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National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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  1. RecommendationsSee All
  2. From NIH Research Matters: Women with breasts that look dense on a mammogram have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. But a new study found that most of these women, once diagnosed with breast cancer, aren't at greater risk of dying than patients with less dense breasts. http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/september2012/09102012density.htm
    Photo: From NIH Research Matters: Women with breasts that look dense on a mammogram have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. But a new study found that most of these women, once diagnosed with breast cancer, aren't at greater risk of dying than patients with less dense breasts. http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/september2012/09102012density.htm
  3. From the September issue of NIH News in Health: When setting off for kindergarten or first grade, a child may feel prepared with a backpack loaded with crayons, pencils and paper. But a good start in the classroom depends on more than just ...
    school supplies. Healthy hearing, vision, speech and language are key to success at school. If a child has problems in these areas, the sooner they’re spotted, the better they can be treated.
    See More
  4. Did you know that an average of four suicides per hour occur in the U.S. alone? In this new NIMH video, learn more suicide facts and about the new National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, an action plan to streamline the science of suicide prevention:
  5. Today is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day. Learn how fetal alcohol exposure can affect not only your baby's development in utero, but also how it can affect your child throughout his or her life: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/fetal-alcohol-exposure
    Photo: Today is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day. Learn how fetal alcohol exposure can affect not only your baby's development in utero, but also how it can affect your child throughout his or her life: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/fetal-alcohol-exposure
  6. Genetically speaking, a person remains virtually unchanged through the course of his or her life. In contrast, a person's physical appearance changes dramatically throughout the years. If a person's genes are largely unchanged, what accounts for these striking physical differences?
  7. September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a good time to get your blood cholesterol checked and take steps to lower it if it is high. National Cholesterol Education Month is also a good time to learn about lipid profiles and about food and lifestyle choices that help you reach personal cholesterol goals.
  8. Your child spends more time at school than anywhere else except home. Schools can have a major effect on children's health, by teaching about health and promoting healthy behaviors. The school building and environment should be a safe and healthy place for your child.

    Learn More: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schoolhealth.html
    Photo: Your child spends more time at school than anywhere else except home. Schools can have a major effect on children's health, by teaching about health and promoting healthy behaviors. The school building and environment should be a safe and healthy place for your child.

Learn More: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schoolhealth.html
  9. Scientists have found that calorie restriction — a diet comprised of approximately 30 percent fewer calories but with the same nutrients of a standard diet — does not extend years of life or reduce age-related deaths in a 23-year study of rhesus monkeys. However, calorie restriction did extend certain aspects of health.
    http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2012/nia-29.htm
    Photo: Scientists have found that calorie restriction — a diet comprised of approximately 30 percent fewer calories but with the same nutrients of a standard diet — does not extend years of life or reduce age-related deaths in a 23-year study of rhesus monkeys. However, calorie restriction did extend certain aspects of health.
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2012/nia-29.htm
  10. West Nile Virus: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/westNile/research/Pages/basic.aspx

    What Is West Nile Virus?

    West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North Americ...
    a that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains important information that can help you recognize and prevent West Nile virus.

    How Does West Nile Virus Spread?

    - Infected Mosquitoes: Most often, WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.

    - Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child: In a very small number of cases, WNV also has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.

    - Not through touching: WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.

    This transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealed the presence of West Nile virus virions, in an isolate that was grown in a cell culture. (Image Credit: CDC/ P.E. Rollin)
    See More
    Photo: West Nile Virus: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/westNile/research/Pages/basic.aspx

What Is West Nile Virus?

West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains important information that can help you recognize and prevent West Nile virus.

How Does West Nile Virus Spread?

- Infected Mosquitoes: Most often, WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.

- Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child: In a very small number of cases, WNV also has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.

- Not through touching: WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.

This transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealed the presence of West Nile virus virions, in an isolate that was grown in a cell culture. (Image Credit: CDC/ P.E. Rollin)
  11. WIN's Thursday Thought: As school bells are ringing across the nation, our children are hard at work this school year. Let’s make sure that our kids put their best foot forward by providing them the healthiest possible meals. Get the facts here: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/chargeUp.htm.
    Photo: WIN's Thursday Thought: As school bells are ringing across the nation, our children are hard at work this school year. Let’s make sure that our kids put their best foot forward by providing them the healthiest possible meals. Get the facts here: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/chargeUp.htm.
  12. Stresses of poverty may impair learning ability in young children: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2012/nichd-28.htm

    Cortisol levels in saliva tend to follow one of four patterns in people’s response to stress. Research indicates that em...
    otional regulation, self-control and academic performance are tied to the typical pattern, in which cortisol rises in response to stress and falls again when the stressor is gone. Consistently high levels of cortisol as well as blunted responses to stress are linked with poor self-control and academic difficulty. (From Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
    See More
    Photo: Stresses of poverty may impair learning ability in young children: http://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2012/nichd-28.htm

Cortisol levels in saliva tend to follow one of four patterns in people’s response to stress. Research indicates that emotional regulation, self-control and academic performance are tied to the typical pattern, in which cortisol rises in response to stress and falls again when the stressor is gone. Consistently high levels of cortisol as well as blunted responses to stress are linked with poor self-control and academic difficulty. (From Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
  13. Implanted Heart Cells Stifle Irregular Rhythms: http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/august2012/08272012heart.htm

    Image information: Scientists showed that transplanted human heart cells (green) could beat in sync with neighboring guinea pig cells (pink) and prevent abnormal rhythms. Image by Shiba et al., courtesy of Nature.
    Photo: Implanted Heart Cells Stifle Irregular Rhythms: http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/august2012/08272012heart.htm

Image information: Scientists showed that transplanted human heart cells (green) could beat in sync with neighboring guinea pig cells (pink) and prevent abnormal rhythms. Image by Shiba et al., courtesy of Nature.
  14. Concerned about Hurricanes? Visit the Disaster Information management Research Center, Part of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) for more information:
    http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/hurricane.html

    (Image information: This visible imag...
    e of Tropical Storm Isaac taken from NOAA's GOES-13 satellite shows the huge extent of the storm, where the eastern-most clouds lie over the Carolinas and the western-most clouds are brushing east Texas. The image was captured on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012 at 10:25 a.m. EDT. Image Credit: NASA GOES Project)
    See More
    Photo: Concerned about Hurricanes? Visit the Disaster Information management Research Center, Part of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) for more information: 
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/hurricane.html

(Image information: This visible image of Tropical Storm Isaac taken from NOAA's GOES-13 satellite shows the huge extent of the storm, where the eastern-most clouds lie over the Carolinas and the western-most clouds are brushing east Texas. The image was captured on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012 at 10:25 a.m. EDT. Image Credit: NASA GOES Project)
  15. A Primer for Women’s Health: Get the app. Follow the blog. Learn how to improve your health in 52 weeks!

    http://52weeks4women.nih.gov/
    Photo: A Primer for Women’s Health: Get the app. Follow the blog. Learn how to improve your health in 52 weeks!

http://52weeks4women.nih.gov
  16. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) & Scholastic joined to create Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body-a science-based education series that provides teachers and students innovative materials about the effects of drugs and drug abuse on the brain and body.
  17. What's under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room?
    Learn more about what's in these products, about potential health effects, and about safety and handling.

    http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/
    Photo: What's under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room?
Learn more about what's in these products, about potential health effects, and about safety and handling.

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/
  18. From the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Environmental Protection Agency comes A multidisciplinary call a to innovators to create a personal, portable, near-real-time, location-specific system to monitor and report air pollutants and potentially related physiological parameters.

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