A majority of voters believe that Vice President Kamala Harris knew about — and covered up — President Biden’s reported cognitive health issues.

That’s according to a YouGov/Times of London poll that surveyed 1,170 registered voters on July 22 and July 23.

Among those who believe Biden’s health issues were kept under wraps, 92% said they think the vice president was well aware of the situation.

DOCTORS REACT AFTER BIDEN’S LIVE ADDRESS TO THE NATION: A CONCERNING ‘LACK OF EMOTION‘ 

Overall, 68% of respondents believe Biden’s decline was on Harris’ radar.

“There’s no way for me to know what went through Kamala’s head or what her experience has been dealing with Joe Biden,” Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

“Perhaps seeing him on a regular basis made it difficult for her to pick up on any changes,” said Alpert, who has not treated Biden.

“Of course, this is just speculation, and we do not know of any formal diagnosis.”

Judy Gaman, CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, a luxury medical services provider in Southlake, previously spoke with Fox News Digital about the failure of those around Biden to seek help for the president.

JOE BIDEN’S HEALTH: LEADERSHIP ABILITY QUESTIONS MOUNT AS OVAL OFFICE SPEECH GAVE NO REASON FOR EXITING RACE

“Either they are in denial and have watched this take place over a period of time, so they are less sensitive to the contrast, or they are fully aware but can’t bear the thought of what happens to the family (on many levels) if Joe is no longer president,” said Gaman, who also has never treated the current commander-in-chief. 

Biden health concerns

Although there’s long been debate about potential signs of cognitive decline, the issue came to the forefront after the June 27 presidential debate, when Biden sparked concerns with his sometimes incoherent speech and unclear train of thought on national live television.

The president, who is 81, has also appeared to “freeze” on stage during public appearances on more than one occasion.

A new survey found that among those who believe any potential issues with Joe Biden’s health have been kept quiet, 92% say they think the vice president was well aware of the situation. (Getty Images)

In mid-July, Biden tested positive for COVID-19, and was said to experience upper respiratory symptoms that included “rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise,” according to a statement on the White House’s website.

On July 23, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s personal physician, released a letter stating that Biden’s symptoms had resolved and that he would “continue to be monitored for any recurrence of illness.”

68% of poll respondents believe Biden’s decline was on Harris’ radar.

Advertisement

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has stated that Biden has seen a neurologist multiple times as part of routine health exams, but that he is not being treated for any neurological disorders.

Dangers of denial

Outside the political arena, it is common for family members and loved ones to avoid facing signs of cognitive decline and potential dementia, experts say.

“Ask any family who has dealt with Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s, and they will tell you that what we are seeing play out [here] is classic with most families who face this,” said Gaman, whose own mother struggled with Alzheimer’s disease.

Signs of potential cognitive issues came to the forefront after the June 27 presidential debate, when the president sparked concern with his sometimes incoherent speech and an unclear train of thought. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

“His story just happens to be playing out on the big stage,” Gaman added. “Remember, everyone rallying around Biden and covering up the truth has something personal to gain by him continuing to hold office.”

In some cases, Alpert noted, signs may be genuinely missed.

EARLY DEMENTIA OFTEN HAS A SURPRISING WARNING SIGN, REPORT SAYS: ‘FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES’

“Generally speaking, family members who see their loved one on a regular basis don’t always pick up on the cognitive decline as perceptively as those who might just see someone on occasion,” he said.  

“For example, someone seeing Grandma once a year during the holiday season is more likely to pick up on a decline than if they were seeing her monthly.”

“If family members and close associates are in denial about a loved one’s cognitive decline, it can delay diagnosis and treatment.”

That’s because cognitive decline is usually gradual in the beginning, he noted.

“Early signs might be subtle and perhaps mistaken as normal aging or stress.”

In other cases, the person experiencing the decline may find ways to adapt and develop strategies to compensate for the cognitive difficulties, according to Alpert, which can make the symptoms less obvious to close family and friends. 

“Although in the short term it might be easier to look the other way, ultimately denial leads to more stress for the loved ones as the condition worsens,” a psychologist said. (iStock)

Experts agree that a denial of someone’s cognitive decline doesn’t do the person any favors.

“If family members and close associates are in denial about a loved one’s cognitive decline, it can delay diagnosis and treatment of the person,” Alpert warned. 

FDA APPROVES NEW DRUG FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

“Dismissing an obvious issue as ‘just a bad day’ or saying ‘everyone forgets from time to time’ doesn’t help the person, and will only slow access to resources and proper management of the condition,” he added.

Delaying treatment can also pose safety risks, experts agree.

“Although in the short term it might be easier to look the other way, ultimately denial leads to more stress for the loved one as the condition worsens,” Alpert said.

