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Today’s Health Upgrade

• Beyond the headline: Ozempic and blindness

• Three ways to reduce dementia risk

• Can tea replace statins?

• Letters to Arnold: Find your battle buddy

Beyond The Headline 
Does Ozempic Cause Blindness?

You might have seen the clip floating around social media. A researcher went on Joe Rogan’s podcast and claimed that Ozempic and Wegovy can double your risk of a rare form of sudden blindness.

However, the claim sounds much scarier than it is. And once you sort through the data, the risk is not worth the panic it caused.  

Several studies have linked semaglutide (the generic name of the medication that mimics GLP-1 in the body) to a rare condition that can suddenly damage vision. The connection was mostly in people with type 2 diabetes, and that’s only half of the story. 

When you look at the number of people who suffer from the condition, it works out to approximately one additional case for every 10,000 people taking the medication for a year.

And the strongest controlled studies have not confirmed that semaglutide is responsible. Scientists have even stated that there isn’t a clear increase among people taking it only for weight loss.

If there’s an increased risk, it seems potentially limited to those with diabetes. And the likelihood is still very small, and it hasn't been proven that the medication causes it. 

So if you take a GLP-1 or know someone who does, the evidence does not suggest that it significantly increases the risk of blindness. 

On Our Radar
Three Ways To Fight Off Dementia (For Up To 13 More Years)

We don't yet have the ability to predict dementia before it hits, but a study suggests there might be risk factors you can spot early that could make a meaningful difference for your health. 

Scientists discovered that people with normal blood pressure, no diabetes, and who don't smoke live 13 more years dementia-free than those with all three.

In the study, researchers observed participants for 26 years, starting in their mid-50s. Those without any of the three risk factors lived an average of 30 years without dementia. But those with all three lived an average of 17 years without dementia.

The scientists believe that uncontrolled blood pressure and blood sugar (as well as smoking) damage the same small blood vessels that feed your brain. When that compounds over years and decades, it's a trigger for cognitive decline and disease.

But here's the part that got our attention: vascular damage builds over decades. It doesn't just happen overnight. Meaning, it's worth tracking these risk factors at any age. 

Checking your blood pressure and fasting glucose in your 30s and 40s makes sense, even though this study can't tell us exactly how much earlier monitoring helps.

The study was observational and measured these risk factors only once, so we don’t know how participants' health changed over time. However, the sample size was large, and other studies have found similar risk factors.

If you want to reduce your risk, focus on reaching a healthy body weight, prioritize resistance training and cardio, increase fiber intake from fruits and vegetables, and limit alcohol consumption.

Health
Reader Question: Tea vs. Statins

A reader asks: I would like to see your take on the side effects of statins for high cholesterol and whether drinking green or oolong tea would be an effective alternative for someone at low risk.

Two honest truths that don't fit the internet's version:

Statin side effects are real, but smaller than the headlines make them out to be. And tea is good for you, but does not come close to providing the cholesterol-lowering benefits of statins. 

The biggest health risk is that statins can slightly increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Studies suggest it’s about one extra case per 255 people treated over four years. 

And the most common complaint of statins is muscle aches, yet in blinded trials, most people who blame the drug feel about the same on a placebo, so the ache is not necessarily coming from the statin. 

But statins work. They lower LDL significantly, and that reduction translates into a 22% reduction in heart attacks and strokes for every 1 mmol/L drop in LDL. 

On the other hand, green and oolong tea are a healthy habit that can lower cholesterol, but the effect is small and not a substitute if you genuinely need one.

If you're truly low-risk, the real question isn't tea versus statin. It's whether you need a statin at all, and that’s a conversation to have with your doctor using your actual numbers (LDL, blood pressure, family history, a risk score). 

We love tea, and you should drink it either way if you enjoy it. Just don't treat it as a replacement for medicine.

Community 
Letters To Arnold: Battle Buddies

If you’re searching for hope and belief, these are real stories from members of The Pump Club app.

From Susan B: I honestly feel a little emotional trying to put this into words because what happened may seem like a small interaction on the app, but to me, it represents something much bigger.

I joined Pump because I have been a longtime fan of Arnold and have always found his life, mindset, and determination incredibly inspiring. I was also looking for a fitness program where I could slowly build strength and consistency without feeling like I had to completely overhaul everything at once. 

I have some limitations from an old hip injury, and I already have a meal plan and recipes that work well for me and my doctor. So I was really looking for a program that could meet me where I am physically and help me become stronger over time.

