7 SIGNS OF POSSIBLE HEALTH PROBLEMS

YOUR FINGERNAILS CAN TELL YOU

We use our hands for just about everything.  In return most people don’t realize that our hands give us back a lot of information concerning our state of health.  One major area is the nails.  When you go to see the doctor or go to the emergency department of the hospital you will notice that they will always take your hands and look at your nails.  By looking at your nails the doctor gets a quick assessment of your general health.

This is just some information you can keep or do what you want but I thought interesting enough to share.

1. Yellow nail syndrome

Yellow discoloration in your fingernails may result from a respiratory condition, such as chronic bronchitis, or from swelling of your hands (lymph edema). In yellow nail syndrome, nails thicken and new growth slows, resulting in discoloration. Nails affected with this condition may lack a cuticle and may detach from the nail bed in places.

Although this condition is often a sign of respiratory disease, it’s possible to have yellow nails and not have a respiratory condition. Yellow nails may also result from any condition that causes the growth of your nails to slow down.

2. Nail pitting

Small depressions in the nails are common in people with psoriasis — a skin condition that produces scaly patches. They may also result from nail injuries. Pitting may cause your nails to crumble.

Pitting is also associated with conditions that can damage your nail’s cuticle, such as chronic dermatitis of your fingers or alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.

3. Nail clubbing

Clubbing is when the tips of your fingers enlarge and your nails curve around your fingertips. This condition results from low oxygen levels in your blood and could be a sign of lung disease. Clubbing is also associated with inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease and liver disease.

4. Spoon nails

Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Spoon nails may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.

5. Terry’s nails

With the condition known as Terry’s nails, your nails look opaque, but the tip has a dark band. Sometimes this can be attributed to aging. In other cases, it can be a sign of serious illness, such as:

• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Malnutrition

6. Beau’s lines

Beau’s lines are indentations that run across your nails. They can appear when growth at the area under your cuticle is interrupted by injury or severe illness. Diseases or illnesses associated with Beau’s lines include:

• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Circulatory diseases, such as peripheral artery disease
• Illness associated with a high fever, caused by pneumonia, scarlet fever, mumps or measles
• Malnutrition

7. Nail separates from nail bed

With a condition known as onycholysis, your fingernails become loose and can separate from the nail bed. If your nails show signs of detaching, this may be associated with:

• Injury or infection
• Thyroid disease
• Drug reactions
• Reactions to nail hardeners or acrylic nails
• Psoriasis

Having this information might help you catch some underlying disease a lot earlier than you normally would.  You will be able to see for yourself the changes in your fingernails and contact the doctor.

Most people down play symptoms when they first start.  I believe because for one they are scared; and two they are not sure whether or not what is happening is actually a symptom.  This just adds another weapon (so to speak) in your arsenal.  If your nails start to change and you have other symptoms go see the doctor.

Have a Great Day!!

Donna

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