Many of us may have taken ibuprofen, sometimes two pills at once, especially when we are struggling with menstrual cramps. Well, as good these pills may be in treating the pain, they are not recommended for your health, especially if you are someone who consumes it on a daily basis or frequently. Gastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha, MD, writes in The Washington Post about why should you avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin.

What happens when you consume pain killers?

She writes that NSAIDs are great in treating short term pain. They comprise of a group of drugs that inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which serve as a variety of purposes in the body. Some of which also includes contracting the uterus during menses and regulating blood flow in our vessels.

While one to two doses every now and then is okay, following a regular dosage routine, which could range from several times a month, or twice in an hour or so could lead to health risk. NSAIDs are well known to increase intestinal permeability. This means, these painkillers could damage the lining of your gut.

A 2018 review by Ingvar Bjarnason et. al., also writes about how NSAIDs can reduce the blood flow in the tiny vessels that feeds our guts. It can also disrupt the intestinal cells forming a barrier between the outside world and your insides.

What can be done?

While people with conditions like migraines, chronic back pain or bad period cramps can find NSAIDs to be helpful. It is always advisable to have a chat with your physicians to explore NSAID alternatives.

Pasricha suggests acetaminophen.

However, if someone is in dire need of NSAID, her tip is to take the pill right at the start of your symptoms. She says that the drug can do a far better job at stopping things at the source than chasing after all prostaglandins.

Why is it a concern?

NSAIDs are available as over the counter drug, which means people do not need a prescription for it and can make medical decision about them without the guidance of a physician.

A 2018 study published in the Official Journal of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology by David W Kaufman, et.al., found that 15% of adult ibuprofen users in the US have exceeded the maximum recommended daily dose. The study also mentions that more than a third of ibuprofen users were taking other NSAIDs, like aspirin and naproxen, while consuming ibuprofen at the same time. Out of these, 61% did not realise that they were using NSAIDs.

Pasricha talks about how it ruptures the gut wall, as she herself has rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night "far more times than" she can count "to perform an emergency endoscopy on someone who was bleeding profusely from an ulcer caused by NSAID".

Another 2009 study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology states that as many as 1 in 4 chronic NSAID users will get an ulcer and about 4% will bleed or rupture through the gut wall.

An older study from 2005 titled A quantitative analysis of NSAID-induced small bowel pathology by capsule enteroscopy, found that as 75 percent of people regularly using NSAIDs develop low-grade inflammation in their small bowels. NSAIDs can also lead to development of fatty liver disease. This happens because your gut lining becomes more permeable, more toxins and bacteria from the outside world enters your liver and leads to inflammation.

A 2011 study titled Haemoglobin decreases in NSAID users over time: an analysis of two large outcome trials, states that as many as 6% of people taking NSAIDs regularly have found their blood count dropping within a few months of starting the medicines, this suggests that this is due to the small, slow amount of bleeding in the gut overtime.

Can a simple test detect multiple cancer all at once? The New York Times reports that in the spring of 2021, this idea had first came into being, where a simple test could detect different cancer including those that do not have any regular screening. Now, the buzz is even louder around that. The test is called Galleri, and data suggest that its performance has improved.

Many companies are racing to develop this multi-cancer early-detection blood test and while none are yet approved by the federal regulators, people are already demanding for it. They cost hundreds of dollars.

The company that manufactures Galleri, GRAIL, said that a total of 420,000 tests had been prescribed so far, which shows a surge from 180,000 as of March 31, 2024. The company is also planning to apply for approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), next year. It is also seeking that Medicare would cover the tests.

What Does The Research On This New Cancer Detection Test Say?

While the demand is there, the research on it is limited. Cristian Tomasetti, the director of the Center for Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Monitoring at City of Hope, a cancer center in Southern California told the NYT, "It feels like the airplane is being built while flying."

