Health
Saunas have health benefits, but overuse is linked to dangerous health risks
Taking time to sit in a sauna can be a great way to decompress after a grueling workout or even a stressful day.
While in a sauna, you can add to the relaxation by reading your favorite book, listening to a motivational podcast or just by closing your eyes, taking deep breaths and sweating the stress away.
Saunas are commonly found at gyms and spas, but you can buy one for your home.
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A sauna offers health benefits, but it’s also important to be mindful of risks.
- What are the different types of saunas?
- What are the health benefits that come from sauna use?
- How long is it safe to go in the sauna?
- Are there any risks of sauna use I should be aware of?
1. What are the different types of saunas?
A sauna is “a specific room heated to about 150 to 195 (F) degrees, and where the temperature and humidity of the room can be controlled with sprinkling water on the rocks in the heater/stove,” according to the North American Sauna Society’s website.
Some of the most commonly found saunas are wood-burning saunas, electrically heated saunas, manufactured sauna rooms, smoke saunas, steam rooms and infrared rooms.
For the most part, many of the health benefits are consistent no matter what type of sauna you use.
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“While many benefits overlap, steam may be better for respiratory issues, far infrared for weight loss and recovery,” Dr. Brooke Jeffy, a board-certified dermatologist from Scottsdale, Arizona, and founder of youth skin care brand BTWN, told Fox News Digital via email.
2. What are the health benefits that come from sauna use?
There are several different health benefits that come along with sauna use.
“Both steam and dry saunas can have beneficial effects on respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease and dementia,” Jeffy said.
“They also help stiff muscles and joints and increase circulation to the skin. Both steam and infrared saunas have beneficial effects on blood pressure. Infrared saunas may improve weight loss when combined with exercise and improve muscle recovery.”
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The time at which you use a sauna doesn’t matter, according to Jeffy. Either a morning sweat or a relaxing sit in the sauna before bed can boast health benefits.
Many people also choose to hop in a sauna after a workout.
“Post-workout sessions help improve weight control and muscle recovery,” Jeffy said.
3. How long is it safe to go in the sauna?
When in a sauna, make sure you keep track of how long you’ve been inside.
Many gym saunas have a clock, so you don’t have to take your phone inside, potentially causing it to overheat.
If there isn’t a timer or clock available, make sure to bring one with you or set an alarm to sound so you know when it’s time to exit.
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“The maximum time to spend in the dry sauna or steam room is about 15-20 minutes,” Jeffy said. “Infrared sauna can be used longer, anywhere from 20-40 minutes.”
4. Are there any risks of sauna use I should be aware of?
While sauna use does include benefits, there are also risks you should be aware of if you decide to add it to your routine.
The risks include dehydration, heat exhaustion and stroke, according to Jeffy.
To avoid potential dehydration, bring a bottle of water into the sauna with you.
If you aren’t a regular sauna user already, consider a slow progression to allow your body to adjust and slowly begin increasing the time you sit inside.
Lastly, if you are pregnant, sick, intoxicated or prone to dizziness, you should not use a sauna, according to Jeffy.
“Saunas should not be used if you have had a recent heart attack, or history of angina, aortic stenosis or congestive heart failure,” Jeffy added.
Health
‘Is it bad to skip breakfast if I’m not hungry?’: Ask a doctor
You’ve likely heard the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what if you’re just not hungry in the morning?
Is it OK to consistently skip the morning meal and hold off until lunch?
Fox News Digital asked some nutritionists about the potential ramifications of bypassing breakfast on a regular basis and their recommendations for optimizing metabolism with a healthy morning routine.
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While most experts agree it’s OK to skip breakfast once in a while, it’s generally beneficial to eat something within an hour or two of waking up.
“Skipping breakfast regularly could lead to some unwanted side effects,” Shelley Balls, registered dietitian and owner at Fueling Your Lifestyle in Smoot, Wyoming, told Fox News Digital.
“It can lead to an overconsumption of foods in the following meals throughout the day. You may think you’re eating fewer calories, but you might actually be binging at lunch or dinner,” she said.
