Health Watchers: What Do Your Nails Say About You?
While the eyes are the window to the soul, the nails are the mirror of the body's health. Their color can indicate a wide range of medical issues that need to be monitored before it's too late. Here are nine common nail symptoms that may indicate problems and require medical consultation:
Paleness
Excessive paleness in the nails may indicate the onset of anemia as well as liver diseases and malnutrition.
White Spots
Nails adorned with white spots might suggest a significant deficiency in calcium, zinc, or magnesium. In the case of these spots appearing, consult a doctor to see if you should increase your intake of these minerals, depending on the pattern of the spots.
Very White or Yellow Nails
If you are not a smoker and your nails still tend towards a yellow hue, this is a clear sign of nail fungus. The more severe the condition, the thicker and more crumbly the nails become. Additionally, in very rare instances, yellow nails may indicate various diseases, such as thyroid dysfunction, lung imbalance, diabetes, and psoriasis. On the other hand, extremely white nails may indicate jaundice.
Blue Tint in Nails
If you haven't suffered a strong blow to the area and yet your nails are blue-tinted, it is your body's way of warning of oxygen deficiency or lung function problems. Additionally, various heart diseases can also cause nails to turn blue.
Nail Biting
While considered a bad habit carried by some from different developmental stages, nail biting may indicate anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If you've tried every cessation method and still can't stop this habit, it's recommended to continue treatment with your family doctor.
Ridged Nails
Ridges or small dents in the nail may indicate the onset of arthritis.
Broken or Split Nails
Nails that tend to break or split easily might suggest thyroid gland problems. If both phenomena occur simultaneously—both breaking and splitting—you should check if they are accompanied by a yellowish tint. If so, this may indicate nail fungus.
Swelling Around the Nail
Swelling and redness around the nail skin indicate a kind of inflammation, probably caused by an infection. Don't neglect it and don't wait for it to pass 'on its own'. Go get it checked to clear up any doubt.
Dark Lines Under the Nail
Dark lines appearing on the skin under the nail are a clear sign of melanoma—skin cancer. Therefore, in any case of such lines appearing, consult your family doctor to rule out this possibility.
