We have all wonder what happens right before we die. Whether the belief that we see our entire life flash in our brain is true or do we see the people we cherish the most. Even though death is an immortal truth that happens to everyone eventually, there is little of what we know about it.

While memories and similar thoughts may be difficult to track yet, we can still learn a lot from people who have had such events, especially looking at near-death experiences (NDEs), is helping us understand more.

NDEs are unique experiences reported by people who almost died but survived. They often describe vivid memories, feeling like they're outside their body, or entering peaceful states. These accounts give us a rare glimpse into what might be happening in the brain at the brink of death.

Explaining parts of this dilemma, a 2023 study published in the Frontier’s in Aging Neuroscience, shows what happens in our brain when we die or are at the brink of death.

Defining Death

Historically, death was marked by the heart stopping. However, in 1968, Harvard Medical School proposed adding brain death as a definition. This means someone is legally dead if their brain has completely and irreversibly lost all function, even if their heart is still beating with life support. Doctors use specific tests to determine brain death, like checking for:

• No response to stimulation (coma).
• No reflexes involving the brainstem (like pupils reacting to light or gagging).
• No spontaneous breathing.

While EEG (electroencephalogram), which measures brain electrical activity, can be used, it's not always the primary test. Some studies show brain activity can sometimes persist briefly even after the heart stops.

What Happens to Brain Cells When We Die?

The study explained that when blood stops flowing to the brain, brain cells (neurons) quickly lose their vital oxygen and energy. This sets off a chain reaction of damage: cells run out of their main fuel, ATP. Then, the tiny pumps that keep cells balanced fail, causing them to swell and get flooded with calcium. This excess calcium activates enzymes that literally break down the cell's structure, leading to widespread damage and eventually, cell death.

About 4-8% of people report having had a Near-Death Experience (NDE). These experiences often include vivid memory recall, where people relive their lives in flashbacks, and out-of-body experiences, feeling as if they've left their physical body and are looking down on it. Many also describe an altered consciousness, a profound sense of peace or heightened awareness.

What Did Scientists Find?

Scientists are trying to connect these subjective experiences to measurable brain activity, particularly using EEG. Different brain wave frequencies are linked to different states of consciousness:

Alpha (8-13 Hz): Often linked to a relaxed, "idling" state or inhibiting irrelevant information.

Theta (4-8 Hz): Associated with memory processing, especially in the hippocampus.

Gamma (30-100 Hz): Linked to attention, awareness, conscious perception, and memory. This is a key area of interest in NDEs.

Intriguingly, research on both animals and some human cases has shown a surge of high-frequency gamma waves in the brain shortly after cardiac arrest (when the heart stops). This "gamma surge" has led some researchers to suggest that the brain might be capable of generating active conscious processing even in the final moments of life.

However, the timing and location of this activity can vary. Some studies using limited EEG monitoring (like on the forehead) showed brain activity ceasing before the heart, while others with more extensive brain monitoring found some activity persisting. This suggests the process of brain "shutting down" might be more gradual and complex than previously thought, and not necessarily a sudden, uniform halt across the entire brain.

“This is a warning specifically for parents” — Influencer Michael Brown recently released a video warning parents as well as others, about a potentially addictive drink that is easily available at gas stations in the US. He detailed how, during a casual visit to the gas station store for a beverage, he was approached by a young boy who asked him to buy ‘Feel Free’ for him. Despite being refused, the kid persisted and even tried lunging for Michael’s wallet, leaving him shaken up.

While paying at the counter, Michael recalled asking the shop cashier what ‘Feel Free’ was, to which she pointed at little blue bottles on the counter. She said people are so addicted to it that sometimes they visit 5–6 times a day to buy it — “It’s addictive and people lose their minds.” A quick look at the comments section of the post, which now has more than 9 million views on Instagram, had many people shocked at the severity of the drink and its consequences. Different healthcare professionals also detailed their experience with patients. “It’s Kratom! Have had patients with seizures because of this and also babies experiencing withdrawal from maternal use during pregnancy. It’s no joke,” commented Dr. Shilpa, MD, Child Neurologist and Development Specialist.

To know how many people are affected or it continues to affect, you do not have to look too far — a subreddit known as QuittingFeelFree, which has 5k members, and QuittingKratom with 52k members, are prime spots to get first-person accounts of people who struggled for years or months with their addictions.

In one of the stories, Jasmine Adeoye from Austin posted on TikTok that just a few months before June 2024, she drank several bottles of Feel Free a day and found that quitting it was not easy.

Last year, the production company of Feel Free also faced lawsuits, however, many people are not aware of the same. CBS News had reported that Botanic Tonics had also faced a class-action lawsuit filed in 2023. The lawsuit alleged that the company's marketing was misleading and targeted individuals with a history of addiction. In a statement, the company said it had "fallen short of the high standards of transparency" and implemented changes like enhanced labeling and age restrictions.

Feel Free and List of Ingredients

One of the main ingredients listed in the ‘Feel Free’ drinks is ground kratom leaves. Now a regular person would think — how bad can leaves be? — and consume the drink, but it’s these same leaves that are risky and can lead to severe addiction.

