5 Little Health Signs You Should Pay Attention To

CN Digital Studio
CN Digital Studio
glamour
glamour

By Jessica Girdwain,Glamour magazine

Quick! What color is your tongue? The answer to that question-and the four other self tests here-can give you surprising clues about your health.

Related:12 Secret Signs He's Into You

1. OK, first test! Stick out that tongue….

What's healthy: Reddish-pink.
What's not: White, gray or brown muck on the back of your tongue; it may be bacteria that signals acid reflux or a stomach ulcer. A white coating all over can mean you're dehydrated.
Your Rx: Use a tongue scraper to clean off gunk. If bacteria builds up again quickly or is hard to remove, see your doc, who can test you for gastrointestinal issues. For dry mouth, drink more water!

2. How white are your eyes?


What's healthy: Bright whites; also, smooth, even-toned eyelids.
What's not:
Red, irritated eyes. They might be signs of dry eye, which can be brought on by hormonal changes from pregnancy or oral contraceptives, or from staring at a computer screen too long. A yellow tint in the whites of your eyes can be a sign of liver disease, like hepatitis. Redness and crustiness on the edges of lids may be a condition called blepharitis, which can be caused by a staph infection, allergies or rosacea.
Your Rx: For dry eyes, take fish oil twice daily (the omega-3s help give you healthy tears), try artificial tears and use a humidifier at home in winter. To uncover the source of any lid redness, bumps or crusty stuff, see an eye doc.

Related: The Top 10 Ways to Wake Up Prettier

3. What color are your lips?

What's healthy: A pinker hue than your skin.
What's not: An unusually pale pucker could mean you're iron-deficient, while cracks at the corners of the mouth can suggest a lack of vitamin B12. (Both iron and B12 are abundant in meat and dairy, so vegans who are not careful with their diet may not get enough.)
Your Rx: Eat iron-packed beans and dark leafies (spinach, collard greens) and fill up on B12-rich foods (fortified cereals) to bump up your body's stores. For cracks, also ask your doctor if you need an antibiotic.

4. How full are your eyebrows?


What's healthy: Evenly distributed hair.
What's not: Thinning brows. Assuming you haven't gone tweezer crazy, thyroid disease may be the cause. When something's wonky with your thyroid, you may gain or lose weight, and hair loss, even from brows, is also a frequent side effect. "Look for thinning near the ends," says Chicago-area dermatologist Amy Taub, M.D.
Your Rx: See your doctor for blood tests to rule out thyroid problems.

See also: 20 Winter Trends That Look Good on Everyone


5. How strong are your nails?

What's healthy:
Firm nails with skin-color plates.
What's not: If they're brittle, it may be "a clue that you're dealing with a lot of stress," says Ranella Hirsch, M.D., a dermatologist in Boston. Stress can actually affect how nails grow, she explains. "Sometimes, when I see damaged fingernails, I ask my patients, 'How's work going? How are things with your boyfriend?'" A green tinge can be caused by an infection; bluish fingertips may indicate an issue with your circulation (it's a sign they're not getting enough oxygen). If whitish spots or lines pop up, you may have nutritional deficiencies.

See also: 5 Ways to Tell He's The One (And 5 Ways to Tell He's Not)


Your Rx: You know the cure for stress: Focus on lightening your load, and don't cheat yourself out of sleep or exercise. If stress makes you pick at your nails, try the beauty editor's trick of keeping them painted: You'll be less likely to want to mess up a mani! For white spots, try a more nutritious diet: Eat turkey and beef for iron (oatmeal and lentils if you're a vegetarian), and a cup of fortified milk daily for calcium and vitamins A and D. And if your nails look green or your fingers blue, get them in front of your derm at your next appointment.

More from Glamour: