Latest health fast facts
Palliative care support for siblings
Did you know? Pediatric palliative care can include support for siblings.
Source: National Institute of Nursing Research20% of people develop chronic low back pain
20%
About 20% of people with acute low back pain develop chronic low back pain at one year.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokePhysical activity can help with sleep
Did you know? Exercise can help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Source: MedlinePlusChanging activity due to low back pain
Between 6% and 10% of workers stopped working, changed jobs, or made a change in activity because of low back pain.
Source: National Health Interview SurveyLosing 10% of weight can delay disease
5% to 10%
If you have obesity, losing even 5% to 10% of your weight can delay or prevent diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and arthritis.
Source: MedlinePlusBalance exercises can prevent falls
Did you know? Doing Tai Chi or other balance exercises can help prevent falls.
Source: MedlinePlusKidney transplant wait times can vary widely
Wait times for a kidney transplant can range from a few months to years.
Source: National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases1 in 4 working adults has low back pain
More than one in four working adults experience low back pain.
Source: National Health Interview Survey7% of children and teens have high total cholesterol
7%
7% of U.S. children and adolescents have high total cholesterol.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionYour age, sex, and eating patterns affect cholesterol
Age, sex, eating patterns, and physical activity level can affect cholesterol levels.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute1 in 6 adults has high cholesterol
1 in 6
One in every six U.S. adults has high cholesterol.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLoneliness linked to higher risk for dementia
Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to poorer cognitive function and higher risk for dementia, including and especially for Alzheimer's disease.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionHealthy food may reduce chances of colon polyps
Research suggests eating more fruits, vegetables, and fiber may reduce your chances of developing colon polyps.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesAdults have about 2 to 3 colds per year
Every year, adults have an average of 2 to 3 colds, and children have even more.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionFrequency of adult cholesterol testing
Roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults report getting their cholesterol checked in the last 5 years.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionOpioid use during pregnancy in 2019
7%
According to 2019 self-reported data, about 7% of women used prescription opioid pain relievers while pregnant.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 in 500 babies are born hard-of-hearing
1 in 500 babies in the U.S. are born deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Source: Centers for Disease Control PreventionAmerican Heart Month
Did you know? February marks American Heart Month.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstitutePhysical activity can improve mood
Did you know that staying active can improve your mood and reduce feelings of depression?
Source: National Institute on AgingPalliative care is different from hospice care
Did you know? Palliative care can be given at any age and at any stage of an illness, while hospice care focuses on a person’s final stages of life.
Source: National Institute of Nursing ResearchTreating dry skin
Have dry skin? Lotions and creams, a humidifier, and avoiding hot showers can help.
Source: National Institute on AgingPalliative Care and Your Health Care Provider
You do not give up your own health care provider to get palliative care.
Source: National Institute of Nursing ResearchMore than 80 autoimmune conditions
>80
More than 80 diseases occur as a result of the immune system attacking the body's own organs, tissues, and cells.
Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesHealth disparities in pregnancy-related deaths
3x
Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women are about three times as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause, compared with white women.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionBreast cancer 5 year survival rate is 99 percent
99%
If breast cancer is confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is 99%.
Source: National Cancer InstituteMore than 1 in 5 students reported bullying
More than 1 in 5 middle school and high school students reported being bullied at school in the last year.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics20.4% of adults have chronic pain
20.4%
In 2016, 20.4% of U.S. adults reported having chronic pain.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2 to 14 days for COVID-19 symptoms
2–14
Did you know? COVID-19 symptoms can appear anywhere from 2–14 days after exposure.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionFlu hospitalizes 200,000 annually
Each year in the U.S., the seasonal flu hospitalizes 200,000 people and kills more than 36,000.
Source: National Institutes of HealthHospice care is a type of palliative care
Palliative care is not the same as hospice care. Palliative care can be given at any point during a serious illness, while hospice care happens near the end of life.
Source: National Institute of Nursing Research1 in 8 women will get breast cancer
1 in 8
1 in 8 women in the U.S. will get breast cancer during her life.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionBreast cancer death rate fell 13%
13%
From 1990 to 2017, the breast cancer death rate fell 13% in the U.S.
