Hyperthyroidism

Yes, you can drink coffee if you have hyperthyroidism, but it may be unwise or even dangerous to do so. Can and should are very different terms.

For appropriate diagnosis and treatment of thyroid dysfunction, please seek the help of a board certified endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid problems.

No. There is almost nothing that can cause a false positive pregnancy test, and all of the causes require an urgent visit to a health care provider.

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Malfunctioning thyroids can't; they don't produce the correct hormones to trigger a pregnancy test. But to swear nothing can cause a false positive is irresponsible and false in it's own right. I've been the victim of a false positive test. Always be sure to test in the morning when urine is more concentrated. It's also best to avoid drinking a ton of water before testing, or after to try and test again. This can mess with the test and give false results.

1. False positive pregnancy test due to improper testing...

Improper testing can lead to false positive results. Always follow the directions! Instructions will specify when test results are no longer valid. You should time and record the time you perform the test, and read results at the instructed time. Guessing can lead to false results. "Double checking" your results often leads to false positives. Fishing your test out of the garbage after too much time has passed can change the initial results.

2. Evaporation line on a pregnancy test...

With some tests you can see where the testing line is. When urine runs across the test strip it can briefly change the color. Some tests allow you to see what can best be described as a watermark; kind of like what you see on US paper currency. If there is no color or you have to really mess with it in the light to see a line; it could be an evaporation line. Try retesting in a few days or using a digital test is recommended.

3. False positive pregnancy tests can be caused by certain medications...

Sometimes urine can be contaminated with blood or large amounts of protein, which can lead to false positive results.

4. Certain medical conditions can lead to false positive test results...

If you receive a positive result from a home pregnancy test it is important to see your doctor. It's is not common, rare medical conditions can cause false positive results on home pregnancy tests. Certain cancers, can cause higher levels of hCG levels.

5. Defective pregnancy tests...

Expired or faulty tests can also lead to false positive results. Remember, an occasional defective test may come out of a batch.

If you're unsure about the results of your home pregnancy test, ALWAYS consult your doctor.

Nail abnormalities are problems with the color, shape, texture, or thickness of the fingernails or toenails.

Beau's lines; Fingernail abnormalities; Spoon nails; Onycholysis; Leukonychia; Koilonychia; Brittle nails

Just like the skin, the fingernails tell a lot about your health.

• Beau's lines are depressions across the fingernail. These lines can occur after illness, injury to the nail, and when you are malnourished.
• Brittle nails are often a normal result of aging. However, they also may be due to certain diseases and conditions.
• Koilonychia is an abnormal shape of the fingernail. The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia.
• Leukonychia is white streaks or spots on the nails.
• Pitting is the presence of small depressions on the nail surface. Sometimes the nail is also crumbling. The nail can become loose and sometimes falls off.
• Ridges are tiny, raised lines that develop across or up and down the nail.

Injury:

• Crushing the base of the nail or the nail bed may cause a permanent deformity.
• Chronic picking or rubbing of the skin behind the nail can cause a washboard nail.
• Long-term exposure to moisture or nail polish can cause nails to peel and become brittle.

Infection:

• Fungus or yeast cause changes in the color, texture, and shape of the nails.
• Bacterial infection may cause a change in nail color or painful areas of infection under the nail or in the surrounding skin. Severe infections may cause nail loss.
• Viral warts may cause a change in the shape of the nail or ingrown skin under the nail.
• Certain infections (especially of the heart valve) may cause red streaks in the nail bed ( splinter hemorrhages).

Diseases:

• Disorders that affect the amount of oxygen in the blood (such as abnormal heart anatomy and lung diseases including cancer or infection) may cause clubbing.
• Kidney diseasecan cause a build-up of nitrogen waste products in the blood, which can damage nails.
• Liver diseasecan damage nails.
• Thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism may cause brittle nails or splitting of the nail bed from the nail plate (onycholysis).
• Severe illness or surgery may cause horizontal depressions in the nails (Beau's lines).
• Psoriasis may cause pitting, splitting of the nail plate from the nail bed, and chronic destruction of the nail plate (nail dystrophy).
• Other conditions that can affect the appearance of the nails include systemic amyloidosis, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, and lichen planus.

Poisons:

• Arsenic poisoning may cause white lines and horizontal ridges.
• Silver intake can cause a blue nail.

Call your health care provider if you have:

• Blue nails
• Clubbed nails
• Distorted nails
• Horizontal ridges
• Pale nails
• White lines
• White color under the nails

If you have splinter hemorrhages, see the doctor immediately.

The health care provider will look at your nails and ask questions about your symptoms. Questions may include:

• Type
  • What is the abnormality?
  • Are the nails an abnormal color?
    • What color are they?
    • Are there red lines running the length of the nail (splinter hemorrhage)?
  • Are they an abnormal shape?
  • Has the texture changed?
  • Has the thickness changed?
  • Are the nails pitted?
  • Are the nails detached?
  • Are there ridged nails?
    • Which direction does the ridging go?
  • Does the whole end of the finger look enlarged?
  • Is there a lack of luster?
  • Are the nails brittle?
• Location
  • Is it the hands?
  • Is it the feet?
  • Is it only on one side?
  • Are both sides the same?
  • Is it only one specific nail?
• Aggravating factors
  • Have you had an injury to the nail?
  • Do you bite your nails?
  • Do you pick your nails or rub the fingers or toes chronically?
  • Are the nails frequently moist?
  • Do you use nail polish?
• Other
  • What other symptoms are also present?

Diagnostic tests will depend on what other symptoms, if any, exist. These may include x-rays, blood tests, or examination of parts of the nail in the laboratory.

• Do not bite, pick, or tear at your nails (in severe cases, some people may need psychological help or encouragement to stop these behaviors).
• Keep hangnails clipped.
• Wear shoes that don't squeeze the toes together, and always cut the nails straight across along the top.
• To prevent brittle nails, keep the nails short and avoid nail polish. Use an emollient (skin softening) cream after washing or bathing.

Using the vitamin biotin and clear nail polish that contains protein can help strengthen your nails.