(Peter Pitts, President and Co-founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest ) - Consumers purchasing retatrutide online may think they are buying a safe, clinically tested weight-loss drug. They are not. Medical spas and online sellers have built a booming black market around an unapproved investigational drug – exploiting polished websites and professional packaging to sell illegal drugs to unsuspecting Americans. What is especially concerning about today’s version of this deception is how FDA is doing nothing to stop it, allowing this black market to turn into a digital-age Wild West. 

Retatrutide is an investigational molecule currently being studied in clinical trials for the treatment of obesity. It has not yet received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and cannot be lawfully sold. That is not an opinion. That is the law. And yet sellers are aggressively marketing it as equivalent to – or even superior to – FDA-approved therapies already on the market.

Illicit retatrutide is being sourced from unregistered foreign manufacturers with no assurance of sterility, potency, or ingredient authenticity. When something goes wrong, distributors face no accountability and no obligation to report it. Consumers have no meaningful way of knowing what they are actually injecting – and the consequences are already showing up in hospitals and poison centers across the country. 

Documented reports describe hospitalizations for acute kidney damage and severe gastrointestinal distress. One 42-year-old woman was rushed to the emergency room after experiencing severe symptoms from black market “retatrutide” she purchased online. Poison center reports have surged – with hundreds of reports in the first four months of 2026. 

FDA’s response to this explosion of illegal drugs – a handful of warning letters with no follow up – amounts to less than a slap on the wrist. Warning letters do not shut down black markets. Arrests and seizures do. 

The deeper threat is institutional – every day this market operates without aggressive enforcement, it becomes more entrenched, profitable, and normalized. The message that FDA is sending to these criminal sellers is that there is no cop on the beat.  When they turn to even more dangerous and brazen schemes to sell these illegal drugs, it will be that much harder for FDA to put a stop to them when it finally decides to act. That erosion of institutional credibility has consequences that outlast any single drug. 

Clinical trials exist because consumer demand is not a substitute for scientific evidence. Allowing investigational peptides to become internet lifestyle products before FDA review and approval is not the democratization of medicine, but the degradation of it. 

The FDA must take aggressive steps to shut down this market and must coordinate with the Department of Justice, Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Trade Commission to pursue seizures, injunctions, and criminal referrals against the sellers and platforms fueling this illegal market. The longer regulators hesitate, the harder this black market becomes to unwind.  The FDA must act now – before the window closes to rein in this new frontier for illegal drugs in the digital age. 

(Novartis) - Dr. Koo, EVP and CMO at Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Bill, who is living with prostate cancer, answer some frequently asked questions about PSMA testing. Talk to your doctor and visit GetYourScan.com. Sponsored by Novartis

Hi, I am Dr. Phillip Koo, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at the Prostate Cancer Foundation, here on behalf of Novartis, to talk about PSMA testing and how a scan can help men take charge.

I am also joined by an amazing patient advocate Bill, who is living with prostate cancer. We’re here to answer some frequently asked questions.

DR. KOO, HOW COMMON IS PROSTATE CANCER?

Unfortunately, prostate cancer is very common and affects roughly 1 in 8 men, that’s why early screening and detection is so important. 

DR. KOO, WHAT SHOULD MEN KNOW ABOUT SCREENING?

The screening is performed using a simple blood test called PSA, prostate specific antigen. It's been used for decades to detect disease early, so you maximize your chances for the best outcomes, including cure. So, I recommend speaking to your doctor about getting this test when appropriate. 

DR. KOO, FOR MEN HEARING ABOUT PSMA FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

PSMA is a biomarker that can be imaged using PET to determine if the prostate cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, which is vital to determining your next steps for care. 

DR. KOO, WHY DOES PSMA MATTER IN PROSTATE CANCER?

PSMA is so important with regards to detecting disease and also determining the appropriate treatments that patients should receive down the road. The good news is over 80 to 90% of prostate cancer patients express that biomarker, which allows us to again determine the appropriate therapies at the right time. 

BILL, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU FIRST LEARNED ABOUT PSMA?

I would tell you that I'm always been a person that should take charge, and one of the things I did right after I was diagnosed 18 years ago with prostate cancer was seek knowledge, and as I looked for more and more information, I came across this listing about PSMA, and I took that to my doctor, and we decided that that would be a great course of action in our attack plan to this disease.

