MRI scans are strong diagnostics with high-definition images of what lies inside a body. Strong magnetic fields require precaution, as brought out by an instance where a young woman suffered very serious injuries due to an oversight in a metallic core within a silicone sex toy that she happened to have before the MRI scan. This makes a stark reminder about the potentially deadly consequences of missing metal objects when such procedures are being performed. In April 2023, a 23-year-old woman went into an MRI with a silicone plug containing a metal core that was not known.

She thought that the item is made entirely out of silicone according to the advertising. However, the strong magnetic field of the MRI machine interacted with the hidden metal, dragging the object through her body and causing excruciating pain. According to reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the scene was harrowing, with the woman screaming in agony and requiring immediate hospitalization. Despite pre-scan screenings, which are routine prior to a scan, the patient did not inform the facility that the object existed because he presumed it was purely non-metallic. This caused serious injuries that led to the patient's law suit against the manufacturer for deceitful misrepresentations of material content.

MRI machines employ magnets between 0.5 to 3 Tesla (T). This is thousands of times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field. The tremendous force causes ferromagnetic materials, like iron and nickel, to be magnetized quickly and become strongly attracted toward the magnet. Objects as small as hairpins or paper clips will accelerate at 40 miles per hour inside the magnetic field.

The force can lead to catastrophic injuries in items lodged within the body, such as metallic implants or foreign objects. Metallic cores within devices, like pacemakers or intrauterine devices, must be disclosed to radiologists to prevent such complications.

How Metal Objects Interact with MRI Fields?

On these claims, Dr. Adam Taylor, a specialist in human anatomy, weighed his words in a international health website and added that the distance away and mass of this object would increase its velocity towards that of sound, "The acceleration would be phenomenal, but with a metallic core, it can't go anywhere near supersonic speeds. As for the size, the magnetic acceleration to the internal soft tissues would ensure that there could be severe intracranial trauma."

The injuries inflicted in this case likely involved damage to major blood vessels, nerves, or organs, highlighting the devastating impact of even minor oversight during an MRI scan.

This is not an isolated case. There are documented cases of metallic objects causing serious damage during MRI scans with a 65-year-old man with schizophrenia swallowed metal objects, including sockets and a hinge pin. The powerful magnetic field during an MRI scan caused the objects to rupture his stomach, resulting in serious injuries.

A toddler who ingested 11 small magnets perforated his bowel while undergoing a scan, making his case unique. In another deadly but extremely rare incident, there have been people who hide a firearm on themselves during MRI procedures. Magnetic attraction can trigger a discharge in a weapon and has led to some fatal injuries.

These cases emphasize the very strong need for adequate screening and patient education prior to an MRI.

Preventing MRI-Related Incidents

Medical professionals have been trained to avoid risks. This is by properly screening a patient for metallic objects. In general, most pre-scan protocols include:

• Patients are interrogated about implants, recent surgery or exposures at work related to metals.
• Radiologists sometimes use handheld metal detectors to search for hidden items.
• People who work with metal, like welders or machinists, will need additional testing to detect microscopic metal fragments within soft tissues or eyes.

The case emphasizes the importance of product labeling by manufacturers, especially those products that are likely to unintentionally cause harm to health. The patient's assumption that her device was 100% silicone points to a larger problem in consumer markets with misinformation.

It also reminds the patients to report any possible dangers to the medical professionals, no matter how the objects look non-metallic. In sensitive cases, patients can request private discussions with healthcare providers to ensure safety without discomfort.

In the end, it is a joint effort from manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and patients that can prevent such tragedies. Manufacturers must ensure truthful marketing, while healthcare providers should educate patients about the dangers of metal objects in MRI settings. For patients, understanding the risks and actively participating in pre-scan disclosures can be lifesaving.

This young woman's experience is a sobering example of the unforeseen dangers posed by MRI machines when precautions are overlooked. It serves as a wake-up call to address gaps in patient awareness, medical protocols, and product transparency. By learning from this incident, the medical community and the public can work together to ensure MRI scans remain a safe and effective diagnostic tool.

Wondering when you are most at risk of having a heart attack?

Dr Srihari Naidu, a triple board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology and cardiology professor at New York Medical College says that the winter season is when we're most susceptible to attacks.

He told HealthandMe: "Major cardiovascular studies have shown a link between cold exposure, including the drop in temperature during the winter months, and risk of heart attack. While it’s hard to pin point the exact reason, it is clear that cold exposure does make the heart work harder."

Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in the country. Four Indians experience a heart attack every minute, with one in four dying of the cause.

Experts have also noticed a rising trend of nearly 50 percent of heart attack patients being under the age of 40, with half of all heart attacks in Indian men occurring under 50.

Why Are Your More Likely To Have Attack In Winters?

According to Dr Naidu, falling temperatures can cause arteries to narrow, reduce oxygen flow and force the heart to work harder. This can lead to the thickening of blood and with time, cause a heart attack.

"For one thing, cold causes all the arteries in the body to constrict, so that more blood flow is in the central parts of the body like the gut and less on the surface where heat can be lost through the air. While this prevents hypothermia, it makes the heart work harder and need more oxygen itself. In addition, cold causes blood to be thicker, a phenomenon that could increase the risk of blood clots.

"This combination of the heart working harder, needing more oxygen and the blood being more prone to clotting results in a higher rate of heart attacks. In addition to this, people who already have blockages will experience more chest pain (angina) in the cold due to the heart working harder, and if this is tied to extra exertion, that risk could skyrocket."

Additionally, Dr Tamil Selvan Muthusamy, Consultant Cardiologist at Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL) told HealthandMe: "Extreme pollution, winter illnesses like the flu can cause inflammation that can trigger heart problems and holidays activities can put extra strain on the heart when it's already working overtime from the cold."

Apart from this, Dr Y. Vijayachandra Reddy, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road Chennai, also noted that hypertension, chest infections and excessive holiday drinking as well as smoking can worsen the risk of heart attack during this season.

He shared with the publication: "Chest infections and throat infections are quite common in the winter season. Intercurrent flu or other chest infections can cause an inflammatory milieu, which can lead to more ruptures of the cholesterol or atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels of the heart, leading to sudden precipitation of heart attacks.

"The holiday syndrome, wherein in the winter season, many holidays, weekends and people can take recourse to excessive recreational use of alcohol or smoking, which can lead to trouble."

Who Is Most At Risk?

Dr Naidu warns people who have a history of heart disease and other chronic conditions may be most at risk of having a heart attack and should attempt to maintain their body temperature to keep their heart safe and functioning.

"Taken together, people should understand that their baseline risk of a heart attack goes up significantly in the cold weather, especially if they have risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes or hypertension, and should take precautions or simply avoid exercise or exertion in the cold weather.

"If any exertion is needed, dressing warmly to make sure the heart doesn’t have to work so hard to maintain body temperature should reduce risk. Most importantly, though, listen to your body, especially in the cold weather, as just being in the cold is a significant stress especially as we get older," he explained to the publication.

To prevent infection-caused heart attacks, Dr Reddy advises: "One of the protective mechanisms is for the vulnerable population to take annual flu vaccine and a lifetime pneumococcal vaccine."

Coronary Artery Disease: The Silent Killer

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common illnesses that can cause a heart attack in people. It develops over years and has no clear signs and symptoms apart from a heart attack.

The illness begins due to a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances known as plaque in and on the artery walls.

Over time, this can cause narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries and block the supply of oxygen-rich blood to heart which can lead chest pain (angina), shortness of breath and ultimately, heart attacks.

Typically, those above the age of 45, having a biological family member with heart disease, lack of sleep, smoking, consuming saturated fats along with other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of developing CAD.

Nearly one in 10 Indian adults suffer from CAD and about two million people die from the disease annually. Apart from this, about 18 to 20 million American adults aged 20 and older are also affected about the disease.

Simple changes to school lunches may help reduce junk food intake by at least 1,000 calories in children each day, a study shows.

Researchers from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, have discovered that reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that are rich in salt and sugar among adolescents can prevent future lifestyle diseases.

Ultra-processed foods are defined in four categories, ranging from least to most processed:

• Unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fruit, vegetables, milk or fish.
• Processed culinary ingredients like salt, sugar, olive oil and butter.
• Processed foods, such as jam, pickles or canned fruit.
• Ultra-processed foods, like energy drinks, sodas, sugary cereals, packaged chips, cookies and instant noodles

What Did The Research Find?

In this study, the scientists conducted a controlled trial across 12 government schools in Chandigarh, focusing on students of Class 8 and their parents. Over a six-month period, adolescents attended 11 structured sessions on nutrition awareness, food choices and behavior change and parents were given one focused educational session to encourage healthier food environments at home.

Additionally, the researchers also assessed dietary patterns in children using two non-consecutive 24-hour food recalls at the beginning and end of the intervention.

