logo
Keeping wellbeing top of mind this Men's Health Awareness Month

Keeping wellbeing top of mind this Men's Health Awareness Month

Yahoo13 hours ago

(FOX40.COM) — June is Men's Health Awareness Month, and Dignity Health St. Joseph's Medical Center is encouraging men to keep their physical and mental well-being top of mind.
On average, women are projected to live about six years longer than U.S. men, according to a study by published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Jamil joined FOX40 to share valuable insights from his practice that can help men lead healthier lives.
Dr. Jamil emphasized the importance of men prioritizing their health in all stages of life.
'Sometimes patients, particularly men, tend to have certain attitudes that prevent them from utilizing all the benefits of modern healthcare,' said Dr. Jamil.
He finds that his patients let their check-ups fall to the wayside when they are feeling well and showing signs of good health.
'No Vigilantes Act' introduced in an effort to identify federal ICE agents
Yet Dr. Jamil recommends that men regularly visit their primary care doctors regardless of their age or overall health condition.
Regular visits can help patients get further screenings, prevent oncoming disease or complications.
You can learn more about men's health at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Medical Center by visiting DignityHealth.org/Stockton.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Should You Use a Sunscreen With a Higher SPF? We Asked a Dermatologist
Should You Use a Sunscreen With a Higher SPF? We Asked a Dermatologist

CNET

time34 minutes ago

  • CNET

Should You Use a Sunscreen With a Higher SPF? We Asked a Dermatologist

Before you leave your house, you probably check to make sure you have three items on hand: your keys, wallet and phone. But there is one product you may be forgetting that is essential for your health -- sunscreen. Especially during the summer months, sunscreen is crucial to protect your skin from the sun's UV rays, which can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. But with so many different SPF numbers out there, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. We asked a dermatologist, so you don't have to. What is SPF? SPF, or sun protection factor, describes the amount of solar energy needed to produce a sunburn on protected skin relative to unprotected skin, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. Logic would follow, then, that wearing a higher SPF would offer you better protection when you're out and about, basking in the sun's rays. Is a higher SPF better? Is higher SPF sunscreen more protective in a measurable way that actually matters? The tested difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is small, according to Dr. Steven Daveluy, board-certified dermatologist and program director at Wayne State University Department of Dermatology. There was a difference of 96.7% blocking vs. 98% blocking, in one example he provided. Research on people wearing sunscreen out in "real life" has suggested higher SPFs are more protective, Daveluy said in an email. Combine this with the fact you're probably not wearing enough sunscreen -- studies have shown people apply only 25% to 50% of the amount that they should, Daveluy said -- and a higher SPF may come out reasonably more protective. "You should use about 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover your head, neck, arms and legs when wearing shorts and a T-shirt," Daveluy recommended, adding that people without hair should use a little more. "That means your 3-ounce tube of sunscreen is only three applications," Daveluy said. "Most people are not using that amount." What is the minimum SPF you need in a sunscreen? The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends your sunscreen be SPF 30 or higher. It also recommends you look for sunscreen that has broad-spectrum protection (it protects against UVA and UVB rays) and make sure it's water-resistant. "If you follow the recommendations for the proper amount of sunscreen, then SPF 30 is great," Daveluy said. If you think you're skimping on the layers, though, a higher SPF could offer more benefit. He added that he generally recommends looking for at least SPF 50 or 60. Does skin tone matter when choosing an SPF? People with darker skin tones have more melanin, which does offer some protection from the sun's damaging rays. For this reason, skin cancer rates in people of color are lower than rates in white people, but the risk isn't zero. Research also suggests that people of color may be more likely to experience a missed or late diagnosis of skin cancer, making outcomes more dangerous. (It's also important to note that melanoma can have other causes besides exposure to sunlight or UV rays, and can show up in areas not typically exposed to sun.) "SPF 30 is the minimum for everyone," Daveluy said. He added that tinted sunscreens may be a better fit for darker skin tones, leaving less of a white cast. "If you have very fair skin, the higher [SPF] numbers may be a good idea, especially if you aren't using the proper amount, because you will see the consequences of underuse more easily," Daveluy said. Sunscreen red flags As long as you're wearing a minimum of SPF 30, applying it properly and also looking for products that are broad spectrum and water resistant, you've got the basics down. Daveluy added that for people with sensitive skin, finding a mineral sunscreen with "active ingredients of zinc and/or titanium" may be a good choice. Daveluy pointed out other measures of protecting yourself from the sun, including wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sun-protective clothing and hanging out in the shade when possible. But don't forget that sunscreen has a proven safety record going back for decades, he said. "The biggest red flags for sunscreen are any people or reports that try to tell you sunscreen isn't safe," Daveluy said.

