San Antonio Spurs basketball star Victor Wembanyama has been sidelined for the rest of the season by a rare type of blood clot that is more likely to develop in elite athletes, experts say.
Wembanyama, 21, was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his right shoulder and is expected to miss the rest of the 2024–25 season, the NBA said in a February 20 statement.
What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?
Deep vein thrombosis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when a blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body, usually in the legs, according to Penn Medicine. It can become life-threatening if it moves through the bloodstream and gets stuck in a blood vessel, blocking blood flow to the lungs, brain, or heart.
While it can happen at any age, it’s more common among people over 60. Other risk factors include a family history of blood clots, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, pregnancy, and recent surgery.
Why Elite Athletes Have a Higher DVT Risk
Only about 5 to 10 percent of deep vein thrombosis cases happen in the upper extremities, and this most often occurs when people have had medical treatment involving intravenous catheters, according to the American College of Cardiology. But elite athletes are also at increased risk for upper extremity DVT.
“A blood clot in a healthy person in their arm is actually seen with some frequency in elite athletes,” says Lawrence “Rusty” Hofmann, MD, a professor of interventional radiology at Stanford School of Medicine in California. “We call it ‘effort vein thrombosis.’ We have seen it in elite swimmers, volleyball players, weightlifters, and basketball players. Believe it or not, if a healthy elite athlete is going to have a blood clot, it is typically in this location.”
In a sense, it’s a type of overuse injury, Dr. Hofmann says. Elite athletes build up muscle in their arms to help them excel at their sport, and the added muscle can crowd nearby veins, causing them to narrow and making clots more likely to develop.
Deep vein thrombosis caused by compression in the blood vessels in the upper extremities “is more common in athletes, especially if the DVT is in their dominant arm,” says Scott Cameron, MD, PhD, a cardiologist and the section head of vascular medicine at Cleveland Clinic.
How Is DVT Treated?
Athletes with deep vein thrombosis in the arm or shoulder would typically be treated with blood thinners, Dr. Cameron says. They should also get evaluated for a condition known as thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), which can sometimes be caused by an extra rib or connective tissue and can be treated with surgery, Dr. Cameron adds.
In some cases, athletes with upper extremity DVT may also undergo a procedure to remove the clot. If another clot develops, athletes might get surgery to remove the first rib and insert a tiny balloon in the blood vessel to open it up, Hofmann says.
Athletes who play any type of contact sport may have to sit out competition while they’re taking blood thinners because there’s a severe bleeding risk if they sustain a head injury in a fall or collision with another player, Hofmann says.
“You can die, which is why you can’t do contact sports,” Hofmann says. “You can practice with the team, do shooting drills, and maintain weight lifting. You just can’t risk a head injury in a game.”
Pope Francis has been hospitalized for a week with double pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection, conditions that experts say are treatable but can be life-threatening in elderly patients.
Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized on February 14 at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after developing bronchitis, a condition marked by inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lungs. He was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, an infection in both lungs, and what’s known as a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which means multiple types of bacteria, viruses, or other organisms are in the lungs.
The pope has shown improvement in recent days, the Vatican said. He’s been up to have breakfast, continues to breathe independently, and his heart remains strong.
Here’s what you need to know about the pope’s diagnosis.
What Is Double Pneumonia?
Pneumonia develops when a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection causes inflammation and fluid accumulation in the lungs. It can affect one or both lungs, which is called double or bilateral pneumonia.
Common causes of pneumonia include seasonal flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, fever, and a cough with yellow, green, or bloody mucus. Older adults may also experience symptoms like a sudden change in mental state, appetite loss, and fatigue.
“Pneumonia is a serious infection that can be life-threatening,” says Meredith McCormack, MD, an associate professor and director of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
“Older age is a risk factor,” Dr. McCormack says. “We often think of over 65 years as a high-risk group, but each year of age adds additional risk of more serious infection.”
For an 88-year-old patient like the pope, the mortality rate could be as high as 30 percent, says Peter Chin-Hong, MD, a professor and infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco.
“We don’t know much about the pope’s other medical history or condition at the time of hospitalization, but his age over 80 by itself is a powerful risk factor for doing poorly,” Dr. Chin-Hong says.
What Is a Polymicrobial Respiratory Infection?
A polymicrobial respiratory infection could mean the patient has more than one type of bacteria in the respiratory tract, or that the patient has a respiratory virus in addition to at least one type of bacteria in the lungs, Chin-Hong says.