Native to Southeast Asia, the US Food and Drug Administration explains that it also carries the risk of addiction, seizures, and, in rare cases, death. Since kratom is unregulated in the U.S., some products are sold in highly concentrated forms and may contain contaminants like heavy metals and harmful bacteria.

What Happens with Unregulated Use of Kratom?

The American Addiction Centers detailed how lower doses of kratom could help people increase energy and alertness, while higher doses could produce effects similar to that of opioid drug abuse. They detailed a 7-year study done from 2011–2017. The study pointed out how there were 1,800 calls to poison control centers about kratom, with most of those calls happening in the last two years of that period. Here are some things that can happen with unregulated use of kratom:

Addiction and Withdrawal

While it's not common, long-term and heavy kratom use can lead to addiction. People who stop using it suddenly might experience withdrawal symptoms that feel similar to the flu, such as nausea, vomiting, body aches, and chills.

Lack of Regulation

The FDA has not approved kratom for any use. This means that kratom products are not regulated and can sometimes be contaminated with dangerous substances like heavy metals and harmful bacteria. The FDA has warned consumers not to use kratom and has seized shipments of kratom-containing products.

Mixing with Other Substances

Taking kratom with other drugs or alcohol can be very dangerous. In rare but serious cases, this combination has led to severe side effects like liver damage and even death.

Overdose

Overdosing on kratom alone is very rare. However, when it is combined with other substances, the risk increases. For example, a CDC report linked kratom to 152 deaths in 2016 and 2017, but other substances were involved in 87% of those cases.

Over the past few years, doctors and researchers have noticed a clear pattern: more young adults are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer—those under 50. On the surface, some of this surge can be credited to increased screening, especially following guideline updates that lowered the recommended starting age from 50 to 45. But deeper beneath those screening numbers lies a troubling reality: diagnoses among truly younger adults aren’t solely due to being screened earlier. That means we’re facing a bigger shift, one that demands fresh solutions.

In 2018, the American Cancer Society recommended colorectal cancer screening begin at age 45—five years earlier than before. In 2021, the US Preventive Services Task Force followed suit. Unsurprisingly, this led to a jump in early-stage diagnoses among 45-to-49-year-olds.

ACS data published in JAMA shows a steady increase in screening rates: from 20.8% in 2019 and 19.7% in 2021, rising to 33.7% in 2023 among that age group. A second ACS-led study tracked early-stage diagnosis rates—from 9.4 cases per 100,000 in 2019, to 11.7 in 2021, then 17.5 in 2022. That’s a 50% relative increase between 2021 and 2022. Experts note this trend largely reflects held-back cases being detected earlier thanks to broader testing.

But that doesn’t chalk up the entire story. Colon and rectal cancers have been increasing steadily in younger adults—those under 45—for decades. This early-onset rise began in the mid-1990s and includes late-stage diagnoses—not just early detection.

Who Is Getting Diagnosed?

Doctors stress that while the decline in age recommendations helped some, it doesn’t explain the persistent rise in younger adults. In fact, research suggests annual case increases of 2–2.6% have occurred since 2012 among those under 50. In the 20–39 age group, incidence has been rising by around 1.6% per year since 2004.

More than 20% of colorectal cancer cases now occur in adults under 55—double the rate from the mid-1990s. Alarmingly, this early-onset trend is contributing to colorectal cancer becoming the leading cause of cancer death among younger men and the second-leading cause among younger women.

These are not always lifestyle-driven cases. Many patients are young, active, and with no known family history. As clinicians, many have expressed how unsettling it is to see so many seemingly healthy people presenting with aggressive tumors—and often at advanced stages.

What Might Be Driving This Worrisome Surge?

Researchers are testing multiple theories—but none yet fully explain the rise:

Gut microbe toxins such as colibactin, produced by certain E. coli, are drawing attention. These toxins leave a specific DNA mutation fingerprint in early-onset tumors—over three times more common compared to cancers in older patients. Some studies suggest 15% of early-onset cases involve colibactin-driven mutations.

Diet- and lifestyle-related risks remain central: obesity, processed meats, low-fiber diets, sedentary behavior, refined sugar, insufficient sleep, and environmental pollutants. One prominent study links higher birth and adolescent BMI with increased colon cancer risk later in life. Even every additional kilogram at birth above normal is tied to 9% higher colorectal cancer risk.

Other suspected contributors include microplastics, antibiotic use, and artificial light exposure, although more conclusive evidence is pending.

Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Crucial to stopping this trend early is awareness. Here’s what to watch for—and not dismiss, even if you’re under 45:

• Rectal bleeding
• Persistent abdominal pain or cramping
• Changes in bowel habits or stool shape
• Unexplained weight loss or appetite changes

Jessica Star of ACS—lead author on both new JAMA papers—warns, more than half of cases in younger adults occurred in those not yet eligible for screening. So symptoms matter, regardless of age. If you're dismissed with a benign diagnosis like hemorrhoids, consider a second opinion.

