Friday, February 3, 2012

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity:

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity:

Sexuality/Sexual Orientation	Mental Health Issues
Gender Identity
Homophobia/Transphobia

Sexuality/Sexual Orientation

The word "sexuality" means different things to different people. Generally, it refers to an individual's personal experience of being attracted to other people and the body's sexual feelings and response to those people. There are lots of terms that are connected to sexuality such as sexual orientation, gender identity, bisexuality and more. Read on to learn more about yourself and others in your community.

What is sexual orientation?

Sexual orientation refers to the gender of a person who we become sexually attracted to. People who identify as "straight" or "heterosexual" will describe being attracted to people of the opposite gender. "Homosexuality" or "gay" orientation refers to people who have sexual attractions to members of their own gender. "Lesbian" refers specifically to women who identify as gay or homosexual. "Bisexual" refers to people who have sexual attractions to both genders, male or female. "Pansexual" is a relatively new term used by people who have sexual attractions to all people, regardless of their gender (people who may not express being fully male or fully female).

How do I know my sexual orientation?

It may take a different amount of time to understand ourselves and our attractions to others. For example, people who have repeated crushes and/or pleasurable body experiences with other people of the same gender, but have no crushes or pleasurable experiences with people of the opposite gender will ultimately report being "gay" or "lesbian". Having one or a few experiences with somebody of the same gender does not automatically make you gay or even bisexual. Sometimes it takes a long time to understand our bodies and how they react to other people.

When will I know my sexual orientation?

There is no official time that determines our sexual orientation. During adolescence, our brain starts to release certain hormones that help our bodies go through puberty and change. This happens over many years. At the same time, we may start developing crushes towards other people, which may lead to having a pleasurable sexual experience.

Is it OK to be gay or bisexual?

Yes. Although religions and cultures may have traditional beliefs that these types of feelings shouldn't be expressed in our behavior, current medical and psychiatric organizations have long taken the stance that being "gay", or "bisexual" is normal. Many gay and bisexual people are able to keep their religious values and cultural identity, yet feel comfortable to express their sexuality. There are also many religious figures in the community who are accepting of people of all sexual orientations.

Gender Identity

Gender identity is how strong a person's feeling is about being male or female, or possibly parts of both. Most people are comfortable with the feeling that they are one gender (male or female); however, not everybody falls into this category.

How do people express their gender identity?

Gender can be expressed in many ways: through our clothes, our speech, activities, hobbies, and our behaviors. It's ok for any of these things to change depending on what feels comfortable to us at the time.

What's the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation?

Many people confuse the two, but here is a simple way to understand the difference! Gender identity is more about "who you are" (boy, girl, or even possibly both types of feelings) and sexual orientation is about "who you have a crush on".

What does "transgender" mean?

Transgender people are people whose gender identity (feeling about which gender they are) doesn't match with their biologic gender (or sex). This means that their mind may tell them one thing, but their bodies tell them another. For example, a person born male feels that they are a female trapped in a boy's body. Transgender people feel strongly that their mind is right, and often desire to go through medical procedures to help change their body to the other gender.

What does gender-queer mean?

This is a term used by people who don't feel comfortable calling themselves male or female. They actually may feel comfortable with parts of both categories (or neither category). Some people who feel this way do not like to use male or female pronouns.

Is it ok to be transgender or gender-queer?

Absolutely. As with gay or bisexual people, some people with traditional beliefs may be uncomfortable with those who express these feelings, but professional medical and psychiatric organizations agree that it is better to express who you are, even if it makes other people a little uncomfortable.

Can I be both transgender and gay? What about transgender and straight?

Yes and yes. Being transgender is an individual thing, and it is about people whose mind and bodies tell them different things about which gender they are. However, those same people also have attractions to other people - some of them may be attracted to people with the same gender (as their mind tells them they are), and other transgender people may be attracted to people of the opposite gender (as their mind tells them they are). If you are confused by this, it's ok, because many other people are too!

Homophobia/Transphobia

What are homophobia and transphobia?

Homophobia is a term that describes negative feelings and attitudes towards lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. Transphobia is a similar term that describes negative feelings and attitudes towards transgender and gender-queer people.

