Oral sex is the number one leading risk factor for causing throat cancer. Throat cancer is caused by a virus called HPV or the Human Papillomavirus. This virus is also known to cause anal and cervical cancers. Despite many girls being vaccinated against the leading cancer-causing strain of HPV, throat cancer cases are rising. The reason is that the vaccines do not necessarily protect against the wart-causing strains, also a type of HPV.

The incidents of throat cancer have also been slowly rising since mid-90s, and one explanation for this is through oral sex.

It is not about the number of times one has performed oral sex, but the number of different partners that one person has done it with. While the baseline risk of throat cancer is actually pretty low at .2% in women and .7% in men, performing oral sex on just 5 different partners can increase the risk of throat cancer by 2.5 times.

While one can think of limiting their sexual partner, if that is not the possibility, using a dental dam can promote a healthier and safer oral sex experience.

What Is Oral Sex?

It involves using the mouth to stimulate the genitals or genital area of a partner and can also lead to sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as:

• Gonorrhea
• Genital herpes
• Syphilis
• Chlamydia
• HPV

HPV And Cancer

While oral sex does not directly cause cancer, HPV can trigger changes in the infected cells. Its genetic material becomes part of cancer cells and causes them to grow. In the US, 70% of throat cancers are caused by HPV.

A person's body clears HPV in 2 years, however, those who smoke are less likely to be able to clear an HPV infection because smoking damages immune cells in the skin.

Who Are At More Risk?

Other than oral sex, people who smoke regularly can be at risk of throat cancer. Smoking tobacco is the most important factor for all cancers of the head and neck, including throat cancer. If you are exposed to dangerous substances like paint fumes, wood dust and shavings, or chemicals used in plastic, metal, and textile industries or are alcoholic, you may be at an increased risk of developing a throat cancer.

Signs And Symptoms

• A mouth sore or ulcer that does not heal within 3 weeks
• Soft tissues of mouth becoming discoloured
• Pain while swallowing and a feeling as if food sticks in the throat
• Swelling with no pain in the tonsils
• Pain while chewing
• Ongoing sore throat or croaky voice with persistent cough
• Numbness in mouth or lips
• Swelling or lump in mouth
• Painless lump outside of the neck
• One-sided earache

From crisp winters to hot summer and humid rains, each season brings unique joys—and unexpected shifts in our gut health. If you’ve ever found yourself bloated in the summer, constipated in the winter, or randomly battling stomach bugs during monsoon season, you’re not alone. Turns out, your digestive system is just as sensitive to seasonal changes as your skin or mood.

The gut, which contains trillions of bacteria (the gut microbiome), does more than break down food. It maintains immunity, modulates hormones, and even "talks" to the brain. But it's not bulletproof. Temperature, humidity, sunlight, changes in diet, and lifestyle variations throughout the seasons can upend this sensitive balance. Here's how seasons affect your gut—and what you can really do to maintain its equilibrium throughout the year.

Why Your Gut Feels the Weather?

1. Shifts in Diet = Shifts in Microbiome

Winter foods are heavy, rich, and warming—really, creamy soups, meat, and baked goods come to mind. Summer, on the other hand, gravitates towards raw salads, chilled smoothies, and hydrating fruits. These changes directly influence the population and diversity of your gut bacteria. A summer diet high in fiber increases good bacteria, whereas high sugar or fat in winter might feed bad bacteria.

2. The Weather Influences Digestion

Severe summer heat can delay digestion and make one more dehydrated, with symptoms such as bloating and fatigue. Cold temperatures, conversely, can decrease fluid consumption and bring about constipation with reduced activity levels.

3. Physical Activity

Warmer weather usually translates to more activity—hiking, swimming, walking—which stimulates digestion. But once winter arrives, many get sedentary. Less activity translates to slower gut motility, and that's where digestive problems begin to accumulate.

4. Mood and Mental Health

Fewer sun rays and shorter days during winter are associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which raises anxiety and stress—two of the biggest factors for gut diseases such as IBS. That "gut feeling" is not just figurative.

