NYC mayor acknowledges lack of federal clearance after claims on Maduro operation

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted he has no federal security clearance on Monday, just a day after claiming he had been “briefed” about the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Mamdani was asked directly about his security clearance during a Monday press briefing, ultimately saying that he had not yet received it. The freshly-inaugurated mayor had been the butt of viral jokes on social media from users suggesting he had inflated his access to information about the strike in his initial statement.

“You don’t have federal security clearance yet, and has anyone from a federal agency reached out to you or members of your team to begin the vetting to get federal security clearance?” a reporter asked.

“That briefing, yes, was conducted by my team,” Mamdani responded. “And the question of federal security clearance is one that’s on and on.”

US MILITARY DETAILS TIMELINE OF OPERATION TO CAPTURE MADURO, REVEALING MORE THAN 150 AIRCRAFT INVOLVED

“So you do have it?” the reporter pressed.

“No, not as yet,” the mayor admitted.

The exchange came after Mamdani’s initial statement on the Venezuela raid appeared to suggest he had received inside information on the operation.

JONATHAN TURLEY: MADURO OPERATION WAS LEGAL, BUT TRUMP MAKES IT COMPLICATED

“I was briefed this morning on the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City,” Mamdani wrote on X after news of Maduro’s capture broke.

He went on to condemn the move by President Donald Trump, but some users on social media called him out for inflating his access.

“Called it,” wrote one user whose post on the topic received over 140,000 “likes.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

House GOP lawmaker Doug LaMalfa dies at 65, leaving Capitol Hill colleagues stunned

U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., has died at age 65.

LaMalfa represented the 1st Congressional District, part of Northern California, and was chair of the Congressional Western Caucus.

His death brings House Republicans’ majority down to 218–213. 

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., confirmed LaMalfa’s death on X.

SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS HOW MANY SEATS HE’S AIMING FOR IN 2026

“Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children,” Emmer said.

LaMalfa was known as a champion of conservative causes as well as a kind man to both reporters and his fellow House lawmakers.

SOCIALIST WINS PILE UP AFTER GOP’S BRUTAL 2025 OFF-YEAR ELECTION LOSSES

With his death and the recent resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., House Republicans currently can lose only two votes to still pass anything along party lines.

It’s a perilously slim majority as Republicans kick off the second half of the 119th Congress with hopes of passing a second “big, beautiful bill.”

LaMalfa’s death appears to have caught a majority of his colleagues by surprise, with tributes pouring out for the late congressman on Tuesday morning.

“Doug was a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for the people of Northern California. He was never afraid to fight for rural communities, farmers, and working families. Doug brought grit, authenticity, and conviction to everything he did in public service,” said National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Richard Hudson, R-N.C.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

LaMalfa’s House GOP colleague from California, Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., said in a statement, “Doug was not only a respected colleague in the California Republican Delegation, but a genuinely kind, decent man who treated everyone with warmth and respect. His leadership, friendship, and steady presence will be deeply missed.”

The news comes just as House Republicans are meeting for an all-day policy brainstorming session at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump is addressing GOP lawmakers on Tuesday morning to kick off the day’s events.

New poll reveals deep partisan gap in support for Maduro capture operation

Republicans and Democrats sharply disagree over support for the military operation President Donald Trump ordered to arrest Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro, according to a new national poll.

Sixty-five percent of Republicans questioned in the survey by Reuters/Ipsos said they backed the strike, carried out by the U.S. military before dawn on Saturday, in which Maduro was captured and handed over to federal authorities for prosecution on drug trafficking charges.

But only 23% of Independents and just 11% of Democrats questioned in the survey, which was conducted Sunday and Monday, approved of the military operation in Venezuela.

WHO’S WHO IN THE MADURO CASE, AS JUDGE, PROSECUTORS, AND DEFENSE FACE OFF

Nearly two-thirds of Democrats and 35% of Independents, but just 5% of Republicans, said they didn’t approve of the strike.

Overall, a third of those questioned approved of the mission, a third had no opinion or didn’t answer the question, and 34% disapproved.

AG BONDI TELLS FOX NEWS ‘NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE’ AFTER MADURO ARREST

Trump, who has long criticized foreign interventions by his predecessors in the White House, has said the U.S. will “run” Venezuela. “We’re in charge,” the president reiterated to reporters.

But 72% of all adults questioned in the survey, including 90% of Democrats, 74% of Independents and 54% of Republicans, said they worry the U.S. will get too involved in Venezuela.

