The Kardashians have lately covered plenty of medical drama, from Kris Jenner's hysterectomy to Kim Kardashian breaking the tip of her finger in an accident. Now, in the latest episode of The Kardashians, Kim, Kris, Khloé Kardashian, and Scott Disick took the groundbreaking 'Horvath test' to determine their biological ages. The test, which measures cellular aging, revealed that 40-year-old Khloé has the cellular age of a 28-year-old. While Kim, 43, has the biological age of 35 and 68-year-old Kris is at a cellular age of 64. These results shocked the Kardashians as well. Khloe, who was visibly surprised said, "Never in a million years! If I had to bet money, I would’ve never bet on myself... Kim is livid, by the way."

What is biological age?

Biological age differs from chronological age, reflecting how old a person seems at a cellular level. There are a lot of factors that influence biological age which include genetics, lifestyle, environment, and health conditions. Tests like the Horvath test offer insights into one's aging process and may prompt lifestyle changes aimed at healthier aging.

But how does the test work?

These tests analyze DNA methylation patterns by collecting a blood sample and examining it in a lab. Techniques include measuring telomere length, evaluating biomarkers in blood, and assessing overall health functions. Dr. Shrinidhi Nathany from Fortis Memorial Research Institute explains that AI-powered software compares the results with population data to assess aging speed and potential health risks.

Is it available in India?

The Horvath test is not available in India, however, similar tests including Meand32 test, are offered by diagnostic labs and wellness centers such as Dr Lal PathLabs and SRL Diagnostics. However, the tests are expensive, with costs ranging from Rs 1-3 lakh, due to advanced techniques and the nascent stage of the field. Dr. Basavaraj S Kumbar of Aster Whitefield Hospital notes that high costs and uncertain accuracy, as these tests are still developing, pose significant barriers.

While biological age tests offer intriguing insights, they cannot reverse aging. To look younger, experts advise focusing on healthy living practices such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management over worrying about test results.

Affecting millions of people all over the world, dementia is the current seventh leading cause of death globally. The World Health Organization states that 57 million people had dementia in 2021, the most common form of it being Alzheimer which contributes to 60-70% of cases. One of the most devastating things about this disease is that there is no cure for it. Researchers have been studying the disease in various contexts, but there are still many aspects of this mental condition that we are not aware of.

While there is no cure for the disease, getting treatment for dementia helps you minimize the symptoms and sustain your quality of life. The best way to deal with dementia is catching it early. That will allow healthcare professionals to give you the best possible treatment.

Important Symptoms That Go Unnoticed

When people think of dementia, memory problems are usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, there are many subtle signs of the disease that we might miss. A dementia diagnosis comes with the understanding that the disease can change a person’s entire being, the way they think, how they behave, even their core values that make up the person’s identity.

Understanding and addressing these sensory issues earlier could make a huge difference. It could help healthcare providers offer the crucial emotional and social support that patients need during what can be a very confusing and upsetting time. Plus, recognizing changes in a person's senses can also help doctors determine a dementia diagnosis. These signs are unrelated to simple memory loss.

How Dementia Changes How We See and Hear

Dementia often affects how a person experiences the world, changing how they understand what they see and hear. The Alzheimer’s Society explains that this happens because dementia damages the brain, leading to things like seeing shadows as objects or mistaking family members. These changes can be very confusing and upsetting for the person and their loved ones, making supportive responses crucial to maintain their confidence. A sudden, quick change could be serious, so call a doctor right away.

Difficulties with Hearing and Understanding Sounds, Especially in Noisy Places

Losing hearing in middle age (40-65) can increase your risk of dementia, and sometimes, hearing problems are an early sign. According to the Alzheimer’s Society as we age, hearing often declines, making it harder to hear clearly, especially in busy places. There are two types: one where ears don't pick up sounds well, and another where the brain struggles to process sounds. Getting your hearing checked and using hearing aids can help reduce dementia risk and improve memory and thinking skills. Protecting your hearing early in life is also important.

A Reduced Sense of Smell and Taste

Our sense of smell, often underestimated, provides vital information and can be an early indicator of dementia. According to the University of Chicago, research shows a rapid decline in smell can predict changes in brain regions linked to Alzheimer's disease, even before memory problems appear. This discovery could lead to simple smell tests for earlier detection of cognitive decline. While more research is needed, this inexpensive tool offers hope for identifying those at higher risk sooner, potentially leading to better treatments.

