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Travel health and the growing risk of antibiotic-resistant STIs like gonorrhoea
Recent data shows a concerning upward trend of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea infections, particularly in popular tourist destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. This includes countries such as Thailand, China, Cambodia and Vietnam. These infections are sometimes called ‘super-gonorrhoea’ in the media.
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Males Who Skip Prostate Screenings Could Face 45% Higher Risk of Death: Study
- Men who avoided prostate cancer screening were significantly more likely to die from the disease, according to a large European trial.
- The reasons for ignoring screening are complex but may be related to a lack of education about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening.
- Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in males after skin cancer.
Men who avoid prostate cancer screening face a significantly greater risk of dying from the disease, concludes a large European trial. Yet questions remain about why some males are hesitant to attend screenings and what can be done to encourage them.
Given the opportunity to screen for prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, a significant number of males choose not to attend — a decision that may have serious health implications.
A new analysis of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), the world’s largest prostate cancer screening study, has identified this “screening avoidance” as a major mortality risk factor.
The findings were presented at the European Association of Urology Congress 2025, March 21–24, in Madrid, Spain. The research has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Researchers performed a subanalysis of the massive study, which included the participation of more than 72,000 males invited for prostate cancer screening and 20 years of follow-up.
The results indicate that roughly 1 in 6 males (over 12,400) skipped all of their screening appointments, leading to a 45% higher risk of death from prostate cancer compared to those who did attend their screenings.
PSA testing has a long and sometimes contentious history as a screening method for prostate cancer that has led to serious debate about both its potential benefits and harms. However, newer research and other advancements in the field appear to be shifting the balance in favor of the benefits of prostate cancer screening.
“There’s good evidence that it prevents deaths. But the concern has always been that the side effects create an unclear balance of benefits to harms,” Robert Smith, PhD, senior vice president of Early Cancer Detection Science at the American Cancer Society, told Healthline. Smith wasn’t involved in the study.
“These findings, in a very large study with a very long-term follow-up, show a pretty dramatic benefit of screening,” he said.
Prostate cancer screenings lower death risk by 23%
Researchers from the Department of Urology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands, dubbed their analysis “The good, the bad, and the ugly,” as their findings identified benefits to PSA testing, but also significant barriers due to patient behavior.
Participants, consisting of males ages 55 to 69 years old, were randomized to one of two groups: those who were invited to attend screening appointments and those who were not (the control group).
Among the males invited to the screenings, a significant portion, dubbed “non-attenders,” skipped their screenings.
The so-called non-attenders were significantly more likely to die from prostate cancer than those who did attend. However, the findings get even more interesting compared to the control group.
Males who attended the screenings had a 23% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to the control, while non-attenders had a 39% higher risk.
Furthermore, the benefits of screening are also likely understated due to the study design, which analyzed the entire group invited to screen, regardless of whether they actually attended.
“Non-attenders can dilute the benefit of screening when the data is analyzed. It’s a downward drag on the outcome of those who are randomized to screening and actually show up in the first place,” said Geoffrey Sonn, MD, an associate professor of urology at Stanford Medicine who wasn’t affiliated with the research.
The flip side of this is that males who decline screening have a stark increase in risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to those who attend.
“This is the type of long term, randomized data that helps to put to rest the prior concerns that PSA testing may not be effective,” Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of urology and director of Translational Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Healthline. Tosoian wasn’t involved in the study.
“Ultimately, the challenge lies in translating theoretical strategies into practice in a feasible and sustainable way to reach men across different populations and cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds,” lead study author Renée Leenen, MD, a PhD candidate in urology at Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Urology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, told Healthline.
Why do men skip prostate cancer screenings?
The reasons why men might skip prostate cancer screening are complex; they also fall outside the scope of the current research. However, experts interviewed by Healthline offered a range of reasonable possibilities.
“There may be something that’s just different about a person who’s involved in a trial and told to do one thing that just doesn’t come in to be seen. They may not take as good a care of themselves in general,” said Sonn.
That is, males who choose to skip a screening might be “care avoidant,” opting to forego preventive care and other healthy behaviors.
Tosoian suggested that outdated or incorrect information about PSA testing could also be a factor in dissuading men from attending.
“Perhaps some heard years ago that PSA screening might not be helpful, and that really stuck with them, so they’ve never really looked into it again,” he said.
Leenen noted some of the most common barriers also include:
- Practical concerns, such as time and money to attend screening.
- Not understanding risks of prostate cancer.
- Lack of knowledge about screening (especially in younger males).
1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in males after skin cancer. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
Globally, there are roughly 1.4 million new prostate cancer cases yearly, but according to The Lancet Commission on Prostate Cancer, that number is expected to more than double to 2.9 million cases in 2040.
With cases surging, what strategies can be adopted to address the 1 in 6 males who actively choose to avoid screening?
“A big component of this is education and the need for the population to understand the risk that prostate cancer poses,” said Tosoian.
Although screening recommendations for prostate cancer are narrow compared to some other forms of cancer, males at average risk should consider one at age 50, and those with higher risk might consider screening as young as 40.
According to Leenen, the most important factor in getting men to attend screening is the social aspect.
If a friend or partner prompts a man about screening, they are more likely to investigate it. Having a loved one or family member with cancer may also encourage men to seek screening.
Leenen cited education on prostate cancer risks, doctor-recommended screening, and prioritizing self-care as potentially motivating factors.
“Of these, the role of partners is particularly important in men undergoing screening for prostate cancer,” Leenen said.
