Americans everywhere will be celebrating Independence Day on July 4, and that often means fireworks and sparklers are involved. While exciting, fireworks also can be dangerous if not handled properly. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), eight people died and nearly 10,000 people were treated at emergency departments in 2023 due to fireworks injuries.

Dr. Jesse Bracamonte, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, urges families to practice caution when using fireworks for personal use.

"Fourth of July firework injuries can be relatively common, particularly getting chemical burns from the firework itself. People must understand a firework is an explosive. Common injuries include hand injuries, eye injuries and sometimes skin surface burns," says Dr. Bracamonte.

Watch: Dr. Jesse Bracamonte urges caution when using fireworks and sparklers

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Of the burns and injuries reported in 2023, teenagers made up the highest rate of emergency department visits due to fireworks, followed by children ages 5 to 9, according to the CPSC. All fireworks, including sparklers, are potentially dangerous. 

"If families are going to partake in firework activities, they must exercise extreme caution. These are highly explosive and can cause burns. If they are going to do that, make sure it's in a safe place, that it's an adult handling the fireworks and have experience with the proper tools," says Dr. Bracamonte. "I would highly advise that everyone use extreme caution and that no children be allowed to play with fireworks due to the explosive nature and the risk for injury." 

What to do in case of fireworks injury

If you or a family member do experience a burn or have an accident, take action to ensure prompt treatment if necessary.

"It's important to make sure that that person is safe and that the areas are cleansed with water immediately. And that, if necessary, you seek emergency evaluation. Fireworks are not just generally fire, it's also a chemical and an explosive. Therefore, the injury can be double-fold with a fire injury and a chemical burn," he adds.

Tips to avoid injuries from fireworks

Talk with your kids about using fireworks and sparklers, and follow these safety tips:

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
• Always have adult supervision.
• Wear protective eyewear.
• Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.
• Don't point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Only light one firework at a time.
• Watch them from a safe distance.

"Fireworks are explosive. They contain chemicals and heat, a deadly combination that can cause serious injury. It's important to have a conversation with children, knowing that when children are out, different activities may ensue. It's important that they are appropriately educated about the risks of playing with fireworks," says Dr. Bracamonte.

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Every year, about 4 million gynecologic surgeries are performed in the U.S. Among these, hysterectomies are the most common, with over half a million procedures done annually, excluding those related to childbirth. 

Dr. Megan Wasson, a gynecologic surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive procedures at Mayo Clinic, says it's a priority to help patients in their recovery from surgery so they can get back to their lives as quickly as possible.

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"The biggest question I get is, 'When can I get back to life after surgery?' A lot of the patients that we care for have families and have jobs, and responsibilities outside of their own health," says Dr. Wasson.

Medical advancements help recovery from surgery

Balancing self-care and caring for others can be tough for patients. Quicker recovery time due to surgical advancements has helped.

"The advances that we've had in technology when it comes to surgical procedures have really pushed the envelope and allowed us to do the majority of gynecologic procedures through a minimally invasive approach," Dr. Wasson says.

Downtime as you recover from surgery can be a day or weeks, depending on the type of procedure. 

"But we do want normal physical activity to start even the day of surgery because that really helps maintain strength. It helps maintain normal body function, helps speed along the recovery," says Dr. Wasson.

Preparing for surgery

Recovery also can depend on preparation. Go in as healthy as you can be.

"The less stress you have, the better your diet is, the more rests that you've been getting, the more exercise — that's going to support your body for the stress of surgery, which in turn is going to help speed along the recovery," she says.

And, finally, Dr. Wasson says don't be afraid to ask for a helping hand.

"After surgery, be prepared for needing a little bit of help, needing a little bit of assistance until the pain and the fatigue lifts," she says. "It's very normal to need a little bit of help, and you just want to be prepared for that."

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: When to seek care for pelvic pain
• Mayo Clinic Minute: When surgery for endometriosis is the answer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Nonsurgical treatment for uterine fibroid

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Many parts of the U.S. continue to grapple with oppressive heat and humidity. This can prevent the body from cooling down, increasing the risk of heat cramps, exhaustion and heatstroke. Dr. Jesse Bracamonte, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, says the extreme heat and high humidity can be a dangerous mix.

"High heat and high humidity can place one at risk for serious illness if people aren't careful. The heat can affect people's bodies by increasing the core body temperature and ability to sweat, and cause dehydration that can cause further medical problems and ensuing issues, and eventually can lead to heat exhaustion, in some cases, severe heat illness, known as heatstroke," says Dr. Bracamonte.