Problems with How We Feel Touch

According to a 2023 study published in the eBioMedicine, while hearing and vision are often studied, research now shows that changes in our sense of touch can also be linked to cognitive decline. Studies have found that people with mild cognitive impairment often have reduced sensitivity to touch compared to others. This means they might not feel things as clearly. This connection between touch sensitivity and memory suggests that looking at all our senses, not just sight and hearing, is important for understanding how the brain changes as we age and its role in conditions like dementia.

Ozempic might have started as a breakthrough diabetes drug but its story has rapidly evolved into into something far more complicated and controversial. Initially used to suppress appetite and aid weight loss, the medication is now being questioned as an increasing number of patients experience incapacitating gastrointestinal side effects that don't necessarily resolve after withdrawing from the therapy. As the line blurs between miracle medication and medical mystery, it's time to move past the hype and question harder what Ozempic is actually doing in the body.

Over the past year, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed from prescription treatments for diabetes and obesity into household names. Their popularity has soared not just in clinics but across TikTok and weight-loss forums, lauded for their dramatic slimming results. But as prescriptions rise, so do concerns — and a disturbing new question is gaining traction: Can these medications cause stomach paralysis and relentless vomiting?

The American U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed it received reports of these types of symptoms, and in one notable case, a Louisiana woman sued claiming serious gastrointestinal damage from Ozempic and another GLP-1 agonist, Mounjaro. With attention from the media mounting and patient testimonials mounting, let's sort through fact versus fear and examine the science behind the sensational accusations.

In order to get an idea of the possible side effects, it's important to break down how these medications act. Ozempic and Wegovy and their pharmaceutical relatives are members of a group called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They replicate the action of the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone, a naturally occurring substance secreted by the digestive system after consuming food. The hormone does three primary things: slows gastric emptying, suppresses hunger, and enhances insulin sensitivity.

It's this deceleration of stomach emptying — often referred to as the stomach's "braking system" — that is primarily to blame for both the weight-reduction effects and, perhaps, the concerning side effects being reported by users.

Can Ozempic Cause Stomach Paralysis?

Numerous users have reported nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a sense of intense fullness — all symptoms now being linked with gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis. Gastroparesis is an illness where the stomach resides too long in digestion, and although not officially recognized as a direct cause of GLP-1 agonists, case study reports and anecdotal data are growing.

FDA representatives have informed some of the media that they are considering these allegations. In the meantime, doctors such as Dr. Daniel Levinthal have admitted that slowing gastric emptying is a recognized side effect of these medications — something seen in trials and described as such on the drug information leaflets.

Most patients are able to endure these symptoms quite easily, especially if treatment begins with a low dose and is gradually increased. For the very small minority of users — particularly those with preexisting illness such as type 1 diabetes — the stomach slowdown can become more than just an annoyance. It can become a crippling condition.

In the first lawsuit of its type, a woman from Louisiana has filed a suit against the makers of Ozempic and Mounjaro following severe and long-term gastrointestinal damage that she supposedly suffered. According to her, the medications induced stomach paralysis, which resulted in hospitalizations and permanent damage.

Although one court case doesn't establish causation, it raises significant questions about whether current prescription labels reflect fully possible long-term risks particularly because these drugs are being more commonly prescribed for weight control in healthy people.

Also Read: Bizarre Penis Changes, Eye Strokes, Creepy ‘Walking Dead’ Hands: Alarming Ozempic Side Effects Shocking The World

What is Cyclic Vomiting?

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is another condition that's been in the crosshairs of the Ozempic discussion. Unlike gastroparesis, with its chronic symptoms that are usually related to eating, CVS is an episodic illness that hits abruptly with severe bouts of vomiting followed by relatively good periods.

One of the users of Ozempic, according to CNN, reported experiencing CVS despite having discontinued the drug. Experts warn against pinpointing the same directly with GLP-1 drugs. CVS has a multifactorial set of causes from infection to stress and is not necessarily bound by the same biological process as gastroparesis.

Nevertheless, the lines are not clearly drawn. Certain specialists hint that for those with an inborn predisposition to gastrointestinal sensitivity, GLP-1 agonists may be a catalyst, exacerbating already-present problems or revealing underlying disorders.

So, who's at greatest risk? Endocrinologists say that those with type 1 diabetes, earlier gastrointestinal illness, or neuropathy involving the vagus nerve — the nerve that assists in regulating stomach emptying — may be at higher risk of having wild reactions. Type 2 diabetics also undergo these effects but typically with less severe symptoms that diminish over time.

Experts highlight the importance of proper medical monitoring. These drugs are effective agents, but they need close monitoring, particularly with dose escalation. Patients should be taught about diet changes and meal times to minimize side effects.

How to Use Ozempic To Supplement Your Diet?

