Indoor and outdoor air pollution
6.7M
Each year, indoor and outdoor air pollution combined are responsible for 6.7 million deathsworldwide.
Source: World Health Organization
ADHD name
1980s
ADHD wasn't called "ADHD" until the late 1980s.
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sister Study
As of September 2023, more than 300 research papers have been published using Sister Study data.
Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Acupuncture
2,500 years
Acupuncture has existed in some form for at least 2,500 years and is part of traditional Chinese medicine. It gained worldwide popularity in the 1970s, and as of 2012, 6.4% of adults in the United States reported using it.
Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
ADHD meds
ADHD medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are considered safe for children ages 6 and older.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Breast cancer
Since the Sister Study began 20 years ago, 9.1% of participants have developed breast cancer—that’s 4,628 cases.
Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Fruit fly genes
Fruit fliesshare about 60%of their genes with humans.
Source: National Human Genome Research Institute
Drowsy driving
It's estimated that drowsy driving may be involved in more than 6,000 fatal vehicle crashes per year.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hot flashes
Hot flashes are caused by special chemical messengers in the brain that send signals to blood vessels to flush the skin, causing sweating. About 10% of women will have more than seven hot flashes per day during menopause.
Source: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation
Alcohol use disorder
As of 2021, 29.5 million people aged 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder in the past year.
Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib or AF, affectsmore than 2 million adults in the United States and is one of the most common types of arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms). The risk of developing AFib increases with age, so as the average age in the United States increases, more people will be affected by this condition.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Rett syndrome
Rett syndrome is named afterAndreas Rett, an Austrian physician who published the first description of the condition in 1966.
Source: International Rett Syndrome Foundation
Drug use
Dr. Koob coined the word hyperkatifeia to describe the negative emotional state associated with drug withdrawal. This state may be caused by changes in the brain's reward and stress systems and is thought to drive alcohol misuse via negative reinforcement (drinking to feel relief from the symptoms of hyperkatifeia).
Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Pain in older Americans
Pain is the most common medical complaint of older Americans. Causes of pain in older adults include joint pain, postsurgical pain, chronic disease, and conditions associated with aging.
Source: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Teen mental health
In 2018-2019, among adolescents in the United States ages 12 to 17, 15.1% had a major depressive episode.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases affect more than 23.5 million Americans. Certain groups of people are at greater risk for some conditions. For example, lupus is more severe for African American and Hispanic people, while type 1 diabetes is more common in White people.
Source: The Office on Women’s Health
Prosthetics
One of the first known prosthetics was a wooden and leather toe found on an Egyptian mummy that dates to 950-710 B.C.
Source: University of Manchester
Temporomandibular disorders
30+
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) include more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement.
Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Deafness and hearing loss
“Severe” hearing loss is the ability to only hear sounds once they are at least 71 to 90 decibels (for example, a vacuum cleaner or alarm clock). “Profound” hearing loss is the ability to only hear sounds at least 91 decibels (such as a subway, passing motorcycle, or gas lawnmower).
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Sickle cell disease #2
Red blood cells that are "sickle" shaped block blood flow through the body, causing recurring pain episodes.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Psoriasis
Psoriasis may be triggered by stress, injury to the skin, cold weather, illness (if it affects the immune system), allergies, or certain foods and alcohol.
Source: National Psoriasis Foundation
Hearing loss
Hearing loss affects approximately 37.5 million people in the United States ages 18 years or older. One in three people ages 65 to 74, and nearly half of people ages 75 and older have hearing loss.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Epigenetics
Epigenetics, /,epəjən'ediks/(noun): the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself
Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in consumer products around the world since about the 1950s.
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
NICHD Anniversary
NICHD and Waltham researchers partnered together to explore the impact of interactions between animals and their human companions.
Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Migraine Diagnosis
About 7.7% of all people diagnosed with migraine have chronic migraine.
Source: The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study
Colon Cancer Screening
A symptom of colorectal cancer may be no symptoms at all,so discuss preventative screenings with your doctor.
Source: Colon Cancer Coalition
Pulse oximeters
Pulse oximeters as we know them today were invented in the mid-1970s by Takuo Aoyagi, a Japanese electrical engineer. Aoyagi was inspired by the ear oximeters worn by military pilots in World War II to signal when they were at risk of hypoxemia. Pulse oximeters began selling worldwide in the mid-1980s.
