Latest Articles

It’s a good idea to talk to as many relatives as you can about your family health history. Knowing two generations back is ideal.
November 26, 2024

Do you know your family health history?

Some people inherit heirlooms—jewelry, furniture, clothing, and other items—from their relatives. But there’s something even more valuable we all inherit:...

Genetic Testing
All anxiety disorders involve excessive fear or worry that disrupts daily life.
October 04, 2023

4 types of common anxiety disorders

While anxiety disorders vary based on symptoms and triggers, they can all interfere with daily activities. Understanding the different types...

Anxiety, Mental Health
January 02, 2020

Tonsillitis again? What parents should know

Why do some children get tonsillitis again and again? This common childhood infection is usually caused by a virus that...

Tonsillitis
Health benefits from walking can start at 4,000 steps a day for some people, according to a new NIH study.
December 30, 2019

Rethinking 10,000 steps

If you have a fitness tracker or use your smartwatch to count your steps, you might be tracking a goal...

Exercise
It took Randal and Lisa G. eight months and numerous doctor's visits to get a diagnosis.
December 05, 2019

Searching for words and answers: A couple’s Lewy body dementia experience

Randal G. was always a strong public speaker. "I was a person used to giving an hour-long presentation to 400 people...

Lewy Body Dementia
December 04, 2019

Lewy body dementia: What you need to know

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is one of the most common types of dementia—but also one of the least well-known. The...

Lewy Body Dementia
December 03, 2019

2 types of Lewy body dementia

There are two types of Lewy body dementia (LBD): dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia. Dementia is...

Lewy Body Dementia
David Irwin, M.D., cares for people with dementia and studies the disease to help improve their lives.
December 02, 2019

Lewy body dementia research seeks faster, earlier diagnosis

Imagine driving and forgetting where you're going. Or feeling tremors in your hands when you try to pick up...

Lewy Body Dementia
Teaching parents better ways to help children with anxiety disorders may be as helpful as child therapy.
November 26, 2019

To help an anxious child, start with their parents

The best way to help children with an anxiety disorder may be to help their parents first, a new NIH-funded...

Anxiety
November 25, 2019

New study highlights need for diversity in genomic research

What happened when genomic researchers targeted more diverse groups of people in their studies? They found 27 new gene variations. These variations ...

Genetic Testing
November 20, 2019

How to help someone with anxiety

Wondering how you can help a friend, family member, or co-worker who is overwhelmed by anxiety? We spoke to David...

Anxiety
November 19, 2019

The 411 on common lab tests

October marked Health Literacy Month, which focuses on better understanding and managing our individual health. In recognition of Health Literacy Month, we’ve...

Laboratory Testing
November 18, 2019

Tips for helping a child who stutters

Although there is currently no cure for stuttering, there are treatments that can be customized to a child’s age and...

Stuttering
Dennis Drayna, Ph.D., is a scientist emeritus with NIH’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
November 14, 2019

Speaking up about stuttering

"Stuttering gets no respect as a disorder," says stuttering expert Dennis Drayna, Ph.D. "People think of it as...

Stuttering
Joe Lukong (far back center in baseball cap) connected with NIH researchers through an online stuttering forum.
November 13, 2019

Why do so many of my family members stutter?

Joe Lukong had a simple question. The answer he got would change his life. What Joe wanted to know was,...

Stuttering
November 12, 2019

4 common myths and facts about stuttering

"There's a great deal of misunderstanding about stuttering," says Dennis Drayna, Ph.D., a scientist emeritus with NIH’s...

Stuttering
November 11, 2019

Stuttering: What you need to know

Stuttering is a complex speech condition that can cause a person to get stuck trying to say certain sounds, syllables,...

Stuttering
Kevin Delano encourages men to speak out about their mental health.
November 07, 2019

Removing the stigma from men’s mental health

When 46-year-old Kevin Delano was in his early teens, he knew he was different. He was depressed. He constantly had...

Bipolar Disorder
William Parham, Ph.D. (center) was recently named the National Basketball Players Association's first director of mental health and wellness. Also pictured are Keyon Dooling and Garrett Temple.
November 06, 2019

New NBPA program focuses on mental health

William Parham, Ph.D., was recently named the National Basketball Players Association's (NBPA) first director of mental health and...

Anxiety
November 04, 2019

What’s new in anxiety research?

Daniel Pine, M.D., studies how differences in our brains can affect our mental health. Through their work at the National...

Anxiety
November 01, 2019

How much sleep do you need?

Eight hours of sleep a day keeps the doctor away, right? Not exactly. How much sleep you need is specific...

Sleep
Though she has struggled with sleep apnea, Si Baker-Goodwin now stays on track with her waking and sleeping routine.
October 31, 2019

Searching for sleep

Sleep. It's part of our daily routine. But for some people, sleep is a gift. That's how it...

Sleep Apnea
Michael Twery, Ph.D., and his team at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute help support sleep disorder research.
October 31, 2019

Wake-up call: How sleep impacts our minds and bodies

For more than 25 years, scientists at NIH have studied human sleep habits. They've researched everything from how sleep affects...

Sleep
October 30, 2019

Sleep apnea: What you need to know

What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea happens when your breathing stops and starts while you are sleeping. There are three...

Sleep Apnea