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.

Medical tourism is no longer just a trend—it's becoming a practical choice for millions of people worldwide. Whether it's traveling abroad for an affordable heart surgery, a dental implant, cosmetic procedures, or fertility treatment, more patients are exploring healthcare beyond their home countries.

But is medical tourism always a good idea? While it can offer significant savings and quicker access to treatment, it also comes with important risks that patients should understand before booking a flight.

What Is Medical Tourism?

Medical tourism refers to traveling to another country to receive medical treatment. People often choose this option because healthcare services may be less expensive, waiting times may be shorter, or certain treatments may not be easily available in their own country.

Popular destinations include countries such as India, Thailand, Turkey, Singapore, Mexico, and South Korea, each offering specialized medical services ranging from orthopedic surgeries to cosmetic procedures.

Benefits Of Medical Tourism

One of the biggest reasons people seek treatment abroad is cost. In many cases, medical procedures can cost significantly less than they would in countries with expensive healthcare systems, without necessarily compromising on quality.

Another major advantage is faster treatment. Patients who face months-long waiting lists for surgeries at home may be able to receive care within days or weeks overseas.

Understanding The Risks

Despite its advantages, medical tourism isn't without challenges.

Healthcare standards, regulations, and infection-control practices vary from country to country. Patients may also face language barriers, making communication with healthcare providers more difficult.

Follow-up care is another important concern. If complications develop after returning home, local doctors may have limited information about the treatment performed abroad, making recovery more complicated.

Long-distance travel soon after surgery can also increase the risk of complications such as blood clots, particularly after major operations.

Additionally, legal protections differ between countries. If something goes wrong during treatment, seeking compensation or resolving medical disputes may be more difficult than in your home country.

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How To Stay Safe

Experts recommend researching hospitals carefully before making any decisions. Look for internationally accredited healthcare facilities, experienced specialists, and verified patient reviews.

Patients should also request detailed information about the procedure, possible complications, recovery timelines, and total costs—including unexpected expenses.

Before traveling, discuss your plans with your primary healthcare provider. They can help determine whether traveling for treatment is appropriate and advise you on vaccinations, medications, and post-treatment follow-up.

Finally, purchase travel insurance that specifically covers medical procedures abroad if available, as standard travel insurance policies may exclude elective treatments.

Our role as cardiologists involves observing young athletes train hard to become the next footballer or cricket player. Maintaining a strong and healthy heart requires more than just lung capacity for endurance in tasks like completing '90-minute pitch sprints' or preparing to go through gruelling five-day test matches.

Although uncommon, young athletes often face serious cardiac events that can be prevented. Why? Start your day with habits that can protect your heart.

Vital Heart Habits For Aspiring Athletes

Before competing in a competitive sport, it is important to conduct introductory cardiac evaluations. Set priorities accordingly. If a family history includes sudden cardiac death, cardiomyopathy, unexplained fainting, or inherited heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathies can be detected early on by examining the body through symptom-specific ECG and personal/family history testing.

The process of dehydration causes your heart to pump faster and requires a much greater amount of blood. Consuming water on a daily basis and using electrolyte solutions during intense sweat sessions can prevent arrhythmias.

Don't overlook symptoms like chest tightness, sudden shortness of breath, or faintness when exercising; these are not just fatigue but signs of fatigue. Go and see a medical professional without delay.

Prosperity for recovery and sleep: Deep sleep is characterized by a decrease in heart rate, a settling of blood pressure, and relaxation of cardiac muscle tissue. By sacrificing 8-9 hours of sleep, your heart will become affected, and stress hormones such as cortisol are elevated.

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Avoid consumption of energy drinks that contain harmful stimulants and high levels of caffeine, as it can lead to heart palpitations. Consume whole foods high in lean protein and complex carbohydrates.

“Dreaming big requires training smart. If you listen carefully and respect your heart today, it will be enough for years to make sure you can continue playing sports.”

Dr. Anshu Kumar Jha, Consultant – Cardiology, Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, Kolkata.

Worldwide, more than 57 million people live with dementia, experiencing symptoms such as short-term memory loss, difficulty finding words, confusion about time or place, trouble with complex tasks, and changes in mood or personality. Around 10 million new cases are diagnosed every year.

Recent studies suggest that the average lifetime risk of developing dementia after age 55 is about 42%.

A new study has found that maintaining healthy blood pressure, controlling blood sugar, and avoiding smoking during middle age could significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia.

People who maintained these three health measures between the ages of 48 and 68 lived, on average, nearly 13 additional years without dementia, according to the study published in the journal Neurology Open Access.

"Our findings argue that people need to actively avert these factors in midlife as a strategy for preserving brain health for more than a decade," said study senior investigator Josef Coresh, Professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone.

"Discovering new ways to delay dementia is crucial with 42% of Americans at risk for developing the condition at any time after age 55," he added.

How Was the Study Conducted?

Researchers analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, an ongoing community-based study that began in 1986. It has tracked participants for decades, measuring midlife vascular risk factors and the development of dementia.

The analysis included 12,409 adults with an average age of 56, all of whom were free of dementia at the start of the study. Researchers assessed three key risk factors:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Smoking

• 3,008 people developed dementia.
• 5,238 died without developing dementia.

Key Findings

Researchers also examined how midlife cardiovascular risk factors affected dementia-free survival across different demographic groups.

Among participants with all three risk factors:

• Women lived an average of 18.1 years without developing dementia, compared with 16.6 years for men.
• White participants lived an average of 19.6 years without dementia, compared with 16.0 years for Black participants.

"Hopefully, these results will encourage people to stop smoking and watch their vascular health closely from age 48 on."

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a significant decline in mental function that interferes with daily life. It commonly affects memory, thinking, and reasoning abilities and is caused by underlying conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia.

While there is currently no cure, the WHO says up to 45 per cent of dementia risk can be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, social isolation, air pollution, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including high blood pressure and diabetes.