“Having more than one organism diagnosed is not dangerous per se, as long as the patient is being adequately treated with the right antibiotics and/or antivirals, started in a timely fashion,” Chin-Hong says.
“One notorious polymicrobial combination is influenza followed by a bacterial infection like Streptococcus pneumoniae — the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia — or Staph aureus,” Chin-Hong says.
The Vatican has not disclosed the exact mix of organisms involved in the pope’s polymicrobial respiratory infection.
How Is Double Pneumonia Treated?
“Antibiotics or antiviral medications are the mainstay of treatment,” McCormack says. “Sometimes we use inhalers or steroids, especially in patients who have a history of asthma or chronic lung disease.”
Most people with pneumonia can manage their symptoms at home by drinking lots of fluids, getting plenty of rest, and taking over-the-counter medicines for a fever or cough, according to the American Lung Association. Symptoms like fatigue can linger, however, and a full recovery can sometimes take several weeks or more.
When pneumonia is so severe that people need to be hospitalized, they may receive intravenous fluids or antibiotics, oxygen therapy, or other breathing treatments, according to the American Lung Association.
“Supportive therapy is important and can include giving supplemental oxygen or even life support when people get very sick,” McCormack says. “It does not sound like Pope Francis has required these more intensive therapies, which is encouraging.”
Nearly 34,000 pounds of beef tallow sold nationwide under the Lady May brand have been recalled by Common Sense Soap, the New Hampshire company that processes, packages, and labels the rendered beef fat.
Common Sense Soap does not have the required federal grant of inspection necessary to produce food products, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“The beef tallow products contain a nutrition facts label, leading people to believe that the product is safe for human consumption,” the agency said.
The recalled beef tallow, shipped to wholesalers and retailers nationwide, was labeled “PREMIUM QUALITY GOODS Grass-fed beef TALLOW Lady May ALL NATURAL.”
The affected products come in the following sizes:
24-fluid-ounce glass jar
2-pound plastic tub
7.8-8-pound (1 gallon) plastic tub
16-pound plastic tub
There haven’t been any reports of illnesses or other problems related to consumption of the recalled beef tallow.
Recalled products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase, the USDA said.
Beef tallow has become popular on social media as a skin-care cure-all for complaints like acne, dry skin, and scarring — although dermatologists remain skeptical.
If you’re considering ketamine therapy, know that the protocol will depend on the individual clinic or company. We’re using Neomedicine Institute as an illustrative example of intravenous ketamine, and patient experiences at other providers may vary.
Before
You’ll have a consultation, which includes a screening, which may include a blood pressure check and a look at your psychiatric history, to make sure that ketamine may be safe and effective for your goals. Ideally, you will be connected with a therapist to speak about what you hope to get out of ketamine treatment. Be open about your struggles, your coping mechanisms, whether you’ve tried therapy before, and what has worked and what hasn’t, says Liliana Uribe, PhD, a cognitive behavioral therapist who specializes in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy at Neomedicine Institute.
You may also be given preparation instructions, such as whether and how to fast beforehand, when to schedule transportation, and what expectations to have going into your session.
At your ketamine treatment appointment, you will be prepped appropriately (you may be weighed to determine dosage; if you’re receiving it intravenously, an IV will be started). You will sit or lie down in a room in a comfortable position with an eye mask to reduce light stimulation and headphones to either add supportive music or to cancel or reduce noise from the surrounding environment.
It’s normal to be nervous during your first appointment. “A big thing I’ve seen is an inability to let go. We have an issue with wanting to control every aspect of our environment, and we feel uneasy when something doesn’t go as planned or expected,” says Dr. Uribe. Discuss with a practitioner ahead of time about a sign you can give if you’re particularly nervous during the treatment. (Like a thumbs up or down, for example.)
During
Duration will differ depending on where you go and whether you’re taking the drug orally or doing an infusion. De La Hoz’s ketamine infusion sessions are 40 minutes long. In some instances, in addition to routine observation, ketamine will be given to you under medical supervision in which your vital signs are monitored.
Being “under” in ketamine means being in a waking state but resting, says Uribe. This is a dissociative state where you feel detachment from your body and your environment. “You’re not paralyzed, but you feel a weight over you that makes it difficult to move around and speak,” says Uribe. If you are getting an infusion, the clinician can shut off the infusion at any time if you are uncomfortable, which will bring you back to consciousness.
