Believe it or not, your fingernails can tell you a lot about your health. Among other symptom, they can indicate everything from heart disease to thyroid problems and malnutrition. Here are some nail conditions that might require medical attention.
- When your fingernails become loose and can separate from the nail bed, the possible cause can be an Injury or infection, thyroid disease, a reaction to drugs or psoriasis (a disease that affects the skin). There is currently no cure for psoriasis, and it is generally permanent – though it can be treated.
- Thick nails with yellow discoloration that lack a cuticle and detach from the nail bed may indicate respiratory conditions, such as chronic bronchitis ?or swelling of the hands (lymph-edema).
- Soft nails that look scooped out (koilonychia) where the depression is usually large enough to hold a drop of liquid may be a sign of Iron deficiency or Anemia.
- Enlarged fingers and nails that curve around the fingertips can indicate heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or cardiovascular or liver disease.
- Nails that look opaque but have a dark band at the tips may signify Malnutrition, Diabetes, Liver disease or Congestive heart failure.
A Specialty Care Services home care?nurse professional can?assist patients?in recognizing?these and other signals of potential and possible health problems before they become serious.?.