Holiday grief can be handled in these 9 ways, according to mental health experts

The holidays are meant to be a time of togetherness and celebration. Yet for those who have recently experienced loss or trauma, the season can bring sadness instead.

"Holiday-related grief can be about many things, like the loss of a loved one or bad memories from the past," Alysha Tagert, a trauma therapist in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.

While grief recovery is "not a one-size-fits-all process," there are ways to manage the moments that trigger extreme sadness, she said.

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For those who are grappling with grief during the holidays, Tagert and other mental health experts shared tips for navigating the challenges. 

Here are nine to know about. 

Grief is typically thought of as sadness in reaction to the loss of a person or thing, Tagert noted, but it can also include a range of other emotions that can catch people off guard.

"Grief consists of internal thoughts and feelings as well as external behaviors," she said. "They aren’t experienced in a linear fashion, which is why grief can catch people by surprise."

It’s important to identify your needs and honor them by communicating clearly with others, noted Christine Slomski, a licensed therapist in Mesa, Arizona.

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"This means letting friends and family know ahead of time how they can show up for you — from offering a hug to simply allowing you to have your space," she said in an email to Fox News Digital.

"People who are grieving during the holiday season should prepare themselves for tough moments that are undoubtedly going to occur, especially as everyone else seems so happy," said Tagert.

For those times when conversations arise that may cause grief or other uncomfortable emotions, Slomski suggested having some courteous phrases on hand to provide a brief answer, then redirect the conversation.

When you have a toolkit with ways to respond to emotional pain, you're better equipped to manage it, according to Slomski. 

"If you use unhealthy behaviors to avoid feeling grief and pain, write out a list of healthy alternatives," she suggested. 

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"Calling a friend to get coffee and talk can foster connection, going for a walk in the sun can release serotonin and clear the emotional cobwebs, and praying and meditating can calm your nervous system and recenter you," Slomski added.

If you experience a rush of grief while you're in a place where you can’t quickly slip away, she recommended taking a few deep breaths, holding a stone in your pocket or even chewing sugar-free gum to help relieve the stress.

"There are always known and unknown triggers when navigating grief — and that can be especially challenging around the holidays when everyone else seems full of cheer," noted Maggie Rose Macar, a New York-based CEO and the founder of zant, a mental health app.

She recommended scheduling sessions with a professional ahead of time, whether it’s a therapist who's already known or one who's found through referrals or digital resources.

To help ensure that you have a built-in support system, Macar suggested talking to those who are important to you to find out their holiday plans and make time to see them in advance. 

"Even when everything in you says to cancel and stay home, you must force yourself to get out," she told Fox News Digital.

"It’s normal to feel a little ‘off’ or sad during the holidays — don’t be afraid to share this with your loved ones so they can better understand and support you during this time of year."

Giving back might seem counterintuitive when anticipating or feeling grief, but benevolent acts, said Macar, can release chemicals like serotonin to help you feel better.

"It also shows you that there is good in the world — and seeing others smile because of your kindness can offer comfort when you need it most," she said.

Joining a support group can be a little nerve-racking at first, but finding the right group can help you feel understood and comforted, suggested Macar. 

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"Surrounding yourself in a confidential and safe space with others who may understand what you’re going through is like a breath of fresh air during troubling or difficult times," she said.

"Healing is a process, not a problem to be fixed or solved," Slomski told Fox News Digital.

"Give yourself the gift of self-compassion, gentleness and the time to be with your feelings and needs this season."

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5 myths about ketamine, the drug tied to Matthew Perry's death, according to doctors

After Matthew Perry’s cause of death was listed as "acute effects of ketamine" on Friday, experts are speaking out about misconceptions surrounding the drug.

(Other conditions that contributed to Perry's death, according to the autopsy report, included "coronary artery disease [and] buprenorphrine effects." Also, "prescription medications and loose pills" were found at the residence, the report said.)

Ketamine is primarily used as an anesthetic during surgical procedures — but in recent years it's been used as a remedy for treatment-resistant depression.

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The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) describes ketamine as a "dissociative drug," which means it causes people to feel "separated or detached" from their bodies or physical surroundings.

While it is also used illegally as a recreational drug, experts say ketamine is generally not dangerous when used as prescribed.

