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Alert over new ramen 'challenge': Deadly risks emerge after teen’s sudden death

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. A 13-year-old boy in Cairo, Egypt, died after reportedly eating three packs of uncooked instant ramen in a row, raising concerns over a dangerous social media trend encouraging people to eat ramen without cooking it. According to local reports from Al Arabiya and Ynetnews, the boy began experiencing severe abdominal pain, vomiting and profuse sweating within 30 minutes of eating the ramen. His condition quickly deteriorated and he later died. Authorities initially investigated the possibility of contamination and questioned the seller, but toxicology tests and an autopsy found no traces of poisonous substances. Experts believe the cause of death was likely acute gastrointestinal illness or intestinal obstruction triggered by consuming a large quantity of dry noodles. Intestinal obstructions occur when food or foreign material block the intestines, preventing normal digestion. Symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloating and constipation, and in severe cases, it can cut off blood flow to the intestines and lead to tissue necrosis. Accord

Aug 27, 2025By Kormedi.com
Alert over new ramen 'challenge': Deadly risks emerge after teen’s sudden death

How dirty is your phone? Scientists reveal shocking findings and safe cleaning tips

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Smartphones, often carried everywhere and touched countless times a day, are emerging as unexpected breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, and even parasites, experts warn. Phones can host dangerous bacteria and viruses A recent survey conducted by researchers at Bond University in Australia involving 165 healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, found that 98 percent believed their phones were contaminated. About 52 percent admitted to using their phones in bathrooms, while 57 percent said they had never properly cleaned them. Lotti Tajouri, a molecular biologist at Bond University, said an analysis of 30 smartphones revealed a wide variety of microorganisms. They found E. coli (evidence of fecal contamination), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (antibiotic-resistant bacteria), Salmonella, Listeria, as well as viruses, parasites, and amoebae. Tajouri said smartphones act as ‘hotspots for bacteria,’ providing a massive platform where microbes can interact and survive. Why smartphones get so dirty According to The Conversation, a nonprofit medi

Aug 23, 2025By Kormedi.com
How dirty is your phone? Scientists reveal shocking findings and safe cleaning tips

No such thing as ‘oral Wegovy’: Authorities warn against fake weight-loss products in Korea

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Korea’s food and drug regulator has warned consumers to beware of fraudulent online ads promoting so-called “oral Wegovy” pills, after cracking down on companies that used influencers to sell unapproved weight loss products. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Wednesday that it referred five company heads to prosecutors for violating the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Food. The companies are accused of misleading consumers by marketing ordinary food products as if they had powerful obesity treatment effects. Influencers used to boost fake claims According to the investigation, the companies recruited social media influencers on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram to create promotional videos for fruit and vegetable-based products, presenting them as if they had “weight loss effects” and “appetite-suppressing benefits.” These influencers were reportedly instructed to use specific keywords — including “oral Wegovy,” “7 kg weight loss in a month” and “powerful appetite suppression” — to make their videos

Aug 21, 2025By Kormedi.com
No such thing as ‘oral Wegovy’: Authorities warn against fake weight-loss products in Korea

Coffee mistake: when experts recommend you drink your morning cup of joe

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, offering more than just a mood boost — it has measurable medical and physiological effects. According to nutritionist Nichola Ludlam-Raine, the timing of your first cup of coffee can significantly influence both health and sleep quality. In her book “How Not to Eat Ultra-Processed,” Ludlam-Raine recommends drinking your first coffee between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. rather than immediately after waking up. During this mid-morning window, the body’s natural cortisol levels — which control alertness — start to drop, allowing caffeine to maximize its stimulating effect. While drinking coffee in the morning can improve focus, mood and energy, consuming it later in the day can be disruptive. Since caffeine remains active in the body for about five to six hours, experts warn that coffee consumed after 3 p.m. can negatively affect sleep quality by keeping the brain alert well into the evening. Even decaffeinated coffee is not entirely risk-free. A standard cup of coffee contains

Aug 20, 2025By Kormedi.com
Coffee mistake: when experts recommend you drink your morning cup of joe

Swimming eases pressure on spine and joints, but stroke choice is key

Swimming, which relies on buoyancy, places less strain on the spine and joints. This makes it a relatively safe exercise for people with lumbar disc herniation or arthritis. Because it engages the entire body, it also improves cardiovascular endurance and balance. A 70-kilogram adult can burn about 600 to 700 calories during one hour of swimming, making it effective for weight control. However, people with spinal disorders need to pay close attention to stroke choice. Freestyle and backstroke are beneficial for the lower back, as they extend the body forward while evenly building muscle strength against water resistance. Backstroke, in particular, puts the least pressure on the spine, making it ideal for those with herniated discs or chronic back pain. In contrast, butterfly and breaststroke should be avoided since they involve arching the back or using lumbar power to move up and down. For patients with cervical disc herniation, strokes that keep the neck stable and allow slow movements are recommended. Freestyle may be risky because repeated head-turning for breathing can strain the nec

Aug 18, 2025By Hankookilbo
Swimming eases pressure on spine and joints, but stroke choice is key

