Decongestants are under renewed scrutiny as the NHS warns Brits of being cautious about their use. These over-the-counter medication most commonly available as sprays, tablets, liquids, or powders, provide temporary relief by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in the nasal passages. However, they are not generally safe for everyone since there are some diseases which can be hazardous to people suffering from them, such as in cases of high blood pressure.

The NHS has issued a warning that decongestants can be dangerous for people with severe medical conditions. Their effect of constricting blood vessels may eventually lead to a rise in blood pressure, making this drug inappropriate for anyone on antihypertensive medication.

Who Should Avoid Decongestants?

The NHS emphasizes for an essential knowledge of who should avoid these medications or consult a doctor before using them. Decongestants are contraindicated in the following group of individuals:

- Individuals with hypertension: Their blood vessel-narrowing action will worsen hypertension

- Diabetes patients: Decongestants may interfere with the sugar levels.

- Hyperthyroidism individuals: Too sensitive to the effects of the thyroid due to the overactive thyroid gland.

- They also exacerbate urinary retention in men with prostatic hypertrophy.

- They can raise intraocular pressure and worsen the disease in patients with glaucoma.

- In people suffering from liver, kidney, heart, and circulation diseases, an influence of decongestants on blood vessels may aggravate the disease.

How Over-the-counter Decongestants are Risk for Children, Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

The NHS has also specifically advised the vulnerable groups:

- Use of decongestants should be avoided completely for children under 6 years of age.

- For children between 6 to 11 years of age, its use is only acceptable and not more than five days, and it is to be under pharmacist guidance only.

- Pregnant individuals: Decongestants should only be used if explicitly advised by a healthcare provider.

- Breastfeeding individuals: Ingestible decongestants are discouraged due to potential transfer to breast milk and harm to the baby.

The NHS's alert reminds everyone that although easily obtainable, decongestants are not without their risks. While many consumers remain uninformed about the fact that these medications could have systemic effects in addition to actions in the nasal passages, "all-in-one" cold and flu remedies combining decongestants with painkillers or antihistamines indeed amplify the risk of side effects, especially among those with underlying medical conditions.

Link Between Decongestants and Sleep Disruption

The impact of decongestants on the sleep is not studied much. These drugs, especially those containing pseudoephedrine, have stimulant properties that can cause insomnia, restlessness or changed sleeping habits. Naturally, people who already have difficultly with a good night's sleep will continue to have problems when taking the drug; thus, the underlying health issues are exacerbated. Sleep deprivation over long periods has implications of long-term increased risks for heart disease, diabetes, and decreased immune function-all risk factors which already affect hypertensive patients.

This makes it important for patients to advise their GP or pharmacist and read the patient information leaflet accompanying these medicines. Awareness can prevent complications and proper usage.

Safer Alternatives to Decongestants

For those who are advised not to take decongestants, there is always another way to overcome the symptoms of nasal congestion.

1. Saline Nasal Sprays: It helps moisturize the nasal passages and reduces swelling without affecting blood vessels.

2. Steam Inhalation: Inhaling steam helps to ease nasal passages due to congestion.

3. Humidifiers: Moisture added to the air prevents nasal dryness and discomfort.

4. Herbal Remedies: Ingredients such as eucalyptus or menthol in rubs or inhalers provide relief without systemic effects.

5. Hydration: Drinking plenty of water can thin mucus and improve sinus drainage.

To avoid this, patients should choose non-stimulant versions or take them earlier in the day so that they do not enter the bloodstream when sleep cycles are at their most active.

Because decongestants are a convenient solution to treat nasal congestion, there are hidden risks associated with taking them. As such, the risk warning by the NHS emphasizes the need to customize medication to health requirements, particularly those having high blood pressure or other underlying conditions.

Through safer alternatives and the awareness of their wider effects, individuals can help manage symptoms of colds and allergies without undermining their health status. Always consult a health professional to determine the best course of treatment.

