A lot of our body’s functions depend on when we are defecating and how well our bowel movements are taking place. People have different pooping habits, with some people having a nightly routine and others enjoying a morning bathroom run. But is it normal for one to run to the bathroom after every meal? Not only is it inconvenient but it could be a sign of something going wrong with your body. Have you ever enjoyed a meal and immediately needed to use the restroom?

If so, you might be worried that something is wrong with you. But you don’t need to stress about this! It is actually quite common and doesn't necessarily indicate a health problem.

This phenomenon is called the gastrocolic reflex. When food enters your stomach, it triggers a series of signals in your digestive system. Your stomach stretches to accommodate the food, and sends signals to your brain through the vagus nerve. The brain then communicates with your large intestine, telling it to make room for the new food by moving its current contents along. In other words, you're not pooping out what you just ate, but what has been in your digestive system for a day or two.

What Can Trigger The Gastrocolic Reflex?

When Should You Go See The Doctor?

Waking up with a sore, scratchy throat can feel like a dry-air problem, especially during colder months. In reality, it is often one of the first signs that your immune system has started responding to a viral infection.

What Can Cause Throat Discomfort?

Throat discomfort is often the earliest symptom because viruses tend to attach themselves to this area first, explained Benjamin C. Tweel, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as per The Washington Post.

“The virus enters the cells that line the throat, which likely triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system,” said Tweel, who also serves as medical director for the department of otolaryngology at Mount Sinai Health System. Once the body detects the virus, lymphatic tissue at the back of the nose and throat becomes swollen and inflamed, leading to pain, experts noted.

“Sometimes your body manages to fight it off before it turns into anything major,” Mock said. In other cases, familiar upper respiratory symptoms soon follow, such as a runny nose, nasal congestion and coughing.

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Home Remedies For Sore Throat

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, throat pain linked to an upper respiratory infection usually improves within about a week. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen can help ease discomfort and may be more effective than acetaminophen because they reduce both pain and inflammation, Tweel said. Alongside medication, certain home remedies may also provide relief. Here are some options worth trying.

Saltwater Gargle

Gargling with salt water has long been recommended for sore throats, and limited research suggests it may help. A small randomized controlled trial published in 2019 in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research found that people with nonbacterial sore throats who used saltwater gargles reported less pain and less difficulty swallowing after one week compared with those who used a thymol-based antiseptic mouthwash.

Salt may help by reducing swelling in throat tissue, said Cameron Wick, an otologist and neurotologist at University Hospitals. “This is basic osmosis,” he explained. “Some of the fluid inside the throat tissue moves into the salt solution, which can lessen inflammation.” Saltwater gargling may also help clear away debris and viral particles, Tweel added.

While the evidence is limited, saline gargles are unlikely to cause harm, Mock said. “It might offer a small benefit, and it is generally safe.” Wick recommends mixing 1 teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water. Saltwater rinses may also help with thick mucus, nasal congestion or allergy symptoms. Wick said over-the-counter saline sprays or nasal irrigation devices can help clear nasal passages, improve breathing, hydrate tissues and reduce swelling.

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When using nasal irrigation devices, only distilled, sterile or boiled and cooled water should be used. Tap water can contain microorganisms that are unsafe if they enter the sinuses.

Honey

Honey is known for its antibacterial properties, Wick said, and its thick texture can coat and protect irritated throat tissue. “It feels soothing on mucosal surfaces,” he explained. By forming a barrier, honey may reduce irritation from air, liquids and swallowing.

Some research supports honey for easing symptoms of upper respiratory infections, including sore throat and cough. A small study published in 2023 found that gargling with a mixture of honey and water helped reduce throat pain after tonsillectomy surgery.

Honey can also be helpful for children over the age of 1 who have sore throats or coughs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends honey over many over-the-counter cold medicines for young children, as those products offer limited benefit. “For kids older than 1, a teaspoon of honey or honey mixed into warm liquid can help soothe the throat and improve sleep,” Mock said. Honey should never be given to infants under 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism.