Watch: Dr. Jesse Bracamonte explains how heat and humidity can affect your health

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Symptoms of heat-related illnesses

Heat-related illnesses can be serious. They include heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

"Illness can be something mild, such as heat cramps, which is usually the first stage consisting of cramping and abdominal pain in some instances. Then it can progress to heat exhaustion, which is nausea, filling inability to cool, increased warmth, cramping, dehydration or mild dehydration," he says. "And that can become severe, and that's known as heatstroke, which can cause disorientation, confusion, the ability to cool yourself, nausea and vomiting."

Heat exhaustion happens when the body loses too much water or salt from heavy sweating or dehydration, usually after being active in the heat. Heatstroke is more serious and happens when the body overheats and can't cool down. 

What to do for heat-related illnesses

Seeking care promptly for heat-related illnesses is crucial. You should try to cool down quickly, drink cool fluids and stay out of the heat until your symptoms get better. 

"If you have symptoms of heat cramps or heat exhaustion, it's important to stay cool," says Dr. Bracamonte. Seek a cool, shaded place, go indoors, and drink fluids. Consider sports drinks containing electrolyte-hydrating fluids as well — just watch for heavy sugar content.

If you think someone has heat exhaustion, act fast to prevent heatstroke – which can be life-threatening.

• Move them to a shady or cool area.
• Lay them down and elevate their legs.
• Loosen tight clothing.
• Give them cool fluids to drink.
• Cool them with water and a fan.
• Monitor their condition closely.

Signs of heatstroke include:

• High body temperature (104 F or higher).
• Altered mental state (confusion, agitation, slurred speech). 
• Dry or moist skin.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Flushed skin.
• Rapid breathing.
• Racing heart rate.
• Headache.

If you think someone has heatstroke, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately.

Risk factors for heat-related illness

Some things can make people more sensitive to heat: 

• Certain medications (like beta blockers and antihistamines)
• Obesity
• Sudden changes in temperature (like moving to a hotter climate or early heat waves)
• When the heat index is 91 F (33 C) or higher. 

If you have questions about your medication, speak with your healthcare team.

Heat and humidity can pose health risks, so it's important to take precautions to stay safe. Keep cool, stay hydrated, and stay informed to protect yourself and others when it's hot outside.

"Be careful with doing new activities that can get you dehydrated quickly, so acclimate to the heat and don't go out during the warmest parts of the day. Try to find the coolest parts of the day to keep yourself healthy and away from heat-related illness," says Dr. Bracamonte.

Understanding the risks associated with high heat and humidity, recognizing the symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and knowing how to respond can help prevent serious health issues.

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Watch: Can cochlear implants slow dementia in older adults?

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Imagine the effort it would take to constantly squint at a blurry chalkboard. That's similar to what the brain goes through when someone is experiencing hearing loss.

"As we work harder to hear, the brain is utilizing extra cognitive resources just to listen in and make sense of the words and sentences. And that can be fatiguing to the brain," says Dr. Deep. "Similarly, if we don't stimulate the auditory pathway, those synapses become weaker and weaker over time. They can even begin to shrink, and that can also accelerate cognitive decline."

Severe hearing loss can increase the risk of dementia fivefold. However, it's a modifiable risk. There are different solutions depending on the degree of hearing loss.

Cochlear implants

"A cochlear implant is a device to restore hearing in patients with advanced hearing loss by bypassing the damaged inner ear hair cells and providing direct stimulation to the hearing nerve," says Dr. Deep.

Unlike a hearing aid, which just amplifies sound, a cochlear implant improves the speech clarity of that sound, making conversation easier.

"We know that treating hearing loss, whether with hearing aids or cochlear implantation, has tremendous quality of life benefits in terms of improving independence and reducing social isolation," says Dr. Deep.

And it may even reduce the rate of cognitive decline for those at greater risk.

"A recent large, prospective trial found that in older adults at risk for cognitive decline, use of the hearing aid for three years reduced their cognitive decline by 48%. So it really underscores the importance of hearing and its ability to maintain healthy cognitive function," says Dr. Deep.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: How hearing affects your brain health
• For older adults at risk of cognitive decline, hearing aids may reduce risk by half

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Researchers discover new molecular drug targets for progressive neurological disorder

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an uncurable brain disorder marked by walking and balance difficulties. Its symptoms mimic Parkinson's disease and dementia. Mayo researchers and collaborators have outlined new therapeutic targets that may lead to future treatments for PSP as well as Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

"This research enhances our understanding of progressive supranuclear palsy and other related, incurable neurological disorders," says the study's senior author, Nilufer Ertekin-Taner, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist and neuroscientist. "Moving forward, we can target these specific genes or others that are biologically related to them to develop a potential treatment for this untreatable disease."

