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The research, to be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in Chicago, analyzed data from more than 630,000 patients.

“To our knowledge, this is the first population-based study assessing disparity in cardiovascular mortality in different groups among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer,” says study author Ahsan Ayaz, MD, an internal medicine resident at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, New York.

Looking at such a large dataset allowed the researchers to find out which subgroups faced the highest risks, and how to mitigate those risks for the best survival outcomes, Dr. Ayaz says.

The First 2 Years After Diagnosis Are Critical

Ayaz and his team looked at medical information on people diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 2000 and 2021.

They included in their analysis anyone who died from complications of:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke
• Atherosclerosis, or blocked arteries
• Aortic aneurysm, a bulge in the main artery of the body

The research found that the chances of dying from heart problems were highest in the first two years after a colorectal cancer diagnosis. During this period, the risk was 45 percent greater.

While the study doesn’t directly address the reasons, this period coincides with intensive cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery — each of which can impact cardiovascular health, says Robert S. Copeland-Halperin, MD, an assistant professor of cardiology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Northwell Health in Uniondale, New York, and a member of the cardio-oncology council of the American College of Cardiology.

“Previous studies have also shown an initial spike in risk within the first year, with another increase beyond five years, likely reflecting long-term effects of treatment and survivorship-related factors,” says Dr. Copeland-Halperin, who was not involved in the research.

Identifying Groups at Highest Risk of Dying

For adults younger than 50, the odds of dying were especially pronounced. This population was 2.4 times more likely to die of heart-related causes than people in the same age group who did not have colorectal cancer.

At this point, researchers don’t know why this is the case. Ayaz calls it one of the “most curious” questions yet to be answered, although he does point out that the incidence of colorectal cancer has been increasing in younger adults.

It could be that this younger population faces a higher risk of death because early onset colorectal cancer is more aggressive, requiring more intensive treatment that impacts the heart, says Salim Hayek, MD, a cardiologist with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the chair of the American Heart Association’s cardio-oncology committee.

“Possible genetic factors may also link early-onset colorectal cancer with cardiovascular vulnerability,” says Dr. Hayek, who was not involved in this research.

He adds that cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapies like 5-fluorouracil commonly used in colorectal cancer, can damage the cardiovascular system. These treatments may cause:

• Vasospasm (when arteries constrict)
• Ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart)
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
• Indirect effects such as new high blood pressure accelerated plaque buildup in the arteries

The study found that Black adults with colorectal cancer faced a 74 percent higher risk of death from heart complications.

How to Lower Your Risk of Heart Problems After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

Because this two-year period is critical, Ayaz advises his patients to make a concerted effort to control heart disease risk factors during this time.

“Ask questions of your treating doctors about your personal risk factors for developing heart disease, especially when facing a cancer diagnosis, and ask about cardiovascular risks associated with the proposed treatment for your cancer,” says Helga Van Herle, MD, a cardiologist with Keck Medicine of USC in Pasadena, California, who was not involved in the study.

To reduce cardiovascular risk factors, she recommends:

• Treating high cholesterol
• Managing high blood pressure
• Treating diabetes
• Quitting smoking
• Losing weight if necessary
• Following a healthy diet
• Getting exercise

“While patients diagnosed with cancer can’t change the past, we know that potentially treatable risk factors including lifestyle and conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol increase the risk for heart related complications,” says Copeland-Halperin. “So addressing these represents a significant potential opportunity to improve the outcomes.”

When first diagnosed with diabetes, people with LADA may not yet need insulin injections. At this stage, your treatment will concentrate on improving your blood sugar control, which may help preserve your natural ability to secrete insulin. To achieve this, your doctor may use type 2 diabetes drugs such as metformin or GLP-1 receptor agonists, which can help improve insulin sensitivity. Lifestyle adjustments, such as a wholesome diet and enhanced physical activity, could also extend this period before insulin treatment becomes necessary.

Eventually, however, everyone with LADA will need insulin. Some doctors may choose to prescribe insulin relatively soon after diagnosis, while others may prefer to wait until it is no longer possible to control blood sugar levels without it.

Initially you may be prescribed a long-acting “basal” insulin. This is a once or twice-daily injection that provides a constant steady stream of insulin. When you begin taking insulin, you may also need to increase the frequency with which you test your blood sugar, partially to help reduce the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Some doctors will encourage you to use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a device that measures your blood sugar constantly around the clock and sends data to a smartphone app or a separate receiver.

Finally, you will probably need to start using a rapid-acting insulin before every meal you eat. At this stage in LADA’s progression, treatment is essentially identical to the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Intensive treatment is very complex and occasionally frustrating, and many people with LADA will rely heavily on their healthcare teams to help them navigate this new challenge.

Maybe you’ve noticed you can’t eat the same foods you used to. Or that your go-to drink prevents you from ever … well … going. When managing irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), it can be hard to know how to start building a diet that won’t trigger symptoms.

“What you eat and how you eat is so important when you have IBS-C,” says Katrina Cox, a registered dietitian specializing in IBS and gut health in Providence, Rhode Island.

Making a few easy, important swaps may make all the difference when it comes to keeping bloating, constipation, and stomach pain at bay.

