Health

Amid the alarming trend of colorectal cancer cases rising among young people, a new study has pinpointed a potential source.
Researchers from University of California San Diego have linked a bacterial toxin called colibactin to the increase in early-onset cases.
Colibactin is produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that exist in the colon and rectum, according to the researchers.
COLORECTAL CANCER RISK REDUCED BY THIS COMMON VITAMIN, STUDY SUGGESTS
Exposure to the bacterial toxin during early childhood can alter the DNA of colon cells in a way that increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50, the study found.
The study, which was funded by Cancer Research UK, was published in the journal Nature on April 23.
“The key takeaway is that exposure to colibactin is likely a major contributor to early-onset colorectal cancer,” senior author Ludmil Alexandrov, professor in the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Cellular a..

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is known to have a direct impact on heart attack and stroke risk — but a new study has revealed its surprising link to brain health.
In a large, randomized trial, researchers led by First Hospital of China Medical University discovered that “intensive blood pressure control” resulted in a 15% reduced dementia risk among participants and a 16% reduced risk of cognitive impairment.
The study included 33,995 people in rural China aged 40 or older who had “uncontrolled hypertension.”
7 BLOOD PRESSURE MISTAKES THAT COULD BE THROWING OFF YOUR READINGS
The participants were divided into two groups. One received “usual care,” while the other was assigned to “trained non-physician community healthcare providers” who prescribed “titrated antihypertensive medications.”
For the latter group, the medications helped them achieve a systolic blood pressure goal of <130 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure goal of <80 mm Hg, accord..

With around one million people living with Parkinson’s disease in the U.S. — and 90,000 getting new diagnoses each year — the race is on for a cure.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have announced progress on that front — they have developed a new therapy that uses stem cells to treat advanced Parkinson’s.
In the phase 1 trial, the researchers used donated stem cells (taken from early-stage embryos) to create nerve cells (neurons) and transplanted them into the brains of 12 Parkinson’s patients, according to a press release from MSK.
NEW DRUG FOR PARKINSON’S SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN CLINICAL TRIALS: 'VERY ENCOURAGED'
Once the cells are injected, they produce dopamine, a hormone in the brain that helps with movement and coordination.
(One of the hallmarks of Parkinson’s is low levels of dopamine, which causes the typical symptoms of tremors, stiffness, balance issues and difficulty walking.)
After 18 months, the injected..

Pope Francis, 88, died on Easter Monday of a stroke and cardiac arrest, according to an announcement from the Vatican.
Fox News’ Alex Hogan confirmed in an on-air report that the Pope had a stroke in the early morning of April 21, went into a coma and then had a heart attack.
The Pope’s death follows years of ongoing health concerns, including a recent hospitalization for double pneumonia.
POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88 YEARS OLD
The official death announcement was made at the Pope’s residence in the Chapel of St. Martha on Monday.
Pope Francis served for 12 years and advocated for causes including migrant rights, climate change and LGBTQ inclusion, Hogan reported.
The day before his death, the Pope met with Vice President JD Vance in Vatican City.
POPE FRANCIS' DEATH AFTER RESPIRATORY ILLNESS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA
While the Pope’s recent bout with pneumonia had sparked concerns about his health, the stroke event that led to his death came as a s..

The annual cancer statistics report from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) — which was published in the journal Cancer on Monday, April 21 — shows some signs of progress in America’s fight against the disease.
Overall, rates of new cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths have declined.
Between 2018 and 2022, cancer death rates have decreased by 1.7% each year for men and 1.3% for women, the report stated.
“Cancer death rates are falling among both men and women because of many factors — including better screening, early intervention, more advanced surgical approaches and better targeted therapies,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.
COLORECTAL CANCER RISK REDUCED BY THIS COMMON VITAMIN, STUDY SUGGESTS
Smoking-related cancers in particular (lung, bladder and larynx) saw significant declines in new cases and deaths, the researchers noted, likely driven by reduced tobacco use and changes in screening recommendations.
For adult males, mortality ra..

Boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya, 52, recently shared a beauty secret that is raising some eyebrows.
“These lasers only making me younger and cuter … sorry fellas,” he recently posted on Instagram, along with a video of himself receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) along with a laser treatment.
“CO2 laser + hyperbaric chamber=sexy papichulo by next week,” he went on.
While HBOT can serve as a supplement for other therapies, it is not a primary treatment for illnesses, experts emphasized.
COMMON SUPPLEMENT COULD HELP YOU LIVE LONGER, RESEARCH SUGGESTS
Fox News Digital spoke to the experts to find out whether HBOT is a safe aesthetic treatment.
In everyday life, humans breathe in air so that blood can deliver oxygen to cells for energy — but that air is only comprised of 21% oxygen.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works by pumping 100% oxygen to the tissues, which can aid in healing. (Tissues need oxygen to function normally, but they require more oxygen after injury, experts say..

Searches for “tongue scraper” have almost doubled in the last two decades, according to Google Trends. Some experts, however, have warned about potential risks.
The practice of tongue-scraping (or tongue-brushing) has existed as a means of dental health for hundreds of years.
While earlier studies concluded that scraping the tongue can improve one's sense of taste in as little as two weeks, some have raised concerns about potential heart health risks associated with the practice.
HERE'S HOW YOU SHOULD BE CLEANING YOUR TEETH, ACCORDING TO A DENTIST
“There’s always been a strong association between good oral hygiene and heart health,” Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company, told Fox News Digital.
“Gingivitis or a bad gum infection has been known to cause problems with the heart on many different levels,” said the Maryland-based doctor.
Despite the potential benefits, Serwer and others hav..

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recently reported the state’s first measles case of the year, identifying the patient as a child under 4 years old who recently traveled internationally.
While the department released limited information about the patient, it confirmed the child lives in the northwest region.
Health officials are coordinating efforts to identify anyone who might have been exposed, according to a news release from VDH.
Measles outbreaks have been declared in eight states, the most recent announced Thursday in Michigan.
MEASLES OUTBREAKS NOW DECLARED IN 8 STATES, INCLUDING MICHIGAN'S FIRST IN 5 YEARS
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Oakland County Health Division confirmed the first case of measles in Oakland County March 14, and the state is up to eight cases detected this year.
“This first case of measles in Virginia this year is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with international trav..

Vitamin D is widely known for boosting bone health, muscle strength and immune function, but it also has a range of other benefits — including cancer prevention.
A new study published in the journal Nutrients suggests that the common vitamin is effective in preventing and treating colorectal cancer.
Hungarian researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 50 previous studies that included more than 1.3 million participants, focusing on vitamin D’s potential effects on cancer risk, immunity and inflammation.
COMMON VITAMIN SHOWN TO REDUCE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
“The most important finding is that vitamin D plays a critical role in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer,” study author János Tamás Varga, PhD, associate professor at Semmelweis University in Budapest, told Fox News Digital.
“Our research clearly supports the strong correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (the primary form of vitamin D) levels and cancer outcomes.”
Cancer patients with low vitamin D levels showe..

Michigan has officially reported a measles outbreak in the state.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Oakland County Health Division confirmed its first case of measles in Oakland County on March 14.
The department announced on April 17 a separate outbreak in Montcalm County, after three cases were confirmed.
MEASLES OUTBREAK CONTINUES: SEE WHICH STATES HAVE REPORTED CASES
This is the first measles outbreak in Michigan since 2019, with eight total cases detected across the state in 2025.
An outbreak refers to an incidence of three or more cases that share a source of infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles outbreaks have been identified in seven other U.S. states this year, including Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and California, according to the states' health departments.
IS MMR VACCINE SAFE FOR KIDS? DR. NICOLE SAPHIER ADDRESSES CONCERNS AS MEASLES CASES RISE
As of April 10, 2025, the C..