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Are Your Eye Drops Safe to Use? FDA Warns Against Using These Eye Drop Products

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Are Your Eye Drops Safe to Use? FDA Warns Against Using These Eye Drop Products
  • The FDA has issued a warning about two brands of eye drops for potential fungal and bacterial contamination.
  • The warning specifically names Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops—Eye Repair; both contain methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). 
  • No adverse health events have been reported, but using the contaminated eye drops could result in vision-threatening or even life-threatening infections.

Two brands of eye drops may be contaminated with fungus, bacteria, or both, according to a recent warning from the Food and Drug Administration. 

The warning specifically names Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops—Eye Repair, which both contain the active ingredient MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane. 

Consumers shouldn’t purchase and should stop using Dr. Berne’s and LightEyez eye drops immediately, the FDA said, as neither are sterile.

MSM is a compound sometimes used in alternative medicine, and it may have anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties. The FDA said that there are currently “no legally marketed ophthalmic drugs that contain MSM as an active ingredient.”

Dr. Berne’s MSM Drops 5% Solution and the LightEyez MSM Eye Drops—both sold online—are therefore considered “unapproved drugs.”

Dr. Berne made a verbal agreement with the FDA to recall the MSM eye drop product on Monday and recommended that any customers discontinue the use of the MSM 5% Lot# 6786. On the product webpage, Dr. Berne wrote that he’ll be doing his “own testing with samples using a [third] party laboratory on all MSM products.”

Consumers with the Dr. Berne product can contact the MSM eye drop manufacturer SunStar Organics for a refund.

The FDA said it contacted LightEyez on Monday to discuss further steps to protect consumers, but to date, has not yet heard back. LightEyez currently still has their MSM eye drop product listed on their website, though it’s sold out.

No adverse health events have been reported, but using the contaminated eye drops could result in vision-threatening or even life-threatening infections.

Young woman putting in eye drops

Young woman putting in eye drops

Getty Images / ljubaphoto


Why Are Contaminated Eye Drops a Concern?

The FDA’s recent warning is a proactive move, said Loretta Szczotka-Flynn, OD, PhD, Searle-Huang professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and director of the vision research coordinating center at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

In February, another type of eye drops, called EzriCare Artificial Tears, were recalled due to contamination with drug-resistant bacteria. In that outbreak, the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused hospitalizations, cases of vision loss, and even death. 

“It was a pretty bad series of cases. So I think since then, the FDA has really gotten heightened to that,” she told Health. “They went out and conducted some kind of sample testing of other eye drops on the market—presumably they were looking at drops that are unregulated by them, or are coming from small manufacturers that might have had contamination concerns.”

No adverse events have yet been connected to these Dr. Berne’s or LightEyez eye drops, but these types of fungal or bacterial contaminations can be extremely dangerous, as was seen with the EzriCare recall.

The Dr. Berne’s MSM eye drops were found to contain Exophiala, a fungus, as well as the Bacillus bacteria. And the LightEyez drops that were tested had four different types of bacteria—Methylorubrum, Mycolicibacterium, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas.

Pseudomonas was the same bacteria found in the EzriCare Artificial Tears, though it’s possible it was a different strain, Szczotka-Flynn said.

Regardless of the specific microbe, anything that grows in what should be sterile solution is cause for serious concern, Szczotka-Flynn added. 

“Under no circumstances should there ever be any live organisms in any eye drops that we use,” she said.

The eye is capable of fighting off different types of fungi or bacteria that come from our normal environment, such as getting water or dirt in your eye, Szczotka-Flynn explained, but weaknesses in the eye can open up the door to issues.

In particular, sleeping in daily-wear contacts or not replacing them frequently can harbor organisms and keep them in contact with the cornea longer, allowing infection. (It’s OK to sleep in extended-wear contact lenses, according to the National Eye Institute.) Rubbing the eye frequently or scratching it in some other way can also have this same effect, Szczotka-Flynn said.

“Sometimes our eye’s defense mechanisms get altered or get threatened,” she said. “These bacteria or fungi can root themselves in the eye pretty easily.”

Antifungal or antibiotic eye drops can usually get rid of an infection, she added, but things can quickly become more serious.

“The cornea is the window to the eye, the window to the world,” said Szczotka-Flynn. “Even if a corneal ulcer is taken care of and treated, it can leave a permanent scar that will forever affect that patient’s vision.”

Reusable Contact Lenses May Increase Risk of Rare, Sight-Threatening Eye Infection

When It Comes to Eye Drops, Stick With Known Brands 

Of course, when people buy eye drops, they expect that they’re getting a safe and healthy product. Most of the time this is the case, but it’s important that people do their research before buying a solution that goes in their eye.

Both the Dr. Berne and LightEyez drops named in this FDA warning contained an added active ingredient, MSM, though it’s not clear how that may have played a role in this contamination.

Sometimes adding ingredients to eye drops can make it easier for microbes to grow, said Szczotka-Flynn, but it’s hard to know if that was the case here.

More likely, she said, there was probably some breakdown in sterility at some point in the manufacturing or quality control process.

MSM is “generally recognized as safe” in supplement form, but the fact that it’s not approved for use in eye drops likely made these two products a “red flag in the FDA’s eyes,” Szczotka-Flynn added.

It’s understandable that people might be drawn to MSM eye drop products like these—LightEyez says their product “repairs the eyes and increases overall eye vitality,” and Dr. Berne says the drops “leave your eyes feeling brighter, fresher, and rejuvenated.”

However, when it comes to choosing the safest eye drops, Szczotka-Flynn explained, it’s better to stick with well-known, trusted brands.

“Big name manufacturers, you know their quality control is there, you know that they have met FDA standards in their fabrication facilities,” she said. “I’d stay away from generics and I’d definitely stay away from online-only sellers.”

The 11 Best Eye Drops to Relieve Dry Eyes

Taking These Common Heartburn Meds Might Increase Your Risk of Dementia

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Taking These Common Heartburn Meds Might Increase Your Risk of Dementia
  • Taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a group of medications used to treat acid reflux, for several years may raise your risk of developing dementia, new research has found.
  • The study did not find that taking PPIs for less than 4.4 years was associated with increased dementia risk.
  • It’s crucial to speak with your doctor about how long you may benefit from PPIs, rather than taking them continuously without consulting a healthcare provider, experts say.

senior woman feeling pain in chest, taking medication

senior woman feeling pain in chest, taking medication

FG Trade/Getty Images


Taking prescription acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for long periods may increase the risk of dementia, a new study has found.

Scientists said the research highlights the importance of taking the drugs—among the most commonly-prescribed in the U.S.—only when necessary.

