If we want to understand how to fall in love, then we have to know what builds connection.
We often think of love as primarily a feeling, rather than a skill that we can build. So when we look for advice for how to fall in love, we miss out on one of the primary pathways to an enduring happiness: facilitating a sense of connection.
When we feel connected, we feel balanced. And when we feel balanced, we often feel happy. The problem is, as we grow up, we have to learn how to shield ourselves from vulnerability, so we build up walls or put on armor that make connection more difficult.
One of the most powerful (and challenging) practices to do is look into another person’s eyes for a prolonged period of time. It immediately makes us feel vulnerable! It may not matter whether it’s a stranger or someone you’ve been in a partnership with for over 50 years (sometimes this makes it more difficult). But when we do it, it’s fascinating what arises.
Check out this short video from Soul Pancake to see some of the surprising results of people making connection:
One of the defining characteristics of compassion is recognizing our common humanity.
Behind my eyes and your eyes are the same fundamental needs, to feel cared about and understood—to feel a sense of belonging.
When we look into another’s eyes and see this, it can melt the barrier and uncover the connection that’s always been there. This is an essential element for uncovering happiness.
Try this out as an experiment for yourself:
Today, look into the people’s eyes that you meet and see the person behind the eyes. What happens when you bring the mindset that this person is “Just like me?” This mindset understands that underneath it all, this person wants the same things I do, to feel cared about, to feel understood, to feel accepted, a sense of belonging, and to be happy. And all of those experiences are foundational to our understanding of what sits at the heart of real, lasting love of any kind. Being intentional about fostering genuine connection—with yourself, with others—is how to fall in love.
Put your biases aside, test it out and see what you notice.
Daily walks can transform your physical health in ways that go far beyond just burning calories. Thirty minutes of daily exercise like brisk walking strengthens your heart, stabilizes blood sugar, and elevates mood through natural endorphins. These walking benefits compound over time—improving joint function, boosting immunity, and even supporting longer life expectancy for people of all ages.
Regular walking requires no special equipment and fits into most schedules, whether it’s a lunchtime stroll, a pre-dinner walk, or an early morning routine. As a form of daily exercise, walking offers both immediate sensations of well‑being and long‑term physiological gains that support overall health and quality of life.
Walking Benefits for Heart and Brain Health
Walking doesn’t simply help you move more—it actively lowers your risk for chronic disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, walking briskly for about 30 minutes a day reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol while strengthening the heart muscle.
Regular walking also supports mental clarity and mood regulation. As an aerobic activity, it increases circulation, delivers more oxygen to the brain, and releases endorphins that may ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. This combination of cardiovascular and neurochemical effects makes walking a potent, low-impact way to protect both your heart and brain through simple daily movement.
Daily Exercise for Weight, Digestion, and Metabolism
Consistent daily exercise like walking can support weight management and metabolic health in multiple ways. Based on a study conducted by University College London, post-meal walking stimulates intestinal muscles, reduces bloating, and enhances glucose absorption in muscles, improving insulin sensitivity and preventing type 2 diabetes.
Walking burns roughly 150–300 calories per 30-minute session and boosts metabolism for hours afterward. Joint health also improves: low-impact walking lubricates synovial fluid, maintains flexibility, and preserves cartilage, reducing osteoarthritis risk and chronic pain. Daily walking ensures both calorie expenditure and improved metabolic balance.
Walking Benefits Longevity, Immunity, and Bone Strength
Walking plays a significant role in long‑term health, beyond immediate cardiovascular and metabolic improvements. According to a pooled analysis in PLOS Medicine, leisure time physical activity—such as regular walking—was associated with longer life expectancy. At recommended activity levels (150+ minutes per week), walking can improve survival and support overall disease prevention.
Weight‑bearing motion like walking also contributes to bone strength, which helps prevent fractures later in life. Research shows that regular walking correlates with lower hip fracture risk among older women, likely due to improved bone density and balance.
Daily walks also act as immune system boosters, helping regulate inflammation and promote efficient immune responses. While exercise alone isn’t a guarantee against illness, regular walking is associated with overall better defense activity and lower infection rates compared with inactivity.
How Walking Improves Mood and Mental Focus
One of the compelling walking benefits people notice first is improved mood and reduced stress. Moving at a moderate pace releases endorphins—natural chemicals in the brain that elevate mood and reduce pain sensations. This effect makes daily walking an effective, low‑barrier tool to combat feelings of anxiety and mild depression.
Walking also improves mental clarity and focus by increasing blood flow to the brain. Many people report feeling more creative and energized after a walk, especially in nature or green spaces. This simple physical activity acts as both a physical and cognitive reset, enhancing attention, memory, and mood regulation throughout the day.
Practical Walking Tips You Can Start Today
Incorporating walking into your routine doesn’t require dramatic lifestyle changes. Aim for at least 30 minutes of brisk walking per day, or break it into shorter sessions—such as two 15‑minute walks—to fit your schedule. Walking briskly enough to raise your heart rate, yet still allow conversation, is an easy way to get meaningful daily exercise.
Use walk breaks during the day, such as after meals or during phone calls, to accumulate steps without setting aside large time blocks. Consistency matters more than pace or distance, and even modest increases in daily steps can lead to measurable health benefits.
Make Walking a Daily Habit for Lifelong Health
Incorporating walking into your routine is one of the most accessible ways to prioritize physical health and daily exercise without needing equipment or gym access. Whether it’s heart health, weight management, or cognitive wellbeing, walking benefits your body and mind in meaningful ways. Consistent walking supports long‑term wellness, stronger muscles and bones, improved immunity, and potentially longer life. By making walking a daily habit, you unlock a powerful tool for better overall health and quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much walking is needed each day for health benefits?
Walking about 30 minutes daily or accumulating 150 minutes per week of brisk walking qualifies as moderate intensity exercise. This amount is associated with lower risk of heart disease, improved blood sugar, and better mood. Ten minutes or shorter sessions throughout the day also contribute to overall benefits. Ultimately, consistency matters most for long‑term health.
