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Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. But some people have concerns about rumored side effects. This includes whether the vaccines affect fertility. Getting COVID-19 can temporarily affect fertility. But there’s no evidence that vaccines against the disease do. In a large study, researchers probed the links between COVID-19 vaccines, infection, and fertility. They followed…

Most infants are screened for hearing loss before they leave the hospital. This helps doctors detect any hearing problems early and start treatment. Children with hearing loss who get help early develop better language skills than those who don’t. If your baby’s hearing isn’t tested at the hospital, you should get it checked by the time they’re one month old. Two tests can be used to check your…

PFAS are synthetic chemicals in products you might use every day. They’re used in non-stick cookware, food wrappers, carpets, and many other products. They’re also now found in most people’s blood. Learn more about PFAS and how they affect health.

Everyone goes through tough times in life. But many things can help you survive—and even thrive—during stressful periods. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Learning healthy ways to cope and how to draw from resources in your community can help you build resilience. “Resilience is the extent to which we can bounce back from adverse events, cope with stress, or succeed in the face of adversity…, Finding Your Strengths, Stress can cause wear and tear on the body and brain. Chronic stress has been linked to an increased risk of many health conditions. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. Many stressful situations can’t easily be changed by one person. And some—such as parenting or a challenging job—can be things you want to do, even if they’re taxing. But resilience isn’t…, Tapping Into Resources, Another part of resilience is about using the resources available to you. More and more, researchers are understanding that resilience doesn’t happen in a vacuum. “The presence of resilience in a person is related to the supports around them,” Burt says. For example, she and her team found that growing up in a very impoverished neighborhood can change the way a child’s brain develops. But when…, Choosing Your Tools, The tools that best help you offset stress can differ from situation to situation, says Bergeman. “Sometimes you have a stressor where you need to take action and solve the problem. But for other types of stressors, maybe you need emotional support,” she says. “A way to think about resilience may be: How do you match what you need with the kinds of tools that you have?” In a way, practice makes…

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is life changing. This brain disorder causes slow and rigid body movements. People can experience tremors, stiffness, or shaking. Eventually, they may have difficulty walking and talking. Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease. That means it gets worse over time. It develops when a certain type of nerve cell stops working normally or dies. These nerve cells…

Sleep is important for your mental and physical health. But nearly a third of U.S. adults don’t get enough. Some people turn to sleep aids for help. A new study found that the number of adults taking melatonin supplements to help them sleep has risen sharply. Melatonin is produced by the brain in response to darkness. It helps cue the body that it’s time to sleep. But studies have not…

Cervical cancer starts in the cervix. The cervix is at the lower end of the uterus, where a fetus grows. Screening for cervical cancer has dramatically reduced new cases and deaths. But many women are overdue for getting one. Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. At first, it may not cause signs or symptoms. But it can be detected early with regular screenings. Screenings require a…

Looking for alcohol treatment can feel overwhelming. NIH’s Alcohol Treatment Navigator can help. It offers a three-step road map to find science-backed care that can raise your chance for success. You can search for alcohol treatment for yourself or a loved one.

Some hazards in the home are easy to see. Like a loose electrical socket. Or torn carpet on the stairs. But others are harder to spot. And some are invisible, in the very air you breathe. These include lead, mold, and radon. But there are ways you can find and fix these unseen hazards. Learning about possible toxins in your home may be concerning. But knowledge can help you take action., Getting the Lead Out, Lead is a naturally occurring metal. It’s used to make many products, like car batteries. But it doesn’t belong in your body. It causes damage to the brain and nervous system. Lead exposure is especially dangerous for children. There is no “safe” level of lead in the bloodstream. Lead exposure causes problems with thinking, learning, and memory, says Dr. Aimin Chen, an environmental health…, Water and Mold, If you’ve ever left a loaf of bread or piece of fruit out too long, you’ve likely seen mold grow. Most types of mold are harmless. But some can be dangerous. They can produce compounds that trigger allergies or asthma attacks. Mold can grow in buildings when water gets in, explains Dr. Matthew Perzanowski, an allergy and [qtip:asthma|A chronic lung disease that causes wheezing, coughing, chest…, Radon on the Radar, You likely know that smoking cigarettes is one cause of lung cancer. But cigarettes aren’t the only toxin that increases that risk. An odorless, colorless, radioactive gas called radon can cause lung cancer, too. Radon gas is found naturally in nearly all types of rock, in all parts of the country. It’s a risk if it gets inside. It can seep through cracks in floors, walls, and the foundations of…

Do you hear sounds that no one else can hear? It might be a ringing. A clicking. Or maybe a buzzing, hissing, or humming. Hearing such noises can be disconcerting—especially if they don’t go away. Some people hear these noises for a few hours. Others may hear them for a lifetime. This condition is called tinnitus. About 10% of U.S. adults have experienced tinnitus that lasted for at least five…