What are some examples of homo/transphobia?

Negative feelings and attitudes about minorities (being gay or transgender) can be shown in different ways. Some ways are obvious and intentional, for example: direct insults, threats, bullying, physical harm or violence, and discrimination. Sometimes, homophobia isn't as obvious. Examples of these hidden forms of homophobia include: people who aren't comfortable around gay or transgender people, use of slurs/words in an unintentional way, avoiding discussions about gay issues due to feeling uncomfortable. All types of homophobic attitudes and behaviors can be hurtful and sometimes dangerous to gay or transgender people.

Why does homo/transphobia exist?

There is not an easy answer to this question! The best way to understand it is to realize that minority groups in the past have always made mainstream culture to feel uncomfortable. Other minorities such as women and racial ethnic groups are also discriminated against. Even though being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and/or gender-queer is common, these groups are still minorities. The good news is that people are becoming more comfortable with these issues, and hopefully homophobic and transphobic behaviors will decrease in the future.

Mental Health Issues

Adolescence can be an exciting but also a challenging time for everybody, since it is a period when bodies change, schoolwork is more difficult, and friends and families might not understand your feelings and thoughts. Sometimes adolescents feel more anxious, depressed, or even suicidal. Other times, adolescents can turn to risky behaviors like drugs or alcohol or sex. Gay, lesbian, transgender and gender-queer youth experience the same mental health issues as other adolescents. However, they may also be feeling lonely and might not share their feelings about sexual orientation or gender identity because they fear people will reject them. Having this extra burden can cause these adolescents to have a higher risk for these serious mental health issues.

What do I do if I feel suicidal?

Stay safe and do not make an impulsive dangerous decision! The most important thing to do would be to find someone supportive who you know. You don't have to share all the details right away, although it might help. If you can't think of anyone supportive, try calling a hotline or even 911 so you can talk to a mental health professional, or go to the closest emergency room.

Who should I tell about my sexual orientation and/or gender identity?

Not everyone is going to be accepting of homosexual, bisexual, and/or transgender identities. Deciding who to tell can be a difficult decision. You may choose to share it with everyone you know or just a few close personal friends. It's important to find at least one supportive person you trust to tell so you don't have to carry the heavy burden of a secret alone. If you can't think of any supportive person in your life, you should contact a mental health professional or one of the professional online resources so you won't feel alone with these feelings. Don't pick random unknown websites for support.

Will my therapist force me to tell my parents, family, and/or friends about these feelings?

No. Therapists or mental health professionals are trained to maintain strict confidentiality with your sexual feelings and behaviors as well as gender identity questions. However, at your first appointment make sure to discuss confidentiality and how and if information is shared with parents or others.

Will my therapist tell my parents about my sexual orientation and/or gender identity issues?

In general, no. Therapists are always concerned about your health and safety so they will break your confidentiality in the event that your actions/thoughts might lead to an unsafe situation for you or others. Even then, they would only discuss the details needed to get you the services you need. An ongoing conversation with your therapist about confidentiality is important.

Where can I get support?

This is an individual decision for every person. The most important issue is to find someone who you think will be accepting of you regardless of your sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

This may include:

An accepting friend
An accepting parent
Someone who you know who is bisexual or gay
An accepting guidance counselor
A Gay-Straight Alliance in school
An accepting school teacher
Health care provider
LGBT support organization

If there is nobody who you think will be supportive of your thoughts and feelings, you don't have to be alone. Usually, a mental health professional can help you figure out who might be a good support system.

"I can't think of a single person who will be supportive of these feelings." What are some trusted online resources I can turn to?

There are plenty of online professional resources and hotlines for the many adolescents who have similar thoughts and feelings. Here are just a few.

"I have a friend who just told me about having gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or gender-queer thoughts. How can I help them?"

Even if you are uncomfortable with your own feelings about these subjects, let them know that you will support them and be there for them no matter what. Anybody who is willing to share private feelings and thoughts with you, probably trusts you as a close friend and support. Advise them to talk with their health care provider or start seeing a therapist so they don't have to feel alone.

