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 medicine has its own set of side effects, and Dr Dmitry Yaranov, a Russia-based cardiologist, who specializes in heart failure, advanced heart failure, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support, says that some everyday drugs can pose hidden risks to the heart. His message is not meant to spark fear but to encourage awareness about medications we often assume are completely harmless.

Below are five categories of common drugs that Dr. Yaranov believes deserve more caution, especially for those with existing heart issues.

NSAIDs - Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

These are your everyday painkillers, which includes ibuprofen or naproxen. While they are go-to options for headaches, fever, or muscle cramps, Dr Yaranov says that its frequent use could strain the heart.

These drugs reduce inflammation by blocking certain chemical pathways, but they also make the body retain salt and water. This can:

• Raise blood pressure
• Worsen swelling
• Increase the risk of heart failure, particularly in people who already have high blood pressure or heart disease

Dr. Yaranov suggests discussing long-term or frequent NSAID use with a doctor, instead of using them casually.

Chemotherapy Drugs

While these drugs are life-saving, it may have side effects that could weaken the heart muscles. Dr Yaranov explains that drugs like doxorubicin or trastuzumab could also affect how well the heart pumps blood, which can lead to ardiomyopathy or heart failure.

Because of this, many cancer centres now include routine heart monitoring before, during, and after chemotherapy. The goal is to fight cancer without compromising long-term heart health.

Stimulant Medicines For ADHD

Stimulants that contain amphetamines help improve focus and alertness, but Dr. Yaranov warns that they can also:

• Increase heart rate
• Raise blood pressure
• Trigger arrhythmias

Elevate the risk of heart attack in people who have underlying heart issues

He stresses that misuse or unsupervised use is especially dangerous. Even for those who take them as prescribed, regular follow-ups with a doctor are important.

Older Diabetes Medications

Managing diabetes could mean being on medicines for lifelong. Yaranov points out that older drugs like rosiglitazone can increase the risk of heart failure despite effectively lowering blood sugar. Because of these concerns, many doctors now prefer newer diabetes medications that also support cardiovascular health. However, patients should never switch or stop medicines without medical guidance.

Common Cold Medicines

Thanks to allergens and climate change, common cold now stays all around the year, which means you will be taking cold medicines frequently and for a longer stretch. These medicines contain pseudoephedrine that work by narrowing blood vessels to relieve nasal congestion, however, Dr Yaranov says that they can also:

• spike blood pressure
• Disturb normal heart rhythms
• Increase strain on the heart

For individuals with hypertension or heart disease, Dr. Yaranov advises avoiding these drugs or using them only after consulting a healthcare provider.

Dr. Yaranov’s core message is simple: even routine medications have side effects worth understanding. Being informed helps people protect their cardiovascular health, especially if they already have heart risk factors. The goal is not to avoid necessary treatment but to use medicines wisely and stay in regular touch with your doctor.

Note: This article is based purely on the remarks shared by Dr. Dmitry Yaranov. Health and Me does not recommend discontinuing or changing any medication without first consulting your doctor.

"Did I do a good job? Do you think Biden could have done this? I don't think so," said President Donald Trump to the reporters assembled at the Oval Office after he made the announcement that he had secured a deal to slash the price of obesity drugs. His website, TrumpRx, will offer the sale of drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, for only around $250 a month, which is a fraction of their current retail price which is more than $1,000.

While it is a breakthrough, as many private insurances do not cover obesity drugs, and often forces people to pay for these injections out of pocket, experts point out that this system is not entirely flawless.

Also Read: TrumpRx Lowered Prices Of Popular Weight Loss Drugs; What More Does Trump's New Medical Website Offer?

TrumpRx Is Not Flawless

Drug policy experts say that while the administration has promised drugs at a cheaper rate, some of these discounts have not been approved yet by the Food and Drug Administration. The problem is that the lower prices for people paying out of pocket would only apply to the lowest doses of the drugs, however, the deal does not expand Medicare coverage to people seeking treatment for weight loss alone.

Juliette Cubanski, who is the deputy director of Medicare policy program at KFF, said, and as is reported in NBC News, "It’s a situation where we have more questions than answers. Based on what we didn’t hear, that suggests to me that there’s a lot that the administration itself hasn’t even ironed out as of yet. It just feels a little bit too squishy right now."

Art Caplan, also reported in NBC News, who is the head of the division of medical ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, said, "It’s just murky as to how this will take shape, how the programs will work. You can’t really tell from what’s going on.”

