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… It’s always a good time to resolve to eat better, be more active, and lose weight. For the more than 2 out of 3 Americans who are either overweight or obese, there’s now a free, … sex, age, height, and physical activities during work and leisure. Then enter a target date for reaching your goal weight. You can also add details like percent body fat and metabolic rate. … SuperTracker food and activity tool. The NIH Body Weight Planner “has changed my life,” says one user. “At 280 pounds, I decided to make a change. I used the Body Weight Planner and set a …

… When you face surgery, you might have many concerns. One common worry is about going under anesthesia. Will you lose consciousness? How will you feel … under general anesthesia. It’s a combination of drugs that’s made surgery more bearable for patients and doctors alike. General anesthesia dampens pain, knocks you unconscious and keeps …

… It turns out that too much salt can lead to a host of health problems. The chemical name for dietary salt, or table salt, is sodium chloride. Since 90% of the sodium we ingest is from … other health problems. There are 2 blood pressure numbers, and they’re usually written with one above or before the other. Systolic, the first, is the pressure when the heart beats, pumping … is the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. The numbers 120/80 mmHg are the ones you should aim to keep your blood pressure below. Some research also suggests that excessive …

… Fat is an essential nutrient for our bodies. It provides energy. It helps our guts absorb certain vitamins from foods. But … Instead, it’s produced when the body breaks down simple carbohydrates and sugars. That’s one reason why replacing saturated fat in the diet with simple carbohydrates doesn’t reduce the …

… Learning about how medical scans work can help you feel more comfortable if you or a loved one needs one. It can also help you to know what to ask about before getting an imaging test. … … first revolution in seeing into the body came with X-rays. They have been used in the clinic for more than 120 years. “X-rays are still used every day because they can do a lot,” says Dr. …

… your mood, transport you back to a distant memory, and may even help you bond with loved ones. Your ability to smell also plays a key role in your health. If your ability to smell … stimulate specialized sensory cells high inside the nose. Each of these sensory cells has only one type of odor receptor—a structure on the cell that selectively latches onto a specific type … the brain, odors can influence many aspects of our lives, such as memory, mood, and emotion. For thousands of years, fragrant plants have been used in healing practices across many cultures, …

… exercise in people with Parkinson’s disease. There’s also evidence that music may be helpful for people with other health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, traumatic brain … qualities of music. Shared musical experiences can help a family member connect with a loved one who has dementia. Music can also be used to help young people with behavior disorders learn … testing music therapy interventions for children and teens with cancer and their families. In one study, music therapists helped young people undergoing high-risk cancer treatments to write …

… of older adults.] who oversees research on aging and health. “Exercise is especially important for lengthening active life expectancy, which is life without disease and without physical and … your health and mobility. Even frail older adults can benefit from regular physical activity. One NIH-funded study included over 600 adults, ages 70 to 89, who were at risk for disability. …

… Chances are, you know someone who has diabetes. It might even be you. Diabetes is one of the most common disorders in the U.S. It affects about 1 in 9 Americans. Diabetes raises your risk for serious health problems. It can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, and it is linked … is your body’s main source of energy. Normally, a … [qtip:hormone|A substance produced in one part of the body to signal another part to react a certain way.] … made by the pancreas …

… Where you feel the pain, what other symptoms you have, and how long headaches last can vary. For many people, headaches are an occasional nuisance. For others, they can be chronic and … isn’t just a headache. It’s a complex brain condition. Migraine headaches often occur on one side of the head. But they can also be on both sides. Migraine attacks can include nausea, …