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Have you seen someone get hypnotized? They may have been put in a trance and told to do silly things. But hypnosis can be used for more than just show. It’s also being studied to treat certain health conditions. Medical hypnosis aims to improve health and wellness. It can help relax and focus your mind—and make you more open to new ideas. The technique usually has two parts. First, the health…

Getting your period is a fact of life for most women. But every woman’s period is different. So how do you know if yours is causing problems that it shouldn’t? Many girls and women get cramps, low back pain, fatigue, or discomfort with their periods. But some have pain so bad they miss days of work or school every month. Others experience such heavy bleeding that it exhausts them. These are…, Common Issues, Most women’s menstrual cycles range between 21 to 35 days, or up to 45 days for teens. Bleeding usually lasts between three to seven days. It’s important for women to get to know their own pattern. What’s normal for one woman may not be for another. The most common menstrual irregularities are not getting your period at all or not getting it regularly, getting it for too many or too few days, or…, Finding the Cause, It can be hard for doctors to tell menstrual problems apart. Blood tests can help detect hormonal changes. An imaging test called an ultrasound is very good at picking up fibroids. But diagnosing endometriosis “is particularly tough,” says Dr. Stacey Missmer, an NIH-funded researcher at Michigan State University. It’s hard to see on imaging tests. No blood tests currently exist that can pick it…, Current Treatments, Many drugs used for fibroids, endometriosis, and other disorders that affect the menstrual cycle work by altering certain hormones. Birth control pills and other drugs can block these hormones. Such treatments may work well for many women, Halvorson explains. “But they can also prevent a woman from getting pregnant,” she says. This can limit how long some women want to use them. Researchers have…, Looking for Better Options, NIH-funded researchers continue to look into new ways to detect, treat, and prevent period problems. “We need better, noninvasive ways to diagnose endometriosis,” Halvorson says. Missmer is researching ways to create a test for endometriosis. “Many scientists are now exploring using blood, urine, and saliva,” she explains. “We’re looking for a signal that can determine whether a woman has…

Are there bluish-purple or red lines popping out on your legs? Those could be varicose veins. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that lie just underneath the skin’s surface. They aren’t just a cosmetic issue. If they aren’t treated, they can also cause health problems. “By the age of 50, nearly 40% of woman and 20% of men will have some significant leg vein problem,” says Dr. Cheryl…

Walking is an easy way to exercise without needing a gym membership. It’s a popular way to burn calories, and research shows that walking is good for your health. A new study asked how many steps a day can lead to health benefits. Many watches and smartphones can count the steps you take in a day. These devices often suggest taking 10,000 steps each day. But that number isn’t based on careful…

Psoriasis is a disease that causes red and white scaly patches to appear on your skin. This happens because your body’s defense system (immune system) attacks your own body by mistake.  If you have psoriasis, you may get another disease called psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis causes your joints to swell up. The swelling occurs most in your fingers, toes, wrists, knees, ankles, and lower…

Teenagers have their whole lives ahead of them, they’re often told. The idea that a teen could be thinking about ending that life might be hard for their friends, families, or other people in their community to believe. But the risk of suicide should be on the radar of anyone who interacts with teens, says Dr. Jane Pearson, a mental health expert at NIH. The rate of teen suicide has increased…, Who’s at Risk?, Many things can increase the risk of suicide in teenagers. One major risk factor is experiencing a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, or trauma. Most people who die by suicide have struggled with a mental health condition. Other risk factors include a family history of suicide, violence, or substance abuse. Teens also experience many stressful life events for the first time. These can…, Knowing When Teens Need Help, Some of the warning signs that a teen is thinking about suicide are talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, or being trapped or in unbearable pain (see the Wise Choices box for more signs). If you are concerned about a teen who may be thinking about suicide, start a conversation, says Dr. Joan Asarnow, a suicide-prevention researcher and clinical psychologist at the University of…, Keeping Teens Safe, Treatments are available that can help teens at risk of suicide. “Underlying mental health issues like depression and trauma are treatable conditions, and there are ways we can help youths with these troubles once we know about them,” says King. Talk therapy and medications can both be effective for many people. NIH-funded researchers have also developed therapies that can help very high-risk…

Sleep is important for your physical and mental health. A lack of quality sleep increases your risk for certain health conditions, including obesity. A recent study found that sleeping with an artificial light on may also raise your risk of weight gain and obesity. Your body uses light to control your sleep cycle. The natural light pattern from the sun helps you stay awake during the day and…

Have you ever had a migraine? A migraine is a headache that causes a throbbing pain on one or both sides of your head. Migraines can be very severe and may cause other symptoms like nausea, weakness, and sensitivity to noise and light. Your migraines may seem random, but there are many factors that might cause them, including stress, certain foods, and too much or too little sleep. Take control…, Update: The Migraine Trainer app is undergoing routine maintenance and will be back up again shortly.

Getting older can bring many changes, both physically and mentally. Even when you’re healthy, your brain and body start slowing down. Maintaining your cognitive health—the ability to clearly think, learn, and remember—is important for your overall well-being. Many things influence cognitive health. Your genes, lifestyle, and environment can all impact your thinking skills and ability to perform…, Staying Aware, It’s not only occasional memory problems that older adults are more likely to experience. Aging can bring other changes to the way the brain works. These changes can impact your ability to deal with complex social situations. That can put you at higher risk of being scammed. “Older adults are often targeted by scam artists,” says Dr. Patricia Boyle, who studies the aging brain at Rush University…, Reversing Changes, Many things can cause memory or other thinking problems. Depression, anxiety, an infection, or even certain medications can cause cognitive changes. Sometimes these types of issues can be resolved with treatment. If you experience a sudden change in thinking, memory, or mood, it may be caused by a new medication. Some drugs may not cause cognitive changes when taken on their own but can do so…, Building Brain Power, There are many things you can do to protect your brain as you age. “Cognitive activity, physical activity, and social engagement are associated with better cognitive functioning in older adulthood,” Boyle explains. Managing your health conditions is also important. Controlling your blood pressure, for example, reduces the risk of having a small stroke (bleeding from blood vessels in the brain).…

Have you ever met a set of identical twins? Did you have trouble telling them apart? Twins are similar in ways you can’t see, too. That makes twins a powerful tool for studying health and disease.  Many health conditions run in families. If your parents or siblings have a disease, your chance of having it increases. That’s because you share many genes. Genes are stretches of DNA that you inherit…