A breakfast classic is under fire because nearly 95 people across 14 states have fallen ill from a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs, with 18 ending up in hospital beds.

Country Eggs, based in Lucerne Valley, California, has recalled its large brown cage-free “sunshine yolks” and “omega-3 golden yolks” eggs. The recall covers products sold in California and Nevada between June 16 and July 9, with sell-by dates between July 1 and September 18.

Most of the cases have been reported in California, 73 of the 95 infections, but illnesses have popped up as far away as Minnesota and New York. According to the reports, the reported cases are likely “just the tip of the iceberg”. Why? Because only about one in 30 salmonella infections are officially diagnosed. Many people never see a doctor for food poisoning, and even fewer get tested. If 95 cases are confirmed, there are likely hundreds more lurking under the radar.

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a harmful bacterium that enters the body through undercooked eggs or meat and can cause infection in the digestive system. Typical symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps that can show up anywhere between six hours and six days after eating contaminated food. Most people recover in four to seven days, but severe cases can spiral into hospital visits, especially for young children, older adults, or people with weakened immune systems.

Also Read: 1,500-Yr-Old Mystery Unearthed: DNA Study Reveals Cause of the Justinian Plague, World’s First Pandemic

Earlier this year, another egg-related salmonella outbreak sickened 134 people, hospitalised 38, and claimed one life. Eggs are clearly proving to be repeat offenders, which raises a bigger concern: are we doing enough to track foodborne illnesses?

Recently, federal health officials scaled back operations of FoodNet, the system that monitors outbreaks across 10 states. Instead of tracking eight bacteria, FoodNet is now down to just two — salmonella and a type of E. coli. Reports warn that this could make spotting emerging outbreaks slower and communication with the public more difficult.

Should You Bin Your Breakfast?

If you live in California or Nevada, double-check your egg cartons immediately. And if you have already tossed the packaging, you might never know if your eggs are part of the recall. Reports suggest that if you are in a high-risk group, under 5, over 65, or managing a condition like heart disease, it may be safer to just discard them. After all, it only takes a few bites to get sick.

A few smart moves can keep salmonella at bay:

• Cook it through: Runny yolks may look Instagram-worthy, but firm yolks are safer. Chicken should hit 165°F, beef and pork 145°F. Use a food thermometer if you are not sure.
• Wash up: Soap, hot water, and elbow grease every time you touch raw eggs or meat and on all surfaces that came in contact with them.
• Chill quickly: Refrigerate eggs and other perishables within two hours (one hour if it’s sweltering outside). Salmonella thrives in the heat.
• Consider pasteurised: Pasteurised eggs undergo a gentle heating process that kills bacteria without cooking the egg. If you can find them, they’re a safer bet for recipes that use raw eggs.

For centuries, historians and scientists have debated what exactly triggered the Justinian Plague, a catastrophic pandemic that began in 541 AD and ravaged the Byzantine Empire for over two centuries. There were so many theories and guesses but hard biological proof was always missing. Now, the researchers dug into a mass grave in Jerash, an ancient Roman city in present-day Jordan, and uncovered the genetic pathogen: Yersinia pestis, the bacterium infamous for causing plague.

The discovery, published in the journal Genes, finally ties the Justinian Plague to the same microbe that would later fuel the Black Death in mediaeval Europe.

As Dr Rays HY Jiang from the University of South Florida summed up, "This discovery provides the long-sought definitive proof of Y pestis at the epicentre of the Plague of Justinian."

What Was the Justinian Plague?

If you think Covid-19 was disruptive, imagine a pandemic that stretched across centuries. Between 541 and 750 AD, the Justinian Plague killed tens of millions, weakened armies, wrecked economies, and reshaped the Byzantine Empire.

It first appeared in Pelusium, an Egyptian port city, before sweeping through the Eastern Roman Empire like wildfire. The sheer scale of death was so staggering that some historians argue it permanently altered the course of European history. And yet, until recently, no one could prove with certainty what caused it.

