Latest news with #ZacharyRubin
New York Post
4 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Warning to antidepressant users as heat wave temperatures hit 100 degrees
Can't take the heat? Your medication might be to blame. Doctors are warning that people taking certain antidepressants could be at risk of serious health problems as temperatures soar into the triple digits. They're urging users to take extra precautions as the tri-state swelters — before it's too late. Advertisement 3 Dr. Zachary Rubin is warning antidepressant users to be extra careful in the heat. TikTok/@rubin_allergy 'If you're taking certain antidepressants, you may be at risk for developing heat intolerance and dehydration,' Dr. Zachary Rubin, a pediatrician and immunologist, warned in a recent TikTok video. Studies show about 1 in 8 American adults take antidepressants. Research suggests that two major types can interfere with how the body regulates temperature. The first group, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), includes widely prescribed drugs like Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine) and Celexa (citalopram). Advertisement The second group, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), includes older meds such as Elavil (amitriptyline), Anafranil (clomipramine) and Silenor (doxepin). Studies show these medications can spike internal body temps to 106°F or higher — while also throwing a wrench in the body's natural cooling system. 'You may excessively sweat or you may not be able to sweat quite as much,' Rubin explained. Advertisement 3 Sweat helps protect the body from overheating. Getty Images That's no small issue: Sweating is the body's primary defense against overheating. Without it, your chances of heatstroke, organ failure and even death increases substantially. Research shows SSRIs and TCAs may also mess with the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that helps regulate body temperature, thirst and blood pressure. Advertisement 'When the hypothalamus cannot control body temperature, someone can overheat,' Dr. David Tzall, a licensed psychologist, told Medical News Today. That increased heat sensitivity increases your chances of heat exhaustion, which has symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, headaches and heavy sweating, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Left unchecked, heat exhaustion can quickly escalate into heat stroke — the most dangerous form of heat-related illness. At that stage, the body can begin to shut down, triggering seizures, hot dry skin or intense sweating, loss of consciousness and serious brain trouble, including confusion, erratic behavior and slurred speech. In extreme cases, heat stroke can cause permanent disability or death. 'If you begin to feel a rapid heartbeat, start sweating excessively, develop nausea, dizziness or leg cramping, immediately seek air conditioning and if necessary, have someone call 911,' Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency medicine physician, told Still, experts say SSRIs and TCAs are safe and effective — as long as patients know the risks and can spot the warning signs before things turn dangerous. Advertisement 3 SSRIs are the most popular form of antidepressants on the market. nenetus – Rubin recommends staying hydrated, avoiding direct sun and wearing loose, light-colored clothing when temperatures climb. 'If you are struggling at all, make sure that you seek out help,' he said. The warnings come as a once-in-a-century scorcher grips the East Coast, with more than 150 million Americans currently living under 'extreme' heat alerts. Advertisement Each summer, more than 500 New Yorkers die prematurely because of hot weather, a figure that has been climbing in recent years. 'This week's heat wave could be deadly and life threatening if you are not prepared,' Mayor Eric Adams warned in a recent public safety alert.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Is milk currently safe to drink? Doctor issues warning about pasteurized dairy
The government is really milking its resources. A leaked memo from the Food and Drug Administration announced a policy change that some believe could harm milk consumers. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that the FDA will suspend its proficiency testing process for Grade A milk and other dairy products following budget and staffing cuts, per the memo, amid President Trump's effort to remove 20,000 federal employees from the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA, which falls under the purview of HHS, has lost 3,500 roles as of April 1, according to NPR. An FDA spokesperson also confirmed to the Washington Post that the current constraints will continue until a new quality assurance laboratory has been established. 