Doctor shares five subtle signs on your hands that can indicate serious health issues
While it would be lovely to be able to know exactly what was going on with our bodies, things are not that simple.
Fortunately, sickness does give off certain signals which health experts can pick up on.
The hands are a rather expressive part of our body and there are ways they can try to tell you things aren't how they should be.
There's a number of times when your own paws ought to give you pause for thought, according to a doctor.
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Dr Donald Grant, a senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, told YahooLife that there were five features of your hands which could provide a window into your health.
Nailing it
The doctor explained that you want to be keeping an eye on your fingernails, especially for small dents on the surface of the nail or any potential yellowing.
These could be a sign of the nail potentially crumbling, or of a fungal infection or some other long term health condition.
Plenty of things about your nails might point towards a problem with health, so it's best to be on the looking for what your extremities are telling you.
The truth is skin-deep
Dr Grant said that the texture and colour of your skin could change quite dramatically when you're unwell.
He spoke about a skin condition which causes your palms to turn red and carry a burning sensation called Palmar Erythema.
Meanwhile, dry patches could indicate things like eczema, an allergic reaction or the lack of proper vitamins.
Out of joint
You know when you crack your knuckles and it makes that noise? Don't worry, it's not going to give you arthritis despite what you might have heard.
However, you should pay attention to your joints and how stiff they're getting as that could be a sign of arthritis, there could be some swelling and pain as well which robs your hands of the dexterity they once possessed.
The doc said you could manage the pain with things like ibuprofen and the right exercises could alleviate the stiffness.
A cold grasp of things
You will no doubt have met some people who had very cold hands, or perhaps they were very recently in a cold place when they met you and normally they're fine.
However, if you're going through a dramatic temperature change then Dr Grant said it could be a sign of 'poor circulation' or anaemia.
He said: "Aside from anaemia, cold hands may also indicate an underlying health condition such as diabetes or blood clots.
"If you experience a long-lasting change in hand temperature, it may be best to seek additional medical advice."
Best to listen to a doctor when it comes to matters of health.
Chonky sausage fingers
We've all had a good chuckle at King Charles' meaty fingers, though apparently the sovereign is in on the joke.
If your fingers are suddenly getting wider then this could be a sign of pulmonary fibrosis, a kind of lung disease, warned Dr Grant.
He said it could also be a sign of sickle cell disease, tuberculosis or an infection, and advised people to seek medical advice if their fingers were rapidly changing shape.
Topics: Health
Joe Harker