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Paris Hilton has a lot behind her iconic name: socialite, model, singer, actress, media personality, and businesswoman — including CEO of her next-gen media company, 11:11 Media, and her nonprofit, 11:11 Media Impact.
In recent years, she’s added another title to that list that’s especially close to her heart: ADHD advocate.
Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, Hilton is open about navigating life with a neurodiverse brain on social media, during interviews, and even while she sings. Her latest album includes a song titled, “ADHD,” with the following lyrics:
Now look at me, I’m the best I can be
I was so down, thought I’d never be free
My superpower was right inside, see?
It was ADHD.
In an effort to help further increase awareness, Hilton recently partnered with Understood.org to provide resources to women and children with ADHD on how to navigate life, work, and health. This year, for ADHD Awareness Month, the non-profit will take over Hilton’s social media channels to provide content featuring expert-vetted tips and research.
“While I have the platform to shine a light on living with ADHD, they’re creating resources and communities for people, especially women and children, to feel supported,” Hilton told Healthline. “I love that their mission is all about empowering people to embrace their unique strengths. Together, we’re working to help break the stigma around ADHD and make sure no one feels alone in their journey.”
Below, Hilton shared more with Healthline about living with ADHD, how it’s her superpower, and what she wants others to understand about the condition.
Hilton: I was diagnosed much later in life, which, looking back, explains a lot of what I went through as a child and teenager. Growing up, I struggled to focus in school and found it hard to fit into the traditional learning environment. I felt misunderstood, and it created this feeling that something was “wrong” with me when, in reality, my brain just works differently. Once I was diagnosed, my life became so much easier because I was able to implement tools that have helped me thrive!
One of my favorite tools is turning everything into audio — it helps me stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed by written text. I also break tasks into smaller, manageable steps so I don’t feel like I’m tackling everything all at once. Surrounding myself with a supportive team who understands how I work has also been a huge help. I truly believe it is just as important for the individual living with ADHD and the people around them to educate themselves. And then there’s self-care — I have a very structured skin care routine at night that helps me quiet my mind. I find routines really help soothe the brain and provide structure to the end of my day.
I call ADHD my superpower because it’s what makes me who I am! My brain doesn’t think in a straight line — it zigzags, and that’s allowed me to see things from angles other people might not. It’s why I’ve been able to spot trends early, push boundaries, and build my career in unexpected ways. When I’m passionate about something, I can hyper-focus and throw myself into it completely, which is how I’ve achieved a lot of success. ADHD gives me creativity, resilience, and the ability to think outside the box — qualities I consider my greatest strengths.
I think one of the biggest misunderstandings is that people with ADHD are just distracted or incapable of focusing, which couldn’t be further from the truth. ADHD isn’t about being lazy or unmotivated; in fact, we can be incredibly driven and productive when something interests us. People often don’t realize how much effort it takes to manage the constant mental noise and energy that comes with ADHD. It’s exhausting at times, but it doesn’t mean we’re any less capable.
I wish people understood that ADHD doesn’t define us by our challenges; it actually gives us unique strengths. Yes, it comes with difficulties — like managing distractions and feeling overwhelmed — but it also comes with incredible gifts like creativity, empathy, and the ability to think differently. I want people to see that ADHD isn’t something to be fixed; it’s something to be embraced. I hope more people recognize that neurodivergence adds value to the world, not something to hide.
Absolutely! That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to share my story with ADHD — it’s not something I used to talk about because of the stigma, but I’ve come to realize how important it is for people to know they’re not alone. So many people — especially women — are undiagnosed or misunderstood, and I want to help change that narrative, so I wrote my song “ADHD” on my new album INFINITE ICON. If even just one person feels seen and understood because of my story, then it’s all worth it. Shifting the narrative — not just for myself, but for anyone who’s ever felt like their differences were a disadvantage. “ADHD” is my way of saying that it’s okay to be different, and in fact, it’s those differences that can make you unstoppable.
I just want to remind anyone living with ADHD — or any other challenge — that you are not defined by your diagnosis. ADHD is my superpower, and I do not believe it limits your potential; it unlocks new possibilities. Never be afraid to ask for help or create your own path. We’re all in this together. Keep “sliving!”
Users on TikTok and other social media platforms are sharing stories that taking Mucinex helped them to get pregnant, sometimes after only one dose.
How?
Guaifenesin, Mucinex’s active ingredient, is an expectorant that relieves congestion by thinning mucus in the air passages, making coughing easier.
However, some social media users believe that it also helps to improve fertility by thinning cervical mucus.
“I’m a true believer of Mucinex. It has worked for so many women, especially women who have tried for years to get pregnant…I took Mucinex, first try, and we’re pregnant,” said TikTok user Amanda Macgibbon in a video.
Comments on the video share similar stories about what is now being referred to online as the “Mucinex Method.”
“After 2 miscarriages and a year of infertility, I finally tried the Mucinex method, and now I am 15 weeks pregnant,” wrote one user.
Despite numerous anecdotal reports on social media, doctors dispute whether these claims have any scientific validity outside of a very small 1982 study with limited evidence.
“Where we stand right now, there’s no data, there are no studies that show that using mucinex or any medication that has guaifenesin in it increases the chance of pregnancy or improves fertility,” Michelle Roach, MD, the Medical Director of the Vanderbilt Fertility Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Healthline.
The “Mucinex Method” involves taking Mucinex or another medication containing guaifenesin at various intervals according to a female’s menstrual cycle. There is no exact protocol, so the dosage, regularity, and even the variety of Mucinex appear to vary from video to video.
The general consensus among social media users involves taking the medicine throughout the fertility window, the time of the menstrual cycle when a person is most likely to get pregnant, and prior to intercourse.
