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.

This flu season could be brutal, say the early clues that scientists have gathered. This comes as the world already struggles keeping up with the new variants of COVID, however, the COVID rates in the US appears to be low. Though researchers are expecting the virus to circulate more widely in the coming months as people gather for holidays.

This is also the time for common cold. Dr William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center tells the New York Times that if you feel ill, but your symptoms remain only above the neck, that is, a stuffy nose, a sore throat, then it could just be a common cold.

However, if the symptoms lead to hacking cough, and down the neck, which makes your muscles ache and body tired, that it could be a flu or COVID. Due to the similarities in the symptoms, even infectious disease specialists also struggle to tell the difference.

Symptoms To Take A Note Of

COVID

How it begins: Initially, symptoms of COVID can mimic flu-like symptoms

What are the primary symptoms of COVID?

• Loss of taste
• Loss of smell
• Sore throat: the new variants are also causing razor-sharp pain in the throat
• Diarrhea or stomach upset

The biggest difference here is the dry and persistent coughing, which when you have a cold will not be dry in nature.

How it impacts? The COVID may vary from mild to severe

Since the pandemic, Covid has blurred the lines between seasonal infections. Current strains can trigger flu-like fatigue, fever, and cough. But the loss of taste or smell and digestive issues are stronger indicators of Covid.

For confirming COVID, test is the only key. There are now at-home tests available online and at drugstores too. An at-home test could detect both, a flu and COVID.

Common Colds

How it begins: The symptoms of common cold starts gradually.

What are the primary symptoms of Common Cold?

• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sore throat, but not razor-blade like pain
• You may feel pressure in the ears

Here, the biggest difference is also in cough, which is often mucus-filled and chesty. Whereas in COVID, the cough is dry.

How it impacts? While it is annoying in the beginning, especially due to the blocked nose and ears, the congestion clears up overtime and usually doesn’t stop daily activities.

Colds typically start with a tickle in the throat or pressure in the ears before progressing to nasal congestion and cough. Most people can carry on with their routines despite the discomfort.

Flu

How it starts? In many cases, the flu may catch you out of the blues, many describe the onset as sudden.

What are the primary symptoms of Flu?

• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Exhaustion

While the cough here is also dry in nature, which may make one get confused with COVID, there is no razor-blade like symptom, which can be used as a marker to differentiate.

How does it impact? Flu often requires bed rest.

Unlike a cold, flu can leave you feeling completely wiped out. Body aches and high fever are distinguishing features, and recovery often takes several days of rest.

An antibiotic routinely used for acne has been linked to a lower likelihood of developing schizophrenia. A new investigation from the University of Edinburgh found that adolescents receiving mental health care who were given doxycycline had a reduced chance of being diagnosed with schizophrenia as adults, compared with those who were prescribed other antibiotics.

Although these early findings cannot confirm that doxycycline prevents schizophrenia, the researchers suggest that its influence on immune activity, inflammation, and programmed cell death may help protect the brain from changes associated with the disorder. “Because this research relies on observational records, it cannot prove that doxycycline directly lowers the risk of schizophrenia, so more studies are needed,” the authors explain.

“Even so, the results raise the possibility that doxycycline could play a role in lowering schizophrenia risk among young psychiatric patients and open new avenues for prevention-focused mental health research.”

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that affects about 23 million people worldwide, with most cases identified during late adolescence or early adulthood. The illness can appear suddenly and may bring on psychosis. Typical symptoms include ongoing delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thoughts, restlessness, or withdrawal from others. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than two out of three people experiencing psychosis lack access to specialized mental health services.

What Is Doxycycline?

Doxycycline is a broad-acting antibiotic commonly given to teenagers for acne. Some recent research suggests it may also offer certain protective effects for the brain, as it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. In 2024, Science Alert reported on a Danish study showing that this brain-penetrating antibiotic was associated with a lower likelihood of schizophrenia patients later receiving disability benefits, hinting at how the illness might affect their daily functioning.

To explore this further, child and adolescent psychiatrist Ian Kelleher from the University of Edinburgh led a large international team in reviewing data from more than 56,000 people born in Finland between 1987 and 1997. All had used mental health services in their youth and had been prescribed antibiotics during that time.

The analysis showed that those given doxycycline had a 30 to 35 percent lower chance of developing schizophrenia over the following decade, compared with individuals who had taken other antibiotics. The risk dropped from 2.1 percent in the non-doxycycline group to 1.4 percent in those who used doxycycline.

