Health officials have confirmed an international traveler who passed through Denver International Airport on Dec. 13 has tested positive for measles.

The adolescent, whose vaccination status is unknown, allegedly visited several Colorado counties, and has been in isolation since Dec. 18, health officials stated in a news release. 

“On Monday, Dec. 18, the adolescent went to Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Emergency Department at the Anschutz Medical Campus from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The hospital is notifying healthcare providers, patients and others who were in a similar area as the measles patient,” the release said. 

Arapahoe County Public Health is leading the investigation and has been notifying people who may have been directly exposed, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE).

ILLINOIS REPORTS FIRST MEASLES CASE SINCE 2019: ‘ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS DISEASES KNOWN’

The CDPHE also provided a timeline of when the adolescent was at the airport.

According to the timeline, the adolescent was at Denver International Airport from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 13 with possible exposure to people moving through Concourse A, bridge security, baggage claim and the passenger pickup area, the release said. 

MEASLES PROTECTION IS PARAMOUNT BEFORE TRAVELING OUTSIDE THE US, SAYS CDC

Colorado has not reported a measles case since January 2019 prior to this outbreak. (iStock)

The last confirmed case of measles in a Colorado resident before this was in January 2019, according to the state.

Denver International Airport was not immediately available for comment. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

DEADLY DRUG – Here’s what to know about ketamine, the drug linked to actor Matthew Perry’s death. Continue reading…

EXTRA ZZZZs – Sleeping in on the weekends could improve heart health, a new study found. Learn more about the benefits. Continue reading…

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS – A therapist shares tips for combating tensions during family gatherings this season. Continue reading…

For some people, being around family members that they only see once a year or with whom they don’t have the strongest relationship can be anxiety-inducing. (iStock)

NOT-SO-SMART SNACKING – You may be surprised by how many calories U.S. adults consume in snacking each day. Continue reading…

MOVING THE NEEDLE – Tech experts share the 6 most groundbreaking AI health innovations of 2023. Continue reading… 

ART AND SOUL: A Canadian artist is helping seniors capture their memories in priceless works of art. Continue reading…

Award-winning artist Erin Finley (right) urges nursing home residents to express creativity while boosting brain power. (Erin Finley)

HEADACHE CULPRIT – Here’s the likely cause of the dreaded red wine headache, according to a new study. Continue reading…

SEASONAL SADNESS – Try these 9 therapist-recommended strategies for handling grief during the holidays. Continue reading…

PHARMACISTS’ PICKS – These were the 9 most notable drug and vaccine approvals of 2023, according to GoodRx Health. Continue reading…

Each year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves hundreds of new drugs and therapeutic products for use by the American public. (iStock)

FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS

Fox News First

Fox News Opinion

Fox News Lifestyle

Fox News Health

Fox News Autos

Fox News Entertainment (FOX411)

DOWNLOAD OUR APPS

Fox News

Fox Business

Fox Weather

Fox Sports

Tubi

WATCH FOX NEWS ONLINE

Fox News Go

STREAM FOX NATION

Fox Nation

A new study from Italy found that the Mediterranean diet could have a beneficial effect on male fertility.

The study, published in the journal Food Science, explored the different causes of male infertility, pinpointing how diet plays a “crucial role in improving a man’s reproductive capacity.”

The researchers suggested that an appropriate diet for men should include a diverse range of essential ingredients, similar to those found in the Mediterranean diet.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET COULD HELP REDUCE BELLY FAT AND MUSCLE LOSS CAUSED BY AGING, STUDY FINDS

The Mediterranean diet involves high amounts of vegetables and fruits that are “rich in detoxifying and antioxidant substances,” the researchers noted in a discussion of the findings.

The study included 50 “sub-fertile” men who were provided with specific nutrition plans that consisted of 80% organic foods.

The plan also introduced whole grains and low glycemic load options (which have minimal impact on blood sugar levels), grass-fed meat and wild-caught seafood, and a daily intake of leafy greens and red fruits.

