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Prince Harry has been seen for the first time since arriving in Canada with…

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• The CDC is warning that some people have received the wrong RSV vaccine for their demographic group.
• The vaccine is approved for pregnant people and people over age 60.
• The CDC reported that 128 pregnant people were given the vaccine that is for adults over the age of 60.
• Additionally, 25 young children were given the vaccine that is approved only for adults.

Last year marked the first time that the medical community had access to vaccines to combat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

These vaccines were specifically targeted for two groups at higher risk for severe complications: the elderly and pregnant people.

Additionally, a monoclonal antibody treatment became available to protect young children from the virus.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that some of these vaccine recipients received the wrong vaccine for their particular group.

The number of errors is small. At least 128 pregnant people were given a version of a vaccine approved for adults 60 and up, and about 25 children under 2 years old were administered a vaccine only approved for adults.

“Most of these administration error reports described no adverse event,” the CDC statement reads. “When an adverse event was concurrently reported to VAERS, most reports were classified as nonserious.” A majority of the children affected were under 8 months old, and those incidents and those of the pregnant people who received the wrong vaccine were in outpatient settings or pharmacies.

What to know about RSV protection for children

Last fall, the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices authorized monoclonal antibody treatment to protect infants against RSV.

Nirsevimab known by the brand-name Beyforus is a monoclonal antibody treatment made by Sanofi and AstraZeneca for babies and children up to 2 years old.

RSV vaccines only available for adults

RSV vaccines like Pfizer Abrysvo or GSK Arexvy are not approved for infants or young children. Abrysvo is the only RSV vaccine recommended for pregnant people, but Arexvy is not approved for use during pregnancy; both are approved for adults over the age of 60. 

Dr. Daniel Ganjian, FAAP, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, told Healthline that errors administering new vaccines can occur, given the scale of distribution. “New vaccines and treatments can sometimes lead to confusion, especially in busy healthcare settings,” Ganjian said. “The RSV vaccine for adults and the monoclonal antibody treatment for children have similar names, which can contribute to mix-ups.”

What to do if you received the wrong RSV vaccine

The most important thing is to stay calm, Ganjian says.

“It’s important to remember that no serious adverse events have been reported from this specific error,” Ganjian said. “However, any unusual symptoms after vaccination should be reported to your doctor. These can include fever, redness or swelling at the injection site, or allergic reactions like hives or difficulty breathing.”

The CDC statement recommended that healthcare providers report any errors to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a passive surveillance system for vaccine safety maintained by the CDC and the FDA. VAERS reports don’t always have information that is complete, accurate, or verifiable, and they are updated frequently.

“While VAERS is not designed to determine fault, it helps public health officials identify and address potential issues with vaccines,” Ganjian said.

Dr. Patricia Faraz, board-certified OB/GYN at The Women’s Hospital at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, told Healthline that stricter protocols must be adopted by healthcare officials in handling new vaccines like this.

“There needs to be a system in place where the order and vaccine are verified by two staff members in the office,” Faraz said. “Medications for OB patients should not be stored in the same refrigerator as non-OB patients to reduce errors as staff members may not be familiar with these new vaccines and they are named similarly.”

You should still get the RSV vaccine if you’re eligible

Faraz said she does recommend the vaccine during pregnancy to create antibodies that will be passed to an infant since newborns and infants are so vulnerable to RSV.

“The reason to give RSV vaccines to pregnant women is so that the antibodies produced after receiving the vaccine cross the placenta and offer protection to the newborn and infancy period (6 months),” Faraz said. “I do recommend RSV vaccine to pregnant women between 32-36 weeks pregnancy in hopes of reducing disease in newborns and infants. Up to 80,000 infants can be infected with RSV yearly requiring hospitalization. 100-300 children will die each year from RSV.”

But Faraz added that with the Arexvy brand vaccine, it is unclear if there are potential issues for pregnant people because it was not approved for that group.

“Unfortunately, these vaccines are brand new, and adverse events in pregnant women are not known with Arexvy,” Faraz said. “Over time adverse events may be reported and then we will have a better idea regarding potential side effects or efficacy rates of the Arexvy which is indicated for individuals over 60.”

The best thing people seeking the vaccines can do, Ganjian said, is to make sure they are informed by professionals: ask questions if you don’t understand something.

“Remember, it’s always best to get information from reliable sources, like the CDC or your healthcare provider. They can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information about RSV vaccines and treatments,” Ganjian said. “Another good strategy is when you go in to get your vaccine, ask for the exact name of what you want.” 

Takeaway

The CDC is reporting that errors in administering new RSV vaccines have been documented in pregnant people and children under 2.

The number of errors relative to the number of vaccines administered is small, and few adverse effects have been reported.

If you’re planning to get an RSV vaccine, make sure you know exactly what you need. Familiarize yourself with the different vaccines and ask your doctor if you’re unsure.

Cancer-stricken Sven-Goran Eriksson has been granted his lifelong wish of managing Liverpool,…

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• A new study reports that running is not an effective way to lose weight.
• However, it can help you avoid gaining weight as you age.
• This is because our bodies tend to seek a state of homeostasis.
• In order to lose fat and gain muscle, it is necessary to combine both diet and exercise.

Contrary to popular belief, running is not an effective way to lose weight, say the authors of a study out of the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

The study, which was published in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, did show, however, that continued running over a person’s lifetime can prevent weight gain.

Older sprinters and endurance athletes also had lower fat mass than younger individuals who were strength athletes or who were physically active.

The researchers further found that those who engaged in resistance training throughout their lives were better able to maintain muscle mass than those who participated in sprint and long-distance running.

The older strength trainers additionally had a similar amount of muscle mass as their younger counterparts.

Examining how running affects fat and muscle as we age

The study authors noted that people tend to gain fat but lose muscle as they grow older.

Since it is known that regular exercise can help prevent this, they decided to look at competitive athletes who have continued to exercise as they aged. They felt that this would allow them to see what part of the changes in body composition are inherent to aging and not preventable.

They looked at two age groups: young (20-39 years) and older (70-89 years). Competitive male athletes and healthy, age-matched controls were included in the study.

