Articles #iron deficiency

In medicine, we are taught that “the patient will tell you the diagnosis if you listen carefully enough.” But over the years, I’ve realised that the body itself speaks — often more clearly than the patient’s words. From the scalp to the soles, every part of you is quietly reporting on your health. My role as a doctor has been to tune in to these messages and interpret them before they become cries for help.

Nails are often overlooked in daily medical assessment, yet they are windows into our inner health. Subtle changes in their color, shape, thickness, or surface may reflect not only local conditions but also systemic diseases. From nutritional deficiencies to chronic organ dysfunction, nails silently record what the body endures. A physician who trains the eye to read these signs can often detect illness earlier than routine laboratory investigations.