New AI tool predicts your biological age from a selfie
While doctors learn to form a picture of a patient's health from their face, using what they call 'the eyeball test,' new research in the Lancet Digital Health indicates that this may be a job that artificial intelligence can enhance in the future.
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Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Strange fingertip symptom could mean you have the UK's most deadly cancer
An unusual symptom in the fingertips could mean that you have one of the deadliest cancers in the UK. Finger clubbing means there are certain changes in the shape of your fingers and fingernails. It is also called digital clubbing or Hippocratic fingers. People with conditions such as heart or lung problems sometimes have these changes. Based on figures from Cancer Research UK, lung cancer accounts for roughly 34,800 deaths annually. This represents 21 per cent of all cancer-related deaths. What contributes to lung cancer's lethal nature is the fact that it rarely presents noticeable symptoms during its initial phases. Consequently, diagnosis may not be made until the illness has advanced significantly. The NHS states: "Lung cancer does not usually cause noticeable symptoms until it's spread through the lungs or into other parts of the body. This means the outlook for the condition is not as good as many other types of cancer." Hence, identifying any possible indicators of the condition at the earliest opportunity is crucial. One such indicator might appear at the fingertips. Cancer Research UK cautions that finger clubbing can be a symptom of lung cancer. This typically impacts the fingertips on both hands, progressing gradually over time. Recommended reading: People 'blown away' as giant sharks seen leaping out the water off UK coastlines Police to be handed stronger powers to stop disruptive E-scooters on streets New popular Paddy McGuinness show axed after just one series, per reports What is finger clubbing? Finger clubbing usually affects the top of the fingers on both hands. And can also affect toes. It seems to happen in stages: there is softening of the base of the nail (nail bed) and redness (erythema) of the skin around the nail the angle between the nail bed and the nail fold (the skin just below the cuticle) increases, which causes the nail to curve more than usual the nail and the skin around the nail look shiny, and the nail has ridges along the length of it the ends of the fingers look larger, giving the 'clubbed' appearance Finger clubbing generally takes years to develop. But it can happen quicker in certain conditions, such as a lung abscess.
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Heart Problems Rising in This Group
Cardiovascular health appears to be suboptimal and in decline among older adults with high blood pressure, heart failure, or stroke compared with those without these conditions, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association . Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2018, researchers examined changes in cardiovascular health, as measured by the American Heart Association's (AHA's) Life's Essential 8 (LE8), in adults aged 65 years or older with self-reported hypertension, stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, or angina. LE8's metrics include diet, physical activity, nicotine use, sleep health, BMI, blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar, according to the study author Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM, from the Framingham Center for Population and Prevention Science at Boston University, Boston. Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM 'LE8 scores have been studied in hundreds of populations across the globe, but most of these studies have focused on people who do not yet have [cardiovascular disease] CVD,' he said. 'We examined current levels and trends of LE8 scores in older US adults who are living with CVD, and we [hypothesized] that LE8 would be a means for extending life and avoiding future cardiovascular events.' Opportunities to Reduce Risk Among 3050 older adults with and without CVD in the database, the researchers found the gap in cardiovascular health between people with and without CVD was primarily attributable to differences in blood pressure and physical activity. When Lloyd-Jones' group compared LE8 scores between the two groups, they found people with no CVD had an average cardiovascular health score of 68 out of 100. The average score for those with at least one cardiovascular condition fell below 60 and dropped further with each additional CVD. Throughout the study period, LE8 scores decreased by 4.1% among people with hypertension, 11.5% among those with a history of stroke, and 15.2% among those with heart failure. Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, and medical director of Atria New York City, said clinicians can help patients improve their odds of avoiding cardiovascular problems. Nieca Goldberg, MD 'This study highlights important information for [older adults] at high risk for cardiac events,' she said, noting that attaining blood pressure < 120/80 mm Hg is key. 'Patients should be encouraged to take blood pressure measurements at home so that they can be engaged in their healthcare,' she said. Goldberg suggested clinicians ask their patients who avoid physical activity what prevents them from exercising. 