Zoonotic diseases can spread from animals, including the ones we consume or keep as pets, including cats. Why are we talking about cats today? It is because of the increasing numbers of bird flu in the United States, cats of all shapes and sizes have come down with bird flu.

Bird flu was seen in poultry, where chickens have been affected, and even cows too. Why is it a concern for cats? This is because barn cats drink raw milk. In recent days, 20 wild cats at a Washington State animal sanctuary that ate infected birds and other reports of indoor cats dying from eating contaminated food have come out.

Why do cats get bird flu?

One of the leading causes is that unlike dogs, cats hunt for smaller prey, which includes birds and mice, carriers of bird flu. Dr Michael Bailey, the president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in a guidance released for cat owners noted that by their very nature, cats have more "opportunity" to ger infected with bird flu.

“We don't know if the cats are more susceptible than anybody else,” he said. “It's just the fact they're exposed to higher viral burdens because of where they go.”

Reports say that domestic cats have been bird flu virus carrier since 2004. Kristen Coleman, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health told a media outlet that before, about half of cats died, and now with the spreading of the bird flu even in cows, about 90% of them seem to be dying. Coleman has also been tracking the deaths. She has also shared 4 main tips to protect pets from bird flu which includes:

• Do not touch or allow pets to touch sick or dead animals or animal dropping
• Do not consume, or feed your pet, raw meat or milk
• Keep a close watch on free-roaming outdoor pets
• Immediately report rabies-like symptoms to a veterinarian

Are there symptoms of bird flu in cats one should look out for?

As per AVMA, pet owners must look out for signs like:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Fever

Bird flu infection can also progress with neurologic signs, which includes:

• Tremors
• Seizures
• Not being coordinated
• Blindness

Cats may also suffer from:

• Severe depression
• Discharge from their eyes or nose
• Respiratory symptoms which includes rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and sneezing or coughing

Are humans at threat?

Sick animals may also be able to transmit influenza virus to humans through their saliva, excretion and other bodily fluids. People can also get infected by breathing in the virus or by touching something that has virus on it and then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose.

If you think your cat might have bird flu—or any other infectious disease—try to limit their contact with other pets and people in your household, especially those with weakened immune systems, until you get advice from a veterinarian, as recommended by the AVMA. While the chances of cats transmitting H5N1 to humans are extremely low, they aren’t zero.

According to CDC guidance, keep an eye on yourself and your family for flu-like symptoms and reach out to a healthcare provider if needed. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your cat or cleaning their litter box and bedding.

Rebecca Pinto, physiotherapist and nutritionist shared a video on her Instagram account where she cites a case of a man who used hair loss treatment and was admitted to hospital on complain of chest pain. She points out that not everything that is available over the counter is safe to use. She says the key ingredients in many easily available hair loss treatment is minoxidil, which could trigger chest pain or angina as it can lower blood pressure.

Health and Me spoke to Dr Sanjay Bhat, Sr Consultant, Interventional Cardiology at Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru to fact check this claim and here is what we found out.

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Fact Check: Can Minoxidil Cause Severe Chest Pain?

Health and Me asked Dr Bhat if this easily available ingredient could actually cause someone’s life. To this, Dr Bhat explained that it is a commonly used medicine for treating hair loss and is easily available in many pharmacies as a topical solution or form. He said it works by improving blood flow to the hair follicles and helping hair grow. “When used on the scalp as recommended, it is generally safe for most people. However, long-term or excessive use may sometimes cause side effects. Some people may absorb a small amount of the medicine into the bloodstream, which can affect the heart and blood vessels,” he explains.

This could lead to symptoms such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, swelling of the hands or feet, or low blood pressure. “In rare cases, people may go to the emergency room if they feel severe chest discomfort or palpitations. Long-term use without medical advice may also cause scalp irritation or unwanted hair growth on other parts of the body. Therefore, it is important to use minoxidil only as directed and consult a doctor if unusual symptoms appear,” he said.

What To Do If You Feel Chest Pain While Using Minoxidil?

Doctor explains, “If a person develops chest pain after using Minoxidil, the first step is to stop using the medicine and seek medical attention immediately. Doctors will first evaluate the patient to make sure the chest pain is not due to a serious heart problem. This usually includes checking blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, and performing tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood tests.”

If minoxidil is suspected to be the cause, treatment mainly focuses on managing the symptoms. Doctors could also give medicines to control heart rate, reduce palpitations, or stabilize blood pressure. Depending on the reports, if the patient has fluid retention or swelling, diuretics may be prescribed to remove excess fluid from the body. Patients may also be monitored in the hospital for a short time if symptoms are severe. Once the symptoms settle, doctors usually advise avoiding minoxidil and may suggest safer alternative treatments for hair loss.

Are There Any Alternative Hair Loss Treatment Without Minoxidil?

The answer is yes. Dr Bhat points out Finasteride, an oral medicine to be one of the common alternatives to minoxidil for hair loss treatments. This medicine works by reducing the hormone DHT, which is linked to male pattern baldness. This also helps in slowing down the hair loss and promoting regrowth.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy: This is another alternative available points out Dr Bhat. This is when blood is processed and injected into the scalp to stimulate hair follicles and improve hair thickness.

He also pointed out that doctors often recommend Low Level Laser Therapy, which is a painless treatment using red light lasers to improve blood flow to hair follicles and encourage hair growth.

Lastly, Hair Transplant Surgery is another option for people facing significant hair loss, where follicles from one part of the scalp are moved to bald areas.

“In addition, treatments such as microneedling, nutritional supplements, and treatment of underlying medical conditions may also help improve hair growth,” points out Dr Bhat.

