In a recent study, it was revealed that the US has the longest 'healthspan-lifespan gap' among more than 180 countries. Over all, the global life expectancy has seen an increase by 6.5 years, and hit an average of 72.5 among the 183 members of the World Health Organization. This data is reported in the journal JAMA Network Open. However, during the same period, the estimate for how long a person could live free of diseases or disability increased only by 5.4 years, with an average of 63.3 years among the WHO countries.

This has led to a 13% increase in the global gap between lifespan and healthspan, which is reflected by "the extent of lifespan burdened by disease". The gap is from 8.5 years in 2000 to 9.6 years in 2019, states the study.

Dr Andre Terzic, the co-author of the study and the Marriot family director of comprehensive cardiac regenerative medicine for the Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, said, "On one hand we celebrate the fact that humanity lives longer. Whether you’re in North America or in the rest of the world, you look into the last century and it’s amazing how mankind lives longer and continues to live longer."

“Unfortunately, the gains in life expectancy are not matched with equivalent gains in health life expectancy," explains the doctor.

How healthy is US?

Among all the WHO countries, US had the greatest disparity between life expectancy and years lived without disease or disability.

On an average, the life expectancy in the US rose from 79.2 years to 80.7 years in women and for men, it went from 74.1 years to 76.3 years between 2000 and 2019. Which means, on an average, a person living in the US' total life expectancy would be 78.5 years, whereas the healthy life expectancy is only at 66.1 years. The gap between lifespan and healthspan has therefor increased from 10.9 years earlier to 12.4 years, now. This has led to a disparity of 29%, larger than the global average, which is at 13%.

“That’s a significant departure of what could be expected for a country with such a significant expansion of life expectancy,” Terzic says. Another point of concern is that the study also showed that women in US exhibited a 2.6-year higher healthspan-lifespan gap than men, increasing from 12.2 to 13.7 years or 32% beyond the global mean for women.

As per Terzic, the widening gap between healthspan and lifespan in the US is due to the severe burden of chronic diseases, especially musculoskeletal conditions, mental health and substance use disorders.

ALSO READ: These Are The 5 Best And Worst US States For Mental Health Care

In a different study conducted by the Commonwealth Fund that analyzed the 11 high-income nations found that the US had the highest percentage of adults who reported receiving mental health diagnosis such as anxiety or depression at 23%.

This was based on a 2016 survey data. Of the people survey, it was also found that 26% of US adults said they had experienced emotional distress, and thus it has marked it as the second-highest rate among countries.

We all know her from Baywatch, Nicole Eggert, has been sharing her journey with breast cancer since her diagnosis in 2023. In a recent post she shared on Thursday, she revealed that she went through her second mastectomy along with reconstruction. The post is filled with fellow actors and fans sending love and support.

Her first announcement was made in January 2024, during which she revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer.

Who Is Nicole Eggert?

Nicole Eggert is an American actor most known for her roles as Jamie Powell in the series like Charles in Charge and Summer Quinn in the popular series Baywatch. It had already been a month since she found out she had breast cancer before she announced it in Janurary 2024

She told PEOPLE that her symptoms began with breast pain and weight gain, which she initially attributed to menopause. However, a persistent, "throbbing" lump prompted her to seek medical attention.

What Treatment Did Nicole Eggert Go Through?

After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and her first mastectomy, Eggert shared with Yahoo Life’s Unapologetically series in May that she was on targeted therapy to manage her lymphatic system. She is currently taking "heavy-duty hormone blockers" to prevent the cancer from returning.

Eggert also reflected on how her cancer journey has transformed her relationship with her body. She admitted to years of self-criticism but now sees her body as something to be cherished for its ability to help her live each day. "I just have never loved myself more," she stated, emphasizing that despite the physical changes, she is "so thankful" for her body and loves "every bit of it."

What Is Cribriform Breast Cancer?

Cribriform breast cancer is a type of cancer where the cells have a pattern of small holes, much like Swiss cheese. Sometimes, a single tumor can contain different kinds of cancer cells, but cribriform cells are one of the less common types. Doctors use two main ways to describe a tumor: grading and staging. Grading tells us how much the cancer cells look different from healthy cells and how fast they are likely to grow.

• Grade 1 means the cells are very similar to healthy cells and grow slowly.
• Grade 3 means they are very different and grow quickly.

Staging tells us how big the tumor is and if it has spread.