"I have a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or gender-queer friend who just told me about having suicidal or dangerous thoughts. How can I help them?"

Again, let that friend know that they don't have to be alone. Find out if they are with someone who can support them. Let them know that you won't break their secret about their sexual orientation or gender identity feelings but that you still have to let someone know about their unsafe feelings. Then, stay with your friend and right away let a supportive adult know, call a hotline, or even 911 to make sure your friend stays safe!

CDC Report Finds Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students At Greater Risk for Unhealthy, Unsafe Behaviors

Students who report being gay, lesbian or bisexual and students who report having sexual contact only with persons of the same sex or both sexes are more likely than heterosexual students and students who report having sexual contact only with the opposite sex to engage in unhealthy risk behaviors such as tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual risk behaviors, suicidal behaviors, and violence, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"This report should be a wake-up call for families, schools and communities that we need to do a much better job of supporting these young people. Any effort to promote adolescent health and safety must take into account the additional stressors these youth experience because of their sexual orientation, such as stigma, discrimination, and victimization," said Howell Wechsler, Ed.D, M.P.H, director of CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). "We are very concerned that these students face such dramatic disparities for so many different health risks."
This report represents the first time that the federal government has conducted an analysis of this magnitude across a wide array of states, large urban school districts, and risk behaviors.
Researchers analyzed data from Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted during 2001–2009 in seven states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin—and six large urban school districts—Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York City, San Diego, and San Francisco. These sites collected data on high school students' sexual identity (heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual, or unsure), sex of sexual contacts (sexual contact with the opposite sex only, with the same sex only, or with both sexes), or both.
The study, "Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health Risk Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9–12 in Selected Sites—Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, United States, 2001–2009," was published as a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary. Findings across 76 health risks in the following 10 categories are highlighted:

Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries (e.g., rarely or never wore a seat belt)
Behaviors that contribute to violence (e.g., did not go to school because of safety concerns)
Behaviors related to attempted suicide (e.g., made a suicide plan)
Tobacco use (e.g., ever smoked cigarettes)
Alcohol use (e.g., binge drinking)
Other drug use (e.g., current marijuana use)
Sexual behaviors (e.g., condom use)
Dietary behaviors (e.g., ate vegetables 3 or more times per day)
Physical activity and sedentary behaviors (e.g., physically active at least 60 minutes per day for 7 days)
Weight management (e.g., did not eat for 24 hours or more to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight)

Across the sites that assessed sexual identity, gay or lesbian students had higher prevalence rates for 49 percent to 90 percent of all health risks measured. Specifically, gay or lesbian students had higher rates for seven of the 10 health risk categories (behaviors that contribute to violence, behaviors related to attempted suicide, tobacco use, alcohol use, other drug use, sexual behaviors, and weight management).
Similarly, bisexual students had higher prevalence rates for 57 percent to 86 percent of all health risks measured. They also had higher rates for eight of the 10 health risk categories (behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries, behaviors that contribute to violence, behaviors related to attempted suicide, tobacco use, alcohol use, other drug use, sexual behaviors, and weight management).
"For youth to thrive in their schools and communities, they need to feel socially, emotionally, and physically safe and supported," said Laura Kann, Ph.D., chief, Surveillance and Evaluation Research Branch, DASH. "Schools and communities should take concrete steps to promote healthy environments for all students, such as prohibiting violence and bullying, creating safe spaces where young people can receive support from caring adults, and improving health education and health services to meet the needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth."
National, state, and local YRBSs are conducted every two years among high school students throughout the United States. These surveys monitor health risk behaviors, including unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. These surveys also monitor the prevalence of obesity and asthma. Interested states and large urban school districts may add questions to measure sexual identity and the sex of sexual contacts.

Health Risks Among Sexual Minority Youth

Sexual minority youth—those who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or who have sexual contact with persons of the same or both sexes—are part of every community and come from all walks of life. They are diverse, representing all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and parts of the country.
While many sexual minority youth cope with the transition from childhood to adulthood successfully and become healthy and productive adults, others struggle as a result of challenges such as stigma, discrimination, family disapproval, social rejection, and violence. Sexual minority youth are also at increased risk for certain negative health outcomes. For example, young gay and bisexual males have disproportionately high rates of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and adolescent lesbian and bisexual females are more likely to have ever been pregnant than their heterosexual peers.

