Health
Lack of sleep could be a factor in a 'silent epidemic,' experts warn
More than a third of adults fail to get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night — and the scarcity of shuteye can have a surprising effect.
Lack of sleep can lead to what some experts refer to as a “silent epidemic” — a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects more than one in four American adults, according to the American Heart Association.
What is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?
As its name implies, NAFLD is marked by the presence of fat in the liver.
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The primary cause is weight gain, along with metabolic risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and obstructive sleep apnea, according to Ibrahim Hanouneh, a gastroenterologist with MNGI Digestive Health in Minnesota.
Lack of sleep can lead to what some experts refer to as a “silent epidemic” — a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects more than one in four American adults. (iStock)
“Heavy alcohol consumption can also lead to fatty liver, but NAFL refers to fatty liver that occurs in the setting of metabolic syndrome and weight gain in the absence of heavy alcohol consumption — hence the name ‘non-alcoholic,’” Hanouneh told Fox News Digital.
The condition is also known as MASLD (metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease) to reflect the association between fatty liver and metabolic syndrome.
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A family history of fatty liver can also increase the risk, noted Hanouneh, who is also co-author of the book “Regenerative Health: Discover Your Metabolic Type and Renew Your Liver for Life.”
NAFL is known as the “silent epidemic” because it often has no symptoms.
“In some studies, fatty liver has affected 25% to 33% of the general population — almost one out of four individuals — but the vast majority of individuals have no symptoms at all, particularly in the early stages,” said Hanouneh.
The primary cause of NAFLD is weight gain, along with metabolic risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and obstructive sleep apnea. (iStock)
Some people may have non-specific symptoms, such as fatigue, foggy memory and abdominal pain.
“Generally speaking, fatty liver disease does not cause major symptoms until it is too late — for example, when the patient has already developed cirrhosis or liver cancer,” Hanouneh said.
Fatty liver disease is associated with an increased risk of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
“The vast majority of individuals have no symptoms at all, particularly in the early stages.”
“NAFLD has become the leading indication of liver transplantation and the leading cause of liver cancer in the Western world,” noted Hanouneh.
Patients with this disease are also at an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, he warned.
“Some studies also suggest that patients with NAFL are at an increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes,” he added.
Patients with this disease are also at an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, a doctor warned. (iStock)
Not all people with NAFLD experience liver damage. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more severe form, leads to swelling or inflammation of the liver and damage to liver cells, according to the American Liver Foundation’s website.
This can ultimately lead to fibrosis, or scarring, of the liver.
Link between sleep and NAFLD
Lack of high-quality sleep has been linked to weight gain, an increase in hunger and adverse blood sugar control in multiple studies, according to Kristin Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic and co-author of “Regenerative Health.”
“Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for abnormal amounts of fat in the liver,” said Kirkpatrick.
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The risk is particularly high for postmenopausal women, she noted. One study found that chronic short sleep duration led to a 20% increase in insulin levels among that group, compared to 15% overall.
“The stress on the body caused by a lack of sleep can cause adverse metabolic changes that ultimately may lead to NAFLD,” Kirkpatrick said.
Lack of high-quality sleep has been linked to weight gain, an increase in hunger and adverse blood sugar control, studies have shown. (iStock)
The expert also cited a new study in JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association) showing that short sleep duration increased the risk for type 2 diabetes.
“Though some risks could be offset by a healthy diet, a majority could not be reversed by a nutrient-rich dietary pattern,” she said.
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“Type 2 diabetics have a significant increase in risk of developing NAFLD.”
Maintaining consistent sleeping hours may help with weight management, Kirkpatrick told Fox News Digital.
“That means going to bed and waking up at the same time on weekdays and weekends.”
Screening, treatment and prevention
Due to the “silent” nature of NAFLD, experts stressed the importance of screening for fatty liver in patients with risk factors — even if there are no signs or symptoms of liver disease.
“NAFLD is a preventable disease,” Hanouneh told Fox News Digital.
“It is also a reversible disease at early stages.”
Imaging tests, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, can visually assess the appearance of the liver. (iStock)
Three main types of tests are used to diagnose the condition, according to JAMA Network.
