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A study found that when people consumed a diet of highly processed foods, they took in more calories and gained more weight than when on a diet of minimally processed foods. Researchers compared the effects of a highly processed and a minimally processed diet in 10 men and 10 women residing for four weeks at the NIH Clinical Center. Each diet lasted for two weeks. People received three meals per…

Radon is a radioactive gas that you can’t smell or see. Breathing it in can damage your lungs. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. It causes thousands of deaths each year. Radon comes from the natural decay of radioactive metals in rocks and soil. This harmful gas can move from the ground into the home through cracks in the floor and foundation. Radon can give off…

Virtual reality—often referred to as “VR”—used to be science fiction. Today, it’s everywhere. All you need is a smartphone and a headset to immerse yourself in 3-D virtual worlds or games. This booming technology may also be useful for health care and research. “In the last few years, there’s been a huge expansion in the number of exciting clinical applications of virtual reality,” says Dr.…, Restoring Movement, Scientists have been testing VR to treat movement problems. These can be caused by a stroke, a brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, or other conditions. Rehabilitation exercises can sometimes help people train their muscles to improve their movement. But these exercises can be boring—especially to kids. Dr. Amy Bastian, a movement specialist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, is using VR to make…, Fighting Fear, Huberman is using VR to test techniques to help people cope with fear and anxiety. VR is ideal for studying such mental states, he explains. “Vision, more than any other sense, is the sense that humans use to navigate the world and survive. And, more than any other sense, it drives phobias and anxiety.” What you see can be easily manipulated using a virtual environment. His team is using this…, Distracting From Pain, In addition to helping people process uncomfortable mental experiences, VR may help people cope with physical discomfort. Researchers are testing how VR can help reduce the pain from certain medical procedures. Dr. Sam Sharar, a pain expert at the University of Washington, uses VR to distract children and adults who are recovering from burns. “Burn pain can be really, really bad. It’s hard to…

Have you seen someone get hypnotized? They may have been put in a trance and told to do silly things. But hypnosis can be used for more than just show. It’s also being studied to treat certain health conditions. Medical hypnosis aims to improve health and wellness. It can help relax and focus your mind—and make you more open to new ideas. The technique usually has two parts. First, the health…

Getting your period is a fact of life for most women. But every woman’s period is different. So how do you know if yours is causing problems that it shouldn’t? Many girls and women get cramps, low back pain, fatigue, or discomfort with their periods. But some have pain so bad they miss days of work or school every month. Others experience such heavy bleeding that it exhausts them. These are…, Common Issues, Most women’s menstrual cycles range between 21 to 35 days, or up to 45 days for teens. Bleeding usually lasts between three to seven days. It’s important for women to get to know their own pattern. What’s normal for one woman may not be for another. The most common menstrual irregularities are not getting your period at all or not getting it regularly, getting it for too many or too few days, or…, Finding the Cause, It can be hard for doctors to tell menstrual problems apart. Blood tests can help detect hormonal changes. An imaging test called an ultrasound is very good at picking up fibroids. But diagnosing endometriosis “is particularly tough,” says Dr. Stacey Missmer, an NIH-funded researcher at Michigan State University. It’s hard to see on imaging tests. No blood tests currently exist that can pick it…, Current Treatments, Many drugs used for fibroids, endometriosis, and other disorders that affect the menstrual cycle work by altering certain hormones. Birth control pills and other drugs can block these hormones. Such treatments may work well for many women, Halvorson explains. “But they can also prevent a woman from getting pregnant,” she says. This can limit how long some women want to use them. Researchers have…, Looking for Better Options, NIH-funded researchers continue to look into new ways to detect, treat, and prevent period problems. “We need better, noninvasive ways to diagnose endometriosis,” Halvorson says. Missmer is researching ways to create a test for endometriosis. “Many scientists are now exploring using blood, urine, and saliva,” she explains. “We’re looking for a signal that can determine whether a woman has…

Are there bluish-purple or red lines popping out on your legs? Those could be varicose veins. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that lie just underneath the skin’s surface. They aren’t just a cosmetic issue. If they aren’t treated, they can also cause health problems. “By the age of 50, nearly 40% of woman and 20% of men will have some significant leg vein problem,” says Dr. Cheryl…

Walking is an easy way to exercise without needing a gym membership. It’s a popular way to burn calories, and research shows that walking is good for your health. A new study asked how many steps a day can lead to health benefits. Many watches and smartphones can count the steps you take in a day. These devices often suggest taking 10,000 steps each day. But that number isn’t based on careful…

Psoriasis is a disease that causes red and white scaly patches to appear on your skin. This happens because your body’s defense system (immune system) attacks your own body by mistake.  If you have psoriasis, you may get another disease called psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis causes your joints to swell up. The swelling occurs most in your fingers, toes, wrists, knees, ankles, and lower…

Your urinary system removes waste and extra fluid from your body. When this system isn’t working properly, it can lead to health problems. Urologic diseases and conditions include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, prostate problems, and more. Find out how urologic problems are detected and treated.

Teenagers have their whole lives ahead of them, they’re often told. The idea that a teen could be thinking about ending that life might be hard for their friends, families, or other people in their community to believe. But the risk of suicide should be on the radar of anyone who interacts with teens, says Dr. Jane Pearson, a mental health expert at NIH. The rate of teen suicide has increased…, Who’s at Risk?, Many things can increase the risk of suicide in teenagers. One major risk factor is experiencing a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, or trauma. Most people who die by suicide have struggled with a mental health condition. Other risk factors include a family history of suicide, violence, or substance abuse. Teens also experience many stressful life events for the first time. These can…, Knowing When Teens Need Help, Some of the warning signs that a teen is thinking about suicide are talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, or being trapped or in unbearable pain (see the Wise Choices box for more signs). If you are concerned about a teen who may be thinking about suicide, start a conversation, says Dr. Joan Asarnow, a suicide-prevention researcher and clinical psychologist at the University of…, Keeping Teens Safe, Treatments are available that can help teens at risk of suicide. “Underlying mental health issues like depression and trauma are treatable conditions, and there are ways we can help youths with these troubles once we know about them,” says King. Talk therapy and medications can both be effective for many people. NIH-funded researchers have also developed therapies that can help very high-risk…