Additionally, the athletes were divided into groups based on the type of activities that they engaged in, including strength (weightlifting, powerlifting), sprint (sprinting, jumping), and endurance (long-distance running, cross-country skiing).

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were used to assess their body composition.

These scans were then used to determine if the study participants fell into the categories of low muscle mass, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity (high body fat, but low muscle mass).

After analyzing the data, they found that people who had been lifelong athletes had less sarcopenic obesity than those who only engaged in recreational activities.

However, even older athletes had some increase in fat mass compared to younger people, causing the researchers to conclude that exercise cannot completely mitigate the effects of aging on fat and muscle mass.

Simon Walker, PhD, the lead author of the study, said in a press release that these findings “absolutely” motivate him to continue running.

“I’d certainly be happy with a fat percentage of 16–18% when I’m in my 70s and 80s,” he remarked.

Why running may not aid with weight loss

According to Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of Dietitian Insights, although running is great for overall health, it impacts weight loss less than people might expect.

Costa said this is due to the body’s adaptive mechanisms.

“After an initial decrease in fat mass from commencing a regular exercise regimen,” she said, “the body instinctively adjusts by reducing its basal metabolic rate — the energy expenditure for vital cellular functions and systemic processes — to conserve energy and sustain fat reserves.”

Costa went on to explain that the hypothalamus, which regulates metabolism, sets an energy expenditure target and counters any excess energy use — such as what occurs during running — by curtailing energy consumption elsewhere.

“This physiological safeguard is an evolutionary response designed to avert starvation,” she noted, “a testament to the complexity of weight management and the body’s instinct to maintain homeostasis.”

Costa added that preventing weight gain is the best way to maintain a healthy body composition.

However, there are effective strategies for losing fat while simultaneously increasing lean mass.

The best combination for losing weight

Ari Jonisch, MD — who is the President of Main Street Radiology as well as Chief-of-Service at New York-Presbyterian/Queens — said that for effective weight loss, a combination of diet and exercise is best.

“Regular physical activity like running is important for overall health, but dietary choices are key for creating the necessary calorie deficit,” he stated. “A balanced diet focusing on whole foods, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates is recommended.”

Jonisch also advises adding strength training to your routine. This can help build muscle mass, boost metabolism, and aid in weight loss.

“In summary, while running has numerous health benefits and can certainly be part of a weight management strategy, it may not be the sole solution for achieving significant weight loss,” he concluded. “A comprehensive approach that combines regular exercise with a nutritious diet is key for long-term success in weight management.”

Takeaway

A new study has found that contrary to what many may think, running is not a good way to lose weight.

Our bodies tend to compensate for increased activity by slowing our metabolism as a protective measure against starvation.

However, the study did find that people who continued to run throughout their lifetimes were able to avoid some of the changes in body composition — increased fat mass and decreased muscle mass — that we tend to experience as we age.

Experts say if you want to improve your body composition, combining exercise with a balanced diet is necessary.

• Cases of the flu have dropped rapidly since peaking at the end of December.
• In recent weeks those numbers have plateaued rather than continued downward.
• Experts indicate that there’s likely more to come before flu season finally tapers off.

Cases of the flu have fallen considerably since they peaked at the end of December, but they still remain elevated across the country. Will there be a second wave?

The latest trends from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that cases of the flu appear to have leveled off rather than continue their downward trajectory. Lab-positive cases of the flu, one of several indicators that the CDC uses to assess seasonal influenza activity, are stable after trending upward last week. Meanwhile, other key indicators like flu-related hospitalizations and visits to healthcare providers are similar to weeks prior.

“We’re not out of the flu woods yet,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Professor of Infectious Disease and Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University.

“There’s still plenty of flu out there and the anticipation is, as per usual, we will have flu through February and then it will really begin to taper during March,” he told Healthline.

Of course, flu isn’t the only respiratory illness circulating right now either. COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV) are still highly active as well. According to the latest CDC numbers, there have been more than 133,000 emergency department visits nationally due to these three combined. Influenza is still the greatest driver, though, causing roughly 79,000 of those emergency room visits.

Is this flu season worse than other years?

There’s good reason to expect another bump in flu cases this year. Historically, influenza activity most often peaks in February, before finally falling off.

“I don’t have a great crystal ball, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw fairly high case numbers through mid-March,” said Dr. Dean Winslow, a Professor of Medicine at Stanford Medicine and infectious disease expert.

The 2023-2024 flu season has also been one of the most robust since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019-2020.

Last year’s flu season was also strong, but it peaked much earlier, at the end of November, before crashing precipitously in December and January.

This year, the season appears to have peaked in the last week of December. 

Right now flu cases are much higher than at the same time last year.

“In general, the country has seen a diminution in new cases of influenza, but it’s still way above the annual epidemic level. Our influenza cases are down somewhat, but they’re on a plateau, basically. They’re maintaining themselves,” said Schaffner.

Where are flu cases concentrated this week?

Monitoring the extent and severity of flu season is complex.

There are also important regional variations in flu activity across the United States. Southern states including Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, and South Carolina are all showing very high levels of flu activity. Meanwhile, many western states, from Colorado to Oregon show moderate to low levels. 

In order to establish what a national snapshot looks like, scientists at the CDC have to use a variety of indicators.

For example, this week the number of laboratory-confirmed positive influenza cases sits at 15.8%. Out of more than 96,000 tested specimens, about 15,000 of them tested positive for the flu. The percentage of laboratory-confirmed tests has also been relatively stable for the past several weeks.

Another indicator, reported flu-related doctor visits, is at 4.4%. That means that out of all cases reported through one of the CDC’s respiratory illness surveillance programs, 4.4% met the definition of an “influenza-like illness” or ILI. An ILI is defined as a fever of 100 degrees or more, accompanied by cough and/or sore throat.

Deaths due to the flu have also been falling in recent weeks. There were 222 flu-related deaths in the past week, compared to 490 the week before. 

What to know about different flu strains

Like all viruses, the flu is prone to mutation, meaning that one flu season will differ from the next in terms of severity of symptoms and transmissibility. While there are four types of influenza viruses (A, B, C, and D), the first two are responsible for the annual flu season epidemic in the United States.

Influenza A makes up the bulk of cases year after year, while influenza B makes up a much smaller proportion of illnesses.