“For centuries, we have relied on written accounts describing a devastating disease but lacked any hard biological evidence of the plague's presence. Our findings provide the missing piece of that puzzle,” Dr Jiang explained.

Digging Up the Past, Tooth by Tooth

Archaeologists excavated burial chambers beneath Jerash’s former Roman hippodrome—a structure once used for chariot races and grand public spectacles. There, they discovered human remains from victims of the plague.

"Using targeted ancient DNA techniques, we successfully recovered and sequenced genetic material from eight human teeth excavated from burial chambers beneath the former Roman hippodrome in Jerash, a city just 200 miles from ancient Pelusium,” said Greg O'Corry-Crowe, another author of the study.

The analysis revealed nearly identical strains of Yersinia pestis, meaning the outbreak spread quickly and with devastating impact, just as historical texts described.

From Entertainment Hub to Emergency Cemetery

What makes Jerash especially symbolic is its transformation during the crisis. Once a buzzing trade hub with impressive Roman structures, it suddenly became a burial site.

"Jerash was one of the key cities of the Eastern Roman Empire, a documented trade hub with magnificent structures,” Dr Jiang said.

“That a venue once built for entertainment and civic pride became a mass cemetery in a time of emergency shows how urban centres were very likely overwhelmed.”

It is a sobering reminder of how pandemics can flip the world upside down, turning arenas of joy into sites of despair.

Lessons That Still Matter Today

The Justinian Plague may feel like ancient history, but its echoes reach into our present. Plague has not disappeared; it lingers quietly in the background, occasionally resurfacing.

"We have been wrestling with plague for a few thousand years, and people still die from it today," said Dr Jiang. "Like Covid, it continues to evolve, and containment measures evidently cannot get rid of it. We have to be careful, but the threat will never go away.”

That statement might sound chilling, but it is also a reminder: disease, no matter how old, never truly leaves us. The more we learn from ancient outbreaks, the better prepared we are to face future ones.

What Now?

By decoding the genome of Yersinia pestis from the Justinian era, scientists can better understand how the bacterium has evolved and survived across millennia. It also points out how pandemics have always shaped societies—toppling empires, shifting populations, and altering human history.

Every year, over one in 33 babies born in the United States, arrives with a birth defect, a leading cause of infant mortality. Although much of the risk is due to genes and unidentified environmental causes, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study identifies a number of modifiable risk factors that operate among most women under age 50. The findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, emphasize targeted public health measures and individual lifestyle decisions in lowering the risk for major birth defects.

The CDC study examined data from 5,374 women between ages 12 and 49 who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2020. Scientists zeroed in on five major risk factors that can be treated before or during pregnancy: obesity, diabetes, tobacco exposure, food insecurity, and low folate levels.

The findings were dramatic. Almost 66% of the interviewed women possessed at least one of these risk factors, and 10% possessed three or more. Obesity had impacted approximately one-third of women, and around five percent had diabetes. Almost 20% were exposed to tobacco smoking, vaping, or second-hand inhalation. Food insecurity, which impacts nutritional intake as well as access to prenatal vitamins, had affected around seven percent of women. Most alarming, 80 percent of women lacked folate, or vitamin B9, a key nutrient in fetal development.

The Role of Folate and Prenatal Nutrition in Women

Folate is also crucial to DNA synthesis, cell growth, and red blood cell production. During early pregnancy, lack of folate can interfere with neural tube formation, resulting in neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. The FDA has required folic acid fortification in enriched cereal-grain food since 1998, reducing the number of neural tube defects by an estimated 1,300 cases per year.

Even after fortification, the CDC study showed that almost eight out of ten women were still below the 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid per day, even after supplement use. Only 13% were at the recommended daily dose, leaving millions of women at increased risk of avoidable birth defects. Natural foods that are good sources of folate, like leafy green vegetables, legumes, asparagus, avocados, broccoli, and fortified cereals, are still imperative to a balanced diet.

