Sarah Cresswell, a little over 30, from UK's life looks very different from that of many other young adults. While most people sit down to enjoy meals with friends and family, Sarah’s nutrition comes not from a plate, but from a bag of sterile fluid connected to her bloodstream. She jokes about it: "When you spent 5 years doing a nutrition degree only to end up being fed through your bloodstream".

Sarah relies on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), a life-sustaining method of intravenous feeding, which she calls being “fed through the heart.” Her story has captured attention online, as she uses social media to educate and empower others living with chronic illness.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

Sarah, who lives in England, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a rare connective tissue disorder that affects the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls, leaving her physically disabled. She also suffers from gastroparesis, a condition that paralyzes the stomach, preventing it from digesting food properly.

Initially, Sarah was fed through a nasojejunal (NJ) tube, a thin tube passed through the nose into the small intestine, allowing her to receive liquid nutrition. However, in July 2022, Sarah contracted COVID-19, which worsened her condition and caused intestinal failure.

That’s when doctors switched her to TPN. “It saved my life,” she told Newsweek.

What is Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)?

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is a way of providing nutrition intravenously, meaning directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system entirely.

It is typically used when a person’s gastrointestinal tract cannot process food or absorb nutrients properly. The TPN solution contains a carefully balanced mixture of:

• Water: to keep the body hydrated
• Proteins: to support muscle repair and tissue growth
• Carbohydrates (glucose): to provide energy
• Fats: to supply essential fatty acids
• Vitamins and minerals: to maintain overall health

TPN is delivered through a central line, most commonly a PICC line (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) placed into a large vein near the heart. This is why Sarah says she “eats through her heart.”

How TPN Works in Daily Life

Patients on TPN are often trained to manage the process themselves at home. The sterile bag of nutrition hangs from an IV pole and is infused slowly, usually overnight, using a pump, similar to how other IV medications are given.

For Sarah, this means setting up her line carefully every day, sanitizing her hands, and following a strict routine to avoid infection. Most patients have their TPN changed every 24 to 48 hours, depending on their condition.

Despite the complexity, TPN gives Sarah the freedom to live a fuller life. “I eat through my heart and I’m absolutely thriving!” she captioned one of her viral TikTok videos, which has been viewed over 1.7 million times.

The Risks and Challenges of TPN

While TPN is lifesaving, it is not without risks. Some of the potential complications include:

Line infection or blood clots: Because the catheter leads directly to a vein near the heart, infections can become serious very quickly.

Refeeding syndrome: Dangerous shifts in electrolytes can occur when restarting nutrition after prolonged malnutrition.

Liver function changes: Prolonged use of TPN can sometimes stress the liver.

To minimize these risks, Sarah’s progress is carefully monitored by her medical team through regular blood tests, weight checks, and glucose monitoring.

Raising Awareness Through Social Media

Sarah has turned her medical journey into a platform for advocacy. On her TikTok account, @nauseatedsarah, she documents what life is like on TPN , from setting up her line to answering questions from curious followers.

Her transparency has inspired many people living with chronic illnesses or feeding tubes. “I have never seen anything like this,” wrote one commenter. Another said: “This is genuinely so fascinating, thank you for sharing!”

For Sarah, the goal is to normalize artificial nutrition and show that it doesn’t have to be scary. “I want to help those in similar situations not to be afraid, and provide a safe place for them to ask questions about what life looks like on TPN,” she said.

Sarah’s experience is just one example of how artificial nutrition can transform lives. Research shows that in the U.S. alone, over 250,000 hospital stays involve tube feeding, and around 600,000 patients receive some form of tube or intravenous feeding therapy at home.

For many, it’s the difference between life and death, and between being tied to a hospital bed and living independently.

Thriving, Not Just Surviving

Today, Sarah sees her TPN routine as just another part of her life. Rather than focusing on what she has lost, she highlights what TPN has given her, energy, stability, and the ability to engage with the world.

Her message is one of resilience and hope: that even when life takes an unexpected turn, there are ways to adapt, survive, and even thrive.