Source: National Cancer InstituteBoys are twice as likely to use vapes
2x
About twice as many boys use vapes than girls.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services7 in 10 teens are exposed to e-cigarette ads
7
7 in 10 teens are exposed to e-cigarette advertising.
Source: National Institutes of Health7 out of 10 high school smokers use e-cigarettes
7
7 out of 10 high school cigarette smokers also use e-cigarettes.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services37 percent of 12th graders vape
37%
About 37% of 12th graders reported vaping in 2018, compared with 28% in 2017.
Source: National Institutes of HealthMore than 60 percent of teens experimented with vapes
>60%
More than 60% of teens say they vape to experiment and see what it's like.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse1 in 4 high school seniors vaped nicotine
1 in 4
1 in 4 high school seniors say they vaped nicotine in the past month.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse6 to 9 percent of pregnant women have gestational diabetes
In the U.S., roughly 6% to 9% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention12% of women have trouble getting pregnant
12%
About 12% of women in the U.S. ages 15 to 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionBirth before 37 weeks is a preterm birth
37
A birth that occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered a preterm birth.
Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentStroke
795k
Each year approximately 795,000 Americans have a stroke.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeTraumatic brain injury
283k
From 2010 to 2016, about 283,000 children visited the emergency room each year for sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries in the U.S.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAlzheimer’s disease
5m
In 2014, as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeMarijuana use
2x
Past month marijuana vaping among 12th graders nearly doubled from 2018 to 2019.
Source: National Institute on Drug AbuseMenopause
Menopause usually begins between ages 45 and 55 and can last between 7 and 14 years.
Source: National Institute on AgingClinical trials
There are approximately 56,000 clinical research studies currently seeking participants.
Source: National Institutes of HealthHand washing
Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help protect you and others from infectious diseases like COVID-19.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAlcohol use disorder
15m
An estimated 15 million people in the United States have alcohol use disorder.
Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismFlu vaccination
Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSjögren’s syndrome
9x
Women are nine times more likely to have Sjögren's syndrome than men.
Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchAutism
4x
Boys are four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNIBIB
Did you know that the act creating the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering was signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton?
Source: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and BioengineeringCervical Cancer Rates
90%
More than 90% of cervical cancer deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries.
Source: World Health OrganizationPain
1 in 5
Pain is the number one complaint of older Americans, and one in five older Americans takes a painkiller regularly.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeAsthma
People may have an increased risk of asthma based on their environment, family history, medical conditions, race or ethnicity, or sex.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteIntermittent Fasting
8h
One type of intermittent fasting involves eating only within an eight-hour time period each day.
Source: National Institute on AgingLyme Disease
300k
Lyme disease affects roughly 300,000 Americans each year.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionDiabetes
88m
An estimated 88 million American adults have prediabetes.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesCervical Cancer
As many as 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented by screening and HPV vaccination.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAllergies
1 in 6
Seasonal allergies—also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever—may affect nearly one in six Americans.
Source: National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesVitiligo
15%
About 15% to 25% of people with vitiligo are also affected by at least one other autoimmune disorder.
Source: Genetics Home ReferenceEndometriosis
10%
In the U.S., 10% to 15% of women of childbearing age have endometriosis.
Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentHypothyroidism
4.6%
Although most cases are mild, about 4.6% of the U.S. population aged 12 and older has hypothyroidism.
Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesMultiple Sclerosis
2m
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects more than 2 million people worldwide.
Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeDaily Aspirin
29m
Nearly 29 million people in the U.S. may take daily aspirin unnecessarily to prevent against heart disease.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteBabies Born in US
3.8m
3.8 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2017.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionHeartburn
15m
15 million Americans experience heartburn every day.
Source: American College of GastroenterologySickle cell in newborns
The number one disease among newborn babies is sickle cell disease.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAntidepressant use
2x
A recent survey found that antidepressant use was twice as common among women than men.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionLewy Body Dementia
1m
It's estimated that more than 1 million people in the U.S. have Lewy body dementia.