'In the meantime, state and federal labs continue to analyze food samples, and FDA remains committed to working with states to protect the safety of the pasteurized milk supply,' the spokesperson told WaPo. The news has many grocery shoppers concerned about the safety of their dairy products, particularly milk — such as TikTok user @cheyford95, whose video warning others about the change went viral on the app last week. The TikTokker offered a litany of store brands she intends to avoid: 'They will not be tested for any diseases, any pathogens, anything like that.' In response to the ensuing uproar around dairy products, popular health influencer and pediatric allergist Dr. Zachary Rubin advised consumers to move from standard pasteurized to ultra-pasteurized products. 'If you drink cow's milk … look for ultra pasteurized milk, where the milk is cooked at higher temperatures, which his more likely to kill off more microbes and have a longer shelf life.' 'You could also consider plant-based alternatives, like almond milk or oat milk. But that's also going to depend on your underlying health issues, and there's [sic] still potentially issues regarding food safety,' Ruben added, referring to the potential for quality testing cuts to other food groups under the FDA's watch. Milk that has been ultra-pasteurized, also labeled ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk, means it was heated enough to kill most harmful pathogens. This process affords milk products a longer shelf-life — although the United States Department of Agriculture recommends milk be consumed seven to 10 days after opening and stored in the refrigerator. In the WaPo report, an expert further explained that the FDA cuts only affect quality checks on the individual milk producers' own testing measures, rather than on the milk itself. Meanwhile, milk brands will continue to ensure their products are safe through their own monitoring systems. 'Ultimately, we're a very highly regulated industry, and it's going to continue to be very carefully regulated and monitored,' said Nicole Martin, an assistant research professor in dairy foods microbiology at Cornell University.
New York Post
26-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Is milk currently safe to drink? Doctor issues warning about pasteurized dairy
The government is really milking its resources. A leaked memo from the Food and Drug Administration announced a policy change that some believe could harm milk consumers. Following the recent revelation that the FDA has halted its quality assurance testing on Grade A dairy products, consumers are concerned about which brands of milk are safe to drink. bodnarphoto – On Tuesday, Reuters reported that the FDA will suspend its proficiency testing process for Grade A milk and other dairy products following budget and staffing cuts, per the memo, amid President Trump's effort to remove 20,000 federal employees from the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA, which falls under the purview of HHS, has lost 3,500 roles as of April 1, according to NPR. An FDA spokesperson also confirmed to the Washington Post that the current constraints will continue until a new quality assurance laboratory has been established. 'In the meantime, state and federal labs continue to analyze food samples, and FDA remains committed to working with states to protect the safety of the pasteurized milk supply,' the spokesperson told WaPo. The news has many grocery shoppers concerned about the safety of their dairy products, particularly milk — such as TikTok user @cheyford95, whose video warning others about the change went viral on the app last week. The TikTokker offered a litany of store brands she intends to avoid: 'They will not be tested for any diseases, any pathogens, anything like that.' In response to the ensuing uproar around dairy products, popular health influencer and pediatric allergist Dr. Zachary Rubin advised consumers to move from standard pasteurized to ultra-pasteurized products. 'If you drink cow's milk … look for ultra pasteurized milk, where the milk is cooked at higher temperatures, which his more likely to kill off more microbes and have a longer shelf life.' 'You could also consider plant-based alternatives, like almond milk or oat milk. But that's also going to depend on your underlying health issues, and there's [sic] still potentially issues regarding food safety,' Ruben added, referring to the potential for quality testing cuts to other food groups under the FDA's watch. Milk that has been ultra-pasteurized, also labeled ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk, means it was heated enough to kill most harmful pathogens. This process affords milk products a longer shelf-life — although the United States Department of Agriculture recommends milk be consumed seven to 10 days after opening and stored in the refrigerator. In the WaPo report, an expert further explained that the FDA cuts only affect quality checks on the individual milk producers' own testing measures, rather than on the milk itself. Meanwhile, milk brands will continue to ensure their products are safe through their own monitoring systems. 'Ultimately, we're a very highly regulated industry, and it's going to continue to be very carefully regulated and monitored,' said Nicole Martin, an assistant research professor in dairy foods microbiology at Cornell University.