The goal of taking Mucinex is to increase the likelihood of pregnancy by thinning the cervical mucus, which is believed to improve sperm motility.
But Roach pushes back on these claims.
“Physiologically, in women, that happens on its own. When a woman is ovulatory, there will be a physiologic change that happens naturally with the cervical mucus. This change happens on its own to try to help make it easier for the sperm to meet the egg. So you don’t need the Mucinex to do that,” she said.
Reckitt, the maker of Mucinex, has also warned against taking the product for any other indication than those prescribed on the box. In a statement to Healthline, the company stated:
Reckitt is aware of recent social media activity surrounding Mucinex and fertility, and we understand why there is heightened interest in this topic. As a global leader in health and hygiene, it is important that we clarify that Mucinex should only be used as intended in line with label directions. Taking Mucinex for infertility constitutes off-label use.
Taking any medications outside their approved indications or without acknowledging all active ingredients may be harmful. In case of doubt, we recommend women have a discussion with their healthcare professional. Please always read the label and safety information before taking any self-care medication.
Guaifenesin is generally a safe medication, including for females who are trying to become pregnant. However, it can result in some side effects, including:
You should inform a doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away.
Mucinex and other medications containing guaifenesin are frequently combined with other ingredients to treat cough and cold, such as dextromethorphan. Always read the ingredients on the packaging to ensure there are no potential allergens or contraindications.
“Given that there’s no real data to support the use, I usually encourage women to not take it unless there’s some other medical reason for them to take it. As with any medication, you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits,” said Roach.
Benjamin Morse, BA, a Visiting Lecturer in New Media and social media expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told Healthline that social media algorithms can make it harder to sort through good and bad information.
“Instead of having to look something up, you’re getting it served to you by algorithms, by people who purport to be experts,” he said.
“If I’m a pregnant woman or if I’m dealing with mental health issues, the algorithm is putting things in my face, and the algorithm is not going to fact-check for me,” added Morse.
Addressing health misinformation online is a complex topic that is often framed as a battle between free speech and censorship. Some claim that restricting information about health topics violates the first amendment, while others argue that the government and social media platforms must do more to clamp down on false and potentially harmful health topics.
According to Morse, combating misinformation comes down to improving digital literacy:
“They need to teach digital literacy in school at a younger age. So kids know how to navigate the internet. I think with adults, it’s the same thing. They need to have an education as well,” he said.
Roach suggests that if people have questions or concerns, they shouldn’t hesitate to raise them with their doctors.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out on social media, particularly as it pertains to fertility. So, we always counsel patients that if they have a concern or a question or a thought, that they should always reach out to us to get our opinion or our feedback,” she said.
Users on social media are promoting the “Mucinex Method” to improve fertility and help get pregnant.
The “Mucinex Method” involves taking Mucinex or another medication with the ingredient guaifenesin during your fertility window and prior to intercourse.
Despite numerous anecdotal reports, doctors say there is no evidence to support the use of guaifenesin to improve fertility.
Breast cancer mortality rates have fallen in recent years, but early-onset breast cancer is on the rise.
While breast cancer deaths have decreased by 44% in the past 30 years, the biennial update from the American Cancer Society warns of an uptick in breast cancer diagnoses in females under 50.
Moreover, disparities in mortality rates among women of color persist compared to white women. Black women face higher risks of triple-negative breast cancers and have the lowest survival rates for nearly every breast cancer subtype and stage, the report shows.
Driving breast cancer rates in all females, aside from any genetic predisposition, are myriad factors, many of which are modifiable byproducts of modern-day living.
Recent research has shown that, in 19 out of 30 types of cancer, nearly half of all cases in the United States are linked to modifiable risk factors. A significant proportion of these cancer cases affect females, including breast cancer.
Following lung cancer, female breast cancer is linked to the most modifiable risk factors.
One possible culprit? Alcohol. A progress report from the American Association for Cancer Research linked alcohol consumption to a higher risk for six cancer types, including breast cancer.
Other factors, such as overweight and obesity, difficulty following a healthy diet, and exposure to environmental toxins, also play a role in breast cancer development.
“It’s important to know that the breast organ itself is more vulnerable than other organs to cancer, which is why breast cancer is more common and the price more vulnerable,” said Marisa C. Weiss, MD, chief medical officer and founder of Breastcancer.org.
“If you look at modern life, where people are not having babies until later, they’re not breastfeeding, they’re drinking a lot, or they’re overweight and not exercising, they’re not eating well, or they’re using pharmaceutical hormones for an extended time, it’s a combined set of reasons why breast cancer is more common today than it used to be, including in young women.”
Healthline spoke with Weiss to learn more about early-onset breast cancer and some of the modifiable risk factors, plus other tips for breast cancer prevention.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.
Weiss: Breast cancer used to be pretty rare 100 years ago, and it’s become the most common cancer to affect women. 1 in 8 women — 2.3 million globally — are affected by breast cancer each year.
The explanation for the increase in the incidence of breast cancer overall, especially in younger women, is multifold. When it comes to steps you can take that have been proven to drop your risk of breast cancer you should try to:
Here’s a closer look at some of the main factors that may be affecting rising breast cancer rates in young females.
Weiss: Obesity or being overweight affects two-thirds of women. Carrying extra weight increases inflammation, which irritates the cells of the body and can make it more likely that a cancer cell could occur. Extra weight brings puberty on earlier, which is a risk factor for breast cancer.
For people carrying extra weight, it’s often harder to exercise, and they’re less likely to eat well. One study linked a 30% higher risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women with obesity compared to those without obesity.
Of course, it’s very hard to get to and stick to a healthy weight, but getting there reduces the risk of breast cancer and the risk of recurrence if you’ve been diagnosed.