"The concentration of ketamine found in Matthew Perry’s blood was sufficient to cause loss of consciousness and lack of responsiveness to external stimulation," Lewis Nelson, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and chief of medical toxicology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. 

"This explains why he slipped under the water and did not awaken. Ketamine does not generally cause death from cardiac or respiratory effects, but rather from associated injury." 

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Dr. Bankole Johnson, CEO and founder of Casa Privée in Miami, a concierge medical facility, offers ketamine infusion therapy to help patients manage various conditions.

He told Fox News Digital that in his opinion, Perry’s death likely was linked to recreational ketamine use, although he did not treat or examine the actor.

Experts shared with Fox News Digital the following common myths and misconceptions about the drug.

In reality, the drug has been used for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and pain for more than 10 years, according to Dr. Patrick Sullivan, medical director of Initia Nova Medical Solutions in New Jersey.

The FDA approved ketamine for anesthesia in both humans and animals since 1970, the doctor noted.

After successful clinical trials, the FDA approved the drug in 2019 as a medication for treatment-resistant depression.

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"There are hundreds of studies showing it to be safe and effective in the outpatient setting," Sullivan told Fox News Digital.

Ketamine is "legally recognized as having the potential for abuse and for both psychological and physical dependence," according to the American Addiction Centers website.

Johnson, however, noted that ketamine is a "moderately addictive substance."

He told Fox News Digital, "Even long-term users typically only develop a behavioral or psychological dependence. Physical dependence can occur, but usually the withdrawal signs are mild to moderate."

Dr. Sandhya Prashad, president of the American Society Of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners (ASKP3) in Florida, said there is "an extremely low risk of addiction, craving or withdrawal" when ketamine is used in low doses in a monitored clinical setting.

"Abuse of ketamine occurs when it is self-administered in high or frequent doses without supervision or monitoring, which leads to addiction," she told Fox News Digital.

Ketamine should only be obtained and administered by a licensed and experienced medical doctor, Johnson said. 

"To use ketamine, it is important to establish a clear diagnosis of severe depression or anxiety and/or post-traumatic stress disorder," he told Fox News Digital. "This requires an expert and cannot be self-diagnosed properly."

Those who think they may benefit from ketamine treatment should consult a doctor, Johnson advised.

"Ketamine is generally safe when administered by trained health professionals in a medical setting," Johnson said.

"In those settings, it is best delivered by the IV route, where the dose can be calculated accurately."

When purchasing ketamine outside a doctor’s prescription, there is also the risk of receiving a tainted product, experts warned. While people might assume they're purchasing straight ketamine, the drug is often mixed with stimulants like cocaine or phencyclidine (PCP), Johnson noted.

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"These can produce strong cardiac effects of a very high blood pressure and pulse, and can lead to serious medical complications," he said.

While using small doses of ketamine may seem safer than the larger doses given via IV, Johnson warned that when this drug is self-administered, there is a danger of exceeding safe limits.

"The total cumulative dose could end up being higher than a standard dose of a medically administered intravenous dose," he told Fox News Digital. 

Intranasal use can also lead to "more aggressive drug-seeking" behaviors, Johnson warned, as the "high" of taking the ketamine is paired with cues in the user’s environment — which are not present in a medical office.

Like other medications, such as opiates or benzodiazepines, ketamine has the potential to be abused, Sullivan agreed. 

"Ketamine should only be used within the confines of a close relationship between a patient and an experienced prescriber," he said, citing the position reaffirmed by ASKP3.

"Weaning off ketamine is typically not too difficult, as the medicine has a half-life of three to four hours, and most is eliminated by the body in a single day," said Johnson.

Gradual dose titrations of ketamine — in which the amounts are slowly increased or decreased — are recommended for starting and stopping the medication, the expert noted.

Ketamine can become dangerous in a few ways, according to experts.

"First, if a patient has access to use it at home for pain or mood, this can increase the likelihood of developing a physical or psychological dependence," Sullivan told Fox News Digital.

Experts recommend that home use of ketamine is only prescribed for select patients — who should be closely monitored with regular face-to-face office visits.

"Another way it can become dangerous is if a patient uses too large of a dose in an unsupervised setting, where they may put themselves at risk for accidents, such as falls or drownings," said Sullivan.

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Mixing ketamine with other medicines can also be dangerous, Johnson warned.