Are There Unapproved Drugs On The List?

Several drugs and forms of drugs included in the deal are actually not approved by the FDA. These include oral versions of weight loss drugs, and Eli Lilly's new multidose injection pens. In fact, Lawrence Gostin, director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University said that the administration has made premature promises because the lower prices cannot take effect until the products are on the market. "It is reckless to negotiate pricing deals on products which the FDA have not yet approved as safe and effective. The administration is getting way out ahead of its own safety agency.”

The list includes:

• Oral weight loss pills by Wegovy
• Oral weight loss pills by Novo Nordisk
• Multidose version of Zepbound

Prices Are Low, But People May End Up Paying More

While the White House did say that both the pills and injection pens will be available for discounted prices for those who pay out of pocket, policy makers say that they may end up paying more.

The starting doses of weight loss pill will cost $149 per month, and the shots will cost around $350 for a month's supply. The price of the injection is further expected to fall to about $259 within two years. However, when people start with the drugs, they start with the lowest dose that allows the body to get used to the drug, However, over the course of time, the dose increases to be effective for weight loss. For Wegovy, the highest doses are five, for Zepbound, it is six, and the most weight loss has seen with the highest doses.

Officials said the starting dose of GLP-1 pills will cost $149 per month, though they didn’t clarify pricing for higher doses.

For injections, the White House offered only a “weighted average” estimate of $350 a month. Lilly later specified that Zepbound will start at $299 for the lowest dose, rising to $449 for higher ones. Novo Nordisk didn’t confirm dose-based pricing and said it will share updated cost details in the coming weeks.

All of this means patients using TrumpRx could ultimately pay significantly more than the administration’s headline prices, especially since most people don’t remain on the lowest dose for long, Caplan noted.

TV presenter Davina McCall revealed that she had breast cancer, almost a year after she had undergone a surgery to remove her brain tumor. In a video that she posted on her Instagram, she revealed that she was "very angry" when she found out the news, however, she is in a "much more positive place" after she has undergone another surgery three weeks ago to remove the tumor from her breast.

How Did She Realize She Had Breast Cancer?

She said that she found a lump a few weeks ago, however, it came and went back, so she continued to do her work. "I found a lump a few weeks ago. It came and went but then I was working on The Masked Singer and Lorraine, the TV show, and Lorraine Kelly had put signs on the backs of all the doors saying 'check your breasts' and every time I went for a wee, I did that," she said.

She continued: "It was still there, and then one morning I saw myself in the mirror and thought 'I'm going to get that looked at'. I had a biopsy. I found out it was indeed breast cancer and I had it taken out in a lumpectomy nearly three weeks ago."

McCall, who is now 58, says that the lump was "very, very small" and was discovered at an early stage. "I am so relieved to have had it removed and to know that it hasn't spread. My lymph nodes were clear, I didn't have any removed, and all I'm going to do now is have five days of radiotherapy in January as kind of an insurance policy," she said.

"It's been a lot. I was very angry when I found out, but I let go of that, and I feel in a much more positive place now. "I think my message is: get checked if you're worried. Check yourself regularly. If you are due a mammogram, then get it done," she said.

Dense Breast And Mammogram

She also revealed that it was only in August that she got her mammogram done, however, she has dense breasts, and so nothing was detected. "I have dense breasts and I had a mammogram in August, and I was postponing the ultrasound; I just couldn't find time to do it. Don't do that. Get the ultrasound."

Difference Between Breast Ultrasound And A Mammogram

Breast Ultrasound: A breast ultrasound uses sound waves that reflect off the breast tissue to create detailed images of the breast. There is no radiation involved.

Mammogram: A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. A diagnostic mammogram focuses more closely on the area(s) of concern. We will get more X-ray views of the concerning area. We perform a diagnostic mammogram any time a patient comes in with symptoms of breast cancer or after an abnormal screening mammogram.

As per the MD Anderson Cancer Center, normal breast tissue and cancerous tissue, both appear white on a mammogram, this is when an ultrasound can help us see small cancers that may be hiding amongst normal breast tissue. This is especially true for women with dense breasts, which means they have more glandular tissue and less fat in their breasts.

However, the MD Anderson Cancer Center mentions that ultrasound is not recommended as a replacement for a mammogram. "Screening mammograms detect about 4 to 6 cases of breast cancer per 1,000 women. When a breast ultrasound is done on top of that, we detect about 2 to 3 more cases. So, breast ultrasound is a valuable screening tool we use in addition to a mammogram," it notes.