Source: National Library of Medicine
Colorectal cancer
90.9%
The five-year survival rate for localized-stage colorectal cancer (the earliest stage) is about 90.9%.
Source: Cancer.gov
Skin Cancer
Myth: Only people with light skin need to wear sunscreen.
Fact: All skin tones are at risk of sun damage and developing cancer. Melanin—the natural pigment in skin, hair, and eyes—protects skin cells by absorbing UV rays. Darker-skinned people are less prone to sunburn but can still develop skin cancer.
Source: NCI
Colorectal Cancer Average Age
The median age for colorectal cancer diagnosis is66 years old, with most cases diagnosed in people ages 65 to 74.
Source: National Cancer Institute
Migraine Attacks
Fermented foods such as aged cheeses, pickled foods, and alcoholare a common trigger for those who suffer from migraine attacks.
Source: MedlinePlus
Brain and Memory
5M
Dementia likely affects more than 5 million people in the United States, which is expected to increase as the population ages.
Source: Focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Healthy Aging
Hobbies are fun, and they’re also an important part of healthy aging. Research shows that older adults who engage in personally meaningful activities live longer, are less likely to develop certain diseases, and are happier, less depressed, and more resilient.
Source: National Institute on Aging
Loneliness and social isolation
1/3
1 in 3 adultsaged 45 and older feel lonely, and 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older are socially isolated.
Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
mosquitos
3.5K
There aremore than3,500 types of mosquitoes.
Source: CDC
Migraine Trainer
10%
Did you know? Ten percent of children ages 5 to 15 have migraine. Migraine Trainer® is an app developed by NINDS to help teensunderstand possible causes of their migraine attacks and create an individual migraine management plan with support from their parents and health care providers.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Migraine
A typical migraine attack can last between 4 and 72 hours if it’s not treated.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Physical Activity
Adults need around 2.5 hours of moderate activity per week, about 20 minutes per day, to stay healthy.
Source: NIH
Obesity in Children
1/5
Childhood obesity affects 1 in 5 children in the United States.
Source: CDC
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome
20%
Less than 20% of reported COVID-19 cases in the United States are in children under age 18.
Source: CDC
Long COVID-19
Long COVID can be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Source: HHS
PregSource
73%
In an NIH study of more than 8,000 women,73% gained more than the recommended amount of weight.
Source: NICHD
Multiple sclerosis: What you need to know
400K
An estimated 400,000 Americans are currently living with MS.
Source: NINDS
De-stigmatize depression and anxiety
1/3
During parts of the pandemic, more than a third of American adultsreported having symptoms of anxiety.
Source: US Census Bureau
Getting help for mental health
1/5
In 2020, 1 in 5 adults experienced a mental illness,but less than half of them received treatment for it.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Gene Therapies
7K
There are about 7,000 known rare diseases, but only a few have treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Source: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
Exercise
Less than a quarter of children ages 6 to 17 get 60 minutes of exercise each day.
Source: CDC
Heart Attacks
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
Source: CDC
Relapsing Polychondritis
Only about3 people out of a million are diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis each year.
Source: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Rare Disease and COVID-19
People with underlying conditions are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Asthma
25M
In the United States, nearly 25 million people have asthma, of which 5.5 million are children.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Winter viruses
36K
The flu kills more than 36,000 peopleeach year.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Eczema
30%
Approximately 30% of children with eczema also have a food allergy.Studies show severe eczema in young children is associated with increased risk of developing asthma later in life.
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Burns
73%
73% of burns occur in the home.
Source: American Burn Association
Hypothermia
68°
Hypothermia doesn’t just occur in frigid weather. Living in a poorly-heated home kept below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius)can be a risk for older populations.
Source: National Institute on Aging
Rare Disease Day
1/10
1 in 10 people are affected by a rare disease.
Source: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
COVID Test Tool
When To Test also has a tool for organizations like schools and workplaces and resources to help them develop and implement testing programs for COVID-19.
Source: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
COVID-19 and risk of early birth
Pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk for preterm birth.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Preeclampsia in the U.S.