• Stage 0 is the earliest stage, where cancer cells are only in the breast ducts.
• Stage 1 is a small tumor that hasn't spread.
• Stage 4 is the most serious stage, where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

How Is Nicole Eggert’s Cribriform Breast Cancer Usually Treated?

Cribriform breast cancer typically has a good outlook because it is less likely to spread to the lymph nodes compared to other breast cancers. Treatment plans are based on the cancer's stage and may include surgery, such as a lumpectomy (removing part of the breast) or a mastectomy (removing all of it).

Other common treatments are chemotherapy, which uses medicine to kill fast-growing cancer cells, and radiation, which uses high-energy rays to destroy them. Hormone therapy is also often used, as this type of cancer is sensitive to hormones. These medicines can block hormones to stop the cancer from growing. Since every treatment has potential side effects, it's important to discuss all options with your doctor.

Nicole Eggert’s Cancer Treatment Tip

Sharing her experience with cancer treatment, along with how she feels and tips, Nicole has also shared an important treatment tip that could help many people who are going through chemo.

“Such an important yet simple preventative step - ice the hands and feet during treatment!!! It works! #neuropathy is the number 1 complaint after #chemotherapy and is so easily avoided.” She said in a video posted on June 15th. Many people in her comment section gave their own experience and thanked her for sharing this tidbit. The Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer organization experts explain that when some patients undergo chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, they can experience nerve damage called neuropathy. This can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in the hands and feet. It can also affect a person's ability to do things that require fine motor skills, like buttoning a shirt or writing.

Researchers believe that using ice on the hands, feet, and mouth during chemotherapy infusions may reduce the amount of the drug that reaches these areas. Experts explain that ice works by making blood vessels smaller, which slows down blood flow to the chilled areas. Since chemotherapy drugs are delivered through the veins, less blood flow could mean less of the drug gets to the nerves.

Along with many supporters, many people also commented about their own treatments one commenter mentioned, “I did ice baths everyday throughout my chemo and it helped so much with neuropathy and other symptoms”, while other mentioned how they could've helped their mother when she was going through chemo had they known this.

As she continues to share her journey, she has inspired many people, and they applaud her strength and resilience

If you think managing diabetes is just about cutting down on sweets, you might want to educate yourself. Blood sugar is only one aspect of managing diabetes. Your lifestyle, including how you move, sleep, and manage stress, plays an equally significant role in managing diabetes as your diet and medication.

The Sugar Myth

Most people picture diabetes as a “sugar disease”—caused by sweets and fixed by salads. But it’s not that simple. Dr Arush Sabharwal, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeon at the Surgical Centre for Obesity and Diabetes Clinic, explains that ignoring exercise, staying constantly stressed, or skimping on sleep can seriously hampers diabetes control. “Diet is important, but without physical activity, quality sleep, and stress management, it’s very difficult to keep long-term complications at bay,” he says.

Also Read: Al Roker's Weight Loss Journey: Health Secrets That Keep Him Going At 71

Why Skipping Exercise Is Like Skipping a Dose of Medicine

Exercise isn’t just about losing weight. It’s one of the most powerful tools for blood sugar control. Research shows that even moderate activity helps your body use insulin better, lowers blood glucose, and improves circulation. Dr Sabharwal points out, “Just 30 minutes of brisk walking, five times a week, is enough to bring blood sugars into the target range. Without activity, sugar levels soar, raising the risk of heart disease, nerve injury, and obesity.”

Dr Shankar Kumar Venkatarayaraju, Senior Consultant – Internal Medicines & Diabetologist at Sparsh Hospital, Bangalore, adds that many patients avoid workouts out of fear of low sugar or lack of time, but the cost of inactivity is steep. “Even moderate activities like cycling, yoga, or walking can improve insulin sensitivity, regulate weight, and boost energy levels,” he says. Skipping workouts is like leaving an essential medicine out of your treatment plan.

Sleep: The Night-time Sugar Regulator

Sleep is like your body’s inbuilt sugar reset button. Lose out on it, and things get messy. Poor or insufficient sleep raises cortisol, the stress hormone that makes blood sugar harder to control. Studies reveal that people with diabetes who sleep less than six hours tend to have higher glucose levels and greater difficulty managing them.

Dr Venkatarayaraju explains, “Good-quality sleep for 7–8 hours not only regulates hormones but also reduces cravings and stabilises energy levels.” Translation: fewer midnight fridge raids and less next-day fatigue.