Tea

Warm tea can feel comforting on a sore throat, but not all teas are ideal during an infection. “Stick to non-caffeinated options,” Wick advised. Black teas and other strong, tannin-rich teas often contain caffeine, which can increase urine output and contribute to dehydration.

There is limited research on herbal teas for throat pain, but chamomile, ginger and turmeric are commonly recommended, Wick said.

Adding honey and lemon can enhance tea’s soothing effects. Lemon provides vitamin C, which supports immune function, and stimulates saliva production, Wick explained. Increased saliva can help thin mucus and support the many small glands beneath the throat’s surface, making it easier for the body to manage congestion.

Warm Beverages

If tea is not your preference, other warm drinks such as warm water, vegetable broth, bone broth or soup may provide similar comfort. “Warm liquids have a calming effect,” Wick said.

These beverages may also encourage better hydration, which is important for recovery. “Staying hydrated is one of the most helpful things you can do for a sore throat,” Tweel said. Dryness tends to worsen throat pain. Soup can also be soothing, as long as it does not contain ingredients that irritate the throat, Mock added.

Cool Foods

Some people find relief from cold items like ice chips or ice pops, especially when throat pain is more intense, Wick said. After tonsil removal surgery, children are often encouraged to eat ice cream or popsicles because cold temperatures can calm pain-sensitive nerve endings.

There is little research specifically on cold foods for sore throats caused by infections, but cooling therapies have been shown to reduce throat discomfort after medical procedures such as surgery or intubation.

Using A Humidifier

Dry air can worsen irritation in the nose, mouth and throat. “This helps explain why people often feel worse after flying,” Tweel said. A cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can reduce dryness and ease scratchiness.

However, these devices must be cleaned carefully. “I personally avoid them because proper sanitation can be difficult,” Tweel said. Mold and bacteria can grow in humidifiers, and inhaling contaminated mist may increase the risk of illness.

The CDC advises cleaning humidifiers according to manufacturer guidelines, emptying water tanks daily, and using distilled or boiled and cooled water to reduce microbial growth.

If maintaining a humidifier feels overwhelming, steam from a hot shower or from a cup of hot tea or boiling water may offer similar benefits, Tweel said.

Lozenges

For adults, lozenges or cough drops can stimulate saliva production, which helps combat dryness, Tweel said. “A lot of throat soreness comes from being dry or dehydrated,” he explained. Increasing moisture can make a noticeable difference.

There are many lozenge options available, and choosing what feels soothing is reasonable. Some people prefer lozenges with menthol or eucalyptus for their cooling sensation. Lozenges and cough drops should not be given to children under 4 years old due to choking risks.

When To See Your Doctor For A Sore Throat

Most sore throats improve after a few days, Mock said, often followed by nasal symptoms and then a chest cough. “That pattern is typical for a viral upper respiratory infection,” she said. As long as symptoms are improving and not worsening, the illness usually resolves within one to two weeks.

Medical care may be needed in certain situations. You should contact your primary care provider if throat pain is accompanied by fever, severe pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, white patches at the back of the throat, or noticeable differences in tonsil size, Wick said. These signs may point to a bacterial infection such as strep throat, which may require antibiotics.

Persistent throat pain should also be evaluated. “A severe sore throat lasting more than seven days is not normal,” Mock said. “By that point, it should be improving.”

As flu season approaches, many people wonder whether getting vaccinated twice in the same year might offer extra protection. With immunity known to fade and flu viruses changing fast, the question sounds reasonable. But according to public health experts, doubling up on flu shots rarely delivers added benefit for adults.

Flu Shot: Why a Second Flu Shot Usually Does Not Help

There is no known harm in receiving two flu shots in one year, but research shows it is largely unnecessary. Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, explains that most adult immune systems have already been exposed to both the influenza virus and the vaccine over the years.

Because of this prior exposure, studies have not found improved protection from a second flu shot, even among older adults whose immune responses may be weaker. For the majority of people, one influenza vaccination per year is sufficient to reduce the risk of severe illness and complications.

The guidance is different for children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children under the age of nine who have never received a flu vaccine should get two doses during their first vaccination season to build adequate immunity.