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Never eating breakfast can also affect energy levels, she warned, as the body isn’t getting the carbohydrates and nutrients it needs to perform optimally.
There could also be a long-term effect of slowing down the metabolism, the expert said.
“Breakfast is meant to break the overnight fast, and can help jump-start your metabolism. So, over time, not eating breakfast could decrease your metabolism, as your body becomes more efficient with fewer calories,” Balls said.
Breakfast has been associated with a bevy of benefits, including better weight management, better cognitive function, increased metabolism, improved energy and reduced hunger, according to Vanessa King, registered dietitian nutritionist and media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Oahu, Hawaii.
“Breakfast gives you an energy boost to power-start your day,” King told Fox News Digital.
“Not eating breakfast could decrease your metabolism, as your body becomes more efficient on fewer calories.”
“Breaking an overnight fast with a balanced breakfast significantly impacts well-being and overall health,” she added. “It’s important for everyone. And for children and teens, eating breakfast has been associated with better behavior and academic performance.”
If you’re not hungry within an hour or two of waking up, King suggests looking at your eating pattern.
“Are you snacking at night and it’s leaving you full in the morning? Try lighter snacks and allow more time between your last meal and sleep,” she advised.
The fasting factor
For people who are following a plan of intermittent fasting or time-restricted feeding, eliminating breakfast is a common way to maintain a shorter eating window and a longer fasting stretch, according to Dr. Jennie Stanford, an obesity medicine physician in Pennsylvania and medical contributor for Drugwatch.
“One main determinant here is how someone feels later in the day,” she told Fox News Digital.
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If skipping breakfast makes you feel ravenous later in the day, ultimately causing you to overconsume at other meals, this is not recommended, the doctor said.
“However, if not eating breakfast doesn’t impact the calories and other macronutrients they consume as the day progresses, it may represent an opportunity to decrease overall calorie intake,” Stanford added.
Lighter options for when you’re not hungry
“If you’re not ready for a full meal, begin with something small within 30 to 60 minutes of waking,” recommends Chloë Ward, a functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and certified integrative nutrition health coach in Santa Barbara, California.
“Even a light snack can help signal to your body that it’s time to start burning energy.”
Ward offers the following breakfast suggestions for someone who’s not generally hungry in the morning but wants to kick-start metabolism.
- Smoothies: A nutrient-dense smoothie with ingredients like spinach, a small amount of fruit, protein powder and healthy fats (like avocado or nut butter) can be a light yet satisfying option.
- Greek yogurt with berries: Greek yogurt is rich in protein and can be paired with a handful of berries and a sprinkle of nuts or seeds for added fiber and healthy fats.
- Overnight Oats: Preparing oats the night before with milk, chia seeds and a dash of cinnamon can create a light and easy-to-digest breakfast that’s ready when you wake up.
- Protein-rich snack: A hard-boiled egg, a piece of turkey or chicken, or a small serving of cottage cheese can be a quick and light protein boost.
- A piece of fruit with nut butter: Slices of apple or banana with a spoonful of almond or peanut butter offer a balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats without being too heavy.
Overall, experts agree that healthy options like fruits, whole grains, dairy, protein and vegetables provide the biggest benefit.
“Protein has a higher thermogenic effect than other macronutrients, meaning it requires more energy (heat) to break it down than either fats or carbohydrates,” Stanford told Fox News Digital.
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“As such, having protein in the morning usually leads to a higher calorie burn, at least temporarily.”
Protein also helps to reduce hunger later in the day, Stanford said.
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“Protein doesn’t have to mean meat, if it sounds too heavy in the morning,” she noted.
“Other good protein sources include low-sugar Greek yogurt, eggs, low-carb breakfast wraps, cheese, protein oats, protein shakes or clean protein bars.”
“Even a light snack can help signal to your body that it’s time to start burning energy.”
If you really can’t tolerate food in the morning, Ward suggests starting the day with a glass of warm water, possibly with lemon.
“Warm water helps wake up your digestive system, aids in hydration and can boost your metabolism after a night of fasting,” she said.
