Health & prevention
Everyday habits, screening and vaccines that protect health — each recommendation attributed to WHO, CDC, NIH, NHS and other recognised bodies, with sources and review dates on every page.
Everyday foundations
- Healthy nutrition Healthy nutrition means choosing foods and drinks that support your health. WHO says a healthy diet protects against malnutrition and noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.Editorially complete
- Physical activity Physical activity is any bodily movement produced by muscles that uses energy, including leisure, transport, work and household tasks. WHO and CDC describe benefits for the heart, bones, mood and sleep.Editorially complete
- Healthy sleep Sleep is a natural process that helps the body restore energy and supports learning, memory and health. CDC says getting enough sleep lowers the risk of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.Editorially complete
- Healthy weight A healthy weight is a weight for your height that lowers the risk of conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. It is usually estimated with body mass index (BMI), but your health care provider can tell you what a healthy weight is for you.Editorially complete
- Quitting tobacco Quitting tobacco means stopping all forms of tobacco, such as cigarettes, waterpipe (shisha) and smokeless tobacco, as well as nicotine products such as e-cigarettes. CDC says quitting has health benefits at any age, and WHO says counselling and medication can more than double the chance of quitting successfully.Editorially complete
- Alcohol and its health effects Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant found in alcoholic drinks, and WHO says there is no level of drinking that is completely risk-free. The more someone drinks and the more often, the higher the risk to the liver, heart, certain cancers and mental health, according to CDC, NIAAA and MedlinePlus.Editorially complete
Mental health and everyday care
- Mental wellbeing and coping with stress Mental wellbeing means being able to cope with everyday stress from life, work and relationships, and it is a core part of overall health. WHO says more than a billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition, and there are effective, healthy ways to manage stress and protect mental health.Editorially complete
- Oral and dental health Oral and dental health means teeth, gums and a mouth free of pain and infection, so you can eat, speak and smile comfortably. WHO says oral diseases affect nearly 3.7 billion people worldwide even though they are largely preventable.Editorially complete
- Sun safety and skin cancer prevention Sun safety means protecting your skin and eyes from excess ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause sunburn and raise the risk of skin cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Basic protection includes staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses, and using sunscreen, according to WHO and CDC.Editorially complete
Screening and vaccines
- Screening guide by age This guide gathers the age- and sex-based screening tests recommended by US health bodies (MedlinePlus and the USPSTF), such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, some cancers and osteoporosis. MedlinePlus advises seeing your health care provider from time to time even when you are healthy; your doctor and your local health authority decide what fits you.Editorially complete
- Vaccines for adults Vaccines train the immune system to recognize and fight harmful germs, protecting you from serious diseases before you meet them. Adults need vaccines too, because protection from some vaccines can fade over time; your doctor decides which ones you need.Editorially complete
Life stages and special situations
- Healthy ageing Healthy ageing means keeping the ability to do what matters to you as you grow older, even if you have some health conditions. WHO and other health bodies say habits such as being active, eating a balanced diet, not smoking and preventing falls help.Editorially complete
- Fasting with a chronic condition Fasting with a chronic condition such as diabetes, kidney or heart disease can be safe for some people and risky for others, depending on the condition and how stable it is. WHO advises people with diabetes to consult a doctor before Ramadan to develop a safe fasting plan or appropriate alternatives.Editorially complete
General information for education. Schedules and ages come from bodies in different countries and may differ from yours; your doctor and local health authority decide what fits you.