5. Immune System and Infections

Fall and winter seasons are usually associated with a peak in viral infections. Some of these, such as stomach flu, are direct attacks on your gut. Even respiratory infections can affect gut bacteria, particularly if antibiotics are prescribed.

Gut Survival Guide for Season-Specific Tips That Work

Spring: Cleanse & Reset Naturally

This is the ideal time to rejuvenate your gut after a rich winter diet. Supplement with seasonal greens such as spinach, asparagus, and peas—high in prebiotic fiber. They feed good gut bacteria and promote natural detoxification.

Summer: Hydration is Digestion's Best Friend

Heat and perspiration cause fluid loss. Dehydration thickens stool and slows down digestion. Drink water regularly during the day. Add hydrating foods such as cucumbers, watermelon, and berries. Eat raw salads sparingly; they may irritate an upset gut.

Autumn: Warmth and Spice for Gut Comfort

Begin moving toward cooked, warming foods. Add seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin, carrots, and beets. Spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric enhance digestion and anti-inflammation. Bone broths and mild spiced lentil soups make excellent winter staples.

Winter: Battle Constipation and Build Immunity

Increase your intake of vitamin C-rich citrus fruits, fatty fish for vitamin D, and fermented foods like kimchi and yogurt to support gut flora. Don’t skip meals and ensure you’re getting enough fiber to offset the natural slowdown in digestion.

Why Seasonal Gut Issues Worsen?

Waterborne Infections Rise With Temperature Swings

Weather changes may affect municipal water quality. Bacterial or parasitic infections peak during seasonal change. Stay with filtered or bottled water, particularly when traveling.

Poor Food Hygiene Is a Year-Round Threat

Street food, undercooked meats, and inadequately refrigerated sauces such as mayonnaise are fertile grounds for dangerous bacteria. Eat home-prepared meals, especially during heat or humidity.

Cravings for Raw Food Can Be Risky

That fresh summer salad might seem cool, but uncooked vegetables and condiments such as sandwich spreads can harbor germs if not cleaned well. Wash fruits extensively and shun street corner juices.

Home Is Where the Health Is

Homemade meals and hot meals minimize exposure to bacteria. Heating food to high temperatures exterminates germs, and scrubbing fruits under running or boiled water eliminates residual contaminants.

Don't Forget the Gut-Immune Connection

A robust immune system is your gut's strongest protection when the seasons change. Back it up with regular sleep, everyday activity, and an eating plan high in zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Probiotic foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, and miso restore bacterial equilibrium.

If digestion feels awry during a weather transition, don't dismiss it as stress or travel. Many times, it's your gut attempting to adjust to an environmental change without the assistance it requires.

Seasonal variations totally interfere with your digestion—but you can beat them to the punch. Prioritize foods that are gut-friendly, drink plenty of water, beware of hygiene traps, and keep movement and stress in check during all four seasons. Your gut likes routine and attention even when the weather is far from predictable.

Weight loss injections like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy have dominated headlines as the miracle tools for dropping pounds quickly. Touted as revolutionary treatments for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, these GLP-1 receptor agonists have reshaped the conversation around medically supervised weight loss. But now, experts are sounding the alarm: beneath the promise of rapid results lies a very real, very preventable risk—organ failure.

A simple but often-overlooked blood test that too many patients and providers are skipping.

Dubbed the "King Kong of weight loss injections," Mounjaro has been hailed for its dual benefits of reducing blood sugar and promoting weight loss. It’s now being rolled out through the NHS and is already widely available across private clinics in the U.S. and U.K.

But Joy, a seasoned nurse and clinical safety advocate, warns that these injections are not silver bullets. When prescribed without the proper pre-screening, they can trigger life-threatening side effects, especially in patients with uncontrolled diabetes, liver issues, or sky-high triglyceride levels—the latter being a key predictor for pancreatitis.

"One blood test can make the difference between safe treatment and potential organ failure,” she said. “And yet, in many cases, it’s not being done."

