With temperatures dipping and winter taking hold, the flu season has come in strong, affecting millions of people across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that recent data indicate widespread flu activity, with 40 states reporting high or very high levels of flu-like illness. While this season's flu is not record-breaking, it is another reminder of the difficulties in dealing with respiratory diseases during the colder months.

Flu is just one piece of what experts have coined the "quad-demic," which includes influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other viral infections. Each of these illnesses presents overlapping symptoms such as fever, cough, and fatigue, making diagnosis a complex process. Among them, influenza remains the most significant contributor to hospitalizations, with the CDC estimating over 5.3 million flu illnesses, 63,000 hospitalizations, and 2,700 deaths so far this season.

Even as the flu season continues to impose a heavy burden, RSV is particularly threatening to infants and the elderly, while COVID-19 continues to impact vulnerable populations. The spread of norovirus, a virulent stomach bug, and sporadic cases of bird flu have added to healthcare pressures this winter.

Impact of Flu Across the U.S.

Flu activity is most intense in the South, Southwest, and Western states, with comparatively lower rates in New England and the northern Great Plains. Hospitalizations from flu cases are straining healthcare systems, echoing the challenges seen during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In England, flu-related hospital admissions have remained significant, with thousands of daily cases reported in late December. While this year's numbers are slightly lower than the previous season, the flu’s persistence underscores its cyclical and often unpredictable nature.

How Flu Differs from Past Seasons

The 2022-23 flu season was the first major resurgence of influenza since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, killing more than 14,500 people. This year's flu season is similar in some ways but differs in intensity by region and population. Children, older adults, and those with pre-existing health conditions are at the greatest risk.

What's Fueling the Flu Surge?

Several factors come together to create the spread of flu during the winter months. Low humidity and increased time spent indoors along with close physical contact are perfect settings for respiratory viruses. Furthermore, the holiday gathering season overlaps the peak flu season, which combines to create an ideal situation for transmission.

Health care providers report an ongoing stream of patients with flu-like symptoms. It is also observed that the flu strains that have dominated this season do not indicate a clear dominant variant, which can influence vaccine efficacy and treatment approaches.

Masks are still very useful, especially in crowded indoor settings. Such preventive measures may help reduce not only the spread of flu but also of other respiratory viruses.

Beyond Flu Are there Other Viruses to Watch For?

While flu is often in the news, other diseases are also taking their toll. RSV remains a problem for susceptible populations, and norovirus outbreaks are an ongoing threat, although these tend to be scattered. The public health community is also tracking avian influenza (H5N1), but the threat to humans remains low and largely associated with direct contact with infected animals.

How to Prepare for the Flu Season Ahead

Flu season is a periodic problem, but it also provides an opportunity for public health preparedness. Vaccine efforts, education, and proper medical care within a timely frame reduce the impact of the season to a great extent. As the hospitals deal with the load of multiple respiratory infections, individuals should take responsibility for their health and make a contribution toward preventing the infection in the general population.

Practical Tips to Fight Flu

While it is impossible to completely avoid getting ill, these measures can help you survive flu season with minimal risks:

- Wash your hands often and disinfect high-touch surfaces to reduce the spread of germs.

- Stay hydrated, eat nutrient-rich foods, exercise, and get enough rest to boost your immunity.

- Isolating yourself when you are sick will prevent the spread of illness to others.

It helps keep the indoor air at 40–50% relative humidity and keeps your respiratory system healthy. Annual flu vaccines are still one of the best preventive measures.

If you take precautions and follow preventive measures, you are set to have less of those illnesses and a healthier winter. It is possible to manage flu season by following individual efforts with community health strategies meant to protect both personal and public well-being.

What's making headlines up recently is a new study, which yet has not been peer reviewed about how sleep medicine could have adverse affects on your cardiovascular health. Melatonin, which is a hormone produced naturally by the body to regulate the sleep-wake cycle, is also sold as dietary supplement, typically made synthetically, has been linked to causing heart failure.

