Have you ever noticed unusual ridges or stripes on your nails and shaken them because of what to worry about?
You may want to think again. While the manicures may temporarily obscure imperfections, they cannot hide deeper health problems that could hide under the surface. Your nails are more than just an aesthetic feature;
They can offer a window to your overall health. Abnormalities in nails such as texture changes or stripes can be an early warning feature of potential liver, lungs, heart, or even nutritional deficiencies.
In this article, we will look in more detail at what these nail abnormalities could mean for your health and when it is time to seek medical attention.
While the manicure can temporarily hide any bumps or nail ridges, it cannot mask potential health problems that could be hidden below the surface. Your nails are a reflection of your overall health and any abnormality could point out the basic problems with your liver, lungs, heart,t or other vital organs.
Nail health can often reveal what is happening inside your body, and changes in their appearance could signal different health conditions, or simply be the result of the natural aging process. According to the National Library (NCBI), however, although some nail stripes may be harmless, they can also provide important traces for more serious health problems and detect systemic problems that require attention.
In this article, we will look at different types of nail stripes, what they can indicate about your health, and when it is time to consult a doctor.
Nail strips types
Vertical stripes
Vertical stripes or ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail are quite common and usually associated with aging, as these combs may be more evident over time. Sometimes nutritional deficiencies, especially a lack of basic vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, magnesium, or iron, may reflect.
While vertical combs are usually harmless and a natural part of aging, if they appear suddenly or become more pronounced, conditions such as anemia or thyroid gland may be paid for.
Horizontal stripes
Horizontal grooves, known as Beau lines, could point to more specific health problems. This indentation may form after trauma on a nail or due to serious illnesses such as malnutrition, uncontrolled diabetes, heart attacks, or respiratory diseases.
Horizontal combs often develop during temporary disruption of nail growth caused by periods of intense stress or illness, because the body temporarily stops or slows the nail production.
According to NCBI, sudden changes in these grooves may signal a sudden health problem. When these lines appear on all 20 nails, they can be associated with systemic diseases such as mumps, pneumonia, coronary thrombosis, Kawasaki disease, syphilis, and hypoparathyroidism.
White stripes
White parallel horizontal lines that do not produce the surface of the nail may indicate liver or kidney problems. These lines, known as the Muehrcke lines, tend to disappear when the nail is pressed and usually appear on more nails simultaneously.
These white stripes may also occur due to low blood protein levels, especially albumin, which is common in individuals with malnutrition or chronic liver disease. If you notice the Muehrcke lines on several nails, it is a good idea to consult a healthcareprovider because they can signal protein deficiencies or liver and kidney problems.
The impact of a bad diet
For most people, mild combs or waves are normal and can often be solved by simple enthusiasm or changes in your lifestyle.
A balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals – such as biotin, vitamin E, iron,n, and zinc – can improve the appearance of nails over time.
Dr. Sara Norris, a naturopathic doctor from Los Angeles, explainto s HealthLine that “nail health is often a reflection of poor nutrition or digestive health”. According to Dr. Norris are fragile, weak, or peeled nails most common concerns that they encounter in their practice, and these symptoms are more often associated with poor eating habits than the underlying systemic disease.
Your nails can offer valuable knowledge of your health, from signs of aging to potential indicators of serious health conditions. While most of the causes are easy to deal with, they serve as important signals to pay attention to, helping you maintain good health.
In conclusion, while minor changes in the appearance of nails, such as combs or stripes, can often be a natural part of the aging process, they can also serve as important traces of basic health problems. From nutritional shortcomings to more serious systemic diseases, your nails can reveal much about what is happening inside your body.
It is important to pay attention to these features and consult with the healthcare provider if you notice sudden or significant changes. By maintaining a balanced diet and acknowledging the knowledge of your overall health, you can help ensure that your nails remain strong and your body remains in optimal condition.
