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Nail fungus isn’t just a cosmetic issue; it can impact our quality of life, making simple activities like walking uncomfortable.<\/p>\nNail fungus isn’t just a cosmetic issue; it can impact our quality of life, making simple activities like walking uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
But a new study published in the journal Dermatology Practical & Conceptual<\/em> points to an even more serious issue regarding nail fungus.<\/p>\n Suffering nail fungus may point to several serious diseases, some of them life threatening.<\/p>\n The researchers analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample, focusing on patients admitted to American hospitals between 2003 and 2014. They found 119,662 patients with nail fungus and 239,324 patients with healthy nails.<\/p>\n They wanted to find out what common factors might increase the chance of developing nail fungus. They looked at various demographic details and health conditions to see if there were any patterns.<\/p>\n The study found both expected and unexpected connections:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 2.\tThose with nail fungus stayed almost twice as long in hospitals and their treatments cost more compared to patients without the infection.<\/p>\n 3.\tPeople with athlete’s foot were more than 100 times more likely to have nail fungus, since these conditions are often caused by the same organisms.<\/p>\n 4.\tThose with venous insufficiency had more than six times the risk of those whose leg veins were healthy.<\/p>\n 5.\tPatients who were HIV positive had more than four times the risk.<\/p>\n 6.\tPsoriasis increased patients’ risk by 3.6 times.<\/p>\n 7.\tThe usual lifestyle diseases also increased patients’ risk of nail fungus: obesity 2.47 times, peripheral vascular disease 2.3 times, and diabetes with chronic complications doubled it.<\/p>\n 8.\tThose with nail fungus were also more likely to have depression and anemia.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n The scientists suggest that doctors should screen for these other health conditions in hospitalized patients with nail fungus. Since this nail disorder is easy to see, it can help to draw their attention to others that are better concealed.<\/p>\n\n