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Some conditions may feel too embarrassing to discuss with your doctor. Weak pelvic floor muscles can cause such conditions. You may have trouble with 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 and uterus. You may feel discomfort inside your vagina.…

For decades, researchers have puzzled over why type 1 diabetes is becoming more common. Type 1 diabetes is a serious disease in which the body destroys the cells that make insulin. Insulin tells cells to take up sugar from your blood. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to stay alive. Researchers have wondered whether infant formula made from cow’s milk might cause children…, Note: The title and text of this story were updated on March 9, 2018, because information was incomplete or may have given the wrong impression.

Experts estimate that millions of Americans could benefit from treatment for an alcohol problem, but most don’t get it. To make it easier to find help, NIH’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism developed the, NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator, . You can use it to find help for yourself or a family member or friend. Alcohol use disorder is a health condition that can improve with treatment. But the same treatment path doesn’t work for everyone. Searching for the right treatment can be complicated. The navigator makes this complicated process easier by explaining what you need to know to recognize and choose quality care. It describes…

Did you know that your body has its own internal network of clocks? These biological clocks help you feel alert during the day, hungry at mealtimes, and sleepy at night. Keeping your body’s daily cycles, or circadian rhythms, in sync is important for your health. “Circadian rhythms are big influencers in the body,” explains NIH’s Dr. Michael Sesma, an expert in circadian biology. “They affect…

Brain imaging advances are helping doctors better treat patients who have a stroke. The most common types of strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. These are called ischemic strokes. Strokes are a medical emergency. When blood can’t deliver nutrients and oxygen, the brain tissue in the area begins to die. Doctors must restore blood flow to the brain as fast as…

Doctors can’t always explain why one person gets cancer and another doesn’t. But research has shown that certain risk factors may increase a person’s chance of getting cancer. One risk factor is obesity, or having too much body fat. Many studies have found links between obesity and certain types of cancer. Most of these studies have compared differences between large groups of people who…

The eyes are more than windows to the soul. With advances in eye health technology, they can also give a unique look into your health. “The eye is a real window into what’s happening in your body,” says NIH eye health expert Dr. Houmam Araj. It’s a convenient way for a doctor to get a clear view of your blood vessels, nerves, and connecting tissue without surgery. Researchers are working on new…, What Doctors See Now, Getting regular eye exams is important, even if you think your vision is fine. Eye exams allow an eye care professional to monitor your eyes for common vision problems and signs of disease. “There aren’t early warning signs for the most common eye diseases,” says NIH eye specialist Dr. Rachel Bishop. “By identifying diseases early, you have the best treatment options and the best chance of…, Advances in Imaging, “Today’s clinical technologies to image the eye are pretty amazing, but they are undergoing tremendous advances,” says Dr. Donald Miller, an expert in eye imaging technology at Indiana University. “Future eye health practitioners will have incredibly more powerful imaging tools than anything we have now.” With new tools, eye health professionals may be able to catch disease even earlier. For…, Improving “Sight”, New technologies may also help people with low vision and blindness get around more easily in their day-to-day lives. For example, an NIH-funded eye doctor recently improved a miniature telescope technology that can be mounted on regular eyeglasses. Called Ocutech bioptic telescopes, these devices help people with low vision see better while driving. This gives them the chance to stay behind the…

Many people slowly lose their hearing as they get older. Not being able to hear well can make it hard to communicate. That can affect your relationships, emotional well-being, and work performance. For those who need them, hearing aids can help. These electronic devices are worn in or behind the ears. They make sounds louder. Close to 29 million adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet only 1…

Have you noticed an AED device in an airport or other public place? An AED is an automated external defibrillator. You can use this portable device to quickly shock someone’s heart and try to save their life if they collapse, have no pulse, and stop breathing. This condition is known as sudden cardiac arrest. If a cardiac arrest isn’t treated within minutes, the person will usually die. When the…

Palliative care is more than end-of-life care. It’s an added layer of care to support and improve the quality of life for someone with a serious illness. You receive palliative care in addition to your treatments. This type of care is also known as comfort care, symptom management, or supportive care. Palliative care considers all aspects of your care. It isn’t only for treating pain and physical…