“PPIs are typically intended for short-term management of gastrointestinal symptoms,” Pamela Lutsey, PhD, MPH, a study author and professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, told Health. “However, some individuals remain on PPIs for long periods or use PPIs despite not having a documented gastrointestinal diagnosis.” 

Up to one-fifth of people in the U.S. experience acid reflux, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). PPIs work to relieve chest pain, heartburn, and other acid reflux symptoms by reducing the amount of acid produced by glands lining the stomach.

People shouldn’t take PPIs unless a healthcare provider recommends them, Matthew Hoscheit, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic, told Health. “The expected length of time that someone needs to take the medication should always be agreed upon with their healthcare provider prior to starting the medication, and the need to continue the medication should be reviewed regularly,” he said.

9 Things That Could Cause You to Have Acid Reflux

PPI Use Linked to Dementia Risk

Lutsey said her team wanted to focus on the association between PPIs and dementia because past research on the relationship between the two hadn’t provided definitive information. “Some studies had looked at the question of dementia in people who used PPI[s], but the results were variable,” she said. “We have very good data on dementia health outcomes, and so we thought we should look at this in our data set.”

For the new study, her team used data from 5,712 people aged 45 and older enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, a data collection program run by the NIH since 1985. The age of the participants averaged 75, and none of them had dementia when the study began. 

Researchers divided the participants into four groups based on prescription PPI use: Non-users, those who took PPIs for up to 2.8 years, those who took them for between 2.8 and 4.4 years, and those who’d been using them for more than 4.4 years. 

The researchers tracked the participants for a median duration of 5.5 years. During that time, 585 people—or 10% of the participants—developed dementia.

After adjusting for other factors that could affect dementia risk, such as age, sex, race, and other diagnoses like high blood pressure and diabetes, the research team concluded that those who took PPIs for more than 4.4 years were 33% more likely to develop dementia than those who never took the medication. The researchers didn’t find that taking PPIs for fewer than 4.4 years significantly increased the risk of dementia.

Because the researchers only looked at prescription medication use, their results don’t extend to people who take over-the-counter PPIs, such as Nexium 24HR, Prevacid 24HR, and Prilosec OTC.

There are multiple theories as to why prolonged PPI use might increase dementia risk, Lutsey said. “There is some human evidence that PPI use may predispose [people] to vitamin B12 deficiency, which can be associated with cognitive decline,” she said. “Also, PPI use may result in changes to the gut microbiome that could impact cognitive health.”

The research was limited by its design, according to Hoscheit. The type of study—known as a population-based study—is considered lower quality than randomized control trials (RCT), which can establish cause-and-effect relationships. This study does not prove that PPI use causes dementia—only that there’s an association between prolonged use of the drug and increased risk.

Additionally, he said, it might have been difficult to determine if participants took PPIs correctly because they only reported their use once a year. “Were patients truly taking them as prescribed, and how can you assess this with only a yearly visit?” he said. “Unfortunately, questions such as these cannot be answered in this study.”

Because of these limitations, researchers should conduct future studies to untangle the relationship between dementia risk and PPI use, he noted.

Foods That Can Cause Acid Reflux

Factors To Consider When Starting PPIs

The amount of time you should take a PPI depends on what you’re taking it for, Hoscheit said. “For reasons such as healing ulcerative disease of the stomach and esophagus, PPIs are generally recommended for eight to 12 weeks,” he explained. For people with chronic acid reflux symptoms, healthcare providers may recommend PPIs for longer than 12 weeks.

Because people need PPIs for varying lengths of time, it’s crucial to make an individualized plan with your doctor to determine the amount of time that’s right for you, Hoscheit stressed.

He noted that PPI use usually isn’t risky enough to avoid the drugs if a healthcare provider recommends them, but he still informs his patients about studies linking their long-term use to several conditions. In addition to dementia, said Hoscheit, research has established ties between the medication and intestinal infections, pneumonia, stomach cancer, osteoporosis-related bone fractures, chronic kidney disease, deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals, heart attacks, and strokes.

“I then go on to tell my patients,” he explained, “ that it is critically important to understand that those studies have flaws, are not considered definitive, and do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between PPIs and adverse conditions.”

Have GERD? Inflammation May Play as Large a Role as Stomach Acid, According To This Study

9 Surprising Memory Loss Causes Later in Life

Other Ways to Treat Acid Reflux

If you’re concerned about the risks associated with PPIs, alternative acid reflux treatment options exist, Hoscheit said. These include medications such as famotidine and calcium carbonate, as well as making lifestyle changes, such as allowing three to four hours between dinner and bedtime and limiting portion sizes. “In certain individuals, weight loss has been shown to be a fantastic way to help improve symptoms as well,” he added.

That said, Hoscheit said he doesn’t think the new research is a compelling enough reason to stop using PPIs if your doctor has recommended them for your symptoms.

“I don’t believe this study moves the needle on how we should view PPIs,” he said. “I always encourage my patients to discuss medication side effects with their respective prescribers. In how PPIs relate to the risk of dementia, I believe this requires further study before we can connect the use of PPI to dementia.”

Air Pollution May Raise Risk of Several Cancers for Older Adults

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Air Pollution May Raise Risk of Several Cancers for Older Adults

View from Griffin Park in California

View from Griffin Park in California

Getty Images / Jon Hicks


  • New research found that continued exposure to certain air pollutants is linked to an increased risk of developing colorectal and prostate cancers.
  • This connection was found even in regions where air pollution levels are below the national standards and WHO guidelines.
  • Experts recommend people maintain awareness about the air quality index in the areas they frequent, taking safety protocols when quality reaches anything over 200 in severity.

Regular exposure to air pollution may increase a person's risk of developing colorectal and prostate cancers, a new study finds.

Air pollution is not a new concern. Approximately 36% of Americans live in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Poor air quality has been largely linked to respiratory health, as well as an increase in cancer risk.

The new research, published earlier this month in Environmental Epidemiology, found that repeated exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 air pollutants increased the risk of developing colorectal and prostate cancers.

Researchers also discovered that even low levels of air pollution exposure can make people more likely to develop these cancers, along with breast and endometrial cancers.

“The biggest finding is that air pollution can cause major types of cancers beyond just lung cancer,” said Yaguang Wei, research fellow in the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Wei noted that this connection was found even in regions where air pollution levels are below the national standards and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Researchers looked at data from 2000 to 2016 of national Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older. Participants were not diagnosed with cancer for at least the first 10 years of the study.

They examined participants with breast, colorectal, endometrial, and prostate cancers, and analyzed cancer risk as it related to air pollutants.

Results demonstrated that chronic PM2.5 and NO2 exposures increased the risk of developing colorectal and prostate cancers; NO2 exposure was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

View from Griffin Park in California

View from Griffin Park in California

Getty Images / Jon Hicks


The Correlation Between Pollution and Cancer

While pollution is known to be a contributing factor to lung cancer, the new study confirms that it can negatively impact other parts of your health, too.

