Autism has increased significantly since 2000, particularly in the US, triggering public concern about what might contribute ot its prevalence. In November, Robert F Kennedy Jr, who was selected to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), linked autism to childhood vaccinations. Soon, medical experts jumped on it to discredit his claim. But then many raised this question: if autism is not caused by vaccines, then what causes this neurological disorder?

Research tells us that autism tends to run in families, and a meta-analysis of 7 twin studies claims that 60 to 90% of the risk of autism comes from your genome. If you have a child with autism, you are more likely to have another autistic child. Your other family members are also more likely to have a child with ASD.

Changes in certain genes or your genome increase the risk that a child will develop autism. If a parent carries one or more of these gene changes, they may get passed to a child (even if the parent does not have autism). For some people, a high risk for ASD can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For the majority of autism cases, multiple changes in other regions of your DNA increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. The majority of these DNA changes do not cause autism by themselves but work in conjunction with many other genes and environmental factors to cause autism.

If you or your child has ASD, we recommend that you explore genetic testing. Genetic testing could show you the genetic cause of you or your child’s autism and reveal any genetic mutations that might be linked to serious co-occurring conditions like epilepsy. Genetic testing can give doctors useful information so they can provide better, more personalized interventions. Read two families' stories on how genomics helped their understanding of autism and receiving personalized healthcare.

What environmental factors are associated with autism?

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, certain environmental influences may increase autism risk:

• Advanced parental age
• Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides
• Maternal obesity, diabetes or immune system disorders
• Extreme prematurity or very low birth weight
• Birth complications leading to periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the UK, killing twice as many women as breast cancer. Yet most people still imagine a heart attack as a man clutching his chest with pain shooting down his arm. According to NHS doctor Dr. Punam Krishan, this outdated image is misleading and dangerous because the signs in women are often very different and frequently missed.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the UK,” Dr. Krishan explains in an Instagram video. “It kills twice as many women as breast cancer, yet awareness is shockingly low.” The problem lies in what she calls diagnostic bias. Medical training, textbooks, and messaging have historically focused on male symptoms, leaving women out of the picture. This leads to missed or misdiagnosed heart attacks in women.

When Chest Pain Isn’t the Main Sign

Women often do not get the “classic” heart attack signs we have all been taught to look for. Instead, their symptoms can be silent, subtle, and easily dismissed as something less serious.

“Women might experience chest tightness or pressure rather than outright pain,” Dr. Krishan says. “Other signs include sudden extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, jaw or neck pain, pain in the shoulders or upper back, dizziness, lightheadedness, cold sweats, or even just a gut feeling that something is not right.”

That gut feeling, she insists, should never be ignored. “Over my 20 years as a doctor, I have seen too many women brush off these symptoms or worse, not be taken seriously when they speak up.”

Why Women’s Symptoms Go Under the Radar

Heart attacks in women are not just missed by doctors; they are often missed by women themselves. The tendency to downplay symptoms or chalk them up to stress, fatigue, or “probably nothing” is common. Dr. Krishan stresses that this cultural and personal dismissal is a huge risk.

There is this habit of minimising what is happening in our bodies. “But one sentence—‘I’m worried this could be my heart’—could make all the difference.”

This is where advocacy comes in. Women need to be louder about their health concerns, and healthcare professionals need to be better listeners. Timing is critical in heart attacks. The faster treatment begins, the better the outcome. But as Dr. Krishan points out, being heard is just as lifesaving.

The Gender Gap in Heart Health Awareness

The real danger, according to Dr. Krishan, is that public awareness has lagged far behind the reality. Breast cancer campaigns dominate health conversations about women, but heart disease is statistically the bigger threat. Yet because women’s heart attack symptoms are less evident than chest-clutching pain, they are often overlooked.

This creates a vicious cycle. Women do not recognise the symptoms or delay seeking care, and by the time they arrive at the hospital, valuable minutes, or hours, have been lost. On the flip side, doctors themselves may not immediately think “heart attack” if the patient does not fit the classic picture.

Listening to Your Body

Dr. Krishan says listen to your body, trust your instincts, and never dismiss unusual symptoms. If something feels off, whether it is crushing fatigue, unexplained nausea, or dizziness out of nowhere, do not brush it aside.

“Timing saves lives,” she stresses. “But so does being heard.”

Most people know creatine as a supplement for building muscle, but it offers powerful benefits that go far beyond the gym. A board-certified doctor highlights three lesser-known reasons to take creatine daily for a healthier, longer life.

Dr. Darshan Shah, MD, in an Instagram reel explains that Creatine is a "longevity molecule" that supports more than just your physique. It can have a significant impact on overall health and aging.

What Is Creatine?

Creatine is a natural source of energy that helps your muscles flex and contract, it also helps keep a steady supply of energy in your muscles when you are exercising. The Cleveland clinic explains that our body’s creatine supply comes from our diet, from protein rich foods such as:

• Red meat
• Sea food
• Animal milk

The other half comes from our liver, kidney and pancreas and they supply about 95% of the creatine your body makes to the skeletal muscles, while the rest goes to the heart, brain and other tissues. So are they safe?

