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… At some point in your life, someone probably told you: “Enjoy every moment. Life is short.” Maybe you’ve smiled and rolled your eyes at this well-intentioned relative or … an increased ability to relax, a greater enthusiasm for life and improved self-esteem. One NIH-supported study found a link between mindfulness meditation and measurable changes in the …

… Parents know that kids are vulnerable to a host of infectious diseases. Research supported by NIH and others proves that the benefits of vaccines in preventing illness and death greatly outweigh the risks. The list of childhood diseases can be … “The important concept,” says Dr. Marc Lipsitch of the Harvard School of Public Health, “is that vaccinating people protects not only them, but others in the community. If I’m protected, …

… can last a day or two, or a little bit longer,” explains Dr. Avindra Nath, a neurologist at NIH. “Then, you may have a headache, along with fever, neck stiffness, and you can get … get immediate medical help if you have symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis. Early treatment is important for the best recovery. Treatment will depend on the cause. Viruses, bacteria, … “Worldwide, the most common cause of meningitis is bacterial meningitis,” Nath explains. “Now in the United States, we don’t see a lot of bacterial meningitis because we have certain …

… Coping with emergencies is challenging in the best of situations. During the coronavirus pandemic, many of us are just … maintain their health, even during difficult times,” says Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers, director of NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Managing these conditions …

… 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 treatment is changing at a very fast pace,” says Dr. Patricia M. LoRusso, an NIH-funded cancer treatment expert at Yale Cancer Center. “What somebody got a year ago may not …

… “fever blisters” on or around the mouth can also infect other areas of the body? The infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus. And it’s very common. Most people with herpes infection … to heal. Once someone is infected with herpes simplex, the virus goes into hiding and stays in the body for the rest of their lives. The virus can re-emerge at any time and cause an … is particularly important to treat,” says Dr. Jeffrey I. Cohen, a herpes infection expert at NIH. That’s because the first outbreak is often the most severe. In addition to sores, you may …

… You may have heard that breast milk is best. But what makes it so good for babies? Breast milk fills your baby’s health needs. Researchers are now learning more about what’s in it and how it changes as babies grow. “Breastfeeding is the gold standard for feeding infants,” says Dr. Dan Raiten, an NIH expert on childhood nutrition. Human milk provides nutrients and other compounds that babies …

… Exhaustion seems to be on the rise. Fatigue is one of the symptoms most often reported by people with COVID-19, and their tiredness can … conditions like [qtip:anemia|A condition caused by low levels of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. It can cause fatigue, dizziness, and headaches.] or heart disease. Overall, it … in starting or continuing an activity,” says Dr. Vicky Whittemore, who is involved in NIH’s fatigue-related research programs. “It can involve the perception that the effort to …

… have kids. You may want to focus on your career. Or save some money first. About 20% of women in the U.S. now have their first child after age 35. You may have heard that getting pregnant can … … It can be more difficult to get pregnant with age. There are many reasons for that. One is that fertility decreases as you get older—for both men and women. Women are born with a set … fertilize and divide normally and turn out to be an embryo,” explains Dr. Alan Decherney, an NIH fertility expert. After age 30, a woman’s fertility decreases every year. The number and …

… the uses, effectiveness, and possible side effects of herbal products before you try them. NIH’s new app, “HerbList,” has the herb info you need in an on-the-go package. Use the app to explore what the science says about over 50 common herbs … herbs and herbal supplements to explore, like aloe, chamomile, ginger, and turmeric. HerbList is available to download to your phone or tablet from the Apple App Store or Google Play . …