“There’s an old adage, if you’ve seen one flu season, you’ve seen one flu season. It’s usually the case that influenza B plays a minor role earlier in the annual outbreak and then becomes more prominent as we get through February into March,” said Schaffner.

This year’s virus, “influenza A(H1N1)pdm09,” might sound familiar to some readers. That H1N1 designation is one you’ve seen before.

“This particular strain of flu is very similar to the H1N1 virus which caused the catastrophic ‘Spanish Flu’ pandemic of 1918-19,” said Winslow.

“Interestingly, during the 1918-19 Spanish flu, a lot of cases were seen late in the season also,” he added.

H1N1 is a swine flu subtype of influenza A virus that, in addition to the famous 1918 pandemic, was also responsible for an outbreak in 2009-2010. At that time, it is estimated that the virus was responsible for somewhere between 43-89 million cases across 178 countries.

How to avoid catching the flu

The number one thing you can do to stay well during this flu season is to get a flu shot. Both Winslow and Schaffner recommend getting one, especially if you fall into a high-risk category. Individuals who are 65 years of age or older, children younger than 5, pregnant, or have certain chronic conditions are considered at higher risk from flu-related symptoms.

Other important considerations for staying well include minimizing time spent in large groups indoors and social distancing.

The bottom line

Flu season isn’t over yet. Cases are overall down from their peak at the end of December but are still considerably elevated nationally.

Cases have plateaued, but February is historically one of the peaks of flu season, and there is the potential for another wave.

Experts recommend getting a flu shot, avoiding large indoor group activities, and social distancing to stay safe from the flu this season.

• A new study shows tai chi was more effective than aerobic exercise in lowering blood pressure among prehypertension patients.
• Practicing tai chi helps reduce stress, boost mood, and promote heart health, all of which contribute to improving hypertension.
• Aside from tai chi, additional ways to lower blood pressure include exercising regularly (walking or swimming) and eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Aerobic exercise is known to help the heart and the cardiovascular system. But now a new study finds that the exercise of tai chi may be a better option for people looking to lower their blood pressure.

According to the new study, tai chi proved to be more effective than aerobic exercise in lowering blood pressure among patients with prehypertension.

The findings were published February 9 in JAMA Network Open.

How to tell if you have high blood pressure

A blood pressure reading is comprised of two numbers. The top number is the systolic pressure or the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure or the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

A normal blood pressure level is less than 120 systolic over less than 80 diastolic (less than 120/80 mm Hg).

Prehypertension blood pressure is defined in this study as a systolic reading between 120-129 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of 80-89 mm Hg.

High blood pressure levels or hypertension would be a systolic reading of 140 mm Hg or higher and a diastolic reading of 90 mm Hg or higher.

People taking tai chi saw larger drop in blood pressure

Researchers analyzed 342 participants with prehypertension between the ages of 18 and 65. Participants were placed in two groups. One group performed four 60-minute sessions of tai chi each week for one year. The other group performed the same number and frequency of sessions for aerobic exercise.  The duration of the study was 2 and a half years.

“The study’s strengths lie in its robust methodology, including its prospective, single-blinded randomized clinical trial design,” said Dr. Joseph Daibes, cardiologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. “Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for assessing the effectiveness of interventions as they minimize bias and allow for causal inference. The inclusion of a large sample size and its 12-month duration further enhances the reliability of the findings, providing a comprehensive assessment of the long-term effects of tai chi and aerobic exercise on blood pressure management.”

At the end of one year, there was a significant change in systolic blood pressure for both groups but a bigger drop in the tai chi group.

The researchers found an average systolic blood pressure change of −7.01 mm Hg in the tai chi group vs −4.61 mm Hg in the aerobic exercise group.

Daibes continued: “The study’s findings indicating that tai chi was more effective than aerobic exercise in reducing [systolic blood pressure] among individuals with prehypertension offer valuable insights for healthcare providers and patients alike. Tai chi, as a mind-body exercise, may offer unique benefits beyond traditional aerobic activities, such as stress reduction, improved relaxation, and enhanced mental focus, which could contribute to its superior efficacy in lowering blood pressure.”

Tai chi can help with anxiety, depression, and sleep issues

Growing evidence demonstrates the mental and physical benefits of tai chi, which include reducing anxiety and depression, improving sleep and cognitive performance, and promoting heart health.

“Tai chi exercise is characterized by slow, purposeful movements,” Joe Petreycik, RN, and physiotherapist, Bridgeport Hospital, explained.  “It involves meditative breathing, mindfulness, and imagery. With meditation and imagery accepted as effective stress reduction techniques which can lower blood pressure, it makes sense that tai chi exercise would have similar blood pressure lowering benefits.” 

In short, tai chi seems to have an advantage when it comes to lowering blood pressure in people dealing with prehypertension. This exercise primarily focuses on the mind-body connection.

“The slow, deliberate movements combined with focused breathing create a serene environment that’s perfect for dialing down stress levels – a big win for blood pressure management,” said Daibes. 

Also, tai chi is extremely gentle on the body, making it accessible to most people.

“It’s not like your typical high-intensity workouts; it’s more like a peaceful dance that’s good for the soul,” Daibes explained. “And the benefits don’t stop there – tai chi also works wonders for circulation and cardiovascular health, which are key players in keeping blood pressure in check. With its holistic approach to wellness, tackling both physical and mental well-being, tai chi is shaping up to be a game-changer for folks looking to get a handle on their blood pressure.” 

The health benefits of tai chi

Tai chi can improve your health in numerous ways, according to Dr. John Higgins, professor and sports cardiologist with UTHealth Houston. These include:

• Lowering stress and blood pressure
• Improving muscle strength
• Improving balance and flexibility
• Improving joint health
• Improving sleep quality
• Increasing bone density
• Boosting the immune system
• Improved lung function
• Reduced cardiovascular disease

“Tai chi can certainly be helpful in improving exercise tolerance, particularly in those with barriers to regular aerobic exercise,” Petreycik stated.

Its gentle yet disciplined movements help improve balance, flexibility, and joint health, making it a popular choice for people looking to stay agile and reduce stiffness, especially if they have arthritis or other joint issues, Daibes explained. 