Studies have shown that it is safe for people to take creatine supplements, however, there are other factors like how preexisting conditions could be affected by creatine intake.

Why Creatine Is Recommended For Longevity

Dr Darshan explains that Creatine is a "longevity molecule" that supports more than just your physique. It can have a significant impact on overall health and aging.

Blood Sugar Regulation

Creatine can help your body manage blood sugar levels and improve how it responds to insulin, especially when combined with exercise. This can be crucial for metabolic health as you age.

Brain Health

Just as it fuels your muscles, creatine also powers your brain. It may help with memory, improve mental clarity, and even offer protection against diseases that affect the brain over time.

Mood Support

Research shows creatine can help reduce symptoms of depression, particularly in women. This benefit makes it a powerful tool for mental well-being as well.

How Much Creatine Is Safe For Kidneys?

Harvard Health explains that creatine monohydrate is the most common and well-researched form of the supplement. Other forms don’t seem to offer any added benefits. The typical recommended dose is 3 to 5 grams per day. Taking higher doses doesn't provide more benefits and may put extra stress on your kidneys. While the FDA doesn’t regulate supplements for accuracy, creatine is generally considered safe. However, there have been cases of creatine affecting kidney health of people.

A 2010 case study published in NDT Plus, presented the case of a previously healthy 18-year-old man who was taking creatine supplements for bodybuilding developed severe nausea, vomiting, and a stomach ache. Doctors diagnosed him with sudden kidney failure.

A kidney biopsy showed that he had acute tubular necrosis, a condition where the kidney tissue is damaged. This type of damage had not been previously linked to creatine use in medical literature.

The patient's kidney function returned to normal 25 days after he stopped taking the creatine. This case suggests that even the recommended doses of creatine can potentially harm the kidneys. It highlights the importance of warning anyone taking this supplement about the possible side effect of kidney damage and recommends regular monitoring of their kidney health.

Why Should Adults Have Creatine?

Beyond these points, creatine has been shown to support other key areas of healthy aging. It aids in preserving muscle mass as you get older, boosts cellular energy and mitochondrial health, and helps reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. For anyone over 35, creatine is one of the most researched, safest, and effective supplements for staying strong, sharp, and functional as you age.

When most people get sick with COVID-19 today, they think of it as a brief illness, similar to a cold. However, for a large number of people, the illness doesn't end there. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls this condition long COVID, which is when a person's symptoms continue for at least three months after they first get sick. While much research has focused on the specific symptoms like fatigue and brain fog, a new study from the Australian Journal of Primary Health looks at how these symptoms affect people's daily lives.

The study found that long COVID is far more than just a minor annoyance; it can seriously limit a person's ability to do normal daily tasks and participate in their community. The participants reported severe difficulties that could be compared to conditions like stroke, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease. So, it is not just more fatigue, but a serious health complication

How Does Long COVID Affect Your Quality Of Life?

The study involved 121 adults in Australia who were dealing with long COVID. Most were between 36 and 50 years old and didn't need to be hospitalized for their initial illness. But months or even years later, they were still struggling with activities that were once easy for them. To get a full picture of the impact, the participants answered two well-known health surveys that measure disability and quality of life. The results were quite powerful.

Does Long COVID Cause Disability?

People with long COVID reported a level of disability that was worse than 98% of the general Australian population. An overwhelming 86% of them met the standards for having a serious disability. On average, they had trouble with daily activities for about 27 days a month and were unable to function for about 18 days. While simple tasks like eating or getting dressed were less affected, more complex activities like doing housework and spending time with friends were severely impacted.

Long COVID and Quality of Life

The condition also had a major negative effect on their overall quality of life, which was 23% lower than the general population's. Their energy levels and social lives were the most affected, showing how fatigue and brain fog can strain relationships and a person's connection to their community.

Should Long COVID Be Taken More Seriously?

The results of this study are similar to what has been found in other countries, showing that long COVID often leads to high levels of disability. The research also highlights how important it is to listen to patients. Since there isn't a single test to diagnose long COVID, a person's own description of their health and recovery was found to be a strong and reliable way to measure their disability and quality of life. This proves that what patients say is not just a "story" but a valid health indicator that captures details medical tests can't.

The study points to an urgent need for better support. A 2023 government inquiry estimated that hundreds of thousands of Australians are living with long COVID. Ignoring this problem could worsen social inequality, as communities that are already struggling are often hit the hardest.

To move forward, we need to create comprehensive support services that go beyond basic medical care. This includes rehabilitation programs to help people manage their fatigue and workplaces that are flexible with hours and job duties. By listening to and respecting the experiences of people with long COVID, the healthcare system can help them regain not only their health but also their dignity and ability to fully participate in life.