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Why Spring Allergies Are Expected to Be Longer, Stronger This Year
- Seasonal allergies seem to last longer and be more severe in recent years than in the past.
- Health and environment groups point to the effects of climate change, such as longer growing seasons, as a possible reason for worsening seasonal allergies.
- There are actionable steps you can take to reduce your risk of exposure to pollen and other allergens.
As we bid farewell to peak cold and flu season, another wave of sniffles and sneezes is taking over, courtesy of spring allergies.
Seasonal allergies, which range from hay fever to allergic rhinitis and pollen allergies, seem to be arriving with greater intensity and lingering longer year after year. And no, you’re not imagining it.
In some parts of North America, allergy seasons have been extended up to three weeks.
Public health and research organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America point to climate change as a possible contributing factor to worsening allergy seasons.
With warmer air temperatures, pollinating plants may experience earlier and longer growing seasons, allowing them to produce more pollen.
“Climate change impacts allergy season because the consistent rhythm of, in the case of pollen, for example, new flowers being generated through Spring is all off kilter. Areas that were not pollinating at a given time are pollinating earlier, while other areas are pollinating later,” Frederic Bertley, PhD, president and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), told Healthline.
“The trend we are seeing in recent years is an increase in allergic responses in individuals, generally speaking, and an increase in allergic responses by age,” he added.
More than a quarter of adults and about 1 in 5 children experience seasonal allergies in the United States.
All that coughing and wheezing comes with a price tag, too: current estimates put pollen-related medical expenses at more than $3 billion annually.
But, even with a worse allergy season, there are actionable strategies you can follow to decrease your pollen exposure and reduce your risk of allergies. Here’s your guide to staying sniffle-free and enjoying spring this year.
Lower your exposure to allergens in the home
Limiting your exposure to pollen is the best way to prevent symptoms during allergy season. This means keeping your home clear of pollen while you’re inside.
Keep pollen out
Close doors and windows during allergy season to physically keep pollen from entering your home.
“Sometimes that is frustrating because we like the breeze from opening a window, but the fact of the matter is that if you open a window, the pollen and other antigens/allergens will come in from the outside and be inside your home,” said Bertley.
Install HEPA filters
If possible, utilize HEPA filters on your HVAC system or air conditioning unit to keep pollen and other potential allergens such as mold out of your home.
Spring clean
A little “spring cleaning” can go a long way to help reduce allergens in your home. “Try to keep as clean as possible and try to be as dust-free as possible,” said Bertley.
Take time to dust and clean the house: Dust and dander around the home are bound to contain pollen and other allergens.
If you’re a pet owner, it might be time to bathe your furry friend. Not only can pets trigger specific allergies from their dander, but they can also bring pollen into the home.
Wash your hands often
This one is a no-brainer for anyone who came away from cold and flu season unscathed.
Like viruses, pollen is likely to be on your hands. Washing your hands frequently can prevent it from getting to sensitive areas like your eyes, mouth, nose, and throat.
Limit pollen exposure when you’re outside
If you plan to be outside regularly or engage in outdoor activities during allergy season, your chances of exposure to pollen are higher. Still, you can take a few precautions to help limit your exposure to pollen.
Track pollen levels
Local and regional weather services regularly forecast pollen levels in the air. If you will be outside, track weather and pollen levels to limit exposure.
The Weather Channel provides a 15-day allergy forecast for tree, grass, and ragweed pollen.
Shower after being outdoors
If you’ve spent the day outside, your clothes will likely carry pollen back inside with you. Take a shower to remove pollen from your hair and body.
Consider washing your clothes immediately or storing them separately from other items to limit pollen spread.
If in doubt, don’t go out
If you have a severe allergic reaction to seasonal pollen, don’t risk going outside, especially if pollen levels are high.
“As much as we love Mother Nature, if you are very allergic to the things that Mother Nature provides, stay out of Mother Nature as best as possible until the season changes,” said Bertley.
Consider allergy medication
In addition to prevention, there are many options for allergy relief from your doctor and local pharmacy.
Over-the-counter allergy medications include:
Stronger prescription versions of these types and of other drugs are also available through your doctor.
If spring allergies are preventing you from functioning normally, you should seek advice from your healthcare team.
For severe allergy symptoms, allergen immunotherapy or “allergy shots” could also be an option.
Allergy immunotherapy is a series of treatments in which an allergen is gradually introduced to the body to build up immunity to it.
What causes seasonal allergies?
While it is possible to experience pollen-related allergies throughout the year, they are most commonly associated with the seasons when specific plants are pollinating, leading to high levels of pollen in the air.
“Allergies occur as an abnormal response to something normally occurring in the environment, specifically protein fragments from tree pollen in the spring, grass pollen in the summer, and weeds in the winter,” Tania Elliott, MD, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, told Healthline.
Everyone responds to allergens differently, so you could be allergic to grass pollen but not tree pollen or ragweed.
The term “hay fever,” or allergic rhinitis, refers to an allergic reaction to pollens released from trees, grasses, and other vegetation, which causes cold-like symptoms.
Some common symptoms of seasonal allergies include:
- sneezing
- runny or stuffy nose
- watery and itchy eyes
- itchy sinuses, throat, or ear canals
- ear congestion
- postnasal drainage
Takeaway
Seasonal allergies seem to last longer and be more severe than in years prior.
Experts believe climate change may affect seasonal allergies due to lengthening growing seasons.
You can take actionable steps to limit pollen exposure during allergy season. These include frequent handwashing, keeping doors and windows closed, checking daily pollen levels, and considering OTC or prescribed medications for relief.
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