Guest guest Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 Someone mentioned ridges on their nails and I have a question. I used to not have any ridges pre-op, but now all my nails have them. When I asked my surgeon about it, he said maybe my nails were harder now because of all the extra protein, but I never had soft nails before. Do the ridges mean anything? Thanks--- 8/2/02 369/224/150 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 In a message dated 9/13/2003 4:26:39 PM Central Daylight Time, katobe@... writes: > > Someone mentioned ridges on their nails and I have a question. I used to > not have any ridges pre-op, but now all my nails have them. When I asked my > surgeon about it, he said maybe my nails were harder now because of all the > extra protein, but I never had soft nails before. Do the ridges mean > anything? > --------------------------------------------- > > From my files: Carol A > Nail Health> > > Here is an article on nail conditions. Hope this helps. Townsend > RN Fingernails and nutrition > Did you know you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their nails? > Not just what their shade of polish is, or whether they do heavy housework > and not by the nail length. We're not just looking at cosmetics here, but > rather at unpolished nails and seeing if they have anything to say about health. > > Nails are our protection for the nerves in our fingertips, while toenails > protect toes from damage or injury. They are part of the skin layer and are > made up of a protein called keratin. A healthy blood supply will create a > peachy-pink nail bed. If there is a deficiency or physical problem within our > bodies, the fingernails will show it. > > What are some of the problems that can show up on the nails, and what are > the signs? > > Discolored nails: Diabetes, stress, allergies and simple illness can cause > your nails to appear discolored. A greenish nail color, however, can be a > sign of infection, either in the nail bed or in your system. Bluish nail beds > can be a sign of lung trouble, such as emphysema or even asthma. A simple dark > blue line in the nail can be a sign of skin cancer. Tiny black streaks can > indicate a heart problem, while reddish-brown spots can indicate a deficiency > of folic acid, protein or vitamin C. > > Yellowing nails are early signals of various internal disorders, such as > diabetes, respiratory or liver problems. White lines in or across the nail can > signal fever, liver or heart disease, kidney disorders or, more likely, a > lack of iron or zinc in your diet. > > We've seen what the color of our nails has to say, but what about the > shape, texture and overall condition? > > Nail shapes: Nails that tend to curl under at the tips can signify > respiratory or heart problems, while nails that are raised at the base can also > signal respiratory trouble. Square, wide nails can be a result of a hormonal > disorder while flat, thin nails can be from insufficient vitamin B12. > > The texture of fingernails can tell as much about ones general health as > the color can. Below are some common texture abnormalities and what they can > possibly indicate. > > Nail textures: Vertical ridges that appear on the nail can indicate > disorders as simple as iron deficiency, poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients, > overall poor health or they could indicate something as serious as kidney > trouble. (So, you see why consulting your physician is so important.) These > vertical ridges, as well as bumpy nails, can also suggest that one is prone to > developing arthritis. Ridges running horizontally across the nail can indicate > physical or mental stress. > > Nutrition plays an extremely important role in every function of our > bodies, right down to the tips of our fingers and toes, literally. As well as > signs of other possible disorders, nails can let us know how we add up when it > comes to getting all of our required nutrients. > > Since nails are mainly made up of protein, they can immediately alert us > to a lack of it in our diet. White lined bands across the nail beds can signal > a protein deficiency. You can get protein from beans, oats, seeds, nuts, > eggs and lean meats. > > Calcium is also important for healthy nails. Without it, the nails lose > their strength and become brittle and dry. You can find calcium in green leafy > vegetables, dairy products, sesame seeds or even a daily supplement. > > > As mentioned before, ridges in the nails can be a result of vitamin deficie > ncy, one of which is the B vitamins. Vitamin B is needed for strengthening, > while vitamin B12 also strengthens while promoting normal nail growth and > healthy coloring. > > Vitamin C is another necessary vitamin. Adequate intake can help prevent > hang nails and swelling of nail tissue, and a frequent occurrence of either of > these symptoms is a good indication of a deficiency. > > Probably the most common sight on the nails is the " white spot " . Although > it has been noted that white lines can be symptoms of a serious disorder, > their presence is more than likely a result of iron or zinc deficiency. Before > worrying about any severe disease, your first step should be to see your > doctor and have him/her test your levels of iron and zinc. Zinc supplements are > easily found in any pharmacy while additional iron intake needs to be monitored > by your physician. > > The best way to assure yourself of healthy nails is to eat a well balanced > diet. You'll need plenty of protein as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. > Sufficient water intake is also important, for as well as keeping the rest of > you healthy it provides moisture for nails. If you feel you are still not > getting enough essential vitamins and minerals it is recommended that you take > a comprehensive supplement. > > (As always, it is important to note that this is provided to be purely > informative, and under no circumstances should one take this information and use > it for self-diagnosis. If you are concerned or suspect you may have any > condition, see your doctor immediately.) >> > ---------------------------------- > > From: annmills@... (Ann Mills) > I did a google search on ridges in nails and came up with this: > HORIZONTAL RIDGES Injury; infection; nutrition > > LONGITUDINAL RIDGES Aging, poor absorption of vitamins and minerals; > thyroid disease; kidney failure. Lack of protein can also cause these ridges. > Also lack of Vitamin A. The body needs Vit. E to absorb vitamin A so it may > mean you need Vit E if you are taking Vit A and it's not improving. I also read > that ridges in fingernails indicates iron anemia Hope this helps > Ann > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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