Headlines about a “telltale sign in your fingernails that may predict your life expectancy” are often exaggerated. Fingernails cannot accurately predict how long someone will live, and no single nail feature can determine a person’s future health outcome.
However, nails can sometimes provide clues about overall health. Changes that may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional include:
- New vertical or horizontal lines
- Vertical ridges are common with aging and are often harmless.
- Deep horizontal grooves (called Beau’s lines) can appear after illness, major stress on the body, injury, or certain medical conditions.
- Changes in nail color
- Yellowing, unusual dark streaks, bluish tones, or pale nails can have many possible causes, ranging from harmless changes to conditions needing evaluation.
- Clubbing (rounded, enlarged fingertips with curved nails)
- This can sometimes be associated with long-term heart or lung conditions and should be checked if it develops.
- Brittle or splitting nails
- May be related to aging, repeated exposure to water/chemicals, nutritional issues, or certain health conditions.
- Slow nail growth or major changes from your normal pattern
- A sudden change affecting multiple nails may be a reason to seek medical advice.