For example, when mixed with opiates, it can have a stronger sedative effect, and combining ketamine with stimulants can worsen cardiovascular effects, he said.

In particular, ketamine mixed with buprenorphine can enhance sedation and lead to unresponsiveness, said Johnson.

Buprenorphine, a drug that is prescribed to treat opioid use disorder, was in Perry’s system at the time of his death.

ASKP3 announced that it will soon publish guidelines for safe use of the drug.

"In the wake of Matthew Perry’s autopsy report, we are committed to creating and publishing guidelines for at-home ketamine use, which should only be practiced with a very specific patient profile and only in the context of a close relationship with a physician and in-office follow-up," the organization said in a released statement.

It is important for people to recognize the distinction between different uses of the drug, according to Prashad.

"In reality, the ways in which ketamine is used for anesthesia versus depression versus abuse are all very different in terms of dosage and frequency."

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Snacks pack more calories than a single meal for many US adults, study finds

Nearly a quarter of the calories U.S. adults consume comes from snacks, according to a new study published in PLOS Global Public Health.

Americans consume an average of 400 to 500 calories in snacks every day, which generally are lacking in protein, vitamins and minerals, the study found.

That’s more than the average breakfast — which is 300 to 400 calories.

Snacks also comprise about one-third of daily added sugar consumed by most adults.

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Researchers from The Ohio State University (OSU) analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which gathered information about the eating habits of 23,708 adults over 30 years of age between 2005 and 2016, according to an OSU press release.

"With a usual focus on what people consume at meals, snacks are a ubiquitous and stealth contributor to overall intakes," senior study author Christopher Taylor, professor of medical dietetics in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at OSU, told Fox News Digital via email.

That is largely because snacks are more spontaneous, according to the researcher.

"Snack choices aren’t usually planned the same way we plan what we eat for meals," said Taylor.

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Overall, snacks made up 19.5% to 22.4% of adults’ total calorie consumption.

The most common snacks were convenience foods high in fats and carbohydrates — followed by sweets, alcoholic or sugary beverages, protein, milk and dairy, and fruits and grains. Vegetables were by far the smallest portion of snacks.

Fruits and vegetables only made up about 5% of the total snacking calories.

Based on their blood glucose levels, the respondents were categorized into four groups: non-diabetes, prediabetes, controlled diabetes and poorly controlled diabetes. 

The adults with type 2 diabetes who were working to control the disease reported eating fewer sugary foods and snacking less overall compared to those who did not have diabetes or were prediabetic.

"Those with diabetes had lower proportional intakes in added sugars, which is a recurring theme in diabetes education," said Taylor.

The study did have some limitations.

"While the large number of individuals included provides a broader picture of dietary intakes, it does not reflect their usual intakes with this snapshot," Taylor told Fox News Digital. 

"But for the day of intake reported, it allows us to review intakes for snacking occasions compared to what comes from reported meals."

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Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.

"While there is a huge sample size of people included in the study, it only used one day of diet recalls," she told Fox News Digital. 

"Many people don't eat the same thing every day, so it would help to see more days of diet recall — but this is still a great starting point to think about how we eat."

While people often put more thought and planning into what they eat for meals, the study highlights that all food choices throughout the day add up to create a total picture. 

"It's easy to treat a snack like it doesn't count, but it's important to treat it like a mini-meal," said Frierich.

When choosing a snack, the dietitian recommends people pick any combination of three macronutrients: healthy fats, carbohydrates and protein. 

"Instead of just eating a piece of fruit, enjoy fruit and nuts — or instead of just chips, enjoy tortilla chips and guacamole as a snack," she suggested.

Another general rule of thumb when snacking is to aim for as many unprocessed components as possible, Frierich advised.

"For example, a fresh vegetable (sliced cucumbers, baby carrots) is much better than veggie chips."

"Choosing unprocessed foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grain crackers or breads) in place of more processed foods (chips, cookies, candy, sodas) is a great way to increase the nutritional value of your meals and snacks," she added.

Portion size is also important when snacking.

"I recommend taking the food out of the container and serving yourself on a plate," said Frierich. "This is a great way to be mindful about your portion instead of just eating mindlessly."

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"Your snacks can be all the difference between feeling energetic and focused between meals or consuming empty calories that lead to a blood sugar rush and crash," she added.

Study author Taylor also stressed the importance of making "more insightful choices" at snack time.

