Just like the eyes are the window to the soul, so are the nails
This statement is credited to dermatologist, Tamara Lior according to a WebMD article; who once convinced a patient to have his lungs checked after noticing a bluish tint to his nails, a sign that he wasn’t getting enough oxygen. Sure enough, he had fluid in his lungs!
It thus seems like a lot can be said about our health status from a look at our nails. Hence, taking a good look at your fingernails may help you notice subtle changes in the texture or color – a touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, perhaps some rippling or bumps in the surface. These imperfections may not look like much to you, but to the trained eye they can provide valuable clues about your overall health.
Take a look at some of such instances:
1. Pale Nails
Very pale nails can sometimes be a sign of serious illness, such as anaemia, congestive heart failure, liver disease, and malnutrition.
2. White Nails
If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. In this image, you can see the fingers are also jaundiced (yellow), another sign of liver trouble.
3. Yellow Nails
One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and nails may thicken and crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate a more serious condition such as severe thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes or psoriasis.
4. Bluish Nails
While most people do not report nail problems, most conscientious doctors checks their nails anyway, because according to one doctor said:
The nails offer many little clues to what’s going on inside you. Lupus patients get quirky, angular blood vessels in their nail folds. Psoriasis starts in the nails up to 10% of the time, and causes splitting and pitting of the nail bed.
Heart disease can turn the nail beds red. Obsessive-compulsive disorder can show up in the nails through persistent nail-biting or picking.
Even common disorders like thyroid disease can cause abnormalities in the nail beds, producing dry, brittle nails that crack and split easily.
From the foregoing, it sure seems like the condition of our nails can determine the state of our health. So, don’t just bite them (if you are that type), don’t just cut them (if you are a Little Mr/Miss Clean), check them also – and very thoroughly too!
