As Donald Trump recently went for his second health checkup, the visit, announced earlier this week by the White House comes as he prepares to travel to the Middle East following a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “routine yearly checkup,” even though the president had already undergone his annual physical in April. According to a memo obtained by CBS News on Friday evening, written by Trump’s physician, Capt. Sean Barbabella, the president “successfully completed a scheduled follow-up evaluation.”

The president also received his annual flu vaccination and an updated COVID-19 booster. Interestingly, his cardiac age, a validated measure of cardiovascular health via ECG was found to be roughly 14 years younger than his chronological age. However, health experts remain concerned, with many noting potential signs of dementia. Now, some specialists are also pointing to early indicators of phonemic paraphasia in his speech.

What Is Phonemic Paraphasia That Health Experts Believe Donald Trump Has Signs Of?

Phonemic paraphasia is a type of speech error where sounds within a word are substituted, added, or rearranged, creating a nonword that still sounds similar to the intended word (for example, “tephelone” instead of “telephone”). It is commonly seen in language disorders such as Wernicke’s aphasia and conduction aphasia, caused by difficulty selecting the correct phonemic segments. People with this condition usually understand what they want to say but struggle with producing the correct sounds.

What Are Psychologists Saying About Donald Trump’s Health?

Even during Trump’s first term, his cognitive and psychological traits attracted attention. Observers noted he struggled to focus on a single topic, and his public remarks raised concern among psychiatrists. In 2017, 27 mental health professionals collectively published The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, warning that his mental state, combined with presidential powers, could pose risks to global security.

Dr. Bandy Lee, who taught for 17 years at Yale School of Medicine, first noticed potential neurocognitive issues in Trump in 2017 and says his condition has steadily declined since then. The manifesto, published on Nov. 3, 2024, titled Statement on Cognitive Decline in the Presidential Election, lists symptoms including simpler vocabulary, incomplete sentences, grammatical mistakes, paraphasias, vague or inappropriate statements, compulsive repetition of thoughts (“perseveration”), increased use of profanity, and pronounced narcissistic traits.

Some of Trump’s invented words even went viral during his first term. The infamous “covfefe” tweet is one example, where he likely meant “coverage” but created a nonsensical word that became a meme and appeared on protest signs and in advertisements.

Health Experts Believe Donald Trump Also Has Dementia

Harry Segal, a senior psychology lecturer at Cornell University, has observed early signs of dementia in Trump. “What’s alarming is how the rate of Trump’s unusual speech and political decisions has been increasing. He once gave an incoherent answer about childcare to the Economic Club of New York… Trump has shown evidence of dementia over the past year, indicated by his strange gait, phonemic paraphasia, and a decline in word complexity,” Segal said. He believes these factors explain Trump’s refusal to debate Kamala Harris a second time and his increasingly impulsive speeches.

What Are the Symptoms of Phonemic Paraphasia?

The main symptom is substituting a word with a nonword that sounds similar, such as saying “wishdasher” instead of “dishwasher.” Other signs include:

• Errors where sounds in a word are replaced with different sounds
• Producing non-real words that resemble the intended word
• Difficulty finding words and substituting unrelated terms (semantic paraphasia)
• Repeated attempts to correct themselves, sometimes abandoning the word entirely
• Lack of awareness of these mistakes

Who Is Affected by Phonemic Paraphasia?

• Individuals with aphasia: Particularly Wernicke’s and conduction aphasia
• People with brain lesions: Often in the posterior temporal lobe or internal/external capsules, areas involved in language
• Individuals with other neurological conditions: Early dementia is frequently associated with phonemic paraphasia

Sonali Bendre, actor, who is known for talking about her cancer journey, inspiring other survivors to talk about it too, has found herself at the center of a heated debate after she spoke how naturopathy and autophagy helped her in her cancer recovery.

Bendre, who was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic endometrial cancer in 2018, wrote on X that she believes autophagy played a role in her healing journey. Her post quickly drew sharp criticism from several doctors.

Doctors Point Out That Cancer Remission Came Through Medical Treatment

Members of the medical community reminded her that her remission was the result of evidence-based cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Many emphasized that autophagy is not a recognized medical therapy and should not be presented as one.

One post from hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips on X said, “Your cancer went into remission after chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery at an advanced cancer treatment hospital. Not because of Naturopathy. Not because of autophagy. Because you have the option and privilege to opt for the best treatments from scientific practice to help you.”

Bendre Clarifies Her Stand

Following the criticism, Bendre clarified that she was sharing her personal experience as a survivor, not medical advice. She wrote that her journey included elements she explored with the help of her naturopath, and these practices were only part of her overall healing process. In her words, “I have never claimed to be a doctor, but I am certainly not a quack either. I am a cancer survivor, someone who has lived through the fear, pain, uncertainty, and rebuilding that the disease brings.”

What Autophagy Actually Is

Autophagy is a natural process in which the body breaks down and recycles old or damaged cell components. Cells contain various structures that help them function, and over time some of these structures wear out. Autophagy acts like a clean-up and recycling system. It allows cells to dismantle faulty parts and reuse the useful components to maintain healthy cell function. Anything that cannot be used is removed by the cell.

This process is an important quality control mechanism. If too much cellular waste builds up, it can interfere with normal cell activity. Autophagy helps keep cells efficient and healthy. The scientific understanding of autophagy grew significantly after Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2016 for his work uncovering how it works. While autophagy is essential for survival, it is not considered a medical treatment for diseases.

Can Autophagy Treat Cancer?

Experts explain that autophagy plays a complicated role in cancer. In the early stages, it may help prevent tumor formation by clearing damaged components. However, in established cancers, the same process can allow tumor cells to survive stress and become more resistant to treatments like chemotherapy.

