How does a person's health affect their hands?

The condition of the hands gives out not only age, it can also serve as a "barometer" a person's health status, as well as point out possible health problems. Such "tips" on the hands may indicate minor changes or serious "malfunctions"; in the body. Cold hands, redness of the palms, discoloration of the fingers, excessive dryness of the skin and other symptoms of possible diseases that can be seen on the hands are listed below.  

1. Cold hands

As a rule, cold hands indicate a violation of blood circulation. However, in some cases, they may indicate Raynaud's disease in women in women. Also, cold hands can often be the result of stress, as the heart at this time pumps blood to other parts of the body where it is more needed. In addition, cold hands can indicate low blood pressure and an underactive thyroid gland, which also affects a person's health.

2. Shaking hands

Most people experience a certain amount of trembling in their hands from time to time – when a person is nervous, suffers from a hangover, consumes too much caffeine, etc. However, unreasonable trembling in the hands, which can hardly be called insignificant, may indicate an essential tremor – hereditary disease of the nervous system.

Also, trembling hands can be a symptom of Parkinson's disease, which also affects the nervous system, or an overactive thyroid gland.

3. Sweaty palms

Hot, sweaty palms can be a sign of stress and an overactive thyroid gland, which speeds up metabolism, burns more calories, and generates more heat.

In addition, sweaty palms can be a symptom of hyperhidrosis, i.e. increased sweating. Excessive drinking and stress can also cause sweaty palms.

4. Redden palms

Redden palms – one of the classic signs of liver damage, especially in people over the age of 50. Palmar erythema usually affects the outer edge of the palms – from wrist to little finger.

The exact cause of the reddening of the palms is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by dilated blood vessels as a result of changes in hormonal balance caused by liver disease.

Redden palms can also be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis caused by inflammation, which is a major factor in this disease.

5. White, red or blue fingers

White, red, or blue discoloration of the fingers, accompanied by tingling, is another sign of Raynaud's disease, which affects blood flow to the fingers. Also, such changes may be associated with diseases such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus.

Brown spots on arms

Pigment or age spots – a sign of excessive pigmentation due to exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays on the skin.

6. Palm thickening

Thickening of the palms – a classic symptom of Dupuytren's contracture, in which the tendon sheath of the fingers in the palm of the hand thickens. Most often, this problem is observed on the ring finger or little finger, as a result of which the finger arches in the direction of the palm. Most often, this syndrome is hereditary, but it can also develop against the background of alcohol abuse, diabetes, epilepsy, cirrhosis, or hand injury.

7. Knots on fingers

Solid nodules around knuckles – a typical sign of osteoarthritis.  They are also called Heberden's nodes.  

8. Dry hand skin

In addition to being exposed to unfavorable weather conditions such as wind and cold temperatures, dry hand skin may be indicative of the following changes in a person's health:

• lack of water in the body;
• lack of essential fatty acids;
• an underactive thyroid gland.

Estet-portal.com reminds: listen to your body and do not ignore possible symptoms of serious diseases – Seek medical attention in time. Remember that the state of human health is also reflected in the skin of the face, hair, nails and teeth.