The rate of growth can be affected by a number of conditions, such as the time of year, your activity level and heredity. Your nails will grow more rapidly in the summer, probably because you are more active at this time of year. The nails of your dominant hand also will grow faster than the nails on your nondominant hand. A red nail bed can be a sign of a heart condition, so don't be surprised if your healthcare provider inspects your nails. In fact, many diseases and medical conditions can be revealed by your nails.
White nails can be a sign of liver disease.
If half of your nail bed is pink and half of it is white, that can be an indication of kidney disease. Yellow, thick nails plus slow nail growth can be a sign of lung disease. If you have discolored nails, it could be caused by chemicals or nail polish rather than a health condition. To be safe, ask your healthcare provider about any changes.