Plus, the focus on deep breathing and mindfulness makes tai chi a great stress reliever, helping you unwind and find inner peace, he added.

Top ways to lower blood pressure

Besides tai chi, there are several other effective ways to lower blood pressure. 

“Regular exercise, such as brisk walking or swimming, along with a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can make a significant difference for reducing blood pressure,” said Daibes. “Managing weight, reducing sodium intake, limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and prioritizing quality sleep are also essential steps.”

Stress management techniques like deep breathing exercises and meditation can help, as can medication when necessary. It’s crucial to find the right combination of lifestyle changes and medical interventions with the guidance of a healthcare provider for optimal results, Daibes added.

Also, the value of aerobic exercise in lowering blood pressure should not be overlooked.  

“Moderate intensity aerobic exercise is considered the gold standard for exercise-based treatment of high blood pressure,” Petreycik explained. “Because of the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes or more per week, this considerable time commitment may be difficult for many to adhere to.”

There is a growing body of evidence showing a dose-response relationship between exercise intensity and blood pressure.  Simply put, as the exercise intensity increases, one can expect a lower resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, he explained.

People who are physically capable and have approval from their physician “to participate in high intensity interval training (HIIT), there is potential for reductions in blood pressure similar to that with taking commonly prescribed blood pressure medications,” said Petreycik.  “Adapting to the higher intensity aerobic exercise improves cardiorespiratory fitness which has been shown to address common comorbidities related to high blood pressure, such as diabetes and obesity.” 

From a dietary perspective, the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet can help lower blood pressure with its emphasis on a rich variety of plant-based foods, protein sources low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and inclusion of unsaturated fats such as nuts, seeds, and oils,  Petreycik stated.

Adhering to recommended guidelines for sodium intake can also help lower blood pressure.  For most people, this may be consuming less than 2,300 mg per day.  For others with preexisting health conditions, their doctor may recommend as little as 1500 mg per day.  

The combination of a heart-healthy diet and exercise regimen can assist with weight loss or weight management. Losing as little as 10lbs if you are considered overweight or obese can have a positive impact on lowering blood pressure, Petreycik added. 

Takeaway

According to a recent study, tai chi was more effective compared to aerobic exercise in lowering blood pressure among prehypertension patients.

There are many health benefits of tai chi, which include decreasing stress, boosting mood, and promoting heart health, all of which can help with hypertension.

Other ways to lower blood pressure include working out on a regular basis and eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

• A new report found that syphilis cases are the highest they’ve been since the 1950s.
• The report reveals that cases of syphilis and congenital syphilis increased by 80% over the past five years.
• Health experts say the spike in cases shows the need for improved public outreach and education efforts.

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2022 STI Surveillance Report was released recently, one statistic stood out starkly — total syphilis cases were reported at their highest since 1950.

Among the more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia reported nationwide, the report shows that total 2022 syphilis cases stood at 207,255, a number that includes congenital syphilis, which is passed from pregnant mothers to their babies.

Experts say these findings underscore the need for improved public health outreach and education efforts around sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and address some of the intersecting factors that exacerbate health disparities among groups that are affected the most by conditions like syphilis.

What the CDC’s report reveals about national STI numbers

These 2022 figures are the latest and most complete data for national STI numbers. The report reveals that cases of syphilis and congenital syphilis increased by 80% over the past five years, with congenital syphilis cases increasing by 937% over the past decade.

While syphilis cases have climbed, chlamydia cases stood at 1,649,716 in 2022, showing a 6.2% decrease over five years (that number stood at 1,758,668 in 2018).

Gonorrhea numbers actually “declined for the first time in at least a decade,” according to the report. Those 2022 numbers stand at 648,056 reported cases, an 8.7% decrease since 2021, which saw 710,151 reported cases.

Zeroing in further on the national syphilis epidemic, primary and secondary syphilis cases grew by 10% in 2022 and by 68% since 2018.

In the report, Laura Bachmann, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, Division of STD Prevention at the CDC, writes that the growth in these numbers in women, in turn, feeds the rise in congenital syphilis cases. They saw an increase of 31% from 2021 to 2022.

She writes that almost every state in the country reported at least one congenital syphilis case, with Texas, California, Arizona, Florida, and Louisiana collectively comprising 57% of all reported congenital syphilis cases nationwide. Bachman writes that, in 2022, these congenital syphilis infections resulted in 282 stillbirths and infant deaths.

2022 figures highlight persisting racial and ethnic disparities

Bachman writes that “Black or African American, Hispanic and Latino, and white” groups showed the highest number of syphilis cases.

When it comes to congenital syphilis specifically, in every 155 births among Native American and Alaska Native people, there was one congenital syphilis case. Additionally, Black Americans experienced 30% of congenital syphilis cases.

Men who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by STIs, and the number shows common coinfection with HIV, with 36.4% of men who have sex with men with reported primary and secondary syphilis were also diagnosed with HIV.

That being said, the 2022 report points to what it references as a “heterosexual syphilis epidemic in the United States.” The national rate of primary and secondary syphilis among women rose by 19.2%, with men who have sex with women rising at the same time.

Some of the factors contributing to the syphilis epidemic

This is just a snapshot of the wide-ranging report.

When asked to put the findings in context — exactly why are rates of STIs, like syphilis, are climbing in recent years —  Bachmann told Healthline that a multitude of factors are at play here.

“The report doesn’t tell us why these STIs are increasing, but we know a wide range of factors can contribute to high levels of infections, and it’s going to take multiple solutions to turn the epidemic around,” she said.

She explained that reductions in STI screenings, treatment interventions, prevention efforts, “and partner services by health departments” have most likely contributed to national increases in STI numbers.

Additionally, she pointed to the rise in substance use nationwide, which goes hand in hand with “less safe sexual practices.”

“Syphilis and drug use are intersecting epidemics —  with a substantial percentage of heterosexual syphilis transmission occurring among people who use drugs —  particularly methamphetamine. We are also more than a decade into a national opioid crisis that is putting more people at risk for HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs,” Bachmann said.

“And there continue to be social and economic conditions that make it more difficult for some groups to stay healthy. These include poverty, stigma, lack of medical insurance or a healthcare provider, unstable housing, and a higher burden of sexually transmitted infections in some communities,” Bachmann added.