According to Thomas Dailey, MD, a pulmonary and critical care medicine with Kaiser Permanente in Northern California and Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the inhalation of fine particle materials causes irritation—this irritation expands to other areas of health aside from lung cancer.

Studies also show that breast, liver, and pancreas cancer can be caused by air pollution and poor air quality.

“One reason is the ultrafine particulate materials get into the bloodstream and aren’t stopped just by the lungs—it goes through many major organs,” Dailey said. “Aside from cancer, we also see increases in heart attacks and strokes in Emergency Departments on poor air quality days.”

Risk of Fatal Heart Attack May Double During Heat Waves and Days With Poor Air Quality

Some Regions Have Higher Pollution Levels Than Others

According to the State of the Air report from the American Lung Association, four of the top five most polluted cities are in California: Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno-Madera-Hanford, and Los Angeles-Long Beach. Fairbanks, Alaska rounds out the top five.

“It’s usually concentrated in urban areas, especially major cities, and in industrial areas where factories and power plants are located, and along the highways,” Wei said.

He explained that regions with surrounding mountains—like Central Valley in California—may also see lower air quality due to pollution being trapped in certain areas. Regions with more wildfires are also prone to more pollution.

Recently, the wildfires in Canada have made the general public more aware of air quality concerns and the importance of checking the air quality in your area.

“The recent exposure of smoke on the east coast from Canadian forest fires has created an awareness in the general population of the air quality index (AQI), which is reported daily on most weather apps or websites,” said Louis Potters, MD, the chair of radiation medicine at Lenox Hill.

Potters explained that the AQI is composed of several factors, like particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (both of which were included in the new research).

“Awareness of the AQI helps to offer the opportunity to avoid outdoor exposure when the AQI exceeds dangerous levels," Potters said.

You can check the air quality of your region by visiting the Air Now website.

How to Protect Yourself From Air Pollution

There are numerous ways to stay healthy and safe amidst poor air quality. Daily recommends the following:

  • Avoid being outdoors on poor air quality days.
  • Make repairs to your home to make them airtight. For instance, if you can smell smoke on wildfire days, your doors and windows are not airtight.
  • Avoid exercising on poor air quality days. If you must, exercise early in the morning.
  • Have enough food on hand during extreme weather or poor air quality days. Find nonperishable foods like storable milk that don’t require refrigeration.
  • For essential workers who need to be out such as firefighters, police, and city workers, please wear an N-95 mask. They provide better protection than both cloth and surgical masks and can protect you from particulate matter.

“While we all got used to wearing surgical masks with COVID, one needs to be aware that only the N95 mask is helpful in decreasing exposure to air pollutants," Potters said.

Additionally, he emphasized that special attention is required when the AQI exceeds 200, but some individuals at risk for respiratory or cardiac issues, a level of greater than 100 may require avoidance of outdoor activities such as exercise or prolonged time out of doors.

Paying attention to the AQI allows people to better avoid acute illness, and, based on the new study, cancer risk.

“Being aware of the air quality index serves as an indicator when to be cautious out of doors to lower one’s risk of respiratory and cardiac illness but also for lowering one’s risk of cancer,” Potters said.

Extreme Heat Can Be Deadly, Experts Urge These Tips for Avoiding Illness and Injury

Self-Care With a Side of Fitness: Is 'Cozy Cardio' Really a Good Workout?

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Self-Care With a Side of Fitness: Is 'Cozy Cardio' Really a Good Workout?
  • "Cozy cardio" is a new at-home fitness trend where people engage in low-impact exercise while staying relatively comfortable.
  • The trend was started by TikToker Hope Zuckerbrow, who said that the relaxed workout experience makes physical activity more enjoyable and less intimidating.
  • Cozy cardio may benefit the mind and body, experts said, but it's important that people also take time to challenge themselves to improve fitness and health.

woman exercising in living room on treadmill

woman exercising in living room on treadmill

Valentina Barreto/Stocksy


Many gym-goers subscribe to a "no pain, no gain" mentality when it comes to working out, but a new TikTok trend is flipping the mantra on its head—some users say that your daily cardio should be cozy instead of painful.

“Cozy cardio” typically involves some form of low-impact exercise done at home with a self-care twist. People complete their workout with comfortable clothes, dim lighting, their favorite movie or TV show, and even aromatherapy. The trend has since gone viral on TikTok.

Low-impact workouts such as walking or using a stationary bike aren't necessarily novel. However, the appeal of cozy cardio seems to be that it promotes exercise as something that feels enjoyable, rather than simply a chore to avoid.

There's a lot to love about this concept, specifically as a method of self-care, or as a way to add more physical activity to someone's day as they relax. But can cozy cardio really improve fitness levels, or is it simply another trivial exercise trend?

“The key lies in finding a balance between comfort and exertion to ensure that the workout contributes to improving cardiovascular health and overall fitness,” Mike Hamlin, a certified strength and conditioning coach, told Health.

Here's what experts had to say about when cozy cardio can be effective, and the best ways to establish a comfortable, yet challenging workout routine.

Cozy Cardio Aims to Improve Mind and Body

The term “cozy cardio” was coined in late 2022 by TikToker Hope Zuckerbrow. She’s since built a collection of nearly 30 videos on the subject, where she walks other TikTok users through her cozy cardio process. Zuckerbrow wakes up early, lights candles, makes her favorite protein coffee drink, puts on a movie, and then walks on a walking pad at a relatively relaxed pace. In some videos, Zuckerbrow even does her cozy cardio wearing a robe, fuzzy socks, and slippers.

Since she started posting, her cozy cardio content has gotten upwards of 2 million views, and has inspired others to post their videos trying the trend.

For Zuckerbrow, cozy cardio started as a way to heal her relationship with exercise.

“Society puts so much pressure on women to look a certain way, and because of that, a lot of them have turned exercise into a punishment,” she said a recent video. Creating a relaxing ritual around her workout has helped Zuckerbrow enjoy being active—for her, cozy cardio has become a form of “meditational self-love.”

Cozy cardio might also be a useful tool to help people get back into the habit of doing physical activity. And the fact that it's done in a comfortable environment—specifically, at home—may be a way to overcome some apprehension or fear around working out in front of other people.

Zuckerbrow admits she suffered from a serious case of “gymxiety” that held her back from going to a gym or otherwise exercising in public. About half of Americans feel the same way, according to a 2019 survey.

"The cozy cardio trend seems to have a positive intention of making exercise more enjoyable and less intimidating,” said Hamlin. “I love this, because incorporating elements of comfort and entertainment can potentially make the experience more appealing and get more people involved.”

