When I was a kid, I had a terrible habit of biting my fingernails.  It was an unconscious thing, really, but it drove my parents crazy! As I’ve gotten older, I’ve done a pretty good job of breaking myself of the habit.  Although during some scary movies, I’ve been known to revert back to the old habit.

Did you know that your nails can be indicators of your health? Just like oral health is associated with overall health, your nails can reveal signs of your overall health, too. What do your nails say about you?  Below is a list of things that your nails could reveal about you.

• Have you ever wondered what the ridges on your nails are from?  If they are vertical, from the nail bed to the tip, it’s probably not a health concern but more likely heredity, according to Dr. Lawrence Gibson, a dermatologist with Mayo Clinic.  But if they develop deep ridges or change color, he cautions, it’s best to see a doctor.  It could be underlying health problems, such as respiratory disease or malnutrition.
  


• Remember when your mom caught you biting your nails and kept telling you to stop?  It’s most likely nothing more than a bad habit, but it could be a sign of anxiety. Nail biting or picking has also been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  


• Have you ever had yellow nails?  It could be that your nails are being stained from your nail polish, but one of the most common causes of yellow nails is an infection. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate something more serious like severe thyroid disease or psoriasis.
  


• Did you know you nails can have a bluish tint?  (Mine are always blue, but then again, I’m all blue anyway…)  Bluish nails can indicate that your body isn’t getting enough oxygen because of something like pneumonia.

Not to worry, though.  If you have a condition that you think might be associated with your nails, it probably wouldn’t be your first sign. Though nail changes accompany many conditions, these changes are rarely the first sign as most nail abnormalities are harmless. See a dermatologist if you are concerned.

For more information on nail health, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine page on nail diseases.

Did you ever bite your nails as a kid?  What did your parents do to try to get you to stop?

Related Posts:
Oral Health
10 Things You Never Knew About Osteoporosis
The Dry Skin Winter Blues

Subscribe to Groupie Blog to receive free updates on the latest health and wellness posts in your feed reader or e-mail!

1