2. Can walking help me lose weight?
Yes, walking burns calories and helps support weight management when combined with a healthy diet. A brisk 30‑minute walk can burn approximately 150–300 calories, depending on pace and body weight. Long‑term walking routines can help sustain a calorie deficit for weight loss. Regular walking also boosts metabolism, making it easier to maintain weight loss.
3. Is walking beneficial for older adults?
Absolutely—walking is excellent for older adults because it’s low impact and accessible. It supports cardiovascular health, bone density, balance, and joint flexibility. Studies link walking with lower risk of hip fractures and improved longevity. It’s also associated with fewer respiratory infections and better overall resilience.
4. Does walking improve mental health?
Yes, walking releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Regular walks are linked to better sleep quality and less fatigue. Physical activity can also improve cognitive function, memory, and creative thinking. Walking outdoors also adds benefits from sunlight and nature exposure.
45 CFR 164.501, 164.508, 164.512(i) (See also 45 CFR 164.514(e), 164.528, 164.532) (Download a copy in PDF)
Background
The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes the conditions under which protected health information may be used or disclosed by covered entities for research purposes. Research is defined in the Privacy Rule as, “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” See 45 CFR 164.501. A covered entity may always use or disclose for research purposes health information which has been de-identified (in accordance with 45 CFR 164.502(d), and 164.514(a)-(c) of the Rule) without regard to the provisions below.
The Privacy Rule also defines the means by which individuals will be informed of uses and disclosures of their medical information for research purposes, and their rights to access information about them held by covered entities. Where research is concerned, the Privacy Rule protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information, while at the same time ensuring that researchers continue to have access to medical information necessary to conduct vital research. Currently, most research involving human subjects operates under the Common Rule (45 CFR Part 46, Subpart A) and/or the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) human subject protection regulations (21 CFR Parts 50 and 56), which have some provisions that are similar to, but separate from, the Privacy Rule’s provisions for research. These human subject protection regulations, which apply to most Federally-funded and to some privately funded research, include protections to help ensure the privacy of subjects and the confidentiality of information. The Privacy Rule builds upon these existing Federal protections. More importantly, the Privacy Rule creates equal standards of privacy protection for research governed by the existing Federal human subject regulations and research that is not.
How the Rule Works
In the course of conducting research, researchers may obtain, create, use, and/or disclose individually identifiable health information. Under the Privacy Rule, covered entities are permitted to use and disclose protected health information for research with individual authorization, or without individual authorization under limited circumstances set forth in the Privacy Rule. Research Use/Disclosure Without Authorization. To use or disclose protected health information without authorization by the research participant, a covered entity must obtain one of the following:
Documented Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Privacy Board Approval. Documentation that an alteration or waiver of research participants’ authorization for use/disclosure of information about them for research purposes has been approved by an IRB or a Privacy Board. See 45 CFR 164.512(i)(1)(i). This provision of the Privacy Rule might be used, for example, to conduct records research, when researchers are unable to use de-identified information, and the research could not practicably be conducted if research participants’ authorization were required. A covered entity may use or disclose protected health information for research purposes pursuant to a waiver of authorization by an IRB or Privacy Board, provided it has obtained documentation of all of the following:
Identification of the IRB or Privacy Board and the date on which the alteration or waiver of authorization was approved;
A statement that the IRB or Privacy Board has determined that the alteration or waiver of authorization, in whole or in part, satisfies the three criteria in the Rule;
A brief description of the protected health information for which use or access has been determined to be necessary by the IRB or Privacy Board;
A statement that the alteration or waiver of authorization has been reviewed and approved under either normal or expedited review procedures; and
The signature of the chair or other member, as designated by the chair, of the IRB or the Privacy Board, as applicable.
The following three criteria must be satisfied for an IRB or Privacy Board to approve a waiver of authorization under the Privacy Rule:
The use or disclosure of protected health information involves no more than a minimal risk to the privacy of individuals, based on, at least, the presence of the following elements:
an adequate plan to protect the identifiers from improper use and disclosure;
an adequate plan to destroy the identifiers at the earliest opportunity consistent with conduct of the research, unless there is a health or research justification for retaining the identifiers or such retention is otherwise required by law; and
adequate written assurances that the protected health information will not be reused or disclosed to any other person or entity, except as required by law, for authorized oversight of the research project, or for other research for which the use or disclosure of protected health information would be permitted by this subpart;
The research could not practicably be conducted without the waiver or alteration; and
The research could not practicably be conducted without access to and use of the protected health information.
Preparatory to Research. Representations from the researcher, either in writing or orally, that the use or disclosure of the protected health information is solely to prepare a research protocol or for similar purposes preparatory to research, that the researcher will not remove any protected health information from the covered entity, and representation that protected health information for which access is sought is necessary for the research purpose. See 45 CFR 164.512(i)(1)(ii). This provision might be used, for example, to design a research study or to assess the feasibility of conducting a study. The Privacy Rule does not prohibit a covered entity’s granting remote access to PHI to a researcher for activities that qualify as reviews preparatory to research, provided reasonable and appropriate safeguards are in place, as described in OCR’s guidance, Remote Access to PHI for Activities Preparatory to Research.
Research on Protected Health Information of Decedents. Representations from the researcher, either in writing or orally, that the use or disclosure being sought is solely for research on the protected health information of decedents, that the protected health information being sought is necessary for the research, and, at the request of the covered entity, documentation of the death of the individuals about whom information is being sought. See 45 CFR 164.512(i)(1)(iii).
Limited Data Sets with a Data Use Agreement. A data use agreement entered into by both the covered entity and the researcher, pursuant to which the covered entity may disclose a limited data set to the researcher for research, public health, or health care operations. See 45 CFR 164.514(e). A limited data set excludes specified direct identifiers of the individual or of relatives, employers, or household members of the individual. The data use agreement must:
Establish the permitted uses and disclosures of the limited data set by the recipient, consistent with the purposes of the research, and which may not include any use or disclosure that would violate the Rule if done by the covered entity;
Limit who can use or receive the data; and
Require the recipient to agree to the following:
Not to use or disclose the information other than as permitted by the data use agreement or as otherwise required by law;
Use appropriate safeguards to prevent the use or disclosure of the information other than as provided for in the data use agreement;
Report to the covered entity any use or disclosure of the information not provided for by the data use agreement of which the recipient becomes aware;
Ensure that any agents, including a subcontractor, to whom the recipient provides the limited data set agrees to the same restrictions and conditions that apply to the recipient with respect to the limited data set; and
Not to identify the information or contact the individual.