It also eliminated refined carbs and saturated fats in exchange for healthy fats like olive oil, avocado and nuts. 

Dairy products were reduced or eliminated.

BROWN SEAWEED CONSUMPTION COULD HELP MANAGE AND PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES, STUDY SHOWS

The men, who were ages 35 to 45, followed this diet for three months and were evaluated between Nov. 2020 and Oct. 2021.

Before the study, the pool of men exhibited “limited concern for food quality, rarely reading food labels and rarely purchasing organic products.”

“Grass-fed meat, fish and organic eggs can contain higher levels of omega 3 DHA, which is found in the sperm tail and is associated with sperm motility,” a dietitian told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

The men who stuck with the Mediterranean-inspired food plan saw a significant increase in testosterone levels, the study found.

In a subgroup of individuals who reduced their carb intake by 35%, sperm DNA fragmentation (damaged DNA) decreased with consumption of the modified diet.

“Diets rich in vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and antioxidants are critical for protecting sperm from oxidative stress and damage.”

“The male contribution to a couple’s fertility is important and the findings of this study underscore the importance of dietary variation and the inclusion of organic foods in achieving this goal,” the researchers wrote. 

“Specifically, adhering to a pre-conception Mediterranean diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in legumes, whole grains and green leafy vegetables, along with consuming 80% organic foods, was associated with improved testosterone levels and reduced sperm DNA fragmentation.”

The study findings emphasized the importance of “dietary variation,” according to the researchers. (iStock)

Although the study size was limited, the researchers said the findings “emphasize the significance of consuming quality food for physical and psychological well-being and suggest that it may serve as an achievable measure of human resilience against environmental insults.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for additional comment.

DRINKING CARROT JUICE COULD BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM AND REDUCE INFLAMMATION, SAY RESEARCHERS 

Registered dietitian and nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein, who is based in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital she’s seen firsthand the beneficial impact nutrition can have on both male and female fertility.

“It’s amazing how even a moderate weight loss can make significant changes to a person’s hormone levels and ability to conceive,” she said.

Other studies have shown how diets high in refined carbs and sugar can have negative effects on sperm health, Muhlstein mentioned.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein (pictured) called the new study “eye-opening.” (BODi)

“Additionally, following a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, lean proteins, high-fiber carbohydrates and healthy fats may help reduce inflammation, which can benefit fertility,” she added.

The study took the diet “one step further” by focusing on specifics like mostly organic food, frequent nuts and seafood, limited dairy, daily red fruit, three servings of green vegetables, and refined sugar and packaged food avoidance, Muhlstein pointed out.

OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS COULD HELP REDUCE ALCOHOL USE DISORDER SYMPTOMS, STUDY SUGGESTS

The “noteworthy” increase in testosterone levels could be due to the focus on organic foods, which contain fewer pesticides and pollutants and higher levels of bioactive compounds, she said.

“Diets rich in vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and antioxidants are critical for protecting sperm from oxidative stress and damage,” the dietitian said. 

The new study revealed that Mediterranean-style diets could improve male fertility. (iStock)

“Additionally, grass-fed meat, fish and organic eggs can contain higher levels of omega 3 DHA, which is found in the sperm tail and is associated with sperm motility,” Muhlstein added.

The study also surveyed the benefits of lowering carb intake, which proved beneficial for weight and blood sugar control.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The study was limited by including only men with a BMI range of 20 to 24, Muhlstein pointed out.

“I wish in the future that they would conduct this study with overweight and obese men, because I am sure the findings would have been even more significant,” she said.

A fertility doctor recommended that men who are experiencing fertility complications switch to a Mediterranean-based diet. (iStock)

Dr. Reem Sabouni, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist at Houston Fertility Institute, called the study findings “interesting” in a response sent to Fox News Digital.

The Mediterranean diet “appears to positively influence male fertility,” the doctor said.

