Women with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) tend to have more symptoms and co-occurring conditions than men, according to the world’s largest study of the disease. The study, entitled DecodeME, reveals women who have the condition for more than 10 years are more likely to experience increasingly severe symptoms as they get older. ME/CFS is estimated to affect more than 250,000 people in the UK, of all ages and from all social and economic backgrounds. Its key feature, called post-exertional malaise, is a delayed dramatic worsening of symptoms following minor physical effort. Other symptoms include pain, brain fog and extreme energy limitation that does not improve with rest. Causes are unknown and there is currently no diagnostic test or cure. Experts from the University of Edinburgh analysed anonymous survey questionnaires from more than 17,000 people with ME/CFS. Two-thirds of women, and slightly more than half of men, reported at least one active co-occurring condition. Similarly, 39.2% of women and 28.6% of men reported at least one inactive co-occurring condition. We discovered that the disease is worse for women, in older people, and many years after their ME/CFS started Professor Chris Ponting of the University of Edinburgh A condition was considered active if the participant had experienced symptoms in the preceding six months. The most common active co-occurring condition was irritable bowel syndrome, with clinical depression, fibromyalgia, anaemia and hypothyroidism also featuring prominently. Women also reported, on average, more symptoms than men – 42 compared with 36. The most common of these symptoms were brain fog – a term commonly used to describe the cognitive impairment experienced by participants – unrefreshing sleep and muscle pain. These findings highlight the very serious impact ME/CFS has on women who are disproportionately affected Sonya Chowdhury, chief executive of Action for M.E Participants were also asked to define the severity of their illness from mild to very severe using definitions from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Experts identified that being a woman and having ME/CFS for more than 10 years are risk factors for severe illness, with symptoms increasing in intensity as they age. Professor Chris Ponting, study lead from the MRC human genetics unit at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: “ME/CFS is a devastating disease affecting a UK population the size of Derby. “We discovered that the disease is worse for women, in older people, and many years after their ME/CFS started. “Our hope is that DecodeME’s genetic results will shed light on why certain groups are more susceptible to ME/CFS than others.” Sonya Chowdhury, chief executive of Action for M.E. and chair of the management group of the study, said: “These findings highlight the very serious impact ME/CFS has on women who are disproportionately affected. “It’s important to also recognise the impact that it has on men who have ME/CFS and we thank the 20,000 men and women who have already signed up to take part in this very important study. “We still need more to join us, so if you are 16 or older, live in the UK and have a diagnosis of ME/CFS, please do take part now to help us decode ME at www.decodeme.org.uk/portal.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 4 hacks to get teens off the sofa and get active – as study warns of heart damage Taking adult education classes may lower risk of dementia, study suggests Indiyah Polack: I didn’t want to go on Love Island because of my acne

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When it comes to unusual and specific sex toys, we thought we’d seen it all: from sex toys disguised as hammers, snails, and roses to wearable jewelry to household items (think wooden spoon as a paddle or an electric toothbrush as a classic clitoral stimulator). So, it takes a lot to surprise me. However, when I learned about Freya’s Vee — a vibrator-slash-razor blade — my interest (and fear) was piqued.

There was a time in my life when wearing a pair of athletic sneakers, a T-shirt, and jeans to even run errands was unimaginable to me. But these days it’s my Saturday uniform. Since leaving New York City for suburban New Jersey earlier this year, I’ve entered what I am dubbing “my boring outfits era.”

The conservative activist behind the Supreme Court case that struck down affirmative action in college admissions this year is suing two international law firms for providing diversity fellowships.

Weight loss surgery can help lower the risk of developing cancer, a study has claimed. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Utah, also found that cancer mortality rates were significantly lower among female surgical patients compared to those who did not receive any bariatric surgery. Although population studies have previously established a positive association between body mass index and cancer rates, it has remained unclear whether the reduction in body weight leads to reduced cancer risk. Researchers say this is due to significant and sustained weight loss in large populations which may be difficult to achieve. However, because of the substantial and maintained weight loss following bariatric surgery, recent studies have reported reduced cancer rates and lower cancer mortality compared with those who haven’t had the proceedure, according to the study’s authors. “As scientists study human diseases, an element of discovery is to confirm like results from multiple studies,” said study author Ted Adams. “This research represents another important study that strongly supports the long-term benefits of weight loss surgery in the prevention of cancer.” Researchers compared cancer prevalence and death rates arranged according to obesity and non-obesity-related cancers, looking at sex, stage of the disease and procedure. The study looked at 22,000 bariatric surgery patients compared with non-surgical subjects with severe obesity between 1982 to 2019. Each patient was matched up based on age, sex, and body mass index. Scientists found that the bariatric surgery group had a 25 per cent lower risk of developing any cancers compared to the non-surgery group. Female patients had a 41 per cent lower risk for developing obesity-related cancers compared to those who did not have surgery done. Cancer risk for male bariatric surgery patients was not lower compared to non-surgery male subjects. Overall, a significant reduction in cancer risk was shown for cancers such as uterine, ovarian, colon, pre-menopausal breast and post-menopausal breast. The study also revealed death from cancer was lower by 47 per cent among female bariatric surgery patients in comparison to matched non-surgery female patients. “Important findings of this study are that bariatric surgery results in lower incidence rates of colon cancer (prior studies have not been consistent),” Dr Adam said. “Also, both pre and post-menopausal women experience reduced breast cancer incidence following bariatric surgery, which may suggest weight loss among women in either category with severe obesity may benefit from reduced breast cancer.” The study is available online in the journal Obesity. Read More Can a vegan diet help with hot flashes in menopausal women? Exercise apps could help boost healthcare workers mental health How to check if you have skin cancer: Symptoms and signs to look out for

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Can you imagine being on the Eras tour with Taylor Swift? At just 24 years old, Sabrina Carpenter is living that reality. Coming out of her own musical “era” following the release of her new studio album, Emails I Can’t Send, the former Disney star turned musician will be opening for Swift during the Latin America leg of the Eras tour, starting in late August.