Leucovorin, a high-dose vitamin - folinic acid, were mostly used for treating toxic side effects of chemotherapy, until last year when the White House touted it as a potential treatment for some children with autism. New prescriptions for leucovorin double within weeks of announcement and parents have been trying hard to get it prescribed. This is also because many doctors have been hesitant to prescribe a chemotherapy medicine for childhood autism. They have also stated that not enough evidence is available to prescribe this drug officially.

CNN reported that in Austin, Texas, Meagan Johnson spent four days calling pharmacies across the region searching for leucovorin for her three-year-old son Jack, who has autism. She contacted nearly 40 pharmacies around her home in Pflugerville, hoping to locate the medication.

The effort came after a neurologist agreed to prescribe leucovorin on a trial basis. Johnson’s hope was simple: even a small improvement in her son’s communication would mean a lot. At age three, most children can say hundreds of words, but Jack speaks only about 20, many of which only his mother understands.

However, getting the prescription turned out to be far harder than obtaining it.

Across the United States, pharmacies have been reporting growing difficulty keeping leucovorin tablets in stock. Online support groups for parents of autistic children are now filled with posts from families searching for the medication or asking where it might still be available.

Although leucovorin is not approved specifically for autism, some small studies have suggested that it may help certain children who have unusually low levels of folate in the brain. Families who have tried it report possible improvements in language and social interaction.

A study published in The Lancet found that prescriptions for leucovorin doubled within weeks of the public remarks and remained elevated through early December. Researchers analysed electronic medical records covering nearly 300 million patients to identify the trend.

Experts say such spikes can quickly strain the supply of inexpensive generic drugs.

A Classic Demand-Driven Shortage

Pharmacy supply specialists describe the leucovorin situation as a demand-side shortage. Unlike manufacturing disruptions, these shortages happen when demand rises faster than manufacturers can increase production.

Generic drug manufacturers typically plan production schedules a year or more in advance. Because leucovorin had historically been a niche medication, companies were not prepared for a sudden surge in prescriptions.

As demand increased, pharmacies began running out of tablets. Many manufacturers have placed the drug on allocation or backorder, meaning pharmacies can only order limited quantities.

To ease the pressure, the US Food and Drug Administration allowed temporary imports of leucovorin tablets from Canada and Spain. However, the drug has not yet been officially listed on the FDA’s national drug shortage database, a designation that could trigger additional measures to boost supply.

Families Searching For A Treatment

For parents like Johnson, the debate over research evidence matters less than the possibility of progress.

After days of phone calls, a CVS pharmacist finally located a supply at another branch nearly an hour away. Johnson drove the distance to pick up the medication and gave Jack his first dose that same evening.

The moment brought relief, but also frustration.

Drug shortage advocates say the situation was predictable. Because leucovorin is inexpensive and historically prone to shortages, any sudden increase in demand could easily disrupt supply.

Still, families continue to search for it.

Childhood obesity has been rising steadily across the world, including in India. According to the World Health Organization, the number of children aged 5 to 19 who are overweight or obese has increased more than tenfold over the past four decades.

In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research reports that about 14 percent of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight or obese, with higher rates in urban areas.

Many efforts to prevent obesity focus on healthy eating and physical activity. While these remain essential, research increasingly shows that the stress levels of parents can play a big role in shaping children’s health outcomes.

Stress, simply put, is when the body feels under pressure. Mentally, emotionally, or physically. Parents under stress may have less patience, lower energy, and less ability to maintain healthy routines for their family.

How Parental Stress Leads Childhood Obesity

Additionally, a Obesity Reviews 2017 study also found that parents who suffer from high stress levels are more likely to have irregular eating patterns, snack on unhealthy foods, and engage in less physical activity, which contributes to stressful home environments.

This often leads to a pattern of “comfort eating” and fewer structured meal routines in the house, habits that can be easily picked up and adopted by children. This can pave the way for multiple chronic conditions to develop early on in young children.

Socioeconomic pressures can also worsen the risk of obesity in youngsters. Families experiencing financial stress, job insecurity or long working hours may rely more on convenient fast foods or skip family meals altogether.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diet and lifestyle patterns learned in early childhood often persist into adolescence and adulthood, which makes early interventions critical.

How Parenting Styles And Household Atmosphere Matter

A 2020 study in Pediatric Obesity showed that children whose parents reported higher stress levels were more likely to gain excess weight over two years compared with children whose parents reported lower stress.

The home environment can shape a child’s relationship with food. If meals are rushed, distracted, or emotionally tense, children may associate eating with stress rather than nourishment. On the other hand, family routines that include relaxed meals, shared cooking, and parental involvement in active play are linked to healthier weights and better mental health outcomes.

Steps Parents Can Take To Monitor Obesity

• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Simple breathing exercises, meditation, or even quiet reading time can lower stress levels. Psychologist Susan Albers notes that mindful parenting improves parent-child interactions and can reduce unhealthy eating patterns.
• Structured routines: Regular meal times, scheduled physical activity, and predictable sleep patterns create stability for children.
• Self-care: Parents who prioritize sleep, exercise, and mental breaks are better able to support their children’s health.
• Healthy family meals: Cooking together, reducing ultra-processed foods, and encouraging fruits and vegetables fosters both nutrition and bonding.

It’s important to note that stress management alone is not enough. Combining emotional support for parents with healthy eating and activity habits is the most effective approach. The American Academy of Pediatrics highlights that integrated strategies addressing diet, activity and family wellbeing can reduce childhood obesity risk more effectively than focusing on nutrition or exercise alone.

Why This Matters For The Future

The impact of a calm, supportive home can be profound. When parents manage stress, children not only eat better and move more, but they also develop emotional resilience and lifelong healthy habits. As Dr. Epel explains, “A child’s wellbeing often mirrors the adult they live with: less stress in parents can mean a healthier start for children.”