RUBIO DEFENDS VENEZUELA OPERATION OVER LACK OF CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR MADURO CAPTURE

The president on Monday said he’s prepared to send U.S. ground troops to Venezuela if leaders in the South American nation don’t cooperate. And vowing to overhaul and rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry, Trump said the U.S. needs “total access” to the country’s expansive oil fields.

Sixty percent of Republicans surveyed said they supported sending U.S. troops to Venezuela, compared to just 30% of all adults.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

But reflecting concerns among those in the GOP who advocate an America First agenda, only 43% of Republican respondents agreed with the statement, “The United States should have a policy of dominating affairs in the Western Hemisphere,” with 19% disagreeing and the remainder unsure or not answering the question.

The president’s approval rating in the survey stood at 42%, up three points from the previous Reuters/Ipsos survey, which was conducted in December.

Police told to stop prosecuting drug arrests as Dem mayor denies policy shift

Seattle’s new mayor is facing growing scrutiny over her approach to public safety after an internal police email outlined how most drug possession and public use cases are being directed toward diversion rather than prosecution — prompting backlash from critics who say the approach sends the wrong message as open drug use remains visible across the city.

The controversy erupted after Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes circulated an internal message detailing how low-level drug cases will be handled in 2026, fueling concerns among critics that the city is effectively softening enforcement just weeks into Mayor Katie Wilson’s administration. City officials insist there has been no policy change, but critics argue the practical impact tells a different story.

In the internal email obtained by Fox News Digital, Barnes wrote that “all charges related to drug possession and/or drug use will be diverted from prosecution to the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program,” citing guidance from the City Attorney’s Office. The directive applies to user-quantity cases, while drug dealers and those ineligible for LEAD remain subject to prosecution.

Barnes emphasized that officers are still expected to arrest individuals when probable cause exists, particularly when drug use occurs in public view.

INCUMBENT SEATTLE MAYOR CONCEDES TO MAMDANI-STYLE ‘SOCIALIST’ WHO TAPPED HER PARENTS FOR MONEY WHILE RUNNING

Seattle Police pushed back on claims that enforcement is changing, telling Fox News Digital that officers will continue to make drug-related arrests and that SPD policy remains unchanged.

The department said prosecutors, not police, determine whether cases move forward, adding that officers can coordinate with prosecutors to pursue traditional prosecution in cases where diversion is deemed ineffective.

SPD also pointed to staffing gains and declining crime rates, noting the department added 165 officers in 2025 and saw reductions in both violent and property crime.

SEATTLE RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS DIVIDES PROGRESSIVES IN UPCOMING MAYORAL RACE

Mayor Wilson rejected claims that her administration has shifted drug enforcement policy.

“There has been no policy change,” Wilson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “You’ll know when I announce a policy change, because I’ll announce a policy change.”

Wilson said she remains committed to enforcing the city’s public use and possession ordinance in “priority situations” while expanding diversion programs like LEAD in neighborhood hot spots, stressing urgency, resources and measurable results.

SEATTLE SUED AFTER MAYOR BLAMES CHRISTIANS FOR VIOLENT CLASH WITH LEFT-WING AGITATORS

Despite those assurances, critics remain unconvinced.

In an opinion piece published by Seattle Red, conservative radio host and Seattle commentator Jason Rantz argued that diverting most drug use and possession cases away from prosecution undermines accountability, regardless of how city officials describe the policy. Rantz said that when arrests are not followed by prosecution, the message to offenders is that public drug use carries few real consequences.

Criticism has also come from within law enforcement.

SEATTLE ABOUT TO GET NY’S HAMMER-AND-SICKLE TREATMENT. SOCIALISM IS COMING YOUR WAY

Speaking to Rantz on his radio show, Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan sharply criticized the approach outlined in the internal police email, warning it puts public safety at risk and sends the wrong message about open drug use.

Solan told Rantz that diverting most drug use cases away from prosecution is dangerous and reflects what he described as a naïve political approach to addiction. He warned the strategy could lead to increased crime and overdose deaths, referring to the philosophy behind it as “suicidal empathy.”

Solan also said many officers are skeptical of the LEAD program, telling Rantz that some avoid making LEAD referrals altogether because they believe the program is ineffective and driven more by ideology than accountability.

“The recent naive, ignorant political decision to not arrest offenders for open drug use in the City of Seattle is horrifically dangerous and will create more death and societal decay,” Solan told Rantz. “It embodies an enormous flaw in those in our community who think that meeting people where they are who are in the throes of addiction, is the correct path to lift them up.”

