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Illustration of a woman having her blood pressure checked.

Blood Pressure Matters

… or wider to maintain your blood pressure and keep blood flowing at a healthy rate. It’s normal for your blood pressure to go up and down throughout each day. Blood pressure is affected by time … stress, and other factors. Problems can arise, though, if your blood pressure stays too high for too long. High blood pressure can make your heart work too hard and lose strength. The high … pressure targets.” NIH-funded studies have clearly shown that healthy lifestyle changes can improve your blood pressure. “Making even small changes over time can really add up,” says …
Illustration of a woman clutching a tissue near her face while talking with her doctor, who has a prescription pad handy.

Stop the Spread of Superbugs

… For nearly a century, bacteria-fighting drugs known as antibiotics have helped to control and … But experts recommend delaying for a time in certain situations, as many ear infections get better without antibiotics. NIH researchers have been looking at whether antibiotics are …
Illustration of a man waking up and stretching before a sun-filled window.

The Benefits of Slumber

… function at your best. Sleep helps you think more clearly, have quicker reflexes and focus better. “The fact is, when we look at well-rested people, they’re operating at a different level … explains. Tired people tend to be less productive at work. They’re at a much higher risk for traffic accidents. Lack of sleep also influences your mood, which can affect how you interact …
Illustration of a woman awake in bed with her husband and cat

Preparing for Menopause

… less frequent periods and other symptoms at some point during their 40s. But it’s different for every woman. There’s no lab test to predict when in life it will start or how easy it will … to read and then get back into bed to go back to sleep. Exercise can also help women sleep better at night. It’s best to avoid caffeine and alcohol for several hours before bedtime, too. …
Illustration of a health care professional holding a vial with a blood sample.

Beyond Basic Blood Tests

… from the tissues of the body into the blood. This makes the blood a really good place to look for hints of disease,” says Dr. Lori Minasian, who helps oversee cancer prevention research at … blood. For decades, researchers have been trying to develop blood tests to help diagnose and better treat mental health conditions, explains Dr. John Hsiao, a psychiatrist at NIH. But, this …
Illustration of a group of adults doing water aerobics

Understanding Autoimmune Diseases

… disorder. There are many different autoimmune diseases. Some involve only one type of tissue. For example, in a disease called vasculitis, your immune system attacks your blood vessels. Other … whose disease affects their blood vessels, Grayson says. Researchers are working to develop better treatments. NIH projects are bringing together scientists, nonprofit groups, and drug …
Illustration of a child with cancer sitting on their mother’s lap, while she talks with the doctor

Advances in Childhood Cancer

… of DNA you inherit from your parents that define features, like your risk for certain diseases.] that are passed from parents to their children. But these are rare. The … over the last few decades have led to more children surviving cancer than ever before. And a better understanding of the disease means that more children with cancer are getting personalized …
Illustration of a group of kids laughing and pointing at another kid in the school hallway.

Addressing Childhood Bullying

… studies child development at the University at Buffalo. “But not all aggression is bullying.” For behavior to be considered bullying, it must feature two things, Ostrov explains. One is a … of the child who is doing the bullying, “that can also escalate problems,” says Ostrov. “It’s better to calmly but assertively report the incidents to the school.” He also recommends …
Illustration of a blood clot in a blood vessel

Blood Clots Explained

… at Columbia University. “One is an abnormality in the blood that makes it more likely to clot. For example, [qtip:genetic|Having to do with genes. Genes are stretches of DNA you inherit from … prevent and treat blood clots for those with the disease. This work will also help researchers better understand how other viruses can affect the blood, Elkind explains. “I think we’re going …
Illustration of a doctor showing their patient a diagram of the liver

Fighting Fatty Liver

… plant. All worked heavily with a chemical called vinyl chloride. This chemical is mainly used for making the PVC in plastic products. Since then, many more chemicals have been linked to fatty … in an early stage. Often, a doctor will discover fatty liver disease when running blood tests for other reasons. If you have symptoms or are at higher risk, your health care provider may want … Heart disease is the leading cause of death in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Better nutrition can help, too. Try to avoid weight gain and increase your exercise. And limit …