9 THINGS YOUR HANDS SAY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH

Did you know your hands can reveal clues to your overall health? From fingernail color to grip strength, our hands can indicate risk factors for a number of health conditions. Below are the 9 things your hands say about your health.

1. GRIP STRENGTH

More recently, studies have linked grip strength and overall health. According to one research, grip strength is actually a better predictor of cardiovascular disease than blood pressure. A weak grip is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Grip strength is an indicator of overall muscle strength and fitness. Whole-body strength training and aerobic exercise can reduce heart disease risk.

2. SHAKY HANDS

Shaky hands is commonly referred to as a hand tremor. Hand tremor could be the result of something as simple as too much caffeine or a side effect of certain medications like asthma drugs and antidepressants. But it’s a good idea to see your doctor if the issue recurs. A tremor in just one hand can be a first symptom of Parkinson’s disease, or it can indicate essential tremor, a disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking.

3. BONY LUMPS ON FINGERS

Bony pea-sized lumps that are painful to the touch around the joints of the fingers can be a marker for osteoarthritis elsewhere in the body, such as hips or knees.

4. CLUB FINGERS

If the tips of your fingers are dome-shaped or look like small clubs, it could be a warning sign of serious diseases such as Lung cancer. This sign found in around 29% of people with lung cancer.

5. SWEATY PALMS

Overly sweaty hands may be a symptom of thyroid conditions, as well as hyperhidrosis, a condition in which overactive sweat glands produce sweat in excess of what is considered normal. Most people with the condition sweat from only one or two parts of the body, such as the under arms, palms, or feet.

6. RED PALMS

If your palms remain reddened over a long period of time, this may be a condition called liver palm or palmar erythema. It is thought to be caused by blood vessels which are dilating in response to the hormone imbalance caused by the damage to the liver. The redness is more prominent on the outer edge of the palms from the wrist to the little finger.

7. TWO-TONE NAILS

Nails that are a pale white on the bottom half, nearest the skin, but a brownish shade on the top half, could be a sign of chronic kidney disease. The condition is known as half-and-half nails and it’s thought to be due to a build up of urea – a waste product normally processed by the kidneys but which here crystallises under the skin and nails.

8. PALE OR WHITE NAIL BEDS

This type of discoloration can be a sign of anemia, which means your body is not making enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. A routine blood test can check for anemia, and treatment generally consists of iron supplementation.

9. BLUE FINGERNAILS

Nails that have a blue-ish look about them usually indicate that the body is low on oxygen. Respiratory problems, like pneumonia, often cause the nails to have a blue-ish tint. Heart conditions called cyanosis can also give the nails a blue discoloration.