Health
Biden health concerns persist as he makes first appearance after ending campaign
President Biden was seen boarding Air Force One in Delaware on Tuesday, marking the first time he has been seen in public since being diagnosed with COVID-19 on July 17.
The president held a mask in one hand as he gave onlookers a thumbs-up and a salute before disappearing into the plane.
“His walking on the stairs looks fine, better than usual, but it’s strange that he didn’t say hello to anyone,” Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, told Fox News Digital. “All his energy went into walking.”
The president is headed to Washington, D.C., where he is scheduled to make a speech to the American public on Wednesday night.
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Biden’s personal physician, Kevin C. O’Connor, released the latest update on the president’s health on Monday, July 22, reporting that the president had completed his 10th dose of Paxlovid and that his symptoms have “almost resolved completely.”
President Biden boards Air Force One as he departs Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on July 23, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
There has been a renewed emphasis on the president’s health – both physically and cognitively – in recent weeks, stemming from his concerning performance at the June 27 presidential debate and culminating in his July 21 announcement that he was ending his campaign for re-election.
Cognitive concerns
The first presidential debate of 2024 left many Americans, and even some traditional Democrat allies, wondering about Biden’s mental fitness for office based on what appeared to be his unclear train of thought and lack of coherence.
President Biden gestures as he boards Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)
“President Biden’s performance in [the] debate reignited longstanding discussions about his cognitive abilities and his overall leadership capacity,” Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, told Fox News Digital after the debate.
“Biden struggled to maintain a coherent narrative, often losing his train of thought mid-sentence and providing vague, rambling and undecipherable answers to highly critical questions,” Osborn continued, expressing his professional opinion.
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The doctor, who has not treated the president, also called out Biden’s frequent pauses, struggle to find words and reliance on the notes he was writing as points of concern.
“President Biden lacks the mental sharpness required for the highest office in the land … especially amid [today’s] current national and international crises,” Osborn said.
The neurosurgeon also mentioned that the 46th president has undergone multiple surgeries for brain aneurysms.
President Biden boards Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
There is a famous saying in neurosurgery, Osborn noted: “When the air hits your brain, you’re never the same.”
The doctor said, “It is medically probable that when he took office in 2020, he was afflicted by mild cognitive impairment, a gateway syndrome to Alzheimer’s disease and potentially Parkinsonism – not necessarily Parkinson’s disease itself.”
Health’s potential role in Biden’s exit?
After Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, doctors shared their thoughts about what that action meant in terms of his ongoing cognitive health.
Given signs of his “ailing cognitive status, President Biden’s decision to step down from the race seems prudent,” said Osborn.
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“By stepping down, President Biden can prioritize his health and potentially mitigate further cognitive decline while also ensuring the leadership role is filled by someone fully capable of handling the demanding responsibilities of the position.”
Siegel also told Fox News Digital that he believes Biden’s decision may be best for the president’s health.
The first presidential debate of 2024 left many Americans wondering about Biden’s mental fitness for office based on what appeared to be his unclear train of thought and lack of coherence. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
“The stress of the race could have definitely made cognition worse, but it will progress anyway if there is a cognitive issue, and fitness is a big concern,” the doctor told Fox News Digital on Sunday.
Siegel has said on multiple occasions that he has not examined or treated the president and that he cannot make any definitive diagnoses.
Tested positive for COVID
The president tested positive for COVID-19 on July 17, sparking concerns about the risk the virus poses to older adults.
The White House released an announcement of Biden’s positive COVID test, noting that the president had been vaccinated and boosted and was “experiencing mild symptoms.”
Dr. Marc Siegel joined “Fox & Friends” on June 28 to discuss concerns sparked by Biden’s performance at the June 27 presidential debate against former President Trump. (Kevin D. Liles for the Washington Post via Getty Images | Fox News)
His upper respiratory symptoms included “rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise,” according to a statement on the White House’s website.
Doctors shared their concerns about the potential long-term effect COVID could have on Biden.
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“Post-COVID syndromes and long COVID have been shown to affect underlying neurological conditions,” Siegel warned.
“This can also come from recurrent COVID.”
“By stepping down, President Biden can prioritize his health and potentially mitigate further cognitive decline.”
Osborn noted that the virus has been shown to have potential long-term effects on cognitive function, often referred to as “brain fog.”
“These effects can include difficulties with memory, attention and executive function,” he said.
“In someone with pre-existing cognitive issues like President Biden, contracting COVID-19 could exacerbate these symptoms – via neuroinflammation – and lead to a more rapid decline.”
President Biden walks down the steps of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on July 17, 2024. (Susan Walsh/AP)
As of July 22, Biden had received his 10th dose of Paxlovid.
“His symptoms have almost resolved completely,” O’Connor, the president’s doctor, wrote in a July 22 briefing.
“His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain absolutely normal. His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear.”
