Despite what you see on TikTok, don’t consume the laundry powder borax to relieve pain and inflammation or boost bone health. Even though videos on the social media site tout it as a treatment, this substance is not safe to consume and could cause kidney failure and multi-organ damage, one expert says. Dr. Karthik Ramani…  read on >  read on >

Death rates skyrocket during extreme weather events among the most vulnerable Americans, especially those from minority groups. A study looking at hurricanes over more than three decades showed that their impacts varied and were driven by differences in social, economic and demographic factors such as race. “Really, we wanted to understand what the comparative impact…  read on >  read on >

When teens vape, their lungs pay a price, researchers report. The warning stems from a detailed analysis of smoking habit histories shared by just over 2,000 U.S. teens during a series of recent annual surveys. The upshot: When compared with teens who’ve never vaped, those who reported using electronic cigarettes in the month prior to…  read on >  read on >

Research into a possible link between childhood health problems and natural gas wells in western Pennsylvania is wrapping up with some answers. Children who lived near these wells were more likely to develop rare lymphoma, the research found. In addition, residents of all ages near the wells had increased risk of severe asthma reactions, the…  read on >  read on >

America’s emergency rooms are being flooded by children suffering from psychiatric emergencies like anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts or attempts, a new joint report from three leading medical associations warns. This surge in pediatric mental health emergencies has overwhelmed ERs in the United States, says the joint paper from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),…  read on >  read on >

Whether a patient experiences pain a year after a heart attack — and not necessarily heart pain — may predict a person’s long-term survival. New research suggests it is linked with higher likelihood of death within the next eight years. “Pain causes significant loss of function and may lead to disability, all of which contribute…  read on >  read on >

Some patients with acute brain injuries can’t respond to verbal commands, making them appear to be unconscious though they still have some level of awareness. Researchers recently studied this hidden consciousness to better understand this puzzling phenomenon. “Our study suggests that patients with hidden consciousness can hear and comprehend verbal commands, but they cannot carry…  read on >  read on >

All infants should receive the new long-acting preventive monoclonal antibody for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the nation’s leading pediatrics group said. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urged that access to the new medication, called nirsevimab, be equitable. RSV is common, contagious and sometimes deadly, the AAP said. The antibody boosts the immune system. The…  read on >  read on >