Nails and Health

Read the Signs 

Did you know your nails can reveal clues to
your overall health? A touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, or some
rippling or bumps may be a sign of disease in the body. Problems in the
liver, lungs, and heart can show up in your nails. Keep reading to
learn what secrets your nails might reveal.

Pale Nails

Very pale nails are sometimes linked to
aging. But they can also be a sign of serious illness, such as:
· Anemia
· Congestive heart failure
· Diabetes
· Liver disease
· Malnutrition 

White Nails

If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver
problems, such as hepatitis. In this image, you can see the fingers are
also jaundiced, another sign of liver trouble.

Yellow Nails

One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal
infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and
nails may thicken and crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate
a more serious condition such as severe thyroid disease or psoriasis

Bluish Nails

Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isnt getting
enough oxygen. This could indicate an infection in the lungs, such as
pneumonia.

Rippled Nails

If the nail surface is rippled or pitted, this may be an
early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. Psoriasis is a skin
condition that starts in the nails 10% of the time.

Cracked or Split Nails

Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack
or split have been linked to thyroid disease. Cracking or splitting
combined with a yellowish hue is more likely due to a fungal infection

 

Puffy Nail Fold

If the skin around the nail appears red
and puffy, this is known as inflammation of the nail fold. It may be
the result of lupus or another connective tissue disorder.

Dark Lines Beneath the Nail

Dark lines beneath the nail should be
investigated as soon as possible. They are sometimes caused by
melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

Gnawed Nails

Biting your nails may be nothing more than
an old habit, but in some cases its a sign of persistent anxiety that
could benefit from treatment. Nail biting or picking has also been
linked to obsessive-compulsiv e disorder. If you cant stop, its worth
discussing with your doctor.

Nails Are Only Part of the Puzzle

Though nail changes accompany many
conditions, these changes are rarely the first sign. And many nail
abnormalities are harmless -- not everyone with white nails has
hepatitis. If youre concerned about the appearance of your nails, see
a skin doctor dermatologist or a Physician.

Thanks Yahoo.....

Awareness

Brain power can decline from age 45: study

 

Cognitive skill scan start to fall from the age of 45, not from around the age of 60 as is commonly thought, according to research published on Friday by the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Researchers led by Archana Singh-Manoux from the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France and University College London observed 5,198 men and 2,192 women over a 10-year period from 1997.

 

The volunteers were London civil servants aged between 45 and 70 who had been enrolled in a long-term health study.

Over the 10 years, the participants were tested three times -- for memory, vocabulary, and skills in aural and visual comprehension.

During this time, there was a 3.6-percent decline in mental reasoning in men aged 45-49 and a 9.6-percent fall in those aged 65-70. The corresponding figures for women were 3.6 and 7.4 percent.

"Cognitive decline is already evident in middle age," says the paper, which defines this as the years from 45 to 49.

The findings should spur further research into spotting and braking cognitive deterioration, the authors hope.

Many societies face an "exponential increase" in the number of elderly people as a result of increases in life expectancy, they note.

 

"These changes are likely to have a profound influence on individuals' lives and society at large. Poor cognitive status is perhaps the single most disabling condition in old age."

Thanks & Regards,  (courtesyto AFP, yahoo)