Health as a qualifying factor
Along with meeting the official requirements for president, Siegel and Osborn agreed that whoever holds the office should also be physically and cognitively healthy.
“It is extremely important,” Siegel told Fox News Digital. “We have a right to it as a country.”
The role of president involves making complex and high-stakes decisions, often under significant pressure, Osborn noted.
Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon who specializes in cognitive function, has shared his concerns about Biden’s cognitive fitness. (Dr. Brett Osborn)
“Cognitive health is essential for clear thinking, effective communication and sound decision-making, all things President Biden lacks,” he said, sharing his viewpoint.
Physical health is also essential, Osborn said, as the role also requires long hours, frequent travel and crisis management.
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“A healthy president is better equipped to handle the demands of the office and to lead the nation effectively through various challenges,” he added.
In light of Biden’s announcement to exit the race, Siegel said the decision “should be accompanied by a full health disclosure.”
Doctors have called for thorough health evaluations for presidential candidates, and sitting presidents, to ensure they can perform their required duties. (Getty Images)
He said, “They should admit to what they know and reveal full neurological results.”
The situation highlights the need for thorough health evaluations for presidential candidates – and sitting presidents – to ensure they can perform their required duties, according to Osborn.
“Routine testing – physical and mental – should be made nonnegotiable instead of being thwarted by the governing party,” he said.
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In response to outreach from Fox News Digital, the White House press office stated that “health was not a factor” in the president’s decision to withdraw from the race.
“He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people,” the White House said in its statement.
New flu strain emerging as a severe health threat
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to warn of a new strain of the flu that is spiking hospitalizations across the country and newfound risks of medical marijuana’s link to psychosis.
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The New York State Department of Health reported a record surge in influenza activity, with 71,123 positive flu cases recorded statewide during the week ending December 20.
Health officials said the figure represents the highest number of flu cases ever reported in a single week since influenza became a reportable disease in New York in 2004.
State health data show the weekly total reflects a 38% increase from the previous reporting period, signaling a rapidly intensifying flu season.
There have been 189,312 reported positive flu cases so far this season, while influenza-related hospitalizations rose 63% in the most recent week.
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New York reported the highest weekly total of cases ever recorded since influenza became reportable in 2004. (iStock)
“We are seeing the highest number of flu cases ever recorded in a single week in New York state,” Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a press release.
There have been 189,312 reported flu cases so far this season, with influenza-related hospitalizations increasing 63% in the most recent week. (iStock)
Earlier this month, the department declared influenza prevalent statewide, a designation that requires unvaccinated health care workers to wear masks in patient care settings.
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Health officials continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe illness and hospitalization from influenza.
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New Yorkers who have not yet received a seasonal flu shot are still encouraged to do so, with experts saying vaccination can offer protection even later in the season.
Health officials continue to urge New Yorkers to take preventive steps, including vaccination and staying home when sick, to limit further spread. (iStock)
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To help limit further spread, the department advises individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms — including fever, cough, sore throat, or body aches — to stay home. State health officials also recommend frequent handwashing, using hand sanitizer, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals.
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For those who become ill, officials say antiviral medications are available and are most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Health officials also added that people at higher risk for complications should contact a health care provider promptly for evaluation and possible treatment.
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The department noted that flu activity typically peaks in January, meaning case counts could continue to climb in the weeks ahead.
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If the stress of the holidays wreaked havoc on your gut, you’re not alone — 76% of Americans experience gastrointestinal distress during the holiday season, according to a recent national survey from Oshi Health and YouGov.
Digestive problems can be triggered not only by holiday overeating, but also by stress. Financial worries, disrupted routines, fatigue and interpersonal dynamics rank as some of the top causes.
“I see an uptick in psychiatry-related GI issues during the holiday season,” Dr. Claire Brandon, a gastrointestinal psychiatrist based in New York City, told Fox News Digital. “When you are undergoing stress, your body produces more corticotropin-releasing hormones, which sets off a cascade of the inflammatory system.”
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Stress hormones can act directly on the gut, leading to more digestive distress and pushing the body out of “rest-and-digest mode,” Brandon said.
“Stress activates the sympathetic — fight, flight, freeze — nervous system, which slows digestion,” added Dr. David Clarke, an Oregon-based gastroenterologist and president of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms. “That can lead to bloating, cramps, nausea and sometimes abdominal pain.”
Stress often plays a bigger role in digestive issues than overeating alone, experts say. (iStock)
The good news, doctors say, is that a few simple, realistic steps can help reset the digestive system after the holidays.
No. 1: Reset your sleep
Sleep plays a major role in gut health. Research shows that insufficient or disrupted sleep can change the composition and function of the gut microbiome, potentially affecting metabolic and immune factors that influence overall health.
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“When I travel and get derailed, my main focus is to reset my sleep,” Brandon said. She recommends reestablishing wind-down routines like deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.
