Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common heart disease leading to myocardial infarction or simply called a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked.

Mild chest pain, shortness of breath, and sweating are the most common signs. But did you know that your nails can also give away indications of a passed coronary?.

1. Spoon Nails

Spoon nails become concave and can hold enough liquid to spill over if you turn your hands upside down. It occurs due to iron deficiency and is associated with coronary artery disease, as a heart condition may cause malabsorption of iron.

In combination with blue lips or skin, it can also indicate a shortness of breath, which could lead back to heart problems.

2. Brown Streaks

Brown streaks below the nails are also called “splinter hemorrhages”, which occur when trauma or tiny clots damage the blood vessels under the nail plate. It is also a direct signal to some forms of heart disease.

3. Blue Nails

Baby blue nails are called cyanosis, which is the result of having low oxygen levels in the blood and therefore insufficient oxygen in the tissues. This is a clear signal of coronary artery disease that can lead to a useful diagnosis.

4. Vertical Ridges

Vertical ridges on the fingernails are not uncommon and usually increase with age. However, they can also be the result of lack of nutrients, dehydrated nails, and friction, or in association with inflammation of coronary arteries.

Be sure to cater to your nutrition to give your body enough supply of essential vitamins and minerals that are needed to maintain healthy nails, and if the ridges happen to coincide with other health issues, be sure to get it checked out with a doctor.

5. Clubbed Nails

Clubbed nails refer to a new formation or enlargement of the connective tissue under the nails, making it appear to be “Club-Shaped”. It usually happens to all fingers and is more common in the toes.

Clubbing has been seen in up to 15% of patients with severe CAD. It is even more associated with those severe cases of coronary disease in combination with cyanosis of the fingernails.

6. Half-and-Half Nails

Half-and-half nails, also known as Lindsay’s nails, occurs when the upper half of the nail turns white, and the bottom half stays brown or pink.

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It may seem like a cosmetic issue, but it can also be a sign of liver disease, renal failure, or hyperthyroidism, which will result in fewer oxygen-carrying cells in the blood, leading to problems with the heart.

7. Terry Nails

Terry nails refer to when the nails look opaque white with a dark band at the tip of the nail. It is associated with anemia, liver disease, renal failure, and also diabetes.

All these conditions could cause coronary disease, making it a sign to watch out for.

8. Nail Clubbing

Clubbing of the nails, also known as drumstick fingers, shift in angle of the nail base and thickening of the tissues at the end of the finger. It usually hints toward low oxygen levels in the body.

It could occur in response to various health issues, including coronary artery disease.

9. Hangnails

Hangnails are usually caused by cold weather or a lack of moisture, but they could also point to something else, like small fiber neuropathy. It is a painful condition where tiny fibers in the hands and feet die, causing pain and distress.

It is also associated with vascular diseases and coronary artery disease.

10. Nail Stripes

Ridges and stripes that are shadowed, or framed by two whitish bands usually indicate a fungal infection or a nail disorder. Certain fungal infections can become severe, and in some cases, lead to heart problems.

Fungal infections can also lead to circulation issues, increasing the risk of coronary artery disease.

Conclusion

While the nails give some visible signs to indicate some underlying health issues, it is always crucial to look at the bigger picture when it comes to diagnosing coronary artery disease.

Be sure to carry out a complete health and medical check-up with professionals, especially if the symptoms stated here coincide with other health issues such as chest pain, lightheadedness, or shortness of breath.