Latest health fast facts

When both parents have sickle cell trait, they have a 25% (1 in 4) chance of having a baby with sickle cell disease with each pregnancy.

Epigenetics, epəjən'ediks/ (noun): the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself

NICHD and Waltham researchers partnered together to explore the impact of interactions between animals and their human companions.

About 7.7% of all people diagnosed with migraine have chronic migraine.

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.

90.9%

The five-year survival rate for localized-stage colorectal cancer (the earliest stage) is about 90.9%.

The median age for colorectal cancer diagnosis is 66 years old, with most cases diagnosed in people ages 65 to 74.

Fermented foods such as aged cheeses, pickled foods, and alcohol are a common trigger for those who suffer from migraine attacks.

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.

1/3

1 in 3 adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older are socially isolated.

10%

Did you know? Ten percent of children ages 5 to 15 have migraine. Migraine Trainer® is an app developed by NINDS to help teens understand possible causes of their migraine attacks and create an individual migraine management plan with support from their parents and health care providers.

A typical migraine attack can last between 4 and 72 hours if it’s not treated.

1/5

Childhood obesity affects 1 in 5 children in the United States.

20%

Less than 20% of reported COVID-19 cases in the United States are in children under age 18.

73%

In an NIH study of more than 8,000 women, 73% gained more than the recommended amount of weight.

400K

An estimated 400,000 Americans are currently living with MS.

1/5

In 2020, 1 in 5 adults experienced a mental illness, but less than half of them received treatment for it.

7K

There are about 7,000 known rare diseases, but only a few have treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Only about 3 people out of a million are diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis each year.

25M

In the United States, nearly 25 million people have asthma, of which 5.5 million are children.

36K

The flu kills more than 36,000 people each year.

86%

86% of burns are heat-related. 4% are electrical burns, and 3% are chemical burns.

68° 

Hypothermia doesn’t just occur in frigid weather. Living in a poorly-heated home kept below 68 degrees F can be a risk for older populations.

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.

Pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk for preterm birth.

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.

In the U.S., about 6% to 9% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes.

Did you know? Females have two copies of the X chromosome, while males have one X and one Y chromosome.

15%

Over 15% of Americans aged 18 or older report having had a migraine or a severe headache in the last three months.

Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease among children.

Most cases of RMS are diagnosed in children and teens, with more than half in children under 10.

Headaches overall account for about 3% of all emergency department visits annually in the United States.

Certain foods—like alcohol, chocolate, cheese, and yeast—can trigger migraines, especially when combined with other triggers.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, begins in children and adolescents before they turn 16.

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.

Most people with cystic fibrosis are diagnosed before age 2, but some people are also diagnosed as adults.

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.

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is most common in women and in people over the age of 60.

Thyroid hormones affect a person's physical energy, temperature, weight, and mood.

A woman's risk of getting ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about
1 in 78.

49%

The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 49%.

For roughly 70 percent of people with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with modern medicines and surgery.

2.3 million adults and more than 450,000 kids and teens in the U.S. live with epilepsy.

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.

$3.6b

Did you know? As of March 2021, NIH has received more than $3.6 billion to fund important COVID-19 research.

16m  

Depression affects about 16 million U.S. adults every year.

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.

Antibodies are proteins made by our immune systems that can fight infection and help prevent future infections.

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.

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.

10%  

Approximately 5% to 10% of all children will stutter for some period in their life.

If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Depression can happen at any age, but often symptoms begin in the teens or early 20s or 30s.

11.2%  

11.2% of adults 18 and over have regular feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety.

7%  

More than 7% of children aged 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with anxiety in the U.S.

Generally, you are considered fully vaccinated either two weeks after your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or two weeks after your single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Did you know? Pediatric palliative care can include support for siblings.

Did you know? Exercise can help you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Between 6% and 10% of workers stopped working, changed jobs, or made a change in activity because of low back pain.

Did you know? Doing Tai Chi or other balance exercises can help prevent falls.

Wait times for a kidney transplant can range from a few months to years.

7%  

7% of U.S. children and adolescents have high total cholesterol.

Age, sex, eating patterns, and physical activity level can affect cholesterol levels.

Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to poorer cognitive function and higher risk for dementia, including and especially for Alzheimer's disease.

Research suggests eating more fruits, vegetables, and fiber may reduce your chances of developing colon polyps.

Roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults report getting their cholesterol checked in the last 5 years.