By Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN

(CNN) — During the pandemic, I did what many other people did: I bought a stationary bike. I joined the group rides, pushed through the resistance and pedaled my way to better health. A few weeks in, I started noticing something I didn’t expect — a subtle, intermittent pressure near my prostate that lingered throughout the day.

As a urologist, knowing what those sensations can sometimes signal only made me more anxious.

Was the bike irritating something important? Was this the start of chronic prostate pain or even trouble in the bedroom? The worry built up enough that I stopped riding and eventually sold the bike. That fear is something I hear from patients all the time: Is biking causing my prostate issues or erection problems? The science-based answer is that it probably does not.

In my case — and in many others — the problem wasn’t the bike or the exercise. It was my form and my mind.

The pressure your prostate feels

The prostate sits just below the bladder and wraps around the urethra. It is located deep in the pelvis, directly above the perineum (the soft area between the scrotum and anus). Anything that irritates that region, including pressure, tight muscles or prolonged sitting, can create sensations that men interpret as “prostate pain.”

Cycling concentrates your body weight on the perineum, where the pudendal nerve, key blood vessels and the pelvic floor muscles all travel. The major nerves that support erections also run along the outer surface of the prostate, which is why irritation in the surrounding tissues can feel like a prostate or sexual function problem, even when the gland itself is normal.

A narrow or traditional bike saddle can press on these sensitive areas for long periods, creating burning, pressure or a bruised feeling. That discomfort is real, but it isn’t the prostate or surrounding nerves themselves being damaged. Cycling affects the tissues around the gland — not the gland itself. This mirrors what the latest American Urological Association guidelines note: Perineal pressure and prolonged sitting are known triggers for pelvic and scrotal pain, not true prostate injury.

Prostatitis: The misunderstood condition

Prostatitis is one of the most commonly misunderstood diagnoses in my field. The severe bacterial form — the one that causes fever, chills and intense urinary symptoms — is rare. Much more often, men are told they have prostatitis, even though there is no infection. Their symptoms come

Happy Friday! The heavy rain has surpassed but chances for isolated showers and thunderstorms are still apparent throughout the evening. Most of the area still sits underneath a 70% chance of rain or greater, so most areas are not quite dry yet. Impacts today will be significantly less than days prior but avoid getting caught in a thunderstorm. Some hail is possible as temperatures are the coolest, expect highs into the 50s and 60s.

Dry and mild weather occurs Saturday and Sunday. Highs rise into the 60s and winds die off. Marine conditions may still be hazardous so stay out of the waters until Sunday or Monday. A small ridge of high pressure will cause a small warming trend with rebounding temperatures through Tuesday of next week.

More rain is set in the forecast for the middle of next week. This means we may start out the new year with some moderate rain! Timing and impacts still need to be worked out, tune to plan your New Years Eve events.

The post Thunderstorms Friday, tracking wet weather to start the New Year appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

By Dana Karni and Tal Shalev

(CNN) — Two people were killed in a car-ramming and stabbing attack in northern Israel, police said Friday.

The suspect is a Palestinian from the occupied West Bank, according to police, who said a pedestrian in the city of Beit She’an was run over before a woman was stabbed near the kibbutz of Ein Harod.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The post Two people killed in suspected Palestinian attack in northern Israel appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN

(CNN) — When the flu strikes, it can feel relentless: rising fever, hacking cough, stuffy nose and sore throat. For many people, relief can come in the form of Tamiflu, a prescription antiviral medication used to treat and even prevent the illness.

But some people may not realize that Tamiflu isn’t the only option.

Other flu treatments are available in the United States. These alternatives sometimes fly under the radar, in part because some are targeted for specific populations. But Xofluza, a one-dose pill, is approved for people 5 years and older – and can be a strong alternative for some people who may otherwise be prescribed Tamiflu.

Antiviral medications tend to work best when started within two days after symptoms begin, so having easy access to treatment options is key for treating the flu most effectively.