Research Use/Disclosure With Individual Authorization. The Privacy Rule also permits covered entities to use or disclose protected health information for research purposes when a research participant authorizes the use or disclosure of information about him or herself. Today, for example, a research participant’s authorization will typically be sought for most clinical trials and some records research. In this case, documentation of IRB or Privacy Board approval of a waiver of authorization is not required for the use or disclosure of protected health information. To use or disclose protected health information with authorization by the research participant, the covered entity must obtain an authorization that satisfies the requirements of 45 CFR 164.508. The Privacy Rule has a general set of authorization requirements that apply to all uses and disclosures, including those for research purposes. However, several special provisions apply to research authorizations:
Unlike other authorizations, an authorization for a research purpose may state that the authorization does not expire, that there is no expiration date or event, or that the authorization continues until the “end of the research study”.
An authorization for the use or disclosure of protected health information for a research study may be combined with a consent to participate in the research, or with any other legal permission related to the research study.
An authorization for the use or disclosure of protected health information for a research study may be combined with an authorization for a different research activity, provided that, if research-related treatment is conditioned on the provision of one of the authorizations, such as in the context of a clinical trial, then the compound authorization must clearly differentiate between the conditioned and unconditioned components and provide the individual with an opportunity to opt in to the unconditioned research activity.
An authorization may be obtained from an individual for uses and disclosures of protected health information for future research purposes, so long as the authorization adequately describes the future research such that it would be reasonable for the individual to expect that his or her protected health information could be used or disclosed for the future research purposes.
Accounting for Research Disclosures. In general, the Privacy Rule gives individuals the right to receive an accounting of certain disclosures of protected health information made by a covered entity. See 45 CFR 164.528. This accounting must include disclosures of protected health information that occurred during the six years prior to the individual’s request for an accounting, or since the applicable compliance date (whichever is sooner), and must include specified information regarding each disclosure. A more general accounting is permitted for subsequent multiple disclosures to the same person or entity for a single purpose. See 45 CFR 164.528(b)(3). Among the types of disclosures that are exempt from this accounting requirement are:
Research disclosures made pursuant to an individual’s authorization;
Disclosures of the limited data set to researchers with a data use agreement under 45 CFR 164.514(e).
In addition, for disclosures of protected health information for research purposes without the individual’s authorization pursuant to 45 CFR164.512(i), and that involve at least 50 records, the Privacy Rule allows for a simplified accounting of such disclosures by covered entities. Under this simplified accounting provision, covered entities may provide individuals with a list of all protocols for which the patient’s protected health information may have been disclosed under 45 CFR 164.512(i), as well as the researcher’s name and contact information. Other requirements related to this simplified accounting provision are found in 45 CFR 164.528(b)(4).
Transition Provisions. Under the Privacy Rule, a covered entity may use and disclose protected health information that was created or received for research, either before or after the applicable compliance date, if the covered entity obtained any one of the following prior to the compliance date
An authorization or other express legal permission from an individual to use or disclose protected health information for the research;
The informed consent of the individual to participate in the research;
A waiver of authorization approved by either an IRB or a privacy board (in accordance with 45 CFR 164.512(i)(1)(i)); or
A waiver of informed consent by an IRB in accordance with the Common Rule or an exception under FDA’s human subject protection regulations at 21 CFR 50.24. However, if a waiver of informed consent was obtained prior to the compliance date, but informed consent is subsequently sought after the compliance date, the covered entity must obtain the individual’s authorization as required at 45 CFR 164.508. For example, if there was a temporary waiver of informed consent for emergency research under the FDA’s human subject protection regulations, and informed consent was later sought after the compliance date, individual authorization would be required before the covered entity could use or disclose protected health information for the research after the waiver of informed consent was no longer valid. The Privacy Rule allows covered entities to rely on such express legal permission, informed consent, or waiver of authorization of informed consent, which they create or receive before the applicable compliance date, to use and disclose protected health information for specific research studies, as well as for future unspecified research that may be included in such permission.
OCR HIPAA Privacy December 3, 2002 Revised December 18, 2017
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring glyphosate‑based herbicides like Roundup, along with elemental phosphorus, essential to national defense, even as the weedkiller faces lawsuits and scientific scrutiny over potential links to cancer and other health harms. The order, issued this week under the Defense Production Act, directs federal officials to safeguard domestic production and distribution of the chemicals and warns that losing access to glyphosate would “critically jeopardize” U.S. agricultural productivity and strain the food supply.
The directive gives the Agriculture secretary broad authority to prioritize and, if needed, direct production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate‑based herbicides, including shielding compliant producers from rules or regulations that could threaten their financial viability. The administration frames the move as necessary to keep food affordable and support farmers who rely on glyphosate‑tolerant crops to control weeds and maintain high yields.
Trump’s order comes as companies like Bayer’s Monsanto, maker of Roundup, continue to face litigation over claims that glyphosate exposure contributed to non‑Hodgkin lymphoma and other illnesses, leading to large settlements in recent years. Critics say the new protections could make it harder to hold manufacturers accountable for alleged health harms, especially if the order is interpreted as providing a form of legal shield for producers that follow federal directives.
The decision has also exposed political and ideological rifts inside the Make America Healthy Again movement, which has spotlighted concerns about pesticides and processed foods. Some health advocates aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the move a “betrayal” of earlier promises to confront dangerous agricultural chemicals, while others close to Kennedy publicly backed the order as a trade‑off to protect food and defense supply chains. Environmental groups and pesticide‑safety advocates argue the directive could lead to more glyphosate in waterways and ecosystems at a time when courts and scientists are still debating the herbicide’s risks.
