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A new study suggests that it’s a good idea to tell your doctor if close family members develop cancer. It might affect the types of cancer screening tests your doctor recommends. Your family’s medical history is one of the best tools for predicting your risk for developing cancer and other disorders. That’s why doctors usually ask about your family’s health the first time you visit. NIH-funded…

In many parts of the country, summer has the worst air quality of any season. When the forecast says it’s a code red day for air quality, what does it mean for your health? If you’ve planned a picnic, a bike ride or even a walk with a friend, should you change your plans? “The answer depends on a lot of factors. There’s no simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer for everyone,” says Dr. Darryl Zeldin, acting…

Endometriosis is linked to pain and infertility for many women. It arises when cells like those that line the uterus (the endometrium) attach to other tissues and grow inside the lower belly. These out-of-place cells may be just the start of a problem that, for some, lasts a lifetime. Endometriosis affects up to 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. The pain it causes can range from extreme to…

Many men develop urinary problems as they get older. They might find it hard to urinate, have a strong and sudden urge to “go,” be unable to hold it in, or wake up often at night to urinate. These symptoms may signal a bladder issue. But they can also be signs of a prostate problem. Identifying the right condition is key for treatment and symptom control. The prostate gland tends to get larger as…

Your body alerts you to many aspects of your health. Your stomach growling tells you when to eat. A powerful yawn lets you know you’re tired. Your body gives off many other valuable signals, but requires technology to detect them. Scientists are looking for new ways to track and use your body’s signals to improve your health and manage disease. Physical activity trackers and step counters are now…

Most people who have sleep apnea don’t realize it. That’s because this disorder only occurs during sleep. Sleep apnea is when you have pauses in breathing while you’re asleep. These pauses can last from seconds to minutes. You may have difficulty breathing a few times or dozens of times an hour. These breathing pauses can be dangerous if they cause the oxygen level in your body to drop or disturb…

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 afterward? Is it safe? Every day about 60,000 people nationwide have surgery 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…

Scientists were able to eliminate tinnitus—a persistent ringing in the ears—in rats by stimulating a nerve in the neck while playing a variety of tones. The finding gives hope for a future tinnitus cure in humans. Tinnitus is usually a high-pitched tone in one or both ears, but can also sound like a clicking, roaring or whooshing sound. While tinnitus isn’t fully understood, it’s known to be a…

You may barely notice the changes at first. Maybe you’ve found yourself reaching more often for your glasses to see up close. You might have trouble adjusting to glaring lights or reading when the light is dim. You may even have put on blue socks thinking they were black. These are some of the normal changes to your eyes and vision as you age. As more Americans head toward retirement and beyond,…

Blood courses through your body with every heartbeat. It carries life-giving oxygen to every organ. Blood also helps remove the waste products your body makes. Because it flows to and from every part of the body, blood can provide an important window into what’s happening under the skin. “So many biochemical compounds get absorbed from the tissues of the body into the blood. This makes the blood…, Tracking Cancer, Like normal cells in the body, cancer cells also come into regular contact with blood. This means that substances from tumors, like pieces of [qtip: genes|Stretches of DNA you inherit from your parents that define features, like your risk for certain diseases.] or even whole cancer cells, can get into the bloodstream. Researchers have developed tests to look for such substances in the blood.…, Detecting Alzheimer’s Disease, Like your body, your brain is full of blood vessels. So substances from injured brain cells can also enter your 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 has proven difficult. Blood tests to determine whether someone is at risk for dementias are…, Stay Up To Date, It may be a while before a blood draw at your local clinic can find diseases like cancer or dementia. But keeping up with current blood tests can help you get early treatment for other potentially life-threatening problems. See the Ask Your Doctor box for more.