You’ll likely need multiple ketamine sessions. “Ketamine has a cumulative effect,” says De La Hoz. The number of ketamine sessions needed will vary. Based on his own clinical experience, De La Hoz says, six sessions are typically needed before he understands the full spectrum of a patient’s response — and whether more therapy is necessary.
After
After the ketamine is administered, you’ll have the opportunity to recover. You should be monitored for any adverse reactions, and the practitioner should ensure you’re safe to go home. If you are using at-home ketamine, make sure you follow the aftercare directions. If you’re at a clinic, you will need someone to drive you home. Do not drink alcohol after your session.
Uribe suggests seeing treatment as a process. “Use the first session as discovery, and then try to surrender to the experience. After two or three sessions, people are typically more relaxed and open to let go and let the experience take them where it will,” Uribe says.
Ideally, you have integration sessions. These are psychotherapy appointments with a licensed therapist who can talk to you about what you experienced during your ketamine session. Though not all companies require this, experts say this is an integral part of the process and is needed for best results. It may be useful to take time off after the session to recover and process your emotions.
After a predetermined series of sessions, you’ll talk with the referring doctor, treatment team, and therapist about what you may need in the future. “Some patients do a maintenance program, and some do not need it. But most patients continue psychotherapy [with the clinic or one’s own therapist],” says De La Hoz.
Some GVHD GI symptoms can be treated with medications, but there are also many ways to help manage these issues through diet.
Diarrhea
GVHD attacks the lining of the digestive tract and can disrupt the nerves that move food and drinks through the body. “Diarrhea can be caused by the ineffective absorption of nutrients and fluids, and instead of it taking 24 to 72 hours to digest food, it rushes through,” says Martin.
To minimize its impact, follow a clear liquid diet, which includes items such as broth, ginger ale, and diluted juices without pulp. “This is a nutrition plan that allows your gut to heal so all those good digestive cells can regenerate and grow,” says Martin. It’s also good to opt for room-temperature food and drinks, which are easier to absorb, and to eat small amounts every two hours. Lying down can also help slow your digestion. “After you feel better, you can also eat soft foods like rice, applesauce, bananas, toast, and soft pretzels to help your body start to process easy-to-break-down foods,” she adds.
If you have ongoing diarrhea, it’s important to get enough sodium and potassium in your diet; good sources are broth, fruit juices, sport drinks, potatoes, and bananas. You can also make your own electrolyte replacement drink at home: Mix ¼ teaspoon (tsp) of salt, 8 tsp of sugar, 3 tablespoons of orange juice concentrate, and 4 cups of water. Coconut water is rich in potassium and could make a good base for an electrolyte drink also, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Nausea and Vomiting
For people with GVHD, nausea and vomiting are common problems, according to Bratton. “Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day is very important, as is minimizing liquids while you eat,” she advises. Stick to room-temperature fluids in between meals. If you’re sensitive to smells and someone is cooking in the house, take a walk outdoors. And while lying down is good for diarrhea, sitting upright is better for nausea to help move foods into the small intestine.
Make sure you’re taking your anti-nausea medications as you’ve been instructed. “If you are, you might want to ask your healthcare team if there’s a medication they can add on or change. Finding that right kind of cocktail of anti-nausea meds can really work wonders sometimes,” Bratton adds.
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores are annoying and painful but often can be managed with simple techniques. Choose soft, moist foods, such as mashed potatoes or oatmeal, over those with a dry, rough texture, such as toast or tortilla chips, Bratton suggests. When possible, choose lukewarm or cold foods over hot ones. If you’re limited in what you can eat, drink milkshakes or smoothies so you can get adequate calories and protein. “Getting those nutrients in is really important to heal those sores,” she adds.
You can also make your own mouthwash by mixing 1 quart of water with 1 tsp of baking soda. Frequently swish with it and spit it out.
“If you’ve followed some of these tips and the pain is still limiting your ability to eat, your physician may be able to prescribe pain meds that help numb the tissues in the mouth,” Bratton says.
Dry Mouth
Alcohol and tobacco products can worsen dry mouth, so it’s best to avoid them, says Bratton. Instead, keep your mouth moist with gum, ice chips, ice pops, or hard candy.
There are also over-the-counter moisturizing sprays for easing dry mouth, but you may have to use them frequently, she adds.