Weiss: Pesticides and plastics, fragrances, and other types of pollutants — many of them are lipophilic, meaning they dissolve in fat after exposure.
If you had exposure to a pesticide years ago, let’s say DDT, you may still have residue of DDT in your fat tissue, which could raise your risk of breast cancer.
To reduce your exposure to pollutants, avoid products containing fragrances, and don’t cook in plastic.
Weiss: Alcohol use in women is increasing. And the more alcohol you drink, the higher your breast cancer risk.
Recent studies show there’s no safe level of alcohol use. Any alcohol use can increase breast cancer risk, which is an unpopular reality. If you drink, limit how much you drink.
Weiss: There are hormones in the products that we eat that could stimulate breast cancer cell growth.
The conventional dairy industry, not the organic one, keeps cows pregnant as often as possible because pregnant cows make more milk.
So, whatever’s in the pregnant cow’s milk is more likely to have hormones. Hormones generally live in the fat of the milk.
But in the organic milk industry, they’re not allowed to do that. They only take milk from pregnant cows at the beginning of the pregnancy, not toward the middle and the end, when hormone levels are higher.
If you want to avoid hormone exposure, buy organic fat-free milk. While it sounds elitist to say, ‘Just go out and buy organic,’ it’s true that organic products, including milk, are increasingly available in places like Walmart grocery stores or in other places that serve people with lower incomes.
Weiss: The use of birth control pills is ubiquitous, particularly now, with access to abortion being limited.
Most people are trying to prevent pregnancy rather than have a baby, so the use of hormonal contraception is very effective and widely used.
But the longer you’re on it, the higher the breast cancer risk. That’s also true of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — the longer you’re on it, the higher the risk of breast cancer.
Try to find nonhormonal methods of effective contraception, like an IUD that doesn’t contain hormones.
Weiss: We already know girls who drink alcohol are more likely to have overgrowth of breast cells — hyperplasia — while they are still girls. While it may not be breast cancer, they’re more likely to have bumps and more likely to get a biopsy.
We don’t know exactly why alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. It probably has to do with how the liver responds to it and maybe hormone levels that may increase.
It may be that we don’t know the whole story about why alcohol increases cancer risk. Still, there’s pretty strong evidence that says there’s an association between drinking alcohol and a higher risk of breast cancer, and the more you drink, the higher the risk.
But there’s an opportunity to modify your risk — you can drink a nonalcoholic beverage when you go to a party, like flavored seltzer in a wine glass, with a mint and a lime.
When you drink wine with food, you drink more slowly. When you go to a restaurant, put your hand over your glass to avoid being topped off.
Drinking less alcohol also makes a big difference in managing your weight. If you stop drinking alcohol, you will be consuming fewer calories from the alcohol.
Weiss: Modern life is full of all kinds of exposures that are not healthy for us. If you’re in the grocery store you have choices, you can choose to bring home food that’s healthy rather than not healthy.
For example, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a list of the ‘Dirty Dozen,’ which is the top fruits and vegetables that are most likely to be grown in the presence of pesticides and other junk. You want to buy those from organic sources like, just like you would milk.
The junk in the environment also concentrates as it goes up the food chain, which is why a bigger fish, like a tuna, is more exposed to junk like mercury throughout its life. So it’s a good idea to eat lower on the food chain.
I tell my patients that the main show on their plate should be fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, spices, and different colors of the rainbow. Your meat, fish, chicken, and pork should be more of a sideshow.
A vegetarian diet is still healthier even if it contains foods on the Dirty Dozen list. A Mediterranean diet is the healthiest diet even if you can’t afford to buy organic.
When you eat chicken, for example, take off the skin because that has a lot of the fat in it. When you eat fish, avoid the brown fat part underneath since it contains junk in it.
Enjoy tuna every once in a while, otherwise, enjoy smaller fish (i.e. sardines, anchovies) or even tilapia and flounder, which economically are cheaper than eating something higher on the food chain. The bigger the fish, the higher on the food chain and the more junk there is in there.
For people who can’t afford organic food, a vegetarian diet is still healthier even if it contains foods on the Dirty Dozen list. A Mediterranean diet is the healthiest diet even if you can’t afford to buy organic.
Weiss: Soy contains isoflavones, a protein with very weak estrogen levels. I think it’s fine to consume relatively unprocessed soy foods (e.g., edamame, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk).
“Economic vegetarians” who can’t afford meat or people who follow diets where their biggest source of protein is soy. Their risk of breast cancer is low.
What I do warn people against is concentrated pharmaceutical-grade soy protein powder. We don’t know if that’s safe, so I would say avoid it.
Weiss: First, don’t panic. The new FDA rule says you’re required to know if your breasts are dense or not. It’s important to know that breast density is not a diagnosis, it’s just a description, and it’s based off your mammogram.
Half the women who get mammograms have dense breasts. Of the half — a quarter of the whole pie — have what we call heterogeneously dense breasts, or patches of dense tissue.
About a quarter of all breast cancers, which is half of the half who have dense breasts, have extremely dense breast tissue. This means that your risk of breast cancer may be a little higher, and it also means that it’s a little harder to find breast cancer in there because it’s like trying to find a polar bear in a blizzard. Then you might need some extra testing like an ultrasound or an MRI.
There’s a whole list of factors that influence your breast cancer risk. Breast density is just one of them.
So breast density, your family history, your weight, your alcohol consumption, whether you’re socially isolated, have uncontrolled diabetes, have been on extended use of HRT or birth control pills, etc. — you want to look at all those factors.
If you find out that you have dense breasts, it’s good to talk with your doctor or a genetic counselor about your overall risk.
