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.

A fall at home might look small, but for women older than 65, a broken hip can be a big and serious health problem. In real medical terms, this condition has a 20 to 30 percent chance of being deadly within the first year.

As people get older, their bones get weaker because of osteoporosis, which makes them more likely to break even from small falls. However, the bigger problem starts once the injury happens.

According to World Health organization (WHO), around 60 per cent of people living with osteoarthritis are women, yet awareness remains limited until symptoms begin to interfere with mobility and daily function.

Loss Of Muscles

Reports show that 70 per cent of women will get arthritis and osteoporosis. Most of them had no idea it was coming. HealthandMe spoke to experts to understand the reasons behind the trend.

Dr Gurdeep Avinash Ratra, Consultant - Orthopedics and Joint Replacement, Manipal Hospitals, Gurugram said that the development of these disorders is gradual and closely tied to physiological changes.

“After the age of 30, there is a steady decline in muscle mass, accompanied by a more rapid reduction in strength and power. With menopause, the significant fall in estrogen levels removes natural protection for bone density and joint health. Over time, this leads to increased bone fragility, reduced muscular support, and stress on joints, thereby elevating the risk of fractures and chronic joint conditions,” Ratra told HealthandMe.

Health Coach Prashant Desai in a post on social media platform X, noted that after the age of 30:

• muscle mass starts declining by 1 per cent every year.
• muscle strength declines three times faster.
• muscle power declines eight times faster.

Treatment

Experts said a hip fracture needs to be treated right away as a serious medical problem that requires care from many different medical specialists, not just a doctor who focuses on bones.

Dr Rajesh Kumar Verma, Director – Orthopedics & Joint Replacement, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali explained that limited movement can cause blood clots, chest infections, pressure sores, and loss of muscle quickly. Many patients also face a quick drop in their ability to take care of themselves, which can impact both their body and mind.

Also read: Suffering From Mid-back Pain? Doctors Say It May Be Spinal TB

“Delayed treatment further increases risk. Early surgery and prompt recovery treatment help increase the chances of surviving and recovering better,” Verma told HealthandMe.

How to Prevent

• Maintaining a healthy waist circumference as an early indicator of metabolic health.
• Engaging in regular strength training to preserve bone density and muscle mass.
• Ensuring adequate protein intake to support muscle maintenance.
• Incorporating sufficient calcium and Vitamin D into the diet.
• Remaining physically active, with exercise beyond low impact activities alone.
• Get medical help right away if you fall or think you might have a broken bone.
• Have surgery as soon as your doctor suggests it, because it can help you recover better.
• Begin physiotherapy as soon as possible after the surgery to help restore movement and avoid any serious issues.
• Make sure to eat well, paying special attention to getting enough protein, calcium, and vitamin D.
• Check for fall risks at home by looking at things like lighting, floor surfaces, and handrails.

What to avoid

• Do not wait to go to the hospital, even if the hip fracture pain feels okay.
• Avoid staying in bed for long because a hip fracture can lead to infections, pressure sores, and blood clots.
• Do not skip osteoporosis treatment for hip fractures because it is very important to stop broken bones from happening again.
• Avoid skipping follow-ups or rehabilitation sessions for hip fractures after the surgery.

World Health Day serves as a reminder that regular preventive health check-ups stand as mandatory health assessments that all women need to undergo for their long-term health.

Many serious conditions, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, often remain silent in their early stages, making regular screening the most effective way to detect them early, when treatment is simpler, less invasive, and more successful.

How Preventive Healthcare Can Help Women

Preventive healthcare enables women to take a proactive role in managing their health rather than responding to illness at an advanced stage. Early detection not only improves clinical outcomes but also effectively decreases treatment difficulties, emotional distress and financial costs while providing superior long-term life quality.

This also helps in identifying risk factors early, allowing timely lifestyle modifications that can prevent disease onset altogether.

Despite this, women often deprioritize their own health due to the multiple roles they juggle, balancing careers, caregiving responsibilities, and family needs. There is also a continued hesitation around discussing reproductive and intimate health concerns, along with a lack of awareness, fear of diagnosis, and social stigma, all of which contribute to delays in seeking timely care.

In many cases, women assume that the absence of symptoms indicates good health, which is a common but risky misconception.

Importance Of Routine Screening

Routine screenings such as Pap smears for cervical health, regular breast examinations, mammography where indicated, thyroid function tests, and basic metabolic screenings like blood sugar and cholesterol levels are critical tools in preventive care.

Periodic health check-ups also provide an opportunity for counselling on nutrition, mental well-being, hormonal health, and lifestyle management, areas that are often overlooked but equally important.

World Health Day serves as a reminder to shift from a reactive to a preventive approach. Prioritizing regular health check-ups, normalizing conversations around women’s health, and encouraging a culture of self-care can significantly improve outcomes. Investing in preventive healthcare is one of the most powerful steps women can take towards leading healthier, longer, and more empowered lives.

The root of many health issues stems from the sleep pattern we imbibe in our daily lives. Beyond that, sleep can also act as a mirror to your mental and emotional state. When stress builds up, it rarely switches off at bedtime; instead, it shows up through vivid dreams, frequent night waking, or a sense of anxiety in the early hours of the morning. Dr. Shiva Kumar R, Head and Senior Consultant—Neurology, Manipal Hospital, Sarjapur Road, decoded the link between stress dreams and early morning anxiety.

What are stress dreams?

One of the most common signs is having stress dreams. These dreams are often very strong, repetitive, or emotionally charged, like being chased, not being ready for an exam, or losing control of a situation. Your brain uses them to work through thoughts and feelings that aren't fully formed. When you don't fully deal with your stress, your mind keeps working on it while you sleep.

Waking up at night is another sign you should pay attention to. If you wake up several times without a clear physical reason, it could be because you are more alert. Stress keeps your nervous system in a semi-active state, which makes it harder for your body to get the deep, restorative sleep it needs. Because of this, even small noises can wake you up.

Is there a solution?

Early morning anxiety, where you wake up with a sense of dread or racing thoughts, is also closely tied to stress. Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, naturally rises in the early morning. However, when you’re overwhelmed, this spike can feel more intense, triggering anxious thoughts before your day even begins.

These patterns are more than just interruptions; they are signs. Your sleep needs attention, balance, and care. Keeping a regular sleep schedule, limiting screen time before bed, using relaxation techniques, or writing down your thoughts can all help lighten your mental load.

If these feelings don't go away, it might be a good idea to look into what is causing them or get help from a professional. The first step toward better mental and emotional health may be to pay attention to what your sleep is trying to tell you.