Doxycycline Linked To A Drop in Schizophrenia Risk

The research team found that taking doxycycline was linked to a 30 to 35 percent reduction in schizophrenia diagnoses over ten years. One theory is that doxycycline may clear an infectious agent that contributes to schizophrenia. Another possibility is that it directly affects inflammation and nerve pathways inside the brain.

Other antibiotics offer hints as well. A 2019 study using stem cells from people with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers showed that minocycline can reduce excessive loss of synapses, a process thought to play a part in schizophrenia. Since both minocycline and doxycycline belong to the tetracycline family, they may share similar properties. Using Finland’s health records, Kelleher’s team noted that nearly half of all psychotic disorders in the population occurred in individuals who had visited adolescent psychiatric services.

The researchers believe this stage of life may offer a valuable period for early intervention, where medications like doxycycline might help reduce the chance of the illness progressing. “Nearly half of the people who develop schizophrenia had earlier contact with child and adolescent mental health services for other issues,” Kelleher says.

“At the moment, we do not have any proven ways to lower the risk of schizophrenia in these young people, which makes these findings encouraging.”

Does Doxycycline Have Side Effects?

Doxycycline is available in two forms, doxycycline monohydrate and doxycycline hyclate, though both tend to cause similar reactions. This list does not include every possible side effect, so consult your medical provider if you are unsure about anything you notice while taking the medication.

Mild doxycycline side effects include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Sore throat or difficulty swallowing
• Vaginal yeast infection
• Itchy skin and rash (urticaria)

Rare but serious doxycycline side effects include:

• Ulcers in the esophagus
• Severe skin reactions
• Liver problems
• Tooth discoloration in children
• Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) diarrhea
• Intracranial hypertension (increased pressure around the brain)
• Low blood cell counts

Always speak with your healthcare professional before starting or stopping any medication.

California-based Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who supplied 20 vials of ketamine to Matthew Perry, the Friends (1994–2004) star, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. Perry, 54, was discovered dead in his luxurious Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The actor had a history of depression and substance use but was reportedly on the path to recovery. His final on-screen appearance was playing himself in the 2021 feature-length special, *Friends: The Reunion*.

Perry accidentally drowned due to the acute effects of a ketamine overdose. Five individuals faced charges in the case, all of whom eventually pleaded guilty. Dr. Plasencia is the first person to be sentenced in connection with Perry’s death. In addition to his 30-month prison term, he was ordered to pay a fine of $5,600. But what exactly is ketamine, and how can an overdose affect the body?

Doctor Who Supplied Matthew Perry Ketamine Pleads Guilty

Perry was found dead in his hot tub on October 28, 2023, at age 54. The LA County Medical Examiner determined that his death resulted from the “acute effects of ketamine,” with contributing factors including drowning and coronary artery disease. In July 2025, Dr. Plasencia pleaded guilty to felony charges for distributing ketamine to four individuals. He also confirmed that Perry had received multiple doses of the drug prior to his death. Perry’s death in Los Angeles, California, was officially attributed to the “acute effects of ketamine,” which caused him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub. He had struggled with substance abuse for years and had been receiving ketamine treatment for anxiety and depression at an accredited clinic, according to the BBC.

What Is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a medication used by doctors as an anesthetic to induce temporary loss of consciousness. Under the Controlled Substances Act, it is classified as a Schedule III non-narcotic substance. The FDA has approved ketamine for use only as a general anesthetic. However, in some cases, doctors prescribe it “off-label” for conditions such as depression. “Off-label” refers to using a drug for a condition that the FDA has not specifically approved.

How Does Ketamine Overdose Harm Your Body?

Certain medical conditions can make ketamine overdose riskier. People with heart disease or high blood pressure may experience increased intracranial pressure, raising the chance of stroke. Blood flow to the heart can be reduced. As a relaxant, excessive ketamine can interfere with breathing, causing it to become shallow. High doses can also be toxic to the liver and urinary bladder. Unregulated or repeated use may lead to dependence and increase the risk of developing schizophrenia.

Side Effects Of Ketamine

At prescribed doses, common side effects of ketamine, according to Medical News Today, include:

• Drowsiness
• Double vision
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• A general feeling of unease

Ketamine can also cause a wide range of other symptoms affecting different parts of the body, though these are less frequent.

Ketamine As A Drug Of Abuse

Ketamine can produce sensations of detachment from the environment, pain relief, and hallucinations, which has led to its misuse. Recreational users often describe feelings of being separated from their body or a floating sensation. Some report near-total sensory detachment, which they compare to a near-death experience.

The drug is particularly popular among teens and young adults in club settings. Many users prefer ketamine trips to PCP or LSD because the hallucinations are shorter—lasting 30 minutes to an hour—rather than several hours.

Always consult a healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.