Source: National Institute on AgingTonsillitis
Tonsillitis caused by bacteria is more common in kids ages 5 to 15.
Source: MedlinePlusThe Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project has already fueled the discovery of more than 1,800 disease genes.
Source: NIH RePORTChildren and Anxiety
7%
An estimated 7% of U.S. children ages 3 to 17 (approximately 4.4 million) have diagnosed anxiety.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAnxiety in U.S. Adults
More than 31% of U.S. adults experience an anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.
Source: National Institute of Mental HealthStuttering
3x
Boys are 2 to 3 times as likely to stutter as girls when they are young. The number of boys who continue to stutter is three to four times larger than the number of girls.
Source: The National Center for Biotechnology Information1 in 3 Adults Need More Sleep
1 in 3 adults do not regularly get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute1 in 4 with Measles Hospitalized
Did you know? About one in four people who have measles will be hospitalized.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionScreen Time Study
There are 11,878 participants in NIH’s ABCD study.
Source: National Institutes of HealthAlopecia areata affects 1 in 500
Alopecia areata affects 1 in every 500 to 1,000 people in the U.S.
Source: Genetics Home ReferencePostpartum depression in new moms
1/9
Did you know that one in nine new mothers experiences postpartum depression?
Source: National Institute of Mental HealthBinge Drinking in the U.S.
17%
Did you know that 17% of the U.S. population binge drinks?
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionBipolar Disorder Starts Early
Did you know? Bipolar disorder usually starts in people's teens or early adulthood.
Source: National Institute of Mental HealthMelanoma in the U.S.
Approximately one person dies of melanoma every hour in the U.S.
Source: National Cancer InstituteMedications Associated With Dry Eye
Medications including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy for menopause, and medications for high blood pressure have been associated with dry eye.
Source: National Eye InstituteModerate or Vigorous Exercise?
Wondering if you're doing moderate or vigorous exercise? Try talking! If you're breathing hard but can talk easily, it's moderate intensity activity. If you can only say a few words before you have to take a breath, it's vigorous intensity activity.
Source: Move Your WayAIDS-related deaths
48%
AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 48% globally since their peak in 2005.
Source: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDSDriver sleepiness
100k
Driver sleepiness is a factor in about 100,000 car accidents each year.
Source: National Sleep FoundationLiving with HIV
37m
Nearly 37 million people around the world and 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV.
Source: UNAIDSChildren and Sleep
9-12
Children ages 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep a day.
Source: American Academy of Sleep MedicineTeens and Sleep
8-10
Teens ages 12-18 need 8-10 hours of sleep a day.
Source: American Academy of Sleep MedicineAdults and Sleep
7-8
Adults over the age of 18 need 7-8 hours of sleep a day.
Source: American Academy of Sleep MedicineSleep Disorders
70m
50-70 million Americans have ongoing sleep disorders.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteAre you getting enough sleep?
35%
More than 35 percent of adults in the U.S. reported not getting enough rest or sleep every day.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPrecision Medicine
What is Precision Medicine? Disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual differences in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person.
Source: Genetics Home ReferenceOpioid-Related Hospitilization
72%
There was a 72% increase in hospitalizations related to opioid use from 2002 to 2012.
Source: National Institute on Drug AbuseOpioid Emergencies
1.2m
More than 1.2 million emergency department visits in 2011 were the result of nonmedical use of prescription drugs.
Source: National Institute on Drug AbusePrescription Drug Use Disorder
12%
Among those who reported past-year nonmedical use of a prescription drug, nearly 12% met criteria for prescription drug use disorder.
Source: National Institute on Drug AbuseNonmedical Use of Opioids
2.1m
An estimated 2.1 million Americans used prescription drugs nonmedically for the first time within the past year.
Source: National Institute on Drug AbuseTherapy Dogs
NIH's Clinical Center has 14 teams of volunteer therapy dogs for patients at the research hospital.
Source: MedlinePlus Magazine