What glyphosate herbicides are
Glyphosate is a synthetic, broad‑spectrum herbicide used to kill grasses and broadleaf weeds in large‑scale agriculture, landscaping and home yards. It blocks an enzyme in the plant shikimate pathway that is necessary for producing certain amino acids, ultimately stopping growth and killing the plant.
Commercial glyphosate products, known as glyphosate‑based herbicides (GBHs), combine glyphosate salts with surfactants and other formulants that help the chemical stick to and penetrate leaves and improve stability. These products are applied heavily to genetically engineered “glyphosate‑tolerant” crops such as corn, soybeans and cotton, as well as around roads, rail lines and public spaces. Trump’s order describes glyphosate‑based herbicides as a “cornerstone” of U.S. agricultural productivity, emphasizing that there is no perfect one‑for‑one replacement for the chemical on today’s farms.
Cancer and other health risks: what studies say
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” citing limited evidence of non‑Hodgkin lymphoma in people, sufficient evidence of cancer in experimental animals and strong mechanistic evidence for genotoxicity and oxidative stress. Several regulators, including the European Food Safety Authority, later concluded glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard at typical exposure levels, pointing to additional data and different methods for weighing animal and human studies.
A major update of the U.S. Agricultural Health Study, which has followed pesticide applicators for decades, reported no overall association between glyphosate use and total cancer or non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, though it did observe a possible increase in acute myeloid leukemia at the highest exposure category based on relatively few cases. A separate meta‑analysis pooling several epidemiologic studies found a statistically significant link between high glyphosate exposure and non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, supporting IARC’s concern while acknowledging limitations in exposure measurement and study heterogeneity.
A 2024 review of human health effects concluded that evidence for specific cancers remains mixed: some analyses suggest elevated risk for non‑Hodgkin lymphoma and certain leukemias at higher, mostly occupational doses, while large cohort studies often report null or weak associations. That review also noted consistent genotoxic effects in vitro and highlighted the need for better data on long‑term, low‑dose exposure experienced by the general population.
Beyond cancer: acute and chronic side effects
Most severe acute poisonings occur after ingestion of concentrated glyphosate formulations, often in self‑harm attempts, and can cause gastrointestinal burns, respiratory distress, cardiovascular collapse and, in some cases, death. Case series and toxicology reports indicate that surfactants in some GBHs may contribute significantly to acute toxicity, not just glyphosate itself.
A 2022 review of toxic effects on the nervous system found that glyphosate and GBHs can cross or disrupt the blood‑brain barrier, trigger oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and alter neurotransmitter systems in animal and cell models. Human studies cited in that review linked occupational exposure to visual memory impairment in some farmer populations and raised concerns that prenatal or early‑life exposure could be associated with more severe neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder, though the authors stressed these associations are preliminary and require more robust research.
Experimental work and limited human data also suggest potential endocrine‑disrupting activity, liver and kidney changes and effects on gut microbiota at certain doses, but findings are inconsistent and difficult to translate to real‑world exposure. Regulatory agencies continue to maintain acceptable daily intake values, arguing that, based on current evidence, glyphosate residues permitted in food and water are not clearly linked to specific health effects in the general population, a conclusion that remains contested by some independent scientists and advocacy groups.
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A simple mindful practice that can slow down emotional reaction, invite a breath, and encourage you to pause before you post.
Social media has made it easy to broadcast our thoughts and feelings far and wide in an instant. At the same time, we often don’t even consider the huge numbers of people who will read what we share. How many friends do you have across your socials? 300 to 400? 500 plus? How often do you really pause before you post?
When feelings are at a fever pitch, there’s a lot of rapid-fire, non-face-to-face communicating. For teenagers this can be especially tricky, given their proclivity for impulsivity.
“Adolescents are biologically more prone to making decisions that are not well thought out,” says Tristan Gorrindo, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at The Ross Center in Washington, D.C. “The part of the brain right behind the forehead, which controls judgment, is at that time undergoing a rapid period of development,” says Gorrindo, who is studying the way families use technology.
For teenagers and adults alike, it’s far too easy for a moment of heightened emotion to result in acrimonious conflict, bullying, or just saying something that lives forever and can be deeply regrettable.
Gorrindo has created a practice called W.A.I.T., designed with teenagers in mind (but perfect for anyone living in today’s digital world). Here are 4 questions to ask yourself before you post:
W = Wide Audience “Would I say this in front of a school assembly?” (If you’re a grown-up, imagine your entire office.)
A = Affect “Am I in a good emotional place right now?”
I = Intent “Might my intent be misunderstood?”
T = Today “Today, tomorrow, or the next day? Can this wait a day?”
Evaluating the urgency of what we’re about to say can provide a helpful injection of perspective. Why is it so urgent? What will happen if you take a breath and pause before you post? And if you wait, might you feel differently about it later?
This article also appeared in a slightly different form in the December 2013 issue of Mindful magazine.
MEN1 syndrome is an inherited disorder, meaning it is caused by an inherited, harmful genetic change (also called pathogenic variant or mutation) in the MEN1 gene. In most families, this mutation is inherited from a parent. In some cases, the mutation in the MEN1 gene appears for the first time in the child. Most cases of MEN1 syndrome are caused by a mutation in the MEN1 gene. Learn more about how cancer develops at What Is Cancer?
Genetic counseling for children who may have MEN1 syndrome
It may not be clear from the family medical history whether your child has MEN1 syndrome. Genetic counseling before genetic testing can help assess your child’s risk of having a gene change that caused your child’s tumor and whether genetic testing is needed. Genetic counselors and other specially trained health professionals can discuss your child’s diagnosis and your family’s medical history to understand:
the options for testing for the MEN1 gene or for other genes that may increase the risk of endocrine tumors
the risk of endocrine tumors for your child and their siblings
the risks and benefits of learning genetic information
Genetic counselors can also help you cope with your child’s genetic test results, including how to discuss the results with family members. They can advise you about whether other members of your family should receive genetic testing.