IBS-Friendly Food Swaps to Ease Constipation

The good news is, you can keep your diet rich and varied with some smart food swaps. Because these foods support healthy digestion, they’ll help you stay more regular. Here are six to try:

1. Reach for Cooked Veggies Over Raw

2. Swap Wheat Toast for Oatmeal

3. Take Your Coffee Hot Instead of Iced

4. Skip Onions and Garlic and Try Scallion Tops and Chives

Another clever tip? Use garlic- or onion-infused oil to cook. All you get is the flavor in the oil, not the FODMAP, she says. You can buy these oils at specialty markets or create your own by sautéing garlic or onion in oil and then removing (and discarding) the solids from the oil.

5. Switch Out (Some) Meat for Plant-Based Proteins

If you aren’t a fan of plant-based proteins, opt for other fermented foods, such as kefir, kimchi, kombucha, or sauerkraut.

6. Opt for Chia Seeds and Flaxseeds Over Pistachios

When looking to ease constipation, adding more fiber to your diet, along with plenty of water, is the way to go. But keep in mind that fiber adds to IBS-C symptoms for some people. With a little practice, you’ll learn which foods satisfy your taste buds, fill you up, and don’t trigger IBS symptoms for you.

The Takeaway

• Managing irritable bowel syndrome with constipation involves making simple but effective changes to your diet to prevent symptoms such as bloating and discomfort.
• Pick cooked vegetables over raw ones, and add some coffee and fiber-rich chia seeds or flaxseeds to your diet to keep bowel movements regular.
• Swap high-FODMAP onions and garlic for lower-FODMAP scallion tops and chives or garlic- or onion-infused oil to reduce your exposure to these common IBS triggers.

Many people with psoriasis also experience varying levels of psychological distress from the condition.

While social factors like self-esteem issues or embarrassment over how psoriasis physically looks can worsen mental health issues, research suggests other factors can contribute to depression as well.

Inflammation

As in the case with many autoimmune diseases, one of the primary causes of psoriasis is inflammation. With psoriasis, the lack of regulation within the immune system that leads to inflammation can also play a role in the development of depression.

“This is one reason why individuals with psoriasis and other inflammatory conditions may have higher rates of depression and anxiety,” Khan says.

Physical Discomfort

Reduced Self-Esteem and Isolation

A skin condition like psoriasis can lead to social withdrawal, Khan says. This is particularly true when affected areas are highly visible.

Hannah Kopelman, DO, a dermatologist with Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery and Kopelman Hair Restoration in New York City, says this is often the case with psoriasis, which commonly affects the scalp, elbows, arms, and knees.

Some with psoriasis feel concern about how the public or loved ones will react to their skin’s appearance. “One of the most common things with psoriasis is that people don’t want to leave their house because they’re depressed by their skin manifestations,” Dr. Kopelman says.

This impact on self-esteem can lead to social avoidance. “The social withdrawal, avoidance of intimate relationships, and anxiety about public perception can lead to feelings of loneliness, which is a significant risk factor for depression,” Khan says.

“Low self-esteem is common in individuals with psoriasis, particularly if they have experienced bullying, comments about their appearance, or rejection due to their condition,” he says.

Co-occurring Conditions

Because psoriatic arthritis has the potential to affect mobility, this can further contribute to social isolation and make someone less likely to engage in things that them bring joy, Kopelman says.

Navigating additional health concerns alongside a visible skin condition can prove overwhelming. This can ultimately lead to worsening depression.

With spring just starting, tens of millions of Americans with allergies are bracing for the return of sneezing, congestion, itching, and watery eyes as pollen fills the air.

The Winter Allergy Break Is Getting Shorter

• Tree pollen, generally lasting from February through April
• Grass pollen, from April through early July
• Weed pollen, from August to the first hard frost

“Because spring allergies can start as early as February, and weed pollen allergies can last as late as November, we’re really not having much respite from allergies,” says Dr. Gupta.

“Some people can definitely be ‘poly-sensitized’ or allergic to many different environmental allergens, so they may now only get a small break from allergies in the winter, and that break is getting shorter and shorter,” Gupta adds.

Allergy Predictions for 2025

In its allergy forecast for 2025 released last week, Accuweather notes that tree pollen is on the rise in southern U.S. states, but a cold start to the year in the eastern part of the country may keep tree pollen levels low in that region until later in the spring.

“Every region in the country is going to have its own unique, challenging pollen, but there are plants everywhere, and those pollens can travel hundreds of miles, so there’s really no safe place to be when it comes to seasonal allergies,” says Christopher Codispoti, MD, an associate professor of allergy and immunology at UTHealth Houston in Texas.

Worst Cities for People With Allergies

1. Wichita, Kansas
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
4. Tulsa, Oklahoma
5. Memphis, Tennessee
6. Little Rock, Arkansas
7. Raleigh, North Carolina
8. Richmond, Virginia
9. Greenville, South Carolina
10. Greensboro, North Carolina

How to Tell Allergies From a Cold

• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Fatigue
• Sneezing

“Sneezing will occur with cold and flu, but with allergies you have more of a nasal itch, and the sneezing is often more frequent and intense,” says Dr. Codispoti.