BILL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH PSMA TESTING?

Once I found out exactly what it was, I was very, very excited, because it helped me understand truly where I am in this journey and the status of our based on the PSMA results, and knew it was going to give me a leg up on moving forward with treatments.

BILL, WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER RECEIVING YOUR PSMA SCAN RESULTS?

The first thing we did was get together with my oncologist, and we examined, you know, all the results and crafted a plan of action, because taking a look at the choices, I've never been a passive participant in this process, I always take that the active role because information is power, and when you ask the questions and insist upon getting the right answers you want until you do get them is key to your success

DR. KOO, HOW CAN PATIENTS AND DOCTORS WORK TOGETHER WHEN DECIDING IF THE PSMA TEST IS RIGHT FOR THEM?

First off, patients need to speak up, and they also need to be heard, and in order to accomplish this, patients need to go out and learn as much about this as possible, because that'll allow them to feel empowered to have those conversations, because knowing your PSMA status is vitally important to your cancer care. 

DR. KOO, WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PSMA?

Patients can go to GetYourScan.com to learn all you need to know about the PSMA scan. And also how to advocate for this important test for your care.

(Gilead and Kite Oncology) - Vanessa had a plan. As a travel nurse from Memphis, Tennessee, she was working across the country, building her career and saving up to buy a home. She had mapped out her next steps and was looking ahead to a future she worked hard to create. 

Then, everything changed. 

Vanessa was diagnosed with stage 3 triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. The diagnosis forced her to put her life on hold and shift her focus entirely to treatment.

Hearing the words “you have cancer” changed everything for Vanessa, but also her family. 

Even as a nurse, Vanessa found herself navigating unfamiliar territory. 

“I’ve taken care of patients my whole life,” she says. “But I didn’t really know what breast cancer truly entailed.”

Treatment began quickly. In the months that followed, Vanessa bravely navigated the uncertainty and emotional toll of breast cancer. 

Then came the news that every cancer patient dreads: the cancer had spread, and Vanessa was now facing metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. 

“When I found out I had metastatic breast cancer, it was just an awful feeling to know you have to go through treatment again,” she says.

Triple-negative breast cancer tends to grow and spread more quickly than many other breast cancer types. For about half of women with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, their first treatment might be their only opportunity to keep the cancer from growing, making it critical to choose the best option on day one.

Triple-negative breast cancer also occurs more often in younger women, and it appears at higher rates in Black and Hispanic women than other breast cancer subtypes. For these communities, access to the latest education isn’t just helpful—it’s a matter of survival.

Like many people living with metastatic breast cancer, Vanessa wanted to clearly understand her treatment options and what questions she should be asking her doctor. She quickly learned that metastatic triple-negative breast cancer treatment options have historically been limited to chemotherapy-based therapy, which impacts cancer cells more than normal cells, so they then tend to take up more of the chemotherapy. 

Her doctor suggested a clinical trial for a newer class of medicine called antibody-drug conjugates, more commonly known as ADCs. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, ADCs are designed to find specific markers and deliver medicines more directly to cancer cells.

Until recently, ADCs were used later in treatment, after other options had been tried. Now, patients may be able to receive an ADC as their first treatment after a metastatic triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis. 

Innovations, like ADCs, have already made a difference for many people living with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer by helping to keep cancer from growing. For Vanessa, that means being able to better plan ahead, knowing her good days and her bad days —whether that’s the next girls’ trip or time with her family.

However, not all ADCs are the same. Safety and efficacy can vary for each ADC.   

While not every patient will be eligible, understanding when they may be considered and how treatment can impact daily life can help patients feel more informed when discussing treatment options with their care team.

“When selecting treatment, it’s important to consider patients’ goals, wishes and needs so that we can try to realistically plan around those,” says Vanessa’s medical oncologist, Dr. Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Research at West Cancer Center and Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “All patients are different and may qualify for different ADCs.”

Dr. Vidal encourages patients to feel empowered to have open conversations with their care team and ask questions, such as what treatment goals make the most sense at their stage of care. 

Every person’s experience is different, but many people living with metastatic breast cancer remain on treatment for life, with the goal of helping manage disease and slow progression while maintaining quality of life.