Symptoms of tumors caused by childhood MEN1 syndrome
Tumors in the parathyroid gland, pituitary gland, or islet cells in the pancreas may make extra hormones. The signs and symptoms of disease depend on the type of hormone made by the tumor. It’s important to check with your child’s doctor if your child has any of the symptoms below.
The most common condition associated with MEN1 syndrome is hyperparathyroidism (a condition in which the parathyroid gland makes too much parathyroid hormone). Symptoms of hyperparathyroidism include:
bone pain
kidney stone
weakness or tiredness
weight loss
nausea and vomiting
increased thirst
increased urination
constipation
There are other conditions associated with MEN1 syndrome. The conditions and symptoms include:
Pituitary adenoma. Signs and symptoms may include headache, vision problems, and weight changes. In females, symptoms may also include absence of menses during or after puberty and making breast milk for no known reason.
Sometimes children with MEN1 syndrome do not have any symptoms. If your child has symptoms, they may be caused by problems other than MEN1 syndrome. The only way to know is to see your child’s doctor.
Tests to diagnose tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome
If your child has symptoms that suggest MEN1 syndrome, their doctor will need to find out if these are due to this syndrome or to another problem. The doctor will ask when the symptoms started and how often your child has been having them. They will also ask about your child’s personal and family medical history and do a physical exam. Depending on these results, they may recommend other tests. If your child is diagnosed with MEN1 syndrome, the results of these tests will help you and your child’s doctor plan treatment.
A diagnosis is made when a MEN1 mutation is found or when tumors are found in two of the following glands or organs: parathyroid gland, pituitary gland, or islet cells in the pancreas.
The tests used to diagnose a mutation in the MEN1 gene or tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome may include:
Lab tests
Blood chemistry study measures the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual amount of a substance can be a sign of disease.
Blood hormone study measures the amounts of certain hormones released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it. The blood may also be checked for high levels of the hormone calcitonin or parathyroid hormone (PTH).
24-hour urine test is used to diagnose neuroendocrine tumors, such as pheochromocytoma. Urine is collected for 24 hours to measure the amounts of a group of hormones called catecholamines in the urine. Substances caused by the breakdown of catecholamines are also measured. An unusual amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it. Higher-than-normal amounts may be a sign of pheochromocytoma.
Venous sampling for an overactive parathyroid gland is a procedure in which a sample of blood is taken from veins near the parathyroid glands. The sample is checked to measure the amount of parathyroid hormone released into the blood by each gland. Venous sampling may be done if blood tests show there is an overactive parathyroid gland but imaging tests don’t show which one it is.
Genetic testing analyzes cells or tissue to look for changes in genes or chromosomes. These changes may be a sign that a person has or is at risk of having a specific disease or condition. To diagnose MEN1 syndrome, a sample of blood or saliva is checked for the MEN1 gene.
Imaging tests
Ultrasound exam uses high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) that bounce off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram.
MRI uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
CT scan (CAT scan) uses a computer linked to an x-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are taken from different angles and are used to create 3-D views of tissues and organs. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography. Learn more about Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Cancer.
Sestamibi scan is a type of radionuclide scan used to find an overactive parathyroid gland. A very small amount of a radioactive substance called technetium 99 is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream to the parathyroid gland. The radioactive substance will collect in the overactive gland and show up brightly on the special camera that detects radioactivity.
PET scan (positron emission tomography scan) uses a small amount of radioactive sugar that is injected into a vein. Then the PET scanner rotates around the body to make detailed, computerized pictures of areas inside the body where the glucose is taken up. Because cancer cells often take up more glucose than normal cells, the pictures can be used to find cancer cells in the body.
Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy is a type of radionuclide scan that may be used to find tumors. A very small amount of radioactive octreotide (a hormone that attaches to tumors) is injected into a vein and travels through the blood. The radioactive octreotide attaches to the tumor and a special camera that detects radioactivity is used to show whether there are islet cell tumors in the pancreas. This procedure is also called octreotide scan and SRS.
MIBG scan is used to find neuroendocrine tumors, such as pheochromocytoma. A very small amount of a substance called radioactive MIBG is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream. Neuroendocrine tumor cells take up the radioactive MIBG and are detected by a scanner. Scans may be taken over 1–3 days. An iodine solution may be given before or during the test to keep the thyroid gland from absorbing too much of the MIBG.
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of tissue is removed from the tumor so that a pathologist can view it under a microscope to check for signs of cancer. The following biopsies are used:
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a procedure in which tissue is removed using a thin needle.
Surgical biopsy is the removal of tissue during surgery.
Getting a second opinion
You may want to get a second opinion to confirm your child’s MEN1 diagnosis and treatment plan. If you seek a second opinion, you will need to get medical test results and reports from the first doctor to share with the second doctor. The second doctor will review the genetic test report, pathology report, slides, and scans. They may agree with the first doctor, suggest changes to the treatment plan, or provide more information about your child’s condition.
To learn more about choosing a doctor and getting a second opinion, visit Finding Cancer Care. You can contact NCI’s Cancer Information Service via chat, email, or phone (both in English and Spanish) for help finding a doctor or hospital that can provide a second opinion. For questions you might want to ask at your child’s appointments, visit Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Cancer.
Cancer surveillance for children with MEN1 syndrome
Surveillance is closely following a child’s condition without giving any treatment unless there are changes in test results. Children diagnosed with MEN1 syndrome will be checked for signs of cancer starting at age 5 years and will continue to be checked throughout life. Talk with your child’s doctor about the tests and procedures needed to check for signs of cancer and how often they should be done.
Who treats children with tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome?
A pediatric oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating children with cancer, oversees treatment for children with tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome. The pediatric oncologist works with other health care providers who are experts in treating children with cancer and who specialize in certain areas of medicine. Other specialists may include:
Treatment of children with tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome
There are different types of treatment for children and adolescents with tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome. You and your child’s cancer care team will work together to decide treatment. Many factors will be considered, such as your child’s overall health and whether the cancer is newly diagnosed or has come back.