Rather than focusing on "don’t eat this, eat that," he recommended focusing on a well-balanced day across all eating occasions.

Taylor added, "This gives latitude in making healthy choices and meeting your overall nutritional needs."

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Most notable drug and vaccine approvals of 2023, according to pharmacists

Each year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves hundreds of new drugs and therapeutic products for use by the American public.

GoodRx Health, an American health care company and telemedicine platform, has compiled and published a list of some of the most influential drug and vaccine approvals of 2023, selected by its team of pharmacists.

The list only includes products that were approved through Dec. 8.

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Below are the medications that represent "meaningful steps forward," the firm believes, in terms of improving human health.

After initially granting emergency use authorization (EUA) in late 2021, the FDA fully approved this antiviral medication on May 25, 2023.

It is intended for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 illness for people who are considered at high risk for severe effects.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends Paxlovid as the preferred treatment option for adults and teens who are not hospitalized, GoodRx noted.

"Paxlovid has been a mainstay of COVID therapeutic management since its initial EUA designation in Dec. 2021," Christina Madison, a Nevada pharmacist who is the founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist, told GoodRx.

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"Having full FDA approval also helps us with hesitant patients not wanting to take a medication that isn't FDA approved," she added. 

"It’s great news that this [medication] has gone through the rigorous approval process and has been found to be safe and effective."

Each year, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes approximately 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000 to 10,000 deaths among adults ages 65 years and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It also causes 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations and 100 to 300 deaths in children 5 years of age and younger.

To help prevent RSV illness, the FDA approved three medications in 2023, GoodRx reported.

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Arexvy (RSVPreF3) was the first FDA-approved RSV vaccine, available for adults ages 60 and older.

Abrysvo (RSVpreF) is another vaccine that is available to adults ages 60 and older and certain pregnant women.

Beyfortus (nirsevimab) is a preventative medication that reduces the risk of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in infants. One dose is recommended for all infants younger than 8 months old and some toddlers younger than 19 months old.

"These approvals finally give us a way to prevent RSV complications in certain people, notably older adults, pregnant women and very young kids," Joshua Murdock, PharmD, a pharmacy editor at GoodRx based in Arizona, said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital. 

Murdock is one of the pharmacists who compiled the list of the most influential approvals.

"These are much needed because RSV is a contagious and potentially dangerous virus, and previously only certain babies could receive an RSV preventative medication," he said.

Opill, the first over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill, was approved by the FDA in July 2023.

The medication, called norgestrel, is expected to be available in early 2024.

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"Having an over-the-counter birth control pill is long overdue," said Murdock. "Being able to walk into a local pharmacy or big-box retailer and purchase a birth control pill will likely make a big difference in the accessibility of contraception."

Veronica Vernon, PharmD, assistant professor and vice chair of pharmacy practice at Butler University in Indiana, calls Opill a "tremendous step forward in terms of increasing access to contraception."

Said Vernon in a statement to GoodRx, "A prescription for contraception can be a significant barrier for some patients due to the time and cost involved in having a visit."

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 20% of women, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The condition causes feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety and fatigue in the weeks after giving birth.

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In August 2023, the FDA approved Zurzuvae (zuranolone) as a treatment for PPD.

While traditional antidepressants can take weeks to show effectiveness, Zurzuvae has been shown to relieve symptoms in as little as three days.

"Bringing Zurzuvae to the market as a fast-acting, oral option for postpartum depression is a huge step in providing greater access to care for women after childbirth," Murdock told Fox News Digital. 

"Up until this approval, women seeking an approved PPD treatment could only access a similar medication by an IV infusion given over 60 hours, making it challenging for many to receive adequate care."

Approved in July 2023, Leqembi (lecanemab) is the first Alzheimer’s medication to address the disease at its root cause rather than just addressing the symptoms.

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Leqembi (lecanemab) is a new advancement in Alzheimer’s research. 

It’s the first clinically backed Alzheimer’s medication that targets the root cause of the condition. 

Compared to a placebo, an infusion with no medication, Leqembi lowered the worsening of dementia symptom severity by an average of 27% over a 1.5-year period. 

"Before this approval, existing Alzheimer’s treatments didn’t fully address the root cause of the condition," said Murdock.