Mapping cell behaviors in high-grade glioma to improve treatment

High-grade gliomas are cancerous tumors that spread quickly in the brain or spinal cord. Mayo Clinic researchers found invasive brain tumor margins of high-grade glioma contain biologically distinct genetic and molecular alterations that indicate aggressive behavior and disease recurrence. They also found that MRI techniques, such as dynamic susceptibility contrast and diffusion tensor imaging, can help distinguish between the genetic and molecular alterations of invasive tumors, which is important for clinically characterizing areas that are difficult to surgically biopsy.

"We need to understand what is driving tumor progression," says lead author Leland Hu, M.D., a neuroradiologist at Mayo Clinic. "Our results demonstrate an expanded role of advanced MRI for clinical decision-making for high-grade glioma."

Researchers identify new criteria to detect rapidly progressive dementia

Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) is caused by several disorders that quickly impair intellectual functioning and interfere with normal activities and relationships. If patients' symptoms appear suddenly causing rapid decline, a physician may diagnose RPD. These patients can progress from initial symptoms of dementia to complete incapacitation, requiring full-time care, in less than two years. Mayo Clinic researchers have identified new scoring criteria allowing for the detection of treatable forms of RPD with reasonably high confidence during a patient's first clinical visit. This scoring criteria may allow physicians to substantially reduce the time it takes to begin treatment. 

"Many conditions that cause rapidly progressive dementia can be treated and even reversed. We found that more than half of the patients in our study with rapidly progressive dementia had a treatable underlying condition. We may be able to identify many of these patients early in the symptomatic course by intentionally searching for key clinical symptoms and exam findings and integrating these with results of a brain MRI and spinal tap," says the study's senior author, Gregg Day, M.D., a clinical researcher at Mayo Clinic.

Global consortium to study Pick’s disease, rare form of early-onset dementia

Pick's disease, a neurodegenerative disease of unknown genetic origin, is a rare type of frontotemporal dementia that affects people under the age of 65. The condition causes changes in personality, behavior and sometimes language impairment. In patients with the disease, tau proteins build up and form abnormal clumps called Pick bodies, which restrict nutrients to the brain and cause neurodegeneration. Researchers at Mayo Clinic and collaborators worldwide have established the Pick's Disease International Consortium to study a specific MAPT gene variation known as MAPT H2 that makes the tau protein and acts as a driver of disease. They investigated a connection between the gene and disease risk, age at onset and duration of Pick's disease. 

"We found that the MAPT H2 genetic variant is associated with an increased risk of Pick's disease in people of European descent," says Owen Ross, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic neuroscientist and senior author of the paper. "We were only able to determine that because of the global consortium, which greatly increased the sample size of pathology cases to study Pick's disease."

Moments of clarity in the fog of dementia

Researchers define lucid episodes as unexpected, spontaneous, meaningful and relevant communication from a person who is assumed to have permanently lost the capacity for coherent interactions, either verbally or through gestures and actions. A study surveyed family caregivers of people living with dementia and asked them about witnessing lucid episodes. 

"We have found in our research and stories from caregivers that these kinds of episodes change how they interact with and support their loved ones — usually for the better," says lead author Joan Griffin, Ph.D. "These episodes can serve as reminders that caregiving is challenging, but we can always try to care with a little more humanity and grace."

Untangling the threads of early-onset dementia

Changes in personality, behavior and language are hallmarks of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the most common form of dementia in patients under the age of 65. New research provides insight into the role a specific gene and the protein it produces play in the development and progression of FTD, which is associated with degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. The researchers think the key may lie in the formation of fibrils, or tiny fiber-like structures produced by part of this protein, that sometimes get tangled up in the brain.

"We also think that these fibrils could one day serve as biomarkers to help clinicians determine FTD prognosis or severity, " says Jordan Marks, an M.D.–Ph.D. student with the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Mayo Clinic researchers' new tool links Alzheimer's disease types to rate of cognitive decline

Through a new corticolimbic index tool that identifies changes in specific areas of the brain, Mayo Clinic researchers discovered a series of brain changes characterized by unique clinical features and immune cell behaviors for Alzheimer's disease, a leading cause of dementia.