It is also important to note that while uncommon, breast cancer also occurs in men. The condition affects about 1 in 800 men in their lifetime, compared with 1 in 8 women.
Early-onset breast cancer cases are on the rise. While overall breast cancer mortality is declining, disparities persist, with women of color still facing significant risks.
Key risk factors for breast cancer include obesity, alcohol consumption, hormone exposures, and environmental pollutants.
Maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, following a mostly plant-based diet, quitting smoking, and limiting or avoiding alcohol can help reduce breast cancer risk.
The role of genetic factors, particularly in women of color and those with a family history of breast cancer, should also be taken into account. Talk with your doctor if you have dense breasts or other risk factors for breast cancer. They may recommend genetic testing for personalized risk management.
Intermittent fasting protocols are gaining interest among researchers and health enthusiasts for their potential benefits.
A new study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE), a form of intermittent fasting (IF) in people with metabolic syndrome.
The researchers found that eating within an 8–10-hour window may help improve blood sugar control in people with the condition. Although the study has some limitations, its findings align with previous, similar research.
According to the authors of the new study, one-third of people in the United States have metabolic syndrome, an umbrella term for a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors:
If left untreated, people with metabolic syndrome have an increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
Uncovering lifestyle interventions to reduce the burden of metabolic syndrome is vital work for researchers. Some scientists believe that time-restricted eating (TRE) might help people with this condition.
Following a TRE protocol means only consuming calories for a set number of hours each day. Outside of these times, only water or black, unsweetened tea and coffee may be consumed.
As an example, if someone starts their breakfast at 9 a.m. and finishes their last meal of the day at 9 p.m., they have a 12-hour eating window. If they decided to try TRE, perhaps they would skip breakfast, eat their first meal at midday, and eat their final meal at the same time as usual. This would give them a 9-hour eating window.
Previous research has linked TRE with:
The latest study is a randomized controlled trial — the gold standard of medical research. The scientists recruited 108 people with metabolic syndrome and an average age of 59.
For the 3-month study, the researchers split the participants into two groups:
At the beginning of the study, participants’ average eating window was just over 14 hours. During the study, they reduced their eating window by around 4 hours.
At the end of the study, the TRE group had significantly improved their HbA1c, or hemoglobin A1C, which is a marker of average blood sugar levels used to monitor diabetes.
“Lowering HbA1c reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes,” Adrian Hernandez, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner at AEH Nutrition LLC, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline. “By reducing the risk or progression of type 2 diabetes, you also improve the development of metabolic syndrome.”
Those in the TRE group also lost weight without losing muscle mass, reduced their body mass index (BMI), and lost belly fat, all of which can reduce the risk of chronic disease if maintained.
Although the results are hopeful, the authors note that the study was relatively short duration, and that they had to rely on participants reporting when they ate — which is not always reliable.
“While there are clear limitations to the study, I would still say TRE is a viable option for those with metabolic conditions,” Hernandez said, noting that other “research on TRE and intermittent fasting shows similar outcomes.”
Rebecca Russell, a functional medicine registered dietitian at The Social Nutritionist, not involved in the study, explained how TRE can help people with metabolic syndrome.
“One reason TRE may be effective is that it aligns food intake with the body’s natural circadian rhythm,” she told Healthline.
Circadian rhythms help orchestrate the rise and fall of hormone levels throughout the day, sleep-wake cycles, metabolism, digestion, and much more.
“By restricting eating to an 8–10 hour window, we can work with our body’s natural ebb and flow, enhancing metabolic efficiency,” Russell continued.
Russell explained how eating when the body is naturally primed for digestion and energy utilization may help improve:
Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian at EverFlex Fitness, not involved in the study, noted how TRE might help in other ways. “Fasting periods also give the digestive system a break, which can improve gut health and allow for essential repair and recovery,” Zenker told Healthline.
Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, not involved in the current study, told Healthline that, other than circadian alignment, “fasting for a period of time directs the body toward burning fat.” This helps explain the weight loss seen in this and other studies, Ali noted.
If you are eating less food overall, it is important to focus on quality to ensure you get all the essential nutrients your body needs during your eating window.
“Choosing the right foods is the most important thing for weight loss,” Ali said.
Zenker agreed. “TRE cannot compensate for low-quality food choices, so it’s important to focus on eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods rather than relying on timing alone to improve health outcomes. Focusing on a nutritious diet is essential, regardless of when you’re eating,” Zenker said.
According to Hernandez, TRE is not suitable for everyone, including:
Also, “Individuals with a history of disordered eating may find the restrictive eating window triggering, potentially exacerbating unhealthy behaviors,” Russell said.
“Additionally,” she continued, “people with type 1 diabetes or those on medication for type 2 diabetes need to be cautious as fasting can lead to dangerous drops in blood sugar.”
Russell stressed the importance of consulting with a “qualified healthcare professional to determine if TRE is suitable for your individual needs. If you decide to proceed, a gradual approach is often best.”
She suggests first reducing your eating window to 12 hours, then gradually dropping it down to 10, and finally 8 hours. “It’s crucial to maintain a balanced, nutrient-dense diet within your eating window.”
“If you tend to eat close to bedtime, I’d start there first,” Zenker said. “Eating closer to bedtime is linked to poorer health outcomes, so cutting out late-night snacks is a positive start.
Another tip Zenker shared is to “eat an adequate amount of protein and fiber since this can help manage hunger and satiety during the fasting period. And don’t forget to prioritize other lifestyle factors, like sleep, stress, and exercise”.
Importantly, Russell explained, “If you find yourself overeating or reaching for less nutritious foods due to excessive hunger during your restricted eating window, TRE may not be the healthiest approach for you.”
