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If you’re infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, you shed virus down the drain each time you wash your hands or use the toilet. This happens even if you don’t have symptoms. Scientists have been tracking levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater for early clues about infections in cities and towns. Wastewater tracking has some advantages over clinical tests. It’s much less expensive.…

You may have heard that an outbreak of monkeypox is spreading across the country. The virus got its name because it was first discovered in monkeys in 1958. But it likely came from other animals. Since then, the virus has also infected people. Until recently, most monkeypox infections were in Africa. But due to international travel, the illness has reached several parts of the world. Monkeypox…

Feed your curiosity and learn about the technical side of science! Download an app and watch short videos that show how medical scans work. Videos offer advice for future scientists, too. You can also find out how bioengineers improve people’s lives, and more.

For some people, a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail is an occasional treat. Others struggle to stop at just one or even many drinks. Some may drink alcohol in moderation, but still feel like they’re not in control of their drinking. How do you know if alcohol has become a problem for you? Some people should avoid alcohol completely. These include pregnant women and people who take certain…, Rethinking Your Drinking, Alcohol use disorder is when you can’t stop or control your alcohol use despite damage to your work, health, or personal life. This doesn’t look the same for everyone. It’s a complex disorder and can be mild, moderate, or severe. “Alcohol use disorder is not caused by a single thing,” says Dr. Robert Messing, who studies alcohol and the brain at the University of Texas. “Different people can have…, Changing Your Brain, You may not succeed the first time you try to quit or cut back on drinking. Relapse is common in alcohol use disorder. “If you have a slip every once in a while, we still consider you to be in at least the early stages of recovery,” Koob says. It can take many tries to regain control of your alcohol use. That’s because alcohol can actually change your brain. Researchers are trying to better…

Some babies have a yellowish tint to their skin or the whites of their eyes right after birth. This is called jaundice. It can happen to adults, too. For adults, it can be a sign of a serious health condition. Your liver helps rid your body of natural waste products and other harmful substances. If something interferes with this process, toxic compounds can build up in your body. Jaundice happens…

Experts suggest that children ages 6 to 12 get at least nine hours of sleep each day. But many don’t get that much. A new NIH-funded study shows that getting enough sleep may be especially important for preteen brains. Researchers identified more than 4,000 children, ages 9 or 10, who got at least nine hours of sleep per day, according to their parents. This group was compared to a similar number…

When fall arrives, many of us know it’s time to get the annual flu, or influenza, shot. It’s also a good time to consider what other vaccines or boosters to get to protect your health. Staying up to date on vaccines is especially important for older adults. Our immune system helps the body fight infection, but it gets weaker as we age. Vaccines help to strengthen the immune system. Other vaccines…

Nearly half of U.S. adults ages 60 to 69 say they have hearing loss. Find helpful information on age-related hearing loss and where to turn for help. Get details about hearing aids and assistive devices. Learn how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

It’s normal to feel sad, down, or low at times. But these feelings can sometimes linger. They can get worse, too, eventually making it hard to do basic daily tasks. If you’ve had a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in most activities for at least two weeks, you may be experiencing depression. Depression is a serious disorder. “It’s not something that you can just ‘push through,’ or…, Treatment Options, Depression can look different for different people. But there are some common symptoms (see the Wise Choices box). If you think you may be depressed, talk with your health care provider. Some infections or medical conditions can cause similar symptoms. Your provider can perform a physical exam and blood tests to look for possible causes. If you have mild depression, your provider may recommend…, Persistent Depression, For certain people, depression persists despite counseling and medication. This is called treatment-resistant depression. Brain stimulation therapies may help some people with treatment-resistant depression. These use electricity or magnets to directly change brain activity. For people who don’t feel better after trying at least two standard drugs, a drug called ketamine may be an option.…, Testing New Therapies, Researchers have also been working on new types of talk therapy for depression. Craske’s team is testing a type of therapy designed to help people focus on joy, excitement, and other positive moods. “Standard treatments are better at reducing negative emotions than increasing positive emotions,” she says. But people with depression often have the most trouble feeling positive things. “We’re…

Exhaustion seems to be on the rise. Fatigue is one of the symptoms most often reported by people with COVID-19, and their tiredness can linger. Add this to the many other causes of fatigue that existed before the pandemic—such as lack of sleep, mental health concerns, and health conditions like [qtip:anemia|A condition caused by low levels of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. It can…