Category: Medical safety

According to official FDA labeling, medical-grade sterile water is explicitly 'not potable water' and 'not intended for oral administration'. This is a critical safety guideline, meaning you should never drink sterile water from a hospital, despite its apparent purity.

A single dose of injectable vitamin D can contain up to 50,000 to 600,000 International Units (IU), an amount far exceeding safe oral consumption levels and highlighting why you absolutely cannot drink injectable vitamin D. This practice is extremely dangerous due to fundamental differences in formulation and purpose.

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, drinking clear liquids until two hours before surgery is safe, but consuming solid food after the designated time significantly increases the risk of complications. This is why patients must strictly adhere to fasting rules before a procedure, so what happens if I eat the night before surgery?

Major anesthesiology societies classify protein shakes as a non-clear fluid, requiring a fasting period of at least six hours, similar to solid foods. Patients often question why they can't drink protein shakes before surgery, unaware that the contents can create a significant and preventable risk during the procedure. The primary danger lies in aspiration, a serious complication of anesthesia that can lead to life-threatening pneumonia.

According to a 2017 patient safety alert from NHS England, rapid infusion of total parenteral nutrition in babies can lead to severe harm or death due to fat overload syndrome. This serious complication also affects adults, highlighting why it is crucial to understand what happens when you run lipids too fast and how to prevent it.

While Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) have saved millions of lives, improper or excessive intake can pose serious health risks. So, can you take too much ORS, and what are the consequences of doing so? The answer is a definitive yes, and it is vital to understand the dangers.

While Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is a life-saving treatment for severe dehydration, an overabundance of electrolytes is not a goal for healthy people. Drinking ORS daily without a clinical need can disrupt the body's delicate electrolyte balance, leading to potentially serious health issues over time.

Infusing a solution that is too cold can be uncomfortable for patients. Stored in a refrigerator, Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) must be warmed to room temperature before administration to prevent adverse effects like chills, headaches, and vein irritation. This critical step ensures patient comfort and the safe delivery of essential nutrients.

According to the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), closed system enteral feeding bags can be safe for up to 48 hours, though most protocols recommend changing them every 24 hours. The maximum safe hang time for a tube feeding bag is determined by factors including the formula type and the administration system, which are crucial for preventing bacterial contamination.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, using a non-sterile, homemade saline solution, particularly for sensitive applications like eyes or piercings, can lead to severe infections. This is the fundamental reason why you should never use Himalayan salt for saline, as it is unpurified and not sterile.