A new study concludes that restricting food intake to 8–10 hours each day might reduce metabolic syndrome, potentially reducing cardiovascular risk.
Although TRE might be beneficial for some, it is still important to concentrate on food quality. Importantly, certain people should not try TRE, like those who are pregnant or have diabetes.
While it took a “squad of 15” to get Kylie Jenner glammed up for her sister Kendall’s appearance at the Schiaparelli Spring/Summer 2025 show on Day One of Paris Fashion Week, she revealed that sometimes the simplest of products can make all the difference.
In a video she posted to Instagram and TikTok on September 27, 2024, the 27-year-old reality star demonstrated a surprising product she uses to give her lips moisture and shine: Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream.
Facing the camera, Jenner went through her routine, brushing her teeth, washing her face, and moisturizing her skin.
Then she applied the cream to her lips, telling the camera, “Nipple cream for your lips, it’s like the best secret.”
However, while Jenner later looked fabulous heading to the event, does her lip care tip really work?
Dr. Anju Methil — who specializes in dermatology and cosmetology as well as serving as a medical consultant with ClinicSpots — said that lanolin is not a new thing.
“Lanolin has been around for centuries as a go-to skin moisturizer, and it’s especially popular in nipple creams,” she said.
Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed — a dermatologist and the co-founder of PowerYourCurls — further explained that lanolin is a substance that comes from the wool of sheep.
It “contains many natural fats and oils,” he said. “These are very similar to what human skin makes already.”
It is this similarity that gives it its power to protect our skin and prevent the loss of moisture, said Hamed.
“Due to its special qualities, lanolin can soothe irritated skin, making it very good for people with conditions such as eczema or psoriasis,” he said. “It’s like giving your skin a warm and comfy embrace!”
However, it’s not just good for soothing your skin; it can also keep your lips soft and hydrated, according to Methil.
“If you deal with dry or chapped lips, lanolin might just be the secret ingredient you’ve been looking for,” she said.
Methil added that it’s especially good for lips because it forms a protective barrier to lock in moisture.
“It also has emollient effects,” she said, “which attract moisture and hold onto it, leaving your lips feeling soft and supple.”
And, if that’s not enough, it’s possible that lanolin might also have anti-inflammatory properties, said Methil. This can help soothe red and irritated lips.
If you are dealing with severely dry or cracked lips, it could be a “game changer,” she added.
“Whether it’s from the cold, wind, or just licking your lips too much, lanolin helps to calm things down and relieve that uncomfortable feeling,” said Methil.
While lanolin provides many skincare benefits, there are some people who might not want to use lanolin, according to Methil.
“Although lanolin is generally safe and effective, there’s a small chance you could be sensitive or allergic to it,” she said.
If you’ve never used it before, Methil suggests doing a patch test on a small area of your skin to make sure you don’t react to it.
Symptoms of a lanolin allergy can include redness, itching, inflammation, hives, or blistering.
“[T]here are other products that can help your skin too,” said Hamed. Some of the products he suggests include:
Reality star Kylie Jenner recently revealed in an Instagram video that one of her secrets for having beautiful, soft lips is lanolin nipple cream.
However, skin experts say using it on your lips isn’t so strange. It’s been used for centuries as a moisturizer due to its ability to protect, hydrate, and soothe skin.
If you don’t want to use lanolin, there are other skincare alternatives that can provide similar benefits. These include petroleum jelly, shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and hyaluronic acid.
Abortion access, IVF, and other reproductive rights are focal points of the 2024 presidential race.
On November 5, abortion access and reproductive rights will be top of mind for millions of voters as they head to the polls to determine the next president of the United States.
Constitutional amendment measures in 10 key states could restore abortion rights that have been restricted since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Presidential candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have conflicting views on abortion and reproductive healthcare.
Harris and running mate Tim Walz remain committed to protecting reproductive rights. Meanwhile, Trump has changed his position on abortion several times throughout his presidential campaign and over 25 years as a public figure.
Trump has neither confirmed nor denied whether he would sign a nationwide abortion ban if elected to office.
The rights to other reproductive freedoms, such as access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), are also on the ballot, with some religious groups condemning the procedure and conservative state courts challenging the concept of personhood.
Continued access to contraceptive care, including birth control, comprehensive sex education, and family planning services, also rests in the hands of voters this election.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance and their allies are extremely dangerous for our reproductive freedom,” said Olivia Capella, associate director for state advocacy communications at Planned Parenthood Votes.
“We saw under the previous Trump administration unprecedented attacks on the abortion care landscape nationwide and the federal family planning program, which provides essential care to low-income people across the country, as well as attacks on the broader healthcare system. We’re extremely concerned about the prospect of a second Trump administration as well as control of Congress,” Capella told Healthline.
A recent Pew Research poll shows 63% of U.S. adults believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Despite this, millions of people have been unable to access safe and legal abortion in the 2 years since the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
According to Guttmacher Institute data:
Most abortions occur during the first trimester, while abortions later in pregnancy are less common. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 93.5% of abortions occur within or at the end of the first trimester, and only 0.9% of abortions occur at 21 weeks or later.
Post-Dobbs, a national survey shows 1 in 5 OB-GYNs feel constraints on miscarriage management and pregnancy-related emergencies. In addition, a much larger percentage of OB-GYNs (70%) believe that racial and ethnic inequities in maternal health have increased as a result of the Dobbs decision.
A growing body of evidence sheds light on the negative reproductive health outcomes tied to abortion bans and restrictions. In 2023, the Guttmacher Institute estimated that 171,000 people traveled to another state to obtain abortion care.
In some states, there are exceptions to abortion bans, such as rape or incest, but access to abortion care in these places remains an obstacle, particularly for people of color, people with low incomes, and people living in rural areas or maternal care deserts.
