Health Tips for May 14

Health Tip: Boost Your Immune System

The immune system helps your body fight off germs, protecting you from getting sick.

The ADAM Encyclopedia suggests these ways to help support your immune system:

• Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Don't take antibiotics when they aren't necessary. The more you use these medicines, the more likely they won't protect you from a future bug. Remember that antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat yogurt with "active cultures," in other words, beneficial bacteria.
• Get plenty of sleep. Insufficient rest means you're more likely to become sick.

Health Tip: Don't Ignore Fingernail Abnormalities

An abnormality in all or some of your fingernails can signal a potentially serious medical condition.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these examples:

• Sunken areas on the fingernail can signal malnourishment.
• An abnormal shape to the fingernail, with ridges and an inward curve, can signal iron deficiency anemia.
• White flecks in the nail can indicate leukonychia, which could be caused by factors including zinc deficiency or heavy metal poisoning.
• An abnormal color or tenderness could indicate an infection, often caused by fungus or yeast.
• Streaks of blood in the nail can signal an infection, notably effecting heart valves.