Weight Loss
Although we’re bombarded by messages about how healthy it is to lose weight, it’s not good when you’re dealing with GVHD. “Think about what you eat that works well, which you can digest with the least amount of discomfort,” Martin suggests.
Think about when you naturally tend to be hungriest and eat more at that time, whether it’s at breakfast or later in the day. “Plan to eat more to match that hunger,” Martin says.
When you eat, choose higher-calorie foods first, such as proteins and starches, followed by vegetables and fruits. You can also bump up the calories in your meal without having to make an extra dish by adding “calorie boosters”: butter, margarine, vegetable or olive oil, sour cream, maple syrup, melted cheese, chopped meat, gravy, and sauces.
Taste Changes
Many people struggle with taste changes when dealing with GVHD. A common complaint is that meat tastes bitter, says Bratton. “You can marinate it in something a little sweeter like a teriyaki sauce,” she suggests.
If you’d rather skip meat altogether, try other protein sources, such as cottage cheese or yogurt. “There is not one strategy that can ameliorate all taste changes. Using strategies like marinating meats and choosing foods that taste better can help you meet your nutrition needs until the taste changes subside, which can be after treatment is done,” Bratton says.
Dry mouth can also cause taste bud changes. “When you’re able to manage dry mouth, taste can actually improve,” Martin says.
A Healthy Gut
Keeping your gut healthy when you have GVHD is currently under research. One review looked at the importance of gut microbiota and how nutritional choices play a key role in managing the gut. Some of the supplements being looked at included prebiotics — which stimulate the growth of good bacteria. There is also ongoing research into the benefits of vitamins A and D, calcium and magnesium. Before trying any supplements, ask your physician if they are right for you.
Some ingredients frequently used in shampoo can be harmful to your hair or even your health.
Shampoo Ingredients That Can Hurt Hair
Experts say skip shampoos with these ingredients, as they may be damaging to hair.
1. Alcohol(Some of Them)
Alcohol is commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, and styling products because it helps your skin and hair absorb active ingredients. But short-chain alcohols (including isopropyl alcohol) can irritate the skin and dry out the hair, according to Consumer Notice, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that educates the public about harmful products. Ethanol is another short-chain alcohol that can also leave the hair feeling dry and brittle, says Ross Kopelman, DO, a hair restoration surgeon with Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery in Edgewater, New Jersey.
That said, fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetearyl alcohol have the opposite effect. “They help condition the hair and retain moisture,” says Dr. Kopelman, who notes that fatty alcohols can be especially helpful for people with dry or damaged hair.
2. Coal Tar
Coal tar is a petroleum by-product that’s used in permanent hair dyes, with darker dyes containing higher amounts. It’s commonly added to shampoos to treat scalp psoriasis.
There’s some concern that coal tar may be a carcinogen, but the American Cancer Society notes that studies haven’t found a strong link so far. “Dermatologists prescribe coal tar shampoos for scalp psoriasis if needed and it is considered safe for long-term use,” Dr. Kazin says. Note, however, that using the products too often or on a sensitive scalp may cause hair loss or burning, itching, tingling, pain, or redness.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid coal tar in psoriasis shampoos and hair dyes altogether, given the lack of research on its effects in this group, Kazin says.
3. Polyethylene Glycols
Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are petroleum by-products used to thicken hair care products. Past research shows PEGs are generally safe when used in cosmetics.
But researchers are still examining a potential link between PEGs and severe scalp irritation and skin damage. Moreover, some PEGs may be contaminated with harmful substances like 1,4-dioxane, which is a known carcinogen, Kopelman says.
PEGs can be listed on product labels in different ways. They often appear as “PEG” followed by a number (such as PEG-40) or “PEG” followed by a number and then another ingredient name (such as PEG-20 cocamine).
4. Selenium Sulfide
Selenium sulfide, an anti-infective agent, is often used in medicated shampoos to treat dandruff-related itching and flaking. But this ingredient can irritate the scalp and cause permanent hair loss if used too frequently.
“I generally advise patients to limit their use of selenium sulfide to two to three times per week at most,” Kopelman says. If your scalp becomes more sensitive or you notice hair thinning, alternate the selenium sulfide shampoo with a gentler shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione or tea tree oil, suggests Kopelman.
5. Silicones
Silicones are added to hair-care products to make your hair soft and smooth. But these ingredients build up with repeated use, preventing moisture from getting into your hair cuticles. This can cause skin irritation, dry hair, and flat curls.
