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It’s easy to sit more than you should. Many people sit at desks during the day, where we’re inactive for long periods of time. Moving more and sitting less can have major health benefits. Getting regular physical activity is one of best things you can do for your health. Experts recommend adults get at least 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate physical activity a week. That means doing…, Benefits for Everyone, Physical activity has powerful benefits for almost everyone. “If we could bottle up what physical activity does for us, we would probably have the most powerful pill ever developed,” says Dr. John Jakicic of the University of Pittsburgh. Jakicic is an expert on physical activity and weight control. Physical activity can help you feel and function better. It can improve your sleep, energy level,…, How to Move More, Physical activity doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym. Getting more active can include simple things like carrying your groceries or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. “People mistakenly think that you have to do it a certain way,” says Jakicic. “That you have to get your heart rate into a certain zone, you have to work really, really hard, and you have to go to a special facility and…, A Step in the Right Direction, Walking is an easy way to get moving. But some places make that easier than others. Studies have found that your neighborhood can affect how active you are. Scientists have asked what makes a neighborhood “walkable.” “We found that things like having destinations close by to where you live certainly encourages more walking,” says Dr. Brian Saelens of the University of Washington and Seattle…, Strategies to Get Moving, Knowing you should be more active and doing it are two different things. Studies have found that the approaches that work vary from person to person. “One solution that may work for one person may not work for others,” notes Chen. Some find that using wearable devices or phone apps to track progress can be motivating. Other people may benefit from joining a group that does physical activity…

Do you feel an overwhelming need to move your legs when sitting or lying down? Do these sensations make it hard to fall or stay asleep? These can be signs of restless legs syndrome, also known as RLS. RLS is caused by problems with the way the nerves in the brain and body communicate with each other. These problems result in a strong, sometimes overwhelming urge to move the legs. This urge often…

Researchers designed an app to help identify toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD can cause problems with communication and social behaviors. Symptoms usually appear before a child turns two. But ASD can be tricky to diagnose. The new app tracks eye movements while toddlers watch specially designed videos on a tablet or smartphone. Past studies found that toddlers with ASD tend to…

It’s peak tick weather! Ticks get more active when it’s warm outside. Some carry diseases that can be passed on to you through their bite. The most common disease ticks carry is called Lyme disease. It’s a bacterial infection that can cause serious health problems. Each year, an estimated 300,000 people in the U.S. get Lyme disease. The number of cases has risen dramatically over the last 10…

Microscopic bugs called microbes can be found in your eyes, mouth, gut, skin, and everywhere else. But don’t be alarmed. Most of your microbes are useful. They help you digest food. They prevent dangerous infections in your organs. And so much more. They’re vital for your health. This collection of microbes in your body includes bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Together, it’s called the human…, Restoring Balance, One of the big jobs for our helpful microbes is to take up space. They live in places in the body that might otherwise be filled by harmful microbes that can cause disease, says Dr. Yasmine Belkaid, an [qtip:immune system|The body’s defense against germs and microscopic threats.] expert at NIH. “This is one way your microbiome prevents infection,” she says. Your immune system normally attacks…, Clostridioides difficile., C. difficile, can cause fatal diarrhea, especially in older adults. It’s often resistant to treatment. Researchers have developed a type of treatment for, C. difficile, infection called fecal microbial transplant. A patient is given microbes from the large intestine of a healthy person. This is done by transferring stool (poop) via tubes or pills. Researchers don’t yet know exactly which of the microbes are needed for a healthy gut microbiome. So for now, they transfer the entire microbiome. “Fecal transplants are a full-spectrum treatment. We’re just trying to…, C. difficile, . In a nationwide study, they found that about nine out of 10 people who received fecal transplants were cured of, C. difficile, . “It works marvelously well for treating this infection,” Wu says. The team continues to track people who have had fecal transplants. They want to learn more about its long-term safety. Researchers are also testing this treatment for other conditions. These include IBD and other conditions that cause gut [qtip:inflammation|Heat, swelling, and redness caused by the body’s protective response to…, Microbes and Obesity, Microbes in the gut do much more than just take up space, says Chang. “Gut microbes help regulate our metabolism—the digestion, absorption, and use of nutrients,” he explains. His research team and others study proteins that gut bacteria release into the bloodstream. “These tell us how much we eat, when to eat, and what to eat,” he says. This communication between our cells and our microbes seems…, Keep Your Microbes Healthy, Researchers have started testing whether altering microbes can impact other areas of health. Belkaid and her team found that changing the gut microbiome may improve how well a certain cancer treatment works. They’re also doing studies in mice to see if changing a female’s microbiome during pregnancy can boost her offspring’s immune system. For now, what can you do daily to keep your helpful…

Clues about your health could be right at your fingertips. Take a look at your nails. They could give insight about possible health concerns. Many nail changes are normal and nothing to worry about. But sometimes changes in the way your nails look and grow can be a sign of disease. Nails are actually specialized skin cells. They’re made of keratin, a protein also found in your hair and skin. “…

Vaccines against COVID-19 were developed early in the pandemic. But the virus has been changing. Now there are different versions, called variants, all over the world. Researchers found that the single-shot COVID-19 vaccine still protects against new variants. In the study, 20 volunteers received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Researchers took blood samples about two months later. The…

Your sense of smell enriches your experience of the world around you. Different scents can change your mood, transport you back to a distant memory, and may even help you bond with loved ones. Your ability to smell also plays a key role in your health. If your ability to smell declines, it can affect your diet and nutrition, physical well-being, and everyday safety. Whether coffee brewing, pine…

Hair loss is often associated with men and aging, but it can happen to women and children, too. Many people have thinning hair or bald areas on their head.  You can lose hair slowly or quickly. Whether or not your hair will eventually grow back depends on the cause. A family history of baldness, medical conditions or their treatments, and many other things cause hair loss.  The most common type…

It seems like a new health risk is in the news every day. How do you know which risks are worth worrying about? NIH has created a one-page guide called, Making Sense of Your Health Risks, to help you put risks into perspective. A health risk is something that increases your chance of developing a disease. For example, getting too much sun on your skin may put you at higher risk for skin cancer. That doesn’t mean that you will definitely get skin cancer. You can take steps to lower your risk by protecting your skin from sun exposure. When you hear about a health risk, ask yourself…