Many health care professionals believe that your fingernail color may be an indicator of underlying health problems and a warning sign to seek medical attention.

Do you regularly examine your fingernails for changes? The color, shape, and texture of your nails can tell you a lot about your health and help you recognize nutritional deficiencies or potential diseases and disorders.

Changes in the color of your fingernails is your body's way of telling you that something may be wrong, and paying attention to these subtle little signs can help you take the necessary steps to improve your overall health and well-being.

It is important to not only notice your fingernail color but to also understand what these changes may mean.

Yellow: A yellow discoloring of the nails does not necessarily indicate a serious health concern. Wearing fingernail polish without a base coat, certain prescription medications, smoking, or the natural aging process can contribute to the yellowing tint. In these cases, there are very effective whitening procedures that will restore your nails to their natural beauty.

However, if the yellowing of your nails cannot be explained by one of these simpler options, it is possible that this discoloration could be attributed to a more serious health issue. Health problems most commonly associated with yellow nails are:

• bacterial infection

• candida (yeast problem)

• respiratory or lung disorders such as emphysema

• lymphatic system problems

• liver dysfunction

• diabetes

Blue: Most often, your nails will turn blue because you are cold. Rubbing or massaging your fingers to improve circulation should help your nails return to their normal color. If your nails are consistently blue despite warmer body temperatures, then you may want to see your doctor and investigate other possible causes such as:

• lung disease, asthma, or emphysema

• heart disease or circulation issues

• Raynaud's Disease – the arteries that supply blood to the skin become narrow and restrict circulations, causing a blue tint.

• Cancer – usually presents itself as a single blue line on the nail

If your blue nails are accompanied by other symptoms such as difficulty breathing, blue lips, weight loss, or sore throat, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Red: Red nail beds could indicate heart disease while irregular red lines on or below the nail may be a sign of lupus or other connective tissue disorders.

Brown: A darkening of the nails or the appearance of brown sections, particularly along the sides, could be attributed to liver or kidney disease.

White: White spots on the nail usually indicate an injury; however, some professionals believe that they are also a sign of nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of calcium, iron, vitamin D, or zinc. A whitening of the nails can also be a fungal infection and whitish nail beds usually mean a low red blood cell count typical of anemia. In rare cases, kidney or liver disorders may be possible, particularly if white streaks are present across the nail.

Purple: A purplish discoloration usually indicates circulatory problems or a lack of oxygen in the blood. It can also be a sign of high blood pressure, fungal infection, anemia, or excessive stress and anxiety.

Black: The most common cause of black nails is severe fungal infections or trauma and injury. In rare cases, nails can also develop a black tint due to anemia, kidney disease, adrenal gland problems, liver issues, or the presence of heavy metals in the blood. Dark lines beneath the nail or discolored cuticles could indicate melanoma, which also sometimes appears as a dark blue line on the nail.

By regularly checking your fingernail color and monitoring any changes, you may be able to catch problems early, seek the help needed, and work to rebuild your body and restore your health.