Dining out is a popular pastime, but it's essential to be aware of potential food safety risks. We all have our go to foods whenever we are at a restaurant and enjoy the prospect of getting to eat their favorite meal. But even in the most high-end restaurants, the risk of getting sick always lingers. You never know when or what may cause issues for you

Food poisoning is a common problem that can lead to things like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach upset. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 48 million people in the United States get sick from food poisoning each year. While sometimes it is unavoidable, being aware of these things can help you understand things that can go wrong and taking precautions when eating at restaurants. It's crucial to be informed to protect your health and enjoy your dining experience without worry. Here are some foods you should either avoid or be careful while eating.

Foods You Should Be Careful About While Dining Out

Eggs

Even eggs that look fine can have Salmonella bacteria. These bacteria can make you sick with stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Restaurants can cause outbreaks if they don't cook eggs to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, store them at the wrong temperature, use unpasteurized eggs, or use dirty cooking tools. These bad practices let bacteria grow and make people sick. So, it's important to cook and handle eggs the right way.

Pre-Cut Melons

Melons that are cut up ahead of time, like in fruit salads, are more likely to cause food poisoning. When you cut a melon, bacteria on the outside can get to the inside. If lots of fruit is cut in one place, it's easier for bacteria to spread. Since people eat melons raw, there's no cooking to kill the germs. These germs, like Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli, can make you really sick. So, be careful with pre-cut melons.

Sprouts

Sprouts are healthy, but they grow in warm, wet places where bacteria like Listeria like to live. Even washing sprouts doesn't always get rid of these germs. And because people usually eat sprouts raw, there's no cooking to kill the bacteria. This makes sprouts a big cause of food poisoning. There have been lots of outbreaks linked to sprouts, with many people getting sick and even ending up in the hospital. So, it's a good idea to avoid sprouts, especially at restaurants.

Undercooked Meat

Meat that isn't cooked enough can have harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter. Campylobacter is a common cause of diarrhea. Ground beef is extra risky because it's often made from meat from many different cows. If one cow is sick, all the ground beef can be contaminated. While quickly cooking the outside of a steak can kill surface germs, undercooked ground beef and other meats are still dangerous. Cooking meat all the way through is super important.

Fishes

Some fish can cause specific kinds of food poisoning. Ciguatera poisoning happens when you eat fish that ate poisonous algae, like grouper, sea bass, and red snapper. Cooking doesn't get rid of these poisons. Scombroid poisoning can happen if fish like tuna, sardines, and mahi-mahi aren't stored correctly, which lets bacteria make poisons. Cooking doesn't help with this either. It's important for restaurants to get their fish from good places and keep it stored at the right temperature.

Oyster

Oysters filter water, which means they can collect bacteria and viruses. A big risk is vibriosis, which is caused by Vibrio bacteria that live in warm ocean water where oysters grow. Eating raw or undercooked oysters is very risky. These bacteria can cause serious sickness, and sometimes even infections in the blood. Cooking oysters completely to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit makes them much safer. So, cooked oysters are a better choice.

Leafy Greens

Greens like lettuce and spinach can get contaminated with bacteria from things like dirty water, animal poop, and not handling them correctly. Even washing them might not get rid of all the germs, especially if they're inside the leaves. Bacteria can grow fast on greens that are wilted or slimy. Restaurants need to get their greens from good farms, wash them really well, and store them correctly. Choosing fresh, crispy greens helps reduce the risk.

Steer clear of certain food items in buffets

Buffets have a higher chance of food poisoning for a few reasons. Many people use the same serving spoons, which spreads germs. Food can sit out for too long at the wrong temperature, letting bacteria grow. Also, people might cough or sneeze near the food. Common germs at buffets include bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, and viruses like norovirus. Restaurants need to check food temperatures, change serving spoons often, and make sure everyone is washing their hands.