“I eat through my heart,” she says proudly, “and I’m here to tell others that they can too.”

Heart failure has quietly emerged as one of India’s most serious and underestimated health challenges, driven by a rise in hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and delayed diagnosis of heart disease.

Due to a shortage of donor organs and a long waiting period before receiving the right treatment, end-stage heart failure patients in India faced a lot of difficulties a few years ago.

Today, advancements in heart transplant techniques are changing the situation from what was once an untreatable condition to a second chance at life.

Data from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) shows a significant year-on-year rise in heart transplants, with 253 transplants done in 2024, showcasing improved organ donation awareness, better coordination between hospitals, and stronger transplant networks.

What was once considered the only option is now emerging as a life-saving solution, offering patients not just a second chance but a return to a more meaningful and active life.

Why Are Heart Transplants Needed?

A heart transplant offers hope and gives a second life to patients whose hearts no longer support the body even after the best available medical aid.

Although it is never performed instantly, it becomes necessary whenever conditions of the heart result in end-stage heart failure, where the pumping function of the heart is compromised.

Also read: Harish Rana’s Family Donated His Heart Valves And Corneas After His Death From Passive Euthanasia

When medications and modern technologies cannot supply an adequate amount of blood and oxygen to the organs, patients experience extreme breathlessness, fluid buildup, fatigue, and repeated hospitalizations, making even simple activities like walking, eating, or lying flat exhausting.

As the flow of blood continues to deteriorate, failure is also expected in other vital organs such as the kidneys and liver. It is at this point that the transplantation of the donor heart is considered the only treatment option to ensure that the blood flow is normalized.

How Heart Transplantation Transforms Life?

Heart transplant is not just a surgical replacement of a failing organ, but a complete life restoration for patients with end-stage heart failure.

Its benefits include:

• Normalizes Heart Functioning: A healthy donor heart can immediately restore normal and effective blood flow. This will reduce weakness and fatigue that makes carrying out everyday tasks rather difficult.
• Enhances Survival Rates: Patients diagnosed with end-stage heart failure can only experience the best post-transplant survival outcomes when they undergo the transplant procedure as compared to other medical treatments.
• Enhances Quality of Life: The patients are able to attain independence once again as they are able to walk, sleep, travel, and socialize with their families and friends.
• Prevents Frequent Hospitalization: The successful transplant procedure prevents constant hospitalization, especially in cases with deteriorating heart failure, infections, and organ dysfunction.
• Protects Other Vital Organs: By restoring adequate blood flow, heart transplantation helps reverse damage to the kidneys, liver, and lungs caused by prolonged heart failure
• Permits Return to Normal Roles and Responsibilities: Patients regain their ability to work, take care of others, and carry out their daily responsibilities, which helps their emotional well-being.

Scottish Olympic legend Liz McColgan has warned athletes to wear sun protection during their training hours to protect their skin from “lasting consequences”.

Liz McColgan shared the health warning to athletes after undergoing surgery to remove lesions on her face.

The Olympic silver medalist from Dundee shared post-surgery photographs on the social media platform Instagram and lamented that, as a young runner, she never focused on wearing sun protection.

Avoiding sun cream because she felt it made her "sweat more" was her “ignorance”, said the 61-year-old former athlete.

“As a young athlete, I trained and raced in all weathers. Sun protection was never something I gave much thought to. In fact, I avoided it. I didn’t like the feeling of creams on my skin - I thought they made me sweat more, so I convinced myself I was better off without them. Looking back, that was ignorance,” Liz McColgan said.

“Recently, I had to undergo surgery to remove two lesions on my face. It was a stark reminder that the choices we make early on - especially the ones we dismiss as unimportant - can have lasting consequences,” she added.

Liz McColgan noted that athletes keep all their focus on "performance - mileage, sessions, recovery, nutrition”, but simple things like protecting their skin are often ignored.

“Yet it’s just as much a part of our overall health and wellbeing as any training session,” she said.