“Sometimes, getting a proper medical diagnosis provides the clinical validation necessary for the patient to actually feel understood.”

Delaying treatment can also pose safety risks to the person experiencing cognitive decline, experts agree. (iStock)

In Alpert’s practice, he said he sometimes has patients who experience a host of symptoms, but don’t know exactly what is going on.  

“Once I confirm the diagnosis, they feel a bit relieved to know that their symptoms are real and part of a medical or psychological disorder, and not just made up,” he said.

In Biden’s case, denial of a possible cognitive disorder isn’t just dangerous for the president, but also for the country as a whole, experts say.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

If Biden is experiencing cognitive decline, failure to get him the medical attention he needs could be putting his health in danger, according to Gaman.

“From the standpoint of the country, we need to address this as a health crisis and not a political crisis,” she said.

President Biden boards Air Force One as he departs Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, on July 23, 2024, his first public appearance after announcing his exit from the presidential race. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Gaman also noted that if Biden does have one of these conditions, he may not understand the need to ask for help.

“This is a prime opportunity to increase funding for research, raise awareness and encourage others dealing with this to come out of denial.”

We need to “encourage others dealing with this to come out of denial.”

Gaman noted that she is not claiming to diagnose the president, but rather asking that the country open up the discussion on neurodegenerative disease, “especially since it’s on the rise.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign requesting comment but did not receive a response. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health

In response to earlier outreach from Fox News Digital, the White House press office said that “health was not a factor” in Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. 

“He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people,” the White House said in its statement. 

While dehydration is often associated with being thirsty, that’s not the only warning sign our bodies share with us.

The condition can occur when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, which can impact the body’s ability to perform its normal functions, say experts.

The body loses fluids and water through sweating and urination, according to Cleveland Clinic.

HATE WATER? HERE ARE 5 HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES, ACCORDING TO AN NFL SPORTS DIETITIAN

“In warm and hot weather in particular, your body loses water and fluid faster,” Mike Sevilla, M.D., a family physician with Salem Family Care in Salem, Ohio, told Fox News Digital.

“If these fluids are not replaced, the body becomes dehydrated.”

Although anyone can become dehydrated, it can be especially dangerous for vulnerable groups, such as young children and the elderly.

HERE ARE THE DRINKS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON A FLIGHT TO PREVENT DEHYDRATION — AND WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T 

5 surprising symptoms of dehydration

Doctors shared with Fox News Digital some of the signs of dehydration that go beyond thirst.

1. Sweating

It may come as a surprise that excessive sweating could be an indicator of dehydration. 

Water is lost when you sweat, so if you’re engaging in vigorous activity and don’t replace fluids, you can become dehydrated, according to Mayo Clinic’s website.

Illness is an often overlooked cause of dehydration, often leading to a depletion of fluids. (iStock)

“In heat and humidity, we lose more water in the form of perspiration, which is what triggers the body to tell the brain that it needs water and the actual feeling of thirst,” Lauren Fine, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Fine Dermatology in Chicago, told Fox News Digital.

2. Sickness

Illness is an often overlooked cause of dehydration. With excessive vomiting or diarrhea, the body can quickly become depleted of fluids — especially with younger people and older adults, Sevilla said. 

NEED MORE WATER INTAKE? THESE 4 FOODS CAN HELP YOU STAY HYDRATED ON HOT SUMMER DAYS

“Having a fever or an infection can also lead to dehydration, because fever can cause you to sweat and thereby lose fluid,” he cautioned. 

3. Fatigue

One of the initial signs of dehydration is fatigue. 

Fatigue is one of the early signs of dehydration, according to experts. (iStock)

“People usually ignore this symptom, thinking that they are just tired,” Sevilla said — but it can progress to dizziness and lightheadedness.

To combat fatigue, he recommends consuming beverages with electrolytes to boost energy levels.

4. Dark urine

If your urine is amber- or honey-colored, or dark orange, this may indicate that your body isn’t getting enough water, according to Health.com. 

“If you’re dehydrated and are holding onto more of the actual water itself, the urine will become darker and darker,” Michael A Palese, M.D., chair of the Department of Urology at Mount Sinai in New York, told Health.com. 

5. Skin changes

Dehydrated skin can look dull and dry, and can also show premature signs of aging, such as surface wrinkles. 

Changes in the skin can be a symptom of dehydration, experts say. (iStock)

“Skin cells need water to survive,” said Fine.

To keep the skin hydrated, she recommends drinking water while working out, reducing intake of coffee and other caffeinated beverages, and eating more fruits, vegetables and legumes.

When to seek medical attention

The longer dehydration continues without intake of sufficient fluids, the worse the symptoms become, according to Sevilla. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Severe dehydration leads to dizziness, confusion, increased heart rate and low blood pressure, the physician said.

