has you motivated to lace up your sneakers and hit the treadmill (or pavement), there’s one thing you might want to consider first: proper technique—or the “right” way to walk.

Though many people have been doing it since there were mere months old, the choices you make around walking—from your gait to what you put on your feet—can play a significant role in your health and well-being. Even where you walk can influence how you feel.

Here, experts break down strategies for making the most of walking—and avoiding injury along the way.

Focus on Proper Posture and Alignment

Whether you’re sitting, standing, or walking, posture is always important—but it doesn’t necessarily mean standing completely straight at all times; posture means maintaining the natural curves in your neck and back.

Some tips for maintaining proper posture and alignment while walking include:

  • Stand tall. Pretend a string is pulling you up from the crown of your head, recommends Rusty Sarhan, CPT, an RRCA-certified running coach.
  • Keep your head up, and don’t let it protrude in front of your body, which can stress your back or neck, said physical therapist Natalya Tronik, DPT.
  • Focus on the path in front of you, keeping your eyes forward.
  • Keep your shoulders back and down, and keep your arms relaxed and moving freely at your sides.
  • Keep your abs tight and your pelvis neutral. Make sure your rib cage is aligned with your pelvis, and that your hips, knees, ankles, and second toe are also all in alignment, Tronik suggested. This can help you avoid straining your lower half.

Not only does this proper posture and alignment help you walk easier and prevent injury, it can also help you breathe and move more efficiently, Sarhan said.

Because it’s difficult to know what you look like while walking, Tronik recommends taking a picture of yourself in the mirror—or better yet, a video of yourself in movement—and making adjustments, if necessary.

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Pay Attention to Your Feet

The proper step involves putting your heel on the ground first, then the ball of your foot, followed by your toes—it’s a rolling motion, Tronik said. This better helps to distribute the stress your lower body takes on while walking.

If you were to slam your entire foot down on the ground with a thud, that impact would “translate up the chain,” Tronik said, putting your knees, hips, and ankles at a greater risk of injury.

Walking cadence—or how many steps you take in a minute—matters too. Taking longer, less frequent steps may put more stress on your joints, while taking shorter, more frequent steps might feel easier on your body.

Additionally, a higher walking cadence—around 100 steps per minute—can be considered moderate-intensity exercise for adults, research shows. That means walking at that cadence or above will count towards the 150 weekly minutes of physical activity, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And while you might be tempted to walk in whatever you’re wearing on your feet at any given moment, your shoe choices are also important. Running or walking shoes are your best bets here, said Sarhan, because they’re typically lighter, have a cushioned heel, and support a person’s gait.

One thing you might want to avoid, however, is overly-supportive running shoes, said Sarhan. They can push feet outward and cause you to put most of your weight on the outside of your feet—something known as supination.

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Stay Alert and Take It Slow

Walking isn’t an inherently risky activity, of course—in fact, it’s “the easiest way to burn calories without any pressure on the joints,” according to Sarhan. Still, he and Tronik said there are some things to consider besides posture and gait before heading out for an excursion.

When walking outside, it can be easy to trip over things such as curbs, potholes, or uneven ground—especially in the dark. It’s essential to pay attention to your surroundings and, if necessary, to bring someone along to help mitigate risks, Sarhan said. (Taking extra precautions would likely be better than abandoning outdoor walks altogether, which research has found can boost cognitive function more than indoor walks.)

If you do decide to keep your walking inside on a treadmill, take precautions there, too. While it may feel secure to hold on to the treadmill handles, that will hinder your movement and workout. Instead, secure the treadmill’s safety clip to your clothing—if you lose your balance and somehow fall off the treadmill, the clip will trigger the belt to stop, preventing injury.

Tronik also advised taking it slow if you’re used to a more sedentary lifestyle. “Be mindful and actually set goals that are appropriate for your lifestyle,” she said. “If I haven’t walked in a year, I’m not going to walk for 10,000 steps right off the bat. I’m going to walk a mile and see how that mile feels.”

“Listening to your body is important for any fitness regimen,” said Tronik, “even one that is low impact, like walking.”

Your Work Schedule Could Impact Your Brain Health, Study Finds

  • New research found that shift work—like working nights—may negatively impact someone’s cognition and memory.
  • This is largely due to the misalignment of the body’s internal clock and circadian disruptions that occur with irregular sleep schedules.
  • Experts recommend people stick to as close of a regular sleep schedule as possible, whether that is during the day or during “normal” sleeping hours.

Routinely working outside of a normal, daytime shift may cause cognitive and memory impairment, according to a new study.

