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.

In adults, long periods of sleep deprivation has been linked to problems such as weakened immunity, weight gain, depression, and an increased risk of dementia. However, scientists are now paying closer attention to how sleep affects the brain much earlier in life.

However, a new University of North Carolina School of Medicine study suggests that disrupted sleep during early childhood may interfere with key stages of brain development and asl well as increase the risk of developing autism.

Why Sleep Matters For The Developing Brain

Sleep plays a crucial role in helping these synapses form and strengthen. During sleep, the brain organizes and stabilizes these neural connections, shaping the foundation for future brain function. If sleep is repeatedly disrupted during this delicate stage of development, the process may be affected.

Frequent waking or sleep disturbances could interfere with how these neural connections are formed, potentially influencing behavior and cognitive abilities later in life.

The Link Between Sleep And Autism

“The unique effects of sleep loss during development are largely unexplored,” Diering said. “Our data show that babies and children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of sleep disruption. We also found that sleep loss during this crucial period of time can negatively interact with underlying genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder.”

Sleep problems are already known to be common in people with autism. In fact, sleep disruption has been reported in more than 80 percent of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. However, researchers have long debated whether these sleep issues are a cause of the disorder or a consequence of it. Understanding how sleep interacts with brain development could help scientists detect autism earlier and potentially develop new treatment strategies.

Studying Sleep Disruption In Early Life

In earlier work conducted in 2022, researchers examined how sleep disruption during early life might interact with genetic factors linked to autism. Using mouse models, they disrupted sleep during the third week of life, a developmental stage roughly comparable to ages one to two in humans.

The study found that sleep disruption during this period produced long lasting behavioral changes. Male mice that were genetically vulnerable to autism showed deficits in social behavior later in life. These results suggested that sleep disruption during critical stages of development may interact with genetic risk factors in ways that shape long term behavior.

Younger Brains Respond Differently To Sleep Loss

To investigate further, researchers studied how developing and adult mice respond differently to sleep deprivation.

Using specially designed housing systems equipped with sensitive sensors, scientists tracked the animals’ breathing and movement. This allowed them to determine when the mice were awake and when they were asleep.

The researchers observed that adult mice were able to compensate for lost sleep. After experiencing sleep deprivation, the adults increased their sleep later during their normal active period. This process, known as sleep rebound, allowed them to recover some of the lost rest.

Younger mice behaved very differently. They showed no sleep rebound at all, meaning they did not compensate for the sleep they had lost. This finding suggests that younger brains may be far more vulnerable to the effects of sleep disruption.

The consequences were also visible in cognitive performance. Sleep deprived young mice performed poorly on learning and memory tasks, while adult mice were significantly more resilient after losing sleep.

Changes At The Level Of Brain Synapses

The results showed that sleep deprivation in young mice significantly altered the formation of synapses. These changes were not seen in adult mice. “This now provides one of the largest and most comprehensive datasets to examine the molecular effects of sleep loss across the lifespan,” Diering said.

Potential Future Treatments

“Development is not something that one can go back and do again,” Diering said. “Sleep is important for the entire life and especially during development. Understanding what we know now will place greater emphasis on understanding sleep issues in ASD and could lead to an important therapeutic avenue to treat ASD and other developmental conditions.”

The findings highlight an important message for parents and caregivers. During early childhood, healthy sleep patterns may play a critical role in shaping the brain for years to come.

Using amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis can significantly increase your risk of having a brain stroke particularly among younger adults, according to a new University of Cambridge analysis

The findings highlight how recreational drug use may contribute to a preventable health risk, especially among people under the age of 55.

Megan Ritson, a stroke genetics researcher at the University of Cambridge and lead author said the results provide strong evidence linking certain drugs to stroke risk.

“These findings provide compelling evidence that drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabis are causal risk factors for stroke,” Ritson noted.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. This can happen when a blood vessel becomes blocked by a clot, known as an ischemic stroke, or when a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke. Both types can lead to serious brain damage and can be life threatening.

Amphetamines Associated With The Highest Risk

When researchers combined data from eight previous studies, they found that recreational amphetamine use was associated with more than double the risk of stroke across all adult age groups. For individuals under the age of 55, the increase was even greater. In this group, amphetamine use was linked to nearly triple the risk of stroke compared with people who do not use the drug.

Across all age groups, the analysis found that amphetamine use increased the risk of ischemic stroke by 137 percent and hemorrhagic stroke by 183 percent. These figures reflect relative risk, meaning the probability of stroke is higher among users compared with non users.