Your child’s treatment plan will include information about the tumor, the goals of treatment, treatment options, and the possible side effects. It will be helpful to talk with your child’s cancer care team before treatment begins about what to expect. For help every step of the way, see our booklet, Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents.
Surgery may be used to treat hyperparathyroidism, which is the most common sign of MEN1 syndrome. Children with MEN1 syndrome and primary hyperthyroidism may have surgery to remove at least three parathyroid glands and the thymus. Treatment is also given for pancreatic islet cell and pituitary tumors, and other conditions linked to MEN1 syndrome as needed.
If the cancer comes back after treatment, your child’s doctor will talk with you about what to expect and possible next steps. There might be treatment options that may shrink the cancer or control its growth. If there are no treatments, your child can receive care to control symptoms from cancer so they can be as comfortable as possible.
Clinical trials
For some children, joining a clinical trial may be an option. There are different types of clinical trials for childhood cancer. For example, a treatment trial tests new treatments or new ways of using current treatments. Supportive care and palliative care trials look at ways to improve quality of life, especially for those who have side effects from cancer and its treatment.
You can use the clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials accepting participants. The search allows you to filter trials based on the type of cancer, your child’s age, and where the trials are being done. Clinical trials supported by other organizations can be found on the ClinicalTrials.gov website.
Prognosis for children with tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome
If your child has been diagnosed with tumors caused by MEN1 syndrome, you likely have questions about how serious the cancer is and your child’s chances of survival. The likely outcome or course of a disease is called prognosis. The prognosis for MEN1 syndrome is usually good. However, your child’s cancer care team is in the best position to talk with you about your child’s prognosis.
Follow-up care
As your child goes through treatment, they will have follow-up tests or check-ups. Some of the tests that were done to diagnose the cancer may be repeated to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.
Some of the tests will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show if your child’s condition has changed or if the cancer has recurred (come back).
Coping with your child’s cancer
When your child has a tumor, every member of the family needs support. Taking care of yourself during this difficult time is important. Reach out to your child’s treatment team and to people in your family and community for support. Learn more at Support for Families: Childhood Cancer.
Let’s discuss the safety and efficacy of various weight-loss methods, ranging from Botox and corsets to siphons and tapeworms.
A moderately obese person doing moderately intense physical activity, like biking or brisk walking, would burn off approximately 350 calories an hour, but most drinks, snacks, and other processed junk are consumed at a rate of about 70 calories (293 kJ) per minute. Therefore, it only takes five minutes to wipe out a whole hour of exercise.
It’s a percutaneous gastrostomy device, meaning surgeons cut a hole in a person’s stomach and tunnel a fistula out through the abdominal wall. So, after each meal, the person can attach a suction gadget to the hole and directly drain out their stomach contents, as you can see below and at 0:47 in my video Extreme Weight-Loss Devices.
This means you could gorge on donuts, spew them out through the hole in your stomach, then gorge on more donuts. Have your cake, and eat it, too…and two, three, and four times!
It seems to be the quintessential American invention, straight from the land that brought us Jell-O salads, spray cheese, and deep-fried Snickers bars. Patients do lose weight, perhaps in part because the fistula may interfere with the relaxation of the stomach wall during a meal. The process also requires drinking lots of water and thoroughly chewing food, both of which may help with weight loss by increasing hydration and slowing the eating rate. Patients also started making healthier choices to avoid the unpleasant sight of gastric aspirate from unhealthy foods. (The tubing is clear, and, evidently, fried foods look particularly gross as they are pumped out.)
All patients need to take supplemental potassium, since it’s sucked out in stomach juices. Otherwise, they risk becoming potassium-deficient (a common complication in bulimia), but most side effects are just minor wound complications. Serious adverse effects, like abdominal abscesses, are rare. The big selling point is that the siphon device doesn’t change the gastrointestinal tract’s anatomy. That seems like a low bar, but in today’s Wild West world of weight-loss procedures, you can’t take anything for granted. Take the duodenal-jejunal bypass liner, for example.
Gastric bypass surgery works in part by cutting out a portion of the small intestine so it’s no longer in the flow of food, thereby helping to prevent the absorption of calories. Instead of major surgery, how about just dropping down a couple of feet of plastic tubing to line the intestinal walls? The problem with the EndoBarrier is that it has to be anchored in the digestive tract. This is accomplished with 10 barbed hooks that cause lacerations, accounting for the majority of the 891 adverse effects reported in 1,056 patients—nearly 9 out of 10 people. Severe penetrating trauma, resulting in esophageal perforation or liver abscesses, is rarer (occurring in only about 1 in 27 patients).
Concern has been raised about the “palatability” of the AspireAssist stomach pump, but the most cringeworthy endoscopic procedure I discovered in my research was intestinal “resurfacing.” Why cover the inside of your intestines with plastic to prevent absorption when you can just “thermally ablate the superficial duodenal mucosa”? In other words, have your intestinal lining burned off—or rather, “resurfaced.”
Surgeons have tried injecting Botox into the stomach walls of obese individuals, hoping it would partially paralyze their gastric muscles, slow stomach emptying, make people feel fuller longer, and lose weight. It didn’t work.
Researchers in Sweden tried randomizing people to wear corsets for 12 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week, for nine months. And it didn’t work. The study participants just didn’t wear the corsets—they were “perceived as uncomfortable.” Duh.
“Sanitized tapeworms” have evidently been widely advertised as a weight-loss remedy since back in the early 1900s. The fact that living tapeworms have been discovered during bariatric surgery operations suggests that infesting yourself with parasites may not be particularly effective either.
Speaking of disgusting strategies, how about disgust itself? A study entitled “Harnessing the Power of Disgust: A Randomized Trial to Reduce High-Calorie Food Appeal Through Implicit Priming” tried using subliminal messages to ruin people’s appetite. Just before showing images of healthy foods, researchers briefly flashed happy images—such as a group of kittens—for 20 milliseconds. That’s too quick to consciously register, but the hope was to plant a positive imprint on the brain. Before showing images of high-calorie foods like ice cream, they flashed negative scenes, like a cockroach on a pizza slice, vomit in a dirty bathroom, and a burn wound. Apparently, it worked! Subjects subsequently reported a reduced desire to eat high-calorie foods, though this wasn’t tested directly. The researchers concluded that subliminal revulsion might be “a successful tactic to combat the onslaught of food cues that promote unhealthy eating….”
