https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/MainImage4-980x587.jpg Feel like screens are eating into family time? We have some tips from experts for setting limits on screen use and cultivating healthy digital habits in your family. 1. Model healthy habits Modeling good habits is one of the most effective ways to help kids develop a healthy relationship with screens. You can show them how to strike a balance by limiting your own screen use and prioritizing other activities. 2. Make family time screen-free  NIH researchers working on the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM (ABCD) Study emphasized the importance of face-to-face interactions and suggested putting devices away during mealtimes and family gatherings. Treat

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/pancreatic_cancer_research_main.jpg About 1.7% of people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at some point in their lives. Despite being the 10th most common type in the United States, pancreatic cancer is the third most common cause of cancer deaths. Pancreatic cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms at first, making it hard to spot early. But research funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) may improve detection and treatment. Tools for finding pancreatic cancer sooner There’s no routine screening test to spot pancreatic cancer early, but researchers at the City

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/PancreasMain.jpg The pancreas is a gland behind your stomach and in front of your spine. It produces enzymes that help break down food and hormones that control blood sugar levels. Pancreatic cancer usually begins in these cells. It forms when cells grow out of control and create a tumor. Tumors may be malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous). Two kinds of pancreatic cancer About 95% of pancreatic cancers begin in the cells that produce digestive enzymes. This is known as exocrine pancreatic cancer. Only about 5% of pancreatic cancers begin in the cells that produce hormones. These are known as endocrine pancreatic cancer.

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/MariaMenounos-podcast-inbody.jpg Maria Menounos has held many jobs and many titles. She is an Emmy Award-winning TV host, reporter, author, podcaster, and sometimes professional wrestler. You may recognize her as host of Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and E! News and as a reporter for The Today Show. Menounos has faced two major health challenges in recent years: a brain tumor in 2017 and a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2023. For the pancreatic cancer, she underwent a grueling 10-hour surgery to remove part of her pancreas, her spleen, 17 lymph nodes, and a massive fibroid. Thankfully the procedure was successful. During this time, she

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/SupplementMain.jpg Many of us take dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other products to boost our health. Since many supplements contain natural ingredients, it’s easy to assume they are always safe. But just because something is "natural" doesn’t mean it’s without risk—especially when combined with medications. Do you take prescription or over-the-counter medications? If so, it’s important to know that supplements might change how those medications work. How supplements can affect your medications Some supplements can affect the way your body processes medications. This can lead to unexpected or even dangerous results. Certain supplements can cause medications to break

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/IRP_bilirubin_main.jpg Ever wonder why urine is yellow or why skin looks yellow in people with jaundice? Scientists have known for more than a century that urobilin is the chemical responsible for that yellow color. But the enzyme responsible for making urobilin was a mystery…until recently. Researchers at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) found the answer in an unexpected place: the gut microbiome. Their findings can help us better understand certain health conditions, how our bodies work, and why some babies get jaundice. Why does urine look yellow? When your body replaces old red blood cells, it creates bilirubin. This substance

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/RSVmain2_1.jpg December and January are peak months for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. While anyone can get RSV, severe infections are more common in young children and older adults. Fortunately, new vaccine approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mean there are more options to avoid getting sick this winter. In the spring of 2024, FDA licensed a new RSV vaccine, called MRESVIA, for adults 60 years of age and older. There are now three RSV vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for older adults—the other two are ABRYSVO and AREXVY. Different RSV immunizations are

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/research_roundup_main.jpg 1. Could a new molecule prevent blood clots without increasing the risk of bleeding? Blood clots can form when substances in the blood clump together. If they block blood vessels, they can prevent blood from flowing to important organs. Blood thinners help prevent clots from forming and growing larger, but they can also cause bleeding. Researchers wanted to see whether a new compound, called MPI 8, could help prevent blood clots without bleeding. While the research was done in mice, with further study, MPI 8 could one day also be used to treat patients. Learn more about this and other blood clot research

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/shingles-f18.jpg Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful, often debilitating rash that affects roughly 1 million people each year. Fortunately, the current shingles vaccine, known by the brand name Shingrix, is highly effective at preventing shingles and its side effects. What is shingles?  Shingles is a painful rash or blisters on the skin. It is caused by the same virus—herpes varicella zoster—that causes chickenpox, which is highly contagious. Chickenpox usually affects kids under age 15 and creates an itchy, uncomfortable rash that turns into blisters. While shingles itself is not contagious, you can also catch chickenpox from someone who has

https://magazine.medlineplus.gov//images/uploads/main_images/Kristin_Nannetti_headshot2.jpg People with serious or terminal illnesses have to make difficult choices. It can be hard to understand all the information they get from their doctors. It can also be an emotional rollercoaster for them and their loved ones. What if there was someone to help them make decisions? That’s where Kristin Nannetti, MSN, RN, CCRN, CHPN, CNL, comes in. As the Palliative Care Coordinator for VHC Health, her job is to guide patients and their families through all the different areas of care for serious illnesses. She talked with NIH MedlinePlus Magazine about palliative care and how it can give