Zero sugar, zero guilt? Inside the 'zero' soju revolution

From frothy pints to soju shots, Korea’s drinking culture is in the midst of a “zero” revolution. Sleek bottles and cans promising “no sugar” and “zero calories” dominate convenience store refrigerators, while hashtags like #GuiltFreeDrinking and #Zerosugar flood social media feeds. The pitch is simple: Drink what you love, without the guilt. Whether these beverages are truly healthier or just a rebranded indulgence is a question increasingly debated by doctors, nutritionists and even the young consumers driving the trend. The rise of zero sugar soju is no coincidence. Terra Light, HiteJinro’s new zero sugar beer launched in July 2024, sold 10 million bottles in just two weeks — translating to roughly 8.2 bottles per second, a sign of growing consumer appetite for drinks marketed as healthier or guilt-free. Also, according to industry data, products like Lotte Chilsung’s Chum-Churum Saero and HiteJinro’s redesigned Jinro Is Back have sold millions of bottles since their launches in late 2022 and early 2023, respectively. Saero alone sold over 50 million bottles in jus

Aug 17, 2025By Kim Min-ji
Zero sugar, zero guilt? Inside the 'zero' soju revolution

Surprising risks of running and how to prevent them

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Research shows that exercise can have a surprising effect on breast tissue. The results suggest that women with larger breasts may suffer damage to skin collagen fibers during running, underlining the importance of sports bras as a preventive measure. Breasts and bras move with the body and the force of gravity can stretch the skin and damage collagen fibers, causing unfavorable changes to the tissue that supports breast structure, according to Monica Zimanyi, an associate professor of anatomy at James Cook University’s medical school in Australia. This can have a greater impact on women with larger breasts, and they should wear a sports bra when exercising, according to an article she wrote for the nonprofit media outlet The Conversation. High-impact sports bras are more effective at reducing breast movement and discomfort than regular bras. Wired bras may cause injury — higher implant rupture risk Breasts are composed of mammary glands, fat and ligaments attached to the chest wall, and can change in size and shape due to puberty, pregnanc

Aug 16, 2025By Kormedi.com
Surprising risks of running and how to prevent them

Korea’s 1st nationwide syphilis survey finds nearly 2,800 cases

Nearly 2,800 cases of syphilis were reported across Korea in 2024, with men and young adults accounting for the majority of cases, according to the country’s first nationwide survey on the disease. The report, released on Friday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency shows that 2,790 cases were confirmed last year ― an incidence rate of 5.4 per 100,000 people. The majority of cases occurred in the Seoul metropolitan area, and July marked the peak with the highest monthly count. Men made up 78 percent of cases ― a rate 3.5 times higher than women. People in their 20s and 30s were the most likely to report infections, accounting for 58.6 percent of all cases. Those in their 20s showed the highest incidence rate of 14 per 100,000. Syphilis, which was previously classified as a Class 4 infectious disease, was upgraded to Class 3 last year, changing its status from sample-based surveillance to comprehensive surveillance. A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, syphilis can lead to severe complications if left untreated but can be cured with e

Aug 15, 2025By Jung Min-ho
Korea’s 1st nationwide syphilis survey finds nearly 2,800 cases

Frozen eggs don't last forever: Why this Korean singer set a three-year marriage deadline

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Singer and painter Solbi has revealed that she froze her eggs and now plans to marry within three years. In a recent video on her YouTube channel “Solbi is Back,” titled “Forty-something single entertainer Solbi announces first-ever marriage plan (egg freezing),” she said, “If I get married, I think it will be within three years. I have frozen my eggs, and the preservation period has about two years left.” When the production staff pointed out that her timeline did not quite match the stated preservation period, Solbi laughed and acknowledged her slip, showing her regret that the preservation deadline was approaching. “I want to get married if I meet the right person,” she said. “I think marriage should be with a soulmate — someone who makes me feel more beautiful and confident when we’re together.” As marriage and childbirth are increasingly delayed in Korea, more women are choosing to undergo egg freezing. Public awareness has grown as celebrities openly share their decisions. What is egg freezing? Egg freezing, or oocyt

Aug 15, 2025By Kormedi.com
Frozen eggs don't last forever: Why this Korean singer set a three-year marriage deadline

New obesity drug Mounjaro launches in Korea — is it worth switching from Wegovy?

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Korea’s obesity treatment market has reached a turning point as Eli Lilly’s diabetes and weight loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) began distribution to pharmaceutical wholesalers on Aug. 14. The move sets the stage for a head-to-head competition in efficacy and price with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide), which is already on the market. According to Eli Lilly Korea, wholesalers will begin full-scale distribution on Aug. 20, with prescriptions expected at medical institutions as early as Aug. 21. Mounjaro’s biggest selling point is its strong weight-loss effect. Clinical trials showed that Wegovy users lost an average of 14.9 percent of body weight after 68 weeks, while Mounjaro users lost up to 22.5 percent after 72 weeks. Both drugs were originally developed for diabetes treatment and also improve blood sugar control. “In clinical practice, some patients were able to stop insulin or significantly reduce oral diabetes medications, and some who were prediabetic returned to normal blood sugar levels,” said Cho Young-min, a professo

Aug 15, 2025By Kormedi.com
New obesity drug Mounjaro launches in Korea — is it worth switching from Wegovy?
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