Latest health fast facts

Health 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 Prevention

Breast 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 Institute

More 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 Statistics

20.4% 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 Prevention

2 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 Prevention

Flu 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 Health

Hospice 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 Research

1 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 Prevention

Breast cancer death rate fell 13%

13%

From 1990 to 2017, the breast cancer death rate fell 13% in the U.S.

Source: National Cancer Institute

Boys 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 Services

7 in 10 teens are exposed to e-cigarette ads

7

7 in 10 teens are exposed to e-cigarette advertising.

Source: National Institutes of Health

7 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 Services

37 percent of 12th graders vape

37%

About 37% of 12th graders reported vaping in 2018, compared with 28% in 2017.

Source: National Institutes of Health

More 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 Abuse

1 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 Abuse

6 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 Prevention

12% 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 Prevention

Birth 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 Development

Stroke

795k 

Each year approximately 795,000 Americans have a stroke.

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Traumatic 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 Prevention

Alzheimer’s disease

5m 

In 2014, as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease.

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Marijuana use

2x 

Past month marijuana vaping among 12th graders nearly doubled from 2018 to 2019.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Menopause

 

Menopause usually begins between ages 45 and 55 and can last between 7 and 14 years.

Source: National Institute on Aging

Clinical trials

 

There are approximately 56,000 clinical research studies currently seeking participants.

Source: National Institutes of Health

Hand 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 Prevention

Alcohol use disorder

15m 

An estimated 15 million people in the United States have alcohol use disorder.

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Flu vaccination

 

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Sjögren’s syndrome

9x 

Women are nine times more likely to have Sjögren's syndrome than men.

Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Autism

4x 

Boys are four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

NIBIB

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 Bioengineering

Cervical Cancer Rates

90%

More than 90% of cervical cancer deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries.

Source: World Health Organization

Pain

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 Stroke

Asthma

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 Institute

Intermittent Fasting

8h 

One type of intermittent fasting involves eating only within an eight-hour time period each day.

Source: National Institute on Aging

Lyme Disease

300k 

Lyme disease affects roughly 300,000 Americans each year.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Diabetes

88m 

An estimated 88 million American adults have prediabetes.

Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Cervical Cancer

As many as 93% of cervical cancers could be prevented by screening and HPV vaccination.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Allergies

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 Sciences

Vitiligo

15% 

About 15% to 25% of people with vitiligo are also affected by at least one other autoimmune disorder.

Source: Genetics Home Reference

Endometriosis

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 Development

Hypothyroidism

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 Diseases

Multiple Sclerosis

2m 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects more than 2 million people worldwide.

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Daily 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 Institute

Babies Born in US

3.8m 

3.8 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2017.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Heartburn

15m 

15 million Americans experience heartburn every day.

Source: American College of Gastroenterology

Sickle cell in newborns

The number one disease among newborn babies is sickle cell disease.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Antidepressant use

2x 

A recent survey found that antidepressant use was twice as common among women than men.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lewy Body Dementia

1m 

It's estimated that more than 1 million people in the U.S. have Lewy body dementia.

Source: National Institute on Aging

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis caused by bacteria is more common in kids ages 5 to 15.

Source: MedlinePlus

The Human Genome Project

The Human Genome Project has already fueled the discovery of more than 1,800 disease genes.

Source: NIH RePORT

Children 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 Prevention

Anxiety 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 Health

Stuttering

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 Information

1 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 Institute

1 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 Prevention

Screen Time Study

There are 11,878 participants in NIH’s ABCD study.

Source: National Institutes of Health

Alopecia areata affects 1 in 500

Alopecia areata affects 1 in every 500 to 1,000 people in the U.S.

Source: Genetics Home Reference

Postpartum depression in new moms

1/9

Did you know that one in nine new mothers experiences postpartum depression?

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Binge Drinking in the U.S.

17%

Did you know that 17% of the U.S. population binge drinks?

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Bipolar Disorder Starts Early

Did you know? Bipolar disorder usually starts in people's teens or early adulthood.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Melanoma in the U.S.