The scientists found that students who completed the six month program were consuming over 1,000 calories merely from junk food such as packaged snacks, sugary beverages and fast food and only 270 calories from other processed foods, signaling a broader shift away from unhealthy diets.

They noted: "This suggests that reducing unhealthy consumption is easier than building healthy eating habits, and both require different strategies."

Does Parental Involvement Make Any Difference?

Researchers also found that despite parental intervention, eating patterns showed little change, highlighting the role schools can play as frontline institutions in preventing lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

“Low-cost, scalable education and behavior-change strategies in schools could have a long-term impact on public health,” the team said, adding that such programs are particularly relevant in countries where healthcare systems face increasing pressure from non-communicable diseases.

Moreover, the study showed that students did not significantly increase fruit or home-cooked food intake even when junk food consumption fell, indicating that cutting unhealthy food is easier than building healthy habits.

Why Are UPFs Bad For You?

Apart from being linked to higher risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart issues, UPFs have also been found to worsen cognitive function, attention issues, anxiety and depression in children as additives and inflammation may disrupt brain pathways.

Furthermore, additives, emulsifiers, and nanoparticles and low fiber content can disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting digestion and immunity as well as overall growth.

UPFs also reduce satiety, because industrial processing alters their structure, making them softer and easier to eat and digest. This leads to a faster rate of consumption, which can override natural fullness signals and cause people to overeat.

The scientists concluded that schools could become frontline institutions for preventing future lifestyle diseases, using low-cost education and behaviour strategies, the team said.

A newly developed “smart pill” that can confirm whether a medication has actually been swallowed could one day change how doctors track prescription use. Created by researchers at MIT along with partner institutions, the technology was described in a study published in Nature Communications. These electronic capsules are designed to send out a wireless signal once ingested and then safely dissolve inside the stomach over the course of about a week.

While the idea sounds straightforward, the implications are significant. Research shows that nearly half of Americans living with chronic illnesses do not take long-term medications exactly as prescribed. Below is what you need to know about how this smart pill works and why it matters.

What Is The New Smart Pill Designed By MIT Researchers?

In a development aimed at improving medication adherence, engineers at MIT have created a pill that can confirm when it has been swallowed. The reporting mechanism can be built into standard pill capsules and includes a biodegradable radio frequency antenna. After transmitting a signal to confirm ingestion, most of the pill’s components dissolve in the stomach. A tiny radio frequency chip then passes naturally through the digestive system and exits the body.

According to MIT News, researchers believe this technology could be particularly helpful for transplant recipients who rely on immunosuppressive drugs, as well as patients being treated long term for infections such as HIV or tuberculosis.

“The idea is to make sure this helps people receive the treatment they need so they can achieve the best possible health outcomes,” Giovanni Traverso, associate professor of medical engineering and senior author of the study, told MIT News.

The New Smart Pill Can Communicate

Not taking medication as prescribed remains a major public health problem, contributing to hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths and adding billions of dollars to healthcare costs every year. To address this, Traverso’s team has previously developed capsules that can stay in the digestive system for days or even weeks, releasing medicine at scheduled intervals. However, not every drug can be delivered in this way.

“We know that systems designed to stay in the body longer can improve adherence,” Traverso explained. “But for some medications, altering the pill isn’t an option. So the question is what else we can do to support patients and help healthcare providers ensure medications are actually being taken.”

In this latest study, the researchers shifted their focus toward better tracking of medication use. They turned to radio frequency technology, which is safe for humans and easy to detect from outside the body. This allowed them to design a capsule that sends a signal once it has been swallowed, giving doctors a clearer picture of whether patients are taking their medicine.

The Smart Pill Will Be Using Radio Frequency

The capsule is designed to keep its signal blocked until it reaches the stomach. After ingestion, stomach fluids dissolve the outer coating, activating the radio frequency signal that confirms the pill has been swallowed. The remaining materials then break down safely inside the body.

To test the system, researchers conducted experiments in pigs, whose digestive systems are similar to those of humans. The study found that the capsules consistently transmitted signals after ingestion and dissolved without leaving behind harmful chemical residue, according to MIT News.

Looking ahead, researchers told the New York Post that they hope to develop a wearable device for humans that could receive the signal and automatically share the information with healthcare providers. Still, widespread use is not imminent. Despite encouraging early findings, the smart pills will need thorough testing in human trials to confirm both safety and effectiveness before they can receive approval.