Similar concerns were raised by outreach groups.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

According to MyNorthwest, Andrea Suarez, executive director of the nonprofit We Heart Seattle, warned that allowing open drug use in public spaces enables addiction and accelerates harm. Suarez argued that enforcement plays a critical role in pushing people toward treatment and said diversion-based approaches without consequences fail to meaningfully disrupt drug use.

City officials, however, maintain that enforcement remains in place. Seattle Police say officers will continue to make arrests when probable cause exists, while Wilson insists there has been no policy change and that the city is focused on enforcing drug laws in “priority situations” while expanding diversion efforts in high-impact areas.

Grocery store chain uses biometric surveillance on shoppers, raising privacy concerns

A viral post highlighting biometric surveillance at a Wegmans grocery store in New York City is sparking renewed privacy concerns.

“Biometric identifier information collected at this location,” a sign attached to the door of a Wegmans reads.

“Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. collects, retains, converts, stores or shares customers’ biometric identifier information, which may include” facial recognition, eye scans and voiceprints, the sign states.

MCDONALD’S LOCKS DOORS TO KEEP OUT INDIVIDUALS WHO PRESENT ‘A RISK’ IN CRIME-RIDDEN MINNEAPOLIS AREA

Wegmans confirmed it is collecting the biometric readings, telling Fox News Digital in a statement the “safety of our customers and employees is a top priority.”

The company went on, “Like many retailers, we use cameras to help identify individuals who pose a risk to our people, customers or operation. In a small fraction of our stores that exhibit an elevated risk, we have deployed cameras equipped with facial recognition technology.”

Wegmans said the technology in New York City complies with local requirements.

“This technology is solely used for keeping our stores secure and safe. The system collects facial recognition data and only uses it to identify individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct,” Wegmans said.

RESTAURANT BILL WOULD BAN PLASTIC UTENSILS AND CONDIMENT PACKETS FROM ON-SITE DINING IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES

The Rochester, New York-based grocery chain said it retains images and videos of shoppers for “as long as necessary for security purposes” before disposing of them. 

“For security reasons, we do not disclose the exact retention period, but it aligns with industry standards,” Wegmans said.

“We do not disclose the exact retention period.”

“Persons of interest are determined by our asset protection team based on incidents occurring on our property and on a case-by-case basis, by information from law enforcement for criminal or missing persons cases.”

Wegmans said it does not share biometric data with any third party.

“Facial recognition technology serves as one investigative lead for us. We never base our decisions on a single lead alone,” the statement concluded. “Our goal is simple — to keep our stores safe and secure.”

It is unclear how many stores are using facial recognition technology.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Wegmans has more than 100 stores in nine states — Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia — plus Washington, D.C., according to its website.

Legislator Rachel Barnhart of Monroe County, New York, wrote a letter to Colleen Wegman, president and CEO of the grocery chain, asking her to publicly state if biometric surveillance is in use at Wegmans stores outside of New York City.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“Reporting on Wegmans’ NYC locations has made clear that biometric surveillance — including facial recognition — is operating in grocery stores where customers have no practical opportunity to provide informed consent or meaningfully opt out,” Barnhart wrote, in part, in her Jan. 4 letter.

“Without explicit, binding limits, assurances that biometric data is used ‘only for security’ are insufficient — particularly given growing law enforcement and federal immigration reliance on third-party data sources,” she went on. 

Barnhart questioned whether the technology will one day be used for dynamic pricing or targeted promotions.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

A “substantive written response” was requested within 30 days.

Wegmans describes itself as “a values-based family company” on its website, noting that it was “founded by brothers Walter and John Wegman in Rochester, New York.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The company’s story, it also says, “began in 1916, and we’ve been hitting milestones and gaining attention in the supermarket industry ever since.”

Trump recounts first lady’s warning on his rally dance: ‘They’re just being nice’

President Donald Trump said Tuesday in an address before Republican lawmakers that first lady Melania Trump is no fan of when he dances in public, calling it “not presidential.”

“My wife hates when I do this,” Trump said Tuesday at the Kennedy Center during an address at the House GOP Member Retreat. 

“She’s a very classy person, right? She said, ‘It’s so unpresidential.’ I said, ‘but I did become president.’ … She hates when I dance. I said, ‘Everybody wants me to dance.’”

“‘Darling, it’s not presidential,'” he continued of what the first lady tells him. 

