We all enjoy a good slushie every now and then. While they do not add any great nutritional value to our meal, they are a delightful snack made with shredded ice and sugar. To make them more accessible to people who cannot or do not wish to have sugar, there are many sugar free options to pick from. However, a recent study has revealed that sugar-free slushies containing glycerol, which is a sugar alcohol used to maintain their icy texture, can cause severe health problems in young children. The study was published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, it explains that having these sugar free slushies can lead to children having a condition called "glycerol intoxication syndrome". In this condition there is a rapid drop in blood sugar, reduced consciousness, and a buildup of acid in the blood.

Rapid Onset of Symptoms

Kids who drank slushies with glycerol got sick very quickly. Within an hour, they started showing serious symptoms. Their blood sugar would plummet, sometimes dangerously low. Many became confused or lost consciousness, and some even had seizures. Doctors studied 21 children who got sick from these drinks between 2018 and 2024. Most of these kids were very young, seven years old or younger. By the time they got to the hospital, many were in bad shape, either unconscious or barely awake. This quick reaction time makes it especially scary, as parents might not realize the slushy is the cause right away. It's important to recognize these signs fast.

Why is Glycerol Harmful?

According to WebMD Glycerol is a type of naturally occurring alcohol, and it's used in lots of food products. You might find it in protein bars, diet foods, and even sugar-free candies. In slushies, it plays a key role in keeping the drink icy. Usually, slushies use tons of sugar to stop them from freezing completely. But because people are trying to cut back on sugar, companies are using glycerol instead. This is especially true in places with "sugar taxes," where sugary drinks cost more. So, to make sugar-free versions, they add glycerol. This switch means more kids are being exposed to this ingredient, which can be harmful to them.

What Does Glycerol Damage Children's Health?

The study explains that little kids are more at risk from glycerol because their bodies are still growing and developing. Their tiny bodies and young metabolisms might not be able to handle glycerol as well as adults' bodies can. This means that even a small amount can cause a big problem. Also, the amount of glycerol in a slushy can vary, and it's hard to know exactly how much is safe. Factors like how fast they drink it, if they've eaten recently, or if they've been exercising can also make a difference. Even the standard size of a slushy drink can be too much for a small child. This makes it hard to give a safe dose.

Health authorities in the UK and Ireland have already started warning about glycerol in slushies. They suggest that kids under four shouldn't have them at all, and older kids should only have one at most. But doctors are worried that these warnings might not be enough. They point out that it's hard to know how much glycerol is actually in each drink, making it difficult to give safe advice. Parents are being told to be very careful and consider avoiding these drinks altogether for young children. In the US, glycerol is approved for use in food, but parents should still be aware of the potential risks. More research is needed to understand the full impact.

Recent data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority show a sharp rise in the number of women opting for egg-freezing. Yet the subject remains clouded by many misunderstandings. The decision itself is not simple. It involves emotional questions, significant costs and the physical demands of treatment. One common misunderstanding is the belief that egg freezing can harm egg quality, when the procedure does not lower the inherent quality of the eggs you already have.

We got in touch with Dr Shaweez Faizi, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Mangalore, who told us more about the same.

What Is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility option in which a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and kept for future use. The steps include taking hormones to help the ovaries produce multiple mature eggs, retrieving those eggs through a short clinical procedure, and freezing them through a rapid cooling method known as vitrification.

As per Healthline, the frozen eggs are then stored in liquid nitrogen. When pregnancy is planned later, the eggs are thawed, fertilized in a laboratory, and the embryo is transferred to the uterus.

How Egg-Freezing Works?

The journey begins with roughly 8 to 12 days of hormonal tablets and injections that help several follicles grow at once. Dr Shaweez Faizi told us that doctors then use an ultrasound-guided needle to retrieve the mature eggs under light anaesthesia. The eggs are preserved through vitrification. The medication does not pull eggs from future years. It acts only on that month’s cohort, which is why medical bodies consider the procedure safe and ethically sound.

Can Egg Freezing Lower Your Egg Quantity?