Link Between GLP-1 Drugs and Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis, the inflammation of the pancreas—is a known risk associated with GLP-1 drugs. When left untreated, it can escalate into multiple organ failure, with symptoms ranging from severe abdominal pain to nausea, vomiting, dehydration, seizures and even death.

In fact, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is currently investigating more than 560 reported cases of pancreatitis linked to these medications. Alarmingly, 10 deaths have been documented. Many of these cases could likely have been avoided through early genetic screening and basic blood work.

Dr. Alison Cave, MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer, has emphasized that nearly one-third of adverse drug reactions could be prevented with personalized genetic testing—something that could soon become standard protocol before prescribing these drugs.

What’s the Critical Mistake People Are Making?

Let’s understand one thing, GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro can be safe and effective—when used correctly. The mistake, however, is in assuming they’re appropriate for everyone. Here’s where things go wrong:

• No baseline screening for triglyceride levels
• Skipping liver and kidney function tests
• Failing to monitor hydration and electrolyte balance
• Ignoring personal or family history of serious conditions like pancreatitis or thyroid cancer

Without identifying these red flags, patients are unknowingly putting themselves at risk for organ damage or worse.

Who Should Consider Weight Loss Injections?

These medications are typically recommended for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or for those with a BMI of 27 or above who also have comorbid conditions such as Type 2 diabetes or hypertension. Clinical studies have shown that when used in conjunction with proper diet and exercise, drugs like semaglutide or liraglutide can help patients lose 10–15% of their baseline body weight—a significant improvement over traditional weight loss methods.

Aiding weight loss, these medications have also been found to improve blood sugar control, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure, delivering broader metabolic benefits. However, even for those who meet the eligibility criteria, a thorough clinical evaluation is essential, as the risks and responses to these medications can vary widely from person to person.

Who Should Avoid These Weight Loss Injections?

Not all patients are ideal candidates for GLP-1 receptor agonists, and medical experts caution against their use in several cases. Individuals with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) should avoid these medications due to potential risks. They are also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, as their safety in these populations has not been established.

People with severe gastrointestinal issues or gallbladder disease may experience worsened symptoms, while those with uncontrolled mental health disorders particularly eating disorders could face complications related to appetite suppression and psychological side effects.

Patients with liver dysfunction or chronic dehydration are more vulnerable to adverse reactions such as dizziness, kidney problems, and neurological symptoms, highlighting the importance of a thorough medical evaluation before starting these treatments.

Is Genetic Testing the Future of Safe Prescriptions?

One of the biggest breakthroughs in this ongoing conversation is the push for personalized medicine. The MHRA is exploring how genetic predispositions could affect a patient’s reaction to weight loss drugs, paving the way for genomic screening as part of routine obesity care.

With adverse drug reactions costing the NHS £2.2 billion annually, personalized testing may not just save lives it could save healthcare systems billions.

If On Weight Loss Drugs Warning Signs to Watch For

People on GLP-1 drugs should immediately seek medical help if they experience:

• Severe or persistent stomach pain radiating to the back
• Vomiting that doesn't improve
• Signs of dehydration: dizziness, dry mouth, fainting
• Sudden confusion or blurred vision

Weight loss injections have undeniably changed the landscape of obesity treatment. But no treatment—no matter how promising—is without risk. The growing body of evidence shows that without proper screening, the very medications meant to restore health could push vulnerable patients into pancreatic crises, kidney failure, or worse.

The solution isn’t to scrap these drugs—it’s to use them smarter, with mandatory pre-screening, genetic testing, and ongoing medical supervision because the real weight we should be shedding is the burden of preventable harm.

When 48-year-old Ryan Alto from California walked into the emergency room with what seemed like mild flu symptoms, no one—not even he—could have predicted how rapidly things would spiral. Within hours, he was hallucinating. Soon after, he lost consciousness. By the end of the day, Ryan had slipped into a coma. What doctors discovered next would upend everything his family knew about illness, mental health, and recovery.

He wasn’t battling a virus. He wasn’t having a psychiatric breakdown. Ryan had Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis—a rare, autoimmune brain disorder so misunderstood it’s often mistaken for mental illness.