Trump dancing became a hallmark of 2024 campaign rallies, with Trump routinely kicking off and ending public events by dancing, frequently while the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A” or Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” blasted in the background. The signature dance typically includes Trump making a fist and shimmying his arms back and forth while pointing to people in the crowd. 

MADURO’S WIFE SUFFERED ‘SIGNIFICANT INJURIES’ IN DRAMATIC CAPTURE, ATTORNEY ALLEGES

The president has previously mentioned the first lady did not approve of his rally dancing, recounting to crowds of supporters in 2023 in Iowa that: “She said, ‘Darling, I love you, I love you, but this is not presidential. You don’t dance off the stage. This is not presidential.'”

Trump continued Tuesday that the first lady had pressed him that past presidents did not dance solo on political stages, pointing to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as an example of how presidents should conduct themselves. 

“She actually said, ‘Could you imagine FDR dancing,’” he continued. “She said that to me.”

“And I said, ‘There’s a long history that perhaps she doesn’t know because he was an elegant fellow, even as a Democrat.”

TRUMP RALLIES HOUSE GOP AT KENNEDY CENTER DAYS AFTER MADURO CAPTURE

“He was quite elegant, but he wouldn’t be doing this. But nor would too many others. But she said, ‘Darling, please, the weightlifting is terrible.’ And I have to say this, the dancing, they really like,” Trump said of supporters who enjoy his rally dance routines. 

“She said, ‘They don’t like it. They’re just being nice to you,'” Trump recounted. 

“I said, ‘that’s not right,'” he continued. 

Trump’s comments on the first lady’s dislike of his dancing came amid him impersonating weightlifters while discussing biological males competing against biological females. Trump has said in public before that Melania Trump does not approve of him imitating weightlifters, as well as dancing during political events. 

TRUMP ISSUES DIRECT WARNING TO VENEZUELA’S NEW LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ FOLLOWING MADURO CAPTURE

Trump’s address before the group of Republican lawmakers follows a historic and busy weekend, when he confirmed the U.S. military carried out a successful strike in Venezuela and captured the nation’s former dictatorial president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. 

The pair, as well as others entrenched in the regime, were charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. The couple pleaded not guilty in a New York City court Monday and are being held in a prison in Brooklyn. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Tuesday’s event, however, is more focused on the party’s agenda for the coming year, as lawmakers prepare for the wild midterm season that will pick up steam in the coming months. 

Trump capped off his address by clapping and dancing to the “Y.M.C.A.” as he walked offstage.

Michael Jackson’s daughter reveals drugs left permanent damage despite 6 years sober

Paris Jackson has been sober for six years, but the daughter of the late Michael Jackson says life didn’t suddenly get better when the drugs stopped.

The singer, actress and model shared an emotional message with fans this week, pushing back on the idea that getting clean automatically brings peace or lasting happiness. 

Instead, Jackson, 27, revealed that some of her hardest battles came after she quit using drugs.

PARIS JACKSON ADMITS DRUGS ‘RUINED’ HER LIFE AS SHE REVEALS HOLE IN HER NOSE

“Getting sober ain’t always the indication that life is perfect. A few years in it all got very very hard. For what felt like an eternity. And I didn’t have the same survival skills I was used to having to cope. I had to learn to live life on life’s terms,” she wrote on Instagram, offering a rare glimpse into her recovery journey.

She candidly addressed the ongoing challenges she faced long after quitting alcohol and heroin — notably battling complex mental health conditions. 

“Treatment resistant major depressive disorder is a b—-. So is CPSTD [sic]. And OCD. If you’ve got this s—, or anything of the sort, you’re not alone. Hang in there and if no one’s told you they love you today, I love you,” she added.

APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST

The heartfelt message came alongside a reflective video montage capturing life moments from the past year, including playing guitar, laughing with friends and spending time with her dog. 

Supporters praised her openness in the comments section, calling her story both “strong” and “admirable.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Jackson has previously spoken candidly about her struggles with addiction and mental health, including how substance abuse took a serious toll on her body.

In a past social media video, she admitted drugs had “ruined” her life and revealed they caused permanent damage, including a hole in her nasal septum.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Jackson stunned fans after she showed off a “perforated septum” in a TikTok video in November.

“I have a really loud whistle when I breathe through my nose,” Jackson said in the clip as she pointed her phone’s flashlight up her nose. 