The rest of the world looks on, bemused by American machinations, penning commentaries like “Don’t Let Them Eat Cake! A View from Across the Pond.” A paper in the journal Obesity Surgeryentitled “What Are the Yanks Doing?” reviewed “The U.S. Experience with Implantable Gastric Stimulation,” inserting electrodes into the muscular layer of the stomach wall. When that didn’t work, colon electrical stimulation was tried.
Even more shocking were studies like “Repetitive electric brain stimulation reduces food intake in humans.” Though placing deep-brain electrodes is considered a complication-prone operation, scientists have long pondered whether “placing an electrode somewhere in the brain could make people eat less.” Holes were drilled through the skulls of five obese individuals, and wires were pushed into their brains for “electrostimulatory exploration.” Once the researchers poked around and found spots where they were able to elicit convincing hunger responses, they sent in enough juice to fry out electro-coagulatory lesions. It seemed to work in cats and monkeys, but the researchers found that burning holes in people’s brains did not result in weight loss in obese humans. Thankfully, as I explained in my book How Not to Diet, healthy, sustainable weight loss isn’t brain surgery.
So, what’s the best way to lose weight? I wrote a whole book about it! How Not to Diet is focused exclusively on sustainable weight loss. Borrow it from your local library or pick up a copy from your favorite bookseller. (All proceeds from my books are donated to charity.) To whet your appetite, take a peek: Trailer for How Not to Diet: Dr. Greger’s Guide to Weight Loss.
For more on this topic, check out related posts below.
On the vast highways and busy city streets of Texas, the aftermath of a car accident is often measured in twisted metal and immediate injury reports. However, for countless victims, the true impact is a slow-moving, lifelong health journey that unfolds over years. What seems like a “minor” injury at the scene can evolve into chronic pain, degenerative conditions, and permanent disability, fundamentally altering a person’s quality of life and financial future. Understanding these long-term health consequences is critical for Texas accident victims to secure the comprehensive medical care and legal compensation necessary to manage a future they did not choose.
The Myth of the “Minor” Injury: Whiplash and Soft Tissue Damage
The most underestimated long-term injuries often stem from soft tissue damage, particularly whiplash. The violent back-and-forth motion of a crash can cause tears and inflammation in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the neck and back. While pain might be manageable initially, without proper and prolonged treatment, it can lead to:
Chronic Myofascial Pain: Permanent changes in muscle tissue leading to ongoing pain, stiffness, and headaches.
Cervical or Lumbar Degeneration: The trauma can accelerate the wear and tear on spinal discs and facet joints, leading to early-onset arthritis, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis years later. What starts as soreness can become a debilitating condition requiring surgery.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): The Invisible, Enduring Wound
Even without loss of consciousness, the force of a Texas-sized collision can cause the brain to slam against the skull, resulting in a mild to moderate TBI. The long-term effects are often cognitive and emotional, not just physical. Victims may suffer from:
Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome: Including headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and sleep disturbances lasting for years.
Cognitive Deficits: Problems with memory, concentration, and executive function that impair the ability to work, manage finances, or maintain relationships.
Mental Health Challenges: Increased risk of depression, anxiety, and personality changes linked to both the brain injury and the trauma of the accident.
Orthopedic Injuries: The Road to Degenerative Joint Disease
Broken bones (fractures) and joint injuries (like to the shoulder or knee) may heal, but they rarely return to 100%. The long-term consequences include:
Post-Traumatic Arthritis: The damaged cartilage in a joint wears down more quickly, leading to painful, bone-on-bone arthritis that may require joint replacement surgery years ahead of the normal schedule.
Chronic Pain and Reduced Mobility: Limps, limited range of motion, and reliance on pain medication can become a permanent reality, affecting the ability to perform job duties, exercise, or engage in hobbies.
The Psychological and Financial Toll of Chronic Pain
Living with constant pain is exhausting and isolating. It can lead to “pain cycle” behaviors: avoiding activity leads to weakness, which leads to more pain. This cycle impacts mental health, family dynamics, and sexual intimacy. Financially, the long-term impact is staggering. It includes not just future medical bills for injections, therapy, and surgeries, but also:
Diminished Earning Capacity: The inability to return to a physically demanding job or to work the same hours due to pain and cognitive issues.
Early Forced Retirement.
The need for in-home assistance or home/vehicle modifications.
A Texas firm that fights for these victims, The Texas Law Dog, emphasizes the necessity of a long view. “Texas insurance companies love to talk about ‘quick recovery’ from soft tissue injuries. We see the reality: clients who are still in pain five years later, facing a knee replacement at 45, or who can no longer work as a nurse or contractor. Our job is to make sure the settlement or verdict accounts for a lifetime of medical bills, pain, and lost potential, not just the bills from the first six months.”
The Imperative of a Life Care Plan
For serious injuries, the essential legal tool is a Life Care Plan. Created by a certified life care planner, this document is a roadmap of the victim’s future medical, therapeutic, and support needs, with associated costs. It translates lifelong health consequences into a concrete financial value, ensuring that a legal recovery is not a short-term fix but a long-term security plan. It covers everything from future surgeries and medication to pain management therapy and home health aides.
For Texans injured in auto accidents, recognizing that their health journey may be a marathon, not a sprint, is the first step toward a just outcome. Securing legal representation that understands and can prove these long-term consequences is what bridges the gap between an immediate insurance offer and the true, lifelong cost of the crash.
Stopping food intake several hours before bed is gaining attention as a simple lifestyle change that may support better blood pressure, blood sugar, and overall heart health. By combining stop eating before bed habits with time‑restricted eating, many people are exploring how meal timing interacts with the body’s internal clock and cardiovascular system.