As telemedicine and online prescriptions become more popular, more individuals are gaining access to weight-loss drugs — but not necessarily in the best of conditions. Specialists emphatically warn against self-medication or procuring these drugs via informal means.

Food habits, underlying illnesses, and other medications all contribute to how a person might react to GLP-1 medications. Skipping meals, eating high-fat meals, or eating hastily can increase gastrointestinal effects. Patients are advised by healthcare providers to:

• Begin with low doses and gradually titrate
• Consume frequent small meals
• Limit fatty or greasy meals
• Drink plenty of water and avoid meal skipping

Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, asserts that GI side effects are well-established and well-documented, usually mild to moderate, and usually remitting over time. The company points to more than 15 years of clinical data attesting to the safety of their GLP-1 products, including continued post-market surveillance by the FDA.

Still, their public statement acknowledges that gastric emptying delay, nausea, and vomiting are all listed in the drug’s side effect profile, a crucial detail that patients must consider before beginning treatment.

Should you be concerned? Not at all but you should know. As with all drugs, Ozempic and its cousins have risks. For the majority, the side effects are mild and temporary. But for some, particularly those who have preexisting medical conditions, it can be worse.

If you're thinking of or taking a GLP-1 agonist, discuss your history with your doctor, keep an eye out for symptoms, and adjust your lifestyle accordingly. The potential for weight loss should never be at the expense of gut health and making savvy decisions is your best protection.

Sometimes signs of chronic and serious diseases can show up in the most unexpected ways and places. One such condition is Bronchiectasis. It is a chronic lung condition that damages your airways, leading to excessive phlegm production. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute explains that this damage to your airways can hurt your lungs, as it will cause them to expand, become loose and scarred.

It has a big range of symptoms, some of which may seem unrelated to lungs. While there's typically no cure, the treatments available can help you manage the condition and also help you improve the quality of your life.

Bronchiectasis affects approximately one in 200 adults in the UK. The damage to your lungs and airways results in an overproduction of phlegm. This excess mucus can lead to various complications and presents a variety of symptoms.

However, an issue with conditions like this is that many times early warnings can go ignored or misidentified by people. Hence learning these crucial signs can help you get the treatment you need. Bronchiectasis may be a lung disease; however, its signs can be seen at your fingertips!

Unusual Early Warning Signs

According to Asthma + Lung UK, one surprising early indicator of bronchiectasis is "clubbing" of the fingertips. This refers to the swelling and rounding of the fingertips around the nails. It often occurs due to chronically low blood oxygen levels, which can be a consequence of lung diseases like bronchiectasis.

Pelvic Floor Issues

Lung conditions like bronchiectasis can put extra strain on your muscles, including those in your bladder, bottom, and pelvic floor. As a result, individuals with bronchiectasis may experience incontinence, such as slight urination or defecation, especially during exertion like coughing or laughing.

Common Bronchiectasis Symptoms

Beyond the more unusual signs, common symptoms of bronchiectasis include:

• A persistent cough with sputum (phlegm)
• Repeated chest infections
• Breathlessness
• Fatigue
• Chest pain or tightness

How Is Bronchiectasis Diagnosed

The American Lung Association explains that diagnosing bronchiectasis can be tricky because its symptoms often look like other lung problems. But getting an early diagnosis is really important to stop more damage to your lungs.

If your doctor thinks you might have bronchiectasis, they'll usually start by asking about your family's health history and ordering blood tests. These tests can help them figure out if you have an underlying condition that might be causing the bronchiectasis or if your body's infection-fighting cells are low.

Other tests include chest X-ray, lung function test which would measure how much can you breathe in and out, sputum culture, which will sample your phlegm to catch any infection. Sometimes, doctors order sweat test to see if you have cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that can lead to bronchiectasis.

In some severe cases, if bronchiectasis isn't getting better with treatment, doctors might suggest a bronchoscopy. This procedure involves putting a thin, flexible tube into your airways. It helps them find any blockages or sources of infection that are hard to see otherwise.

Managing Your Condition

While bronchiectasis is generally incurable, treatment aims to control symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Management strategies include:

Lifestyle Changes

Quitting smoking is strongly advised to help manage the condition more effectively.

Respiratory Physiotherapy

A respiratory physiotherapist can teach you techniques to effectively clear excess phlegm from your airways.

Medication

These are often prescribed to fight chest infections and flare-ups. If you experience frequent flare-ups, long-term antibiotic use may be necessary.

Surgery

In rare cases, surgery might be needed to repair lung damage or if a ruptured blood vessel in the lung leads to coughing up blood.