“And that is because I have what is called a perforated septum,” she explained, noting it’s “slightly different from a deviated septum.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

In January 2025, she shared similar sentiments while marking another sobriety milestone, using the moment to reflect on just how far she had come. “Hi, I’m pk and I’m an alcoholic and a heroin addict. Today marks 5 years clean & sober from all drugs and alcohol,” she wrote in part on Instagram. “To say that I’m thankful would be a poor euphemism. Gratitude hardly scratches the surface.”

Jackson has also shared that she’s been sober since 2020.

Doctors warn common painkillers could boost heart attack and stroke risk

Many might assume that over-the-counter (OTC) medications are generally safer than stronger prescription drugs, but research shows they can still present risks for some.

Certain common OTC painkillers have been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks.

Potential risk of NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — which are used to reduce pain, fever and inflammation — have been pinpointed as the class of medicines most linked to elevated cardiovascular risk.

NEW HEALTH WARNING ISSUED OVER POPULAR SLEEP AID MILLIONS TAKE NIGHTLY

“This is because they reduce the production of certain chemicals called prostaglandins,” Maryam Jowza, M.D., an anesthesiologist at UNC Health in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital. “These chemicals are involved in inflammation, but they are also involved in other body functions, such as influencing the tone of blood vessels.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, echoed the potential risk of NSAIDs. 

“They can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke via fluid retention and salt retention,” he told Fox News Digital. “This increases volume, puts a strain on the heart and raises blood pressure.”

DIABETES PATIENTS EXPERIENCE LOWER DEATH RATE WITH COMMON MEDICATION

Common examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, diclofenac, indomethacin and celecoxib.

Randomized trials found that ibuprofen caused the biggest spikes in blood pressure, followed by naproxen and then celecoxib. 

“In general, the increase in blood pressure is more likely with higher doses and longer duration of treatment,” said Jowza, who is also an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the UNC School of Medicine.

COMMON VIRUSES LINKED TO ‘DRAMATIC’ SPIKE IN HEART ATTACK AND STROKE RISK

NSAIDs can also increase stroke risk, especially at high doses and with long-term use, the doctor added. 

Diclofenac was linked to the highest cardiovascular risk, the doctor cautioned. Ibuprofen can also raise blood pressure and has been associated with a higher heart attack and stroke risk, but not as high as diclofenac. Naproxen carries a lower cardiovascular risk than ibuprofen or diclofenac, but is not entirely risk-free.

“The practical takeaway is that diclofenac is generally the least favorable choice in patients with elevated cardiovascular risk, and all NSAIDs should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration,” Dr. Nayan Patel, pharmacist and founder of Auro Wellness in Southern California, told Fox News Digital.

COMMON VITAMIN COULD PROTECT SOME HEART ATTACK SURVIVORS, STUDY SHOWS

Aspirin is an exception — although it is an NSAID, it actually reduces the risk of clots when taken at a low dose for prevention, under a doctor’s guidance. However, it can increase bleeding risk and blood pressure at high doses.

Non-NSAIDs safer, but not risk-free

Non-NSAID pain relievers are commonly used for everyday aches, headaches and fever, but not swelling. They act mainly on the brain’s pain signals, not inflammation, according to medical experts.

Acetaminophen, the most common non-NSAID pain reliever, is also linked to an increase in blood pressure, although to a lesser extent, according to Jowza. 

“All NSAIDs should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration.”

“Acetaminophen was once thought to have little to no cardiovascular effects, but more recent evidence suggests it can increase blood pressure, especially with higher doses used in the long term,” she said, emphasizing the importance of blood pressure monitoring. “Its effect on stroke risk is less clear.”

Which groups are most vulnerable?

The groups at greatest risk, according to doctors, are those with existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, prior stroke or heart disease, diabetes or kidney problems.

“These groups are also more likely to experience NSAID-related fluid retention and destabilization of blood pressure control,” Patel said.

WANT TO STAY HEALTHY AFTER 40? DOCTORS SAY MEN SHOULD CONSIDER 14 MEDICAL TESTS

Cardiovascular risk is generally higher for people 75 and older, the doctors agreed.

“Age amplifies risk largely because baseline cardiovascular risk increases with age, and kidney function reserve tends to decline,” Patel said. “Older adults are also more likely to be on antihypertensives, diuretics, antiplatelets or anticoagulants, so NSAIDs can destabilize blood pressure control and add safety complexity.”