In addition to making physical activity feel a bit less intimidating, cozy cardio may also help people exercise more frequently. Since the workout is done at home, there's no need to put on exercise clothes and physically go to the gym. This easy-access and comfortable experience could be the perfect no-pressure entry to fitness.

“I could see cozy cardio being very effective at slowly building up positive associations with fitness, which is super beneficial for long-term health,” said Hamlin.

What Are the Benefits of Exercise on Mental Health?

Is Cozy Cardio Enough of a Workout?

It’s important that cozy cardio is also assessed by its ability to deliver real fitness benefits, Hamlin said. For anyone other than a beginner, cozy cardio will likely lose effectiveness as fitness levels plateau.

“I don't mind the idea of finding new forms of exercise that are enjoyable, as they can lead to better workout retention over the long term,” said Hamlin. “We just need to make sure that we don't get caught thinking that a super light exercise session daily will always be enough."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio each week. For an activity to qualify as moderate-intensity, it has to be challenging enough to raise a person's heart rate and make them get a bit sweaty. If someone's doing a moderate-intensity activity, they should be able to hold a conversation, but not sing, the CDC adds.

This is just the baseline, however. A 2022 study found that adults who exercised at least 150 minutes per week had a substantially lower risk of death from all causes than those who didn’t. But the risks were even lower for those who exercised longer and at a higher intensity.

Doing a moderate-intensity cozy cardio workout for at least 150 minutes per week can certainly support a healthy lifestyle. But to grow strength and increase health benefits, people need to challenge themselves.

“If you want to have a really effective workout, you’ve got to move your muscles and put strain on them,” Josh York, certified personal trainer and owner of GymGuyz, told Health. Over time, your body adapts to the strain by growing stronger and fitter.

“A lot of times, getting to a point where you are really working your muscles requires you to be uncomfortable,” he added.

How To Make Exercise Easier—Even When You Don't Want To Work Out

A Healthy Compromise

If someone's goal is to add more movement to their day, relieve stress, or overcome anxiety around fitness, then cozy cardio may be a great addition to their weekly routine. To see more significant improvements in strength or fitness, however, a little discomfort may be necessary.

This is something that Zuckerbrow herself seems to understand—in addition to cozy cardio, she also posts videos of more intense gym sessions. Balance is key.

In order to create that more balanced workout routine, it’s best to start with small changes. For example, people can consider increasing the incline when they walk on the treadmill, York said. These increases in intensity can help improve fitness over time.

“You can still have that element of comfort, but by incorporating an incline, you can bring up your heart rate and add in a little extra burn," he said. If you’re walking outside, find some hills instead of sticking to flat terrain.

Plus, trying out a new or more intense form of exercise doesn't always have to feel challenging or negative. If it's the cozy cardio mindset that people are after, they can seek out other forms of exercise that may not even feel like a workout, such as dancing, raking leaves, or hiking with a friend.

But as long as a person is challenging themselves, they'll continue to see improvements in health and fitness—it really doesn't matter whether that's weightlifting at the gym or walking in bunny slippers at home.

How To Make Exercise Easier—Even When You Don't Want To Work Out

People With Type 2 Diabetes May Want to Avoid These Kinds of Foods—Even if They're 'Healthy'

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People With Type 2 Diabetes May Want to Avoid These Kinds of Foods—Even if They're 'Healthy'
  • New research found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in people with type 2 diabetes.
  • This was the case even if a person’s diet seemed nutritionally balanced and healthy.
  • Experts note that the processing of food often contains additional, non-nutritional factors like additives, contaminants from plastics, alterations to the food, etc.

Ultra-processed food, even if it’s seemingly healthy, is associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in people with type 2 diabetes, a new study finds.

Even if something appears to be healthy, like fruit yogurt, people with diabetes may need to take a closer look at how processed the item is.

The new research, published last month in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) was associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality for people with type 2 diabetes, even when people’s diet quality was otherwise considered healthy.

Previous dietary recommendations for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes have focused almost exclusively on less processed, nutritionally balanced foods that fit into a dietary pattern like the Mediterranean or DASH diet, explained lead study author Marialaura Bonaccio, PhD, from the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention at the IRCCS Neuromed Mediterranean Neurological Institute.

But, even healthy foods may become problematic when exposed to high degrees of processing.

“Rating foods on the basis of their nutritional content alone is thought to have some important limitations since other non-nutritional aspects are relevant to health,” Bonaccio said.

Non-nutritional aspects include how many steps of processing are involved in taking a food from its original form to its finished state, or how many additives are used.

Think: vegetables that get turned into veggie chips or whole grains that are processed into granola bars.

“Our findings suggest that people with type 2 diabetes should not only pay attention to the nutritional composition of foods but also contextually limit consumption of UPFs,” Bonaccio said. 

Woman buying yogurt at the grocery store

Woman buying yogurt at the grocery store

Getty Images / Hispanolistic


The Link Between Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

In order to best understand the connection between ultra-processed foods and heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes, it’s helpful to realize that these individuals are more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease in general.

A 2018 study in Cardiovascular Diabetology found that overall CVD affects approximately 32.2% of all people with type 2 diabetes. This is compared to 5.5% prevalence in the general population, this number is quite high.

“People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have twice the risk of developing CVD than those who do not have diabetes,” dietitian and certified diabetes educator Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDCES, LDN, CPT, author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet, told Health.

“Insulin resistance can increase the risk of CVD, and co-morbidities associated with diabetes including hypertension and obesity can further increase disease risk.”

What Is Hypertension?

The Connection Between Ultra-Processed Foods and Heart Disease in Type 2 Diabetes

When it comes to heart health in people with diabetes, diet matters—and, according to Bonaccio and her colleagues’ research, adding ultra-processed foods to the mix doesn’t help.

The researchers collected data on 1,065 participants with type 2 diabetes with an average follow-up of 11.6 years. Over that time, participants logged their food choices, which were analyzed for levels of processing using a classification system called NOVA.

“NOVA classification categorizes foods on the basis of the extent and purpose of processing, regardless of nutritional quality of foods,” Bonaccio said.

The study was able to identify 22 foods and beverages, including fruit yogurts, savory snacks, salty biscuits, aperitif biscuits, crackers, and carbonated drinks.

Participants were split up based on the amount of processed foods they regularly ate. Those with the highest consumption of ultra-processed foods had a 60% increased risk of dying from any cause; their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was also more than double the risk of people who consumed less UPFs.

The study found that even when people reported adhering to a healthy, Mediterranean-style diet, this did not substantially change the effects of ultra-processed foods on their heart health.

Bonaccio explained that the nutritional content of the food isn’t the key focus here—it’s the non-nutritional factors like additives, contaminants from plastics, alterations to the food, etc. that seem to be associated with poor cardiovascular health outcomes.

