what your nails reveal about your health

General
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Nails are more than just a part of a beauty routine. They are tiny indicators of what happens inside your body. From vitamin deficiencies to underlying diseases, nails can show early warning signs long before other symptoms appear.

Common nail changes and what they might indicate:

  1. Pale or white nails: anemia, liver disease, malnutrition
  2. yellow nails: fungal infections, lung or lymphatic issues, rheumatoid arthritis, smoking
  3. bluish nails: poor oxygenation. Usually respiratory or heart problems.
  4. Brittle or cracked nails: thyroid issues, dehydration, vit B deficiency
  5. spoon shaped nails ( koilonychia): iron deficiency anemia
  6. Dark streak: could indicate melanoma
  7. pitted nails: psoriasis, alopecia areata, autoimmune conditions

your nails are like nature’s report card. Paying more attention to them can help catch problems more easily.

Have you ever noticed any changes in your nails off late?

MBH/AB

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Very insightful

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That’s a great reminder of how much our nails can reveal about our health. I have not noticed any major changes lately, but it’s good to know what to watch out for.

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Few other nail changes indicating systemic health issues.

Clubbing of nails: The nails enlarge and the fingertips become bulbous, often linked to lung disease, heart disease, or gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn’s or liver cirrhosis.

Splitting or peeling nails: Could be a sign of psoriasis, eczema, thyroid disease, or nutritional issues like iron, zinc, or biotin deficiency.

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Very informative. Didn’t know nails can tell so many things not just Iron deficiency anemia

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We always care about skin, mental, physical and hair health too. But we never thought about nail health.

It shows our body condition and helps in identifying the disease sometimes.

Knowing about nail health helps as to remind our health problem. And encourage us to book a hospital appointment. Thereby, it occasionally prevent some disease prognosis.

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Yeah I have noticed it when I had jaundice by which doctors confirmed and treated well.

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Such an insightful post! Our nails truly reflect what’s going on inside the body it’s amazing how small changes can hint at deeper health issues. Being mindful of nail texture or color isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a simple way to stay alert to our overall well-being.

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So well compiled, very insightful! Being aware of nail changes associated with different conditions can aid in easier and earlier diagnosis.

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Nails look so beautiful. Some people bite nails regularly, nails contain numerous microorganisms it enter into our body it cause some diseases

So people avoid bite the nails

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Takes me back to medicine clinical posting, where our professor taught about nail changes during examination. Another fun fact bout nails- its also used to check ‘capillary refill time’ can be a easy bedside test to look for dehydration & anemia. Not confirmatory but can still play some role.

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Very informative! Nail changes are often ignored, yet they can be early indicators of nutritional or systemic issues. Great reminder to pay attention to these small signs!

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Informative!!

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Informative

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This is a powerful reminder that nails are small but meaningful indicators of internal health. Changes in colour, texture, or shape often reflect nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, or even systemic diseases long before other symptoms show up. Being mindful of nail changes can help us detect issues early and seek timely care.

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