1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, provide a better user experience, and give website owners useful information about how their site is being used.

Similar technologies include web beacons, pixels, and local storage, which serve comparable purposes. When we refer to “cookies” in this policy, we include all such technologies.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function. They enable core features like page navigation, access to secure areas, and locale preferences. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

  • Session cookies: Maintain your session state as you browse the site.
  • Authentication cookies: Keep you logged in during your visit.
  • Locale cookies: Remember your preferred language setting.
  • Security cookies: Protect against cross-site request forgery and other security threats.

2.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting anonymous information. This helps us improve the website and our services.

  • Page visit tracking: Which pages are visited and for how long.
  • Navigation patterns: How visitors move through the site.
  • Error tracking: Pages where visitors encounter errors.

We use privacy-focused analytics tools that do not create individual user profiles or share data with advertising networks.

2.3 Preference Cookies

These cookies remember your choices and settings to provide a more personalized experience:

  • Theme preferences: Your display settings.
  • Tool settings: Inputs you've used in our free health tools so you don't need to re-enter them.
  • Cookie consent: Your cookie preferences themselves.

3. Third-Party Cookies

We minimize the use of third-party cookies. Where they are used, they are limited to:

  • Analytics providers: Privacy-focused analytics to help us understand site usage (no advertising profiles are created).
  • Content delivery networks: To serve static assets efficiently and securely.

We do not use third-party advertising cookies or allow ad networks to place cookies on our website.

4. How to Manage Cookies

You can control and manage cookies in several ways:

4.1 Browser Settings

Most browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through their settings. The exact steps vary by browser:

  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
  • Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
  • Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
  • Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data

4.2 Opt-Out

You can opt out of non-essential cookies at any time. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect your experience on our website. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are required for the website to function.

5. Cookie Retention

Cookies have varying lifespans depending on their purpose:

  • Session cookies: Deleted when you close your browser.
  • Persistent cookies: Remain on your device for a set period (typically 30 days to 1 year) or until you delete them.

6. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.