“Abortion has always been essential reproductive healthcare for so many people. In the post-Dobbs era, it’s become very apparent to people across the country how critical that care is, regardless of where in pregnancy a person is or their life circumstances,” Cappello said.
“When people are denied abortion care, they are more likely to struggle financially, more likely to have healthcare complications later, and for their children to have a tougher time as well, both in their development and in their future education, continuing the cycle of poverty and strife for families.”
— Olivia Cappello, Planned Parenthood Votes
A national abortion ban remains at the forefront of the anti-abortion movement, whether through legislation or enforcing a 19th-century anti-obscenity law known as the Comstock Act.
Under a second Trump administration, a looming political initiative known as Project 2025 could threaten reproductive freedom for all.
“Our biggest concern is that we know that if we have a second Trump presidency, we will see an abortion ban nationwide, and I cannot begin to convey how dangerous that would be,” Amy Williams Navarro, director of government relations at Reproductive Freedom for All, told Healthline.
“We’re already seeing over 20 states with severe restrictions or complete bans on abortion and the consequences of those bans — and we would see that exacerbated across the country, with people in all 50 states unable to access critical abortion care.”
— Amy Williams Navarro, Reproductive Freedom for All
“Kamala Harris has shown she is a steadfast champion for reproductive freedom, not only in the executive actions she has supported through the Biden administration to protect and secure access to reproductive healthcare, but also in the ways that she speaks about abortion access, and the importance of fertility care and comprehensive healthcare,” Cappello said.
“We are confident she will continue making progress on those goals if elected president. Of course, not everything can be done via an executive order, so she does need the support of a strong Congress to make some of these changes,” she added.
In June 2024, the Supreme Court voted unanimously to preserve access to mifepristone, but some experts speculate the abortion medication could again face scrutiny under a Republican administration.
Post-Dobbs, access to medication abortion, which typically includes mifepristone and misoprostol, is crucial.
“I have significant concern that a Trump administration would compel the FDA to make non-evidence-based decisions about mifepristone, as well as contraception and other medications and devices within its purview,” said Sarah W. Prager, MD, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
“During COVID, Trump installed a right-wing journalist as the FDA spokesperson, politicizing the organization that historically has maintained more neutrality. If elected again, I would not be surprised if Trump were to further erode the scientific and political integrity of the FDA,” Prager told Healthline.
“The President and I stand with the majority of Americans who believe women should have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and their own lives. We remain committed to defending access to reproductive healthcare, including medication abortion,” Harris wrote in a White House statement.
“Our Administration will not waver in our dedication to preserving access to essential medication and defending the FDA’s independent, evidence-based approval and regulation of safe and effective drugs,” Harris continued.
In February, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “children” in the eyes of the law, temporarily halting IVF treatments in the state.
The ruling challenged the concept of personhood, fueling momentum among religious conservatives who oppose abortion at any point after conception.
On September 17, the Senate failed for a second time to pass the Right to IVF Act, which would prevent IVF restrictions at the state level and provide insurance coverage for the procedure.
Fertility support has been a focal point throughout the presidential race. A recent CBS News/YouGov poll shows 86% of U.S. adults support IVF.
As demand increases for assisted reproductive technology, there’s been a push to make costly procedures like IVF more affordable.
“Despite infertility impacting millions, undergoing any fertility treatment — whether it’s IUI, IVF, or another route — can be a significant financial investment,” said Roger Shedlin, MD, CEO of WIN, a fertility and family wellness benefits provider.
“Coverage of IVF or any fertility treatment would help eliminate barriers associated with costs,” Shedlin told Healthline.
“We are seeing companies increase their benefits to help their workforces build their families — whether that’s through IVF, IUI, surrogacy, adoption, or another path. There is rising demand, and we have seen some states already have legislation in place that mandates insurance coverage; as such, coverage of IVF on a national level isn’t a major leap.”
— Roger Shedlin, MD, CEO of WIN
“We know that Trump and Vance, once they’re in office, it is all but guaranteed they will implement policies that will ban abortion and continue to threaten access to IVF and birth control,” Cappello said.
Williams Navarro agreed. “During a Trump administration, we would see them using every tool at their disposal that would ban not only abortion but also some forms of birth control and assisted fertility treatments like IVF,” she said.
“Mandating coverage of IVF by insurance companies is certainly feasible as it is already being done on a state-by-state basis,” Shedlin said.
“Massachusetts and Illinois have had IVF and other infertility coverage as state law for several decades. Access to IVF and fertility support should not be inaccessible due to finances. Governments and companies have the ability to help more people build families through well-managed care,” he added.
Quality sex education, contraceptive access, and federal family planning programs like Title X are integral to reproductive freedom for all.
A year after the Dobbs ruling, females 18 to 44 years old experienced barriers to contraceptive access and lower-quality contraceptive care.
With nearly half of U.S. states banning gender-affirming care for those under age 18 and higher teen pregnancy rates in some states, comprehensive sexuality education has never been more important.
“There are clear data that indicate medically accurate sex education for teens helps to delay initiation of intercourse, decrease frequency of intercourse, and increase use of contraception and condoms with intercourse. Sex education is also associated with decreased homophobia, decreased intimate partner violence, and increased communication skills,” Prager said.
“Abstinence-only sex education is associated with higher adolescent pregnancy and birth rates. An administration that supports national programs of abstinence-only sex education or eliminates medically accurate sex education would likely result in higher teen pregnancy and birth rates, as well as increased STIs.”
— Sarah Prager, MD, OB-GYN
“When Trump was president, he hamstrung Title X domestic family planning programs, significantly limiting contraception provision around the U.S.,” Prager said.