Ultimately, the study suggests that the further from nature foods get, the more they may trigger heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

Identifying Ultra-Processed Foods in Your Grocery Store

Since the average eater isn’t likely to have NOVA definitions on hand when grocery shopping, you may wonder how to identify foods that are ultra-processed.

Palinski-Wade defines ultra-processed foods as a form of processed food that has been altered to include added sugars, salt, fats (including oils), and starches.

“This can include commercially made breads and cereals, soft drinks, hot dogs, crackers, cookies, and some frozen foods (i.e. chicken nuggets),” she said.

A lengthy ingredient list is often a sign of ultra-processing, even if the item seems healthy. It’s helpful to take a look not only at the length of an ingredient list, but what it contains. If a food features numerous additives and unfamiliar ingredients, that’s a likely sign of ultra-processing.

6 Simple Diet Changes That Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Should You Eliminate Ultra-Processed Foods If You Have Type 2 Diabetes?

Bonaccio and her team recommend people with type 2 diabetes limit ultra-processed foods for the sake of heart health. But in a world that runs on convenience, that can seem like an intimidating ask.

Fortunately, according to Palinski-Wade, ruthlessly eliminating all ultra-processed foods probably isn’t necessary.

“People with diabetes can absolutely include ultra-processed foods in their diet,” she said. “The real focus needs to be on how much of the diet is made up of ultra-processed foods as well as the level of processing these foods have undergone.”

For example, roasted salted nuts and pork rinds could both be considered ultra-processed, but they have vastly different effects on health.

Palinski-Wade also pointed out that the study looked at association, not causation. A variety of factors that influence heart disease risk in people with diabetes may not have been considered.

“A person who eats a large amount of ultra-processed foods may also include additional lifestyle factors that may contribute to an increase mortality risk,” she said. “For instance, they may consume a low overall intake of fruits and vegetables, or may be under high-stress levels, which leads to a lack of time to prepare foods at home or don’t exercise often.”

Ultimately, it’s best to limit ultra-processed foods, regardless of health status. But eating them occasionally probably won’t be a dealbreaker for your cardiovascular health.

“There is no need to panic or restrict these foods entirely,” Palinski-Wade said. “Having some of these foods as part of a balanced meal plan that is rich in whole foods, fiber, and slow-digested carbs can still promote blood sugar balance and fight against future disease.

The Surprising Thing That Might Mess Up Your Blood Pressure Reading

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The Surprising Thing That Might Mess Up Your Blood Pressure Reading
  • Using incorrectly sized blood pressure cuffs can lead to significantly inaccurate blood pressure readings, especially for individuals with larger arms, new research shows.
  • Incorrect blood pressure readings can result in misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment decisions, researchers said.
  • It's crucial to consider arm size when choosing a cuff and to follow recommended protocols for accurate blood pressure measurements.

woman having blood pressure taken at doctor's office

woman having blood pressure taken at doctor's office

Maskot/Getty Images


A person's blood pressure can provide essential insights into their health, but new research finds that something as seemingly minor as the fit of an arm cuff can throw these crucial readings out of whack. 

For the study, published earlier this month in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers used varying-sized cuffs to test the blood pressure of nearly 200 adults. They found that using a standard blood pressure cuff regardless of a person’s arm size led to “strikingly inaccurate” blood pressure readings—especially for people with larger arms.

These results emphasize the need to individualize blood pressure cuffs, the researchers concluded.

“Clinical practice guidelines recommend selecting an appropriately sized blood pressure cuff based on arm size prior to measuring blood pressure,” lead study author Junichi Ishigami, MD, MPH, an assistant scientist of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Health. “However, this procedure is often overlooked—due to time constraints and lack of cuffs with different sizes—and a regular adult blood pressure cuff is used routinely for all individuals.”

Most People Don't Know What a Normal or Healthy Blood Pressure Is, Study Shows

The Importance of Blood Pressure Readings

“Proper blood pressure screening at the provider’s office is critical,” Nadine M. Aktan, PhD, assistant dean of advanced practice at the Rutgers University School of Nursing, told Health. 

Blood pressure tests measure the pressure of blood pushing against artery walls. A low reading can indicate an issue if it’s accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness or nausea, according to the American Heart Association. High blood pressure, or hypertension, signals a higher-than-normal risk of developing severe health complications such as a heart attack or stroke.

What Blood Pressure Readings Mean

The first number in a blood pressure reading is systolic blood pressure, which shows how much pressure your blood exerts against the artery walls when the heart contracts. The second number, diastolic blood pressure, indicates the pressure exerted when the heart is at rest.

  • A normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mm Hg.
  • High blood pressure is considered 140/90 mm Hg or higher.
  • Low blood pressure is considered less than 90/60 mm Hg.

“A lot of health decisions are made on that blood pressure reading in the office,” Jennifer Wong, MD, a cardiologist and medical director of non-invasive cardiology at the MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., told Health.

A high blood pressure reading would usually prompt a doctor to recommend a patient begin taking blood pressure at home, she said. Because blood pressure may be highest in the office (a phenomenon called white coat hypertension), home recordings can give the patient and doctor a better idea of what’s really happening with blood pressure and how it might be changing over time, Thomas Boyden, MD, Corewell Health medical director for preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation, told Health. 

Having an incorrect reading can be a big deal, Dr. Boyden stressed, especially if results are consistently off. “Incorrect blood pressure readings can lead to over-treatment, which can lead to medication side effects, or under-treatment which puts an individual at higher risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and other organ damage,” he said.

How an Incorrect Cuff Size Affects Blood Pressure Readings

To look at the impact of “miscuffing” on blood pressure readings, the researchers recruited 195 people in Baltimore and measured their upper arm circumference to determine their appropriate cuff size. Researchers then had participants walk around for two minutes before getting their pressure tested using three different-sized cuffs: one that was too small, one that was too large, and one that was their size. Participants repeated the process three times. 

Using a too-small or too-large cuff size resulted in “clinically and statistically significant lower and higher BP readings, respectively,” the researchers wrote. 

People who used a standard cuff when they needed a smaller one had readings that were, on average, about 2% lower than they should have been. Meanwhile, those who used a standard cuff size instead of a large one had readings artificially inflated by an average of 4%. Participants who needed an extra-large cuff had an even greater percentage error, on average: about 14% too high.

“These findings are a good reminder that we should be looking at a patient’s size when we choose a blood pressure cuff and, ideally, should be measuring them,” said Dr. Wong.

What Is a Healthy Blood Pressure Reading—And How Can You Keep Yours in a Normal Range?