Check hair-care product labels for these common silicones:
Dimethicone
Phenyl trimethicone
Cyclomethicone
Cyclopentasiloxane
Cyclohexasiloxane
Shampoo Ingredients That May Be Damaging to Overall Health
Many shampoo ingredients that can be harmful to the hair and to overall health have become much less common as research by dermatologists has highlighted the risks and products have been reformulated, says Mary Lupo, MD, a dermatologist at the Lupo Center for Aesthetic & General Dermatology in New Orleans.
But several potentially harmful ingredients are still regularly found in shampoos, including the following.
1. Benzene
Benzene is a colorless liquid chemical that’s commonly used in hair dyes. It may be carcinogenic with long-term use, and may contribute to birth defects and damage the immune and nervous system in people who are pregnant.
In October 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found elevated levels of benzene in dry shampoo products. In response, dry shampoo manufacturers pulled benzene-containing products from store shelves. Since you may have purchased these products before they were recalled, be sure to check the label of any dry shampoo you have at home.
To ensure your hair product doesn’t include benzene, check the label for these ingredients:
Benzene
Toluene
Methylbenzene
Phenylmethane
Toluol
2. Resorcinol
Resorcinol is a bleaching agent commonly found in hair dyes and treatments for dandruff and scalp psoriasis. It may interfere with the creation of thyroid hormones, impacting thyroid function and increasing the risk of hyperthyroidism (where the thyroid creates too many hormones). Resorcinol may also cause breathing problems and disrupt the nervous system.
“Ultimately, it’s about balancing effectiveness with safety, and for patients with chronic scalp conditions, I encourage discussing options with a dermatologist or hair specialist,” Kopelman says.
To avoid resorcinol, check hair dyes and products for the following ingredients:
Resorcinol
1,3-benzenediol
Resorcin
1,3-dihydroxybenzene
3. Diethanolamine
Diethanolamine (DEA), commonly used as a foaming agent or to adjust the pH balance in hair products, is a possible carcinogen. Research has found a link between DEA and cancer in laboratory animals, but not humans. “DEA is classified as a potential allergen but the FDA does not restrict it for health reasons,” Kazin says.
4. Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that was used in soaps — until data suggested that long-term exposure could disrupt hormones. This led the FDA to ban triclosan from antibacterial soaps in 2016. But triclosan is still used as an antibacterial agent in shampoos.
5. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas found in cigarettes, building materials, and industrial cleaning products. It’s also added directly to or released from preservatives in shampoo and chemical hair-straightening treatments, and is linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives can also cause allergic skin reactions.
Check shampoo, conditioner, and chemical hair straightener labels for formaldehyde (also referred to as methylene glycol and formalin) and preservatives that release formaldehyde. These include:
Quaternium-15
Imidazolidinyl urea
Diazolidinyl urea
Polyoxymethylene urea
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
Glyoxal
6. Parabens
There’s concern that parabens, which help extend the shelf life of shampoo, may disrupt your hormone balance, reproductive health, and nervous system and cause skin irritation. The FDA says no research currently shows that parabens affect human health.
In addition, research shows that parabens are less likely than other preservatives to cause allergic reactions, Kazin says.
Still, if you’d like to avoid hair products with parabens, check the label for ingredients ending in “paraben,” such as:
Butylparaben
Ethylparaben
Methylparaben
7. Synthetic Fragrances
Many manufacturers use fragrances to give shampoo and conditioner a pleasant scent. But these fragrances are often synthetic and may be created with chemicals that harm your skin, hair, and health. These chemicals may contribute to infertility, skin irritation, hair loss, asthma, and cancer.
“Fragrance blends often contain dozens of unlisted chemicals, which makes it difficult to determine exactly what you’re putting on your scalp,” says Kopelman. “While not everyone will have a reaction, I recommend patients opt for fragrance-free or naturally scented shampoos when possible, especially if they have scalp sensitivity, hair thinning, or hormonal concerns.”
To determine whether a shampoo has synthetic fragrance, Kopelman suggests checking the ingredient list for terms like “fragrance” or “parfum.”
8. Phthalates
Research suggests that phthalates, which enhance the fragrance of shampoo, may disrupt hormones. Pthalates are banned in Canada, but don’t need to be named on U.S. ingredient labels — they can simply be listed as “fragrance.”