1/25
Preeclampsia happens in about 1 in 25 pregnancies in the United States.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vaccines during pregnancy
Did you know? Vaccines can help protect you and your developing baby against serious diseases. Talk to your health care provider about which ones are right for you.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Gestational diabetes in the U.S.
In the U.S., about 6% to 9% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stillbirth disparity in United States
2X
In the U.S., stillbirths are more than twice as likely among Black women than among white women.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
X and Y chromosomes
Did you know? Females have two copies of the X chromosome, while males have one X and one Y chromosome.
Source: MedlinePlus
Migraine in last three months
15%
Over 15% of Americans aged 18 or older report having had a migraine or a severe headache in the last three months.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Black women and pregnancy complications
4X
Black women are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than white women.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cancer in children
Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children.
Source: National Cancer Institute
RMS is often diagnosed in kids and teens
Most cases of RMS are diagnosed in children and teens, with more than half in children under 10.
Source: National Cancer Institute
Childhood cancer diagnosis
15k
About 15,000 children under age 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Headaches and emergency care
Headaches overall account for about 3% of all emergency department visits annually in the United States.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Trigger foods for migraines
Certain foods—like alcohol, chocolate, cheese, and yeast—can trigger migraines, especially when combined with other triggers.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Length of juvenile arthritis symptoms
The symptoms of juvenile arthritis may last a few months or years, or throughout a child's life.
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis happens before age 16
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, begins in children and adolescents before they turn 16.
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Sprain or strain?
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, which connects bones at a joint. Ankle and wrist sprains are common. Strains are a torn muscle or tendon that often happen while playing a sport. Back and hamstring muscle strains are common.
Source: MedlinePlus
Treat sports injuries with RICE
Sports injuries are first treated with
R-I-C-E: Rest, Ice, Compression (pressure on the injury), Elevation (raise the injured area above the heart).
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Cystic fibrosis diagnosed by 2 years of age
Most people with cystic fibrosis are diagnosed before age 2, but some people are also diagnosed as adults.
Source: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Adult fruit and vegetable recommendation
For adults, the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables is 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in kids and teens, but it can develop at any age.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothyroidism is most common in women
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is most common in women and in people over the age of 60.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Thyroid hormones affect energy and weight
Thyroid hormones affect a person's physical energy, temperature, weight, and mood.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ovarian cancer mortality
Ovarian cancer causes more deaths each year in the U.S. than any other gynecologic cancer.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chance of getting ovarian cancer
A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about
1 in 78.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ovarian cancer survival rate
49%
The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 49%.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Prevalence of ovarian cancer in U.S.
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Medicine and surgery manage most epilepsies
For roughly 70 percent of people with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with modern medicines and surgery.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
People with epilepsy in U.S.
2.3 million adults and more than 450,000 kids and teens in the U.S. live with epilepsy.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Seizures have multiple causes
Having a seizure does not mean someone has epilepsy. Other causes can include very high blood sugar in diabetics or eclampsia during or after pregnancy.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
More than 500,000 people will participate in RADx-UP testing program
500k
Did you know? It's estimated that more than 500,000 people across 33 states will participate in the RADx-UP COVID-19 testing program.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Funding for COVID-19 research
$3.6b
Did you know? As of March 2021, NIH has received more than $3.6 billion to fund important COVID-19 research.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Long COVID symptoms
Long COVID is a range of symptoms that can last weeks or months after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Mask guidelines if you’re not fully vaccinated
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that those who are not fully vaccinated from COVID-19 continue to wear masks in many situations. Check the CDC for the latest guidance.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Research Studies
Research studies are conducted in 50 states and in 219 countries.
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Antibodies are proteins that fight infection
Antibodies are proteins made by our immune systems that can fight infection and help prevent future infections.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations
4x
African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native people are around four times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than White people.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
COVID-19 vaccine does not change your DNA
COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Possible COVID-19 vaccine side effects
Possible COVID-19 vaccine side effects are swelling and redness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, or slight fever. These are normal signs that your body is building protection.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stuttering in children
10%
Approximately 5% to 10% of all children will stutter for some period in their life.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
COVID-19 testing locations
Did you know? COVID-19 testing can take place in a lab, during a health visit with your provider, or at home.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Wash your hands
If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention