"Discover the Secrets of Your Health: How Doctors Reveal Illnesses Through 7 Nail Changes – Test Yourself Today!"

The Myth of "Little Suns" on Nails and Their True Reflection of Health

Once upon a time, the "little suns" on nails were highly sought-after, with the belief that the more of them, the healthier one was. In reality, this saying holds only a grain of truth. In fact, nails do mirror changes in human health, but not through "little suns"; rather, it's the shape and color of nails that reveal clues. According to Dr. Shen Lankai from our online partner hospital, the twelve meridians of the human body manifest at the fingertips, making nails a barometer of health.

A healthy individual's nails are smooth, featuring a uniform light pink hue, adorned with a lunula, a crescent-shaped area of grayish-white. However, when the body falls ill, changes in the nails reflect through the blood vessels and meridians, leading to various alterations.

Seven Changes Suggesting Seven Diseases

1. Yellow and Thick Nails - This yellowing is not due to prolonged smoking. Rather, it refers to a "yellow nail syndrome," causing yellow, thick nails with slowed growth. Commonly seen in jaundice, onychomycosis, hypothyroidism, chronic respiratory diseases, or lymphatic disorders.

2. Bluish-Purple Tinge - Conditions like congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, local microcirculation disorders, or coronary heart disease with angina can lead to arterial hypoxia or increased reduced hemoglobin, turning nails bluish-purple, indicative of blood stasis. This color fades naturally with the resolution of hypoxia.

3. Pale and Lifeless - When nails are white, not the natural white but devoid of blood color even under pressure, it often signals qi and blood deficiency. This is prevalent in anemia, malnutrition, postpartum blood deficiency, or long-term physical weakness.

4. Blue Crescent - Typically, the lunula is pale white. A bluish haze over it may indicate heart disease, blood circulation blockages, or other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus erythematosus. Consult a doctor promptly if this occurs.

5. Brown Spots - Brown patches or spots on nails or surrounding tissue can be clusters of small spots or a large one, often indicative of melanoma.

6. Vertical Red Lines - These signify microvascular bleeding. Multiple red lines may point to chronic skin conditions like psoriasis or a life-threatening infection like subacute bacterial endocarditis.

7. Split Nails - Nails with a brown or pink tip and white base can be a sign of chronic renal failure. Nevertheless, nail examination is merely a superficial observation. If you feel unwell or concerned about specific illnesses, seeking medical advice is the best course of action.