YOUR hands and nails can reveal a lot of surprising secrets about your health and highlight any serious warning signs that you shouldn't ignore.
The appearance of your hands and fingernails can give you a good idea of any potential health issues you have and what to look out for.
“I always make a point of shaking hands when I meet a patient for the first time,” says Dr Richard Russell, a consultant respiratory physician.
“Not only is it the best way to put a patient at ease but hands and nails can be one of the best windows into the body’s internal workings.”
Below are 12 signs that your hands and nails are warning are health issue...
1. Blue or white fingertips
This could be a signal of a common poor circulation condition called Raynaud’s syndrome, which occurs when the small blood vessels become sensitive to temperature change.
Although often not harmful, fingers and toes can turn white, blue or red and suffer from numbness, tingling and pain.
“In more serious cases, blue fingertips can be a sign of low oxygen levels in the body,” says Dr Russell.
“If accompanied by symptoms such as a fever it could be a sign of pneumonia, or if it occurs after exercise, may be an early sign of a long-term lung disease.”
2. Nail ridges
Frequently horizontal ridges or lines across your nails can be a clear sign that you've been recovering from a serious illness such as cancer.
When the body is fighting a serious illness, your nails stop growing.
3. Pale nail beds
When you press down on your fingernails, they should turn white and then immediately turn to pink again once the pressure has been released.
But, if they remain white or consistently look pale, this can be a sign of the iron-deficiency anaemia; this is as a result of not enough red blood cells circulating your body.
If left untreated, a severe iron deficiency could trigger fatigue, dizziness and heart problems, while also causing the nails become slight concave.
4. Dark nail streak
In a small number of cases, a dark pigment streak in your nail bed could be a sign of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
Contact your GP immediately if you experience this.
5. Trembling hands
Temporary trembling can be caused by too much caffeine, high anxiety and certain asthma drugs and antidepressants.
But if you're suffering from frequent and unexplained tremors you should see your doctor.
It could be a result of the condition ‘essential tremor’, although it doesn’t shorten lifespan, it's a progressive neurological disorder which often runs in families.
Or, shaking hands could be an early warning sign of Parkinson’s, a condition that the nervous system and brain.
For advice visit: parkinsons.org.uk
6. Clubbed fingers
“When fingertips and nails develop a bulbous end – looking like a club or drumstick in the most extreme cases – it’s often due to a decrease in available oxygen in the body and could signal chronic lung disease, including cystic fibrosis and lung cancer,” says respiratory physician Dr Russell.
For more information, visit the British Lung Foundation at blf.org.uk
The condition could also be an indication of serious heart disease; you should inform your GP if you have symptoms of 'clubbing'.
7. Blotchy red palms
Red blotchy palms are often associated with a condition called palmar erythema.
The condition is a sign of liver disease, in particular cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver, and it is recommended you seek medical advice.
When the liver is inflamed, its function is impaired and it causes an excess of circulating hormones, leading to dilated blood vessels in the hands and feet.
8. Swollen ‘sausage’ fingers
There are a number of fairly harmless causes for swollen fingers, such as PMS, mild dehydration and too much salt in your diet.
However, if sufferers experience swelling and stiffness they should consult their doctor as it can be a result of an underactive thyroid and rheumatoid arthritis.
9. Sweaty palms
Stress and an overactive thyroid, which speeds up your metabolism, generating more heat and burning extra calories can cause sweaty palms.
But if the issue occurs frequently, it should be mentioned to a medical professional.
10. Discoloured nails
If you experience yellow or green looking nails, it could be a fungal infection, which if frequent, can be an early sign of diabetes.
Bacteria and fungi flourish when a person's immune system and circulation are impaired, which is often the case with a diabetic.
Your GP can test your blood sugar and an anti-fungal treatment.
11. Fatty knuckles
Hard, yellow bumps over the knuckles could a sign of a potential fatal high cholesterol condition called ‘familial hypercholesterolaemia’ (FH).
Cholesterol deposit lumps will protrude when a sufferer clenches their fist, known as tendon xanthoma.
If untreated, people with FH can die from a heart attack at a young age because they have extremely high cholesterol levels.
About one in 200 people in the UK are affected, so it's important to get your cholesterol checked, particularly if you have a family history of heart attacks.
12. Fingers curling inwards
Frequently seen as a symptom of Dupuytren’s contracture, it's caused by the tendons between the fingertip and palm thickening which force the finger to start curling down into the palm.
Commonly seen in the ring and little finger, it can happen as a result of excess alcohol intake, diabetes or an injury to the hand.
Consult a GP of any changes as surgery may be needed.
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