Are Obesity and Diabetes The Hidden Threats Prior to Pregnancy?

Obesity and diabetes became prominent factors in high risk. Both conditions can disrupt metabolism of nutrients, such as folate, and increase the risk of congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, and orofacial malformations in the fetal fetus. Obesity occurs in one-third of women of childbearing age, and close to five percent have diabetes, which includes undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes.

Controlling these conditions with diet, physical activity, and blood sugar testing is an important part of preconception care. As the CDC's Dr. Wang said, "The risks can be reduced through measures such as taking the recommended 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, eating a good diet, exercise, and controlling blood sugar."

How Tobacco Exposure and Smoking Affect Infant Health?

Both active and passive tobacco exposure causes the introduction of toxins that raise oxidative stress and compromise nutrient intake. Almost 20% of the women studied had raised serum cotinine levels, indicating tobacco exposure. Previous studies have associated maternal smoking with preterm delivery, birth weight, stillbirth, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Food insecurity adds to these risks. Approximately seven percent of women indicated a severe problem in accessing healthy food. Malnutrition in the mother can lead to deficiencies in important nutrients, including folate, and can increase the risk of obesity or metabolic disease in the child as an adult. Restricted availability of prenatal supplements also adds to these risks, especially in low-income groups.

How Lifestyle Risk Factors Increase Over Time?

The CDC analysis also showed dramatic disparities. Although risk factors were less common among teens and young women in their early twenties, almost three-quarters of women 35 to 49 years old had at least one risk factor. Non-Hispanic Black women had the most burden, with 80% having at least one risk factor, followed by 62% of non-Hispanic White women. Economic status was another predictor, with lower-income women having more than one risk factor, such as food insecurity and low folate status.

These disparities point to the importance of targeted interventions, such as affordable nutrition programs, smoking cessation programs, and preconception counseling, especially in communities with systemic barriers to healthcare.

What Is Causing Birth Defects During Pregnancy?

Although causes of the majority of birth defects continue to be multifactorial, researchers typically cite a combination of genetics, environmental exposures, and maternal health as the culprits. Approximately 25% of defects are caused by chromosomal or genetic anomalies, such as Down syndrome. Environmental conditions, such as infection, diabetes in the mother, inadequate nutrition, and particular medications, are responsible for approximately five to ten percent. The other 65% are thought to be caused by intricate or unexplained interactions between genetic risks and the environment.

Obesity, diabetes, smoking, and folate deficiency can interfere with vital biological processes, such as the one-carbon cycle, which utilizes nutrients such as folate, vitamin B12, and choline to control DNA synthesis and cell division. If this cycle does not work, the development of the brain and spinal cord in the fetus can be impaired.

Easy Steps Women Can Take to Reduce the Risks of Birth Defects During Pregnancy

Prevention is fundamental. Women preparing for pregnancy need to achieve a healthy weight, control blood sugar, not use tobacco, have regular intake of folic acid supplements, and eat well-balanced diet with high natural sources of folate. Public health initiatives that enhance access to healthy food and prenatal supplements are important, especially for women experiencing food insecurity.

Health care professionals are responsible for risk factor screening, preconception counseling, and informing women of salutary measures to maximize fetal health. Even small changes in lifestyle, i.e., better nutrition, regular physical exercise, and the use of folic acid supplements, can decrease significantly the risk of severe birth defects.

Birth defects occur in one of every 33 babies and are the cause of about 20% of infant mortality. They may be mild, like clubfoot or webbed feet, to life-threatening and severe, like anencephaly or Trisomy 13. Although genetics cannot be changed, the CDC report highlights that most women have modifiable risk factors that, when corrected, can reduce the risk of complications.

Dr. Wang stresses, "Every expecting family wishes for a healthy baby and healthy pregnancy. When families and their healthcare providers understand the modifiable risk factors for birth defects, they can make data-driven choices that may result in healthier babies and pregnancies."