Dr Shaweez Faizi told us that egg-freezing does not drain your ovarian reserve for life. The process collects only the group of eggs that your body was already preparing to release in that month. Some women notice a short-term dip in AMH after the procedure, but this usually settles with time. The stored supply inside the ovaries remains unchanged.

For those unversed, AMH, or Anti-Müllerian Hormone, is commonly used to assess ovarian reserve, meaning the approximate number of eggs still present in a woman’s ovaries.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Reserve

AMH is often treated as a marker of ovarian reserve, though it naturally varies. Studies show that a small number of women experience a temporary fall in AMH after stimulation, followed by a return to baseline. Specialists usually advise repeating the AMH test a few months after retrieval to get an accurate picture.

Egg Freezing Success Rates

Age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs stored have the strongest influence on outcomes. Global data suggest that women under 38 who freeze about 20 eggs tend to have higher chances of a future live birth. Older women usually retrieve fewer eggs per cycle, and success rates decline. Indian clinics report a wide range of live-birth outcomes, depending on age and the number of usable eggs.

People with low AMH or diminished reserve will have fewer eggs from the start. The issue lies in the baseline biology, not in the freezing itself. Those who have had ovarian surgery, such as endometrioma removal, may have reduced reserve due to the operation and should plan their timing carefully.

Women facing chemotherapy or serious medical treatment should consult both oncologists and fertility specialists. The Indian Fertility Society recently issued guidance on handling low ovarian response and preservation choices.

Practical Steps For Those Considering Egg Freezing

Dr Shaweez Faizi shared a few practical steps for women considering egg freezing:

• Start with basic tests such as AMH, AFC and a hormonal panel.

• Ask detailed questions about expected egg yield for your age, the number of cycles you may need, and the clinic’s real success figures. Advertising often paints a brighter picture than the data.

• Plan financially for medication, scans, retrieval, freezing and long-term storage.

• Keep age in mind, as younger eggs are more likely to develop into healthy embryos.

• Choose established centres that follow national and international practice standards.

Egg-freezing is a recognised and safe method to preserve fertility options, but it is not a guaranteed path to pregnancy.

Costs, success rates and the number of cycles needed vary widely. As the service becomes more accessible in India’s metropolitan centres, careful counselling and realistic planning remain essential before you decide.

India’s growing dependence on quick, over-the-counter remedies has drawn fresh concern from a senior orthopaedic and sports surgeon in New Delhi. In a recent Instagram video, Dr Obaidur Rahman of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital warned that the country’s casual use of a common antibiotic is undermining its effectiveness and pushing India closer to a major public health challenge. His message, shared through a post and video, called attention to an urgent issue that often goes unnoticed in everyday medical choices.

What Is Azithromycin?

Azithromycin, sold under brand names such as Zithromax, Azee and Zmax, is a macrolide antibiotic prescribed for various bacterial infections. It works by slowing the growth of harmful bacteria. It does not help with viral illnesses like the common cold or flu, according to MedlinePlus.

Azithromycin Is Being Used “More Than Toffee or Roti”

Dr Rahman explained that one particular antibiotic has become so familiar in Indian homes that many people take it without a second thought. He noted that families frequently reach for this medicine to treat colds, coughs and mild fevers, despite the fact that most of these illnesses are viral. Because antibiotics do not work on viruses, this habit has increased unnecessary exposure and created ideal conditions for resistance to form.

In his post, he described the extent of the overuse by saying that the tablet is consumed even more commonly than basic household foods. This pattern, he said, has quietly pushed India into a vulnerable zone.

Azithromycin Antibiotic Resistance: Azithromycin Losing Power Against Key Bacteria

The antibiotic at the center of his warning is Azithromycin, a drug often prescribed for sore throats and upper respiratory tract infections. Dr Rahman noted that it was once effective against Mycoplasma Pneumonia, a bacterium responsible for pneumonia in adults and children.

He pointed out that this is no longer the case. According to him, India now shows an alarming 80 to 90 percent resistance to Azithromycin when treating infections caused by this bacterium. A medicine that once addressed a wide range of respiratory problems is no longer reliable for many patients.

