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Specifically, an hour of in-bed screen time increased insomnia risk by nearly 60 percent, and lowered sleep duration by about a half hour.

“We were particularly interested in whether social media — because of its interactive and potentially emotionally stimulating nature — would have a stronger association with poor sleep outcomes than other screen activities,” says the study author Børge Sivertsen, PhD, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Bergen.

“Surprisingly, we found that it’s the overall screen time in bed that matters most, not the type of activity,” Dr. Sivertsen says.

Sleep Troubles Grow as Screen Time Increases

Sivertsen and his colleagues analyzed survey responses from more than 45,000 adults ages 18 to 28.

Participants were asked whether they used screens after going to bed, for how long, and for how many nights per week. Then they identified their common screen activities: watching shows or movies, gaming, social media, surfing the internet, listening to audio such as podcasts, or reading.

The survey also asked when participants typically went to bed, when they got up in the morning, and how long it typically took them to fall asleep. Participants indicated how often they had trouble falling or staying asleep, how often they felt sleepy during the day, and how long their sleep problems persisted.

Insomnia was defined as having trouble sleeping and experiencing daytime sleepiness issues at least three times a week for at least three months.

The results showed that a one-hour increase in screen time in bed was linked to a 59 percent greater risk of insomnia and 24 fewer minutes of total sleep on average.

Sivertsen stresses that insomnia symptoms and reduced sleep duration were associated with an increased amount of screen use.

He adds that the findings are limited in that they are observational, relying on preexisting self-reported data from a narrow population (young adult Norwegians) that did not include scientific sleep measurements.

Why You Should Avoid Your Phone Before Bed

“Screen time at bedtime activates the mind,” says Vishesh Kapur, MD, MPH, the director of sleep medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, who was not involved in the study. “If the individual is consuming content that is very interesting, they may delay going to sleep, or if the content is disturbing or anxiety-inducing, this could make it hard to fall asleep.”

Tips to Break the Bedtime Screen Habit

Dr. Verma, who was not involved in the research, offers the following tips to prevent wakeful effects from smartphones and get better sleep:

• Avoid screens 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.
• If you must use screens, keep brightness to a minimum.
• Use built-in phone features like Night Shift, which reduces blue light, and Do Not Disturb, which silences notifications, calls, and alerts.
• Replace screen time with a relaxing bedtime ritual such as reading a physical book or gentle stretching.
• Consider an old-fashioned alarm clock instead of setting an alarm on your phone to reduce the temptation to go online.

“Our study shows that even small reductions [in screen time] could improve sleep quality and duration,” says Sivertsen. “It’s not about quitting screens entirely — it’s about being mindful of how and when we use them, especially at night.”

“Coffee from workplace machines, however, had not been examined until now,” says study author David Iggman, PhD, a researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden. “We found the levels of these substances are much higher in coffee from these machines than from regular drip-filter coffee makers.”

Based on their results, Dr. Iggman and colleagues estimated that replacing three cups of brewing-machine coffee with paper-filtered coffee five days per week could lower LDL cholesterol by 13 percent over five years, or 36 percent over 40 years.

Paper Filters May Make a Difference

For the analysis, the study authors measured two kinds of diterpene — cafestol and kahweol — in coffees made in 14 different types of conventional self-serve coffee makers found in break rooms and different work spaces.

Coffee samples were taken from two types of office machines:

• Machines that mixed hot water with the ground coffee and then passed the liquid through a metal filter
• Machines that mix a liquid coffee concentrate with hot water

For comparison, the researchers also analyzed samples of coffee made with a paper filter, a percolator, and a French press, as well as by coffee made by boiling ground beans with water (a method popular in Sweden).

In addition, they examined four espresso samples made in three cafeterias and one laboratory workplace coffee machine.

They discovered that most coffees from workplace brewing machines contain higher diterpene concentrations than paper-filtered coffee.