No. 2: Eat balanced, fiber-rich meals
Fiber helps keep digestion moving and supports healthy gut bacteria, which can aid post-holiday recovery, experts say.
“The usual principles for supporting digestion apply here,” said Clarke. “Consuming a balanced diet emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes; avoiding highly processed foods; and moderating alcohol will keep your gut microbiome happy.”
Digestive symptoms like bloating and discomfort often spike during the holidays due to stress, travel and disrupted routines. (iStock)
No. 3: Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated will also aid digestion, Clarke said, noting that light-colored urine is a good indicator of hydration.
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Traveling can be particularly tough on the gut, experts say, especially during flights where low cabin humidity causes the body to pull water from the bowels, leading to constipation.
Drinking water before, during, and after flights — and limiting alcohol and caffeine — can help counteract dehydration-related digestive slowdowns. Experts also recommend sipping water consistently throughout the day.
No. 4: Resume regular movement
Both doctors agreed that exercise supports digestion and stress regulation, which are both key to gut recovery.
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“Going on walks can be enough to help with this, but if you have space to do more, including some gentle stretching, that can be a huge help,” Brandon advised.
No. 5: Reduce stress gradually
Stress management plays a critical role in gut health, and experts say that small, consistent habits can help ease gastrointestinal symptoms.
Brandon recommends calming the nervous system with breathing or grounding exercises and slowing down at meals.
Light movement can help support digestion and regulate stress, experts say. (iStock)
“If you’re constantly running on fumes, on a layover in the airport, eating high sugar and doing things off your routine, expect a few disruptions with your gut,” she said. “Reframe it as something that you can reset when you get home.”
No. 6: Skip cleanses and detoxes
Clarke says that detoxes and cleanses are not necessary and can actually be harmful. Instead, he recommends sticking to the basics — including hydration, balanced meals, regular sleep and movement.
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Doctors say the gut is designed to recover on its own in response to consistently healthy practices rather than extreme resets.
Experts recommend returning to balanced, fiber-rich meals instead of intense cleanses. (iStock)
While short-lived symptoms can improve within hours and are usually temporary, experts say lingering or worsening issues shouldn’t be ignored.
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“If you are back home and struggling to feel your usual baseline while back on your routine, it’s probably worth checking in with your physician,” Brandon advised.
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Regular exercise may do more than strengthen the heart. It could also reprogram the nerves that control how the heart beats, new research has found.
The discovery could eventually help doctors better treat common conditions such as irregular heart rhythms, chest pain, angina and stress-related “broken-heart” syndrome, according to scientists at the University of Bristol in the U.K.
The study, which looked at lab rats trained over 10 weeks, found that moderate exercise does not affect the heart’s nerve control system evenly. Instead, it produces distinct and opposing changes on the left and right sides of the body. a split researchers say has gone largely unnoticed until now.
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“The discovery points to a previously hidden left–right pattern in the body’s ‘autopilot’ system that helps run the heart,” Dr. Augusto Coppi, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer in veterinary anatomy at the University of Bristol, said in a statement.
Regular exercise may “rewire” the nerves that control the heart, the new study found. (iStock)
“This could help explain why some treatments work better on one side than the other and, in the future, help doctors target therapies more precisely and effectively,” Coppi added.
After 10 weeks of aerobic exercise, the researchers examined the animals’ heart control nerves and found left–right differences that did not appear in inactive rats, according to the research published in the journal Autonomic Neuroscience in September.
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On the right side, the nerve hub that sends “go faster” signals to the heart developed many more nerve cells, suggesting increased wiring. On the left side, however, the number of nerve cells did not rise as much. Instead, the existing cells grew significantly larger, indicating a different kind of adaptation.
The findings could help explain why some heart treatments work better on one side than the other. (iStock)
The findings show that exercise reshapes the heart’s nerve control system in a side-specific way rather than affecting both sides equally, the researchers said. Understanding that process could help doctors better target treatments, especially for patients who cannot exercise or whose symptoms persist despite lifestyle changes.
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Researchers compared the nerve clusters, known as the stellate ganglia, to a “dimmer switch” that fine-tunes how strongly the heart is stimulated. That fine-tuning is important because overstimulation of these nerves is linked to chest pain and dangerous heart rhythm problems.
Scientists caution more studies are needed to determine whether the same effects occur in humans. (iStock)
The findings are early stage and based on animal research, however. So, they do not prove the same effects in people. More studies are needed before they could affect patient care.
Researchers say future studies will explore whether similar left–right nerve changes occur in people and whether they could help explain why some heart treatments work better on one side than the other, potentially paving the way for more precise, personalized care for angina and heart rhythm disorders.
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The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from University College London, the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of São Paulo in Brazil.
Researchers discovered distinct left-right changes in heart-control nerves after 10 weeks of aerobic exercise. (iStock)
The findings add to growing evidence that regular, moderate exercise benefits the heart in ways scientists are beginning to understand better.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to the study authors for comment.
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