How to Lower Your Risk?

Screening matters. Most colorectal cancers begin as precancerous polyps, and removing these early saves lives. Current recommended options include:

• Annual or triennial stool-based fecal tests
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Virtual colonoscopy every five years
• Sigmoidoscopy every five years

Promising new research shows that mailing stool test kits directly to eligible adults dramatically increases completed screenings—even more than simply offering choice. Yet, screening is still underused: more than 1 in 3 adults aged 45 and older report not getting screened as recommended. To reduce personal risk:

• Maintain healthy body weight and regular physical activity
• Cut back on red and processed meats, refined sugars, and ultraprocessed foods
• Boost fiber intake through plant-based nutrition
• Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol
• Stay alert to symptoms and seek screening or evaluation promptly when indicated

If you’re under 50—or even nearing that threshold—understand this: colorectal cancer is no longer just a disease of older adults. While earlier screening through age-lowering guidelines has helped catch many early-stage cancers in 45–49-year-olds, it doesn’t address the underlying, persistent rise in true early-onset cancer.

The surge among younger adults signals something deeper—and possibly preventable—but only if we tackle it strategically. That means screening more women and men at the right age, investing in research, and making early testing easier and more equitable.

As expert researchers remind us, we’re not merely diagnosing more cancers—we’re getting better at catching them earlier. But to save more lives, identify root causes, and reverse these trends, we must remain proactive. Not just for our generation—but for all who follow.

One of the most common cancers in the world, it is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in the world. It accounts for the highest mortality rates among men and women. However, this has become a rising issue among women. A 2014 study published in the Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery journal explained that historically lung cancer was mainly studied in men because it was very rare in women. However, as social habits changed and more women started smoking, the number of lung cancer cases in women increased. They mentioned that lung cancer often behaves differently in women than it does in men, especially in non-smokers. This review looks at these differences, including risk factors, how the disease develops, and treatment options.

Lung Cancer in Women

In the United States, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the top cause of cancer-related death. Here are some important statistics from 2012:

• There were an estimated 109,690 new diagnoses in women.
• Lung cancer caused an estimated 72,590 deaths in women, which was more than the number of deaths from breast and colon cancer combined.
• The 5-year survival rate for women is about 18%, which is slightly better than the 14% rate for men, but it is still very low.
• Globally, lung cancer cases and deaths in women are still on the rise, especially in countries where more women are starting to smoke.

What Are Some Risk Factors Other Than Smoking?

Smoking is still the biggest cause of lung cancer in women, responsible for 80-90% of cases. However, a significant number of women who get lung cancer have never smoked.

• Women married to men who smoke have a 25-29% higher risk of getting lung cancer.
• Burning cooking oil or other fuels indoors in areas with poor airflow, especially in developing countries, is a major risk factor.
• A family history of lung cancer increases a woman's risk more than a man's.
• Hormones like estrogen may play a role in the development of lung cancer.
• Studies in some women, particularly in East Asia, have linked the human papillomavirus (HPV) to lung cancer.

What Are Some Challenges Women Face With Lung Cancer Diagnosis?

According to Lungevity, women often face delays and hurdles in getting a lung cancer diagnosis, which can worsen their chances of survival.

Diagnosis Delays

Women are less likely to seek help for early symptoms and can experience longer waiting times between initial doctor visits and a final diagnosis. This can allow the disease to progress before treatment even begins.

Lack of Screening

Many women are not offered lung cancer screening. A study found that women of color who are eligible for screening are six times less likely to be offered it than their male counterparts.

Outdated Rules

Even with recent updates to screening guidelines in the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, which now include people aged 50 and older and with a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years, many women still don't qualify. This is a major issue because a large number of women with lung cancer have a limited smoking history, which means they are often overlooked.

What Other Ways Does Lung Cancer Affect Women

The impact of lung cancer on a woman's well-being is often ignored, yet research shows it's a significant burden.

Psychological Distress

Women with lung cancer have higher rates of depression and anxiety than men. This stress is often made worse by the stigma of the disease, with many women reporting judgmental comments about smoking, regardless of whether they have a smoking history.

Sexual Health

Sexual health is often an overlooked part of cancer care for women. A study of 249 women with lung cancer found that 77% experienced moderate to severe sexual dysfunction. The women reported issues like fatigue and shortness of breath during intimacy, as well as vaginal dryness and pain.

Lack of Women in Clinical Trials

A long-standing problem in healthcare is the low number of women in clinical trials. This makes it difficult to know how effective a treatment is for women specifically.

Low Participation

Women make up only 40% of participants in clinical trials for diseases that affect them, like cancer. For non-small cell lung cancer, this number has not changed much over the past two decades.

Unique Barriers

Women face extra challenges in participating in trials, such as being primary caregivers, which limits their time. There are also gender biases from doctors who may assume women are less interested in research.

Safety Concerns

The lack of female representation is a safety issue. One study found that women were 25% more likely to have severe side effects from cancer treatments, but another study found that they were less likely to report these issues.