A New CDC Report

Related Resources

To understand more about behaviors that can contribute to negative health outcomes among sexual minority students, CDC analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). The findings of this analysis are described in a new CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, “Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts, and Health-Risk Behaviors Among Students in Grades 9–12 in Selected Sites—Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, United States, 2001–2009.” The report documents the disproportionate rates at which sexual minority students reported many health risks, including tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; sexual risk behaviors; and violence.
For this report, CDC analyzed data from Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted during 2001–2009 in seven states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin—and six large urban school districts—Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York City, San Diego, and San Francisco—that collected data on high school students’ sexual identity (heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or unsure), sex of sexual contacts (sexual contact with the opposite sex only, with the same sex only, or with both sexes), or both.
Sexual minority students were defined as those who identified themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual; who had had sexual contact only with persons of the same sex; or who had had sexual contact with persons of both sexes. Collecting information about students’ sexual identity and about the sex of their sexual contacts is necessary because some students identify themselves as heterosexual but report having sexual contact only with persons of the same sex, whereas some students who identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual have not had sexual contact. Therefore, questions about sexual identity and sex of sexual contacts can help identify a broader range of individuals as sexual minority students.

What this Report Shows

The findings from this report show the disproportionate rates at which sexual minority students experience many health risks, compared with non-sexual minority students. This disproportionate risk is most apparent among students who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual and who have had sexual contact with both sexes.
This report represents the first time that the federal government has conducted an analysis of this magnitude across such a wide array of states, large urban school districts, and risk behaviors. Specifically, the report summarizes results by sexual minority status across 13 sites and 76 health risks in the following 10 categories:

Behaviors that contribute to violence (e.g., did not go to school because of safety concerns)
Behaviors related to attempted suicide (e.g., made a suicide plan)
Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries (e.g., rarely or never wore a seat belt)
Tobacco use (e.g., ever smoked cigarettes)
Alcohol use (e.g., binge drinking)

Other drug use (e.g., current marijuana use)
Sexual behaviors (e.g., condom use)
Dietary behaviors (e.g., ate vegetables 3 or more times per day)
Physical activity and sedentary behaviors (e.g., physically active at least 60 minutes per day for 7 days)
Weight management (e.g., did not eat for 24 or more hours to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight)

Risks by sexual identity

Nine states and large urban school districts assessed sexual identity. Across these locations, the percentage of all health risks for which the prevalence was higher for gay or lesbian students than it was for heterosexual students ranged from 49% to 90%. Gay and lesbian students had higher prevalence rates than heterosexual students for health risks in seven of the 10 health risk categories (behaviors that contribute to violence, behaviors related to attempted suicide, tobacco use, alcohol use, other drug use, sexual behaviors, and weight management).

For example—

The prevalence of current cigarette use ranged from 8% to 19% among heterosexual students but ranged from 20% to 48% among gay and lesbian students.

Similarly, the percentage of all health risks for which the prevalence was higher for bisexual students than it was for heterosexual students ranged from 57% to 86% across the nine locations. Bisexual students had higher prevalence rates than heterosexual students for health risks in eight of the 10 health risk categories (behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries, behaviors that contribute to violence, behaviors related to attempted suicide, tobacco use, alcohol use, other drug use, sexual behaviors, and weight management).

For example—

The prevalence of students who did not go to school because of safety concerns on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey ranged from 4% to 11% among heterosexual students but ranged from 11% to 25% among bisexual students.

Risks by sex of sexual contacts

Twelve states and large urban school districts assessed sex of sexual contacts. Across these locations, the percentage of all health risks for which the prevalence was higher for students who had sexual contact with both sexes than it was for students who only had sexual contact with the opposite sex ranged from 32% to 86%. Students who had sexual contact with both sexes had higher prevalence rates than those who only had sexual contact with the opposite sex for health risks in six of the 10 health risk categories (behaviors that contribute to violence, behaviors related to attempted suicide, tobacco use, alcohol use, other drug use, and weight management).