The research is from an unpublished study that is set to be presented at the American Heart Association's scientific conference in New Orleans next week. The research notes that the sleep supplement could be linked to 90% increase in heart failure. This has drawn mixed reactions from sleep medicine experts and cardiologists. The experts have urged the public not to panic, and have called for more research into using melatonin for longer duration. Experts who have reviewed the study have noted for the limitations, which has made it challenging to determine whether and how long-term use of the sleep supplement could lead to heart failure. This happens when your heart is not pumping as well as it should.

As per Muhammad Rishi, an associate professor of clinical medicine and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, "The findings are certainly provocative and warrant attention, especially given the widespread perception of melatonin as a benign, ‘natural’ sleep aid. However, the study is observational and based on electronic health record data, which limits its ability to establish causality."

What Is The Relation Between Melatonin And Heart?

Melatonin is secreted by brain's pineal gland in the evening, and it signals the body for sleep time. However, there are doctors who do not recommend using the supplement to treat chronic insomnia, reports the Washington Post. The reason being that the evidence for its efficacy is limited and inconsistent. The experts note that there is lack of data on its long-term usage.

In the US, melatonin does not require any prescription, however, experts have pointed out that it can only help people to treat sleep-timing problems due to jet lag or shift work, on low doses. Without being prescribed, these medicines could be procured over-the-counter, and could be used to treat chronic sleep disorders without proper guidance.

The new study that analyzed the international database of health records from five years of over 130,000 adults diagnosed with insomnia was able to recognize 65,000 participants who had been prescribed the supplement at least once for one year. The study noted that over the course of five years, around 3,000 people who took had melatonin experienced heart failure.

People who had already been diagnosed with heart failure, or were prescribed other sleep medicines, were excluded from the study.

The patients who took melatonin, were then compared with the ones who did not have melatonin, but had insomnia. The researchers found that this comparison allowed them to account for a variety of factors that could link a person's risk for heart failure, including other health conditions.

Ekenedilichukwu Nnadi, the lead author of the new report and chief resident in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate/Kings County Primary Care in Brooklyn, said, "What stood out most was that we found any association at all."

Nnadi said, "Melatonin is generally viewed as a very safe supplement, as something people, and even physicians, don’t usually worry much about, so we honestly didn’t expect to see a clear signal linking long-term use with higher rates of heart failure, hospitalizations and death.” However, the lead author did emphasize that the findings only showed association and not causation.

He said that the study does not prove that melatonin directly causes heart failure. “It simply shows that people with chronic insomnia who took melatonin long term were more likely to experience these outcomes. It’s an unexpected and important signal that needs to be studied further, ideally in randomized trials.”

The NHS has issued a warning for anyone using a common painkiller, highlighting possible harmful interactions with other medications. Across the UK, many people turn to over-the-counter medicines for daily aches, colds, and minor illnesses. Among these, paracetamol is one of the most widely used, often taken for headaches, back pain, and cold symptoms. But, like any medication, it carries certain risks.

Who Should Be Careful?

The NHS has provided guidance on using paracetamol safely, including which drug combinations should be avoided. “Paracetamol is not suitable for some people,” the health body explains. This includes individuals who take warfarin, a drug that prevents blood clots. If you are on warfarin, you should check with your GP before taking paracetamol, the NHS advises. “Paracetamol can raise the risk of bleeding in those who regularly take warfarin.”

Safe Dosing Guidelines

Small doses of paracetamol alongside warfarin are generally considered safe. The NHS adds: “It’s safe to take paracetamol if you’re on warfarin. Stick to the lowest dose that relieves your pain. Exceeding four 500mg tablets in 24 hours for more than a few days can slow your blood clotting, putting you at risk of bleeding.”

Avoid Double Dosing

Combining paracetamol with other medicines containing the same ingredient—like co-codamol or some cold and flu remedies—can be risky due to the danger of overdose. Other common painkillers, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or codeine, do not contain paracetamol and can safely be taken at the same time.