Blood tests can measure inflammation in the liver.
Imaging tests, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, can visually assess the appearance of the organ.
“NAFLD is a preventable disease — and reversible at early stages.”
There are also some newer tests that measure the amount of fat in the liver — “such as transient elastography, an ultrasound-based test that measures how stiff the liver is” — but they may not be very reliable for diagnosing more advanced liver disease, JAMA Network stated.
For those who have been diagnosed, a low-carbohydrate diet is key to managing fatty liver disease, experts agreed.
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“Studies suggest that a low-carb diet that leads to weight loss of 5% to 10% can potentially reverse fatty liver disease,” Hanouneh said.
“Also, cut back or abstain from alcohol depending on the degree of fatty liver disease.”
It’s important to follow up with a health care professional to manage metabolic risk factors, doctors advised. (iStock)
It’s also important to follow up with a health care professional to manage metabolic risk factors, he said — particularly type 2 diabetes, which is “crucial in the management of fatty liver disease.”
For people with NAFLD, Hanouneh also recommended incorporating regular exercise, particularly interval training, three times a week.
Coffee has also shown potential benefits for fatty liver.
“I typically recommend one to two cups of black coffee a day if possible,” Hanouneh said.
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Medical expert analyzes trending IV therapy, concerns about peptides
Dr. Mike Varshavski joins ‘Fox & Friends’ for Wellness Week, examining trending self-care treatments. He evaluates IV vitamin therapy, highlighting its hospital-critical role versus unproven benefits for general wellness, citing potential risks like vitamin imbalance. Dr. Mike also differentiates creatine, a research-backed supplement, from unregulated peptides marketed with unverified anti-aging and muscle growth promises, urging caution for patients.
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We are officially living in the “maxxing” era.
From “looksmaxxing” to improve appearance to “sleepmaxxing” for better rest, these viral terms all point to the same goal: squeezing every ounce of potential out of a specific trait or habit.
With a growing focus on optimizing wellness and maximizing longevity, the trend has evolved into what’s known as “humanmaxxing,” sparking a bigger question: How far can people go to optimize the human body?
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While there is no single definition of humanmaxxing, the trend generally refers to efforts to optimize health, performance and longevity through a combination of lifestyle habits, health tracking, supplements and, in some cases, more experimental interventions.
While there is no single definition of humanmaxxing, the trend generally refers to efforts to optimize health, performance and longevity through a combination of lifestyle habits, health tracking, supplements and, in some cases, more experimental interventions. (iStock)
For some, the movement begins with biohacking. According to Dave Asprey, a Texas-based wellness expert who refers to himself as the “father of biohacking,” optimizing your body starts with changing your environment.
Asprey has defined biohacking as “the art and science of changing the environment around you or inside you so that you have full control of your own biology.”
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His public advice focuses on boosting cellular energy through everyday choices like intermittent fasting, high-fat diets, red-light therapy and supplement routines.
“My goal right now is 180 years, because I’m doing something about it now instead of waiting,” he once said.
Clinical experts warn that extreme self-experimentation skips the rigorous safety checks that typical medical science requires. (iStock)
Others have embraced a more data-driven approach. Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, creator of the multimillion-dollar longevity project Blueprint in Los Angeles, argues that optimizing the body means removing human error from health decisions and instead relying on medical data.
“Methodically, we sought to build an algorithm with science and data that could better care for me than I can myself,” Johnson wrote on his website. “My mind did not have the authority to override the algorithm.”
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Johnson’s routine involves tracking hundreds of health metrics, eating a precisely measured diet, taking dozens of supplements, and undergoing advanced medical treatments in an effort to reduce his biological age.
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At the far end of the spectrum are those investing in technologies aimed at pushing the limits of human performance.
London-based tech investor Christian Angermayer recently described humanmaxxing as a strategy toward human maximization.
Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, creator of the multimillion-dollar longevity project Blueprint, argues that optimizing the body means removing human error from health decisions and instead relying on medical data. (iStock)
“I don’t think we should become something different, because I think humans are awesome, but I think we can maximize the potential [that] is already in us,” he said in an interview with The New York Times.
