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Do you feel an overwhelming need to move your legs when sitting or lying down? Do these sensations make it hard to fall or stay asleep? These can be signs of restless legs syndrome, also known as RLS. RLS is caused by problems with the way the nerves in the brain and body communicate with each other. These problems result in a strong, sometimes overwhelming urge to move the legs. This urge often…

Researchers designed an app to help identify toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD can cause problems with communication and social behaviors. Symptoms usually appear before a child turns two. But ASD can be tricky to diagnose. The new app tracks eye movements while toddlers watch specially designed videos on a tablet or smartphone. Past studies found that toddlers with ASD tend to…

It’s peak tick weather! Ticks get more active when it’s warm outside. Some carry diseases that can be passed on to you through their bite. The most common disease ticks carry is called Lyme disease. It’s a bacterial infection that can cause serious health problems. Each year, an estimated 300,000 people in the U.S. get Lyme disease. The number of cases has risen dramatically over the last 10…

Loud noises are everywhere. And they can permanently harm your child’s hearing. But you can protect them from hearing loss caused by loud noises. Learn the healthy habits you can teach your kids for a lifetime of good hearing.

Microscopic bugs called microbes can be found in your eyes, mouth, gut, skin, and everywhere else. But don’t be alarmed. Most of your microbes are useful. They help you digest food. They prevent dangerous infections in your organs. And so much more. They’re vital for your health. This collection of microbes in your body includes bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Together, it’s called the human…, Restoring Balance, One of the big jobs for our helpful microbes is to take up space. They live in places in the body that might otherwise be filled by harmful microbes that can cause disease, says Dr. Yasmine Belkaid, an [qtip:immune system|The body’s defense against germs and microscopic threats.] expert at NIH. “This is one way your microbiome prevents infection,” she says. Your immune system normally attacks…, Clostridioides difficile., C. difficile, can cause fatal diarrhea, especially in older adults. It’s often resistant to treatment. Researchers have developed a type of treatment for, C. difficile, infection called fecal microbial transplant. A patient is given microbes from the large intestine of a healthy person. This is done by transferring stool (poop) via tubes or pills. Researchers don’t yet know exactly which of the microbes are needed for a healthy gut microbiome. So for now, they transfer the entire microbiome. “Fecal transplants are a full-spectrum treatment. We’re just trying to…, C. difficile, . In a nationwide study, they found that about nine out of 10 people who received fecal transplants were cured of, C. difficile, . “It works marvelously well for treating this infection,” Wu says. The team continues to track people who have had fecal transplants. They want to learn more about its long-term safety. Researchers are also testing this treatment for other conditions. These include IBD and other conditions that cause gut [qtip:inflammation|Heat, swelling, and redness caused by the body’s protective response to…, Microbes and Obesity, Microbes in the gut do much more than just take up space, says Chang. “Gut microbes help regulate our metabolism—the digestion, absorption, and use of nutrients,” he explains. His research team and others study proteins that gut bacteria release into the bloodstream. “These tell us how much we eat, when to eat, and what to eat,” he says. This communication between our cells and our microbes seems…, Keep Your Microbes Healthy, Researchers have started testing whether altering microbes can impact other areas of health. Belkaid and her team found that changing the gut microbiome may improve how well a certain cancer treatment works. They’re also doing studies in mice to see if changing a female’s microbiome during pregnancy can boost her offspring’s immune system. For now, what can you do daily to keep your helpful…

Clues about your health could be right at your fingertips. Take a look at your nails. They could give insight about possible health concerns. Many nail changes are normal and nothing to worry about. But sometimes changes in the way your nails look and grow can be a sign of disease. Nails are actually specialized skin cells. They’re made of keratin, a protein also found in your hair and skin. “…

Vaccines against COVID-19 were developed early in the pandemic. But the virus has been changing. Now there are different versions, called variants, all over the world. Researchers found that the single-shot COVID-19 vaccine still protects against new variants. In the study, 20 volunteers received the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Researchers took blood samples about two months later. The…

Inflammation is your body’s response to infection or injury. Ongoing inflammation can cause many serious health problems. When it affects your heart muscle, it’s called myocarditis. Myocarditis can affect small or large sections of the heart muscle. Severe cases may cause abnormal heart rhythms or make it harder for the heart to pump blood. That can lead to heart failure. Symptoms of myocarditis…

Clinical research is medical research that involves people like you. Its goal is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Learn more about participating. See volunteer stories. And find clinical trials around the world.

Do birds of a feather really flock together? The science says yes. People do tend to choose friends who are similar to them. You also become more like your friends over time. And that can influence your health. Many behaviors spread socially. Examples include how much you exercise, how much alcohol you drink, whether you smoke, and what foods you eat. Scientists are still trying to untangle why…, Social Influence, “People care about what others think across all different age groups—and that influences how much they value different ideas and behaviors,” says Dr. Emily Falk at the University of Pennsylvania. She studies how social networks affect decision making. This is called social, or peer, influence. Teens are especially responsive to peer influence. That’s because their brains undergo changes that make…, Peer Quality, Not Quantity, Positive and negative peer influences can affect more than just your behavior. They can also change the way you feel. Studies show that, in general, the more friends you have and the more time you spend with them, the happier you are. Friends give you people to share your feelings with, to get new perspectives from, or to just do fun activities with. But it’s the quality of those friendships—not…