Check with Your Doctor

The NHS advises consulting a doctor before taking paracetamol if you’re on medications for epilepsy or tuberculosis (TB), as these combinations can also pose risks.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements

Generally, paracetamol is not affected by herbal supplements, though the NHS notes: “There isn’t enough information to say whether herbal remedies, complementary medicines, or supplements are safe with paracetamol. They are not tested the same way as prescription or pharmacy medications and may interact differently.” Patients should inform their doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines or supplements they are taking.

Side Effects of Paracetamol

When taken at the recommended dose, paracetamol “very rarely” causes side effects. For a full list, refer to the information leaflet inside the packaging.

Serious Allergic Reactions

In rare cases, a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can occur. The NHS advises calling 999 immediately if you notice:

• Swelling of lips, mouth, throat, or tongue
• Rapid or labored breathing, wheezing, or a choking sensation
• A tight throat or difficulty swallowing
• Skin, lips, or tongue turning blue, grey, or pale (on darker skin, check palms or soles)
• Sudden confusion, extreme drowsiness, or dizziness
• Fainting and unresponsiveness
• A child appearing limp, floppy, or unresponsive, with difficulty lifting or focusing their head

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related death, according to the American Cancer Society. They state that colorectal cancer deaths in 2025 is expected to be 52,900. But why is the number so high, despite so many available treatments? One of the reasons behind it is the lack of early diagnosis.

However, with the help of a recent study that could completely change how we treat bowel cancer, also called colorectal cancer, scientists have found a moment very early on in the cancer life that they call the "Big Bang."

This moment is the key to understanding how the tumor grows and, most importantly, how it figures out how to hide from your body's immune system. Finding this hidden step gives doctors a new target for stopping cancer early and making existing powerful treatments work better.

Why is Cancer Difficult To Treat?

Bowel cancer is a significant problem, and while immunotherapy (which uses your own immune system to fight the disease) is a very promising treatment, it only works for a small number of people. This new research explains why the rest of the tumors are resistant. The “Big Bang” is the stage where the cancer cells essentially change their identity. They use complex biological tricks to stop showing the normal signs that would alert the immune system. This allows the cancer to secure its survival right from the start, dictating how dangerous it will be as it continues to grow.

How Do Cancer Cells Hide?

The main trick the cancer uses to hide is tied to something called neoantigens. Think of these as little "wanted" posters on the cancer cell's surface that tell the immune system, "Attack me!" The study found that cancer cells disrupt the creation of these posters. They do this using epigenetics. This doesn't involve changing the actual DNA code itself, but rather changing how the DNA is organized and read—like changing the font size or color of the book without changing the words. By making the part of the DNA that creates the "wanted" posters inaccessible, the cancer cells remove their disguise, effectively cloaking themselves and becoming invisible to your body's defenses.

Does Catching Colorectal Cancer Early Help?

The discovery that some bowel cancers essentially have this hidden evasion capability built in very early has massive implications for how doctors fight the disease. Experts like Professor Trevor Graham suggest that if doctors can treat the tumor right at or even before this “Big Bang” moment, they could make current treatments much more successful. This is also key for making cancer vaccines. Instead of just treating the existing tumor, these new vaccines could train your immune system to recognize and attack those "born-to-be-bad" cells before they can fully hide and cause the cancer to come back.

Is There A Better Way To Treat Colorectal Cancer?

This study was incredibly detailed because the scientists combined multiple high-tech ways of looking at the cancer, genetics, RNA, and epigenetics. Since they know how the cancer uses epigenetics to hide, they can now look for new combined treatments. For example, they propose mixing immunotherapy with epigenome-modifying drugs.

These special drugs could potentially force the cancer to put its "wanted" posters back up, making the cells visible again for the immunotherapy to destroy. This kind of personalized approach could help doctors predict how a tumor will act and design treatment just for that patient.

This "Big Bang" discovery is a major step forward in understanding bowel cancer. It gives scientists a single, unifying event that dictates how the tumor will behave and resist treatment.

This knowledge is important because it could lead to biomarkers, through simple tests, that tell doctors which patients will respond well to immunotherapy and which won't. Ultimately, this research promotes a new way of thinking: instead of just reacting to cancer once it's established, doctors can start to understand it proactively at its very beginning, leading to better outcomes for patients.