Consuming Artificial Sweeteners Can Cause Heart Disease

Consumption of non-caloric, artificially sweetened beverages is associated with an increased risk for chronic life style diseases according to Susan E. Swithers, PhD, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, published online July 10 in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Frequent consumers of these sugar substitutes may be at increased risk of excessive weight gain, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This risk is independent of baseline body mass index.

Another earlier study found that children of normal weight who consume artificially sweetened beverages may have decreased weight gain compared with those who consume sweetened beverages. 

In another study, overweight and obese adults who substituted water or artificially sweetened beverages for sweetened beverages had no greater weight loss at 6 months than an attentional control group. 

Artificially sweetened beverages intake was not associated with improved fasting glucose, but water intake was.

Emedinews Editorial:Children and adolescents with congenital heart disease should avoid body piercing

Children and teenagers with congenital heart disease should be strongly discouraged from getting a tattoo or piercing their ears or other body parts, because it could lead to a potentially deadly infection of the heart called endocarditis

Infective endocarditis occurs when bacteria or fungi attach and start to grow on the valves of the heart. If left untreated, it can lead to a fatal destruction of heart muscle.

Most people are not aware that they should talk to their doctor before tattooing or piercing their body.

Body art in the form of tattoos and piercing has become increasingly popular among children and teenagers.

Most experts today strongly discourage all forms of body art. For those who cannot be dissuaded, the recommendation is to give antibiotics prior to tattooing or piercing, “with strong advice for prompt treatment of any signs of subsequent infection”.