For example—

The prevalence of binge drinking ranged from 16% to 44% among students who only had sexual contact with the opposite sex, but from 33% to 63% among students who had sexual contact with both sexes.

Recommendations from this Report

Policies and Practices

Public health and school health policies and practices should be developed to support the establishment of safe and supportive environments for sexual minority students.
- By addressing the challenges sexual minority students face, such as stigma, discrimination, family disapproval, social rejection, and violence, schools can help to improve health outcomes and reduce the prevalence of health-risk behaviors.

Professional Development

Professional development should be provided for school staff and others who work with sexual minority youth, and effective programs should be implemented.
- School staff members and others can benefit from training to help them understand the needs of sexual minority students and implement effective programs and services to reduce health risks among these young people.

Future Surveys

The results of this report highlight the disproportionate impact of negative health outcomes on sexual minority students and indicate a need to include questions on sexual identity and the sex of sexual contacts when monitoring health risks and selected health outcomes among high school students.
- In 2009, 10 states and 7 large urban school districts added questions to their YRBS questionnaire about sexual identity, sex of sexual contacts, or both.

Clostridium difficile infection rate has risen among hospitalized children since late 1990s

Child/Adolescent Health

Clostridium difficile infection rate has risen among hospitalized children since late 1990s

The number of cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) among hospitalized children in the United States more than doubled over a 10-year period, according to a new study. A bacterium that can colonize the gastrointestinal tract, C. difficile can cause symptoms ranging from nothing to severe diarrhea, inflammation of the colon, bowel perforation, and even death. The researchers found that the incidence of CDI in hospitalized children increased from 3,565 cases in 1997 to 7,779 cases in 2006.
Children with CDI had a 20 percent greater risk of death and a 36 percent higher risk of requiring surgery to remove part of or the entire colon. In addition, children diagnosed with CDI were four times more likely to have an extended hospital stay and twice as likely to have higher hospital costs than hospitalized children not infected by C. difficile.
The researchers found no trend in the severity of CDI over time, despite the disease's increased incidence. However, patients with inflammatory bowel disease were 11.4 times as likely to have CDI compared with childlren without this condition. Solid-organ transplants, HIV infection, and transplantation of blood-forming stem cells—all requiring or resulting in immune suppression—increased the odds of CDI 3.3- to 4.5-fold in adjusted multivariable analysis.
The researchers used data from the AHRQ-funded Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database (HCUP-KID) for 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006. HCUP-KID is a stratified random sample of 5.8 million inpatient discharges for children from 22 to 38 States (depending on the year). For 2006, it represented an estimated 89 percent of all pediatric hospital discharges in the United States. The study was funded in part by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS016957).
More details are in "Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized children in the United States," by Cade M. Nylund, M.D., Anthony Goudie, Ph.D., Jose M. Garza, M.D., and others in the May 2011 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 165(5), pp. 451-457.

Going to the ER

Almost everyone who lives with pain has been to the emergency room at some time.
You may have gone because your pain was out of control and you could not reach your own health care team. You may have gone because you feared that your pain was a sign of a new medical problem. You may have gone because you have no insurance. Or your own doctor may have sent you there.
A randomized survey conducted by the ACPA and the American College of Emergency Medicine Physicians found these reason and more among the 500 people with recurring or chronic pain who visited the emergency department (ED) once or more in the last two years. To see the full survey results, click here.
While most of the people surveyed were satisfied with their treatment in the ED, there were important gaps between what people expected from their visit and what they experienced. This site can help you know what to expect in case you need to go to the ED in the future. When you are prepared, you are likely to have a more positive experience.