Azithromycin: Antibiotic Resistance Already Reaching Clinics

Dr Rahman said that antibiotic resistance is not an abstract idea but something he encounters in his orthopaedic practice. He has seen cases where routine antibiotics fail entirely, leaving patients with few options. When commonly used drugs stop working, he added, treatment becomes more complicated, more expensive, and sometimes impossible.

His concern is that if such misuse continues unchecked, India could face a situation where even simple infections become difficult to manage.

The surgeon urged people to avoid taking antibiotics without proper medical advice. Most seasonal respiratory infections resolve on their own, and unnecessary drugs only add to the resistance problem. He encouraged viewers to share the information, especially with those who often purchase antibiotics over the counter.

Azithromycin Warning: Why This Warning Matters Now

Dr Rahman, who works at PGIMER and RML Hospital and specialises in bone, joint and sports injury care, said his experience treating a large volume of patients has made the issue impossible to ignore. He believes that without immediate changes in how antibiotics are used, India risks losing access to medicines that save lives in emergencies.

His message acts as a reminder that antibiotic resistance does not appear suddenly. It builds slowly through small, routine choices. And, as he warns, the cost of ignoring these early signs may be far greater than most people realise.

In a recent video, a neurosurgeon listed things he would start doing if he had to work on his brain health, ‘rebuilding it’, from scratch. Many people are focusing on health and bringing about a change in their life so that their health doesn’t suffer. If you wish to do the same but do not know where to start from, Dr Jay Jagannathan, MD, from Jay Jagannathan, MD, explains five easy steps with which you can start.

Your brain health is affected by many things around you, your habits, your diet, who you spend your time with etc. In the video Dr Jaggannath listed 5 things he would start doing if he had to start working on his brain health from the beginning.

In the caption he explained, “After years in neurosurgery, I’ve learned this: Your brain doesn’t need perfection — it needs consistency, balance, and protection. And the biggest changes often come from the simplest habits.”

5 Ways To Rebuild Your Brain Health

five key steps they would take to completely reset and improve their brain health. These strategies focus on combining strict discipline with intentional rest and mindful activities, recognizing the direct connection between physical habits and mental performance.

Sleep Schedule Discipline

The first and most critical step is maintaining strict sleep schedule discipline. This means committing to getting at least six to eight hours of quality sleep every single night without fail. If the individual has a very early start to their day, they must prioritize going to bed much earlier to ensure they meet this crucial rest quota. Prioritizing consistent sleep is essential for the brain to consolidate memories and perform necessary repairs.

Prioritize Strength Training

The second action involves incorporating regular, low-grade resistance (strength) training into the weekly routine. This exercise is especially important for people who spend long hours on their feet, like surgeons. Committing to low-grade resistance training for at least two to three days per week is considered extremely vital because physical strength and exercise directly support better circulation and overall body health, which feeds directly into improved brain function.

Embrace Regular Meditation and Mind-Body Connection

The neurosurgeon stressed the importance of dedicated time for regular meditation. They pointed out that a strong mind-body interface is crucial for endurance and clarity, particularly in demanding fields like surgery. Therefore, engaging in mindful practices such as yoga or meditation is necessary to establish and maintain that vital connection, allowing the brain and body to work together harmoniously and manage high stress levels.

Avoiding Burnout Cycles

The fourth piece of advice is to actively and consciously avoid burnout cycles. Burnout is a dangerous state of chronic stress that can severely damage both the brain's structure and its ability to function effectively. This strategy requires setting firm boundaries and intentionally managing one's workload and stress levels to prevent ever reaching a point of complete mental and physical exhaustion.

Skip the "Hero" Lifestyle

Finally, the fifth point is to firmly reject the "hero lifestyle" of skipping rest. This is the common, misguided habit of trying to power through intense work periods by constantly sacrificing necessary sleep and rest days. The neurosurgeon advises against this trend, asserting that continuous rest and consistent recovery are not optional but are absolutely non-negotiable for achieving and maintaining sustained high performance and long-term brain health.