Most of the available evidence so far comes from studies conducted by GRAIL and other test developers. In GRAIL’s latest study, nearly 99 percent of the around 23,000 people screened using the Galleri test received a negative result. However, 40 percent of positive findings were later found to be false, and the test detected only 40 percent of cancers that were diagnosed within a year, missing the remaining 60 percent.

Case Study

The idea behind this test is that when cancer is detected earlier, it is easier to treat. Dr. Elizabeth O’Donnell, who heads a multi-cancer early detection clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston described the experience as doing something truly meaningful for a patient, particularly when the cancer involved has no established screening test.

That possibility became real for William Hill, a 56-year-old firefighter from Brockton, Massachusetts, who took the Galleri blood test last year during a firefighters’ conference. Firefighters are often exposed to carcinogens while on duty. His blood sample was sent to a North Carolina laboratory, where scientists analyzed fragments of DNA for patterns that could indicate cancer and identify its likely origin.

Two weeks later, the result came back: a cancer signal had been detected.

Hill said he initially hoped the finding was a mistake, especially since he had already been treated for testicular cancer in the past. Further testing at Dana-Farber, including an abdominal CT scan, confirmed metastatic testicular cancer, and treatment began right away.

Looking back, Hill realized that symptoms he had brushed off, such as back pain and frequent urination, were caused by a tumor pressing against his kidney. At the time, he had attributed them to aging and the physical demands of his job.

While it remains unclear whether the test ultimately changed his long-term prognosis, Hill believes it prompted earlier treatment. He said that without the test, he likely would not have suspected cancer and might have delayed care, allowing the tumor to grow further.

Stories like Hill’s point to the promise of multi-cancer blood tests. However, there is still no solid evidence that they reduce cancer-related deaths. Such proof exists for screenings like breast, cervical, colon, and lung cancer, based on large randomized trials conducted over many years.

Weight-loss jabs, or GLP-1 receptor agonists, have provided many people with results that diets alone could not achieve. For those struggling with constant cravings, these medications have quieted the persistent “food noise” that often drives overeating. They have transformed not only body shapes but also self-confidence and daily habits.

Yet questions remain: can people safely stop taking these drugs, and what happens to the body when they do? These are still largely unknown, as the drugs are relatively new. GLP-1s mimic a natural hormone that controls hunger, but the long-term effects are only beginning to be understood. Additionally, for the estimated 1.5 million people in the UK paying privately for these injections, maintaining treatment can be costly.

Two women, Tanya and Ellen, share their personal experiences with the BBC on weight-loss jabs and what life was like when they attempted to stop.

Weight Loss Jabs: Tanya Hall’s Experience

Tanya, a sales manager in the fitness industry, initially started taking Wegovy to challenge her own perceptions about weight and authority. She often felt overlooked or undervalued because of her size, and hoped that losing weight would change how others treated her, as per BBC.

Early in treatment, Tanya experienced side effects including nausea, headaches, sleep issues, and hair loss, which she describes as clumps coming out. Despite this, she steadily lost weight—six stone (38 kg) over 18 months—and the injections quieted the relentless urge to eat.

However, every time she tried to stop, her appetite surged within days, leaving her horrified at her own eating. Now, Tanya continues the medication, feeling it has become essential to maintaining her weight and the confidence it brings.

Weight Loss Jabs: What Happens To Your Body When You Stop Taking Them?

Wegovy’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, stresses that treatment decisions should be made with medical guidance and that side effects must be considered. Lifestyle GP Dr. Hussain Al-Zubaidi likens stopping GLP-1s abruptly to being hit by a “tsunami” of hunger.

Research shows that within one to three years of stopping these medications, people can regain 60–80% of the weight they lost. This highlights how these drugs work not just by reducing appetite temporarily but by fundamentally altering hunger cues.

Weight Loss Jabs: Ellen Ogley’s Journey

Ellen turned to Mounjaro after reaching a critical point in her life. Her weight had put her at risk during surgery, and emotional binge eating dominated her daily habits. Once on the medication, Ellen noticed her compulsive eating completely stopped.

