Keeping an eye on your nails can help you keep track of your health.
We bite, file and paint our nails depending on the mood or occasion. But we often fail to do to our fingernails what is most pressing -- look at them for signs of health problems. While not usually the first sign that there is something wrong, varied abnormalities of the nail can signal it's time to see a doctor.
Instructions
1. Examine your nails for variations in color. According to WebMD, white nails can signify health issues related to the liver, such as hepatitis; while yellow nails can signal respiratory and lung problems or diabetes. Kidney problems are associated with nails that are half white and half pink.
2. Look underneath the nail to the nail bed. Be aware of nail beds that are red or pale. Red nail beds have been linked to heart disease, while white or pale nail beds have been linked to anemia, according to WebMD. Red stripes have been linked to lupus and connective tissue disease, while dark lines underneath the nail can signal melanoma.
3. Rub your fingers over the nail. Ribbing of the nail can signal psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. Lung diseases can be signaled by excess tissue near the ends of fingers, called "clubbing," according to WebMD. Clubbing is also associated with "inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease and liver conditions," according to the Mayo Clinic. Anemia can also be associated with "spooning" of the nails, where the edges of the nail tilt upward, resembling a spoon.
4. Check to make sure the nail is still attached to the nail bed. If the nail is disconnected from the bed, it can signal a myriad of conditions, including malnutrition and uncontrolled diabetes.
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