Disclaimer: Please consult a qualified doctor or oncologist before choosing any treatment for cancer. Health and Me does not endorse alternative therapies as substitutes for evidence-based medical care. This article is based on publicly available information. All medical conditions should be evaluated and managed under the guidance of a licensed healthcare professional.

What if you are told that the vape you are using contains bacteria found in poop. You read that right. According to a study conducted by HAYPP along with Microbiologist Reynold Mpofu at BioLabTests, bacteria like staphylococcus and bacillus were found on vape, as well as fecal bacterium, E. coli is found on vape, which is often found in public bathroom.

What Did The Study Find?

More than 100 million people worldwide use e-cigarettes or vapes, and at least 1 in 6 people vape in toilet. Furthermore, vapes are rarely cleaned, and thus become germ hotspots.

The study found that vape mouthpieces are highly contaminated with bacteria. More than 1.5 million colony-forming unites or CFUs were identified on the vape mouthpiece, the maximum amount measurable by the lab, carrying as many as 2,300 times more bacteria than a public toilet, which has 50 CFUs per square inch.

“Laboratory analysis revealed that the mouthpiece is the dirtiest component of the vape. This isn’t surprising given that the human mouth, largely considered to be one of the ‘dirtiest’ parts of the body, harbors approximately 700 species of bacteria, that amounts to billions of individual bacteria,” said Mpofu.

The study was able to identify a range of bacteria, including skin microbes to gut bacteria like E.coli.

Also Read: UK Investigates Impact Of Vaping On Its Young Users

The Species Identified

The study identified these following bacteria on the vape:

• Bacillus: commonly found in dust and the air
• E.coli: indicates possible fecal contamination
• Yeast and mold: can cause respiratory irritation
• Staphylococcus: usually harmless, but could cause infection
• Enterococcus: intestinal bacteria that can persist on surfaces

The study was also able to identify bacteria on the vape body. The lab also observed a rapid microbial growth between just 2 to 3 days of use. These colonies could be seen multiplying thousand of times over.

While many of these are found on human skin or surrounding, some are intestinal bacteria, like aforementioned, E.coli, and Enterococcus, which points towards unwashed hands, explaining the transfer on the surface.

“Much like phones, vapes are frequently handled and placed on a variety of surfaces, allowing germs, oils, and dirt from hands, pockets and various environments to latch on the device. The findings confirmed the presence of bacteria, including E. coli and Enterococcus, on the vape body, likely arising from inadequate hand hygiene or the transfer of microorganisms from bathroom environments or other contaminated surfaces,” said Mpofu.

Read: Why Is My Idea Of Break Is To Have A Smoke?

The Timeline Of Bacteria Development

The first signs of microbes start to appear within the first day of buying a brand new vape, especially around the mouthpiece.

By day three, the vape accumulates more than 2,300 times the microbial load typically found on a toilet seat.

By the seventh day, bacteria like E.coli. and Enterococcus and other fecal indicators are detected on the mouthpiece and vape’s body. Mould and bacteria are also found on levels.

By day 14, despite no new use or cleaning, the vape remains heavily contamination. The contamination does not fade overtime.

Read: These US States Vape The Most

The UK recorded its coldest autumn so far when the temperatures fell as low as -12.6C in Scotland. This was the lowest recorded in November from the last 15 years. The mercury also fell to -7.6C in Wales, -6C in Northern Ireland and -6.7C in England. Cold health alters have been issued in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber cold-health alerts for North West, North East, and Yorkshire and Humber, while other areas are under yellow alerts.

With this new developments, a Yorkshire dentists has pointed out that cold weather could, in fact, impact one's dental health.

Dr Abdul Dalghous, a dentist at Yorkshite Dental Suite said that chilly weather can trigger changes inside your mouth. Even if you have not notices them before, the change in weather and the temperature drop could negatively impact your dental health.

What Does The Doctor Say?

Sensitivity

The doctor says that there could be sudden sensitivity that one can feel when the weather is cold outside. "If you feel a sharp, almost electric twinge in your teeth when you breathe in icy air, it may be a sign that your enamel is under strain," explains the doctor.

Dr Dalghous explains that sudden cold exposure could make teeth contract quickly, irritating the nerves inside the tooth.

Teeth Ache

The cold weather can slightly weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses such as colds. The doctor explains, "It’s very common for sinus pressure to feel like a toothache. This is due to your sinuses swelling and pressing on the roots of your upper teeth, often creating a dull, aching sensation. Many people mistake this for dental pain when the real culprit is winter congestion."

Dry Mouth

Another common experience during winters is having a dry mouth. This happens because cold air tends to be less humid and thus breathing it in through your mouth could lead to a drier mouth than usual. "Saliva acts as your mouth's natural defense system, so, when levels drop, your teeth become more vulnerable to sensitivity, plaque build-up and decay," the doctor notes.

Pain While Drinking Cold Beverages Or Eating Cold Food

Winter weather could further amplify the discomfort that is caused by cold food or drinks. "If a sip or bite of a chilled snack causes pain that lingers, it could point to underlying issues such as enamel erosion, cavities or exposed dentine that are becoming more noticeable in colder weather.”

Small Cracks Could Be More Noticeable

Teeth naturally expand and contract when exposed to temperature shifts, and winter tends to make these changes more intense. Over time, this added stress can lead to tiny hairline cracks in the enamel. You may not spot them, but you might feel rough spots, sudden sensitivity in one area, or small chips you never noticed before.

Dr Abdul adds: “To help ease these changes, we recommend breathing through your nose where possible and avoid biting into cold foods. When it comes to your oral hygiene ensure you’re brushing twice a day using toothpaste designed for sensitivity and flossing. Following these will help your teeth during this cold weather!”