Bachmann also pointed to the fact that condom use has decreased among some groups, like young Americans as well as gay and bisexual men.

“We must ensure that providers and prevention partners are equipping those no longer using condoms with the tools and information they need to protect themselves against other STIs,” she added. “And last, but not least, STIs continue to be stigmatized. This stigma can bury the truth that all people deserve quality sexual healthcare to live healthy lives. Stigma can also deter people and groups from taking action to prevent and treat STIs.”

The impact of congenital syphilis

The report shows that the application of timely testing and treatment during pregnancy could have prevented 88% of congenital syphilis cases in 2022.

Bachmann said the CDC has been “sounding the alarm about the devastating consequences of a rapidly accelerating STI epidemic for more than a decade.”

“We are calling on healthcare providers to urgently act to stop increases in congenital syphilis cases. Providers should consider starting syphilis treatment as soon as they receive the first positive test result —  presumptive treatment —  during pregnancy for patients who face greater obstacles to ongoing care,” she added.

She said that rapid syphilis testing and presumptive treatment could be applied in places like emergency departments, syringe service programs, in prisons, and in maternal and child health programs when a follow-up might be uncertain.

Bachmann added that in counties nationwide that have high syphilis rates, “screening should be offered to sexually active women and their partners, as well as people with other risk factors.”

There is also great opportunity for providers to collaborate with community health workers who are embedded on the ground with those most at risk. They can oftentimes help bridge some of the gaps in syphilis testing and treatment during pregnancy.

“CDC will continue to offer funding, training, guidance, and support to develop treatment guidance with the most up-to-date and effective syphilis screening and treatment options. We provide the only federal source of STD prevention funding for health departments to prevent, monitor, and rapidly detect and treat syphilis,” Bachmann said.

“We support healthcare providers through training, education, guidelines, tools, and resources, and we fund work integrating STD and substance use prevention and treatment services and maternal and child health case management services,” she added.

How to address the syphilis epidemic

In looking at the report, Kelly A. Johnson, MD, MPH, medical director for the California Prevention Training Center at UCSF, and a UCSF Infectious Diseases physician, told Healthline that social determinants of health play a major role “in vulnerability to syphilis and other STIs.”

“In California, for example, we see time and time again that lack of healthcare access, substance use, and housing instability are associated with syphilis, particularly in pregnancy. Factors such as stigma, poverty, structural racism, and discrimination are also at play, influencing the likelihood of syphilis transmission and acquisition within certain sexual networks,” Johnson explained.

She added that there are gaps in syphilis knowledge and awareness across the country that can lead to “missed opportunities” for proper screening, testing, and treatment interventions.

“Syphilis in adults and adolescents can be challenging to diagnose. This is largely because the infection is characterized by episodes or stages of active infection —  during which time patients have symptoms — interspersed by periods of latent, or asymptomatic, infection. This means that patients who are completely well-appearing and report no symptoms at all can still be infected. These latent infections will not be identified unless providers know when asymptomatic screening is indicated,” Johnson said. “Even during symptomatic periods, syphilis has been called the ‘great masquerader’ for a reason. It can look like a lot of other things.”

Johnson explained that the symptoms are highly variable and “sometimes nonspecific.” This could include the presence of ulcers, sores, and rashes, to something a bit more subtle, like swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms, hair loss, and neurological symptoms that can be confused for being caused by other conditions.

“Since syphilis was previously uncommon, we are now faced with a situation in which patients and providers alike may be unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms of infection, precluding diagnosis and treatment, allowing for ongoing transmission, and further compounding the problem of rising cases,” she said.

There is good news here — syphilis is easily treated, and congenital syphilis can be prevented entirely, she stressed. It goes back to raising awareness.

She also pointed to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis hit public health STD control programs hard. Johnson said this meant staff, program funding, and resources were all redirected to other areas to address the pandemic.

“That said, the trends we are seeing in syphilis pre-dated COVID-19. So, while the viral pandemic did not help, I do not think it is solely to blame here,” Johnson said.

David Stein, the CEO and co-founder of at-home diagnostics and testing company Ash Wellness, told Healthline that these statistics echo what he’s been hearing from public health workers on the ground. Stein’s company offers a wide range of at-home testing, including tests for HIV and STI at large, working in partnership with some public health departments.

“It’s sad to get the confirmation of it [the rising syphilis rates], especially around congenital syphilis. If we tested more, we would catch it more, and we could treat it more and prevent it as far as passing it on to an infant,” he added.

Stein echoed Bachmann and Johnson in saying that education can play a big role.

He said that many people might not really be aware of how common and widespread these common STIs are and that they can not only be easily tested for, but treated. Stein explained that, while these infection rates climb, not enough resources and funding are making their way to accessible testing and prevention efforts.

“Public funding [for these programs] is being cut,” he said.

How to improve support for the groups and regions impacted the most

Bachmann said that “the biggest risk factor for syphilis” for many people is “where they live.”

“The reality is the rise in syphilis in the past several years means most of us live in areas that are now considered to have high rates among women of reproductive age. This means providers must seize on opportunities to address syphilis before pregnancy, by offering to screen more sexually active women and their partners on a regular basis and continuing to offer testing to people with other risk factors for syphilis,” Bachmann explained.

The disproportionate rates of syphilis in newborn babies are rooted deeply in “entrenched social factors that create greater obstacles to quality healthcare services,” she said.

This creates something of a negative domino effect. The health inequities this causes lead to higher syphilis rates in the communities and sexual networks affected the most.

Bachmann said the goal is to tailor prevention efforts “that include community-based patient navigators, case managers, and disease intervention specialists” who can directly address racial and ethnic disparities in congenital syphilis, for instance.

In speaking on the broader racial and ethnic disparities that feed into the nation’s syphilis epidemic and STI rates as a whole, Bachmann said that to see lasting progress, “we must understand the systems that create inequities and work with communities and partners to address them.”

In looking at the rising rates of syphilis among heterosexual Americans, Stein said there definitely is a blind spot in public health messaging in reaching these communities.

