What is the relationship between the growth rate of fingernails and health?

Adults grow 1-1.4mm per week. Too fast or too slow may be a disease. Some people say: "When you are idle, your hair grows; when you are idle, your nails grow." Although there is no definite basis for this, the growth rate of nails does vary in a year. In addition, Chinese medicine believes that nails are the extension of tendons and the external sign of liver and gallbladder, so the growth rate of nails of each person is not exactly the same, which is closely related to the health status of the person.

Factors that affect nail growth rate

It is generally believed that the growth rate of nails not only varies from person to person, but is also affected by factors such as age, climate, day and night cycle, menstruation, nutrition, and gender.

Nails grow at different speeds at different times of the year and day. Generally, nails grow fastest in the summer and slowest in the winter. Nails grow fastest in the morning and slowest in the evening. Women's nails grow faster before menstruation and during pregnancy.

1. Age and nail growth rate

A baby's nails grow about 0.7 mm per week. As they age, the growth rate accelerates. After adulthood, nails can grow 1-1.4 mm per week. However, for most people, the nail growth rate slows down after the age of 30.

2. Weather and nail growth rate

Nails grow at different speeds at different times of the year and day. Generally, nails grow fastest in the summer and slowest in the winter. Nails grow fastest in the morning and slowest in the evening. Women's nails grow faster before menstruation and during pregnancy.

3. Frequent friction and nail growth rate

Frequent friction can also speed up the growth of nails, so people who are right-handed have their right-hand nails grow faster than their left-hand nails, and fingernails grow 3-4 times faster than toenails. The growth rate of each nail is not exactly the same, usually the longer the finger, the faster the nail grows, for example, the nails of the index finger, middle finger and ring finger grow faster than the thumb and pinky finger.

4. Nutrition and nail growth rate

Malnutrition or taking certain medications may also affect the growth rate of nails. Good nutrition is necessary for nails to grow normally. If you are malnourished or suffer from anorexia nervosa, your nails will grow slowly and develop some horizontal grooves called Beau's lines.

5. Mood and nail growth rate

The growth rate of nails is also related to a person's mood. When a person is in a good mood, the nails will appear smooth and shiny. This is because physical and mental happiness can promote blood circulation, increase local blood flow, and provide more nutrition to the nails.

6. Disease and nail growth rate

It is still difficult to determine whether fast nail growth is related to a "relaxed mind", but studies have found that the growth rate of nails is closely related to certain pathological changes in the human body. For example, when suffering from hyperthyroidism, congenital heart disease, Parkinson's syndrome, and pregnancy diseases, nails generally grow faster, and when suffering from hypothyroidism, renal insufficiency, diabetes, nutritional disorders and other diseases, nail growth will slow down.

When it comes to nail growth, the most important thing to pay attention to is timely trimming. Because long nails are like small dustpans that hide dirt and filth, and many unknown sources of infection exist here. Whether you use long nails to scratch, pick your teeth, or pick your ears or nose, you will bring various germs and viruses into the body and cause diseases. Remember, only by trimming your nails regularly can you avoid diseases.