“The more severe the case of dehydration is, the more difficult it is for people to drink enough fluid to help the situation,” he said. 

In cases of severe hydration, an individual may need to visit the hospital or emergency department to receive fluids via IV. (iStock)

In cases of severe hydration, the person may need to visit the hospital or emergency department to receive fluids via IV.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health

Both doctors emphasized the importance of being proactive and drinking water or electrolyte-containing fluids before exercising or playing sports.

Screening for the second leading cause of cancer deaths just got a bit easier.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of a new blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC).

Shield, made by Guardant Health in California, is the first approved blood test that is considered a primary screening option for the disease and meets Medicare coverage requirements, the company stated.

WHAT IS COLORECTAL CANCER? SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, RISKS AND MORE OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERN

The FDA’s approval, announced Tuesday, follows a large clinical trial that included 20,000 average-risk adults, which found that Shield had an 83% sensitivity for the detection of CRC.

Those findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in March.

There is another approved blood test, Epigenomics’ Epi proColon, but it is a second-line screening option, which means it can only be given to patients who have been offered first-line options and have a history of not completing CRC screening, according to Michael Weist, a spokesperson from Guardant Health.

Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president of Early Cancer Detection Science for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, confirmed that Shield is the only blood test currently available for colorectal cancer screening. 

TRAGIC CANCER LOSS INSPIRES NEW YORK TECH ENTREPRENEUR TO ADDRESS ‘URGENT MEDICAL NEED’

“It compares favorably with other colorectal cancer screening tests,” such as colonoscopy, CT colonography and stool tests, Smith, who is not affiliated with Guardant, told Fox News Digital.

“The test … likely will be more appealing to people who have never been screened, or not recently screened,” he added.

The FDA’s approval follows a large clinical trial that included 20,000 average-risk adults, which found that Shield had an 83% sensitivity for the detection of colorectal cancer. (Guardant Health)

The key advantage of the blood test is that it can be done during a routine doctor’s appointment without the need for prepping or taking an entire day off from work.

“It offers the potential to detect colorectal cancer in a person who is non-adherent with screening recommendations, asymptomatic and willing to get this test based on preference, convenience or both,” Smith said.

“Compared to colonoscopy, it is simpler and less time-consuming.”

Advertisement

Shield has shown “reasonable sensitivity and specificity compared to other blood/stool tests,” according to Dr. Shuji Ogino, chief of the Molecular Pathological Epidemiology program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is a member of Mass General Brigham in Boston.

“Compared to colonoscopy, it is simpler and less time-consuming,” Ogino, who is not associated with Guardant, told Fox News Digital.

Risks and limitations

While the risks of the Shield test have not been studied in a population of regular users, they are likely to be minimal, according to ACS’ Smith. 

“However, the Shield test does not offer the same level of benefit to prevent colorectal cancer by detecting and removing precursor lesions (polyps), which is a significant benefit from regular screening with the currently recommended tests,” Smith cautioned.

The Shield blood test is made by Guardant Health, which is based in Redwood City, California. (Guardant Health)

That downside would be offset by more unscreened people choosing to get screenings, he noted.

“The Shield blood test does have a lower degree of sensitivity than the Cologard stool test for detecting colon cancer,” Stephen Grabelsky, M.D., a hematologist and medical oncologist at the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, told Fox News Digital.

The test is only intended for people with a standard risk for colon cancer, which excludes patients with a family history of colon cancer or a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, Grabelsy added. (He also was not involved in the test’s development.)

Early detection is key

The compliance rate for colorectal cancer screenings is only about 59% — well below the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s goal of 80% for eligible individuals, according to Weist.

The test is expected to be commercially available by this fall. 

“More than one out of three eligible Americans – over 50 million people – do not complete CRC screenings, often due to the perception that other available options, such as colonoscopies or stool-based tests, are invasive, unpleasant or inconvenient,” he said. 

When detected early, colon cancer has a relative survival rate of 91% — compared to just 14% if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. 

“Early detection is critical,” Weist said. “The most effective screening test is the test that gets done.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The Shield test is indicated for colorectal cancer screening in individuals age 45 and older who have an average risk for the disease, he told Fox News Digital. 

The test is expected to be commercially available by this fall. 

The Shield test is indicated for colorectal cancer screening in individuals 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease. (Guardant Health)

Patients interested in the Shield test should discuss the benefits and limitations with a health care provider before making a choice, Smith recommended, and should also determine whether their insurance will cover it. 

“It is important to appreciate that a colorectal cancer screening test that is positive is not complete until the patient has had a colonoscopy,” Smith noted.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health

“Any non-colonoscopy screening test for colorectal cancer that is positive must be followed up with a colonoscopy.”