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… talk with your doctor about the possible benefits and harms to help you decide what’s best for your health. Screening tests are given to people who seem healthy to try to find unnoticed … in many forms. Your doctor might take your health history and perform a physical exam to look for signs of health or disease. They can also include lab tests of blood, tissue, or urine … harmful tests and treatments that you don’t need. Even correctly finding a disease may not improve your health or help you live longer. You may learn you have an untreatable disease long …

… light levels. These problems can usually be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or improved lighting. But some changes can be a sign of disease. A condition called age-related … AMD at age 55 and older. Smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure increase your risk for AMD. So does having a family history of the disease. There are two types of AMD. Dry AMD, …

… the rise. The diseases are often clustered in specific regions. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, for instance, occurs mainly in the mid-Atlantic and southern states. Lyme disease is the most … at NIH. But if you have symptoms of the disease, she says, “the earlier you get treated, the better.” Tick-borne diseases tend to share certain symptoms. Symptoms can include fever, …

… the brain doesn’t send the correct signals to your breathing muscles, so you stop breathing for brief periods. So how can you tell whether you may have this disorder? One of the most common … with your health. Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. For self-care tips for breathing better while you’re sleeping, see the “Wise Choices” box. If you feel extremely sleepy during the …

… can become resistant to the effects of these drugs. So doctors try not to give them, except for severe cases. When drugs are necessary, it’s important that they be taken for the full time … treatment didn’t work as well and had no benefits. NIH-funded researchers are now looking for better ways to treat an ear infection. One group is testing injectable gels to deliver medication …

… Researchers estimate that 10–20% of older adults have sarcopenia. But testing people for sarcopenia can be tricky. That’s because there isn’t a widely agreed-upon method to measure … before it leads to disability or injury. So an NIH-funded team of experts recently set out to better define sarcopenia and its impact on people’s health. The team analyzed data from several …

… digestive system changes the carbs you eat into glucose, a type of sugar that your body uses for energy. Simple carbs are more quickly digested and absorbed than complex ones, so simple … “The evidence seems to support the concept that the more complex carbohydrates will lead to better blood sugar control than the more simple sugars,” says Dr. Myrlene Staten, an NIH diabetes …

… strep. If test results confirm strep, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Even if you feel better after a few days, it’s important to finish the entire prescription. Most causes of a sore … Antibiotics only work against bacteria. Doctors can sometimes prescribe antiviral medication for certain viruses, like flu or COVID-19. There is no treatment for the common cold, but …

… “You can go and get a COVID test at many pharmacies, and your doctor can administer tests for flu,” Bozick says. COVID-19 tests are also available at many health centers. And you can buy … usually have the aches and fever that are common with COVID-19 and flu. Often, you’ll feel better in a couple of days. There’s no cure for the common cold. Typical treatments include rest, …

… concerns include hot flashes, trouble sleeping and mood changes, but symptoms can vary greatly for each woman. Many women don’t need treatment. For those bothered by symptoms, choosing the best treatment can be confusing. Different therapies … Hodis says. He’s heading an NIH-funded study to explore the idea that vascular health might be improved in women close to menopause. Results are expected by 2013. Today, estrogen remains the …