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Loud sounds can harm tiny structures in your inner ear. This can lead to noise-induced hearing loss or a condition called tinnitus. Tinnitus can cause buzzing, hissing, or humming in your ears. Hearing loss can happen instantly, or gradually over time. The louder the sound, the more damage it can cause. You can protect your hearing by moving away from loud sounds or turning down the volume. You…

Hot flashes. Trouble sleeping. Sudden changes in mood. Problems with your bladder. Pain during sex. These are all common but uncomfortable symptoms of the transition to menopause. Menopause isn’t a disease or disorder. It’s a normal part of a woman’s life. Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycles and fertility. Even though it’s a natural process, the transition to menopause can be difficult…, Starting the Transition, The ovaries contain all of the eggs at birth they will ever contain. The menstrual cycle controls the monthly release of eggs until menopause. The menopausal transition starts when this process changes and production of, [qtip:hormones|Substances sent through the bloodstream to signal another part of the body to grow or react a certain way.], like estrogen begins to decline. Most women start this transition (also called perimenopause) in their late 40s. But it can happen earlier or later. During this time, women may experience certain symptoms, such as changes in their periods and hot flashes. If a woman hasn’t had a period in 12 months, she can say she’s entered menopause. But for many women this transition is less clear. “Around one…, Cooling Hot Flashes Down, Many women experience only mild symptoms during perimenopause. For others, symptoms are severe and can interfere with work and life. The most common are called vasomotor symptoms. These include hot flashes and night sweats (see the Wise Choices box). “A lot of symptoms can be interrelated,” says Dr. Andrea LaCroix, a menopause researcher at the University of California, San Diego. “If you have…, Tackling Other Symptoms, Many women struggle with sleep during the menopausal transition. Studies have found that a type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, can help women with sleep problems during this time of their lives. Physical activity, yoga, and mindfulness can also help women feel better, stronger, and more in control of their reactions to many symptoms, LaCroix explains, even though…, Health in Midlife and Beyond, Lifestyle changes can help you stay healthy during and after midlife. The risks for some health problems go up after menopause. These include heart problems, bone weakness, and diabetes. Whether this is due to menopause or the overall aging process isn’t clear. “But the advice is the same as for all through our lives,” Dutta says. “Focus on good nutrition. Get good sleep. Manage your stress…

If you’re an adult in the U.S., you can expect to gain 10 to 25 pounds between your 20s and your 40s. Starting between ages 30 and 40, you may find losing weight and exercising more challenging. The exercise you do may not have the same effect as before. It’s not necessarily a sign that something is wrong. This weight gain in middle age—known as “middle-age spread”—is a natural consequence of…, [qtip:metabolism|Chemical changes in the body that create the energy and substances you need to grow, move, and stay healthy.] , tends to slow down as you get older,” says NIH’s Dr. Rafael de Cabo, an expert on aging. “But your appetite and your food intake do not. So, you have a steady increase of body weight with age.” Much of the weight gain comes in the form of fat tissue. The distribution of fat in your body also shifts. There’s less under your skin and more around your internal organs. Meanwhile, you start to lose…, [qtip:neurodegenerative diseases|Diseases in which nerve cells stop working or die.], , goes up with age. Excess weight can further heighten these risks. Fortunately, you can take steps to maintain a healthy weight as you age. Your diet can play a key role. Having a slower metabolism means you’ll need fewer calories. But you also want to make sure you still get all the nutrients your body needs. Get tips on healthy eating as you age. De Cabo studies the effects of dietary changes…

Older adults who are worried about their thinking, memory, or reasoning skills may want to get tested for Alzheimer’s disease. But current tests are invasive and expensive. One type uses a sample of spinal fluid. Another uses expensive brain imaging. These tests can’t be done in primary care clinics, which limits access for many people. To address these issues, researchers have been trying to…

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that first appears during childhood. It can last into adulthood. ADHD can lead to a wide range of ongoing symptoms that interfere with friendships, schoolwork, and daily life. Some people with ADHD find it hard to pay attention or remember important things, like daily chores. Others may be hyperactive and have trouble sitting still or…

Get plain and simple facts about drugs and addiction. Learn how different drugs affect the brain, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Find out about who’s at risk for substance use, what happens to your brain during addiction, and the importance of prevention.

A heart attack or stroke can happen within seconds. Getting treatment fast for these medical emergencies can mean the difference between life and death or disability. But do you know the symptoms of these dangerous events? And do you know if you’re at risk for having one? More than 1.5 million people have a heart attack or stroke every year in the U.S. Heart attack happens when blood flow to the…, Know the Symptoms, Act Fast, The most common symptoms of a heart attack are pain, heaviness, or discomfort in the center or left side of your chest. But they’re not the only symptoms. Women are more likely than men to have other symptoms, like pain or numbness in the left arm. Some people may also feel a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Others feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or above…, Are You At Risk?, Most heart attacks and strokes happen in people who have certain risk factors (see the Wise Choices box). If you know your risk, you can be on the lookout for symptoms. You can also take steps to lower that risk. One major risk factor for heart attack is high cholesterol in the blood. High cholesterol can also increase the risk for stroke. Cholesterol can build up on the walls of blood vessels,…, [qtip:inflammation|Heat, swelling, and redness caused by the body’s protective response to injury or infection.], in heart disease. His research has shown that high cholesterol and inflammation work together to increase heart-attack risk. “Heart disease involves both accumulation of cholesterol and an inflammatory fire lighting the match underneath it all,” he says. In a recent study, his team measured inflammation using a test called hsCRP as well as blood cholesterol in women in their 30s. Women with high…, Lower Your Risk, If you’re at risk for a heart attack or stroke, lifestyle changes and medications can help you lower that risk. “Eating more vegetables and less red meat, exercising, and quitting smoking all lower heart attack and stroke risk,” Ridker says. “And it turns out they all reduce inflammation as well.” Other steps you can take to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke include maintaining a…

Don’t let bad food spoil your celebrations this holiday season. Follow safe food practices so everyone can keep enjoying the festivities after their meals. Germs like bacteria, viruses, and parasites—or the toxins they produce—can get into your food and make you sick. “The difficult thing is you can’t see these germs, and you can’t taste them,” says Dr. William Alexander, an NIH expert in food-…, [qtip:immune system|The system that protects your body from invading viruses, bacteria, and other microscopic threats.], , and those over 65 years old. If you aren’t getting better after a couple of days, have a fever higher than 100 degrees, bloody stool, or are vomiting so often that you can’t keep fluids down, contact your doctor. Dehydration is one of the biggest issues from food poisoning. So be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Watch for symptoms of dehydration, like not peeing much, a dry mouth and throat, and…, E. coli, infection produces a toxin that can lead to life-threatening kidney problems for kids. It can’t be treated with antibiotics, either. An NIH-funded study is testing whether giving these patients fluids through an IV can prevent kidney complications. NIH-funded researchers are looking for ways to prevent food-borne illnesses, too. Some are studying the biology of how bacteria and viruses get into…

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and other tissues that form a sling or hammock in the pelvis. These pelvic floor muscles do important work. They help to hold essential organs in place. These key organs include the bladder, intestines, and rectum. In women, they also include the uterus, cervix, and vagina. Trouble can arise if the muscles or tissues in the pelvic floor weaken or are injured…

As the U.S. population ages, more adults are developing thinking and memory problems, called mild cognitive impairment. Scientists have been looking for ways to prevent or delay this type of mental decline and more severe disorders, like dementia. Some studies have found links between healthy eating and improved thinking and memory. An eating pattern called the MIND diet has shown promise. It…