Over 16 weeks, she lost 3 st 7 lb (22 kg) and began tapering off the injections over six weeks. She focused on developing a healthier relationship with food, creating balanced meals, and incorporating exercise into her routine. Despite some weight creep after stopping, she has since lost a total of 51 kg and now feels confident her habits are sustainable.

Weight Loss Jabs: The Importance of Support

Dr. Al-Zubaidi emphasizes that exiting GLP-1 treatment safely requires guidance and long-term support. NICE recommends at least a year of tailored advice after stopping injections to help individuals maintain their weight and prevent relapse, as per BBC.

For patients paying privately, such structured support may not always be available, increasing the risk of regaining weight. Lifestyle, mindset, and environmental factors play a significant role in long-term outcomes.

Tanya has chosen to continue with her medication, aware of the pros and cons, while Ellen has closed that chapter and built a sustainable routine for life after Mounjaro.

Weight-loss jabs can dramatically change appetite and body weight, but stopping them can be challenging. The transition off these drugs requires careful planning, support, and lifestyle adjustments. As Tanya and Ellen’s experiences show, the journey varies by individual, and long-term strategies are essential to maintaining health and weight loss results.

Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, states that patient safety is its top priority and that it continually monitors and reports information on treatment outcomes to regulators and prescribers.

Flu Symptoms: Seasonal infections are spreading across the United States just as the holiday travel rush gets underway, worrying health officials about fresh spikes during family get-togethers. Flu and norovirus cases are rising in several states, while COVID-19 continues to circulate at lower but consistent levels. Together, these illnesses are adding strain on hospitals as millions of people plan to travel in the days ahead.

Flu: What Is Super Flu?

“Super flu” is not a clinical term, but it is often used to describe a flu season that feels more aggressive or spreads faster than usual. This is typically linked to a dominant strain of influenza A. The current surge is being driven by a mutated influenza A strain known as H3N2 subclade K. Health officials say this strain has become the leading flu variant in the US, accounting for roughly 89 percent of H3N2 samples analysed since late September, according to genetic sequencing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This variant emerged after the 2025–26 flu vaccine was formulated, meaning the vaccine may not be as closely matched as in earlier seasons. While the shot still offers protection against severe disease, experts note that the mismatch could allow the virus to spread more easily.

Flu Symptoms 2025: What Symptoms Should People Watch For?

The symptoms seen in the current flu wave are largely familiar. People may develop fever, chills, extreme tiredness, cough, and body aches. Doctors, however, caution that the wider spread could result in more serious cases, particularly among people who are at higher risk.

CDC estimates indicate that the US has already seen about 4.6 million flu cases this season, along with nearly 49,000 hospital admissions and around 1,900 deaths. Flu activity increased sharply in mid-December, with test positivity jumping from 8.1 percent to 14.3 percent within a single week.

Flu Symptoms 2025: How To Reduce The Risk

Doctors recommend staying home when feeling unwell, washing hands often, especially to limit norovirus spread, and considering vaccination against flu and COVID-19. Even when the strain match is not ideal, experts stress that vaccines remain crucial in reducing the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.

Flu Cases In The US: How Contagious Is Superflu?

In terms of how easily it spreads, it behaves much like regular flu, which is known to be highly contagious.

Someone with flu can pass on the virus from around one day before symptoms appear and continue to be contagious for five to seven days after becoming sick. Children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems may remain infectious for a longer period.

The virus mainly spreads through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, or breathes near others. It can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, followed by touching the mouth, nose, or eyes. Crowded indoor settings, poor airflow, and close contact make transmission far more likely, which explains why flu spreads quickly during peak season.

What makes a so-called “super flu” seem more contagious is not a new way of spreading, but higher case numbers, quicker community transmission, and stronger symptoms, all of which increase coughing, fever, and the amount of virus released.