physical observations Flashcards
what is the most unappreciated organ of our body?
- the skin
- its visibility makes it easy to identify abnormalities that may indicate disorders in other systems
how does the appearance of the skin change in the presence of illness?
- skin colour
- tone
- overall condition (elasticity, dryness and sensitivity)
what else can be an indicator of a person’s overall health?
- shape of nails
- condition of hair
apart from dermatitis, what do most skin problems stem from?
poor function of the digestive tract
what may some skin problems relate to?
hormonal imbalances encountered predominantly during adolescence or to allergy and toxicity
what nutrients are particularly important for healthy skin?
A, C, E
B complex
zinc
EFAs
a poor diet is quickly reflected by what?
by the condition of the skin
teenagers who take prescription drugs for acne treatment are more likely to develop what?
candida
what may acne problems in the chin, chest and back indicate?
toxicity in the colon
what may acne on the forehead/nose (T-zone) indicate?
liver sluggishness or toxicity
what may acne on the cheeks indicate?
allergies
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of dryness or seborrhoea on the scalp?
- EFA
- A
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of dandruff or hair loss on the scalp?
- B6
- zinc
- sulfur
- protein deficiency
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of nasolabial seborrhoea on the face? (characterized by rough, scaly skin on the forehead and nose area)
- B2
- iron
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of acne on the face?
- zinc
- A
- HCI
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of edema or moon face on the face?
- protein malabsorption
- hypothyroidism
- allergies
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of dry, red, light sensitive eyes?
- A
- B2
- B6
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of puffy, dark circles on the eyes?
- allergies
- kidneys
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of cankers, fissures in the corner of the mouth?
- B2
- B3
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of dry lips?
-EFA
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of a red, irritated tongue?
- B2
- B3
- B12
- Folate
- Iron
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of bleeding, tender gums?
- C
- CoezQ10
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of dryness, hyperkeratosis on the skin?
- A
- EFA
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of stretch marks, petechia on the skin? (characterized by small broken blood vessels on the surface of the skin)
-C
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of bruises, excess bruising on the skin?
- C
- K
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of thin, splitting nails?
- Mg
- Zn
- Mn
- Cu
- EFA
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of white spots on the nails?
-Zinc
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of spoon shaped nails?
-Iron
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of tenderness in the muscles?
-B1
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of excessive fatigue in the muscles?
- carnitine
- CoezQ10
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of parasthesia (characterized by abnormal sensations of burning, tingling or aching), sensory loss?
- magnesium
- all B vitamins
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of being fidgety?(nervous)
- B1
- B12
what are possibly deficiencies/causes of trembling? (nervous)
-B2
what do bow lines (depressed furrows) on the nails indicate?
- emotional distress
- severe illness or infection
what do clubbed nails indicate?
- emphysema
- TB
- cancer
- cardiovascular disease
- chronic cough
what do chronic clipping (saw tooth) nails indicate?
-damage due to household or occupational chemicals
what do dark spotted (brown or black discolouration which spreads to fingers) on nails indicate?
-malignant melanoma
what do lengthwise grooves on the nails indicate?
- kidney disorder
- iron deficiency
- tendency to arthritis
what do longitudinal striations on nails indicate?
-malabsorption
what do pitting brown spots (nails resemble hammered brass) on nails indicate?
- psoriasis
- alopecia
- areata
- vitamin C
- folic acid
- protein
what do spoon shaped nails indicate?
- iron deficiency
- anemia
- B12 deficiency
what do stepped surface on nails indicate?
malnutrition
what do Terry’s nails (dark pink or brown) indicate?
- cirrhosis
- psoriasis
what do vertical red streaks on nails indicate?
- splinter hemorrhages
- bleeding of the capillaries
- liver disease
what do vertical white streaks on nails indicate?
- arsenic poisoning
- kidney failure
- heart attack
- sickle cell disease
what do 1/2 and 1/2 (brown at tip) nails indicate?
-kidney failure
what do unusually squarish and wide nails indicate?
- thyroid disease
- hormonal problems
what do unusually long and narrow nails indicate?
- pituitary
- hormone deficiency
what do blue spots on nail beds indicate?
- impaired circulation
- asthma
- emphysema
- raynauds syndrome
- spasms of the arteries
what do white marks on nails indicate?
- low calcium
- low zinc
what do blue luna on nails indicate?
- disturbed liver
- delicate lungs and heart
what do pale nails indicate?
- anemia
- liver or kidney disorders
what do yellow nails indicate?
- delicate liver
- lymphatic
- respiratory
- diabetes
- liver problem
what do red luna on nails indicate?
-cardiac failure
what are causes of imbalance in the skin?
- poor digestion
- hormonal imbalance
- allergy
- toxicity
- nutritional deficiencies
- bacteria or fungi
what are recommendations for the skin?
A, C, E
B complex
zinc
EFAs
