We often see celebrities go through weight loss transformations, with side-by-side comparisons of the before and after weight loss. But people often do not feel inspired or drawn to their stories as we all know that they have access to great personal trainers, high-end food products as well as better access to healthcare. But one story that was highlighted by Men’s Health in their ‘First Steps’ series can inspire many with the story of Simon Lafontant, who lost 150 pounds and went on to become a body builder.

Simon Lafontant, a 32-year-old from Calgary, had to deal with some serious health problems for a long time. These included low testosterone and Crohn's disease, which made his life difficult. But Simon decided he wanted to make a change. He got medical help for his low testosterone and then set a big goal for himself: to compete in a bodybuilding competition. He used social media to keep himself on track, and he ended up losing over 150 pounds and even winning the competition! His story is about how he went from struggling with his health to becoming a bodybuilding champion.

How A Disease Can Become A Turning Point

Simon talks about how he used to have bad habits and wasn't living a healthy lifestyle. This led to him feeling down, gaining weight, and losing motivation. Things got really serious in 2020 when his Crohn's disease caused him to be in the hospital for seven whole months. According to Mayo Clinic Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that is inflammation in your digestive tract which can be very painful and can cause people to need long term remission and time to heal the inflammation. Simon spoke about how he realized his poor lifestyle choices and being obese had made his symptoms worse!

While you may not wish to become a bodybuilder, there are many other aspects you can take away from the Simon’s story! Another trip to the doctors revealed that he had very low testosterone levels, which explained his lack of energy. This was a major turning point for him, as he finally understood some of the reasons behind his struggles.

What Role Does Testosterone Play?

One thing that made a huge difference in Simon’s weight loss journey was getting the TRT treatment for his low testosterone which had an almost immediate effect on him. He felt good, started enjoying things again, like going outside and working out. He also remembered how much he loved powerlifting and Strongman competitions, so this helped him get on to his path to bodybuilding and weight training!

Low testosterone affects both men and women, but in different ways. In women, it can cause low sex drive, tiredness, muscle weakness, trouble getting pregnant, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, mood changes like depression or anxiety, hair thinning, dry skin, and sleep problems. In men, low testosterone can lead to reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, smaller testicles, hot flashes, and infertility. Other symptoms in men include feeling down, trouble concentrating or remembering things, and increased body fat. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor.

Catching a cold during winter is fairly common because viruses spread more easily in packed indoor settings, and cold weather can weaken the immune defence inside the nose, making it harder to fight infections. Having a stuffy nose or a mild cough is one thing, but many people often confuse their illness with a cold when it may actually be flu. Flu symptoms are usually more intense and can include fever, headaches and body aches, along with a dry cough and sore throat. A cold, on the other hand, tends to peak within two to three days, with recovery usually taking about a week.

Cold vs Flu: Why Knowing the Difference Matters

With a strong flu strain causing disruption across the UK, knowing how to tell the difference between a cold and flu has become especially important. Berkshire NHS, which has around 17,100 followers on TikTok, has outlined three key differences between the two illnesses.

In a caption, the community NHS trust said: “Cold and flu symptoms can look similar, but flu is usually more severe. The flu vaccine helps protect against flu. Visit the NHS website to learn more.”

NHS Shares 3 Symptoms to Tell Cold and Flu Apart

The video features an NHS staff member pointing out three signs as she walks toward the correct option. The first is that flu comes on suddenly, often within a few hours, while a cold mainly affects the nose and throat. The final sign is that flu can leave you feeling drained and too unwell to go about your normal routine.

Can Flu Get Better on Its Own?

Flu often clears up on its own, but it can make some people very unwell. That is why it is important to get vaccinated if you are advised to do so and to follow safe distancing to reduce the spread of infection.

Flu Symptoms 2025

As per NHS, below are the flu symptoms that people need to take care of:

• A sudden high temperature
• An aching body
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• A dry cough
• A sore throat
• A headache
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea or tummy pain
• Feeling sick and being sick

What Are The Symptoms Of A Cold?

• A blocked or runny nose
• Sneezing
• A sore throat
• A hoarse voice
• A cough
• Feeling tired and unwell
• A high temperature
• Aching muscles
• A loss of taste and smell
• A feeling of pressure in your ears and face

How Long Does a Cold Last?

In most cases, a cold can be managed at home without seeing a GP. You should start to feel better within one to two weeks, with symptoms developing over two to three days.

Cold Symptoms in Children: What Parents Should Know

Cold symptoms can last longer in young children. They may become more irritable, struggle with eating and sleeping, breathe through their mouth, and sometimes vomit after coughing. As per NHS, try to get enough rest over the Christmas holidays if possible, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nourishing food to help lower the risk of illness.

Mothers who use minoxidil, a widely used hair loss treatment, may increase the risk of infantile hypertrichosis in babies, a condition marked by excessive hair growth across the body, including areas where hair does not usually grow, according to a large international analysis.

Minoxidil Use by Mothers Linked To Potential Health Risks In Infants

Researchers from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, reviewed 2,664 worldwide reports of suspected infantile hypertrichosis linked to minoxidil. Of these, 45 cases involved children aged between birth and 23 months.