The new research builds on a bank of analysis that’s beginning to reveal the ways in which shift work, particularly rotating and night shift work, impacts the brain and body over time.

“It’s important to know this is a multifactorial issue. There’s not just one system that is being impacted,” said Durdana Khan, PhD, a doctoral scholar at York University in Canada, who led the new research. “Stress, sleep deprivation, and melatonin disruption all work on the brain.”

Female night nurse at computer

Female night nurse at computer

Getty Images / South_agency


Misaligning the Body’s Internal Clock

It’s estimated that around one-quarter of adults in the United States, or nearly 40 million people, are or have been shift workers—either working nights or rotating between night and day shifts.

Previous studies have linked long-term shift work to a slew of health problems including coronary artery disease and atypical heart rhythms, obesity, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and even a later onset of menopause.

To better understand how an abnormal work schedule impacts the brain, Khan and her team analyzed data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, including nearly 48,000 middle-aged and older adults ages 45 to 85 years old.

They evaluated whether each person had ever worked shift work; if so, whether they worked shifts during their longest job, and whether they were currently working shift work. 

They found that about one-fifth of people in the study had worked shift work at some point. People who worked the night shift, either at their current job or the job they held for the longest amount of time, were more likely to have overall cognitive impairment.

Compared to people who consistently work during the day, working the night shift during a person’s longest job was associated with memory impairment.

Those who worked rotating shift work—sometimes working day shifts and sometimes working nights—were more likely to have impaired executive function, a mental process that allows people to plan, focus attention, remember, and multitask.

According to Beth Malow, MD, a professor of neurology at Vanderbilt University and Director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Division, the primary way shift work impacts the brain is by disrupting sleep patterns by requiring people to be awake and working some nights, and asleep others.

This misalignment to the body’s biological rhythms causes the brain to release different chemicals, including stress hormones, which can affect memory over time.

Humans have a 24-hour biological clock that regulates a number of physiological processes including sleep patterns, eating and digesting, blood pressure, body temperature, and how hormones are regulated.

“It’s less about the duration of the shift and more about the circadian misalignment,” Malow told Health

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Circadian Disruptions Directly Impact Brain Cells

According to Malow, people need to get a good night’s sleep to think clearly and to allow the brain to reset and get rid of toxic proteins that can build up in the organ and affect memory.

“However, the impact of shift work goes beyond sleep to cause circadian misalignment,” she said.

According to Khan: “Shift workers are working when our bodies need rest. In scientific language, it’s called desynchronization of our body, there is an imbalance, and a lot of things are happening when there is imbalance in our body.”

The brain responds to darkness—the sun going down—by preparing the body for sleep. This includes releasing melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep.

When people work at night, they’re often exposed to light when their bodies would otherwise be winding down for bed. This disrupts the natural circadian rhythms.

After repeated exposures, these disruptions are harmful to the body and have a direct effect on brain cells, leading to neurodegeneration, said Khan.

When the natural sleep schedule is disrupted, it also causes the brain to release inflammatory proteins at abnormal levels. While the body naturally produces some amount of these inflammatory proteins, sleep disruption can prompt the brain to produce too many, “Which has neurotoxic effects on brain cells, which can impair brain function,” Khan said.

Cortisol is another way in which disrupted sleep patterns during shift work can have toxic effects on the brain.

Lack of sleep naturally causes an influx in cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. If someone’s job is stressful on top of being shift work, for example, nursing, this can compound the negative impact cortisol has on the brain.

How to Guard the Brain Amidst Unusual Schedules

Although people who work at night do appear to have more cognitive impairment than people who work during the day, Khan explained that having an irregular schedule that shifts between working during the day and working at night likely has the most profound impact on cognitive function.

“This rotating shift work is more disruptive to your body because you’re not giving your body a chance to adjust,” she said. “If you are doing regular night shifts, your body can adjust.”

For many, shift work is an unavoidable part of their job. Malow emphasizes the importance of getting as much sleep as possible, even when a person’s schedule requires them to do so sporadically or during the day.

If at all possible, she said it’s important to stick to a sleep schedule, that is, sleeping around the same time every day. This may be more doable for people who only work night shifts, rather than rotating shift workers.

All shift workers should also focus on other pillars of health—eating a healthy diet and getting enough physical activity—to help mitigate some of the cognitive and physiological impacts of having an erratic sleep schedule.

“Not everyone can sleep during the day,” Khan said. “But after your shift work, there should be a resting period where you can relax.”

