From discoloured nails to ‘sausage fingers’, these are the signs to look out for (Picture: Getty)
Your health is in your hands – literally.
Given you pretty much see and use them every day, if your hands are a little red, it’s hard not to notice.
But when this happens, our hands are sometimes giving us subtle clues about our health and well-being – and when things aren’t exactly going to plan.
And Dr Donald Grant, a Bristol-based GP and a senior clinical advisor for the online chemist The Independent Pharmacy, doesn’t just mean that your hand being itchy is a sign you’ve been bitten by a mosquito.
‘From cardiovascular disease to psoriasis, our hands can tell us a lot about our health – indicating potentially serious health conditions,’ he says.
‘It’s vital to understand the telltale signs of illness and how to spot changes in hands to avoid a further reduction in well-being.’
Dr Grant says that given scabies – a tortuous skin rash caused by teeny tiny mites – is on the rise in the UK, it’s vital people keep an eye on their hands.
1. Nails
We’ve all heard how smoking stains our fingernails yellow – but our nails can hint at other conditions, too.
‘A range of health issues can all lead to alterations in nail appearance and texture,’ Dr Gant explains.
Dr Grant stresses people should see their GP if they have any concerns (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Firstly, pitted nails are when small dents or pits form on the surface of fingernails and can indicate psoriasis, in severe cases, it can cause the nails to crumble.’
Psoriasis (pronounced sore-EYE-ah-sis) is a common chronic skin disease that makes patches of our skin flaky and scale-like.
‘Additionally, yellow nails can be an indicator of a range of health issues, including fungal infections or underlying health conditions such as lung disease,’ the GP adds. In the latter, it’s often called ‘Yellow Nail Syndrome’ and causes swelling and breathing problems.
2. Skin
The appearance and texture of our skin can also change ‘rapidly’ when we fall ill, stresses Dr Grant.
‘Palmar Erythema is a skin condition causing the palms of hands to turn red, it can also bring a burning sensation and affects people for a range of reasons, including pregnancy,’ he says.
‘However, it can also be a sign of worrying health conditions such as lymphoma or liver disease.’
When we don’t have enough vitamins such as calcium or vitamin D, dry spots can pop up on our hands. Dry skin may also be a sign of eczema, a broad term for skin conditions that often take the form of itchy and, at times, debilitating rashes.
3. Stiff joints
If your hands begin to painfully creak and click as you move, this could be a sign of arthritis, warns Dr Grant.
Arthritis is a catchall term for more than 100 kinds of inflammatory joint conditions, all of which can flare for different reasons – and most have next to nothing to do with age.
While often …read more
Source:: Metro