Some companies label their products “phthalate-free.” Otherwise, check for these phthalates:
Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP)
Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP)
Diisononyl phthalate (DINP)
Dihexyl phthalate (DHP)
Dioctyl phthalate (DNOP)
9. Sulfates
Sulfates, which create lather and bubbles in shampoo, can irritate the skin and eyes and trigger an allergic reaction. These ingredients can also dry out the skin and make hair frizzy.
Sulfates commonly used in shampoos include:
Ammonium lauryl sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
SLES in particular may contain traces of 1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen that has contributed to cancer development in lab animals.
Cow’s milk and plant-based milks, such as almond, soy, and oat, all have potentially different effects on blood sugar levels, particularly if the milk is sweetened with added sugar.
“It comes down to the total carbohydrate content, which is what increases blood sugar,” says Courtney Smith, RD, CDCES, a diabetes specialist in Salida, Colorado, and founder of The Keys to Nutrition. Plant-based milks that are higher in carbohydrates, such as rice milk, tend to promote a higher blood sugar response. You can find total carbohydrate content for any type of milk listed on the package’s nutritional information label.
People with diabetes (and those at risk of developing it) are advised to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages as much as possible, for better glycemic control. But even natural cow’s milk can raise your blood sugar, because it contains lactose, a carbohydrate sometimes referred to as milk sugar.
Protein and fat are also considerations when it comes to blood sugar impact of the milk you’re drinking or the food you’re pairing it with.
“When milk is paired with other healthy fats and protein, it helps stabilize the blood sugar level and not have such an immediate rise or response,” says Amy Kimberlain, RDN, CDCES, a Miami-based spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Cow’s milk and plant-based milks themselves contain different amounts of protein and fat, depending on what varieties you’re purchasing. These are all factors to consider when you’re making choices at the grocery store and at home preparing meals and snacks.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), says he wants to assess whether it’s truly safe and effective for millions of Americans to take certain antidepressants and other prescription drugs to manage mental health conditions.
He has a broad mandate to do this as HHS secretary and head of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission that President Donald Trump established with an executive order last week.
A key goal of the new commission is to “assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], antipsychotics, [and] mood stabilizers.” SSRIs are a category of antidepressants that includes citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).
Roughly 13 percent of American adults report recent antidepressant use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making these drugs among the most prescribed medicines in the United States.
Kennedy has raised concerns that antidepressants may do more harm than good, calling these medicines addictive and linking them to mass shootings and other acts of violence.
Here’s what health experts have to say about the concerns Kennedy has raised regarding antidepressants.
Are Antidepressants Addictive?
During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy suggested that antidepressants could be even more addictive than heroin.
“I know people, including members of my family, who’ve had a much worse time getting off of SSRIs than people have getting off of heroin,” Kennedy said during his confirmation hearings.
While people can experience withdrawal symptoms from abruptly stopping treatment with antidepressants, these medicines aren’t habit forming, says Ragy Girgis, MD, a clinical psychiatry professor at Columbia University.
“SSRIs have no addictive potential, while heroin is one of the most addictive substances known to humankind,” Dr. Girgis says.
Abruptly halting treatment with SSRIs can cause flu-like symptoms, restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, and an upset stomach, says Colin Davidson, PhD, a neuropharmacologist at the University of Central Lancashire in England.
“Abrupt withdrawal from heroin will likely cause drug cravings, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, sweating, and increased heart rate and blood pressure,” Dr. Davidson says. Compared with withdrawal from antidepressants, he notes, “Withdrawal from heroin tends to be much worse.”
People taking antidepressants can minimize withdrawal symptoms by working with their doctor to gradually reduce their dose when they want to discontinue treatment, Girgis says.
Can Antidepressants Make Kids Suicidal?
During his confirmation hearings, Kennedy questioned whether there’s enough evidence that antidepressants are safe and effective. Investigating the safety of antidepressants — particularly for use by children and teens — is a key focus of the MAHA Commission that Kennedy leads.
Antidepressants do have what’s known as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration “black box warning,” reserved for the most severe side effects, due to concerns that children and teens taking these medicines have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
But the overall risk of suicide among young people is low, Davidson says. About 1 percent of teens may experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors at some point during adolescence, Davidson says, and this risk rises to about 2 percent of teens who are taking antidepressants.