Every year on May 5, World Asthma Day is observed, an event that aims at spreading awareness about the respiratory disorders. While asthma is becoming a common occurrence in India, citing excessive pollution and unhealthy lifestyle choices. But in a shocking revelation on the occasion, Dr. Gitika Sanodia, Consultant Dermatologist at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, revealed that leaving eczema untreated could lead to chronic asthma. Talking about it, Dr Sanodia answered some common FAQs about eczema and asthma.

Can untreated eczema cause asthma?

Yes, especially for those suffering from early childhood onset of moderate/severe atopic dermatitis. Eczema is not always limited to being solely a skin condition. In many cases, patients who suffer from eczema actually have one part of the atopic triad, which means the patient's skin barrier is dysfunctional, allowing for allergens to enter and sensitize the immune system. With time, the same tendency can impact other organs, causing allergic rhinitis or asthma. However, it must be noted that not all children with eczema develop asthma.

Why does everybody treat eczema as merely a skin problem?

Because of symptoms including itching, dryness, redness, scaling, and oozing from the skin. The families take care to control the acute phase of eczema while ignoring the patient's predisposition to allergies. Furthermore, atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition that is accompanied by impaired skin barrier function, immune dysfunction, and environmental factors. Moreover, according to DermNet, atopy is a term used for conditions where eczema, rhinitis, and asthma happen together.

Early signs for which parents and adults should be vigilant

Parents should worry if their children with eczema exhibit recurrent coughs, wheezing, noisy breathing, difficulties breathing during playtime, nighttime coughing, chest tightness, frequent sneezing, nasal blockage, allergic rhinitis, or exacerbation of symptoms following exposure to dust, animal dander, pollens, airborne particles, or fluctuating environmental conditions.

Is eczema therapy sufficient to prevent the development of asthma?

Successful treatment of eczema can help minimize the chances of allergens penetrating the skin barrier and allergic inflammation. Nonetheless, it would not be accurate to predict with certainty that eczema therapy will effectively prevent the onset of asthma. Literature recommends the prompt restoration of the skin barrier function, regular application of moisturizing agents, avoiding triggers such as fragrances and harsh soaps, managing flare-ups with prescription corticosteroid creams, controlling infections, and referring patients with severe eczema cases.

Is it a significant public health concern?

Yes. This condition is becoming more common, especially among children. If not controlled effectively, eczema will result in poor sleeping habits, difficulties with academic performance, reduced quality of life, greater susceptibility to infections, and potentially even links to other allergies. People lack sufficient information regarding the condition because they normally medicate themselves by applying whatever ointment or steroid to their skin.

Asthma is often thought of as an "outdoor" problem, with triggers such as smog, pollen, or car exhaust. But for many, the real danger may be sitting right there on the sofa or hiding under the sink.

The chronic condition affects over 260 million people. It is also responsible for over 450,000 deaths each year worldwide.

If you're doing everything right with your inhaler but still feel that tightness in your chest, it’s time to look at silent indoor triggers.

1. The Bedding "Dynasty"

“It’s a bit unsettling, but your mattress is likely home to millions of microscopic dust mites. They love the warmth and humidity of a bed. You won't see them, but you’ll feel them,” Dr. Sandeep Nayar, Principal Director & HOD - Chest & Respiratory Diseases, BLK Max Super Speciality Hospital, told HealthandMe.

The Fix: Don’t just wash your sheets; use hot water (60°C). If you haven't encased your pillows in allergen-proof covers yet, make that your priority this weekend.

2. Moisture is the Enemy

Dr Nayar said mold isn't always a giant green patch. It hides in the "sweat" behind your wallpaper or the damp corners of a bathroom that doesn't vent well. If a room smells even slightly musty, mold spores are likely in the air.

The Tip: Keep your home's humidity below 50 per cent. A simple dehumidifier can sometimes do more for your lungs than an extra dose of medicine.

3. It’s Not Just the Fur

Many people think "hypoallergenic" pets are the cure. It’s actually a protein in pet saliva and skin flakes (dander) that causes the flare-up.