“This aligns with our understanding of nutrition’s role in overall health,” she said. “For men with male factor infertility (MFI), adopting a Mediterranean-based diet could be a beneficial, non-invasive strategy to improve fertility health.”

SNACKS PACK MORE CALORIES THAN A SINGLE MEAL FOR MANY US ADULTS, STUDY FINDS

These findings are “promising, potentially contributing to addressing the global decline in sperm counts,” Sabouni told Fox News Digital.

Based on the study’s evidence, the doctor recommended that men with MFI should switch to a Mediterranean-based diet.

The Mediterranean diet involves high amounts of vegetables and fruits that are “rich in detoxifying and antioxidant substances,” the researchers noted in a discussion of the findings. (iStock)

“The diet’s rich antioxidants and balanced nutrients likely play a key role in enhancing reproductive health,” she added.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“[The study] underscores the importance of lifestyle and dietary factors in reproductive health, which [are] in our control.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

The sudden closure of a Missouri nursing home on Dec. 15 has left 170 residents and their families surprised — with other ramifications as well.  

The Northview Village Nursing Home in northern St. Louis abruptly ceased operations, according to local reports.

On Dec. 19, family members, care staff, and state and local politicians staged a protest of the nursing home’s closure and its apparent failure to pay employees, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

ARTIST HELPS SENIORS CAPTURE PRECIOUS MEMORIES IN WORKS OF ART: ‘THEY BRING THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES’

Michele Waller, a receptionist at Northview prior to the closure, told a local news outlet that the owner of the nursing home had known about the closure but failed to disclose the information.

“From my understanding, they say [the owner] had known this for weeks already, probably months,” Waller said.

Starr Bradford, a St. Louis woman whose mother was a resident of Northview Village for 20 years, said the facility did not notify her about the closure, she told Fox News Digital. 

She was alerted to the situation by a Facebook post from a family member of another resident.

“I had to physically go to the nursing home for answers and two employees cleaning out their office helped me out,” Bradford told Fox News Digital in a text.

She eventually found her mother at a new nursing home, where the director provided her with a letter from Northview Village.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was informed that funding was not in place to pay workers on Friday, which caused the workforce issue, the group told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“I hope everyone else found their loved ones as well, because this was terrifying,” said Bradford.

Fox News Digital attempted to contact Northview Village, the nursing home that closed — but calls went unanswered.

Healthcare Accounting Services, the company that operates the nursing home, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that “we are not providing any statements at this time.”

PICKLEBALL HELPS BOOST SENIORS’ MENTAL HEALTH, OFFERING ‘ADAPTABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY,’ SURVEY FINDS

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which regulates the nursing home, was notified of the situation at around 4:15 p.m. on Friday, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital via email.

“The facility operators were working to implement their emergency evacuation plan, and local EMS assisted with the relocation of approximately 170 residents,” the spokesperson said. “Our team remained on site monitoring the evacuation.”

The sudden closure of the home left 170 residents (not pictured) surprised residents and their families. Residents were relocated to other facilities.  (iStock)

Northview Village was responsible for executing its emergency evacuation plan, the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

“They relocated the residents to at least 14 other facilities in the St. Louis metro area and worked to contact families,” she said.

The final resident left the facility before 6 a.m. on Saturday, according to the spokesperson. 

MOST SENIORS IN AMERICA CAN’T AFFORD NURSING HOMES OR ASSISTED LIVING, STUDY FINDS

“Our team continued working through the weekend, following up with the receiving facilities to check in on the residents who had been transferred.”

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services was informed that funding was not in place to pay workers on Friday, which caused the workforce issue, the same group said.

Superior Manor of Downtown Residential Care, another nursing home in the area, was reportedly one of the facilities that received the displaced residents.

An abrupt relocation can have significant mental and emotional impacts on seniors — particularly those with dementia, experts say. (iStock)

When contacted by phone, an employee of Superior Manor confirmed to Fox News Digital that some of Northview Village’s residents were there.

