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… belly? Research has revealed many risk factors for sudden infant death, and sleep position is the most important one. Each year in the U.S., about 3,500 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep. In about half of … those under 1 year of age,” explains Dr. Marion W. Koso-Thomas, a child health expert at NIH. Babies are most vulnerable to SIDS up to 4 months old. “One of the critical pieces to SIDS …

… Outbreaks of a contagious “stomach bug” called norovirus can spread quickly. It often crops up in cruise ships, nursing homes, and other crowded places. People of any age can become infected … 48 hours later. Noroviruses are the main cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illnesses in the United States. Nearly half a million people with a norovirus visit the emergency … to protect people from getting a norovirus. But some are being developed and tested in people. NIH-funded researchers are now studying the virus using tiny 3D models of human intestines. These …

… so we can stay awake by day and sleep soundly at night. Getting too little sun, especially in winter months, can leave some people prone to a form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder. Sunlight also helps our skin make vitamin D, which is needed for normal bone function and health. Yet sunlight can also cause damage. Sunlight … have, the earlier your skin ages,” says Dr. Barnett S. Kramer, a cancer prevention expert at NIH. Your skin does have ways to prevent or repair such damage. The outermost layer of skin …

… Fat is an essential nutrient for our bodies. It provides energy. It helps our guts absorb certain … because of concerns about [qtip:saturated fats|Fats that are solid at room temperature; found in butter, lard, full-fat milk and yogurt, full-fat cheese, and high-fat meat.], explains Dr. … of their diet, Sacks says. You don’t need to avoid healthy fats to lose weight, he adds. In an NIH-funded study Sacks led, called the POUNDS LOST trial, people who ate higher-fat or lower-fat …

… you to know what to ask about before getting an imaging test. … X-Rays … The first revolution in seeing into the body came with X-rays. They have been used in the clinic for more than 120 … still used every day because they can do a lot,” says Dr. Kris Kandarpa, an imaging expert at NIH. They’re useful for looking at bones and finding problems in certain types of tissues, like … analyzing images of the inside of the body.] to look at. X-ray beams use radiation. Radiation is energy that’s released as invisible particles or waves. Being exposed to very large amounts of …

… periods when food was either scarce or completely lacking, says Dr. Valter Longo, an NIH-funded longevity researcher at the University of Southern California. “So, they were forced … you can eat. There are many different fasting diets, sometimes called “intermittent fasting.” In time-restricted feeding, you eat every day but only during a limited number of hours. So, you … against cancer in some experiments. “In mice, we’ve seen that one of the effects of fasting is to kill damaged cells, and then turn on [qtip:stem cells|Immature cells that have the …

… But there are many things you can do to reduce your risk. Cancer can start almost anywhere in the body. Normally, your cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When a cell is old or becomes damaged, it dies. Then a new cell takes its place. But when cancer develops, … you age. “Fortunately, most cancers do not develop as a result of a single exposure,” explains NIH researcher Dr. Erikka Loftfield, who studies cancer prevention. “Typically, you don’t have …

… 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 … how you think, feel, move, and more,” says neuroscientist Dr. Robert Finkelstein, who co-leads NIH’s music and health initiative . “Today, modern technologies are helping researchers learn … information it receives, including sound and music. “Sound is an important and profound force in our lives,” explains Northwestern University neuroscientist Dr. Nina Kraus. “The more we …

… Highly processed foods are often cheap and convenient. But they also tend to be high in calories, added sugar, saturated fat, and salt, and low in fiber. Scientists are starting to … cooking meat and pasteurizing milk can help prevent foodborne diseases. But if your food is processed too much, it may be harmful to your health. Ultra-processed foods are those that … affect overeating. That requires carefully controlling people’s diets for weeks at a time. But NIH metabolism researcher Dr. Kevin Hall has done just that. In a recent study, he compared …

… Headaches come in many forms. Where you feel the pain, what other symptoms you have, and how long headaches last … sleep can sometimes be enough. Other headaches may require more intensive interventions. NIH researchers are working to develop more options for people who aren’t helped by current … Understanding the type you’re having can help you find the right treatment. The most common is called a tension-type headache. These are often triggered by stress, which causes muscles in …