"Leqembi is the first clinically backed medication that may slow disease progression in its early stages," he went on. 

"This extra time of independence for patients to go about their daily lives is a major milestone in Alzheimer’s treatments."

Rebecca M. Edelmayer, PhD, senior director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, told GoodRx that Leqembi is now covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and many other insurers due to its full traditional approval.

In clinical trials, Leqembi slowed the progression of dementia symptoms by an average of 27% over a 1.5-year period, GoodRx noted.

Over 97,600 people die of drug overdoses each year, according to data from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.

Seven out of every 10 of those deaths are caused by opioids, which are powerful prescription pain medications.

In March 2023, the FDA approved Narcan, the first OTC nasal spray. 

In July 2023, RiVive, another nasal spray, also acquired FDA approval.

Anita Jacobson, PharmD, a clinical professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and the director of the Community First Responder Program, told GoodRx that these approvals helped to reduce the stigma surrounding overdose medications.

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"The fact that people now see this as an OTC product, like ibuprofen, cough medicine or any other product that they can buy, can really help to remove fear," said Jacobson, adding that the approvals "also allow us to distribute naloxone across state lines in a way that we could not do when it was prescription only."

Murdock noted that naloxone is a "life-saving medication, capable of reversing overdoses from opioids like fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone and more."

He also told Fox News Digital, "Greater accessibility to naloxone is critical in combating opioid overdose deaths."

The newest medication for chronic weight loss management, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound contains tirzepatide, the same active ingredient in Mounjaro, the popular type 2 diabetes drug.

Administered as a weekly injection, Zepbound works by reducing appetite. In clinical trials, it helped participants lose an average of 34 to 48 pounds after 72 weeks, GoodRx noted.

On Nov. 8, the FDA approved Zepbound for adults who are considered obese (BMI of 30 or higher), as well as those who are overweight (BMI of 27 or higher) and have another weight-related health condition.

"There are a number of chronic weight management medications available on the market, but none are quite as effective as this new long-term option," Murdock told Fox News Digital. 

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Minisha Sood, M.D., an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York, told GoodRx that one of Zepbound’s benefits is how well it's tolerated by patients.

"It’s thus potentially useful for patients who do not respond well to semaglutide (Wegovy) or liraglutide (Saxenda)," she said. 

"In the current climate of medication shortages, it also affords those who have been struggling with lack of access to semaglutide or liraglutide an opportunity to receive incretin-based treatment for obesity," Sood added.

In June 2023, the FDA approved Roctavian (valoctocogene roxaparvovec) to treat severe hemophilia A, a genetic bleeding disorder. 

It's the first gene therapy to combat uncontrolled and prolonged bleeding associated with this condition, according to GoodRx.

The drug, administered as a one-time infusion, has been shown to reduce the number of bleeding episodes by 50% each year.

Leonard Valentino, M.D., a hematologist and president/CEO of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation in New York, told GoodRx that Roctavian marks a "groundbreaking leap" in hemophilia A treatment, but noted that more research is needed into its long-term effects.

"Considering gene therapy is a significant decision, and continuous discussion with medical professionals and family members is crucial to weigh the potential pros and cons," he said.

GoodRx’s Murdock told Fox News Digital that Roctavian shows "a lot of promise" in reducing bleeding without the need to receive routine treatments, but agreed that the long-term effects are not yet fully understood.

The most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 people in the country, as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) noted on its website. 

The disease disproportionately affects people of Black or African ancestry.

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Patients with sickle cell disease have an inherited gene mutation that produces abnormal hemoglobin, which makes it more difficult for the cells to move through the bloodstream, per the NIH.

The diseased cells eventually get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow. This can lead to painful episodes called sickle cell crises, infection, acute chest syndrome or stroke, per the CDC.

On Dec. 8, the FDA approved two gene therapies for sickle cell disease, Casgevy (also called exagamglogene autotemcel, or "exa-cel") and Lyfgenia (lovotibeglogene autotemcel, or "lovo-cel").

The single-dose infusions are approved for patients 12 years of age and older to prevent pain crises and health complications caused by sickle cell disease.

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"We at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc. have tremendous hope in [Casgevy], a potential cure for people living with sickle cell disease that could change their lives for the better," Lewis Hsu, M.D., the Chicago-based chief medical officer of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, told GoodRx.