While the physical and emotional impact of treatment could be difficult at times, Vanessa kept going. She leaned on her close friends and family to help her keep “faith over fear” by focusing on the positives and planning outings around her treatments.

Vanessa encourages others living with metastatic breast cancer to stay positive, ask questions and advocate for themselves during treatment conversations.

“You definitely have a fight in front of you, but you can get through this.” Vanessa says. “You have to do your research and get answers.”

To see how Vanessa and others living with metastatic breast cancer navigate ADC treatment for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, visit Expose-MBC.com/ADC.

GILEAD is a trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.
KITE is a trademark of Kite Pharma, Inc.
All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

(NewsUSA) - It's no secret that kids today are struggling with mental health. Heightened academic pressure, the stress of growing up, family dynamics and lack of social connection all play a role, alongside the overuse of phones and devices. 

Young people and parents alike need – and have been asking for – practical, comprehensive solutions designed to help kids thrive in today's fast-paced, increasingly online world. This week's landmark agreement between the states and Meta is incredibly important because it offers new protections for teens and expanded tools for parents. The agreement is meaningful progress for families and should serve as the model for the entire industry.  

The safeguards for young people in the agreement represent important components of a comprehensive approach to youth wellbeing. For example, time limits will help ensure that young people are not overexposed to social media and instead are spending more time on activities like after-school sports, clubs and other extracurriculars. Prohibiting message alerts during school hours and overnight will help kids maintain focus in the classroom and protect their uninterrupted sleep. Teenagers and parents will also have the option to turn off "autoplay" and algorithmic recommendations in teens' feeds, and likes will automatically be hidden, which will help reduce anxiety. Taken together, these changes will make a real difference in broader efforts to protect kids online. 

We all know that social media usage is complex, however. According to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of teens use YouTube, 68 percent use TikTok, 63 percent use Instagram and 31 percent use Facebook. Twenty-one percent report using TikTok almost constantly; 17 percent say the same about YouTube. And this doesn't even account for other platforms like Discord, Reddit, Roblox and Snapchat. 

While a real and meaningful step forward, the reforms reached between the states and Meta still require others to join; otherwise, kids will simply migrate to the apps with the fewest safeguards. That is why my organization is calling on all other social media platforms where young people spend their time to adopt similar safeguards. 

That fact is, parents are hungry for tools and support that contribute to safe, sensible use of technology. The Coalition to Empower our Future's latest survey found that more than eight-in-10 voters and nearly nine-in-10 parents agree that young people should be taught how to use emerging technologies safely and responsibly. Across the board, there is support for a wide range of solutions to increase digital literacy, including solutions such as online safety lessons for students (84 percent); digital wellness guides for parents (85 percent); and media literacy training programs for teachers (87 percent). 

There is still much more work to be done to meet the youth mental health and wellbeing challenge. That includes investing in mental healthcare, normalizing conversations about mental health, teaching digital literacy in the classroom, increasing opportunities for after-school programs and cultivating third spaces where young people can build connections. But this week's agreement opens the door to expanding the adoption of important safeguards across social media. 

It is essential that we build on this momentum and continue our work toward a comprehensive approach to youth wellbeing. There is no higher priority than protecting kids and helping them thrive in the modern world. 

Glen Weiner is Executive Director of Coalition to Empower our Future, an organization dedicated to convening a comprehensive conversation on the state of youth mental health.

(Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies) - Over the past few months, you may have come across advertisements online or on social media for a new weight loss drug called retatrutide, also commonly referred to as “Reta” or “GLP-3.” Despite savvy marketing and “personal testimonials,” there is something critical consumers need to know: retatrutide is not FDA approved for human-use, and the companies selling it are operating illegally through unregulated channels. 

You Can’t Verify What’s in Illicit Retatrutide – Or Where It Even Came From 

Retatrutide is an investigational product still being studied in controlled clinical trials. It has not been approved by FDA or any regulatory body worldwide, meaning no one can sell it to consumers.

And yet, online sellers, telehealth providers, and compounders are using deceptive advertising to market illegal powders, vials and injectables that put consumers’ health at risk. Some label their products as “research-grade” to suggest legitimacy. Buyers should be aware that this label means it was manufactured strictly for lab experiments—not for human or even animal use. Others deploy scientific and medical language to create the impression that their products are safe and clinically validated. They are not—these products have never gone through clinical trials, let alone been found to be safe and effective. 