"By combining our expertise in the fields of neuropathology, biostatistics, neuroscience, neuroimaging and neurology to address Alzheimer's disease from all angles, we've made significant strides in understanding how it affects the brain," says Melissa E. Murray, Ph.D., a translational neuropathologist at Mayo Clinic. "The corticolimbic index is a score that could encourage a paradigm shift toward understanding the individuality of this complex disease and broaden our perspective. This study marks a significant step toward personalized care, offering hope for more effective future therapies."

New research platform assesses brain cancer mutations during surgery

Brain cancer is difficult to treat when it starts growing, and a prevalent type, known as a glioma, has a poor five-year survival rate. Mayo Clinic researchers report on a new surgical platform used during surgery that informs critical decision-making about tumor treatment within minutes. Time is of the utmost importance when dealing with aggressive malignant tumors.

The researchers say that, in addition to enabling real-time diagnosis, the platform allows surgeons to determine a patient's prognosis and perform tumor resection to improve patient outcomes.

“We will be able to bring the fight against cancer to the operating room, before chemotherapy and radiation treatments begin, and before the disease has progressed and invaded further," says the study's senior author, Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, M.D.

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Dr. Collin Costello, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, says these nonmelanoma skin cancers are more prevalent – and with early diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis is good.

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"Both basal and squamous cell carcinoma are often slow-growing skin cancers. They're both caused mostly by the sun," says Dr. Costello.

These cancers are predominantly found on sun-exposed areas, like the face, scalp, neck and ears.

Basal cell carcinoma often appears as a change in the skin, such as a growth or a sore that won't heal, or a slightly transparent bump on the skin.

"For basal cells, they're often a pink bump that slowly enlarges with time. And sometimes they can bleed and be a little tender," Dr. Costello says.

Squamous cell carcinoma may look like a skin-colored bump and can start anywhere on the skin. It’s typically found on sun-exposed areas in sunburn-prone people. However, in those with darker skin tones, it can appear on sun-protected areas, including the genitals or toes.

"Sometimes they can get painful and ulcerated or be almost like a nonhealing wound," he says.

Early diagnosis and treatment for these nonmelanoma cancers are crucial. See a dermatologist if you notice spots changing or growing.

"The majority of the time both basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are treated with Mohs surgery, particularly when it's on the face, scalp and neck," Dr. Costello says.

Reduce your risk of skin cancer

Use sunscreen daily to help prevent exposure to dangerous ultraviolet rays.

• Wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF.
• Perform regular skin self-exams.
• See a healthcare professional for abnormal growths or warts.
• Wear protective clothing.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Skin cancer concerns for people with darker skin
• Mayo Clinic Minute: The A, B, C, D and Es of skin cancer

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Forty-seven medical students graduated from Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Monday, May 20. They join more than 55 other Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine students in Florida and Minnesota graduating on those campuses throughout May. These students persevered through the pandemic, learning healthcare at the height of nationwide lockdowns and worldwide uncertainty. These students will move on to residencies at Mayo Clinic and across the country, helping ease the physician shortage and becoming future healthcare leaders.

"Your journey through medical school has been nothing short of remarkable — our COVID class. From the countless hours spent in classrooms and laboratories (or on Zoom) to the invaluable hands-on experience gained in hospitals and clinics, you have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and a passion for healing," says Dr. Jewel Kling, the vice dean of Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and the Suzanne Hanson Poole Dean of Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona. "Behind every successful graduate stands a village of support. To the families and loved ones who have stood by your side throughout this journey, offering encouragement, love and understanding, we owe a debt of gratitude." 

Dr. Christopher Allen was the student commencement speaker and, as a graduate and soon-to-be physician, spoke about where they've come from and where the road leads. "It began when we decided to follow that calling to serve we all innately share. Some of us come from a family of physicians and are fulfilling a legacy. Others are becoming the first doctors in the family. Some always knew they would be doctors, others discovered their calling after a first career. Some of us are living the immigrant family dream, and all of us are here because of the sacrifices made by the generations before," says Dr. Allen.

Dr. Nathan Delafield, a Mayo Clinic internal medicine physician, was the commencement address speaker. Dr. Delafield completed his residency at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Delafield shared about his journey from a childhood of dire poverty to a career focused on community medicine. And he offered advice about the challenge of embracing uncertainty in the next steps of medical education. "For it is not the certainty of our path that defines us, but, rather, our ability to navigate the uncertainty with grace, compassion and unwavering determination," says Dr. Delafield. "You learned to embrace uncertainty as an opportunity for growth, innovation and discovery." 