No greater risk or mortality observed for endoscopic vein harvesting for coronary bypass surgery

Patient Safety and Quality

No greater risk or mortality observed for endoscopic vein harvesting for coronary bypass surgery

During coronary artery bypass surgery, a vein is taken from the leg to replace blocked arteries in the heart. Today, the majority of vein harvesting is done endoscopically rather than using an open surgical procedure. By using this minimally invasive approach, the surgeon can reduce pain and infection. Recently, some experts have questioned whether this approach to leg vein harvesting may expose patients to the risk of vein-graft failure, death, heart attack, and repeated blockages after surgery. A new study that compared the two techniques over a 4-year period found no increase in harm to patients who underwent endoscopic vein harvesting.
Between 2001 and 2004, 8,542 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting procedures in northern New England. More than half (52.5 percent) had endoscopic vein harvesting. Over the study period, endoscopic vein harvesting grew in popularity, from 34 percent in 2001 to 75 percent in 2004. Patients receiving endoscopic vein harvesting were more likely to be male, have vascular disease, and have two-vessel disease. They were less likely to have a history of a heart attack or congestive heart failure.
In terms of hospital outcomes, open surgical harvesting was associated with an increase in postoperative leg wound infections. On the other hand, endoscopic harvesting resulted in an increase in patients being returned to the operating room to correct postoperative bleeding.
With respect to long-term outcomes, there was a significant reduction in long-term mortality with endoscopic harvesting. The relatively small increased risk of repeat revascularization over four years with endoscopic harvesting was non-significant. The study was supported in part by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS15663).
See "Long-term outcomes of endoscopic vein harvesting after coronary artery bypass grafting," by Lawrence J. Dacey, M.D., John H., Braxton, Jr., M.D., Robert S. Kramer, M.D., and others in the January 18, 2011, Circulation 123(2), pp. 147-153.

Lung Diseases and Conditions

Many steps are involved in breathing. If injury, disease, or other factors affect any of the steps, you may have trouble breathing.
For example, the fine hairs (cilia) that line your upper airways may not trap all of the germs you breathe in. These germs can cause an infection in your bronchial tubes (bronchitis) or deep in your lungs (pneumonia). These infections cause a buildup of mucus and/or fluid that narrows the airways and limits airflow in and out of your lungs.
If you have asthma, breathing in certain substances that you're sensitive to can trigger your airways to narrow. This makes it hard for air to flow in and out of your lungs.
Over a long period, breathing in cigarette smoke or air pollutants can damage the airways and the air sacs. This can lead to a condition called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD prevents proper airflow in and out of your lungs and can hinder gas exchange in the air sacs.
An important step to breathing is the movement of your diaphragm and other muscles in your chest, neck, and abdomen. This movement lets you inhale and exhale. Nerves that run from your brain to these muscles control their movement. Damage to these nerves in your upper spinal cord can cause breathing to stop, unless a machine is used to help you breathe. (This machine is called a ventilator or a respirator.)
A steady flow of blood in the small blood vessels that surround your air sacs is vital for gas exchange. Long periods of inactivity or surgery can cause a blood clot called a pulmonary embolism (PE) to block a lung artery. A PE can reduce or block the flow of blood in the small blood vessels and hinder gas exchange.

Clinical Trials

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is strongly committed to supporting research aimed at preventing and treating heart, lung, and blood diseases and conditions and sleep disorders.
NHLBI-supported research has led to many advances in medical knowledge and care. Often, these advances depend on the willingness of volunteers to take part in clinical trials.
Clinical trials test new ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat various diseases and conditions. For example, new treatments for a disease or condition (such as medicines, medical devices, surgeries, or procedures) are tested in volunteers who have the illness. Testing shows whether a treatment is safe and effective in humans before it is made available for widespread use.
By taking part in a clinical trial, you can gain access to new treatments before they’re widely available. You also will have the support of a team of health care providers, who will likely monitor your health closely. Even if you don’t directly benefit from the results of a clinical trial, the information gathered can help others and add to scientific knowledge.
If you volunteer for a clinical trial, the research will be explained to you in detail. You’ll learn about treatments and tests you may receive, and the benefits and risks they may pose. You’ll also be given a chance to ask questions about the research. This process is called informed consent.
If you agree to take part in the trial, you’ll be asked to sign an informed consent form. This form is not a contract. You have the right to withdraw from a study at any time, for any reason. Also, you have the right to learn about new risks or findings that emerge during the trial.
For more information about clinical trials related to your disease or condition, talk with your doctor.