He said members of the LGBTQ+ community at large — particularly gay and bisexual men — have been the recipients of robust public health messaging around safe sex practices and STI awareness, all in the shadow of the HIV and AIDS crisis.

For these groups, it is relatively more common and acceptable to seek out screening, to go to clinics, and to seek out providers for sexual health information.

When it comes to the heterosexual community, he said there hasn’t been “the same understanding or appreciation of the tools we have out there.”

Stein pointed to the fact that this increase in STI rates among heterosexual people has been evidenced in other countries, but places with universal health systems, for instance, have more accessible and common testing, and they also “are a little bit ahead” of the U.S. in releasing that data, which might also make some of the figures from this report stand out so starkly.

While men who have sex with men historically have been impacted by syphilis disproportionately — they make up nearly half of the male primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2022. Johnson said it is important to emphasize that “the reality is that anyone having sex is at risk of acquiring syphilis, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.”

Other STI rates are remaining flat or declining

Outside of the rather bleak syphilis statistics, the fact that gonorrhea cases have declined for the first time in a decade, while chlamydia numbers remain level, offers some tentatively positive notes among the data, Johnson said.

“For chlamydia, we know that most cases are asymptomatic. This means that chlamydia case counts reported in surveillance data largely reflect whether people are being screened, aka, being checked for chlamydia as part of routine healthcare. We know, for example, that at the 2020 height of COVID-19, when many clinics were forced to pause preventive healthcare — including routine STI screening — there were significant decreases in reported chlamydia cases,” Johnson said.

“Now — although we are once again detecting more chlamydia cases in 2022 compared with 2020, reported chlamydia rates are still lower than they were in 2019. Unfortunately, this may reflect the fact that people are still not being screened for chlamydia at pre-pandemic levels, meaning that cases may still be occurring but going undetected and thus not reported,” Johnson said.

The gonorrhea declines might show some successful public health and clinical efforts to raise awareness to get diagnosed and tested, Johnson added.

“Still, if you zoom out, gonorrhea cases have increased by 11.1% since 2018 — and there were still around 648,000 cases in 2022 – meaning that this remains an important public health concern. I think the CDC will be looking very carefully at the 2023 data to better understand the trends we are seeing in gonorrhea,” she said.

Bachmann further contextualized those points. Since this is the first drop in reported gonorrhea cases in at least a decade, she explained that “the CDC is examining this finding closely and will be looking to final 2023 data to understand better if this signals a decline in infections and to understand better where, why, and among whom the decrease occurred with the hope we can expand on what’s working.”

STI resources currently available

For Stein, he sees at-home testing models like Ash Wellness as a positive move, but one that needs more support. He said his company’s collaboration with public health departments has revealed how effective it can be to make these types of resources available in regions hit hardest by STIs.

“I think there is an incredible opportunity that did not exist pre-COVID as far as the ability for patients to self-collect samples from home without the stigma, without the shame, without the inconvenience, without having to physically go to a lab or a health department or whatever it may be,” Stein said. “We just need more people to know about it and more of the decision-makers on the legislation level to appreciate it and put funding toward it.”

Johnson stressed that the average person should know that “STIs can happen to anyone who has sex” and that sexual healthcare should be a crucial component of one’s routine healthcare maintenance.

“While this can be difficult, the more you, your partner(s), and your healthcare providers feel comfortable discussing your sex practices and any recommended interventions, the better,” she said.

Johnson pointed to vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV, mpox, and meningitis “that are indicated in certain populations to help protect against” STIs as important interventions. She also pointed to preventive tools like preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV postexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention, and doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP), for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea as effective medical tools for STI prevention.

Bachmann said it’s important to recognize that the “stigma associated with STIs buries the truth.”

“People should know, everyone deserves to live healthy lives, and they can take action to prevent and treat STIs. People can help keep themselves and their sexual partners protected from STIs by talking to their partner about STIs and considering what safe sex options are right for them, including using condoms and reducing the number of sex partners,” Bachmann added. “Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections, especially if you or your partner are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. And, ask a healthcare provider about how to prevent syphilis.”

• People who followed the Atlantic Diet, a traditional way of eating in Portugal and Spain, were less likely to develop metabolic syndrome after 6 months, a new study showed. 
• Metabolic syndrome is a group of five health risk factors that can lead to diabetes, heart disease, stroke. They include high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and large waist circumference.
• The Atlantic Diet emphasizes seasonal, local, fresh, and minimally processed foods such as vegetables and fruit, fish and seafood, and olive oil.

People who followed the Atlantic Diet, a traditional way of eating in parts of Portugal and Spain, lowered their chances of developing metabolic syndrome, a new study showed.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of five risk factors that can lead to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. A person is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if three or more of these factors are present:

• High blood glucose (sugar)
• High blood pressure
• High blood levels of triglycerides
• Large waist circumference
• Low blood levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol

“This study showed benefits of the [Atlantic Diet] for multiple aspects of health, such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood sugar control, and obesity,” said Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Calif., who was not involved in the research.

“These results should not be surprising,” he told Healthline, “as the diet is very similar to the well-studied and beneficial Mediterranean diet.”

The study was published Feb. 7 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

What is the Atlantic Diet?

The Atlantic Diet, also known as the Southern European Atlantic Diet, is a traditional dietary pattern of northern Portugal and northwestern Spain.

It’s similar to the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet, but the Atlantic Diet has unique aspects drawn from the way people traditionally eat in certain parts of Portugal and Spain.

“These types of dietary patterns (Atlantic and Mediterranean Diets) have the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and even cognitive decline such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and improve [gastrointestinal] function and the gut microbiome,” said Tracy Crane, PhD, RDN, co-Leader of the Cancer Control Research Program of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The Atlantic Diet emphasizes seasonal, local, fresh and minimally processed foods, including:

• vegetables, fruits, cereals, whole grains and whole-grain bread, potatoes, nuts (in particular, chestnuts) and legumes
• fish and seafoods
• dairy products (mainly milk and cheese)
• beef, pork, poultry, and wild game
• olive oil
• wine

Food preparation in this region involves simple cooking techniques such as boiling, grilling, baking, and stewing.