Approximately one person dies of melanoma every hour in the U.S.

Source: National Cancer Institute

Medications 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 Institute

Moderate 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 Way

AIDS-related deaths

48%

AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 48% globally since their peak in 2005.

Source: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

Driver sleepiness

100k  

Driver sleepiness is a factor in about 100,000 car accidents each year.

Source: National Sleep Foundation

Living with HIV

37m 

Nearly 37 million people around the world and 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV.

Source: UNAIDS

Children and Sleep

9-12 

Children ages 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep a day.

Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Teens and Sleep

8-10 

Teens ages 12-18 need 8-10 hours of sleep a day.

Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Adults and Sleep

7-8

Adults over the age of 18 need 7-8 hours of sleep a day.

Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Sleep Disorders

70m 

50-70 million Americans have ongoing sleep disorders.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Are 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 Prevention

Precision 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 Reference

Opioid-Related Hospitilization

72%

There was a 72% increase in hospitalizations related to opioid use from 2002 to 2012.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Opioid 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 Abuse

Prescription 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 Abuse

Nonmedical 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 Abuse

Therapy Dogs

NIH's Clinical Center has 14 teams of volunteer therapy dogs for patients at the research hospital.

Source: MedlinePlus Magazine

NIH Clinical Center

200

The NIH Clinical Center has 15 outpatient clinics, 200 inpatient beds, and 93 day hospital stations.

Source: NIH Clinical Center

Orthopedic surgeons

Orthopedic surgeons focus on injuries affecting the bones and joints, muscles, cartilage, and ligaments.

Source: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

HIV Worldwide

1.8m 

HIV incidence remains high: 1.8 million new infections occurred worldwide in 2016.

Source: HIV.gov

Children with HIV Worldwide

160k 

160,000 children around the globe became infected with HIV in 2016.

Source: HIV.gov

Ear Infections

5 out of 6 

5 out of 6 children experience ear infection (otitis media) by the time they are 3 years old.

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Communications Disorders

Seniors with Hearing Loss

Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30%) has ever used them.

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Communications Disorders

Men and Hearing Loss

2X 

Men are almost twice as likely as women to have hearing loss among adults aged 20-69.

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Communications Disorders

Hearing Aids

28.8m 

About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids.

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Communications Disorders

Hearing Loss in the U.S.

1 in 8 

One in eight people in the U.S. (13%, or 30 million) aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears, based on standard hearing examinations

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Communications Disorders

Smoking and Gum Disease

64.2% 

Smoking can put you at risk for gum problems. In fact, 64.2% of current smokers have gum disease.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Gum Disease More Common in Men

56.4% 

Periodontal disease is more common in men (56.4%) than women (38.4%).

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Gum Disease after 65

70.1% 

Gum disease increases with age.
70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Adults and Gum Disease

47.2% 

Almost half (47.2%) of all adults aged 30 years and older have some form of gum disease.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Flu Vaccines

40k

Flu vaccines saved 40,000 lives in the U.S. between 2005 and 2014.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Cost of COPD Care

49b

The cost of COPD-related patient care is projected to hit $49 billion by 2020.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

COPD a Leading Cause of Disability

COPD is the fourth leading cause of disability in the U.S.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

COPD Diagnoses in the U.S.

16m

16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD. Millions more have the disease but don't know it

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

COPD Fatalities in the U.S.

150k

In 2014, COPD killed more than 150,000 Americans.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Contraception

 

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STDs.

Source: MedlinePlus

Cataracts in the U.S.

50%

By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.

Source: National Eye Institute

Prevalence of Alzheimers

1/3

About one-third of all people aged 85 and older may have Alzheimer’s disease.

Source: National Institute on Aging

The Cost of Alzheimers Care

$511b

U.S. health and long-term care costs for dementia were as high as $215 billion in 2010. Annual costs could soar to $511 billion by 2040.

Source: National Institute on Aging

Alzheimers after 65

65+ 

For people aged 65 and older, estimates indicate that Alzheimer's may rank third as cause of death.

Source: National Institute on Aging