The AI Mental Health Market Is Booming — But Can The Next Wave Deliver Results?
The AI Mental Health Market Is Booming — But Can The Next Wave Deliver Results?

Forbes

timean hour ago

  • Forbes

The AI Mental Health Market Is Booming — But Can The Next Wave Deliver Results?

AI tools promise scalable mental health support, but can they actually deliver real care, or just ... More simulate it? In April of 2025, Amanda Caswell found herself on the edge of a panic attack one midnight. With no one to call and the walls closing in, she opened ChatGPT. As she wrote in her piece for Tom's Guide, the AI chatbot calmly responded, guiding her through a series of breathing techniques and mental grounding exercises. It worked, at least in that moment. Caswell isn't alone. Business Insider reported earlier that an increasing number of Americans are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT for emotional support, not as a novelty, but as a lifeline. A recent survey of Reddit users found many people report using ChatGPT and similar tools to cope with emotional stress. These stats paint a hopeful picture: AI stepping in where traditional mental health care can't. But they also raise a deeper question about whether these tools are actually helping. A Billion-Dollar Bet On Mental Health AI AI-powered mental health tools are everywhere — some embedded in employee assistance programs, others packaged as standalone apps or productivity companions. In the first half of 2024 alone, investors poured nearly $700 million into AI mental health startups globally, the most for any digital healthcare segment, according to Rock Health. The demand is real. Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety cost the global economy more than $1 trillion each year in lost productivity, to the World Health Organization. And per data from the CDC, over one in five U.S. adults under 45 reported symptoms in 2022. Yet, many couldn't afford therapy or were stuck on waitlists for weeks — leaving a care gap that AI tools increasingly aim to fill. Companies like are trying to do just that. Founded by Sarah Wang — a former Meta and TikTok tech leader who built AI systems for core product and global mental health initiatives — BlissBot blends neuroscience, emotional resilience training and AI to deliver what she calls 'scalable healing systems.' 'Mental health is the greatest unmet need of our generation,' Wang explained. 'AI gives us the first real shot at making healing scalable, personalized and accessible to all.' She said Blissbot was designed from scratch as an AI-native platform, a contrast to existing tools that retrofit mental health models into general-purpose assistants. Internally, the company is exploring the use of quantum-inspired algorithms to optimize mental health diagnostics, though these early claims have not yet been peer-reviewed. It also employs privacy-by-design principles, giving users control over their sensitive data. Sarah Wang- Founder, Blissbot 'We've scaled commerce and content with AI,' Wang added. 'It's time we scale healing.' Blissbot isn't alone in this shift. Other companies, like Wysa, Woebot Health and Innerworld, are also integrating evidence-based psychological frameworks into their platforms. While each takes a different approach, they share the common goal of delivering meaningful mental health outcomes. Why Outcomes Still Lag Behind Despite the flurry of innovation, mental health experts caution that much of the AI being deployed today still isn't as effective as claimed. 'Many AI mental health tools create the illusion of support,' said Funso Richard, an information security expert with a background in psychology. 'But if they aren't adaptive, clinically grounded and offer context-aware support, they risk leaving users worse off — especially in moments of real vulnerability.' Even when AI platforms show promise, Richard cautioned that outcomes remain elusive, noting that AI's perceived authority could mislead vulnerable users into trusting flawed advice, especially when platforms aren't transparent about their limitations or aren't overseen by licensed professionals. Wang echoed these concerns, citing a recent Journal of Medical Internet Research study that pointed out limitations in the scope and safety features of AI-powered mental health tools. The regulatory landscape is also catching up. In early 2025, the European Union's AI Act classified mental health-related