The Reality: Even if you keep the dog off the bed, dander travels on your clothes. HEPA air purifiers are a must-have if you share your home with a furry friend.

4. The "Clean" Smell Myth

That "fresh lemon" scent or your favorite scented candle? Those are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). To a sensitive lung, those chemicals are irritants, not cleaners.

The Switch: Move toward fragrance-free products. If a cleaning spray makes you cough, your body is telling you everything you need to know.

5. Urban Uninvited Guests

In cities, cockroach droppings are a massive, often ignored asthma trigger. Their proteins mix with household dust and get kicked up every time you walk across the floor.

The Strategy: Seal the cracks in your walls and keep the kitchen bone-dry.

Other asthma triggers include dust mites, pet dander, indoor smoke, and strong cleaning agents that can worsen symptoms over time

How To Prevent Indoor Asthma Triggers

Dr. Manisha Mendiratta, Director & Head - Pulmonology, Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, told HealthandMe that the key is prevention through simple, consistent habits. To make a meaningful difference, the expert urged people to

• ensure good ventilation,
• reduce indoor humidity,
• clean soft furnishings regularly,
• avoid aerosol-based products.
• ise air purifiers,
• keep windows open when possible,
• creating a smoke-free space.

“Most importantly, patients should identify their personal triggers and act early, because managing their indoor environment is just as critical as managing their medication,” added Dr. Mendiratta.

Cancer is a complex disease, and its diagnosis often involves multiple tests, procedures, and high costs. Patients frequently undergo several blood draws and investigations before a clear result is reached.

Now, a revolutionary new low-cost test has shown promise in detecting multiple cancers using just a single blood sample.

Beyond cancer detection, the test may also help identify various liver conditions and organ abnormalities by analyzing DNA fragments circulating in the bloodstream.

The test, developed by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, is known as MethylScan. The novel test works by analyzing cell-free DNA, tiny fragments of genetic material released into the blood when cells die.

In early tests, MethylScan detected about 63 per cent of cancers across all stages and roughly 55 per cent of early-stage cancers.

The test, described in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could offer a powerful and more affordable approach to early disease detection and comprehensive health monitoring.

“Early detection is crucial,” said Dr. Jasmine Zhou, Professor of Pathology at UCLA Health.

“Survival rates are far higher when cancers are caught before they spread. If you detect cancer at stage one, outcomes are dramatically better than at stage four,” Dr Zhou added.

How Does The New Cancer Test Work?

MethylScan studies DNA methylation—chemical tags on DNA that reflect tissue health and can change when disease develops.

Since most circulating DNA comes from healthy cells, advanced machine learning is used to identify subtle disease signals.

The New Cancer Test Is A Health Radar

In the study, MethylScan analyzed blood samples from 1,061 people, including patients with liver, lung, ovarian, and stomach cancers.

For multi-cancer detection, the test achieved a high level of overall accuracy. At a specificity of 98 per cent, meaning few false positives, it detected about 63 per cent of cancers across all stages and roughly 55 per cent of early-stage cancers.

The test also performed well in liver cancer surveillance among high-risk individuals, including those with liver cirrhosis or HBV. It detected nearly 80 per cent of cases at a specificity of just over 90 per cent, meaning a less than 10 per cent false positive rate.

The blood test could also distinguish between different types of liver disease, including viral hepatitis and metabolic-associated liver disease. It correctly classified about 85 per cent of patients, suggesting blood-based DNA testing could reduce the need for invasive liver biopsies.

In addition, the researchers noted that MethylScan can work like a health radar for the body. By reading DNA signals in the blood, it can tell when specific organs, such as the liver or lungs, are under stress or damaged, even without knowing the disease in advance.

“This study demonstrates that blood-based methylation profiling can deliver clinically meaningful information across multiple diseases,” said Zhou. “It’s an exciting advancement that brings us closer to realizing the dream of a single assay for universal disease detection.”