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… kind of pain during their lives. Pain serves an important purpose: it warns the body when it’s in danger. Think of when your hand touches a hot stove. But ongoing pain causes distress and affects quality of life. Pain is the number one reason people see a doctor. A class of drugs called opioids is often used to treat pain. One reason, explains NIH pain expert Dr. Michael Oshinsky, is that opioids work well for many people. Opioids can stop …

… are many different autoimmune diseases. Some involve only one type of tissue. For example, in a disease called vasculitis, your immune system attacks your blood vessels. Other autoimmune … About 1% of people in the U.S. have rheumatoid arthritis, explains Dr. Mariana Kaplan, an NIH specialist in autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis damages the joints. Certain … found that a virus called Epstein-Barr may trigger some cases of multiple sclerosis, or MS. MS is an autoimmune disease that damages the nerves. Other risk factors can be your age, sex, …

… NIH specialists can help answer your questions about cancer. This free and confidential service is available to anyone. Get information on clinical trials, treatments, the latest cancer … and more. You can call 1-800-4-CANCER, send an email, or chat online. Services are available in English or Spanish. …

… Some teens get severe headaches known as migraines. This free app from NIH can help teens figure out what’s triggering their migraines. Understanding migraine triggers …

… Some people who’ve had COVID develop lasting health problems. NIH created the RECOVER Initiative to learn more about this condition, called Long COVID. …

… Got a minute? Tune in to Healthy Moments Radio to hear one-minute tips from NIH health expert Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers …

… NIH is inviting 1 million people across the U.S. to join one of the most diverse health databases in history. Researchers use this data to learn more about why people get sick or stay healthy. …

… 50 million Americans have a brain or nervous system disorder. That’s 1 out of every 5 people. NIH’s Brain for Life website is a one-stop shop to learn about the brain and the nervous system. You can also find answers to …

… bladder or bowel control. Urine can leak out when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exert yourself in any way. You might need to urinate often or urgently. Weak muscles can also affect the vagina … for developing a pelvic floor disorder. Dr. Donna Mazloomdoost, a pelvic floor specialist at NIH, says, “Some women are just going to be very prone to these sort of conditions, and others … may include dietary changes, physical therapy, medications, medical devices, or surgery. NIH is funding studies to develop new and improved treatments. “Most of the game-changing …

… from the pain of an ear infection can be a nightmare. But it’s not uncommon. Most children in developed countries get at least one ear infection by the age of five. Most ear infections happen in the middle ear, the part of the ear behind the eardrum. The middle ear is connected to the upper part of the throat by the eustachian tube. It normally lets fresh air … infection,” explains Dr. Michael Hoa, an ear, nose, and throat specialist and researcher at NIH. In older children and adults, the eustachian tube is large and slanted to drain fluid from …