Your Fingernails Can Provide Clues About Your Health
While most of us don’t associate the condition of our fingernails with other health problems, your fingernails can signal serious diseases and disorders, including lung, heart, kidney and liver diseases, as well as diabetes, lupus and anemia. < http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/naildiseases.html >
The following are descriptions of nail conditions and their possible health implications.*
Yellow or green appearance
infection, bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi) or lymphedema (swelling or abnormal accumulation of tissue fluid) Yellowing nails, especially can be a sign of diabetes, liver problems or fungal disease
Discolored nails
circulatory and heart problems, emphysema or asthma
Small black streaks
heart problems
Bluish nails
circulatory problems and lung disorders, such as emphysema or asthma
A dark blue line
skin cancer
White lines across the nails
fever, liver or heart disease, kidney disorders, or iron or zinc deficiency (White nails may also be a sign of liver disease.)
Reddish-brown spots
folic acid, protein or vitamin C deficiency
Brown or brownish nails
liver disease and disorders
Indentations or ridges running across the nails
heart attack, physical or mental stress
Dry or brittle nails
calcium deficiency
Thick nails curving around enlarged finger tips (clubbing)
lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease or liver disease
Nails separating from the finger
thyroid disease, fungal disease, reaction to medicines or nail hardeners, psoriasis
Soft nails that look spooned or scooped out
iron deficiency
Opaque-looking nails
heart failure, diabetes, liver disease, malnutrition
If your nails start showing any of these signs or other significant changes, check with your primary care physician or dermatologist.*
*A note of caution. While the condition of your nails can be tell-tale signs of more serious diseases and disorders, it is unlikely that nail conditions will be the initial sign of a serious condition. Symptoms other than one’s nail condition will more likely appear first, such as breathing difficulties for lung disorders, gastro-intestinal pain or discomfort for liver or bowel disorders and weakness and/or light-headedness for heart disorders.
Too, don’t jump to conclusions that a particular nail condition is a sure sign of a serious health problem. It may be, but the condition also may be caused by something less serious, such as a bruise or skin infection. Still in all, be alert, and if in doubt about a nail condition, check with your doctor.
For additional information see Nail Fungus and Nail Health (2006), American Academy of Dermatology < http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/NailHealth.htm > and Health Fingernails: clues About Your Health (December, 2007), WebMD
< http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/