Cocaine Shows A Similar Pattern

The analysis showed that cocaine use nearly doubled the risk of stroke of any kind and more than doubled the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Additional genetic investigations were conducted alongside the main analysis to better understand whether the relationship might be causal rather than simply linked to other lifestyle factors.

Eric Harshfield, a genetic epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, said the findings suggest the drugs themselves may play a direct role. “Our analysis suggests that it is these drugs themselves that increase the risk of stroke, not just other lifestyle factors among users,” Harshfield said.

Cannabis Linked To Smaller But Significant Risk

Among people under the age of 55, cannabis use was linked to a 14 percent increase in stroke risk. Although the increase is lower than that associated with stimulant drugs, researchers say it remains important because cannabis is widely used.

Opioids Showed No Clear Association

A Preventable Health Risk

The researchers also note that many of the studies included in the analysis relied on participants reporting their own drug use. Because of this, other lifestyle factors could potentially influence the results. Further research will be needed to better understand the biological mechanisms involved and how different patterns of drug use may affect stroke risk. Still, scientists say the evidence now available provides an important foundation for future public health strategies.

“These findings give us stronger evidence to guide future research and public health strategies,” Ritson said.

In cities that rarely slow down, sleep is often the first thing people compromise. Late-night work calls, endless notifications, streaming platforms, and the pressure to stay productive are quietly cutting into the hours meant for rest. On World Sleep Day, health experts are raising concerns about a growing issue among urban professionals: sleep debt.

Sleep debt refers to the cumulative effect of regularly getting less sleep than the body needs. While it may seem harmless to sleep five or six hours on busy weekdays, the missing hours slowly add up and begin to affect both the body and the mind.

According to Dr. Manav Manchanda, Director and Head of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Asian Hospital, the problem is far more serious than many people realize.

“Sleep is not a luxury. It is a biological necessity,” he says. “Chronic sleep deprivation affects almost every system in the body. When people repeatedly ignore their sleep needs, it leads to hormonal imbalance, weakened immunity, mood disturbances and reduced productivity.”

The Urban Lifestyle And The Rise Of Sleep Debt

Urban professionals often pride themselves on staying busy. But long work hours, tight deadlines, frequent travel, and social obligations have created an environment where sleep is seen as negotiable.

Many people assume that sleeping longer on weekends can make up for lost rest during the week. However, doctors say the body does not recover so easily.

Sleep debt builds gradually when the body consistently receives less rest than it requires. Over time, this pattern begins to interfere with natural biological rhythms, making it harder for the body to regulate energy, focus and emotional balance.

When Lack Of Sleep Starts Affecting Performance

One of the earliest signs of sleep debt is a noticeable decline in cognitive function. People who do not get enough sleep often experience brain fog, poor concentration, irritability and slower decision-making.

In high-pressure professions such as corporate management, media, finance and technology, this can significantly impact work performance. Errors, missed details and reduced productivity can all stem from insufficient rest.

Dr. Manchanda explains that the effects are not limited to mental fatigue. “When the body does not get enough sleep, it disrupts several important systems including metabolism, hormone regulation and immune function,” he says.

The Health Risks Behind Chronic Sleep Loss

Persistent sleep deprivation can gradually increase the risk of serious health conditions. Experts link long-term sleep debt with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Mental health can also be affected. Poor sleep patterns are associated with increased anxiety, mood swings and symptoms of depression.

“Over time, sleep debt can significantly increase the risk of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases,” Dr. Manchanda adds. “People often underestimate how deeply sleep influences overall health.”

The Role Of Screens And Digital Habits

Another major reason behind sleep debt is digital dependency. Many professionals spend their evenings scrolling through smartphones or watching online content late into the night.

This habit exposes the eyes to blue light, which interferes with the release of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating the sleep cycle. As a result, the body struggles to recognize when it is time to wind down.

Building Better Sleep Habits

Doctors say improving sleep hygiene is one of the most effective ways to reduce sleep debt. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, limiting screen exposure before bedtime and avoiding caffeine late in the evening can help regulate sleep patterns.

Creating a calm sleeping environment and engaging in stress-relieving activities such as exercise or meditation may also improve sleep quality.

Experts believe workplaces also have a role to play. Encouraging better work-life balance and reducing after-hours communication can allow employees to prioritize rest.

On World Sleep Day, the message from doctors is clear. In a culture that celebrates constant productivity, sleep remains one of the most powerful tools for protecting long-term health and mental well-being.