Given that sellers are operating illegally, consumers have no reliable way to verify where these products are coming from, how they were manufactured, or whether the dosage and ingredients match the label. Their products may be mislabeled, contaminated, incorrectly dosed or entirely different from what is being advertised. 

This creates serious patient safety concerns. Since the beginning of 2026, poison control center reports involving illegal retatrutide have increased 265 percent compared to the final four months of 2025. Retatrutide products sold online have been found to contain entirely different chemicals. Some patients have been hospitalized after taking black-market retatrutide, including several who were hospitalized after taking a potentially contaminated batch. 

Taking Control: How to Spot and Avoid Illegal Online Sellers 

As online marketplaces and wellness platforms multiply, it’s getting harder for consumers to tell safe and approved products from dangerous imitations. In fact, an ASOP Global Foundation  consumer survey found that 65 percent of Americans falsely believe all online pharmacies or health-service websites are reviewed or approved by FDA or state regulators, while 51 percent incorrectly believe only safe sellers appear on the first page of search results.

Before purchasing any medication online, take these steps to ensure you are protecting yourself from an illicit and unsafe product:

• Verify online pharmacies through trusted resources such as https://safe.pharmacy/ or http://www.legitscript.com/
• Avoid any website offering medicines without a prescription, especially unapproved drugs
• Get prescriptions from licensed healthcare providers

Patients should never have to wonder whether they are getting genuine medicine. Awareness is an important first line of defense, and consumers should also encourage platforms, regulators and policymakers to ensure that illegal sellers can’t hide behind search rankings, social media ads and polished websites.

Learn more at buysaferx.pharmacy.  

(Erika Braaksma ) - While World Lung Cancer Day was recognized on August 1, the urgent need to raise global awareness for those affected by the disease and to accelerate the search for a cure remains year-round. With this ongoing mission in mind, Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) are observing the month by awarding $200,000 to two of the field's most promising young scientists. This investment addresses a critical reality in oncology: too often, brilliant research ideas stall not because they lack vision, but because they lack resources. By providing this funding, LCFA and IASLC are ensuring these researchers have the momentum they need to turn today’s innovative ideas into tomorrow’s life-saving breakthroughs.

The two funded projects take aim at two of the toughest questions in the fight against the disease: how to catch lung cancer earlier, and how to stop it from outsmarting the very treatments designed to beat it. Both are essential to the same goal, helping patients live longer, better lives.

The Early Career Researcher (ECR) grant program gives emerging scientists the fuel they need to secure a major independent research award, which can be a launching pad for a career. These researchers aren't just studying the future of lung cancer science; they're building it.

This year's recipients, selected for the originality of their proposals and their potential to change patient outcomes, are Dr. Jared Mayers of Fred Hutch Cancer Center and Dr. Jaime L. Schneider of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The timing could not be more urgent. Competition for research dollars grows fiercer every year, even as lung cancer claims a life in the United States every 4.2 minutes. When bold, early career investigators are handed real, independent funding, their most innovative ideas don't stall on a shelf. They move forward, and they change what's possible in oncology.

"Supporting early-career investigators is not just a strategic priority. It is a necessity for the future of oncology," said Kim Norris, co-founder and president of LCFA. "By investing in these researchers, we are accelerating the pace of discovery and ensuring that promising ideas in metabolic tracking and drug resistance can move from the laboratory to the clinic, where they are needed most."

Dr. Jared Mayers, Fred Hutch Cancer Center: Hunting the hidden influencers inside the lung. Dr. Mayers is investigating how the naturally occurring bacteria living in our lungs may quietly shape the development of lung cancer. Because these bacteria exist in such tiny amounts, they've long been nearly impossible to study. So Dr. Mayers is building the tools to see them by developing highly sensitive new techniques to capture and analyze how these microbes behave inside lung tissue. By mapping how they contribute to cancer, his team hopes to uncover entirely new ways to stop the disease before it ever starts. 

Dr. Mayers says his inspiration is simple: "We don't get new drugs, we don't get new therapies, we don't get longer lives, better quality lives, more time with family unless we invest in the upfront groundwork.”

