The secret of longevity, hidden in your hands? Doctors remind: If you don't have these symptoms, you may live longer
Chen Jianming has always felt cold hands and feet recently, and he always wakes up when he sleeps at night, so he went to see Dr. Li Shifeng. Although Dr. Li is old, he is very careful in seeing patients. He looked at Chen Jianming's hand and said, "Your hand is a little white, do you usually eat takeout and sit still?" When Chen Jianming heard this, he nodded again and again, saying that he was usually busy with work, and that's it. Dr. Li said: "This is not good, you have to pay attention to your diet, and you have to exercise more, cold hands and feet may be due to lack of kidney yang, or it may be poor blood circulation." Chen Jianming was anxious when he heard this, and hurriedly asked, "Then what should I do, Doctor Li?" Dr. Li smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll teach you a few ways to keep your hands and feet warm!" ”
Chen Jianming listened to Dr. Li's words and began to do so when he went home. He insisted on drinking water every day, rubbing his hands often, and standing up to move when he had nothing to do. After a while, he found that his cold hands and feet were really much better. He was very happy and thought, "It seems that what Dr. Li said is really right, and the problems on his hands can really reflect the health problems of the body!" ”
So, in addition to cold hands and feet, what other health problems can be seen on the hands?
01
Finger joint pain – it could be arthritis or gout
Pain in the joints of the fingers, which can be a sign of arthritis or gout. Arthritis is a common chronic condition that causes the cartilage in the joints to wear down, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are two common types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of multiple joints, while osteoarthritis is usually caused by overuse or damage to the joints.
Gout is another common condition that causes pain in the joints of the fingers. Gout is caused by high levels of uric acid in the body, where uric acid crystals are deposited in the joints, causing severe pain, redness, swelling, and fever. Gout usually affects the big toe joint, but it can also affect the finger joints.
If you notice pain in your finger joints, you should seek medical attention promptly. Your doctor will diagnose your condition based on your symptoms, the results of your physical examination, and relevant tests, and prescribe a treatment plan accordingly. Treatment methods for arthritis and gout include medications, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, etc.
Apart from arthritis and gout, finger joint pain can also be caused by other causes such as tenosynovitis, trauma, etc. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical attention for diagnosis and treatment in time when finger joint pain occurs.
02
Numbness in the fingers – be alert to carpal tunnel syndrome
Numbness in the fingers can be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a compression of the median nerve in the wrist, causing numbness, tingling and weakness in the fingers. This condition is common in people who use computers for long periods of time or perform repetitive hand movements, such as typists, assembly line workers, etc.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually worsen at night, and patients may experience numbness, tingling, and even pain in their fingers, affecting sleep quality. During the day, patients may experience weakness in their hands and difficulty holding objects. If you experience these symptoms, you should seek medical attention promptly.
Doctors diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome with a physical exam and nerve conduction studies. Treatment methods include rest, wearing wristbands, taking medications, physical therapy, etc. If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgery may be needed to relieve nerve compression.
In addition to carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness in the fingers can also be caused by other causes such as cervical spondylosis, diabetes, nerve damage, etc. Therefore, when numbness occurs in the fingers, it is necessary to seek medical attention in time to find out the cause and carry out targeted treatment.
03
Nail changes – reflect a variety of health problems
Changes in the nails can reflect a variety of health problems. Observing the shape, color, texture, and other characteristics of the nails can help us understand our own health. For example, brittle nails that break easily may indicate malnutrition or thyroid problems. Malnutrition can cause nails to lack essential nutrients and become brittle and brittle. Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, can also affect nail growth and health.
Dimpled nails may be associated with psoriasis or iron deficiency anemia. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes red patches and scales on the skin, and nails can also be affected, dimpled or deformed. Iron deficiency anemia is a deficiency of iron in the body, resulting in a decrease in the number of red blood cells, which affects oxygen delivery and may cause the nails to become sunken or thin.
Yellowish nail color may be associated with a fungal infection or lung disease. Fungal infections cause yellowing, thickening, and deformation of nails, a condition called onychomycosis. Lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can cause a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood and the nails may turn yellow.
In addition to the above-mentioned conditions, nail changes can also be associated with other health problems, such as heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, etc. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to nail changes, detect potential health problems in a timely manner, and seek professional medical advice.
04
A change in the color of the palm – a sign of a circulation problem
A change in the color of the palm of the hand can indicate a circulation problem. Blood circulation is an important process that transports oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body and carries away metabolic waste products. Problems with blood circulation can cause a change in the color of the palms. For example, whitening of the palms may be associated with anemia or low blood pressure. Anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the body, which affects oxygen delivery and causes the palms of the hands to turn white. Hypotension is when the pressure of blood on the walls of blood vessels is too low, resulting in poor blood circulation and the palms of the hands may be pale or pale.
Redness of the palms may be associated with high blood pressure or liver disease. High blood pressure is when the pressure of the blood on the walls of the blood vessels is too high, causing the blood circulation to speed up and the palms may become red or flushed. Liver disease, such as cirrhosis, can lead to impaired liver function, affecting blood circulation, and red spider angiomas may appear on the palms of the hands.
If you notice that your palms are purple, you should be alert to heart or lung problems. The heart is like a strong pump that carries blood throughout the body. If there is a problem with the heart, such as heart failure, the ability to pump blood will decrease, blood circulation will slow down, and the palms may appear purple, which is often referred to as "cyanosis". Similarly, if there is a problem with lung function, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the oxygen level in the blood decreases and the palms of the hands appear purple.
Paying attention to the change in the color of the palm helps us understand our blood circulation. If you notice an abnormal change in the color of your palm, you should seek medical attention in time to find out the cause and carry out targeted treatment.