He adds that itchy, puffy eyes are common with allergies but rare with a cold.

Mayo Clinic further notes that allergies rarely cause a sore throat, cough, or fever, while those can be signs of a cold, flu, or other respiratory virus.

Tips to Help Manage Allergy Symptoms

Discuss medication options with a healthcare provider. Many medication choices are available to treat allergy symptoms, but it can take expertise to find the right match for you. If antihistamines aren’t helping, an allergist may advise trying a nasal spray, for example.

“I find that a big part of my job is making sure that people understand how to use medications appropriately,” says Gupta. “If you’re trying different medications on your own and they’re not working, it might be time to see an allergist.”

Keep windows closed, if possible. Pollen can come through an open window and get into bedding and furniture, worsening symptoms. If you have to open windows at times, an air purifier or air conditioner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter can reduce airborne allergens.

Consider wearing a mask outdoors. If the pollen count is very high, a mask can help block allergens. Gupta says masking can be especially helpful when mowing the lawn or doing other yard work.

Take off shoes and wash clothes. Pollen can enter a home on shoes and clothes. After being outside, leave shoes at the door, and change and wash garments after outdoor activities.

Be cautious with pet contact. Dogs and cats that spend time outdoors can get pollen on their fur, so close contact may worsen symptoms. Bathe your pet regularly and wipe them off when they come inside to limit pollen exposure. Also, keep pets out of the bedroom.

Take a shower at night and wash your face. Before going to sleep, shower to remove pollen from your body so you’re not tracking it to your bed where you could be inhaling it all night. “Pollen can sit on your eyebrows, eyelashes, and in the nose, so rinsing off your face is super important,” says Gupta.

Consider a nasal rinse. Rinsing nasal passageways with a saline solution can flush out allergens and relieve sneezing, runny nose, and congestion.

Beef tallow has uses that expand beyond the kitchen. It can be used as part of a healthy skin-care regimen.

Beef Tallow Can Help Moisturize Skin

“Besides the greasy feel of beef tallow, there likely is little downside to using it on the skin. That being said, there certainly are more elegant and well-formulated moisturizers to get the job done,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

But beef tallow does contain the same types of fats that are found naturally in our outer skin layer, he acknowledges.

“By applying it to the skin, it provides emollient benefits to help soften rough cells on the skin’s surface and offer hydration benefits. So beef tallow could be a good option for people who are looking for completely natural solutions for their skin,” says Dr. Zeichner.

This might sound a little “out there,” but fats have long been used in skin care for their hydrating and emollient benefits, he says.

“It also may provide anti-aging benefits by repairing the skin barrier,” says Zeichner.

Beef tallow may be found as an ingredient in traditionally formulated moisturizers, or it can be used in its pure form directly from the supermarket.

Beef Tallow Won’t Help Treat Acne

Some people consider beef tallow to be a natural treatment for acne breakouts, says Zeichner.

“However, given the high levels of oleic acid in beef tallow, I don’t recommend that people use it for acne — oleic acid is a fatty acid known to block the pores. In general, people should stick to benzoyl peroxide as an acne treatment,” he says.

Beef tallow may be found as an ingredient in traditionally formulated moisturizers, or it can be used in its pure form directly from the supermarket.

Physical Examination

A physical exam is part of every first visit. Whether you keep your clothes on or change into a gown depends on your symptoms and the doctor, says Wolfe.

“Many rheumatologists will have every new patient get in a gown, because even if you think the problem is in your joints, it doesn’t mean that it’s not in other places. For example, we may find a rash, and so we want to check things out all over,” she says.

Sometimes it’s very clear what the issues are, and there’s no need to change into a gown, says Wolfe. If you think that’s the case, just make sure you’re dressed appropriately.

“If you’re coming in for your knees, this isn’t the time to wear skinny jeans. In general, it’s a good idea to wear stretchy clothes that aren’t too tight,” she says.

The physical exam usually includes the following:

• Examining your joints.
• Observing your movements, such as how you walk, bend, and grasp objects.
• Looking for a rash or nodules (bumps) on your skin.
• Listening to your chest for signs of inflammation in the lungs.

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• Difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Feelings of paranoia
• Episodes of psychosis

“Borderline personality disorder can consist of extreme emotional distress that appears like paranoia, which is very similar to the paranoia of schizophrenia,” says Ciara Bogdanovic, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles.

But as mentioned, BPD and schizophrenia have distinct differences, says Dr. De Gannes. The core symptoms of BPD center on emotional disturbance, while schizophrenia symptoms come from the disturbance of reality and thought, adds Bogdanovic.

“BPD often involves intense emotions, while schizophrenia can lead to pulling away from others,” Frank adds. “Emotional ups and downs and cognitive challenges are typical in both, though they stem from different causes.”

Although both conditions can lead to fractured relationships, the “why” varies by condition. In schizophrenia, confusion and hallucinations cause the most issues in relationships, says De Gannes. But in BPD, it’s the frequent switch between affection and anger, he adds.

Psychosis in BPD usually arises from extreme stress and is less common and severe than in schizophrenia, notes De Gannes.