Article

Discover Underlying Health Conditions By Looking At Your Nails

Topic: Health EducationFeaturing Janet MartinPublished October 10, 2012
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Other than the weekly trimming and grooming, fingernails and toenails get little or zero attention. Most of the time, only those who are preoccupied with painting their nails with different colors or embellishing them with beads or precious gems are the ones who really take notice of the general ...Other than the weekly trimming and grooming, fingernails and toenails get little or zero attention. Most of the time, only those who are preoccupied with painting their nails with different colors or embellishing them with beads or precious gems are the ones who really take notice of the general well-being of their nails. In fact, not many are aware that nails are good indicators of one's health conditions. The color and state of your nails may be telltale signs that you are stricken by some serious illness.

Here are some nail textures and colors to look out for:

Clubbing Of Nails

You will know that your nail is clubbed if there is no slight slope between your nail and your nail bed. Instead of a slope, you actually see a small mount. Furthermore, your nails usually curve or swell outward because of the thickening of the skin around your toenails or fingernails.

The diseases associated with clubbing of fingernails include heart problems, lung-related illnesses and even colon or gastrointestinal conditions. Most of the time, you will experience shortness of breath and other signs of serious problems before nail clubbing is manifested. However, not all people with clubbed nails automatically have the abovementioned diseases. The best thing to do when you see that your nails are clubbing is to consult your doctor, especially true if you are feeling physical discomforts and changes in your general health.

Pale Nail Beds

A healthy nail bed usually has pinkish or reddish tinge. Thus, when you see that your nail bed is pale or a little bit white, then you may need to increase your iron intake because you might be suffering from anemia. If you suspect you have anemia, you can always eat food rich in iron; you can try mussels, liver, shrimp, sardines, oysters, beans, and pumpkin seeds. Before taking any supplement or medications, again, it would be wise to first ask your physician.

Thick Jaundiced Nails

If you are taking antibiotics for a long time now, you should not be too worried if your nails are a bit thick and yellow. Some forms of antibiotics can make the nails become discolored. However, if you are not taking any medication and your nails are still thick and discolored, then you might have problems with your lymphatic system, lungs, or thyroid gland.

If your nails are yellow, but you see a slight blush on the base, you might be suffering from diabetes. If your nails are displaying such changes and you are overweight, are not too fond of exercising, have a pear shaped body and love to eat junk food, then you should start asking your doctor what you can do to prevent the onset of this dreaded disease.

Pitting Of The Nails' Surface

As you age, it is normal to see slight pitting or formation of minor ridges on your nails. However, if the ridges on the surface of your nails are more pronounced and your nails are thickened, then you might be facing inflammatory arthritis or problematic skin disorders, such as eczema and psoriasis. According to experts, some 10% of psoriasis cases commence with the pitting of the nails.

Nail fungus is another problem that can be associated with pitting of the nails. However, you will know that you are indeed suffering from fungi infestation if the affected nail smells bad, is brittle and yellowish, with some white or brown specs.

If you suspect that you have nail fungus, you must go to a dermatologist and have it checked. If left untreated, this problem can spread to other nails and could cause pain and deterioration of the affected nails. One product that you can rely on to cure this smelly and unsightly condition is Somasin. If you want to know more about this product, just visit http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma

Article author

About the Author

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine www.thearticleinsiders.com.

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