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Is your doctor sending you for an MRI, a CT scan, or other medical scan? Do you know what to expect? Or how the test results can help with making a diagnosis or planning treatment? There’s a free app from NIH to answer your questions. It’s called “Understanding Medical Scans.” You can use it anywhere to help you prepare for a medical scan. The app describes MRI, CT, ultrasound, PET, and X-ray.…

Music has been around since ancient times. It is part of every known culture. It can get your foot tapping, lift your mood, and even help you recall a distant memory. Did you know that music can bring other health benefits? Scientists are exploring the different ways music stimulates healthier bodies and minds. “When you listen to or create music, it affects how you think, feel, move, and more,”…, Your Brain on Music, The brain is a complex processing hub. It’s the control center of your nervous system, the network of nerve cells that carry messages to and from your body and the brain. A healthy brain tries to make sense of the world around you and the constant information it receives, including sound and music. “Sound is an important and profound force in our lives,” explains Northwestern University…, Building Strong Minds, Playing a musical instrument engages many parts of the brain at once. This can especially benefit children and teens, whose brains are still developing. Introducing music to young kids can positively influence their ability to focus, how they act, and language development. Kraus’s research team at Northwestern studies how musical training influences brain development. They found that music has…, Music Therapy, Listening to and making music on your own can bring health benefits. But some people may also benefit from the help of a board-certified music therapist. Music therapists are trained in how to use music to meet the mental, social, and physical needs of people with different health conditions. “Music therapy can take many forms that go beyond listening to music,” explains Dr. Sheri Robb, a music…, Music in Your Life, Music can offer many health benefits, but it may not be helpful for everyone. Traumatic injuries and brain conditions can change the way a person perceives and responds to music. Some people may find some types of music overstimulating. Others may find that certain music brings up emotional or traumatic memories. “It’s important for healthcare providers to identify and understand when music isn’t…

Last year more than 1.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Cancer can be difficult to treat because each tumor is unique. Scientists are now gaining a better understanding of the changes that lead to cancer—and figuring out how to target them for personalized treatments. “Cancer treatment is changing at a very fast pace,” says Dr. Patricia M. LoRusso, an NIH-funded…

You probably get your blood pressure checked every time you go to the doctor. Having high blood pressure increases your chances of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and other serious health problems. After studying the results from hundreds of studies, experts recently changed the definition of high blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers, like 120/80 mm Hg. The first…

Make better health your resolution all year round. You can learn simple ways to prevent disease and improve your relationships, emotional well-being, physical health, and surroundings. Check out NIH’s “ Your Healthiest Self: Wellness Toolkits ” for science-based health tips in five different areas. Each area has checklists of tips you can print for yourself or share with others. The wellness…

Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loyal companion. The unconditional love of a pet can do more than keep you company. Pets may also decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help children with their emotional and social skills. An estimated 68% of U.S. households have a pet. But who benefits from an animal? And which type of pet brings health benefits? Over the past 10 years,…, Possible Health Effects, Research on human-animal interactions is still relatively new. Some studies have shown positive health effects, but the results have been mixed. Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood. The NIH/…, Animals Helping People, Animals can serve as a source of comfort and support. Therapy dogs are especially good at this. They’re sometimes brought into hospitals or nursing homes to help reduce patients’ stress and anxiety. “Dogs are very present. If someone is struggling with something, they know how to sit there and be loving,” says Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda,…, Helping Each Other, Pets also bring new responsibilities. Knowing how to care for and feed an animal is part of owning a pet. NIH/Mars funds studies looking into the effects of human-animal interactions for both the pet and the person. Remember that animals can feel stressed and fatigued, too. It’s important for kids to be able to recognize signs of stress in their pet and know when not to approach. Animal bites can…

You may have seen reality TV shows about people who hoard mail, gadgets, cats, and even trash. Or, maybe for you, the reality is a little closer. It could be a neighbor or a family member. When people aren’t able to throw things away, piles can grow to the ceiling. These piles can make it impossible to use bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. The piles may fall over, trap, and injure people. They…

Researchers found that some people’s repeated, severe allergic reactions stemmed from a red meat allergy linked to a specific type of tick bite.  Doctors analyzed 70 patients who had repeated episodes of a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, from unknown causes. Anaphylaxis can cause a host of problems, such as trouble breathing and passing out. It requires immediate medical attention…

Cancer changes your life and the lives of those around you. Finding the right cancer doctor (called an oncologist) and treatment facility is an important step to getting the treatment and support you need. Doctors specialize in different types of cancer and treatment methods. It’s important for you to find a doctor with experience treating your type of cancer. You also need to feel good about the…, Finding Health Care Services, webpage provides a list of several online directories to cancer specialists. Visit www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/managing-care/services to find this and other cancer resources.

We know that making healthy choices can help us feel better and live longer. Maybe you’ve already tried to eat better, get more exercise or sleep, quit smoking, or reduce stress. It’s not easy. But research shows how you can boost your ability to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle. “It’s frustrating to experience setbacks when you’re trying to make healthy changes and reach a goal,” says NIH…, Know Your Habits, Regular things you do—from brushing your teeth to having a few drinks every night—can become habits. Repetitive behaviors that make you feel good can affect your brain in ways that create habits that may be hard to change. Habits often become automatic—they happen without much thought. “The first step to changing your behavior is to create an awareness around what you do regularly,” explains Dr.…, Make a Plan, Make a plan that includes small, reasonable goals and specific actions you’ll take to move toward them. “If you walk by the vending machine at work and buy junk food every afternoon, try walking a different way to eliminate that decision and bring healthy snacks from home,” Czajkowski says. “Whenever possible, make the healthy choice the easy choice.” Consider what you think you’ll need to be…, Stay on Track, Doing positive things for yourself can feel exciting and rewarding. But there will also be times when you wonder if you can stick with it. “Identify negative thoughts and turn them into realistic, productive ones,” Marsch advises. Keeping a record can help. You can use a paper journal, computer program, or mobile app to note things like your diet, exercise, stress levels, or sleep patterns. A…, Think About the Future, Epstein has found that some people have a harder time than others resisting their impulses. He calls this “delay discounting,” where you discount, or undervalue, the larger benefits of waiting in favor of smaller immediate rewards. This can lead to things like overeating, substance abuse, drinking or shopping too much, or risky sexual behavior. “You can learn to postpone immediate gratification…, Be Patient, Sometimes when you’re trying to adopt healthier habits, other health issues can get in the way. “When you’re really struggling with these behaviors, ask yourself if more is going on,” Czajkowski says. “For example, mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can be tied to unhealthy behaviors.” A health professional can work with you to address any underlying issues to make change feel…