Have you ever heard the saying “The eyes are the windows to the soul”? Well, have you ever thought that that saying could be used to make different points about the body and what it can show? For example, if the eyes are the windows to the soul, can the stomach be where the butterflies roam free? Regardless of the wordplay, different parts of the body can be a sign that something is up. The eyes show who you are on the inside, the butterflies express that giddy feeling you get when Cupid comes in and shoots you with his arrow or when something isn’t right (don’t worry, you’ll know the difference between the two gut feelings) but what about the hands? Can the hands be a sign of something? In some instances yes it can, especially when it comes to your lungs and liver.
Oddly enough, your hands are one of the first things people may notice about you.
It’s important to keep your hands and fingernails as clean and cut as you can for many reasons.
One reason is simply for appearance, walking around with dirty fingernails, unkempt cuticles and ashy hands can play into how people treat you, unfortunately, which can have an impact on your self-esteem (yes, people are that shallow and will judge you for anything they can).
Another reason why it’s important to upkeep your hands and nails is for health purposes. Dirty fingernails and unkempt nail beds can hold a lot of bacteria if they’re not cleaned often and cared for properly. Jagged fingernails can cut you or someone else, which can cause even more damage.
It’s also important to keep your nails maintained because they could be showing you signs that something is seriously wrong.
RELATED: How Healthy Are Your Nails?
There are many different ways your nails will show you that something may be wrong internally.
One way is the shape of your nail and nail bed. If the shape and texture of your fingernails and bed are different than how your fingernails are supposed to look, this can be a sign of underlying health issues. Clubbed fingernails (nails that curve around an enlarged fingertip) can be a sign of cardiovascular problems or even pulmonary problems.
Other signs that you may be living with underlying issues are lines on the nails, changes in nail color and changes in the lunula, which is the white half-moon-like shape at the base of your fingers.
If you notice that these symptoms have developed on your nails, then you may be living with serious medical conditions.
If you notice changes in the lunula, you may be dealing with congestive heart failure. Clubbed fingernails can also be a sign of cardiovascular problems along with pulmonary problems. Pulmonary problems can include respiratory issues and even be a sign of lung disease. Another sign of lung disease that shows on your nails is changes in color. If your nails start to show a yellow discoloration on them, this can be a sign of not only different types of lung diseases but chronic bronchitis as well. Your nails being solely white also shows that something isn’t right with your heart. If you notice that your nails are turning white, it could be a sign of not only heart problems but liver and kidney problems as well.
If you notice any of these changes within your nails, the first thing you want to do is see if there are any symptoms that follow. Notice if you have been feeling any chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing, fatigue, nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, yellowing of the nails and skin, or any other symptoms that may be rare for you. These are all signs of lung, liver, kidney and cardiovascular problems.
Once you notice that there are some symptoms, reach out to a doctor as quickly as you can so it can be determined if any concern should be raised. Even if you do not notice any symptoms aside from the changing of your nails, it’s still important to go get it checked out.
Melanoma (the worst type of skin cancer) though rare, can show up on your fingernails and around the skin and this is usually one of the only symptoms of the disease.
RELATED: Melanoma Can Strike Your Nails: Here’s How to Check
Just know, it’s important to pay attention to your hands and nails and upkeep them. They may be the help you need to determine what’s going on internally.
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