This doesn’t mean, however, that the medicines make people suicidal, Girgis says. Suicidal thoughts can be caused by the underlying mental heath issues that lead people to take antidepressants.
“When people are very depressed and want to take their own life, they will not report suicidality,” Girgis says.
This changes when they start taking antidepressants, Girgis explains. “When people begin taking SSRIs, they improve — their mood, energy, and willingness to engage increase. They are less likely to want to take their life and more likely to want help. Because of all these factors, they begin reporting their suicidal ideation. Therefore, while it appears that SSRIs ‘cause’ suicidal ideation, they do not actually cause suicidal ideation.”
Do Antidepressants Cause Mass Shootings?
During a 2023 livestream on X with billionaire Elon Musk, Kennedy suggested that people taking antidepressants are more likely to commit school shootings than individuals who don’t use these medicines. He said there was “tremendous circumstantial evidence” linking these drugs to mass shootings, and these comments came up during his confirmation hearings.
But evidence doesn’t support this claim.
One study of school shootings between 2000 and 2017, for example, found that most perpetrators had no history of taking psychiatric medications and found no significant connection between the shootings and these drugs.
Similarly, the Violence Prevention Project’s Mass Shooter Database, a compilation of records from all mass shootings in the United States since 1966, found no evidence in the majority of incidents that the perpetrators had used psychiatric medications.
“Antidepressants, in rare cases, can cause intense inner restlessness, emotional blunting, mania, and psychosis, all of which could contribute to violence,” Davidson says. But this is rare, and it doesn’t mean the medicines directly cause shootings.
“There is no evidence to suggest that antidepressants, or any psychiatric medications, play a role in mass shootings or homicide, and the black box warning has nothing to do with violence or homicidality,” Girgis says.
When you have irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), pooping can be a pain in more ways than one.
Fortunately, there are several at-home strategies you can use to help increase what’s called, in medical-speak, gastrointestinal (GI) motility — the movement of food from the mouth through the digestive tract and out of the body. Increase your GI motility, and you may increase your odds of having a bowel movement.
If you’re not having success with these remedies, see your doctor about other medical treatments for IBS-C, including pelvic floor physical therapy or medications such as stool softeners, laxatives, or prescription drugs, says gastroenterologist Stephanie Moleski, MD, an associate professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
1. Stay Hydrated
One of the first places Dr. Moleski starts with her patients is explaining the importance of hydration for supporting regular bowel movements. Water helps keep stool soft and moving through your system. She recommends downing at least 64 ounces of water (or other sugar-free fluids) over the course of each day for most people.
Keep in mind that consuming more than that amount hasn’t been shown to help relieve constipation. It’s also important to know that eating juicy fruits and vegetables can also contribute to your fluid intake for the day.
2. Up Your Fiber Intake
Fiber — particularly soluble fiber, which dissolves in water and forms a gel — adds bulk to stool, making it easier to pass. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly those that are low in FODMAPs (types of fermentable sugar that are more likely to trigger IBS symptoms), such as grapes, oranges, and zucchini, can provide GI-friendly fiber.
3. Get Your Heart Rate Up
When your body doesn’t move, your bowels likely won’t either. Physical activity is one strategy, along with consuming water and fiber, that the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommends as a lifestyle treatment for constipation.
Research shows that aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, may be particularly effective. Although more study is needed, the authors say, the constipation-quashing benefits were seen with at least 140 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week.
Once you get a good routine in place, stick with it: Research shows that increasing your physical activity for three months can improve IBS symptoms and also have a positive effect on energy levels and mood.
4. Snack on Kiwi
One food shown to be a star constipation reliever (and is also a low-FODMAP food) is kiwifruit. Eating two green kiwis a day for four weeks has been shown to help people who were constipated have more complete bowel movements per week, compared with their baseline, and help improve their abdominal discomfort.
This could be because the fiber in kiwi can absorb a lot of water to soften stool, but the fruit also contains compounds that promote pooping. “People also find that they can often tolerate kiwi better than typical fiber supplements,” says Moleski.
5. Give Prunes (or Their Juice) a Chance
If you don’t like kiwifruit, go for prunes (aka dried plums). One study, which analyzed the effects of consuming kiwi, prunes, or psyllium (a type of fiber that acts as a gentle laxative) for four weeks, found that all three were effective in helping relieve constipation.
But, according to Monash University in Australia, which developed the FODMAP scale, prunes are a high-FODMAP food and caloric. They contain fiber and sorbitol, which act as natural laxatives, but sorbitol can also trigger IBS symptoms in some people.