Dr. Jaime L. Schneider, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Cutting off cancer's escape route. Dr. Schneider is decoding how lung cancer cells learn to survive and keep growing even after treatment. Her focus: how these cells manage their energy and where that system has a weak link worth exploiting. Her goal is to design new, more effective therapies that keep cancer from adapting, offering better and longer-lasting options for patients whose disease has grown resistant to standard chemotherapy and targeted treatments.

 "I was simply blown away by the tremendous arsenal of new drugs that had just come out that were really changing patient lives," said Dr. Schneider, describing what drew her to thoracic oncology.

LCFA and IASLC invite the community to go behind the science with all of the LCFA/IASLC ECR grant recipients. Visit these researchers’ profiles and video insights into their lab work at LCFA’s Meet the Researcher.

LCFA’s Early Career Research Grant Program is known for a remarkable "multiplier effect" currently at 13X return on investment. By providing the first spark for transformative science, the program has awarded 25 grants totaling $4.6 million, funding that has since grown into more than $50 million in additional grants from other organizations building on LCFA-supported research. That track record means Dr. Mayers and Dr. Schneider aren't just receiving funding, they're gaining the foundation to secure the major, long-term support their life-saving work deserves.

This $400,000 investment underscores LCFA and IASLC’s ongoing commitment to accelerating the pace of discovery for patients everywhere. For more resources and information about lung cancer, visit lcfamerica.org.

(NewsUSA) - As millions of Americans turn to social media, online videos and AI-driven platforms for health information, the Health In Hand Foundation is launching a new resource to help consumers navigate an online environment where not everything they see is real. 

Health In Hand today released “How to Spot an AI-Generated Health Video,” providing practical, accessible guidance for evaluating health videos and claims before liking, sharing, following advice, or making a purchase. 

Why Evaluating Online Health Information Matters

The resource comes as Americans increasingly seek health information online. According to recent research, more than one-third of Americans get health information from social media and 1 in 5 use AI chatbots. At the same time, more than half of consumers say it has become difficult to know which sources to trust.

As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, some videos are designed to resemble healthcare professionals, medical experts, or trusted wellness influencers, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to distinguish credible information from misleading or fabricated claims.

The new Health In Hand resource is intended to support safer, more informed self-care decisions, encouraging consumers to pause and evaluate the information they encounter rather than relying solely on how professional or convincing a video appears. 

"Consumers today are navigating a health information environment unlike anything we've seen before. An AI-generated video can look professional, sound credible, and spread to millions of people within hours," said Mary Leonard, Executive Director of the Health In Hand Foundation. 

"Health In Hand is committed to helping consumers separate fact from fiction,” Leonard added. “Our goal is not to make people distrust everything they see online. It's to give them practical tools to ask the right questions, verify sources, and make informed self-care decisions with confidence for themselves and their families."

Think Before You Trust: Three Questions Every Consumer Should Ask

The tool starts with three simple questions consumers can use to evaluate online health content.

Does the video look or sound artificial? Strange blinking, unusual mouth movements, robotic speech, distorted background text, or visuals that appear unnaturally smooth can sometimes indicate AI-generated content. However, Health In Hand emphasizes that appearance alone is not enough to determine whether information is trustworthy.

Can you verify who is speaking? Consumers should look for a real name, professional credential, or organization and determine whether the person can be verified outside social media. A clinic, hospital, or professional organization website may provide useful confirmation.

What is the video trying to sell? Consumers should be cautious when a video promotes a miracle cure, unrealistic results, or a single urgent solution. Health claims should be compared with information from trusted health sources.

Five Red Flags That a Health Video Deserves a Second Look

Next, the tool highlights five red flags consumers should watch for. Among them are videos that look unnaturally perfect, with faces, voices or movements that seem slightly off despite polished production. Another warning sign is an apparent expert who relies on staged visual cues, such as a white coat, generic certificates, or vague titles, to create a sense of authority without providing verifiable credentials.

Consumers should also be cautious of health messages that promise a cure, suggest replacing a current medicine, or guarantee dramatic results with little or no evidence. Urgency is another potential red flag. Statements such as “limited time” or “act now,” particularly when paired with an immediate purchase link, can be pressure tactics rather than indicators of trustworthy health information.