“We have two sister facilities, and all together, we took in probably 30 of them,” the employee said.

She also noted that the relocation was very stressful for the residents.

“They’re settling in, but it’s a process,” she said.

Impact of relocation on seniors

An abrupt relocation can have significant mental and emotional impacts on seniors — particularly individuals with dementia, experts said.

“For those with dementia, the familiarity of their living environment and predictable routines can serve to help with their overall functioning,” Dr. Carrie Ditzel, a clinical psychologist and director of geropsychology and neuropsychology at Baker Street Behavioral Health in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital. 

“For those with dementia, the familiarity of their living environment and predictable routines can serve to help with their overall functioning.”

Stability creates a sense of comfort and predictability for aging seniors, Ditzel noted, which can help them manage deficits in skills or memory.

“If the sense of familiarity and predictability is not re-established successfully, the resident may experience things like confusion, behavioral changes and emotional unrest,” she added.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker in Florida who has helped seniors find assisted living facilities, agreed that a sudden relocation can be very stressful for a senior. 

“They may be disoriented, homesick and confused,” she told Fox News Digital. “They may struggle to adjust to their new surroundings, especially if it wasn’t their choice to make the move or they weren’t involved in the process.”

When residents feel that things are out of their control, they may experience emotional distress, a social worker said. (iStock)

When residents feel that things are out of their control, they may experience emotional distress, said Morin.

“They may be anxious or fearful,” she noted. “They may also ask questions about when they can go home and may not understand if their situation is permanent.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

For someone with dementia, a sudden move can worsen symptoms, Morin warned.

“They may struggle to find their way around, may not understand where they are and may be confused by support staff,” she said. “They may not recognize friends and family once they are out of their normal routines.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

Didn’t get enough sleep during the week? Take heart — catching up on shuteye over the weekend could provide the bonus of improved cardiovascular health, according to a new study published in the journal Sleep Health.

Researchers from Nanjing Medical University in China analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which compiled information from 3,400 U.S. adults ages 20 years and older between 2017 and 2018.

The survey gathered information on how long the participants slept on weekdays and weekends, as well as whether they had heart disease, high blood pressure and/or diabetes.

FOR QUALITY SLEEP, TIMING IS EVERYTHING, EXPERTS SAY

The people who slept for at least one hour longer on weekends than weekdays were shown to have lower rates of cardiovascular disease — in particular, stroke, coronary heart disease and angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow) compared to those who didn’t get catch-up sleep.

The reduced risk was most significant among those who got less than six hours of sleep on weekdays and slept for at least two extra hours on weekends.

“Sleeping less than six hours per night increases our risk of stress hormone release and increased heart attack and stroke,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor.

“Making up sleep debt does not fully reverse the effects of chronic sleep deprivation.”

Siegel, who was not involved in the study, offered comment on the findings.

“The study found that you can make up for a sleep debt during the week and reset with more than two extra hours on the weekend, bringing your risk of heart disease back to baseline,” he told Fox News Digital.

WHEN MEASURING HEART ATTACK RISK, ONE IMPORTANT RED FLAG IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, DOCTORS SAY

“Though this is observational and not proof, I believe this finding is real, because more sleep brings your metabolism down to a lower level where the risks are lower,” he added.

People who slept for at least one hour longer on weekends than on weekdays were shown in a study to have lower rates of cardiovascular disease. (iStock)

Fox News Digital reached out to the study author for additional comments.

Dr. Biquan Luo, a San Francisco sleep expert and CEO of LumosTech, which produces a smart sleep mask to promote healthy circadian rhythms, shared her reaction to the study findings. She was not involved in the research.

CARE ABOUT YOUR HEART? TRY GETTING BETTER SLEEP, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

“Under normal circumstances, when you are not sleep-deprived, a consistent sleep schedule helps maintain the body’s circadian rhythms, supporting higher-quality sleep, better energy and cardiometabolic health,” Luo told Fox News Digital. 