The list of influential medications was selected by Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, Missouri-based director of pharmacy content at GoodRx, and pharmacy editor Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, in New York City — in addition to Murdock.

Shiv Sudhakar contributed reporting.

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Red wine headaches could be caused by this intriguing culprit, study finds

For those who suffer from the dreaded "red wine headache," experts are offering some insights into why it occurs and how to prevent it.

The festive holiday season often includes an increase in red wine consumption — but for some, enjoying even one or two glasses can leave them with a painful, pounding headache that usually begins within 30 minutes to three hours after drinking a glass of the beverage, according to experts.

A flavanol found in red wines could be the culprit behind the headaches, according to a study by University of California, Davis, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports last month.

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The flavanol, called quercetin, is found in grapes and other fruits and vegetables. 

It is 10 times more prevalent in red wines than in white wines, the researchers noted.

On its own, it’s considered a healthy antioxidant — but the trouble begins when it’s consumed with alcohol.

"When it gets in your bloodstream, your body converts it to a different form called quercetin glucuronide," said wine chemist and corresponding author Andrew Waterhouse, professor emeritus with the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, in a press release from the university. 

"In that form, it blocks the metabolism of alcohol."

In the study, the scientists used in-vitro laboratory tests to measure the impact of the flavonol on enzymes.

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They found that quercetin blocks the function of ALDH2, the enzyme that metabolizes alcohol. When the alcohol isn’t metabolized, a toxin called acetaldehyde builds up in the system.

"Acetaldehyde is a well-known toxin, irritant and inflammatory substance," said lead author Apramita Devi, postdoctoral researcher with the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology, in the release. 

"Researchers know that high levels of acetaldehyde can cause facial flushing, headache and nausea."

So why do some people experience headaches and others don’t?

One of the study authors noted that people who get migraines or are more susceptible to headaches in general are more likely to experience them after drinking red wine. 

There is a possibility that some people have enzymes that are more easily inhibited by quercetin, and so are more affected by the buildup of acetaldehyde, the release noted.

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Different red wines can also have different effects, they stated.

"Quercetin is produced by the grapes in response to sunlight," Waterhouse said in the release. "If you grow grapes with the clusters exposed, such as they do in the Napa Valley for their cabernets, you get much higher levels of quercetin. In some cases, it can be four to five times higher."

The levels of the flavonol can also vary depending on how the wine is made and the aging process.

To confirm this theory, the UC Davis researchers are planning a clinical trial with human participants to compare the effects of red wines that contain larger amounts of quercetin to those containing very little of the flavonol.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for additional comment.

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Dr. Ellie Pierson, a scientific manager at food intolerance test specialist YorkTest in the U.K., believes that certain chemicals in red wines, called histamines, can trigger the headaches.

"Histamine is a chemical that occurs naturally in some foods," Pierson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

"If after eating or drinking, you tend to notice swelling, rashes, sneezing or sickness within 30 minutes, be mindful it could be a histamine intolerance."

In those with histamine sensitivities, consuming only a small amount of red wine can trigger symptoms of a hangover, including nausea, throat itchiness and flushing, she warned.

All alcohols contain some level of histamines, but they are significantly higher in red wine. 

Those with sensitivities might consider switching to clear spirits, Pierson recommended.

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Experts also suggested staying hydrated by drinking a glass of water between glasses of wine.

"Many people may be unaware that so many foods contain histamines and could be causing a reaction," she told Fox News Digital. "This is why it’s so important to keep a food diary to track which foods trigger a reaction, as often this type of intolerance is misdiagnosed and is usually mistaken for seasonal or food allergies."

For those who are having a reaction that's worse than normal, Pierson suggested contacting a health care professional or a dietitian who can help create a diet plan around histamine intolerances.

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Single night binge-drinking more likely to cause liver disease than few drinks a week: study

A single night of binge-drinking is more likely to cause liver disease than a few drinks spread across the week, a study revealed.

According to a study done by the University College London, first reported by the London Standard, measuring the pattern of alcohol intake was more accurate than volume for predicting the risk of developing alcohol-related cirrhosis (ARC).

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, ARC is a stage of liver disease where the liver has become significantly scarred and may cause the liver to stop working correctly.

The scientists analyzed data from 312,599 active alcoholic drinkers in the United Kingdom to assess the impact of the pattern of drinking, genetic predisposition and type-2 diabetes on the likelihood of developing ARC.