Finally, consumers should take a closer look at dramatic before-and-after results. Claims involving rapid weight loss, instant improvements, or seemingly perfect transformations may be edited, exaggerated, or fabricated.

Helping Consumers Navigate the Future of Digital Health Information

As artificial intelligence continues to transform how health information is created, shared, and consumed, Health In Hand is expanding its efforts to help consumers evaluate what they see online and make safer, more informed self-care decisions for themselves and their families. 

The Foundation's new tool is part of its broader mission to provide trusted, evidence-based self-care education while helping consumers recognize and avoid misleading health claims online. The "How to Spot an AI-Generated Health Video" tool is available now at HealthInHand.org.

(NewsUSA) - July 22 is World Brain Day, a day that highlights the importance of overall brain health. It’s the perfect time to think differently about what caring for your brain can mean for you. While researchers continue to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, one thing is becoming clear: healthy lifestyle choices can help support brain health over time.

That's the idea behind the Alzheimer's Association's new (re)think your brain initiative, which translates the latest brain health research into practical, everyday habits people can start today.

For too long, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias have been viewed as conditions to address only after symptoms appear. New science-based research is changing that understanding, showing how lifestyle choices play an important role in helping to support brain health over time. Everyday habits, including how you move, what you eat, how you sleep, how you engage your mind and more, may help protect memory and thinking and potentially reduce the risk of dementia.

While there is growing overall interest in brain health, many people still don't know how to begin caring for their brain. The Alzheimer's Association 2026 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report shows that nearly 9 in 10 people say brain health is important, but only 1 in 10 say they know how to maintain it.

The Alzheimer's Association developed (re)think your brain to help close that gap, making brain health science easier to understand and turn into meaningful action. Through its “6-Step Challenge,” the initiative encourages people to:

· (re)think your habits: Check your current habits and build a personalized brain health action plan.

· (re)think your day: Start with one habit and build from there by incorporating everyday changes into your routine.

· (re)think your movement: Get moving. Regular physical activity supports brain health and overall well-being.

· (re)think your diet: Eat right. Track what you eat and look for ways to improve your nutrition.

· (re)think your mind: Challenge your brain by learning something new.

· (re)think what's next: Monitor your health and invite a friend to take steps toward better brain health with you.

"The Alzheimer's Association is committed to translating the latest science into practical guidance people can understand and use right away to proactively care for their brain health," said Joanne Pike, DrPH, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. “Through (re)think your brain, we're helping people take meaningful steps today to help support brain health for years to come."

This World Brain Day, take the opportunity to (re)think what brain health can really mean for you.

To begin building your own brain-healthy habits, visit www.rethinkyourbrain.org.

(NewsUSA) - Heart disease is often thought of as a condition that affects older adults, but new research from the American Heart Association suggests the future of women's heart health may be far more concerning—and that prevention should begin much earlier in life.

A new scientific statement published in Circulation, the flagship peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association, projects that nearly 6 in 10 women in the United States will be living with some form of cardiovascular disease by 2050 if current health trends continue. The increase is largely driven by rising rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity—conditions that are becoming more common not only among adults but also among younger women and girls.

Cardiovascular disease is already the leading cause of death for women in the United States, affecting more than 62 million women and accounting for one in every three female deaths. The new projections indicate that without greater awareness and earlier prevention, the health and economic burden of cardiovascular disease will continue to grow over the next several decades.

Lifestyle expert Jennifer Bonner says these findings serve as an important reminder that heart health isn't something women should think about only later in life.

"Many women don't realize that the risk factors for heart disease often begin years before symptoms ever appear," Bonner explains. "The choices we make today—how we eat, how active we are, how well we manage stress and other health conditions—can have a lasting impact on our heart health tomorrow."

The report highlights several trends that health experts find especially concerning. By 2050, nearly 60% of women are projected to have high blood pressure, while more than one in four will have diabetes and more than 60% will be living with obesity. These conditions significantly increase the risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke and other cardiovascular complications.

The findings also reveal that these health challenges are appearing earlier than many people expect. Among women ages 22 to 44, rates of cardiovascular disease and major risk factors are expected to climb substantially in the coming years. Even younger generations are being affected. Researchers project that nearly 32% of girls between the ages of 2 and 19 could have obesity by 2050, influenced in part by inadequate physical activity and poor nutrition.