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No, Marijuana Smoke Is Not Safer Than Cigarette Smoke

  • A new study shows that a majority of Americans believe that inhaling marijuana smoke is safer than inhaling tobacco smoke.
  • Researchers believe this is largely due to the growing legality of cannabis, and the well-known negative side effects of tobacco.
  • Study authors note that more quality research is needed on the effects of cannabis, but consumers can be certain that smoking—whether marijuana or tobacco—is bad for their health.

The majority of Americans believe inhaling marijuana smoke is safer than inhaling tobacco smoke, a new study shows.

The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health found nearly 20% of Americans aged 12 or older had used marijuana at least once in the past year, whether by smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles. Among people aged 18–25, more than a third had used marijuana in the past year.

While marijuana has grown in legality over recent years, the effects of inhaling marijuana smoke are still largely unstudied. Meanwhile, there are multiple bodies of research demonstrating the harmful effects of inhaling tobacco smoke, from lung cancer to emphysema.

Perhaps it is a longer history of research that makes tobacco smoke seem more harmful than marijuana smoke.

The new study showed there appears to be a disconnect between how people perceive marijuana smoke to impact their health and how it actually does.

“I’m sure there are differences between different types of smoke, and differences in the exact way they impact the lungs, but I don’t think we have any evidence that inhaling smoke is OK for our lungs,” Beth Cohen, MD, a professor of Medicine at UCSF who co-led the new research told Health.

“Smoke is smoke, and smoke is bad for your health,” she said

Man holding a joint

Man holding a joint

Getty Images / Inside Creative House


Increasing Acceptance of Cannabis, Decreasing Support of Tobacco

To understand the public perception of marijuana smoke, Cohen and her team surveyed more than 5,000 adults living in the United States.

They asked people to report their view of the health impacts of smoking tobacco every day compared to daily cannabis smoking. This included both the effects of first- and second-hand smoke.

The researchers found that people’s perceptions of the health effects of inhaling marijuana smoke are changing, even compared to just a few years ago.

In 2021, 44% of adults surveyed believed smoking marijuana every day is safer than smoking tobacco every day, compared to about 37% in 2017.

The same trend was seen in perceptions of secondhand smoke.

In 2017, about 35% of people believed secondhand cannabis smoke to be safer than secondhand cigarette smoke, compared to about 40% in 2021.

Cohen explained this perception as likely due to the fact that cannabis is becoming more widely accepted, while tobacco users are being met with more restrictions.

“Cannabis has this increasing presence that normalizes it. People perceive that as, ‘This is something I’m seeing more frequently and it’s now legal for me to use, so it must be safe,” she said.

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A Difference in Smoking Frequency

Although cannabis smoke does carry health consequences, differences in how frequently a person is inhaling smoke likely play a big role in how the smoke—whether it’s from cannabis or tobacco—impacts their health.

While people who smoke tobacco often do so multiple times a day for years on end, people who smoke cannabis usually don’t do so as frequently, said Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Tobacco Treatment Clinic at Johns Hopkins Medicine. 

“This difference in usage is a significant factor in why tobacco, which is typically consumed extensively throughout the day and accumulating its harms over many years, has so many health risks associated with it,” Galiatsatos told Health

Because marijuana is typically smoked less frequently than tobacco, the negative impacts it does have are likely not as significant as tobacco.

Still, “I don’t think there’s really convincing data on this idea that cannabis smoke is hugely different and safer, at least from a chemical perspective,” said Cohen.

Difficult to Research

The legality of cannabis has blocked researchers from being able to conduct quality epidemiological studies on people who smoke cannabis, as they have been able to do with tobacco smokers.

“It’s hard to show long-term damage of exposure from such products in laboratory studies,” said Galiatsatos. “Tobacco’s link to cancer was proven by epidemiology studies following veterans over decades, who’d had autopsies when they died.”

Restrictions around cannabis have kept similar public health studies on marijuana smoke from occurring and have led to under-reporting among marijuana smokers.

“The research that has been done so far on long-term effects is inadequate,” said Cohen, who noted that chemically speaking, pure tobacco smoke contains much of the same particles that marijuana smoke does, even if the added chemicals present in many cigarettes aren’t added to cannabis.

Now that cannabis is legal in many states, companies hoping to sell it also have an incentive to push certain health claims, whether or not there is research to back them.

“We do know that there are harmful substances in cannabis smoke that are known to cause damage, so I would be very concerned about the health effects of smoking or vaping cannabis,” she said. “We really need to have better information to give people so they can make those informed decisions.”

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