$Unique_ID{BRK01448}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Amused by the Attention the Doctor Pays to Finger Nails}
$Subject{nails examination special procedures procedure finger nail hand
thicker ridged vascular inefficiency renal failure discolored yellow syphilis
cancer cancers fingers fingernail fingernails hands examine}
$Volume{P-20, L-20}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Amused by the Attention the Doctor Pays to Finger Nails


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QUESTION:  I am always amused by the careful attention my doctor pays to my
finger nails as part of my regular visit.  I am always curious what he is
searching for in such an insignificant part of my body, but have never dared
ask.  Can you please enlighten me?

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ANSWER:  Your nails are not as unimportant as you seem to think.  They can
offer the careful and attentive physician vital information on otherwise
hidden details of your personal health.  Like the rings of a tree, the nail
contains a record of a person's immediate health history; conditions ranging
from nutritional and vascular disorders to the presence of endocrine or
infectious diseases can be detected from the evidence at hand (so to speak).
Thicker, ridged nails, for example, can be a sign of vascular inefficiency or
renal failure that accompany aging, while discolored, yellow nails can
indicate a number of conditions including syphilis and cancer.  A darker
colored band running horizontally through a nail may be evidence of congestive
heart failure.  These and many other specific nail conditions may tip off your
doctor to a health threatening condition that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.