“That’s why sleep experts recommend not sleeping in during the weekend.”

The reduced risk was most significant among those who got less than six hours of sleep on weekdays and slept for at least two extra hours on weekends. (iStock)

However, consistently lacking adequate sleep can cause chronic fatigue and increased risks for obesity and cardiovascular diseases, the expert pointed out. 

“In this case, catching up on sleep on the weekend is more beneficial for your health,” she said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“It is important to note that making up sleep debt does not fully reverse the effects of chronic sleep deprivation,” Luo added.

The Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend at least seven hours of sleep per night for adults.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Insufficient sleep has previously been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, high blood pressure and other diseases and conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

If you received medical care any time this year, there’s a good chance you had a close encounter with artificial intelligence.

Widely regarded as the breakout year for AI, 2023 ushered in a whole crop of new and improved tech tools, many of which have impacted the health and wellness space.

“2023 has been a landmark year for AI in health care, witnessing groundbreaking advancements that have reshaped medical practices and paved the way for a future where health care is more personalized, efficient and accessible,” Dr. Harvey Castro, a Dallas, Texas-based board-certified emergency medicine physician and national speaker on AI in health care, told Fox News Digital.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Castro and other AI experts weighed in on some of the year’s most important advancements for doctors and patients.

Below are six of the top innovations they cited.

1. ChatGPT and other generative AI

Despite the lack of a formal regulatory framework governing its use, generative AI is being widely tested by medical professionals, noted Dr. Tinglong Dai, professor of operations management and business analytics at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School in Baltimore, Maryland.

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS CHATGPT SHARED INACCURATE INFORMATION REGARDING DRUG USE

“ChatGPT remains the best-known and most widely used generative AI tool among health care professionals in various activities aimed at reducing documentation burden and allowing clinicians to focus on their core activities,” Dai told Fox News Digital.

“Johns Hopkins University has several ongoing research projects investigating the potential of using generative AI to reduce clinician burnout as a result of electronic medical records,” he noted.

Released by OpenAI in Nov. 2022, ChatGPT exploded onto the health scene in 2023. 

Released by OpenAI in Nov. 2022, ChatGPT exploded onto the health scene in 2023.  (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The large language model affects everything from how patients get medical advice to how physicians communicate and keep records.

“ChatGPT has revolutionized health care communication by providing tools for personalized treatment plans and remote patient engagement,” said Castro.

“For instance, it has been used to create interactive patient education materials, enhancing understanding and compliance.”

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HELPS DOCTORS PREDICT PATIENTS’ RISK OF DYING, STUDY FINDS: ‘SENSE OF URGENCY’

The AI chatbot has also sparked some skepticism, however, as its responses have sometimes been found lacking in accuracy and thoroughness.

“Human oversight remains indispensable, ensuring that AI tools like ChatGPT are used as supplements rather than replacements for professional medical judgment,” Castro added.

2. Disease detection through retinal images

In September of this year, researchers from the University College London team announced a “groundbreaking” AI model for disease detection using retinal images; the results were published in the journal Nature.

In September 2023, researchers from the University College London announced a “groundbreaking” AI model for disease detection using retinal images. (iStock)

“This model, developed through self-supervised learning on 1.6 million unlabeled retinal images, excels in diagnosing and predicting both eye diseases and systemic disorders such as heart failure and myocardial infarction,” Dai told Fox News Digital.

The model, called RETFound, marks a “significant advance in medical AI, providing a more efficient approach to disease detection through a foundation model,” Dai added.

3. Improvements to medical productivity

In another AI discovery, a U.S.-U.K.-Bangladesh study provided the first real-world evidence that autonomous AI can improve medical productivity, Dai noted.

The study, published in the Nature Group’s npj Digital Medicine, showed a 40% increase in clinical productivity in diagnosing retinal disease in patients with diabetes.