To treat flu this season, there are four antiviral drugs recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tamiflu or oseltamivir, Xofluza or baloxavir, Relenza or zanamivir, and Rapivab or peramivir.

Tamiflu is used to treat flu in people ages 2 weeks and older, and to reduce the chance of getting the flu in people 1 year and older. The medicine is administered in liquid form or capsules, and typically must be taken twice daily for five days when used for flu treatment. When used for prevention after exposure, it is typically taken once daily for 10 days. Available as a generic or under the trade name Tamiflu, it may cost about $50 or less without insurance. The most common side effects include nausea and vomiting.

As another option, Xofluza is administered as a single-dose tablet and approved for ages 5 and older. It can be used to treat or prevent the flu, and it may cost nearly $200 without insurance, but eligible patients can use coupons to lessen costs. The most common side effects include diarrhea and vomiting.

“The most common complaint I hear about is vomiting from Tamiflu,” Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician based in Texas and author of the Baby 411 book series, said in an email. She referenced a 2023 study that showed about 18% of people experience vomiting with Tamiflu versus 5% with Xofluza.

The study also found that about 5% of people get diarrhea with Xofluza compared with none taking Tamiflu. “I’ve also had a few pediatric patients experience moodiness with Tamiflu, which is reported in the literature,” she said.

The “biggest difference” between Tamiflu and Xofluza is that Xofluza can stop viral shedding in one day while Tamiflu may take about three days, Brown said.

That means the rest of the household may have less exposure to the flu and fewer people may come down with it, but “both antivirals will help reduce the duration of the misery by a couple of days,” Brown said. For instance, with treatment, some people may experience five days of flu symptoms instead

By Samantha Delouya, CNN

(CNN) — Next year may mark a turning point for the US housing market.

After several years in a deep freeze, with high borrowing costs and soaring prices locking many Americans out of homeownership, economists say conditions may begin to shift in 2026

But next year, many economists are optimistic about the housing market. Many anticipate that rising incomes will start to outpace home prices, making homes feel more affordable for many Americans.

Redfin has dubbed 2026 “The Great Housing Reset,” while Compass has described it as the start of a “new era.”

And after years of historically low sales volumes, even a small increase in activity would mark a turning point for the housing market. The shift would come as the Trump administration has signaled it intends to prioritize housing affordability in 2026, though details of those plans remain limited.

The last few years, the housing market has felt stuck, said Mike Simonsen, the cheif economist at Compass. Fewer homes changed hands, but home prices kept relentlessly climbing.

“In the next era, we’ll have sufficient inventory on the market across the country, allowing sales to increase,” he said, predicting that the number of home sales would finally tick higher in 2026.

That may happen for a number of reasons – but government reform probably isn’t one of them.

Will home prices fall?

Home prices have exploded since the pandemic, as demand for homes outstripped supply, pricing many Americans out. Between the start of 2020 and the third quarter of 2025, home prices climbed nearly 55% nationwide, according to a recent report from the National Association of Homebuilders.

Beyond the general lack of housing already, many sellers have been unwilling to give up the ultra-low mortgage rates they locked in years ago, held off on listing.

But as homeowners adjust to rates above 6%, more may decide it’s time to sell in 2026, adding inventory to the market and easing price pressure, said Simonsen.

This year, there were glimmers of affordability, with some states like Florida, Texas, and California seeing average home prices decline in 2025 from their peaks.

But don’t expect a sharp nationwide drop in home prices in 2026, Simonsen said. Prices are more likely to hover near current levels.

“We’re forecasting a half a percent increase in home prices next year, which is essentially flat,” he said.

Even so, many buyers may still feel priced out in 2026. The best way to make homes more affordable long term would be to build more homes, Simonsen noted.

But when it comes to homebuilding, Simonsen said “we are behind.”

What will happen to mortgage rates?

Mortgage rates have trended lower in the second half of this year. Last week, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.18%, significantly lower than at the start of 2025, when rates were approaching 7%.

Simonsen expects mortgage rates to stay above 6% next year, but that could change. A wea