“I suspect Trump would reinstate all these policies if he were to be elected, whereas Harris would likely maintain, if not expand, funding for global and domestic family planning. Decades of data support funding family planning as a means of improving health and reducing medical costs, which is why I assume a Harris administration would safeguard these programs,” she noted.
Vice President Harris and former President Trump have made abortion access and other aspects of reproductive rights focal points throughout the presidential campaign.
As partisan battles over reproductive care persist, the next administration could have two very different futures: reproductive freedom for all or draconian mandates over bodily autonomy.
Regardless of the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, policymakers already have the resources to end abortion bans and restrictions and support access to reproductive care.
At the state level, policymakers must pass legislation that expands and protects access to abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
“We’ve already seen in Project 2025 the Republican plan for banning abortion through agency actions and going around the legislative process to essentially ban abortion nationwide,” Williams Navarro said.
“We’ve seen them willfully misinterpreting and misusing the Comstock Act to block access to not just medication abortion and medical equipment used for abortion care — and that would all happen with or without the support of Congress and the courts,” she said.
Early voting for the 2024 presidential election is starting soon. For more information on voter registration, voting by mail, and more, visit Vote.org or USA.gov.
Editor’s note: Healthline Media does not endorse either presidential candidate or their political party. The article focuses on each candidate’s stance on reproductive rights and does not reflect their broader political views.
A new wellness trend that aims to maximize the amount and quality of sleep you get each night is going viral on social media platforms like TikTok. It’s called sleepmaxxing, and videos associated with the trend are racking up hundreds of thousands of views.
While some aspects of sleepmaxxing can provide healthy benefits, others have experts raising concerns. Ineffective supplements, mouth taping, and nostril expanders are among the advice and products featured in some of the most popular videos, which can raise health risks.
“Commercializing sleep as a product is concerning,” says Carleara Weiss, PhD, a sleep science advisor at Aeroflow Sleep. “We should be careful not to shift the focus from wellness to purchasing more and more products to achieve the ideal sleep quality.”
To help separate misinformation and myths from healthy hacks that work, Healthline spoke with several experts to identify sleepmaxxing trends that may (and some that probably won’t) help you catch more Zs.
Sleep may be trendy, but its importance isn’t a fad.
Experts say that recommendations — like the CDC’s that most adults require at least seven hours of sleep nightly — were drowned out for years by societal expectations of what “working hard” looked like. But that’s shifting in a post-2020 world and as a new generation enters the workforce.
“People are increasingly recognizing how essential sleep is for overall health and well-being,” says Raj Dasgupta, MD, who is board certified in sleep medicine and the chief medical Advisor for Sleepopolis. “By prioritizing sleep, more people are making choices that allow them better rest. This change is especially important today in our fast-paced lives, where self-care and balance are important for staying healthy.”
“Several factors are driving the trend, including social media,” says Noah Kass, LCSW.
The pandemic made many of us rethink our health priorities. Gen Z is focused on balancing work, fun, and self-care, placing emphasis on long-term health rather than a ‘do whatever it takes to get ahead’ mentality.”
Kass says that prioritizing rest benefits your physical and mental health, whether you call it sleepmaxxing or not. Indeed, the CDC says getting enough shut-eye helps a person:
“If you’re not sleeping, everything falls apart,” says Dylan Petkus, MD, the founder of Optimal Circadian Health. “It’s like driving a sports car around constantly without ever stopping to change the tires or fill up the gas tank.”
TikTok thinks so, but Weiss notes that the commodification of sleep is one drawback of the trend to prioritize this healthy habit.
“I am concerned when people reach for over-the-counter medications and supplements or engage in viral yet unsafe practices,” Weiss says.
These include the following:
A key ingredient in the viral Sleepy Girl Mocktail and a popular supplement, there could be some truth to the idea that magnesium could improve sleep, Dasgupta says.
A 2023 review of observational studies suggested there could be a link between sleep quality and magnesium intake/supplementation.
However, it can interact with certain medications. Dasgupta says not everyone needs it, and taking too much can cause GI upset.
Some research, like a 2020 study, suggests mouth breathing can increase snoring.
Mouth-taping promises to eliminate that, but Kass and Weiss say there’s not enough evidence to support that. Further, they caution that it can be dangerous for people with sleep apnea, of which snoring is a symptom.
Kass says melatonin might help temporarily with sleep issues, such as those caused by jet lag.
However, timing and dose are important. Additionally, Weiss says many over-the-counter melatonin supplements are higher than the adult range considered safe (0.3 to 5 mg).
Studies, such as one from 2022 on patients in an ICU in India, indicate white noise could improve sleep quality.
While some machines, like high-tech alarm clocks with white noise, can have three-figure price tags, they don’t have to break the bank.
“A fan or an app on your phone may work just the same,” Weiss says.
Weiss says that there is not enough evidence to support their use in aiding sleep or eliminating snoring at this time.
Wearables once reserved for logging steps and workouts now offer sleep tracking. Other devices are exclusively for sleep tracking.
Weiss says research on their effectiveness is emerging, and updates evolve to improve the products.
“We should be careful when interpreting that part,” Weiss says. “In addition, most commercially available sleep trackers are not diagnostic tools, meaning they will not lead to a sleep disorder diagnosis.”
However, you can use the data from the tracker as part of a conversation with your doctor to help find ways to rule out or diagnose sleep issues.
While not as aesthetically pleasing (or delicious) as a Sleep Girl Mocktail or high-tech alarm clock, the experts Healthline spoke with say the basics still apply:
You can max out on sleepmaxxing, experts say.
“Trying too hard to get the perfect sleep…can cause you anxiety about not always getting the perfect results,” Dasgupta says.