Health
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Health
Mother frantic to save clinical trial that could cure her daughter: ‘The treatment is sitting in a fridge'
A rare, fatal disease called SPG50 affects fewer than 100 people in the world — and one of them is Naomi Lockard, a 3-year-old in Colorado.
An experimental genetic therapy has shown promise in stopping the disease’s progression — but it is far too expensive for most families to afford.
Rebekah Lockard, the girl’s mother, is on a mission to raise the funds needed to save her daughter’s life.
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Spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG50) is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s development, gradually leading to cognitive impairment, muscle weakness, speech impairment and paralysis, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Most people with the disease will die by the time they reach their 20s.
When Naomi Lockard was born in 2017, her parents immediately noticed some developmental delays.
By around six months, when she still “wasn’t really moving,” Lockard said, they started the baby in physical therapy, which didn’t help.
Eventually, an MRI and full genetic testing panel revealed the shocking diagnosis of SPG50.
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At the time, Lockard was just a month away from giving birth to her second child — which added another element of fear given that the condition is genetic.
“My husband and I each have one healthy copy of this gene, but we each have one mutated copy,” she told Fox News Digital in a phone interview.
“Naomi got both mutated copies, and there was a 25% chance that Jack (the second baby) would also get both mutated copies.”
“It was a lot of panic at first, a lot of tears, because it’s a horrible condition,” Lockard said.
A few weeks later, after Lockard gave birth, another round of genetic testing revealed the family’s worst fear: Baby Jack also had SPG50.
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“Children with SPG50 may experience early developmental delays, muscle weakness, and spasticity, but they continue to strive and adapt,” Dr. Eve Elizabeth Penney, an epidemiologist at the Texas Department of State Health Services and medical contributor for Drugwatch, told Fox News Digital.
Fewer than 100 people in the world are known to have SPG50.
“Over time, these symptoms can worsen, making it hard for affected individuals to walk and perform daily activities,” added Penney, who was not involved in the Lockard children’s care.
“The prognosis varies from person to person, but it’s generally a progressive condition, meaning symptoms can become more severe over time.”
A glimmer of hope
There is currently no FDA-approved treatment for SPG50, but the Lockards found hope when they enrolled in a clinical trial for an experimental gene therapy that was started by another parent, Terry Pirovolakis.
“It’s kind of like a transplant for genes,” Lockard told Fox News Digital. “It functions like a treatment, or maybe even a cure.”
The procedure, which involves injecting cerebral spinal fluid through a lumbar puncture, does come with risks.
“But it’s worth the risk, because it’s the only thing that could possibly help prevent the condition from getting worse,” Lockard said.
Her newly diagnosed baby — who was just shy of six months old — received the gene therapy treatment first, as there was a better chance of stopping the disease at a younger age.
He was the youngest child ever to receive an intrathecal (spinal) gene therapy treatment.
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“Jack has thrived since then,” Lockard said. “He is sitting independently, banging toys together, drinking from a straw cup, and working really hard on crawling.”
She added, “Doctors and therapists share the same sentiment: The treatment works!”
Other children who participated in the trial have experienced similar results, Lockard said.
“They’ve all shown that their disease has stopped progressing and their cognition has improved,” she said.
Lockard’s daughter, Naomi, has not yet received the therapy.
“We can’t help but compare Jack and Naomi, and we see how he’s meeting these milestones. He’s caught up to her developmentally, and he’ll probably surpass her within the next few months, even though they’re two years apart,” Lockard said.
“Naomi just turned 3, and she only learned to crawl about six months ago. She can’t walk or talk, and her cognitive level is probably that of a 9-month-old.”
“Kids develop paralysis in elementary school, become quadriplegic in high school and pass away in their 20s.”
Although her daughter will likely always have deficiencies, as she’s missed the “critical window” of development, the gene therapy could still stop further progression.
“If they can treat her before she gets the paralysis, the hope is that she’ll never develop that,” Lockard said.
If her daughter doesn’t receive the therapy, she will likely experience the typical trajectory of the disease, Lockard said.
“Kids develop paralysis in elementary school, become quadriplegic in high school and pass away in their 20s — never learning to talk, and losing any ability to move over the course of their short lives.”
The problem is that the clinical trial has run out of funding.
