CDC: Family Health History and Pregnancy
KEY POINTS Overview Planning for pregnancy Thinking about having a baby? If you have a family health history that includes a birth defect, developmental disability, newborn screening disorder, or genetic condition, you might be more likely to have a baby with this condition. Learning more about your family health history before you get pregnant can give you time […]
FDA: Cold Facts to Help Avoid Injury from Water-Circulating Hot/Cold Therapy Devices
When not used properly, devices that circulate water to provide hot or cold therapy can pose a risk of injury, especially cold-induced injuries. If you are recovering from surgery or an injury, you may try to temporarily ease the pain, swelling, or inflammation by applying heat or cold. If you are considering a device that […]
CDC: Genetic Counseling
KEY POINTS What it is Genetic counseling gives you information about how genetic conditions might affect you or your family. The genetic counselor or other healthcare professional will collect your personal and family health history. They can use this information to determine how likely it is that you or your family member has a genetic condition. […]
FDA: Artificial Intelligence and Medical Products
What is Artificial Intelligence? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. AI systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and […]
CDC: Epigenetics, Health, and Disease
KEY POINTS What it is Your genes play an important role in your health, but so do your behaviors and environment, such as what you eat and how physically active you are. Epigenetics refers to how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes (mutations), epigenetic […]
FDA: Formaldehyde in Hair Smoothing Products, What You Should Know
If you decide that you want to make your hair less frizzy or straighter, you may choose to go to a professional stylist at a hair salon for a hair straightening or smoothing service. Most hair smoothing or straightening products release formaldehyde gas, a known human carcinogen as classified by the International Agency for Research […]
CDC: Genetics Basics
WHAT TO KNOW Overview Your genes affect many things about you, including how you look (for example, your eye color or height) and how your body works (for example, your blood type). In some cases, your genes are linked to diseases that run in your family. In other cases, your genes influence how your body […]
FDA: What You Need To Know About Using Cannabis, Including CBD, When Pregnant or Breastfeeding
FDA strongly advises against the use of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Cannabis and Cannabis-derived products have become increasingly available in recent years, with new and different types of products appearing all the time. These products raise questions and concerns for many consumers. And if you […]
CDC: Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
KEY POINTS What is prediabetes? Before developing type 2 diabetes, most people have prediabetes. This is when their blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough yet for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. In the United States, about 98 million adults have prediabetes; that’s 1 in 3 people. There are usually no signs […]
FDA: Infant Formula – Safety Do’s and Don’ts
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees manufacturers of infant formulas and helps ensure that these products are safe and support healthy growth in infants who consume them. Don’t Make Homemade Formula The FDA advises parents and caregivers to not make or feed homemade infant formula to infants. Homemade infant formula recipes have not been […]