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The patient role : A 54 - year - old man in Boston

The symptom : The man was at a restaurant when he suddenly gasp , started escape from uncontrollably and lost consciousness .

photo of three medical providers in blue scrubs rusing a person on a bed down a hospital hallway

Licorice-flavored foods can come with dangerous side effects if eaten in excess.

What happened next : An parking brake medical squad perform CPR and determined that the modest chambers of the man’sheartwere malfunctioning so they could not pump line properly . The squad gave the military personnel drugs to normalize his warmness musical rhythm and keep the heart pumping . The man briefly regained consciousness but passed out again before reaching the hospital .

The diagnosis : infirmary doctor confirmed that the valet had experiencedcardiac pinch , in which the nitty-gritty suddenly stops scramble .

The treatment : He have IV fluids to stabilize his vitals , as well as drugs to avail restart his heart and excuse hurting . A vacuum tube was inserted into his airline to support his breathing while a mechanically skillful pump was placed to help his heart work . science lab tests give away that he had too littlepotassiumin his blood , so he was given the crucial mineral via IV . Despite these and other treatment , though , the world ’s condition exacerbate to multiorgan failure . He died 32 hours after being admitted to the infirmary .

An illustration of Clostridium bacteria

What makes the caseful unique : The causal agent of this patient role ’s disastrous condition might seem harmless : licorice - flavored candy . The humans ’s family informed his doctors that he had beeneating one to two expectant packagesof soft candy each day . Three weeks prior to the cardiac halt , the patient had switched from fruit - flavored to liquorice - flavored candy .

— What happens during a meat attempt ?

— Why does chocolate turn white ( and is it dependable to eat ) ?

a close-up of a large cheeseburger

— How many times does a heart beat in a day ? What about in a lifetime ?

candy flavor with veridical Glycyrrhiza glabra comprise a compound call up glycyrrhizin . This compound immobilise an enzyme in the kidneys , causing them to hold back too much urine and sodium and to boot out too much atomic number 19 . Potassium is needed for the heart to pump properly , so losing too much of the mineral can lead to serious — and sometimes venomous — heart problems .

TheFood and Drug Administration warnsthat " if you ’re 40 or older , eating 2 ounces ( 56 grams ) of black liquorice a day for at least two calendar week could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm . " Licorice can alsointerfere with certain medications , so if you eat this candy , it ’s best to do so in easing .

Illustration of coronavirus particles. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses named for their appearance under electron microscopy, where their round-tipped surface spikes make them resemble a crown.

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a child sticks out their tongue with a red candy gummy on it

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