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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…

COVID-19 measures lessened how often we get sick from many other viruses. But one common virus has been on the rise this year. It’s called respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. RSV is usually more common in the fall, winter, and spring. But this year, infections have surged over the summer. This is likely because of the lifting of COVID-19 precautions, like masking and social distancing, says Dr.…

About 14 million adults in the U.S. have alcohol use disorder (AUD). There are effective treatments. But a recent study found that they are rarely used. People with AUD often aren’t able to control their drinking. It can affect their health, relationships, and job. Treatments can help. These include talk therapy and FDA-approved medications. Three drugs have been approved to treat AUD. These help…

Burns are skin or tissue damage, usually caused by heat. Burns often happen in the home. Some are caused by fire. They can also be caused by hot liquid, steam, and certain chemicals. Burns are defined by how deep they are and how large an area they cover. First degree burns are the least serious. They affect only the thin top layer of skin. A sunburn is a common example. They usually heal on…

Eating disorders are serious and can be fatal. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may be signs of an eating disorder. They affect all types of people. It’s important to seek treatment early. Learn more about the signs and treatments for eating disorders.

You may not give your liver much thought. But it performs essential functions every day. Like other parts of the body, fat can build up in your liver. That may damage the liver and lead to serious health problems. It’s normal to have some fat in your liver cells. But too much can interfere with your liver’s normal functioning. The liver acts as a filter to remove toxins from your blood. It helps…, Fat Build Up, Certain health conditions, your genes, your diet, and your digestive system can make you more likely to develop fatty liver disease. When this happens, it is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. “About one-third of U.S. adults have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” says Dr. Rohit Loomba, a liver disease expert at UC San Diego Health. People with obesity or type 2 diabetes are at greater risk…, Finding Fatty Liver, Most people who have fatty liver disease don’t end up with liver damage. But some develop [qtip:inflammation|Heat, swelling, and redness caused by the body’s protective response to injury or infection.] and damage in their liver cells. This stage of fatty liver disease is known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. If NASH gets worse, it can cause permanent scarring and liver hardening. Liver…, Undoing Early Damage, The most effective fatty liver treatment involves a change in lifestyle. Weight loss is helpful. “But the weight loss has to be pretty significant,” says Loomba. You have to lose about 7% of your body weight to resolve NASH. You’ll need to lose at least 10% to reduce fibrosis, or scarring. Losing weight can also help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Heart disease is the leading cause…