Cost and complexity
Dr. Penney noted that treatment for SPG50 is challenging and expensive to develop — “mainly because it’s a sporadic disease.”
The doctor told Fox News Digital, “Pharmaceutical companies often prioritize conditions that affect larger populations, with a more significant potential for recouping research and development costs.”
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“The market is much smaller for rare diseases like SPG50, making it financially less viable for companies to invest in creating a treatment.”
Developing treatments for genetic disorders requires significant research, time and specialized technology, Penney added, all of which add to the cost and complexity.
In the absence of a cure, most families can only manage symptoms through physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and medications to help control spasticity or seizures, Penney said.
“Managing SPG50 requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to address its various symptoms and challenges,” Penney said.
Fighting to keep hope alive
The experimental trial that potentially saved Jack Lockard’s life was started by another parent, Terry Pirovolakis.
Pirovolakis, based in Canada, found out in 2017 that his youngest son, Michael, had SPG50.
“They told us he would be paralyzed from the waist down by the age of 10, and a quadriplegic by the age of 20,” Pirovolakis told Fox News Digital in an interview. “They said he would need support for the rest of his life.”
Pirovolakis refused to accept that. He immediately started doing research and traveling around the world to gene therapy conferences, speaking with medical experts about his son’s disease.
Eventually, he liquidated his life savings, refinanced his home and paid a team of scientists at the University of Texas Southwester Medical Center to create a “proof of concept” for a genetic treatment for his son.
“I couldn’t just let these kids die. I had to do something.”
After seeing positive results in mice studies, as well as in cells from his son and a few other children with SPG50, Pirovolakis partnered with a small company in Spain to manufacture the drug.
In Dec. 2021, Health Canada granted Pirovolakis permission to move forward with the gene therapy for his son.
“After that, we had three more doses, and we decided that we had to help other kids,” Pirovolakis said.
“I couldn’t just let these kids die. I had to do something.”
He opened a Phase 2 study in the U.S., in which three more children with SPG50 were treated — including Jack Lockard.
“I tried to give the therapy to pharmaceutical companies, but no one wanted to make it, so I quit my job and started a nonprofit, CureSPG50, in California,” Pirovolakis said.
“We now have five employees and 20 consultants, and our goal is to save kids with five diseases, almost all of them fatal.”
Next, Pirovolakis will start a Phase 3 study at the National Institute of Health for SPG50, with future trials planned for other diseases.
“Doctors are ready. There just isn’t enough money to make it happen.”
The problem is that without the backing of major drug companies, there isn’t funding available to dose the therapies to the children who need it.
“They have eight doses that were produced in Spain and have been flown to the U.S.,” Lockard said.
“It’s here, just literally sitting in a refrigerator, ready to go. Doctors are ready. There just isn’t enough money to make it happen.”
It costs about $1 million to make the drug for each child, Pirovolakis said, and another $300,000 or so to treat each patient in the U.S. at the hospital.
While Pirovolakis and his team are actively working to secure grants and investors, it’s largely up to the parents to raise funds for the next phase of the clinical trial.
So far, Lockard has raised $50,000 via a GoFundMe fundraiser, but that is only a fraction of what is needed to get her daughter treated.
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“Right now, there are four families in the U.S. who are trying really hard to fundraise the money that’s needed, because time is of the essence,” he said.
“We want to make sure the trial moves on and these kids get treated.”
The end goal
Looking ahead to the Phase 3 clinical trial at the NIH, Pirovolakis’ goal is to treat eight children with SPG50.
“If we can show that it works in all eight children — and we can prove to the FDA that it is making a difference — then the drug will get approved and every child can get it,” he said.
“I get calls at least five times a week from families around the world, asking to help me save their kids.”
Ideally, after the drug is approved — which could take three to five years, Pirovolakis estimates — SPG50 will be added to hospitals’ newborn screening programs and every child with the disease will be able to get the therapy.
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“I get calls at least five times a week from families around the world, asking to help me save their kids,” he said.
“It’s tough — there’s only so much you can do, and unfortunately, this is a money problem. It’s just heartbreaking.”
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