How to Know When a Cuff Size is Right For You

Unless you have expertise in blood pressure cuffs, it’s often tough to know what you’re getting at the doctor’s office, said Dr. Ishigami. Therefore, “it’s best if you ask your doctor which blood pressure cuff size is right for you,” he advised.

It’s especially important to say something if you feel like the cuff doesn’t fit, Aktan pointed out. “In general, the blood pressure cuff should cover about 75% to 100% of the distance around the upper arm and be wide enough to cover from 40% to 80% of the distance from the elbow to the shoulder,” she explained.

When it comes to buying a blood pressure cuff, Aktan suggested measuring the circumference of your arm in centimeters and choosing the next size up if one matches your exact arm size or you fall between sizes. “If you measured 35 centimeters and you’re choosing between a cuff that is 32 or 37 centimeters, you would go with the 37 centimeters,” she said.

A pharmacist can help if you’re buying a cuff at a pharmacy, said Dr. Ishigami, and the doctor who recommended taking your blood pressure at home can also measure your arm and suggest a size.

Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

Other Factors That Influence Blood Pressure Readings

Other factors besides an ill-fitting cuff can throw off your reading, Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, a board-certified cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., told Health. They include what kind of activity you did before the reading, your positioning during the test, any recent caffeine consumption, and what he called the “classic reason” for a higher-than-normal reading: anxiety, either over the test or something else.

To make sure you’re getting the most representative reading possible, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:

  • Not eating or drinking anything 30 minutes before the test 
  • Emptying your bladder before your reading
  • Sitting in a comfortable chair with your back supported for at least five minutes before your reading
  • Putting both feet flat on the ground and keeping your legs uncrossed
  • Resting your arm with the cuff on a table at chest height
  • Putting the cuff against your bare skin, not over your clothes
  • Not talking while your blood pressure is being measured

If you get one or several blood pressure readings that seem to stray from your norm, talk to a healthcare provider about your concerns. They can work with you to dig deeper into why the reading may be off.

These Trader Joe’s Crackers May Contain Metal, Company Says

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These Trader Joe’s Crackers May Contain Metal, Company Says
  • Trader Joe’s Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds have been recalled due to possible foreign material (metal).
  • The recalled products have “best if used by dates” between March 1, 2024 and March 5, 2024.
  • Anyone in possession of the recalled crackers should not eat them; the product should be thrown away or returned to a Trader Joe’s store for a full refund.

Another Trader Joe’s item has been voluntarily recalled due to possible foreign contamination—this time metal, according to a company press release.

The recall, posted on Thursday, includes certain units of Trader Joe’s Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds (SKU# 76156).

The affected products have “best if used by” dates between March 1, 2024 and March 5, 2024.

All of the recalled products have been removed from Trader Joe’s shelves and destroyed, the company said. However, people who may have purchased or received any donations of the multigrain crackers should check the products’ best-by dates to ensure they are outside of the recalled dates. 

If a person does have one of the recalled products, they should not eat the crackers and should either throw them away or return the box to a Trader Joe’s store for a full refund, the grocery chain said.

The company did not provide information on how metal could have contaminated the crackers.

According to the company's press release, there have not been any reports of injuries associated with the recall. 

For questions regarding any of its recent recalls, customers can contact Trader Joe’s customer relations by calling 626-599-3817, or by sending an email via an online contact form.

Trader Joe's mulitgrain crackers with sunflower and flax seeds

Trader Joe's mulitgrain crackers with sunflower and flax seeds

Trader Joe's


Zespri Kiwifruit Recalled Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Latest in a Slew of Trader Joe’s Recalls

The Multigrain Crackers with Sunflower and Flax Seeds is the fourth Trader Joe’s product to be recalled within the last month. The recent recalls have all been due to possible foreign material contamination, though it’s not clear if the recalls are related in any way.

In late July, Trader Joe’s recalled two types of its cookies due to possible rock contamination. The company also recalled certain falafel and soup products due to possible rock and insect contamination, respectively. 

Trader Joe’s was also involved in a large frozen fruit recall in June—its Organic Tropical Fruit Blend may have been contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

“We have a close relationship with our vendors. We err on the side of caution and are proactive in addressing issues," the company said in an online statement regarding general food safety. "We voluntarily take action quickly, aggressively investigating potential problems and removing the product from sale if there is any doubt about its safety or quality."

While no injuries or illness has been reported from the multigrain cracker recall, foreign material contamination can be a cause for concern if the object is sharp or hard. Smaller items rarely cause injury, the Food and Drug Administration said, but ones larger than 7 millimeters have a greater likelihood of damaging a person’s mouth, tongue, throat, stomach, teeth, or intestines.

In the case of this newest Trader Joe’s recall, it’s unclear how large or small the metal included might be. But, to err on the side of caution, people should not consume the affected crackers.

Frozen Strawberries and Hepatitis A Risk: What to Do If You Have Recalled Products at Home

Thinking You Slept Well Is Associated With Better Mood—No Matter What Your Tracker Says

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Thinking You Slept Well Is Associated With Better Mood—No Matter What Your Tracker Says
  • A person's assessment of how they slept is linked to their well-being, regardless of what their sleep tracker said, new research found.
  • This suggests that people could improve their mood and well-being by thinking more positively about their sleep, though more research is needed.
  • Experts aren't yet sure why sleep tracker data isn't related to how a person feels the next day.

young woman sleeping with sleep tracker

young woman sleeping with sleep tracker

Oleksandra Troian/Getty Images


How a person thinks they slept may have a greater impact on their well-being the next day than what a sleep tracker says, according to a new study.

The research, published in Emotion on August 3, could indicate that subjective sleep experiences are more important when it comes to well-being than more objective data.

“When participants reported that they slept better than they normally did, they experienced more positive emotions and had a higher sense of life satisfaction the following day,” lead study author Anita Lenneis, PhD, a psychologist, and honorary research fellow at the University of Warwick, said in a press release.

However, sleep efficiency, determined by the sleep tracker, “was not associated with next day’s well-being at all,” she added.

The study took place in the U.K., and included data from 109 young adults. More research needs to be done to determine if the findings are generalizable to other age groups and populations, however, the study could indicate that feeling good about the sleep you got could improve well-being.

Here’s what experts had to say about why self-perception of sleep trumps what the sleep tracker says, and ways to improve sleep quality to boost your next-day mood.

Being Satisfied With Sleep Is Correlated with Improved Well-Being

Other studies have found links between people’s emotions and their sleep quality, but this study in particular aimed to examine how sleep devices and perception changed well-being for each person.

“They were basically asking—in this young, presumably sleep-healthy group—how well does [an] individual’s sleep variables, or their report of sleep satisfaction, predict how good one feels during the day?” Michael Perlis, PhD, director of the behavioral sleep medicine program at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, told Health.