MAYO CLINIC SEES AI AS ‘TRANSFORMATIVE FORCE’ IN HEALTH CARE, APPOINTS DR. BHAVIK PATEL AS CHIEF AI OFFICER

This was achieved using an FDA-cleared AI device to screen the patients as they entered the hospital. 

“The AI device allows clinicians to focus on the most complex patients,” Dai said. “When adjusted for complexity, there is a 265% increase in productivity.”

4. Medical imaging and education

DALL-E 3 is an AI-based image generation model that was originally launched by OpenAI in January 2021.

As OpenAI describes it, “DALL-E 3 takes a text prompt as an input and generates a new image as an output.”

Advancements in AI-driven medical imaging, such as improved MRI technology, have led to faster scanning times, enhanced image resolution and reduced radiation exposure, an expert said. (iStock)

In the health arena, Castro pointed out that DALL-E3 can create accurate medical illustrations from textual descriptions.

“This has been instrumental in medical education, providing visual aids for complex medical conditions and procedures,” he told Fox News Digital.

There have also been advancements in AI-driven medical imaging, such as improved MRI technology, which have led to faster scanning times, enhanced image resolution and reduced radiation exposure, significantly improving diagnostic accuracy, Castro added.

5. Accelerated cancer research

Andre Esteva, CEO and co-founder of ArteraAI, a precision medicine company in California, described cancer research as “fertile ground for AI.”

“We’re using it to find hidden patterns in data, personalize treatment decision-making and help predict treatment benefit,” he told Fox News Digital.

NEW AI-GENERATED COVID DRUG ENTERS PHASE I CLINICAL TRIALS: ‘EFFECTIVE AGAINST ALL VARIANTS’

AI is helping to speed up clinical trials and opening doors to new possibilities in health care, Esteva noted. 

“Imagine AI designing cancer treatments tailored to your unique genome — the possibilities are limitless.”

6. AI medical devices

AI-based medical devices continue to be strong, noted Dai of Johns Hopkins.

As of July 2023, 692 AI devices were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use, a 33% increase from 2022.

“The clinicians who embrace these technologies will very likely replace the clinicians who don’t.”

“Approved devices now cover 19 specialties, although radiology remains the largest specialty, accounting for approximately three-quarters of approved devices,” Dai told Fox News Digital. 

An AI report from the New England Journal of Medicine also highlighted the real-world use of these devices, showing their rapid growth.

‘A blockbuster year’

Matt Mohebbi, head of AI and research at Brightside Health in New York, described 2023 as a “blockbuster year” for fundamental research in large language models for health care.

The AI advancements of 2023 represent a “significant leap forward in integrating AI into health care,” an expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“Some of the biggest companies are competing with each other to produce state-of-the-art performance in medical benchmarks,” he told Fox News Digital.

“While patients won’t be able to see the benefits of these findings in the doctor’s office today, it is quite telling for what’s in store,” Mohebbi went on. “The clinicians who embrace these technologies will very likely replace the clinicians who don’t.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The AI advancements of 2023 represent a “significant leap forward in integrating AI into health care,” Castro told Fox News Digital.

“These innovations promise a future where health care is more personalized, efficient and accessible, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and a transformed health care landscape.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

The holidays are meant to be a time of togetherness and celebration. Yet for those who have recently experienced loss or trauma, the season can bring sadness instead.

“Holiday-related grief can be about many things, like the loss of a loved one or bad memories from the past,” Alysha Tagert, a trauma therapist in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.

While grief recovery is “not a one-size-fits-all process,” there are ways to manage the moments that trigger extreme sadness, she said.

SELF-CARE INSIGHTS DURING HOLIDAYS THAT MAY HELP YOU HEAL, BE HAPPIER, ENJOY YOURSELF MORE

For those who are grappling with grief during the holidays, Tagert and other mental health experts shared tips for navigating the challenges. 