Angermayer’s investment firm, Apeiron Investment Group, focuses on technologies intended to help people “live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.” He also founded atai Life Sciences, a biotechnology company that develops psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.
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As interest in humanmaxxing grows, mainstream health experts urge consumers to separate evidence-based wellness practices from experimental interventions.
Public guidance from the National Institute on Aging notes that while some anti-aging therapies have shown promise in laboratory research, there is not yet sufficient evidence that they can safely extend human life.
As interest in humanmaxxing grows, mainstream health experts urge consumers to separate evidence-based wellness practices from experimental interventions. (iStock)
Clinical experts also caution that extreme self-experimentation can bypass the rigorous safety standards applied to conventional medical treatments.
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According to the Endocrine Society, taking substances such as testosterone or growth hormone without a medical need can lead to serious health risks, including cardiovascular complications and long-term disruption of the body’s chemical balance.
While many humanmaxxing habits overlap with standard healthy lifestyle practices, experts say consumers should be cautious of expensive or experimental interventions that promise dramatic anti-aging or longevity benefits without strong scientific evidence.
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A new test could make it easier to detect high-risk prostate cancer cases earlier.
The blood test, called Stockholm3, is showing promise in clinical trials, beating out the traditional, standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
In a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden studied the test’s efficacy in more than 12,000 men — mostly Swedish or European — aged 50 to 74.
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All participants were tested with PSA and Stockholm3 and were followed for two years. During the follow-up period, 443 men were diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.
Stockholm3 detected 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases compared to 74% for PSA tests.
Stockholm3 detected 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases compared to 74% for PSA tests. (iStock)
Stockholm3 missed “significantly fewer” serious cancer cases than PSA. The number of men incorrectly classified as high-risk was similar across both tests, according to a press release.
Thorgerdur Palsdottir, a researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, wrote in a statement that one of the major challenges in prostate cancer is being able to identify the cases that are “truly dangerous.”
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“Our results show that Stockholm3 identifies significantly more aggressive cancer cases than PSA without increasing the number of unnecessary follow-ups,” she said.
“These results point toward a potential change in how prostate cancer screening can be conducted,” the researcher added. “A more precise blood test could enable earlier detection of aggressive disease while reducing the number of unnecessary follow-up examinations and procedures.”
“A more precise blood test could enable earlier detection of aggressive disease while reducing the number of unnecessary follow-up examinations and procedures,” a researcher commented. (iStock)
Study co-author Hari Vigneswaran, chief medical officer of Stockholm3-maker A3P Biomedical, commented on these “promising” findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
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He confirmed that the PSA has been the standard for prostate cancer screening since the 1990s despite its “well-documented limitations.”
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“It leads to invasive and costly follow-up testing, contributes to over-diagnosis of non-aggressive cancers and, most importantly, it misses a substantial share of aggressive disease,” Vigneswaran said.
When aggressive prostate cancer is found while still confined in the prostate, the five-year survival is close to 100%. (iStock)
When aggressive prostate cancer is found while still confined in the prostate, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%, which highlights the importance of early detection, according to the doctor.
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Data from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database show that metastatic prostate cancer has risen over the past decade, suggesting that “we have not improved early detection of the aggressive, curable disease that screening is meant to catch,” Vigneswaran said.
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“The goal of screening is to find the cancers that need treatment while they are still curable, without raising the number of men who screen positive but don’t have aggressive disease,” he said.
Stockholm3 could reduce the need for unnecessary MRIs and biopsies, according to the researcher. (Getty Images)
Stockholm3 could reduce the need for unnecessary MRIs and biopsies, according to the researcher.
The findings did have some limitations. Stockholm3 is an investigational device and is not available for sale in the U.S., Vigneswaran noted.
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The test estimates a man’s risk of aggressive prostate cancer, but a biopsy remains the gold standard for confirming the disease.
The company plans to seek FDA approval to use the test for routine screening and will “generate the evidence needed to support that pathway, including U.S. data,” Vigneswaran said.
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