What Does Stress Do?

Stress might feel like a mental issue, but it wreaks havoc on your blood chemistry. Unmanaged stress triggers the liver to release stored glucose, sending sugar levels on an unwelcome rollercoaster. Dr Sabharwal says, “Stress is one of the most underestimated factors in diabetes. Simple relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or even hobbies can significantly reduce glucose spikes.”

The Lifestyle Loop: How It All Connects

Exercise, sleep, and stress aren’t separate pillars but parts of a feedback loop. When you exercise regularly, your blood sugars stabilise, helping you sleep better. Good sleep gives you the energy to move more. Less stress means fewer cravings, making healthy choices easier. Neglect one, and the domino effect kicks in. Nurture all three, and you’ll find managing diabetes far less overwhelming.

Doctors emphasise that diabetes care is not a single-lane road but a whole lifestyle highway. As Dr Venkatarayaraju summarises, “Diet and medication are essential, but without movement, rest, and stress balance, they cannot deliver the best outcomes.” Small steps, like a brisk walk, a consistent bedtime, or ten minutes of deep breathing, can add up to huge improvements in quality of life.

Breast cancer cases are increasing globally, with a significant rise in aggressive forms, such as triple-negative breast cancer, particularly in women under 40. This has caused many people to wonder how they could curb their risk of getting cancer and whether it is something they can control. Scientists have been researching various links that could lead us to a way we can effectively lower the

A new study reveals a hidden link between two major health crises: Type 2 Diabetes and breast cancer. Researchers have discovered that the metabolic changes from diabetes can actually fuel the growth of aggressive breast tumors, especially the kind most common in younger women.

This research, from Boston University, suggests that Type 2 Diabetes doesn't just put your health at risk in general—it might actively weaken your body's ability to fight off cancer, allowing aggressive forms of the disease to thrive.

Does Diabetes Weaken the Body’s Defense?

The study, published in the journal Springer Nature, is the first to directly link tiny blood particles called exosomes from people with Type 2 Diabetes to a suppressed immune response within breast tumors. Think of exosomes as tiny messengers that carry information between cells. In individuals with diabetes, these messengers are altered and can essentially "retrain" immune cells inside a tumor. This process weakens the body's ability to contain and fight the cancer, allowing the tumor to grow and spread more rapidly.

What Is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?

According to American Cancer Society, most breast cancers begin in the cells that line the milk ducts or the lobules, which are the milk-producing glands. These types of cancer are known as carcinomas or, more specifically, adenocarcinomas. Breast cancer is also classified by whether it has spread.

In situ (or "in its original place") breast cancer, also known as DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ), is a very early-stage cancer that has not spread beyond the milk duct where it started. It is considered a pre-cancer.

Invasive (or "infiltrating") breast cancer is any type of breast cancer that has grown and spread into the surrounding breast tissue.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

This is an aggressive type of cancer that lacks three key receptors: estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 protein. Because it tests "negative" for all three, it doesn't respond to some of the most common cancer drugs that target these receptors. It accounts for about 15% of all breast cancers.

Can Diabetes Care Help Lower Cancer Risk?

This groundbreaking research helps to answer a long-standing question: why do people with Type 2 Diabetes often have worse outcomes with breast cancer treatment?

This finding is particularly important because it suggests that traditional treatments, like immunotherapy, may not be as effective in patients who also have diabetes. The researchers believe that understanding this link will lead to the development of more personalized and effective treatments for millions of people.

Diabetes And Cancer: What Should You Eat?

According to the Diabetes UK, about 1 in 5 people with cancer have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer share common risk factors. Obesity and being overweight significantly increase the risk for both conditions. Carrying extra weight can raise your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes as well as cancers of the gullet, bowel, breast, womb, and kidney. Additionally, both diseases become more common as people get older.

The connection between Type 1 diabetes and cancer is a bit more complex. While Type 1 diabetes can increase your risk for certain cancers—such as those of the liver, pancreas, kidney, and stomach—some evidence suggests it might actually lower your risk for others, like prostate or breast cancer. This area of research is still developing.

Simple Steps to Reduce Your Risk

Taking a proactive approach to your health can lower your risk of developing cancer. By focusing on a few key lifestyle habits, you can make a significant difference:

• Maintain a healthy weight for your height.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Stay active with regular physical activity.
• Avoid smoking.