I'm only one week in. I can't even imagine where I'll be six months from now or a year from now. But I can't wait to find out! 

I know this is going to be a slow process for me, and I'm okay with that. I'm not looking for perfection or a quick fix. I want to build strength, consistency, and confidence over time—and then look back one day and realize just how far I've come.

The birthday promotion was what finally convinced me to give Pump a try. I loved the idea that if I completed four programs in a year, I could earn $100 back.

I thought, “What a great way to keep myself accountable!” It gave me a goal to work toward, and I loved that the program wasn't just about a few weeks or a quick transformation. It felt like something I could continue building on for the long term.

But what I didn't expect was the community.

When I first joined, one of the very first posts I saw was from a woman welcoming everyone into the group. Her name is Jackie. She shared a little about herself and encouraged everyone else to introduce themselves, share their goals, where they were from, and a little about their own journey.

I remember thinking, “Wow. This person is amazing. She made everyone feel so welcome.”

I commented on her post, and we ended up connecting over some similarities in our experiences, including coming back from injuries. Even though I had only been on the app for a day, I remembered that interaction.

A week later, I was going through the community posts and trying to do something I think is just as important as working out—cheering other people on. I came across a post from that same woman saying that her free trial was ending and she wasn't sure if she was going to stay because she wanted to figure out how to get the most out of the app.

I immediately felt like I needed to reach out.

I didn't want to pressure her into staying. I just wanted her to know that if she needed someone in her corner, I was there.

I told her that if she needed a “battle buddy,” someone to motivate her, encourage her, or simply remind her that she wasn't doing this alone, I was there for her. 

Because I know what it feels like to need someone else to believe in you when you aren't quite able to believe in yourself at that moment.

Then another woman, Kristina, joined the conversation and said she had felt the same connection with Jackie when she first read her introduction.

And suddenly, three complete strangers were talking about becoming battle buddies and holding each other accountable. 

We weren't from the same place, we didn't know each other before Pump, and we each have our own stories and challenges, but somehow this community brought us together.

I remember thinking, “This is what this app can do.”

So I sent a message to Daniel and told him that I hoped he would tell Arnold thank you—not just for creating a fitness app, but for creating a place where people can find each other, encourage each other, and remind one another that they aren't alone.

And then you told me that you showed Arnold our conversation.

That honestly meant so much to me.

Arnold has always been inspiring to me because of more than just his accomplishments. What inspires me is his mindset: the idea of continuing to learn, grow, adapt, work hard, and keep moving forward throughout an entire lifetime.

I think that's what I see in this community too.

We're all starting from different places. Some people are strong already. Some are starting over. Some are coming back from injuries. Some may be struggling with motivation. Some may simply need someone to say, “Keep going. I've got you.”

And sometimes, that little bit of encouragement can make a much bigger difference than we realize.

I joined Pump because I wanted to become stronger. I am staying because I'm already beginning to realize that strength isn't just something we build in our bodies. Sometimes we build it because someone else believes in us, and sometimes we get to be that person for someone else.

So thank you, Arnold, and thank you to the entire Pump team for creating a community where something like this can happen.

I hope our little story reminds someone else that they don't have to do this alone. Find your people. Be someone's battle buddy. Cheer someone on. And when you need it, let someone cheer for you, too.

Because sometimes, that's exactly what we need to keep going.

The Positive Corner of The Internet
About Arnold’s Pump Club Editorial Standards

We do things a bit differently here, starting with transparency.

1. The Content: All APC emails are researched, written, and fact-checked by the APC editors (see bottom of the email), with written contributions from Arnold (noted with “Arnold’s Corner”). Links take you to original studies (not second-hand sources).

2. Does AI play a role? Not for the primary content, but it is used in two ways. The main items are original content written by the APC team. The summaries at the end are AI-generated based on the human-written content above. We also use an AI tool to edit and review our interpretations of the research, ensuring scientific accuracy. We don’t assume AI is right, but we use technology to hold ourselves accountable.

3. Yes, we have partners (all clearly noted by “Together With”). Why? Because it allows us to keep the APC emails free. We first test products, and then reach out to potential partners who offer ways to help you improve every day. The bar is set high, and to date, we have turned down millions in ad deals. (Example: we will not partner with any non-certified supplements or those without evidence in human trials). If we won’t buy the product, we won’t recommend it to you. And if there’s no evidence it works, then there’s no place for it here.

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Publisher: Arnold Schwarzenegger​

Editors-in-chief: Adam Bornstein and Daniel Ketchell