Ranking Brew Styles From Best to Worst

The researchers measured diterpenes in terms of milligrams per liter (mg/L). For all workplace coffee machines, the median range of cafestol and kahweol was 174 and 135 mg/L, respectively, compared with 11.5 mg/L of cafestol and 8.2 mg/L for kahweol in paper-filter drip coffee.

Diterpene concentrations in French press (87 mg/L cafestol and 69 mg/L kahweol) and percolator coffee (91 mg/L cafestol and 69 mg/L kahweol) fell in the middle between coffee machine and paper filter levels.

Boiled coffee (939 mg/L cafestol and 678 mg/L kahweol) and espresso (1,059 mg/L cafestol and 621 mg/L kahweol) had the highest diterpene content. The study authors noted, however, that there was considerable and “unexplained” variation in espresso samples with cafestol levels ranging from 35.6 to 2,446.7 mg/L.

Because espresso is made by forcing hot water through very finely ground coffee under high pressure without a filter, it makes sense that this brew has the highest potential to raise cholesterol levels.

“Keeping espresso to a minimum will lower risks,” says Melissa Prest, DCN, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, who was not involved in the study. She recommends limiting espresso to one or two shots per day at most.

Overall, coffee brew styles ranked as follows in order of best to worst for cholesterol are:

1. Paper filter
2. Filtered boiled
3. French press
4. Workplace coffee machine
5. Percolator
6. Boiled without filtering
7. Espresso

Study Does Not Address the Impact on Heart Disease Risk

For Gregory Katz, MD, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Heart in New York City, these study results are limited in that experiments were not conducted to see the actual impact on LDL levels or endothelial function (the functioning of cells that line the inside of blood vessels).

“They certainly didn’t test different brewing methods and then see how that impacted things like heart attack and stroke,” says Dr. Katz. “The study tells us zero information about how this impacts the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Coffee Has Many Health Benefits

• Micronutrients like vitamin B2 and B3, potassium, and magnesium
• Antioxidants, which protect cells from damage and may lower the risk of certain cancers
• Phenols, which play key roles in immunity and protecting the body from inflammation
• Caffeine, which may offer potential support for brain health, blood flow, and blood pressure.

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Coffee Add-Ins May Pose a Higher Risk Than Coffee Itself

Maya Vadiveloo, PhD, RD, chair of the American Heart Association’s Lifestyle Nutrition Committee and an associate professor of nutrition and health sciences at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, suggests that the ingredients we add to coffee may be more damaging than the coffee itself.

“Both excess added sugar and saturated fat found in high fat dairy products like cream adversely affect cardiovascular health,” says Dr. Vadiveloo, who was not involved in this study.

She advises consumers to drink coffee in moderate amounts, but filter it whenever possible to reduce the risk of elevated LDL cholesterol.

A reputable clinic has medical oversight from a physician or a nurse practitioner. Your vitals will be checked, and you’ll be asked to complete a health screening or questionnaire before you receive IV therapy, says Steve Rallis, a doctor of chiropractic medicine, doctor of naturopathy, and the chief medical officer for the DRIPBaR Canada. Then, the IV is administered by a nurse.

The nutrient solution will be made according to your needs, Rallis says. You’ll receive a steady supply of the solution through the IV while you sit, with sessions lasting approximately 20 to 60 minutes. You should be monitored during the session, and your vitals should be rechecked once the injection is completed, Rallis says.

Many IV drip companies recommend coming once every two weeks, though this depends on the person and their reasons for going in the first place, Rallis says. Expect to go more than once. “If it’s for fatigue, as an example, you’re unlikely to see the benefit until you’ve done around six to eight IVs,” Rallis says.

Most experts agree that the best way to get omega-3 fatty acids is by eating fatty fish, which contain the highest amounts of EPA and DHA. These fish include salmon, mackerel, and trout. Fish oil supplements are not thought to be as beneficial.

“Whole fish provides additional nutrients and bioavailability advantages over supplements,” says Avena.