“The Atlantic Diet presents significant potential for enhancing health due to its emphasis on nutrient-dense foods and family-oriented eating habits,” said Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, a registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in heart disease at EntirelyNourished.com.

“By prioritizing wholesome ingredients and traditional cooking methods such as stewing, this diet enhances the bioavailability of nutrients, ensuring that the body can better absorb and utilize them,” she told Healthline.

In particular, stewing is an excellent heart-healthy cooking method, she said, because it preserves nutrients and flavors, and minimizes the formation of advanced glycation end products.

These compounds are created when certain foods are cooked at high temperatures, as with grilling and frying. They are “associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, factors linked to cardiovascular diseases,” said Routhenstein, who was not involved in the new research.

How the study was conducted

The study, which took place from 2014 to 2015, involved over 200 families recruited from a primary health care center in a rural town in northwestern Spain.

Families were randomly assigned to follow either the Atlantic Diet (121 families, including 270 adults) or their usual diet (110 families, including 248 adults).

All participants were of Spanish ethnicity and Caucasian descent, the average age was 47 years old, and about 60% were female. Families had on average two to three members.

People following the Atlantic Diet attended three nutrition education sessions and received additional support such as a cooking class, a recipe book, and free food baskets with foods typical of the diet.

At the start of the study and after 6 months, researchers collected information from participants on what they ate (using a 3-day food diary), physical activity, medication use, and other factors.

Researchers measured metabolic variables at the primary healthcare center: waist circumference, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and fasting glucose levels.

Sticking to the Atlantic diet helped lower the risk of metabolic syndrome

More than 450 participants did not have metabolic syndrome at the start of the study. Of these, 3% of the people following the Atlantic Diet developed metabolic syndrome after 6 months, compared to 7% of those following their usual diet.

Overall, people following the Atlantic Diet saw improvements in waist circumference, obesity around the middle, and HDL cholesterol — but not in blood pressure, triglyceride levels or fasting glucose levels.

“[The results] show that adhering to this diet can lead to improvements in various risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome,” said Routhenstein.

“The emphasis [in the Atlantic Diet] on consuming nutrient-dense foods can contribute to better weight management and reduced waist circumference, further lowering the risk of cardiovascular issues,” said Routhenstein.

In addition, 117 participants started off with metabolic syndrome. After 6 months, about one-third of people in both groups no longer met these criteria. This suggests that the Atlantic Diet mainly benefitted people who had not yet developed metabolic syndrome. 

However, 6 months may not be enough to “properly assess metabolic changes,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

A longer-term study published in 2021 in BMC Medicine, though, found that older adults in Spain who followed the Atlantic Diet more closely were less likely to die from any cause over an average follow-up of 11 years.

Extra support for participants

The new study had several strengths, including the large number of people who completed the study. The participants also mainly had moderate socioeconomic and educational levels, which may make the results relevant to more people.

Researchers, though, were unable to take into account all factors that might affect a person’s risk of developing metabolic syndrome. 

In addition, participants in the Atlantic Diet group received food baskets, which made it easier for them to stick with the diet. However, people in the real world don’t have that extra support, so they may be less likely to follow the diet.

Research from the real world suggests that people may be able to follow parts of this dietary pattern even without free food baskets.

An earlier survey of older adults in northwestern Spain and northern Portugal, published in 2022 in the Journal of Functional Foods, found that people’s adherence to the Atlantic Diet was “medium-high.” 

However, the study showed that this group was less likely to follow the nuts, wine, and fish and seafood characteristics of the diet, although most of them ate dairy products and olive oil every day.

How to start the Atlantic Diet

One key aspect of the Atlantic Diet is its emphasis on seasonal, local foods, which differ from region to region. But even if you don’t have the same kinds of local foods in your area, Chen said the general principles of the Atlantic Diet can guide you toward healthy eating.

“In particular, the diet emphasizes a variety of fresh and seasonal foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, seafood and meat — which are all nutritious and healthy components of a balanced diet,” he said.

“In addition, its emphasis on foods that are minimally processed is a lesson we can incorporate into our eating habits,” he said.

Crane agrees: “The takeaway is if people generally follow a plant-based diet — high in vegetables, fruit, healthy sources of fat, legumes and protein — it can improve a variety of risk factors for several chronic diseases,” she told Healthline. 

“This study is one in a long line of studies demonstrating the benefits of this type of dietary pattern,” she added.

Another aspect of the study that Routhenstein thinks is useful is the emphasis on introducing the Atlantic Diet to families.

“By prioritizing shared meals and dietary habits within the family unit, individuals are more likely to adhere to healthier eating patterns,” she said. “This family-centric approach not only promotes the consumption of nutrient-dense foods but also fosters positive social interactions around mealtime.”

Takeaway

In a new study, researchers randomly assigned people to follow either the Atlantic Diet or their usual dietary patterns. This is a traditional way of eating in Portugal and Spain that emphasizes seasonal, local, fresh, and minimally processed foods.

After 6 months, people on the Atlantic Diet were less likely to develop metabolic syndrome, a set of risk factors for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. 

They also saw improvements in waist circumference, obesity around the middle, and HDL (“good”) cholesterol, but not blood pressure, triglyceride levels or fasting glucose levels.

• A new study finds being active can help offset signs of cognitive decline.
• A new study found being physically active, eating well, and avoiding smoking and alcohol can all help slow mental decline.
• Even people diagnosed with dementia had less decline by taking on these healthy habits.

It’s well known that a healthy lifestyle can have a tremendous impact on our physical and mental health, and new research shows it may keep our brains sharper as we age, too. 

The study, published in JAMA Neurology February 5, found that healthy lifestyle choices — being physically active, eating well, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption — may slow cognitive decline, even in people with neuropathologies like dementia. 

More research is needed to understand why lifestyle factors have this impact, but scientists suspect healthy behaviors promote brain cell growth and plasticity, fight inflammation in the brain, and boost vascular function. 

“Even for individuals with cognitive decline and dementia, adhering to and improving upon multiple lifestyle factors may be able to slow cognitive decline, or improve behavioral outcomes such as mood or certain aspects of cognition,” Ryan Glatt, CPT, NBC-HWC, a senior brain health coach and director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA, told Healthline. 