The analysis showed that 22.2 per cent of these infant cases were associated with maternal exposure to minoxidil. Accidental exposure accounted for 44.4 per cent, while the cause remained unclear in 33.3 per cent of cases. The findings were published in the Archives of Dermatological Research.

What Is Minoxidil?

Minoxidil is a drug most commonly used to treat pattern hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia, in both men and women. In higher oral doses, it is also prescribed for severe high blood pressure. The medicine works as a vasodilator, meaning it helps widen blood vessels to improve blood flow.

What Is Infantile Hypertrichosis?

Infantile hypertrichosis (also called childhood hypertrichosis or werewolf syndrome) is a rare condition marked by excessive hair growth on the face, back, arms, and other areas, appearing from infancy, often with a genetic cause but sometimes triggered by medications (like minoxidil) or underlying conditions, leading to significant cosmetic and psychological distress despite being a generally harmless cosmetic issue

Minoxidil: Eye-Related Side Effects Also Reported

The study also highlighted concerns beyond infant cases. Researchers identified 1,669 global reports of eye-related adverse effects linked to minoxidil use in the general population, including 25 cases reported from India.

Commonly reported eye symptoms included swelling of the eyelids, blurred vision, and central serous chorioretinopathy, a condition in which fluid accumulates beneath the retina and can affect eyesight.

Background on Minoxidil

Minoxidil was originally developed to treat high blood pressure. It was later reformulated as a topical treatment for hair loss in both men and women after its hair growth–stimulating side effects were observed. The drug is typically applied directly to the scalp or affected skin areas, the researchers noted.

Minoxidil: Concerns Over Regulation and Use

Despite its proven effectiveness, the researchers raised concerns about the drug’s widespread over-the-counter availability and limited regulatory oversight. These factors, they said, increase the risk of misuse and unintended exposure.

Although minoxidil is generally advised against for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the analysis still identified cases of infantile hypertrichosis linked to maternal exposure during these periods.

The researchers noted that minoxidil has also been associated with eye-related side effects in the broader population, prompting renewed questions about its overall safety profile.

“This study aims to examine global reports of infantile hypertrichosis associated with maternal minoxidil exposure and to assess serious and non-serious eye disorder cases reported in India, with the aim of improving awareness about the risks of early-life or accidental exposure,” the authors wrote.

The study was based on data collected up to March 2025 from VigiBase, the World Health Organization’s global database of suspected adverse drug reactions.

This year had been a year of flu, fiver, bacterial illness and more. One of the over the counter medicine that many people often buy, or is prescribed, especially for bacterial infections is Amoxicillin.

What Is Amoxicillin?

It is a widely prescribed antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections in children and adults. It is part of the penicillin class of medications and it inhibits the growth of bacteria and allows the immune system to efficiently eliminate the infection. It is commonly used to treat bacterial infections affecting the respiratory tract, urinary tract, and skin.

However, about 5 to 10 per cent of children prescribed this may develop skin rashes as a common side effect. A rash can develop in two forms: allergic and non-allergic. A rash from the drug Amoxicillin could last up to a week.

What Kind Of Rashes Are Caused By Amoxicillin?

A Maculopapular rash is a flat rash that occurs like red patches, raised bumps and spreads over the body.

Hives are itchy, raised red or skin-colored welts that can change shape and location.

Erythema Multiforme are more severe, featuring target-like lesions or bull's-eye shapes with central red spot, pale ring, and red outer ring.

Anaphylactic Reaction is a rare but severe allergic reaction that includes symptoms like difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, hives and rapid drop in blood pressure.

Non-Allergic Amoxicillin Rash are flat, red spots that may be slightly raised, but not harmful. These usually appear o the 5th to 7th day after the start of amoxicillin and can appear on the chest, abdomen, back, face, arms, and legs. It may get worse before it starts to get better.

What Signs Should You Look Out For?

Warning signs include rashes within two hours of the first amoxicillin dose, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or very itchy hives.

The allergic reaction is caused by one's immune system reacting to that medication as if it were a foreign invader in the body.

More girls than boys develop these rashes, and in children this is even more common. In fact, the rash by amoxicillin was first noted in 1960s, in children who were being treated with ampicillin, recorded the Journal of Pediatrics.

What Can You Do If You Get Amoxicillin Rashes?

Among treatment, the first step should be to see your physician and immediately stop taking the medication. Drinking water and enough fluids can also help. Your doctor too would prescribe you medications and lotions to soothe your itching.

Hives can also be treated with the over the counter drug Benadryl. However, you must go see your doctor or GP, and not self medicate.

A doctor may treat the rash in various ways, including stopping the medication as the first line of defense. Then the doctor may give oral antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine) for the itch. Some doctors may use topical steroids to help with the itch and redness.

Before visiting your doctor, take photos of your rash, send it to your GP, as if it is contagious. Even after you start the treatment, stay in touch with your healthcare provider for any development.