You see them every day, but when was the last time you got a really good look at your hands? If it's been a while, you might want to start reviewing them really well. Everything from battered fingernails to shaky fingers could signal that you need to see something in your health. It is true, the hands could be revealing to you at this moment, health states that you should be reviewing right now.
9 signs your hands reveal about your health
Our hands are a great way to be aware of what may be happening to our health. Some sensations and physical states in our palms and in our fingers, may be indicating problems in other parts of our body and are warning signs that we should not ignore. The following are some symptoms on the hands that may be the result of nutritional deficiencies or specific diseases.
Tingling hands
If your hands are shaking uncontrollably, first, don't panic. A simple explanation for hand tremors may be that you've had too much caffeine. And some medications, including asthma medications and antidepressants, can also cause your hands to shake. However, if none of these causes are to blame, or you develop unexplained tremors that occur frequently, see your doctor. A rarer cause could be Parkinson's disease, a nervous system disorder that affects movement.
Cracked or weak fingernails
If your nails look more delicate than a fancy wine glass, you may be deficient in zinc. Zinc can help with the growth and renewal of skin cells. Consider adding foods rich in zinc to your diet to see if that leads to improvement. Some options: wheat germ, oatmeal, nuts, and meat.
Lack of circulation in the hands
Having the fingertips of your right hand numb can be due to a pinched nerve, but be careful, it can also be a sign of heart disease.
Flaky and peeling skin
If the skin on your fingertips is suddenly scaly, you may have a vitamin B deficiency. B vitamins like niacin (B3) and biotin (vitamin B7) are very important for healthy skin. Taking a biotin supplement helps promote healthy skin and nail growth, Niacin helps protect and repair the skin by preventing melanin formation, stimulating collagen growth, and enhancing the natural moisture barrier. In addition to taking a supplement, add niacin-rich foods like fish, peanuts, and mushrooms, and biotin-rich foods like avocado and tuna, to your diet.
Dry, itchy, and rash on the hands
If you feel like no lotion is enough for your rough hands, you may have eczema, a skin condition that makes it dry, itchy, or has a rash. Talk to your doctor and see if you may need a prescription ointment or cream to help restore your skin, although it is better to see the diet you are eating and try to solve the surface with natural remedies.
If your doctor determines that you do not have eczema and that your hands are simply dry, use rich moisturizers that contain vitamin A. Repeated hand washing, which can dry your hands and then touch paper and other hard materials all day, it will dry twice. Also apply vitamin E to cuticles at night. Because we don't wash our hands in our sleep, these products will take a fair amount of time to penetrate your skin.
Blue color on the fingertips
Fingertips that change color from white to blue to red may indicate Raynaud's Syndrome. This condition causes coldness of the fingers and toes and can be accompanied by pain, numbness, and tingling. Experts believe that Raynaud's occurs due to a spasm of blood vessels and decreased circulation, but the cause remains unknown. The best treatment: wear gloves, take prescribed medication, and avoid emotional stress, smoking, and exposure to low temperatures.
White or pale lines on the nails
This type of discoloration can be a sign of anemia, which means that you are not making enough healthy red blood cells to get enough oxygen to your tissues. A routine blood test can check for anemia, and treatment usually consists of iron supplements, but requires a proper medical evaluation first.
Spinal problems are reflected in the hands
Damage to the spine can cause problems with the nerve pathways, causing certain symptoms that may be affecting our hands. For example, tingling, blood flow problems, and numbness. Strengthening your back muscles by doing yoga or swimming can help fix this problem. You should also try not to sit for long periods of time.
Flexible nails
Nails that are soft and flexible can indicate a calcium or protein deficiency. One of the signs of hypocalcemia (low calcium levels) can be brittle nails or flaky dry skin and thick hair. Protein deficiencies can also present as ridges on the nails. Make sure you eat a diet rich in dairy products, as well as sardines and spinach. If that doesn't help, you should review it with your doctor.
Tingling in the hands could be diabetes
It is a tingling that often starts in the feet and goes to the hands. This can be a sign that you have diabetes. The reason is that diabetes commonly causes decreased circulation, which, in turn, can cause damage to nerve endings, causing tingling.
A dark pigmented line on the hands
If you see a dark streak on your nails, seek medical help immediately. The mark may indicate early melanoma, but we know that this type of skin cancer on the nails is quite rare: it only accounts for 1 to 3% of all melanoma cases, according to an Italian study. Tip: Always remove nail polish before any kind of evaluation with a doctor so that your nails can be thoroughly evaluated by an expert.
Brown spots
These are age spots and liver spots, which are caused directly by sun exposure. Hands are extremely prone to sun damage as they absorb additional UV rays from the position on the steering wheel when you are driving. So, be sure to slather an efficient sunscreen on your hands when you know that you will be in direct sunlight for long periods of time.
Weight control is a term used to discuss managing and maintaining a healthy body weight. Having a healthy body weight can mean different things for different people. The traditional way this weight is calculated is with the body mass index (BMI). Your BMI uses your height and weight to figure out your ideal weight range. This number can vary, but typically, you are considered obese if your BMI is over 30.