Dr. Yassine notes that, overall, fish oil supplementation trials have been inconclusive. “Fish is complex. Even the actual DHA and EPA in fish is not the same as what is present in supplements,” he says

For people who don’t eat fish, Avena says algal oil is the best plant-based source of DHA and EPA, as it’s derived from the same marine algae that fish consume.

How Much Fish Oil Should I Take?

“Research shows that when comparing people who are consuming one or more servings of fish per week to those who are eating less, fish eaters experience less cognitive decline over the years,” Dr. Agarwal says.

“That should be encouraging, because this is a simple lifestyle modification to maintain brain health,” Agarwal says.

Worried about the increasing presence of microplastics in our environment? Here’s something else to think about: Scientists have found that chewing just one piece of gum can release hundreds to thousands of tiny plastic pieces into our saliva that are likely to be absorbed into our bodies when we swallow, according to unpublished research that will be presented at the American Chemical Society’s Spring 2025 meeting in San Diego.

While it’s true that there’s still more to learn about the health effects of microplastic exposure, ingestion of plastics is “probably not a good thing,” says Linda Kahn, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor of population health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City.

“What we know about microplastics themselves leads us to believe that they could be associated with negative health outcomes,” says Dr. Kahn.

Study Subject Chewed Each Piece of Gum for 4 or 20 Minutes

To find out more about microplastics and chewing gum, scientists analyzed 10 popular chewing gum brands, five natural and five synthetic.

Chewing gums are made from a rubber base, sweetener, flavorings, and other ingredients. In general, natural gums use plant-based polymers (sometimes called bioplastics) and synthetic gums use petroleum-based polymers — in other words, gum contains plastic as an ingredient.

Researchers theorized that the synthetic gums would shed more microplastics, according to lead author Lisa Lowe, a PhD student who started the project as an undergraduate intern at UCLA.

For the first experiment, one volunteer chewed seven pieces of gum from each brand. The subject chewed each piece of gum for 4 minutes, producing samples of saliva every 30 seconds, then did a final mouth rinse with clean water, all of which got combined into a single sample.

In another experiment, the volunteer provided saliva samples periodically over 20 minutes of chewing gum, so researchers could look at the release rate of microplastics from each piece.

Key findings from the experiment included:

• Gum released an average of 100 microplastics per gram (g). Gum is usually between 2 and 6 g. For example, one piece of Extra brand gum weighs 2.5 g.

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• Some types of gum released up to 637 microplastics per gram.
• Most of the microplastics detached from gum within the first 2 minutes of chewing. It wasn’t saliva that broke down the microplastics, but rather the act of chewing that made the pieces flake off.
• Surprisingly, both synthetic and natural gums released similar amounts of microplastics.

Researchers estimated that if the average person chewed 160 to 180 small sticks of gum per year, they would ingest around 30,000 pieces of microplastic.

How does microplastic exposure from chewing a piece of gum compare with exposure from plastic water bottles or plastic food storage containers? “This is hard to compare, because our study was limited by our analysis instruments,” says Lowe.

The technology researchers used could only identify microplastics 20 micrometers wide or larger — they couldn’t assess the smaller, nano-size plastics. That means their microplastic counts are likely underestimates, the study authors say.

Goodbye to Gum?

“I don’t think it is very critical that we don’t chew gum. There are so many places we are exposed to microplastics, and we can’t avoid them all. But I think it is important to be aware of this issue,” says Lowe.

If people want to continue to chew gum but limit their microplastic exposure, she suggests chewing one piece longer rather than popping in a new piece.

Because the research hasn’t been published yet, there are some unanswered questions, says Kahn. “If natural and synthetic gum both release microplastics, what is the source? The gum itself or the packaging?”

It would also be helpful to know if one type of gum is higher in microplastics, for example bubble gum or sugar-free gum, she says.

Kahn leans toward limiting gum. “It can’t hurt to be cautious,” she says. “If gum chewing is a source of microplastics, then it probably is not a great thing to do if you can avoid it, right?”

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.