What is Brain on Fire Disease?

Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis, sometimes referred to as “Brain on Fire” disease, is caused when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks NMDA receptors in the brain. These receptors play a key role in memory, cognition, and behavior. When they malfunction, it can look eerily similar to a psychiatric or neurological breakdown.

Symptoms of Brain on Fire Disease

Initially, patients often present with flu-like symptoms: mild fever, fatigue, headaches. But in a matter of days, things can shift dramatically—paranoia, hallucinations, speech problems, seizures, and even catatonia may emerge.

In Ryan’s case, these escalated quickly. He started speaking incoherently. He experienced delusions, then seizures, and within days, fell into a coma that lasted eight weeks. When he woke up, the world was unrecognizable. He couldn't stand, speak, or even identify familiar faces.

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis affects an estimated 1.5 people per million annually, but that number may be underreported due to frequent misdiagnosis. Its symptoms mimic schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe anxiety, often delaying correct treatment.

Women, especially between ages 12 to 45, are disproportionately affected. In these cases, the condition is frequently associated with tumors, particularly ovarian teratomas, which trigger the immune response. For others, it can follow a herpes simplex infection—another key but underrecognized link.

A study published in Neurology found that nearly 27% of patients recovering from herpes simplex encephalitis went on to develop autoimmune encephalitis, with Anti-NMDAR accounting for the majority of those cases.

Can 'Brain on Fire Disease' Be Treated?

The key to managing this condition lies in quick recognition and aggressive early treatment. But diagnosis isn’t straightforward. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests are needed to detect the anti-NMDA antibodies, which can take time—time many patients don’t have.

That’s why most experts recommend beginning immunotherapy based on clinical suspicion, even before test results are back.

Treatment typically begins with high-dose steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), or plasmapheresis to suppress the immune attack. If a tumor is detected, surgical removal becomes urgent. In more stubborn or recurring cases, drugs like rituximab or cyclophosphamide are introduced for long-term immune modulation.

In Ryan’s case, immunotherapy began after his coma was induced to manage seizures and brain swelling. Since regaining consciousness, his recovery has been slow but steady. He remains disoriented and confused, sometimes mistaking objects or people for things they’re not—a stuffed toy, to him, is a living creature. He’s learning to move again, a process his family says may take up to a year or more.

One of the most challenging aspects of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is managing its psychiatric manifestations. Patients can swing between aggression, hallucinations, mutism, and catatonia—often within hours. That’s why psychiatric support is as crucial as neurological intervention.

Medications like benzodiazepines, valproic acid, and certain antipsychotics like quetiapine are commonly used to manage behavioral symptoms. But the challenge lies in balance: too much sedation can worsen neurological symptoms like abnormal movements or cognitive delays.

Doctors typically tailor medication regimens carefully, opting for sleep aids like trazodone or clonidine when needed and tapering off psychiatric drugs as neurological recovery improves.

How Treatment Helps Manage Seizures?

Seizures are common in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and often the first visible signs of a deeper problem. Most patients experience focal or generalized seizures, and while immunotherapy usually helps reduce them, anti-seizure medications are added to prevent complications.

Interestingly, sodium channel blockers tend to perform better than some commonly used medications like levetiracetam, which can worsen psychiatric symptoms. Most patients can eventually taper off anti-epileptics after two to three years of stability.

Can This Disease Come Back?

Unfortunately, yes. Relapses are a real possibility, even years after initial recovery. This underscores the need for long-term monitoring. Experts advise follow-ups with a neuroimmunologist, especially if the original trigger—like a tumor—was never identified.

If relapse occurs, doctors recommend treating it as aggressively as the first time: re-evaluation for tumors, renewed immunotherapy, and psychiatric support.

If you or someone you know starts showing sudden, unexplained changes in behavior—especially after a recent infection or illness—don’t dismiss it. Ask about autoimmune encephalitis. Because sometimes, what looks like a breakdown… is actually the brain crying out for help.