What hands can tell about the state of health

We see them every day, but when was the last time you really took a closer look at your hands? And in vain, because looking at them, you can learn a lot about the state of health: by palms and fingers, you can really determine violations in the body.

The power of the handshake

In psychology, the strength of a person’s handshake determines his temperament and personality type. And some doctors use this characteristic to determine the state of health of the patient.

In particular, Ann Albers, an MD from Ohio, claims that the strength of a handshake can be used to judge the state of a person’s cardiovascular system. This sign becomes especially important in combination with a slow gait. In this case, it is possible to suspect violations of a cardiological nature. You can also understand the state of the nervous system. For example, with a decrease in strength, a person may have paresis or hernia in the spine.

red rash

If a red rash appears on the palms or wrists (sometimes it can be with small blisters), this may be a sign of an allergy. In such cases, dermatologists most often talk about an allergy to nickel, which is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Many items that come into daily contact with our skin contain nickel. This element can be found in rings, bracelets, watches and even mobile phones. In addition, nickel is also found in some foods. For example, in beans, peanuts, soy, oatmeal. In addition, a rash on the hands may appear due to an allergy to detergents or cosmetics.

Numbness and pain in the wrist

If a person complains of pain, slight tingling, and numbness of the fingers, they may have carpal tunnel syndrome. The cause of the disorder is a pinched nerve in the area of ​​the hand. This happens in people who like to sleep with their arms bent at the wrists. But this is only one of the possible causes that cause tingling in the fingers and numbness of the hands. Sometimes such a symptom can be a harbinger of a stroke.

trigger finger

This term refers to a condition where the ability to bend and straighten one or more fingers is impaired. Most often this happens with the ring or thumb, and the cause is usually an inflamed tendon. If such a violation occurs frequently, then it can be regarded as an indirect symptom of arthritis, thyroid disease or diabetes.

Red scales on the skin

Peeling spots on the skin of the hands, combined with yellowed nails, which sometimes lag behind the nail plate, is a typical symptom of psoriasis. In addition, scaly skin on the hands can be associated with other diseases, including arthritis and cardiovascular disorders.

red palms

By the hands you can determine the condition of the liver. If the palms are very red, this may be a sign of organ dysfunction, up to cirrhosis. But in this case, the redness is most intense closer to the edge of the palm in the little finger area.

Very sweaty hands

The hormones produced by the thyroid gland control the metabolic processes in the body. If the thyroid gland is overactive, the body generates more heat, which, in turn, activates sweating. Therefore, if a person always has sweaty palms, this may indicate a thyroid disease.

blue fingers

When hypothermic, the hands may turn a bluish-purple color. But sometimes the blueness of the hands can also indicate serious health problems. For example, if during stress or when the air temperature changes, the fingers first turn white and then turn blue or purple (sometimes almost black), Raynaud’s disease can be suspected in a person.

The cause of this condition is a sharp narrowing of blood vessels, which temporarily disrupts blood flow to the fingers or toes. At this time, the fingers become numb and cold, sometimes this condition is accompanied by painful sensations. As blood flow resumes, the fingers may tingle slightly, throb, and become very red. In addition, a change in the color of the fingers may indicate the presence of autoimmune diseases, including lupus or scleroderma.

If the cause of the cyanosis of the fingers is Raynaud’s syndrome, then the hands must be protected from hypothermia, as well as avoid stress and stop smoking.

trembling hands

Usually trembling hands can be seen in the elderly or at the time of a strong nervous shock. Nevertheless, sometimes trembling in the hands appears in young people, moreover, for no apparent reason. In some cases, such a symptom is not a cause for concern, in others it is a reason to take your health seriously. If the tremor recurs every day, it may be a sign of a neurological disorder. But sometimes this can happen after a sleepless night, due to excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol, and also while taking certain medications, including asthma or depression. In older people, the tremor usually only occurs at certain times, such as when eating or when a person is trying to thread a needle. If the tremor affects only one arm (or is more noticeable on one side of the body) and manifests itself even at rest, this may indicate the presence of Parkinson’s disease.

red nodules

In some people, red (sometimes with a purple tint) bumps can be seen on the fingertips. Medically known as Osler’s nodes, they are a symptom of a serious condition called endocarditis (a bacterial infection of the heart valves). In addition, due to this disease, bruising in the form of purple or brown spots may appear on the skin of the palms. Sometimes these bruises appear under the nails or on the fingers near them.

Swelling and pain in the hands

Possible culprits for this condition include rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, lupus, vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), scleroderma (connective tissue disease), dermatomyositis (skin and muscle disease). Sometimes swelling of the hands can indicate inflammation in the intestines.