Here are nine to know about. 

1. Expect the unexpected

Grief is typically thought of as sadness in reaction to the loss of a person or thing, Tagert noted, but it can also include a range of other emotions that can catch people off guard.

“Grief consists of internal thoughts and feelings as well as external behaviors,” she said. “They aren’t experienced in a linear fashion, which is why grief can catch people by surprise.”

2. Know and communicate your needs

It’s important to identify your needs and honor them by communicating clearly with others, noted Christine Slomski, a licensed therapist in Mesa, Arizona.

HOW TO COPE WITH ‘COLLECTIVE GRIEF’ WHEN MASS TRAGEDY STRIKES

“This means letting friends and family know ahead of time how they can show up for you — from offering a hug to simply allowing you to have your space,” she said in an email to Fox News Digital.

3. Prepare for tough moments

“People who are grieving during the holiday season should prepare themselves for tough moments that are undoubtedly going to occur, especially as everyone else seems so happy,” said Tagert.

While grief recovery is “not a one-size-fits-all process,” there are ways to manage the moments that trigger extreme sadness, experts say. (iStock)

For those times when conversations arise that may cause grief or other uncomfortable emotions, Slomski suggested having some courteous phrases on hand to provide a brief answer, then redirect the conversation.

4. Identify self-care routines

When you have a toolkit with ways to respond to emotional pain, you’re better equipped to manage it, according to Slomski. 

“If you use unhealthy behaviors to avoid feeling grief and pain, write out a list of healthy alternatives,” she suggested. 

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS? HERE’S HOW TO AVOID STRESS AROUND FAMILY MEMBERS, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS  

“Calling a friend to get coffee and talk can foster connection, going for a walk in the sun can release serotonin and clear the emotional cobwebs, and praying and meditating can calm your nervous system and recenter you,” Slomski added.

If you experience a rush of grief while you’re in a place where you can’t quickly slip away, she recommended taking a few deep breaths, holding a stone in your pocket or even chewing sugar-free gum to help relieve the stress.

5. Schedule time with a professional

“There are always known and unknown triggers when navigating grief — and that can be especially challenging around the holidays when everyone else seems full of cheer,” noted Maggie Rose Macar, a New York-based CEO and the founder of zant, a mental health app.

It’s important to have self-care routines on hand to help cope with holiday grief, such as meditation, according to experts. (iStock)

She recommended scheduling sessions with a professional ahead of time, whether it’s a therapist who’s already known or one who’s found through referrals or digital resources.

6. Surround yourself with friends and family if possible

To help ensure that you have a built-in support system, Macar suggested talking to those who are important to you to find out their holiday plans and make time to see them in advance. 

“Give yourself the gift of self-compassion, gentleness and the time to be with your feelings and needs this season.”

“Even when everything in you says to cancel and stay home, you must force yourself to get out,” she told Fox News Digital.

“It’s normal to feel a little ‘off’ or sad during the holidays — don’t be afraid to share this with your loved ones so they can better understand and support you during this time of year.”

7. Give back and do good for others

Giving back might seem counterintuitive when anticipating or feeling grief, but benevolent acts, said Macar, can release chemicals like serotonin to help you feel better.

Spending time with family and friends can help relieve feelings of grief during the holidays, according to mental health experts. (iStock)

“It also shows you that there is good in the world — and seeing others smile because of your kindness can offer comfort when you need it most,” she said.

8. Consider joining an online or in-person support group

Joining a support group can be a little nerve-racking at first, but finding the right group can help you feel understood and comforted, suggested Macar. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“Surrounding yourself in a confidential and safe space with others who may understand what you’re going through is like a breath of fresh air during troubling or difficult times,” she said.

9. Take your time

“Healing is a process, not a problem to be fixed or solved,” Slomski told Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Give yourself the gift of self-compassion, gentleness and the time to be with your feelings and needs this season.”

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.