Graduates have worked side by side with world-renowned experts at Mayo Clinic to create new ways to address patients' future needs and lead positive change in medicine. They will lead innovative and transformative efforts in healthcare, and they will apply their knowledge to develop creative solutions for some of the most complex problems facing patients and health systems today.

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About Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is a national medical school with four-year medical degree programs in Rochester and Arizona. The school also offers a Florida program, enabling students to complete their first two years of medical studies in Arizona or Minnesota, and their final two years of learning in Florida. For more information, visit Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

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Dr. Collin Costello, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, says anyone can get skin cancer, but some people are at higher risk. So how often should you be screened?

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A skin check by a dermatologist usually only takes a few minutes, but that short time spent in the doctor's office could add years to your life if skin cancer is detected early.

"I think one of the big things with screening is, because there aren't really rigorously set national guidelines, that we really look to risk factors to help guide who needs to be screened and how frequently," says Dr. Costello.

He says it's important that everyone is familiar with their skin. And you should see a healthcare professional if you notice any changes, like suspicious moles or spots. But for anyone who is at higher risk, an annual skin exam by a dermatologist is a good idea.

"People with personal and family history of melanoma and then personal history of nonmelanoma skin cancers, people over the age of 65, particularly people that burn easily, you know, get sunburned easily as well as have light-colored eyes and light-colored hair — those are the people that are going to benefit the most from the skin cancer screening," says Dr. Costello.

Related posts:

• Advances in surgery are improving survival for people with melanoma
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Men need to take melanoma seriously

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Pelvic pain is common, affecting 15% of women of reproductive age. Pinpointing its cause, whether it's endometriosis, ovarian cysts or musculoskeletal issues, can be a challenge.  

Dr. Megan Wasson, a gynecologic surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive procedures at Mayo Clinic, says it's important to seek medical help if chronic pelvic pain starts affecting your quality of life or if there are signs of a serious underlying condition.

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"If you know 10 women, you know at least one woman who's suffering with chronic pelvic pain," says Dr. Wasson.

What is chronic pelvic pain?

Chronic pelvic pain refers to having ongoing pain for at least six months. It can be connected to various underlying issues.

"It can be pain with menstrual cycles or pain with your period, it can be pain with intercourse, pain with urination, pain with bowel movements, pain with certain activities," explains Dr. Wasson.

Identifying the cause of pain starts with discussing your medical history with your healthcare team.

"That will guide the next steps, whether that is checking for a urine infection, getting an ultrasound, getting advanced imaging, like a pelvic MRI, or looking at the vasculature. It is really guided by that history," she says.

The best time to seek care is when the pain starts to affect your quality of life.

"We don't want to ignore pelvic pain. We want to have that thorough evaluation to make sure that there isn't anything that requires more urgent intervention," Dr. Wasson says.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: When surgery for endometriosis is the answer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Can uterine fibroids affect pregnancy?
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Combating weight gain during menopause

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If you've ever had to get blood collected for testing, there's a good chance a phlebotomist was the person collecting the sample. Phlebotomists play a crucial role in ensuring the right specimens are collected for the lab.

"All of our testing relies on having the right specimen collected in the right way. So I think phlebotomists are really the foundation of our clinical practice," says Dr. Craig.

Dr. Craig says identifying a vein to collect a sample from is truly a skill.

"It's also important for them to be able to feel a vein — feel that it's big enough — and it's not going to roll away from the needle during the collection. And that's a skill that they get during their initial training and certification, but then hone it over many years with experience with patients," says Dr. Craig.

Phlebotomy training programs require hours of classroom instruction plus hundreds of inpatient and outpatient venipunctures to complete the certification examination. Many laboratory staff choose phlebotomy as an introduction to the healthcare field, which can lead to other education and career opportunities.

"The Mayo Clinic Career Investment Program has been a great resource for our staff to grow professionally within and outside of the laboratory," says Dr. Craig.

This expertise is not only crucial during routine blood draws, it's also invaluable during challenging collections.

"When we have a difficult collection, some of our phlebotomists who've been with us for many years are the ones who are sent to help with that procedure. So it's a very, very important skill that they acquire, and we really couldn't run our hospital without them," says Dr. Craig.

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