Sharing the health message to both young and old athletes, McColgan said, “Take sun protection seriously. Whether you’re training, racing, or even just spending time outdoors, protecting your skin matters.”

McColgan won a silver medal in the same event at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. In 1991, she went on to win the 10,000m World Championships title in Tokyo.

Also read:5 Simple Do's And Don'ts For Healthy Skin

Why Sunscreen Is Essential

Using sunscreen protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes

• skin cancer,
• premature aging,
• painful sunburns.

Should Sunscreen Be Used Indoors Too?

Sunscreen is meant to be part of a daily skincare routine. But most people reach for sunscreen when heading to the beach or stepping out for a long day in the sun.

According to dermatologists, sunlight can still reach you indoors.

Dr Khushboo Jha, Chief Dermatologist Consultant at Metro Hospital, explains that sunlight entering through windows can still affect the skin.

“While standard window glass blocks most UVB rays, which cause sunburn, UVA rays can still pass through. These rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are linked to long-term concerns such as premature aging, uneven pigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity,” she said.

These UVA rays are often overlooked because they do not cause immediate redness or burning like UVB rays. However, over time, they can lead to visible signs of skin aging and pigmentation.

Also read: Why Should You Must Apply Sunscreen Inside A Plane?

A Practical Approach To Daily Skincare

Dermatologists suggest viewing sunscreen as a preventive skincare habit rather than a rigid rule.

Dr Jha recommends incorporating sunscreen into your morning routine, particularly if your day includes stepping outdoors or spending time in naturally lit environments.

In simple terms, if daylight reaches your workspace or you plan to go outside later in the day, applying sunscreen in the morning is a small step that can help protect your skin over time.

Many men believe that as long as they feel healthy, active, and free from major illness, their fertility remains intact. While men do not have a sudden fertility cut-off like women, age still plays an important role when it comes to male fertility. Currently, a large number of men wish to start families later in life, often thinking their good health guarantees easy conception and fatherhood. They often neglect the age factor, even though it is linked to hormonal imbalance, stress, and genetic issues. A large number of men are unaware of their fertility health and continue to suffer. However, even in the absence of visible health problems, older men may face unexpected fertility challenges. Dr Madhukar J Shinde, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, PCMC, Pune, answered this for Health and Me.

Read more: The Overlooked Role of Men in IVF: Why Their Silent Strength Is Key to Fertility Success

Why do older men struggle with infertility?

Decline in sperm quality: Various studies have confirmed that as men age, sperm count, movement, and shape can slowly decline. Even if the numbers appear normal, DNA damage in sperm increases with age, which can reduce the chances of successful fertilisation.

1. Hormonal imbalance: It is important to note that testosterone levels naturally decrease over time. Lower testosterone can affect sperm production, sexual function, and overall reproductive performance, even when a man feels physically fit.
2. Some medical conditions tend to take a toll on fertility: Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid disorders become more common with age. These may be well-managed and symptom-free, but can still affect sperm health and fertility.
3. Stress and other lifestyle factors can impact fertility: Chronic stress, lack of sleep, smoking, alcohol consumption, or exposure to pollution can take a toll on sperm quality and lead to fertility issues that can be worrisome for men. Preservatives in a lot of frozen and junk food not only contribute to poor fertility health, but research suggests they may also affect DNA function. Therefore, men should stay vigilant.
4. Genetic issues: Advanced paternal age is associated with a higher risk of genetic mutations in sperm. This can further affect embryo development and increase the risk of miscarriage or certain developmental conditions.

Men must stay in touch with a fertility consultant who can design an appropriate treatment plan. The expert will evaluate them thoroughly and suggest lifestyle modifications such as a well-balanced diet, exercise, stress management through meditation, and medication for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol. Awareness helps men take informed steps towards parenthood, even later in life. Certain pre-medications, including antioxidants advised by a fertility consultant, may significantly help in reducing DNA fragmentation, which contributes to poor sperm function. Therefore, men should prioritise their reproductive health, stay informed, and not suffer in silence.