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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.

Bullying is any unwanted aggressive behavior among peers where there is power imbalance. The behavior is repeated over time and includes actions such as threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone, and excluding someone on purpose. Bullying can affect kids’ health and well-being. Federal partners created stopbullying.gov to help you learn how to prevent bullying. Find out how to spot the signs…

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…

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…

Having fun is a great way to learn about how the world works. Visit the, Kids Environment Kids Health, website to find fun and educational resources for kids, parents, and teachers. Solve puzzles and play other games to learn about science, animals, and the world we all share. You can also find science experiments for kids or explore topics about nature, pollution, recycling, and more.