External Signs of Internal Problems

Your fingernails can tell you a number of things about your health. Nail clubbing can appear in several ways — a softening of the nail bed, a nail that grows around the fingertip or a nail that looks larger at the end than from where it grows. Nail clubbing may be the result of low oxygen in the blood. The most common cause of nail clubbing is lung cancer. If you see your nails curve up to resemble a spoon, this may be an indication of anemia (iron deficiency) or hemochromatosis (a liver problem resulting in too much iron). Both call for medical attention. If your nails look yellowish, it may be from chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis or other respiratory problems. Brown nails may indicate a thyroid problem or malnourishment.