This approach is not a quick fix, but it is an emerging strategy that aligns nutrition, sleep, and metabolic health in a practical way.
What Happens If You Stop Eating Before Bed?
Health professionals commonly recommend leaving a window of at least two to three hours between the last meal and bedtime. In practice, a three‑hour gap gives the body time to digest the evening meal, reduce post‑meal blood sugar, and shift gradually into its night‑time repair mode.
When heart health meal timing is aligned with this natural rhythm, it may help the body avoid unnecessary strain while a person sleeps.
People who stop eating before bed often report fewer issues with indigestion, reflux, or discomfort when lying down. Heavy or high‑fat meals close to bedtime can keep the digestive system active, which may interfere with sleep quality and nighttime recovery.
Allowing a buffer between the final meal and sleep can make it easier for the body to transition from digestion to rest, which is a key part of nighttime blood pressure timing and heart function.
Eating right before bed is not inherently “wrong,” but the pattern and content of late‑night eating matter. Large dinners, sugary desserts, and salty or ultra‑processed snacks are more likely to raise blood sugar and contribute to fluid retention.
Over time, these factors can affect weight, metabolic markers, and how the heart and blood vessels behave during the night. Shifting those foods earlier in the day reduces the load on the body’s night‑time systems.
How Stopping Food 3 Hours Before Bed Affects Blood Pressure
Time‑restricted eating is an eating pattern that limits food intake to a set window of hours during the day, such as 8–12 hours, while fasting for the remaining hours. When the eating window finishes at least three hours before bed, the overnight fast often becomes longer and more consistent.
Some studies suggest that this style of eating may help reduce blood pressure in certain individuals, especially when combined with other healthy lifestyle habits.
Blood pressure naturally follows a daily pattern, typically rising during the day and dipping at night. This nighttime “dip” is considered beneficial, as it gives the cardiovascular system a chance to rest.
Late‑night eating may blunt this dipping effect by keeping the body in a more active metabolic state when it should be winding down. By adopting a stop eating before bed routine, many people aim to support a healthier nighttime blood pressure timing pattern.
The best dinner‑to‑bedtime interval for heart health is still being researched, but a three‑to‑four‑hour gap appears reasonable for many adults.
This timing allows the peak of post‑meal blood sugar and blood pressure responses to pass before sleep begins. In combination with balanced daytime meals and regular physical activity, this pattern may contribute to better blood pressure readings over time.
Evening Eating, Blood Sugar, and Overnight Metabolism
Blood sugar control is closely tied to the body’s internal clock. Sensitivity to insulin and the ability to handle glucose are typically higher earlier in the day and lower at night, according to the World Health Organization.
When large meals or sugary snacks are eaten late in the evening, blood sugar may stay elevated for longer and may not be processed as efficiently as it would be earlier. This is one reason evening eating blood sugar levels tend to be a focus in discussions about meal timing and metabolic health.
Stopping food three hours before bed may help the body complete most of the post‑meal blood sugar response before sleep. This can reduce the chance of elevated glucose levels overnight and may lessen the demand on insulin production.
For individuals at risk of type 2 diabetes or those working to improve metabolic markers, this alignment between meal timing and natural circadian rhythms can be an important factor.
Research on night‑time eating suggests that frequent late meals or snacks are associated with higher risks of weight gain and metabolic disturbances in some populations.
When time‑restricted eating is structured so that most calories are eaten earlier in the day and the last meal is not too close to bedtime, the body may be better positioned to maintain steadier blood sugar across the 24‑hour cycle.
However, people with diabetes or those on blood‑sugar‑lowering medications should always work with their healthcare team before making significant changes to their eating schedule.
Heart Health Meal Timing and Overall Cardiometabolic Benefits
Heart health is influenced not only by what a person eats but also by when those foods are consumed. The cardiovascular system, hormones, and metabolic pathways all follow daily rhythms that are sensitive to timing cues such as light exposure, sleep, and food intake, as per Harvard Health.
When meals are clustered during daylight hours and there is a consistent nightly fasting period, the body’s systems often appear more synchronized.
Emerging evidence suggests that shifting calories earlier in the day and adopting time‑restricted eating may lead to modest improvements in blood pressure, heart rate patterns, and markers like fasting glucose in some individuals.
These benefits sometimes occur even when total calorie intake does not drastically change, which highlights the importance of heart health meal timing alongside conventional dietary advice.
Over time, such patterns may also make it easier to maintain a healthy weight, improve cholesterol levels, and support overall cardiovascular resilience.
Night‑time eating can also influence sleep quality. Large or spicy meals close to bedtime can trigger reflux, cause discomfort, and fragment sleep.
By finishing food intake several hours before lying down, many individuals find it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Better sleep itself is linked to healthier blood pressure, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced inflammation, all of which play roles in long‑term heart health.
Nighttime Meal Timing for Better Heart and Metabolic Health
For many adults, leaving a three‑hour gap between the last meal and bedtime is a straightforward change that may support better nighttime blood pressure timing, more stable blood sugar, and improved sleep.
When combined with a generally balanced diet and regular physical activity, this form of time‑restricted eating can align daily habits with the body’s natural rhythms.
The exact impact varies from person to person, but treating meal timing as a key piece of heart health, rather than an afterthought, gives individuals another practical tool to support long‑term cardiovascular and metabolic well‑being.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can drinking water break the “no eating before bed” rule?
Plain water does not break the fast and is generally encouraged, but sugary drinks, milk, or juice do count as intake and can affect blood sugar and digestion.
2. Does exercising at night change how soon I should stop eating before bed?
Intense late‑evening workouts may justify a small, planned recovery snack earlier in the evening, but most people can still aim to finish calories about 3 hours before sleep.
3. Is it okay to take vitamins or supplements during the no‑eating window?
Most non‑caloric supplements are fine, but those that must be taken with food or contain calories are better scheduled within the eating window to avoid stomach upset.
4. Will stopping eating 3 hours before bed slow my metabolism?
Current evidence suggests that a consistent overnight fasting period does not “shut down” metabolism and may, for some people, improve metabolic flexibility rather than harm it.
