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Warm weather might make you want to get outdoors and enjoy walks in the woods, picnics, gardening, and more. But tiny ticks also emerge when temperatures rise. And they can take a big bite out of warm-weather fun. Bites from infected ticks are responsible for about a half-million new illnesses each year in the U.S. And those numbers are rising. Lyme disease is by far the most common. It accounts…, Risks From Ticks, The chance that you’ll get sick from an infected tick mostly depends on where you live. Different types of ticks live in different parts of the country. Each type can pass on the germs that cause different diseases. Nationwide, more than 17 human diseases are known to be caused by at least nine kinds of ticks. And all these ticks are moving into new regions. “As the climate warms and changes, it’…, Unusual Meat Allergy, Most tick-related illnesses are caused by infections. But over a decade ago, NIH-supported researchers found that certain tick bites might instead lead to a food allergy. The condition is called alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). The allergy is to a sugar molecule called alpha-gal that is found in red meat. “This includes beef, pork, lamb, venison, rabbit, and even the products from these animals, such as…, Blocking Tickborne Illness, Even though tick-related diseases are becoming more common, you can still enjoy the outdoors if you take some precautions. “You don’t need to be afraid of ticks,” says Dr. Sam Telford, a tick disease researcher at Tufts University. “Depending on where you live, most tick bites don’t necessarily carry an infection. And even if they do, if you remove the tick promptly—by taking a shower, feeling…

If you start to see changes in the way a loved one under 60 acts, speaks, or moves, you may not think of dementia as a cause. Dementia is a loss of thinking, memory, and reasoning that seriously affects your daily activities. It’s more common in older adults. But a group of dementias called frontotemporal disorders, or FTD, occurs most often in people between 45 to 64 years old. “Many people with…

Depression is common among older adults. But treatment with the standard type of drugs, called antidepressants, doesn’t always work. When depression remains after trying a couple of these drugs, it hasn’t been clear what approach might be best. Researchers studied over 600 adults, ages 60 and older, who had hard-to-treat depression. Participants were divided into three groups. One group added the…

Gout is a common and painful type of arthritis (swelling in one or more of your joints). It usually first appears in a big toe or lower limb. But other joints can be affected. Most types of gout are treatable, especially if caught early. Gout is more common in men. It tends to first arise for them in middle age. Women usually develop gout only after menopause. Flares of gout often start suddenly…

Find Spanish-language health information from across NIH in one place. This recently redesigned site offers a wealth of free, science-based health information in Spanish. The “Ask Carla” feature invites your questions and comments on health info. Access the site from your PC or mobile device to get the health information you need.

Pregnancy and childbirth can be a joyous time. But growing and delivering a baby are some of the most challenging things the human body can do. These processes can put so much strain on the body’s systems that they may lead to serious health problems. Most people have healthy pregnancies. Millions of births occur each year in the U.S. But, more than 50,000 people have serious health problems…, Warning Signs, The body goes through many changes during pregnancy. So women may dismiss some potentially concerning symptoms. “But you can catch a significant number of life-threatening conditions just by listening to your body and not ignoring certain things,” says Dr. Luis Pacheco, a pregnancy expert at the University of Texas. “If something doesn’t feel right, talk about it with your care provider,” says Dr…, Addressing Health Problems, There are effective treatments for many pregnancy-related health problems. Some drugs used for diabetes and mental health conditions can be used safely during pregnancy. Your doctor may prescribe aspirin to prevent a dangerous condition called preeclampsia if they find signs that you’re at high risk. Preeclampsia can turn into a deadly condition called eclampsia. NIH-funded researchers are now…, Staying Healthy After Delivery, Health risks from pregnancy don’t end after delivery. Serious health problems can begin up to a year after giving birth. But the weeks right after delivery can be especially important. “The first six weeks after pregnancy is another important time for women to pay attention to their own health. Most deaths happen in that short time after delivery,” Catov explains. “It’s a time when women are very…

Botulinum toxin injections are well-known for their use smoothing out wrinkles. They’re available under brand names such as Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, Myobloc, and Jeuveau. While wrinkle removal is the most common use, it’s not the only one. The first use for botulinum toxin injections came out decades ago. It was for treating certain eye problems. Since then, doctors have been finding that the…

Lung cancer is responsible for one in five cancer deaths in the U.S., and smoking is largely to blame. Since the number of smokers has fallen in recent years, lung cancer rates have also dropped. Still, survival rates remain low. About 75% of lung cancer patients die within five years of diagnosis. Previous studies found that quitting smoking can help to lengthen life. A new study found that for…

Most of us know that too much sun can cause sunburn and skin damage. But did you know that the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can also harm your eyes? UV light is invisible. It can’t be seen by the human eye. But it can still damage your vision. Sunlight has a mixture of both visible and invisible rays, or waves. The long waves, like radio waves, are harmless to people. But shorter waves like UV…

NIH is inviting 1 million people across the U.S. to join one of the most diverse health databases in history. Researchers use this data to learn more about why people get sick or stay healthy. Learn more about your own health, too. You can receive personalized reports about your health risks and possible responses to medicines.