If only the fingers swell, then there may be several reasons. Oddly enough, but this can be a sign of dehydration – the body, protecting itself from complete dehydration, accumulates fluid in the tissues. In addition, fingers can increase in volume with elevated body temperature, excess salt in the diet, as well as with a sedentary lifestyle, which disrupts blood circulation and lymph flow. If the fingers are swollen and do not return to their previous shape, sometimes this indicates a malfunction of the thyroid gland.

If the knuckles of the fingers are deformed and hurt a lot, this may be a sign of osteoarthritis.

“Drumsticks”

In some people, the fingers noticeably expand in the area of ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe pads (the so-called drummer’s fingers). This is a signal of problems with the lungs, for example, there may be inflammation or bronchitis. In addition, the unnatural shape of the fingers and outwardly curved nails can indicate cardiovascular diseases, most often – pericarditis.

Constantly cold hands

This is the surest sign of circulatory disorders in the limbs. The cause of this condition should be sought in the work of the vascular system. It is possible that a person has a blockage of capillaries or larger vessels, and the spine should also be checked for hernias.

Weak, brittle nails

If your nails look very brittle, your body may be deficient in zinc. This microelement takes part in the regeneration of skin cells and nail plates. Zinc-rich foods will help restore healthy nails. And these are nuts, red meat, oatmeal, sprouted wheat. Another reason for excessive softness of nails is calcium deficiency. In this case, in addition to weak nails, a person may have very dry, scaly skin and thick hair. Insufficient protein intake can also affect the quality and beauty of nails. Therefore, it is useful to regularly consume dairy products, spinach and sardines.

Unnatural nail shape

If the nail plates become thinner and at the same time transverse stripes form on them, this often indicates an iron deficiency. People whose nails curl inward, resembling claws, most likely have lung problems. Such nails can be with tuberculosis, a malignant tumor in the lung (mesothelioma).

blue nails

In normal condition, the nails should be a pale pink color. If they turn blue, this always indicates a violation of blood circulation. In addition, the cyanosis of the nails several times increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

pale nails

If the skin under the nails is very pale or almost white, this may indicate the presence of anemia. Checking your health status is easy with a test. All that is needed for diagnosis is simply to press on the nail plate and watch how quickly the nail returns to pink. If in a moment – there is no anemia, if a sign from pressing remains for a long time – it’s time to see a doctor. Anemia indicates that the number of red blood cells in the blood is insufficient to adequately supply tissues with oxygen. For the treatment of anemia, iron preparations, folic acid and vitamin B12 are taken.

Pigmentation on nails

If dark spots appear on the nails, this is a serious reason to seek medical advice. Sometimes, early stages of skin cancer appear with these symptoms. But at the same time, it is necessary to distinguish between age spots and signs formed as a result of mechanical trauma, for example, from a blow. These, unlike cancerous ones, disappear after a while.

Every time you go to a dermatologist, make sure that your nails are not varnished. This will help the specialist make a more accurate diagnosis.

Flaky skin on fingers

If the skin on the fingertips begins to peel off, this may be a signal of a deficiency of B vitamins. Most often – B3 (niacin or nicotinic acid) and B7 (biotin), which are especially important for the health of the skin and nails. Both substances can be taken in the form of pharmacy vitamins or increase the amount of foods rich in B vitamins in the diet. You can replenish niacin by eating fish, peanuts, mushrooms. And tuna and avocado are excellent sources of biotin.

Dry itchy skin

This type of symptom may indicate various dermatological diseases. But if a serious illness is excluded, then vitamin E deficiency may be the cause of itching and dry hands. To restore the skin of the hands at night, it is useful to rub the vitamin into the fingers and cuticles.

Finger length

Something about the state of health can be learned from the length of the fingers. To be more precise, some experts analyze the ratio of the index and nameless: the longer the latter, the more testosterone in the body. In addition, scientists have found a relationship between the length of the ring finger in women and their cognitive abilities: the longer the fourth finger, the better females cope with spatial tasks. However, the same trait makes a woman twice as likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.

Fingerprint drawing

British researchers studied the fingerprints and medical history of 139 people and concluded that there is a relationship between the pattern on the fingertips and the state of human health. According to the observations of scientists, people whose fingers resemble spiral curls are more likely to suffer from hypertension than those with prints in the form of loops or arches.

Hands can tell a lot about a person. A neat manicure decorates and completes the image. But by the condition of the hands and nails, one can judge not only the accuracy and taste of a person. If you look closely at this part of the body, you can also learn about his state of health. Pay more attention to your hands and perhaps this will help you recognize the disease at an early stage or even prevent it.