Better brain function detected in people with healthier lifestyles

The researchers evaluated the health data of 586 individuals who participated in the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a longitudinal study that ran from 1997 to 2022. 

The participants were deceased and had undergone an autopsy. 

The study included information about the individual’s cognition, lifestyle factors, and results from neuropathologic evaluations. 

A lifestyle score, ranging from 0 to 5, was assigned to each individual, depending on how much regular physical activity they get, whether they smoked or drank alcohol, what their diet was like, and if they were involved in cognitive activities.

The researchers found that a healthier lifestyle was linked to better cognitive function, regardless of whether the participants had brain pathologies like Alzheimer’s disease.

Higher lifestyle scores were also associated with lower levels of the beta-amyloid plaque, a protein that accumulates in the brain in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

This suggests lifestyle factors may have a protective effect on brain function in older adults, even in people who are actively experiencing cognitive decline.

“Using a large autopsy study sample, the authors showed that this relationship between lifestyle and cognition is largely independent of the burden of dementia-related changes,” said Dr. Irina Skylar-Scott, a board-certified, fellowship-trained cognitive and behavioral neurologist at Stanford Medicine.

How you can protect your cognitive function

Evidence consistently shows that a healthy lifestyle provides numerous cognitive benefits, and may reduce the risk of dementia even in people who are genetically predisposed to the condition. 

A recent report estimated that modifying 12 risk factors, many of which relate to a healthy lifestyle, could delay or prevent up to 40% of dementia diagnoses.

“This study provides more evidence that leading a healthy lifestyle is important in virtually all aspects of our lives,” said Dr. Jonathan Rasouli, Director of Complex and Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery at Staten Island University Hospital.

Rasouli was not involved in the study.

More research is needed to better understand how and why lifestyle factors affect cognition, but scientists have a few theories. 

“When engaging in healthy lifestyle factors for brain health, lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity and cognitive stimulation can help to increase brain blood flow, improve heart health, increase brain activity, and increase brain volumes,” says Glatt. 

For example, evidence has shown that a healthy lifestyle boosts vascular function in the body, reducing the risk of diabetes and hypertension, and ultimately, dementia. 

In addition, lifestyle factors may promote neurogenesis, or brain cell growth, along with neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to form new connections between brain cells, according to Skylar-Scotts.

A healthy lifestyle may prevent neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, too, she added.

Investing in health now can payoff in later years

Skylar-Scott recommends doing 150 minutes of physical activity a week, spending time with friends and family, doing cognitively stimulating tasks, and eating a well-rounded diet.

The effects of lifestyle on cognitive function are strongest in older adults without dementia.

“It’s like investing in retirement,” says Skylar-Scott.

But even those with existing brain pathologies may benefit from participating in social, cognitive, and physical activities.

“In elderly patients with dementia, being healthy can be immensely beneficial and help improve outcomes, so it is imperative that we focus on holistic as well as medicative approaches to patients with dementia,” says Rasouli.

The bottom line:

A new study found that healthy lifestyle choices — including being physically active, eating well, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption — may slow cognitive decline, even in people with neuropathologies like dementia. It’s believed that healthy behaviors promote brain cell growth and plasticity, fight inflammation in the brain, and boost vascular function. 

• The FDA is warning consumers to avoid eye drop brands that they say are copycat products.
• Eye drop brands South Moon, Rebright or FivFivGo should not be purchased since they are copycat products, according to a new FDA report.
• These copycat eye drops are dangerous since the manufacturing is not regulated in the same way as approved eye drops.

A new report from the FDA advised consumers against buying “copycat” eye drop brands.

In the warning, the agency cited the brands South Moon, Rebright or FivFivGo due to the risk of infection. These eye drops are copycat products that can be mistaken for Bausch + Lomb’s Lumify brand eye drops.

What to know about the copycat eyedrops

The eyedrops from South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo are not FDA-approved. The agency said that the brands state that the drops can help with glaucoma, but that condition is only treated with surgery or prescription drugs.

South Moon and Rebright eye drops were both tested by the agency. The South Moon eye drops were contaminated with the bacteria Burkholderia cepacia complex, which could lead to an infection that is unable to be treated by antibiotics.

Although Rebright was not found to be contaminated, FDA does not recommend that consumers purchase these eye drops.

FivFivGo samples were not available to be tested.

What to know about the potential risk from the eye drops

“While it may be tempting to buy these copycat products, there can be risk associated with them,” said Vicente Diaz M.D., M.B.A., Chief of Ophthalmology at Yale School of Medicine. “These are made by much smaller enterprises, and as such the manufacturing practices are not regulated the same way.  There was a recent problem with artificial tear manufacturers for the same reason, and that led to blindness and even death.”

The testing of the Rebright and South Moon eye drops revealed that they did not contain the active ingredient in Lumify: brimonidine tartrate.

“The origin of these products is currently unclear, and FDA continues to investigate. South Moon is labeled as made by Shantou Cross-border Premium Products E-Commerce Co. Ltd. in China,” according to the report.

If you have any of these products the FDA recommends discarding them.

“These products are not regulated the same way and the smaller manufacturers may not have the best sterility practices,” Diaz explained. “The risk is that there is the potential for contamination which can lead to ocular and systemic infections.”

No health issues reported

The report noted that “FDA has not received any adverse event reports that specifically name the South Moon, Rebright or FivFivGo products. However, the agency has received reports related to possibly fake Lumify, including product quality concerns, eye irritation, pain and infection.”

The FDA encourages consumers to purchase eye products from reputable retailers, which includes state-licensed pharmacies. Also, be cautious of online retailers selling products with inaccurate information.

When looking for reputable eye drops, Diaz recommends the following:

• For dry eye, Refresh and Systane are the leading brands.  
• For eye redness, Lumify by Bausch & Lomb, is a brimonidine-based product that comes from a well-known brand with no known manufacturing issues.

Past issues with eye drops

Last year, the FDA issued a drug safety alert over eye drops after concerns that they were contaminated.

Ultimately, 27 over-the-counter eye drop brands were voluntarily recalled after they were linked to bacterial infections.

Takeaway

The FDA is warning consumers to avoid certain brands of “copycat” eye drops. The agency warns that these brands may increase the risk of infection.