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Dr Linda Ng Fat, a first author of the study from UCL Epidemiology and Public Health, said that the study's approach was a "better indicator of liver disease risk than volume alone."

"We took a different approach by focusing on the pattern of drinking and found that this was a better indicator of liver disease risk than volume alone," Dr. Fat told the London newspaper. "The other key finding was that the more risk factors involved, the higher the ‘excess risk’ due to the interaction of these factors."

Dr. Fat said the study revealed that those who engaged in heavy binge-drinking, which is defined as having 12 units of alcohol in a day, were three times as likely to develop ARC.

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The risk for those with a high genetic predisposition was four times higher and the risk for type-2 diabetics was two times higher.

People who engaged in binge-drinking while also having a genetic predisposition were six times more likely to develop ARC, the study found.

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Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust told the London Standard that this study revealed that the way people drink alcohol is important and that excessively drinking can have "servious consequences."

"This research is important because it reveals that it’s not just how much you drink overall but the way that you drink matters," Healy said. "Drinking a lot, quickly, or drinking to get drunk can have serious consequences for your liver health."

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What is ketamine, the drug that killed Matthew Perry on October 28?

Nearly seven weeks after Matthew Perry’s apparent drowning in a hot tub at his California home, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner released the actor's cause of death as "acute effects of ketamine."

Secondary conditions contributing to the death were listed as "drowning, coronary artery disease and buprenorphine," according to the autopsy report.

"The underlying coronary artery disease made the effects of ketamine on the heart more pronounced," Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, told Fox News Digital. 

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The autopsy report confirmed that Perry had received "ketamine infusion therapy" 1½ weeks prior to his death, reportedly as treatment for depression and anxiety.

"Prescription medications and loose pills" were found at the 54-year-old actor’s residence at the time of his Oct. 28 death, the report also stated.

Intended for use as an anesthetic to be handled by medical doctors and veterinarians, ketamine is also used illegally as a recreational drug.

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) describes ketamine as a "dissociative drug," which means it causes people to feel "separated or detached" from their bodies or physical surroundings.

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For some, it can cause hallucinations and alter people’s thoughts and emotions, according to the ADF.

"Ketamine is in the PCP (phencyclidine) family," Siegel told Fox News Digital.

(PCP is a dissociative, mind-altering drug that may lead to hallucinations.)

The off-label use of ketamine has "skyrocketed" in recent years, "despite limited data supporting the safety and efficacy of that practice," according to a report from Yale School of Medicine.

The drug is usually sold as a colorless, odorless liquid or as a white or off-white powder, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) website.

When used in a powder or liquid form, it is often mixed with beverages or smoked with marijuana or tobacco.

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The powder form can also be snorted or pressed into tablets. 

As a liquid, ketamine can be injected, the NDIC states.

In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ketamine in a nasal spray format (Spravato, or S-ketamine) for treatment-resistant depression and suicial ideation.

It is intended to be used in combination with antidepressant pills only under the supervision of a medical professional.

"S-ketamine is regulated very tightly," the Yale report stated. "It has to be delivered intranasally, in a certified health care setting under the supervision of a health care professional, and patients must remain in the facility for two hours after dosing."

As Siegel noted, "Ketamine is more and more commonly used for treatment of severe depression and to break the cycle of depression as well as for pain management."

"In Perry's case, he was already getting it intravenously, but it has a relatively short half life, so he must have taken some soon before the pool accident," the doctor surmised.

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While the autopsy report confirmed Perry had received "ketamine infusion therapy" 1½ weeks prior to his death, "the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is three to four hours or less," the report confirmed.

At high doses, the drug can cause adverse health issues that affect cardiovascular, respiratory and neurologic function, which can be fatal, said the American Addiction Centers website.

Some of the risks include elevated blood pressure, difficulty breathing, amnesia, seizures, addiction, problems with judgment and coordination and a lower urinary tract irritation called ulcerative cystitis, according to the same source.

"Common causes of overdose death include excess sedation, respiratory failure, low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, coma and seizures," said Siegel. 

In Perry’s case, the report stated that given the high levels of ketamine found in his blood, "the main lethal effects" from the ketamine included "cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression."

Tracy Wright and Adam Sabes of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

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