AI as 'high risk,' requiring stringent transparency and safety measures. While the U.S. has yet to implement equivalent guardrails, legal experts warn that liability questions are inevitable if systems offer therapeutic guidance without clinical validation. For companies rolling out AI mental health benefits as part of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and retention strategies, the stakes are high. No If tools don't drive outcomes, they risk becoming optics-driven solutions that fail to support real well-being. However, it's not all gloom and doom. Used thoughtfully, AI tools can help free up clinicians to focus on deeper, more complex care by handling structured, day-to-day support — a hybrid model that many in the field see as both scalable and safe. What To Ask Before Buying Into The Hype For business leaders, the allure of AI-powered mental health tools is clear: lower costs, instant availability and a sleek, data-friendly interface. But adopting these tools without a clear framework for evaluating their impact can backfire. So what should companies be asking? Before deploying these tools, Wang explained, companies should interrogate the evidence behind them. 'Are they built on validated frameworks like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), or are they simply rebranding wellness trends with an AI veneer?,' she questioned. 'Do the platforms measure success based on actual outcomes — like symptom reduction or long-term behavior change — or just logins? And perhaps most critically, how do these systems protect privacy, escalate crisis scenarios and adapt across different cultures, languages, and neurodiverse communities?' Richard agreed, adding that 'there's a fine line between offering supportive tools and creating false assurances. If the system doesn't know when to escalate — or assumes cultural universality — it's not just ineffective. It's dangerous.' Wang also emphasized that engagement shouldn't be the metric of success. 'The goal isn't constant use,' she said. 'It's building resilience strong enough that people can eventually stand on their own.' She added that the true economics of AI in mental health don't come from engagement stats. Rather, she said, the show up later — in the price we pay for shallow interactions, missed signals and tools that mimic care without ever delivering it. The Bottom Line Back in that quiet moment when Caswell consulted ChatGPT during a panic attack, the AI didn't falter. It guided her through that moment like a human therapist would. However, it also didn't diagnose, treat, or follow up. It helped someone get through the night — and that matters. But as these tools become part of the infrastructure of care, the bar has to be higher. As Caswell noted, 'although AI can be used by therapists to seek out diagnostic or therapeutic suggestions for their patients, providers must be mindful of not revealing protected health information due to HIPAA requirements.' That's especially because scaling empathy isn't just a UX challenge. It's a test of whether AI can truly understand — not just mimic — the emotional complexity of being human. For companies investing in the future of well-being, the question isn't just whether AI can soothe a moment of crisis, but whether it can do so responsibly, repeatedly and at scale. 'That's where the next wave of mental health innovation will be judged,' Wang said. 'Not on simulations of empathy, but on real and measurable human outcomes.'

Three Siblings, One Fatal Gene: A Family's Fight Against Early-Onset Alzheimer's
Three Siblings, One Fatal Gene: A Family's Fight Against Early-Onset Alzheimer's

Wall Street Journal

timean hour ago

  • Wall Street Journal

Three Siblings, One Fatal Gene: A Family's Fight Against Early-Onset Alzheimer's

Hannah Richardson is hopeful about her future and its endless possibilities. But the 24-year-old's plans are clouded by an unthinkable reality—there is a 50% chance she will develop Alzheimer's disease in her 30s. Hannah's family has a history of a rare genetic mutation that, when inherited, virtually guarantees that the carrier will die of an aggressive form of Alzheimer's early in life. No drug has been found to stop it. But now researchers are exploring a new avenue: Could pre-emptive treatment slow or even halt the memory-robbing disease in people at high risk of developing it?

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store