| How Fingernail Lines Can Provide Clues to Your Health
When something is amiss, sometimes our bodies will let us know in an obvious way, like a headache or upset stomach. But all too often we forget that our bodies give us more subtle signs, too — like the lines on our fingernails. Read on and take a good look at your nails to find out what the lines say about your health. Vertical fingernail lines Vertical lines are fairly common and usually nothing to worry about, according to Mayo Clinic. They tend to become more pronounced with age. You can think of vertical lines as wrinkles on your nails. They have to do with the body's increasing inability to retain moisture as you get older. "There are many reasons for ridged nails but the most common is aging," said Dr. Phoebe Rich to Huffington Post. "As we age, the nail matrix becomes atrophied in areas resulting in longitudinal ridging of nails." If the lines are evenly spaced, chances are they are harmless. However, on occasion, they can signify a vitamin deficiency or chronic disease, like