'Is it an orthopedic limitation such as knee and hip pain or back pain? In such a case, the patient may need physical therapy to increase their physical activity,' she said. Goldberg also recommended that clinicians emphasize the importance of a low-salt diet that includes at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, lean proteins, and foods that contain calcium while avoiding processed foods, which tend to be high in salt and sugar. Lloyd-Jones added that using the AHA's online tool, MyLifeCheck, to measure LE8 can help quantify the cardiovascular health of older individuals with and without CVD and 'present opportunities to improve health, prolong lifespan, and reduce the further burden of CVD.' 'This can also help empower patients to control and improve modifiable aspects of their health,' he said. Goldberg declared having no financial disclosures.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aussies warned against 'honourable' winter trend: 'Doing a great disservice'
While subtle signs of spring are slowly starting to emerge, most Aussie cities are still very much in the depths of winter. And if you've woken up recently and felt a little poorly, you wouldn't be alone. As the weather remains cold and wet in many parts of the country, doctors are reporting an uptick in cases of common winter illnesses, including cold and flu. Several Queensland hospitals were forced to pause non-urgent surgeries last month due to a surge in influenza and COVID cases, taking up hospital beds and aged care facilities nationwide are battling with Covid outbreaks. Now, a prominent doctor is warning Aussies that a noble trend among Australia's workforce is contributing to the spread of many common winter illnesses. "It's that concept of soldiering on," Dr Chris Moy, former Vice President of the Australian Medical Association, told Yahoo News Australia. Those who carry on about their everyday lives by going to work and being out and about in the community, while it "does appear quite honourable", could be costing those around them. "They are more likely to pass it on to other people," he explained. Warning as Aussies 'falling back into bad habits' It's now been five years since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Australia's shores, sending many people's daily habits into a tailspin. Suddenly, we were wearing masks and squirting hand sanitiser with reckless abandon. For a lot of the year, we dutifully sat at home with many working remotely, and picking up new hobbies like sourdough making and doing trivia over Zoom over the weekend, to prevent the spread. But a growing number of Australian bosses are ordering staff back into the office, and in doing so, Dr Moy warns we've gone back to our old ways. "We're falling back into bad habits," he said. "During Covid, we were very clear that we had to stop, we needed people to stay away from work when they were sick to minimise the spread, but we've reverted back to a great degree." He's urged Aussies to "think about the consequences" of their illnesses on those around them. The return to office working, which he in part attributes to cost-of-living pressures and maintaining employment, has resulted in "presenteeism". "Winter is always worse," he said, explaining that the cold brings people into closer proximity, but also because "it does appear that some viruses are more stable in the cold and can spread more easily." According to Dr Moy, there is concern that vaccine fatigue, with many not getting their flu jabs or Covid boosters, as well as the fact that "we've dropped back in terms of good hygiene," he explained. What should I do if I get sick? Dr Moy said that if Aussies are experiencing respiratory symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, a runny nose or a sore throat, they should "be staying home as soon as they develop symptoms and for several days after". He encouraged those who are unwell to do several rapid antigen tests. "Sometimes the first test is negative, so do another one 48 hours later," he said. If Aussies experience high temperatures, shortness of breath, they should contact their doctor, Dr Moy said. He added that Aussies should get their Covid booster vaccines and flu jabs, adding "we're seeing tonnes of influenza". "Just make sure that you are practising good hygiene and basically, try and get out of the mode of soldiering on, presenteeism might appear to be honourable, but you may be doing a great disservice to others." Young Aussie reports 'scary' symptoms after contracting flu Earlier this year, as flu season kicked off, one young Aussie dutifully rolled up her sleeve for her annual flu vaccination. But weeks later, Mikaela was struck down by influenza, and despite having had the flu several times before, this would prove to be by far the worst. 'It was quite shocking how bad it was,' the 23-year-old told Yahoo News. 'I've never been sick like that before.' She described her symptoms as "scary", with "really bad sinus pain, and terrible fatigue." But when she went to see her doctor, the next available appointment was days away. Her experience highlights just how unpredictable the flu can be, with this year's season kicking off earlier than expected. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