Warning signs

Anyone experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness, severe headache, confusion, slurred speech or vision changes should see a doctor immediately, Jowza advised.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

“These symptoms can point to a heart attack or stroke,” she warned. “Other symptoms of concern that may not develop as rapidly, like new swelling in the legs, should also prompt medical attention.”

“Patients should also seek medical advice if they notice signs of fluid retention or kidney stress, such as rapidly rising blood pressure, swelling in the legs, sudden weight gain over a few days, reduced urine output or worsening shortness of breath,” Patel added.

Safer alternatives

For those at higher risk, Patel recommends non-NSAID approaches whenever possible. 

“For many patients, this means starting with non-drug strategies such as heat or ice, physical therapy and activity modification,” he told Fox News Digital. “If medication is needed, acetaminophen is generally preferred over oral NSAIDs from a cardiovascular standpoint, although regular use should still be monitored in people with hypertension.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

For localized joint or muscle pain, the doctor said topical NSAIDs can offer “meaningful relief” with “far lower” risk.

“Overall, pain management in high-risk patients should emphasize targeted therapy, conservative dosing and close blood pressure monitoring.”

Bottom line

The doctors emphasized that the overall risk is “very low” for people taking OTC pain relievers on a short-term basis, but it rises with long-term, high-dose use.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“I would not hesitate to use an occasional dose if it were a low-risk individual with no prior history of heart attack or stroke,” Jowza said. “I also think short-term use in diabetics and hypertensives who are well-controlled is acceptable.”

For those taking NSAIDs, the doctor suggested using “guard rails” — such as regularly testing blood pressure and kidney function, and setting limits on dosing — to make treatment as safe as possible.

Patel agreed that for most healthy individuals, occasional NSAID use “does not carry a meaningful cardiovascular risk.”

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“The concern is primarily with repeated or chronic use, higher doses, and use in people with underlying cardiovascular, kidney or blood pressure conditions,” he confirmed to Fox News Digital.

“That said, large population studies show that cardiovascular events can occur early after starting NSAIDs, particularly at higher doses, which is why even short-term use should be approached cautiously in higher-risk patients.”  

McDonald’s hit with lawsuit over what’s inside its beloved McRib

McDonald’s is facing a class-action lawsuit that accuses the fast-food giant of deceiving customers about what meat is used in its McRib sandwich. 

The lawsuit, filed by four plaintiffs in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois last week, alleges that the McRib “does not contain any actual pork rib meat at all,” despite its advertising.

McDonald’s says the claims are “meritless.”

In the suit, the plaintiffs argued that “despite its name and distinctive shape—its meat patty has been deliberately crafted to resemble a rack of pork ribs.”

The meat patties are instead made up of ground-up portions of lower-grade pork products such as, interalia, pork shoulder, heart, tripe and scalded stomach, the lawsuit stated.

MCRIB RETURNS TO MOST MCDONALD’S MENUS AS FANS CHEER AND CRITICS GROAN

The sandwich, which returned to menus at certain McDonald’s in November, is described by the company as “seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tangy pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun.” The sandwich has cultivated a significant following from fans who eagerly await its return to menus. It debuted in 1981, but was removed from the regular menu in the early 2000s. Since then, it returns only as a limited-time offering.

MCDONALD’S BRINGS BACK MONOPOLY AFTER NEARLY A DECADE WITH $1M CASH PRIZE UP FOR GRABS

The lawsuit argued that the company’s use of the name “McRib” amounts to “a deliberate sleight of hand” and that because of this marketing, customers expect “pork ‘rib’ meat, which is prized by consumers for its high fat content and rich flavor.”

WORLD’S OLDEST MCDONALD’S QUARTER POUNDER TURNS 30 AND IS STILL ‘EERILY INTACT’

“By including the word ‘Rib’ in the name of the sandwich, McDonald’s knowingly markets the sandwich in a way that deceives reasonable consumers, who reasonably (but mistakenly) believe that a product named the ‘McRib’ will include at least some meaningful quantity of actual pork rib meat,” the lawsuit read.

But McDonald’s argued that the “lawsuit distorts the facts.”

McDonald’s said it has “always been transparent about our ingredients.” McDonald’s said the sandwich starts with 100% seasoned boneless pork dipped into a tangy BBQ sauce. 

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

“Food quality and safety are at the heart of everything we do – that’s why we’re committed to using real, quality ingredients across our entire menu. Our fan-favorite McRib sandwich is made with 100% pork sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S. – there are no hearts, tripe or scalded stomach used in the McRib patty as falsely alleged in this lawsuit,” a spokesperson for the company said.