Flu Shot: Why You Still Need a Flu Shot Every Year?

While a second shot in the same season does not add much value, annual vaccination remains important. Flu viruses mutate quickly, far faster than viruses like Covid. This means last year’s vaccine is less effective against the strains circulating this season.

In addition, immunity from the flu shot gradually declines over time. These two factors make yearly vaccination necessary, even for people who rarely fall sick.

Flu Shot: Which Flu Vaccine Should Children Get?

As per CDC, there are two kinds of influenza vaccines in use. One is the injectable vaccine commonly known as the flu shot. The other is given as a nasal spray.

This year, all flu vaccines approved for children are designed to protect against three strains of the virus, including two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain. During any flu season, several types of flu viruses can circulate at the same time, and in some cases, these viruses may shift or evolve as the season progresses.

Flu Shot: Timing Matters More Than Taking Two Shots

Experts also stress that when you get the flu shot matters almost as much as getting it at all. Wallace notes that vaccination in August or early September is generally not advised for most adults, since protection may weaken before flu activity peaks.

There are exceptions. Pregnant people in their third trimester may be advised to get vaccinated earlier to pass antibodies to their baby, who cannot receive a flu shot immediately after birth, as per the CDC.

For most adults, the best approach is simple: get one flu shot per year and get it at the right time. There is no need to worry about doubling doses unless advised by a doctor. One well-timed vaccination remains the most effective and evidence-backed strategy

For people living with primary sclerosing cholangitis or PSC, medical options have always been painfully limited. Until now, there has been no approved drug that can slow the disease itself. Treatment has mostly meant managing symptoms and waiting, often for years, until a liver transplant becomes the only option. That is why new results around a monoclonal antibody called nebokitug are being seen as a turning point.

Researchers from the University of California Davis have reported promising findings from a Phase 2 clinical trial showing that nebokitug appears safe and may actually reduce liver inflammation and scarring. The study was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology and has brought cautious optimism to both doctors and patients.

What Exactly Is PSC?

PSC is a rare, long-term liver disease that mainly affects the bile ducts. These ducts act like tiny pipelines that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine, where it helps digest fats. In PSC, these ducts become inflamed, damaged, and scarred over time. As they narrow, bile starts backing up in the liver, slowly causing liver injury.

Many people with PSC also have inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis. This strong link has led researchers to believe that ongoing gut inflammation may trigger immune reactions that damage the liver as well. Symptoms can range from extreme tiredness and itching to yellowing of the skin and eyes. Some patients have no symptoms at all in the early stages, which makes the disease harder to catch.

Why Treatment Has Been So Difficult

One of the biggest challenges with PSC is that doctors have not had a way to stop the scarring process itself. Once fibrosis sets in, it slowly progresses and increases the risk of liver failure and bile duct cancer. While medications can help with itching or infections, they do not change the course of the disease. This gap in treatment is what makes the nebokitug study so important.

How Nebokitug Works

Nebokitug is a lab-made antibody designed to block a protein called CCL24. This protein plays a key role in driving inflammation and fibrosis in the liver. In people with PSC, CCL24 levels are higher than normal and are found around the bile ducts where damage is most severe.

By blocking CCL24, nebokitug aims to calm the immune response and slow down the scarring process. Earlier lab and animal studies suggested this approach could work. The new trial is one of the first to test this idea in people with PSC.

What the Trial Found

The Phase 2 study included 76 patients from five countries. Participants received either one of two doses of nebokitug or a placebo through an IV every three weeks for 15 weeks. The main goal was to check safety, since this was still an early-stage trial.

The results were encouraging. Nebokitug was found to be safe and well tolerated. More importantly, patients who already had more advanced liver scarring showed improvements in liver stiffness and markers linked to fibrosis when compared to those on placebo. These changes suggest that the drug may be doing more than just easing symptoms.

Experts involved in the study say these findings could change the future of PSC care. Reducing inflammation and fibrosis could slow disease progression and delay or even prevent the need for a transplant in some patients. While larger trials are still needed, nebokitug represents one of the strongest signals yet that PSC may finally have a disease-modifying treatment on the horizon.