"This isn't simply about preventing disease later in life," Bonner says. "It's about creating healthy habits early so girls and women have the opportunity to enjoy better health throughout every stage of life."

The scientific statement also points to significant disparities across communities. Women identifying as Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian and multiracial populations are projected to experience some of the largest increases in cardiovascular risk factors. For example, more than 70% of Black women are projected to have high blood pressure and obesity by 2050, while Hispanic women are expected to experience one of the largest increases in hypertension and Asian women one of the greatest increases in obesity.

Although these projections are concerning, experts emphasize that they are not inevitable.

According to the American Heart Association, as many as 80% of heart disease and stroke cases may be preventable through healthy lifestyle choices and effective management of risk factors. The organization encourages women to follow Life's Essential 8™, which promotes better cardiovascular health through balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, quality sleep, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Heart health also deserves attention during every stage of a woman's life. Pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause and aging can all influence cardiovascular risk, making routine medical care and preventive screenings increasingly important. Understanding personal risk factors and working with healthcare providers can help women take proactive steps before serious problems develop.

"The future isn't set in stone," Bonner says. "Every woman has opportunities to protect her heart, whether she's raising a family, building a career or entering a new stage of life. Small changes made consistently can lead to healthier outcomes for years to come."

For trusted information about cardiovascular disease, prevention strategies and resources designed specifically for women, visit www.heart.org or www.goredforwomen.org.

(NewsUSA) - Uterine fibroids can make day-to-day living a challenge for many women. While fibroids are common, they are much more common in women of color. Up to 80% of Black women experience them by age 50. Yet many women are unaware of uterine fibroids and the range of treatment options to help them feel better and return to their daily lives.

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a non-surgical treatment performed by an interventional radiologist. A catheter is inserted through a tiny incision and guided using real-time medical imaging to the blood vessels supplying the fibroids. Small particles are injected to block blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink over time. Compared to open surgical options, UFE typically results in less pain and a shorter recovery period.

“Before UFE, my entire life was planned around my fibroids — what I could wear, where I could go—all to manage the symptoms and pain I was experiencing,” said Kenya Green, a patient who has experienced fibroids for decades. “When I asked my OBGYN what my options were, I was told I could go on birth control or that I needed to have a hysterectomy.”

Uterine fibroids are not cancer. They are growths that develop in the uterus that can significantly impact menstrual health, causing heavy bleeding, bloating and severe pain. Women often suffer in silence, or think that surgery is their only option – it is not.

“I was in my early 30s and I was not ready for the changes hysterectomy would bring,” Green said. “I found out about uterine fibroid embolization from a friend who referred me to an interventional radiologist, who was able to help.”

“Fibroids are the number 1 reason why women undergo hysterectomy, which is unnecessary in the significant majority of cases and can be replaced with the much safer, less invasive, nonsurgical UFE procedure,” said John Lipman, MD, an interventional radiologist and founder and medical director of the Atlanta Fibroid Center. “Compared with surgery, UFE is much less invasive, less expensive, has a much shorter recovery time (days versus weeks or months), and is covered by all major insurance plans.”

Awareness and access to fibroid diagnosis and treatment are vital. Uterine fibroids are three times more common in Black women and twice as common in Hispanic women, but 36% of Black women and 22% of Hispanic women mistakenly believe they are not at risk of developing fibroids.

“It has been shown in multiple medical studies that most women suffering with fibroids do not hear about UFE as a treatment option from their doctor despite full endorsement from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) back in 2008,” Lipman said. “Women are entitled to know all of their treatment options and not just the surgical ones. UFE is an absolute game changer for fibroid sufferers, but the biggest problem is that most patients are unaware of this outstanding procedure and need to obtain a second opinion from an interventional radiologist.”

After UFE, Green has experienced a marked improvement in her quality of life. “Since I had my UFE, I no longer have to plan my life and my wardrobe around my fibroid symptoms,” Green said. “I am pain free and living a life of abundance, enjoying time with friends and family without worry.”

As we recognize July as Uterine Fibroid Awareness month, all women deserve to know their uterine fibroids treatment options. For more information, visit the Radiology Health Equity Coalition Uterine Fibroid Resources page.