Dasgupta says signs that your quest for more, better sleep may be an issue include:
Perhaps the biggest sign, ironically, is that your sleep quest is making you lose sleep.
“The thing about sleep is, the harder you try to sleep or focus on it, the more anxious you become,” Petkus says. “That anxiety hurts your ability to sleep.”
Getting at least seven hours of sleep per night has long been a public health recommendation for most adults.
Research, experts, and public health organizations say that getting enough sleep can improve the ability to think and memory, as well as reduce the risk of chronic diseases and mood disorders.
Prioritizing sleep is positive, but some of the methods being pushed on social media as part of the sleepmaxxing trend are causing health experts to raise concerns. Speak to a healthcare professional before trying one.
Tried-and-true ways to get more sleep include consistent bed and wake times, keeping the room cool and dark, and lowering caffeine, alcohol, and screen use before bed.
A team of scientists in Korea recently investigated a group of diabetes medications called gliflozins, or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
They wanted to understand whether these drugs might reduce the risk of neurodegenerative conditions in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Their analysis showed that compared to people taking other diabetes medications, those who took gliflozins were:
The study was published in the online issue of Neurology on September 18.
“The results are generally consistent even after adjusting for factors like blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and kidney function,” study author Minyoung Lee, MD, from Yonsei University College of Medicine in South Korea, said in a news release.
For this study, the researchers accessed data from 358,862 participants with type 2 diabetes and followed them for an average of 9.6 years.
By the study’s end, 6,837 participants had developed either dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
Overall, gliflozin use was associated with a 22% lower risk of developing either dementia or Parkinson’s.
When the researchers broke down the risk of specific neurodegenerative conditions, they found a 19% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk, a 20% reduction in Parkinson’s risk, and a 31% reduction in vascular dementia risk.
Daniel Truong, MD, a neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, shared his thoughts on the study findings with Healthline.
He said he was surprised “how consistent the benefits were across various subgroups of patients, including those with different comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease or hypertension.” Truong was not involved in the study.
Gliflozins or SGLT2 inhibitors work by stopping the kidneys from reabsorbing as much glucose. This allows the body to remove the glucose in urine rather than re-entering the blood.
SGLT2 inhibitors are considered a second-line medication. In other words, doctors tend to prescribe them if a current diabetes medication is not working well enough.
Recently, there has been growing interest in this class of drugs and their protective effects against neurodegenerative conditions.
For instance, another Korean study published last month concluded that taking gliflozins was associated with a 35% lower risk of developing dementia compared with taking another common diabetes drug.
The latest study took a similar approach but also studied the impact of gliflozins on Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, the scientists compared gliflozins with a range of other diabetes medications, rather than the singular comparison drug in the previous study.
Insulin primes the body’s cells to absorb blood sugar more efficiently, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.
In type 2 diabetes, however, individuals can become insulin resistant, which means that cells stop responding adequately to insulin and no longer take up glucose as efficiently.
Evidence is mounting that insulin resistance in the brain plays an important part in neurodegenerative conditions. As blood sugar levels rise, sensitive brain cells can become damaged.
A recent meta-analysis, for instance, found that diabetes is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing dementia.
Similarly, individuals with type 2 diabetes have a 21% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Evidence also suggests that the condition may progress more quickly in people with type 2 diabetes.
“An appropriate response to insulin is important not only for the pancreas and many organs in the body but also for the brain,” explained Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and chief medical officer and co-founder of Linus Health. Pascual-Leone was not involved in the study.
“Insulin resistance may play a key role in the link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, but also other causes of dementia,” he told Healthline.
As diabetes prevalence increases, more people may face higher risks of developing neurodegenerative conditions as they grow older.
While the study authors suggest that gliflozins may just slow the progress of neurodegeneration, rather than stop it altogether, this would significantly benefit the aging population, nonetheless.
Still, the study does have some limitations. The researchers note because these neurodegenerative conditions take many years to develop, some people who did not develop dementia or Parkinson’s during the study might develop these conditions later.
“More research is needed to validate the long-term validity of these findings,” Lee said.
The study also leaves us with some unanswered questions.
For instance, the authors wonder whether starting treatment with gliflozins earlier might reduce the risk of neurodegeneration even further. This may be another reason why it’s best to start treatment as soon as possible.
Also, the researchers found that combining metformin with gliflozins reduced Parkinson’s and dementia risk to a greater extent than any other combination of drugs.
This raises the tantalizing possibility that drug combinations might be even more effective.
“To optimize antidiabetic drug use in clinical practice for neurodegenerative diseases, future research should evaluate the synergistic association of [gliflozins] with various combination therapies,” the authors wrote.
It’s currently unclear whether gliflozins could also reduce the risk of neurodegenerative conditions in people without type 2 diabetes.
“Further research needs to be done to determine if gliflozins can be neuroprotective and improve brain health and decrease dementia in people without diabetes,” explained Clifford Segil, a neurologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was not involved in the study.
“With their widespread use, it should be clear within a decade whether this is true. We may know the answer by 2035,” Segal added.
Truong noted these drugs do “have the potential to form the basis for future anti-dementia drugs, particularly for people at increased risk of developing dementia.”
“Their ability to improve brain metabolism, reduce inflammation, and protect cardiovascular health aligns with the primary risk factors and mechanisms driving dementia,” he continued.
“These significant effects on reducing the risk of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases represent an exciting development in diabetes care with broader implications for public health,” Truong concluded.
A recent study concludes that people with type 2 diabetes who take a class of drugs called gliflozins or SGLT2 inhibitors have a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Although further research is needed, the results add to existing evidence showing the effects of gliflozins on slowing neurodegeneration.