The study included 109 undergraduate participants ranging in age from 18 to 22. About 64% were female, and about half were from the U.K.

Each participant submitted sleep data for two weeks between October 2017 and March 2018. They also wore actigraphs, devices that measures people’s movement, to track their sleep.

The actigraph recorded the following sleep metrics:

  • Sleep onset latency, or how long it took people to fall asleep
  • Sleep duration, or how many hours of sleep people got
  • Social jet lag, or differences in people’s social and biological clocks
  • Sleep efficiency, or the percentage of time a person slept for after going to bed

Through an app, participants were then given daily surveys that they had 24 hours to complete, which asked them to log when they went to bed, the time it took them to fall asleep, when they woke up, and if they woke up on time. They also ranked their “sleep satisfaction” on a scale from one to four.

In addition, the study participants were asked to fill out more frequent “momentary surveys,” as well.

“At five random time points throughout the day, our participants also reported on their well-being. More specifically, they rated their mood, (e.g., how happy, enthusiastic, upset, and worried they felt) and how satisfied they were with their lives at that very moment,” senior study author Anu Realo, MSc, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Warwick, told Health in an email. 

Taking this data, researchers looked for associations between people’s sleep habits and their subjective well-being, or generally, how positive people felt and how satisfied they were with their lives.

“Our results showed that young adults’ sleep satisfaction, that is their subjective sleep quality, was most consistently linked with their well-being on the next day,” Realo said. “Curiously, the actigraphy-derived measure of sleep quality was not associated with next day’s well-being at all.”

Here's How to Get the Sleep Amount—and Quality—You Need

Disconnect Between Sleep Trackers and Self-Reports Still a Mystery

As for why a person’s perception of how they slept the night before is linked to well-being more so than trackers, there could be a few different explanations.

For one, people may feel positive and energized if they think they’ve slept well. Though it’s not specifically examined in the study, it’s possible that “how you feel in the morning influences how you feel throughout the day,” Lenneis told Health in an email.

This may ring true, regardless of whether a person actually got objectively restful sleep—previous research has shown that “placebo sleep,” or thinking you’re more well-rested than you really are, has still been linked to improved cognitive function over people who believe they slept poorly.

Another explanation is simply that the metric of sleep satisfaction may be able to better explain how a person actually slept, Perlis said.

“It’s an omnibus variable,” he added. “Lots of things go into whether you’re satisfied with your sleep.”

This could explain why this subjective variable was more closely tied to well-being—the general feeling a person has about how well they slept likely involves dozens of different factors, whereas the sleep tracker can only measure a few things that might have an effect on sleep quality.

“There is more that goes into sleep than just how long does it take you to fall asleep? How long were you asleep for? How much did you wake up? How efficient is your sleep?” Perlis said. “There’s more to it.”

This is especially true when connecting it to something else that’s subjective—namely, people’s well-being and life satisfaction.

“If you’re asking about subjective experience of the night, and you’re asking about subjective experience of the day, it’s not a shock that those things are best correlated,” Perlis added.

But for now, we can only speculate as to why there’s a dissonance between self-reported feelings about sleep and what trackers say.

This disconnect is “consistent with previous research,” Realo explained, but it’s not clear “whether people are bad judges of their sleep quality, or [whether] we need better and more accurate sleep measurement techniques.”

Can a 'Depression Nap' Actually Improve Your Mood?

Increasing Well-Being with Quality Sleep

The study has a smaller number of participants with an extremely limited age range. Because of this, the findings are not generalizable to the broader population, especially since “sleep patterns and quality tend to change as people age,” Realo said. Future research should examine whether this connection between subjective well-being and perception of sleep exists for different ages or other groups, the study authors wrote.

However, this link could have interesting applications in people’s lives, as people navigate ways to sleep and feel better.

“Your perception of sleep might be more important than what sleep trackers say about it when it comes to your well-being,” Lenneis said. “If someone thinks that they slept badly but a sleep tracker said that they did sleep more or better than they did, it might be useful for reappraising your sleep.”

It’s of course more likely that a person evaluates their sleep positively if they feel like they got enough sleep. Not doing so may not only worsen a person’s mood, but can also raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, poor mental health, and early death.

In order to improve sleep, people have to make sure they have the opportunity to sleep, the ability to sleep, and the correct amount of sleep that they need, Perlis explained.

He and his team have been developing a screening survey that people can take to get a better idea of their sleep health, and whether they might be experiencing any sleep disorders. The idea is that, if people aren’t feeling satisfied with their current sleep habits, they can take the report to a doctor to get any potential issues evaluated, he said.

People can also improve their sleep—and possibly, their well-being—by committing to simple strategies such as going to bed at consistent times throughout the week, avoiding electronic devices before bed, and making sure their bedroom is quiet, relaxing, and dark.

The 10 Best Fitness Trackers of 2023

Rare Flesh-Eating Bacteria Kills 3 in Northeast—What We Know So Far

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Rare Flesh-Eating Bacteria Kills 3 in Northeast—What We Know So Far
  • Health officials in Connecticut and New York are warning of a rare bacterial infection from the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria found in both states.
  • Three people have died—two in Connecticut and one in New York—after contracting Vibrio vulnificus infections (vibriosis).
  • While anyone can become infected, people who have underlying conditions or are immunocompromised are at a greater risk for severe illness.

oysters in a restaurant

oysters in a restaurant

Mariia Zotova/Getty Images


Three people have died in New York and Connecticut after coming into contact with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which can cause a rare but severe infection, according to health officials.

In Connecticut, two people who died likely got the Vibrio vulnificus infection (vibriosis) after swimming in salt or brackish water in the Long Island Sound with open wounds. A third person in the state, who was hospitalized but has not died, was infected after eating raw oysters from an out-of-state establishment.

The death in New York’s Suffolk County is still being investigated to determine where the bacteria was encountered, according to a news release from the state’s department of health.

Health officials in both states are now warning residents and providers to be aware of the possibility of vibriosis, and to swim in seawater and eat raw seafood with caution.

“While rare, the vibrio bacteria has unfortunately made it to this region and can be extraordinarily dangerous,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a news release. “As we investigate further, it is critical that all New Yorkers stay vigilant and take responsible precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, including protecting open wounds from seawater and for those with compromised immune systems, avoiding raw or undercooked shellfish which may carry the bacteria.”

Here’s what to know about vibriosis, and how best to protect yourself.

What Is Food Poisoning?

What Is Vibriosis?

Vibriosis is a bacterial infection caused by several species of Vibrio bacteria. In these recent cases, Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is the culprit.

It's estimated that vibriosis causes 800,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the U.S. each year, and results from people consuming raw or undercooked seafood, or exposing an open wound to seawater. Most infections occur when the weather is warm—between May and October.

