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… picture cars idling or power plants with smoke stacks. But air pollution can also occur inside—in homes, offices, or even schools. Whether outdoors or indoors, the effects of air pollution are … explains Dr. Nadia Hansel, who studies lung problems at Johns Hopkins University. NIH researchers are working to understand and reduce the impact that air pollution—both outdoors … Outside … Several different types of pollutants can affect your health. When the weather is warm, an invisible gas called ozone can make it harder for some people to breathe. This gas is …

… Being diagnosed with a serious illness is life-changing. Many decisions must be made, with many unknowns. But there are experts who can … does not mean that you’re giving up on treatment,” says Dr. Alexis Bakos, an aging expert at NIH. “Ideally, palliative care should be offered at the very beginning of a diagnosis of any … include chronic heart and lung diseases, cancer, … [qtip:neurodegenerative diseases|Diseases in which nerve cells stop working or die.]  … like dementia and Parkinson’s, and many others. A …

… Foods … Macronutrients make up the bulk of the [qtip:calories|The amount of energy stored in food.] you eat each day. They provide the nutrients that your body needs to make energy. They … it’s not getting enough of the different macronutrients, says Samantha Adas, a nutritionist at NIH, “but that doesn’t mean it’s optimal.” Proteins are needed for cells to perform critical … are also a great source of fiber and are rich in micronutrients. “If you eat a meal that is high in fiber, you feel fuller longer,” says Dr. Katherene Anguah, a nutrition researcher at …

… emotional, and even physical well-being. “We can’t underestimate the power of a relationship in helping to promote well-being,” says NIH psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Valerie Maholmes. Studies have found that having a … relationships. These programs also help prevent abuse and violence toward others. … What Is Healthy? … Every relationship exists on a spectrum from healthy to unhealthy to abusive. One …

… of neurons may send abnormal bursts of signals all at once. This surge of brain activity is called a seizure. Any seizure is a cause for concern. Epilepsy is a condition in which you have repeated seizures. But not all seizures mean you have epilepsy. A seizure can … still not sure what causes epilepsy in about one-half of people diagnosed with the disorder. NIH researchers are working to find better ways to diagnose and treat it. … Unraveling Symptoms … …

… 4 out of every 5 people experience acne outbreaks between the ages of 11 and 30. Acne starts in the skin’s oil glands. The hair on our bodies comes out through canals from these glands … get bigger and make more oil. These hormone levels go up during puberty. Because of this, acne is most common in adolescents and young adults. Hormone changes caused by pregnancy or by … There are things you can do to prevent acne, explains Dr. Edward Cowen, a skin specialist at NIH. He recommends that people with acne avoid skin products that contain petrolatum, a type of …

… don’t realize that their drinking habits could be a problem. Find out how risky your drinking is with NIH’s “Rethinking Drinking” interactive website . Perhaps you now spend time drinking instead of …

… Is your doctor sending you for an MRI, a CT scan, or other medical scan? Do you know what to … 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 …

… care could be designed just for you? The careful matching of your biology to your medical care is known as personalized medicine. It’s already being used by health care providers nationwide. … and perform the other tasks that your body needs. These genetic instructions are written in varying patterns of only 4 different chemical “letters,” or bases. The same genes often differ … into the medical decisions they make,” says Dr. Rochelle Long, a pharmacogenomics expert at NIH. It’s becoming more common for doctors to test for gene variants before prescribing certain …

… all the nutrients they need,” says Carol Haggans, a registered dietitian and consultant with NIH. But some may need more than they get from their meals. Your needs can vary depending on your … works before selling it. Companies are required to follow good manufacturing practices in making their products. But bottles still may not always contain what the label claims. A few … was properly made and contains the listed ingredients. They don’t guarantee that it works or is safe to take. … Who Needs Supplements? … Your body needs different amounts of certain …