What to do? Monash says that kiwi may be a better first choice if you’re using fruit to treat your constipation, but prunes may be a viable option. Just try a small amount at first, see how your body reacts, and make a decision from there.
6. Sip on Senna Tea
Senna — which comes from the fruit or leaf of the plant Senna alexandrina — is often labeled as a digestion-friendly tea which can also be helpful with symptoms.
7. Go for Peppermint or Ginger Tea
These two herbs can be soothing to your digestive system, says Moleski. “Peppermint can relax the gut, if you’re experiencing pain and bloating,” she says. Ginger, too, can soothe digestive discomfort. Sipping on these warm teas can also promote GI motility to ease constipation.
The Takeaway
To manage IBS with constipation (IBS-C), drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet with low-FODMAP fruits and veggies for fiber, and include more physical activity in your routine.
Kiwis, prunes, and herbal teas including senna, ginger, or peppermint have been shown to help ease IBS-associated constipation.
If natural constipation remedies don’t have the effect you’re looking for, consider talking to your doctor for more personalized care as there are many therapies available.
Some of the more common causes of head pain include migraine and tension headaches, Dr. Loder says. These are known as “primary” headaches, meaning they aren’t connected to other health issues. Secondary headaches, on the other hand, stem from other underlying problems, such as sinusitis.
Migraine
Many people have headaches caused by migraine on one side of the head. However, migraine can affect both sides of the head or the top, says Patricia Olson, MD, a neurologist and assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. The cause of migraine is unknown, but it’s thought that people with the condition may have inherited or developed (perhaps due to a head injury) a nervous system that’s easily triggered, Loder explains.
“Some migraine triggers might be stress, caffeine withdrawal, dehydration, hormonal changes, sleep changes, and alcohol. All of those could contribute to a migraine attack,” Dr. Olson says.
Headaches caused by migraine usually cause moderate to severe pain, which may be made worse by physical activity and can last hours or days, Loder says. Other migraine symptoms include sensitivity to light or sound, as well as nausea or vomiting.
Tension-Type Headaches
Tension-type headaches are the most common headache type, says Sweta Sengupta, MD, assistant professor in the department of neurology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.
“Tension-type headaches are more mild to moderate in intensity. They’re typically described as ‘band-like’ and ‘tight,’” Dr. Sengupta explains.
Also known as stress headaches, these usually stem from muscle tension, eyestrain, sleep disorders, mood disorders, or neck and jaw problems.
Sinus Pressure
“Sinus pressure can be caused by environmental allergens, viruses, or bacteria that result in fluid in the sinuses that does not drain well,” says Rena Sukhdeo Singh, MD, neurologist and medical director of the Primary Stroke Center at the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton. “The accumulation of the fluid in the sinuses can lead to pressure in the head.”
Other symptoms of sinusitis include pressure-like pain behind the eyes, toothaches, face tenderness, coughing, and nasal stuffiness.
Medication Overuse
“Overuse of over-the-counter medications, like [acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin], can actually lead to rebound headaches or medication overuse headaches,” Dr. Singh says.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this phenomenon only seems to occur in people who use these types of medications to treat headache disorders, such as migraines. People without a history of headaches don’t usually have this problem.
With this category of headaches, of which cluster headaches are the most common type, pain molecules affect the trigeminal nerve system (a group of nerves in the head), says Singh.
The trigeminal nerve system sends signals to the brain from parts of the face — including behind the eyes — and vice versa.
Along with severe pain, cluster headaches can cause eye redness, tearing, and a runny, agitated nose, Singh says.
“Cluster headaches result in multiple headaches throughout the day that last between 15 minutes to three hours,” she adds.
Cervicogenic Headaches
“Cervicogenic headaches usually cause an aching pain or pressure that starts from the back and radiates upward to the crown,” says Minal Patel, DO, a neurologist with Atlantic Medical Group in Rockaway, New Jersey.
These headaches result from issues with the neck, says Chantel Strachan, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and internist at Columbia Primary Care in New York City. People with these headaches often have neck pain and stiffness as well.
“A common cause is cervical arthritis. However, secondary causes like a tumor or infection can play a role, depending on the clinical scenario,” Dr. Strachan explains. “Having neck pain and headache does not automatically mean you have cervicogenic headache.”