Though most people who are immunocompetent will have a mild case of vibriosis, Vibrio vulnificus bacteria in particular can cause life-threatening wound infections that can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, which is why it’s commonly referred to as a “flesh-eating bacteria,” according to William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that people with Vibrio vulnificus infections often require intensive care or limb amputations. An estimated 1 in 5 people with the infection die, often with a day or two.

Though anyone can get vibriosis through a wound or via eating raw seafood, there are some people who may be more likely to get an infection and have it turn severe, including people who have a weakened immune system, liver disease, or are taking medication to lower stomach acid levels.

Symptoms of Vibriosis

How a Vibrio vulnificus infection presents depends on how it was acquired—whether it was through eating raw or undercooked oysters or shellfish, or if the bacteria gets into an open wound, according to Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

If it’s ingested, people can expect to have some gastrointestinal symptoms that typically start within 24 hours of eating the contaminated food and can last approximately three days. Those symptoms include:

  • Watery diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fever and chills

Vibrio vulnificus infections can also cause more severe illness when ingested, leading to bloodstream infections and severe blistering skin lesions.

If Vibrio vulnificus gets into an open wound, it can cause a life-threatening infection that can spread throughout the entire body. The symptoms of a wound infected by the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria include:

  • Fever
  • Redness
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Warmth
  • Discoloration
  • Discharge (leaking fluids from the wound)

People are typically diagnosed with vibriosis if Vibrio bacteria are found in their wound, blood, or stool. People with a gastrointestinal case of vibriosis may not need any treatment other than supportive care; in more severe cases, infections are treated with antibiotics, and potentially amputation to remove dead or infected tissue.

Is Raw Fish Good for You?

Reducing Your Risk of Vibriosis

Since you can get vibriosis from raw or undercooked seafood—particularly raw oysters and shellfish—the only way to fully cook seafood to kill the bacteria. (The CDC notes that neither hot sauce nor lemon will kill Vibrio bacteria; drinking alcohol while eating oysters won’t kill it either). You also can’t tell if an oyster or other seafood contains the harmful bacteria just by look, smell, or taste.

People who are healthy or immunocompetent may be able to eat oysters without much of a risk, but some people are much more likely to get an infection or severe complication, including people who:

  • Have liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or thalassemia (an inherited blood disorder)
  • Receive immune-suppressing therapy
  • Take medicine to decrease stomach acid levels
  • Have had recent stomach surgery

Regarding wound infections from Vibrio vulnificus, the best way to reduce your chances is to stay out of saltwater or brackish water (a mix of fresh and saltwater) if you have any kind of open wound, which includes recent piercings, tattoos, or surgeries. You can also get a Vibrio wound infection if it comes into contact with raw or undercooked seafood or its juices.

“If you’re immunocompromised and have a new injury that hasn’t healed, stay out of the water,” Dr. Schaffner said. “This is the time to relax in the sun instead.”

If you must go into saltwater or brackish water with an open wound, you should cover with a waterproof bandage, and then wash wounds and cuts thoroughly with soap and water after any potential contact.

Go Ahead and Lift Whatever Kind of Weights You Want—You'll Still Build Muscle

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Go Ahead and Lift Whatever Kind of Weights You Want—You'll Still Build Muscle
  • All kinds of weightlifting—using heavy weights for fewer reps, or lighter weights for more reps—promotes muscle strength and mass, new research shows.
  • Study authors say the findings should be applied to the general population, as many people "are inactive and have a lot of strength to gain."
  • Overall, the hope is that the study will entice people to start lifting weights or engaging in other types of resistance training.

woman lifting weights at gym

woman lifting weights at gym

Diego Martin/Stocksy


If you want to gain muscle and strength by putting in as little effort as possible, researchers have good news: Any amount of resistance training can offer benefits.

That’s what a team concluded after analyzing nearly 200 studies measuring the effects of resistance training, also called strength training, on muscle strength and mass. The group found that this kind of exercise promoted both elements regardless of the intensity or frequency of workouts—though benefits increased with more exercise.

The meta-analysis was published in June in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Researchers hope the study's takeaway will entice people to start lifting weights or engage in other types of resistance training, given positive results could be seen no matter how intense the workout. “This approach to weight-lifting should be applied to the general population as the majority are inactive and have a lot of strength to gain,” registered kinesiologist Byron H. Washington II, RKT, MS, who specializes in the geriatric population and is unaffiliated with the research, told Health.

According to a 2018 study, only about 40% of adults do muscle-strengthening activities such as squats, push-ups, and bicep curls. That’s despite evidence that resistance exercises may do everything from improve physical function to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and obesity.

Is Weight Training the Key to Lowering Blood Pressure in Adults?

Examining Weight, Reps, and Frequency

Research into the effects of strength training has lagged behind that of aerobic exercise by a couple of decades, Stuart Phillips, a kinesiologist at McMaster University and one of the study’s authors, told Health.

“I would say most of the recommendations personal trainers give are a holdover from something they were taught as part of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and around training athletes, which is different from training quote on quote ‘mere mortals,’” he said.

Despite the lag, Phillips's team believed enough information existed on resistance training that it was time to develop what he called an “optimal prescription.”

“That’s what this analysis does that no other analysis prior ours has ever tried to do," he added.

To develop that prescription, researchers analyzed 192 previous studies examining how upper-body, lower-body, or full-body resistance exercises affected more than 5,000 adults without chronic disease. They found that each variation of resistance training—using heavy or light weights, performing sets ranging from one to three, exercising once to three times weekly—increased strength and muscle mass. 

However, the authors determined that certain factors resulted in even more improvement: People who used heavier weights got even stronger, and doing multiple sets increased muscle mass.

The researchers concluded that “regularly engaging” in any resistance training “is more important than trying to optimize” strength and muscle mass. 

Although the study found that doing some exercise is better than doing none, the authors said this shouldn’t deter healthcare providers from promoting existing guidelines on muscle-strengthening activities, which recommend that healthy adults do such exercises at least two days a week. 

Rather, their research also shows support for resistance training "at less than recommended often-cited levels,” the authors wrote.

Combining Strength Training and Cardio May Help You Live a Longer, Healthier Life

Workouts Can Be Simple

The study shows you don’t need to spend much money or have fancy supplies to do muscle-strengthening exercises, said Phillips.

“You can get lots of benefits using bodyweight exercises at home, and there are tons of free videos on YouTube,” he said, adding that resistance bands are another option for at-home workouts.

“For seniors or the general population that are just looking to be more active and healthy, a simple strength routine is very beneficial,” echoed Washington.

Bottom line: Whether you opt for lifting weights, carrying grocery bags, or doing lunges or squats, a little goes a long way when it comes to strengthening muscles.

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