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Nov 19, 2009 4:24 pm US/Central
Fingernails: Windows Into Your Overall Health
Discoloration, Changing Shape Can Be Indicative Of Illnesses
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Many women keep them covered in polish, or pay little attention to them at all, but fingernails are a window into overall health, CBS station WCBS-TV reports.
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Many women keep them covered in polish, or pay little attention to them at all, but fingernails are a window into overall health, CBS station WCBS-TV reports.
Depending on their texture, shape, color and strength, the condition of your nails provides important clues about illness.
"The just bend easily, and there are kind of little lines on them," Zahra Hashemian says.
Hashemian pays close attention to her nails, and for good reason.
"I usually consider it a part of your health," Hashemian says. "If you're eating well, if you're taking care of yourself, usually it will reflect in your skin and your nails."
She's absolutely right.
Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Howard Sobel says fingernails offer specific clues about illness.
Deep pitting of the nails can be an early symptom of skin diseases such as eczema or psoriasis.
"You'll see deep pits in the nails, and once you see that, you'll check your skin and you'll see you may have psoriasis on your elbows, on your knees," Dr. Sobel says.
Poorly controlled asthma and other respiratory illnesses can result in bluish color.
"Bluish nails really represent a lack of oxygen to the nail that you can see in chronic COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), pneumonia," Dr. Sobel says.
Pale nails can be a warning sign of a nutritional deficiency. Not getting enough iron or zinc can zap the color from the nails and nail beds.
More than 10 percent of adults bite their nails, and mental health experts say it could be a sign of stress, boredom or too little activity.
Vertical ridges in the nails aren't usually a cause for alarm.
"Vertical ridging is really quite common," Dr. Sobel says. "As we age, we're going to get natural ridges in our nails."
Watch out for horizontal lines, however; those can point to malnutrition, arsenic poisoning, or even heart attacks.
Also, shape changes in toenails may have to do with your choice of footwear.
"Shoes just don't fit properly, and they push up against the nail, and it causes this effect, this bowing of the nail," Dr. Sobel says.
Yellow nails can be caused by smoking or frequent use of nail polish, but one of the most common causes of this discoloration is a fungal infection.
Infections are treated most effectively the earlier you catch them, so check with your doctor as soon as you notice any changes.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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