There’s a simple finger test you can do at home to see if you could be suffering from a serious health issue – and it couldn’t be easier.
It can be difficult to spot the signs of a serious health condition, which is why it’s so important that if you do notice anything unusual for you, it’s discussed with a doctor.
Of course, most of us know to look for the more noticeable signs, such as lumps, pain or changes in appetite, but there are other, more subtle changes that can sometimes indicate something isn’t quite right.
In fact, there’s one test you can do yourself at home – and it’s super simple.
Dr. Ahmed, who also goes by @dra_says on TikTok, explained how to perform the Schamroth Window test, which detects finger clubbing.
‘Clubbed fingers’ refers to the way the ends of your fingers appear.
In clubbed fingers, the tips bulge and may become warm and discoloured, meanwhile the nail also curves down and appears like an upside-down spoon.
The change can indicate serious problems with the lungs or heart, so if you notice it, it’s important to seek medical advice.
“You can all do this one test at home to see if you’ve got any serious heart or lung problems,” said Dr. Ahmed, before showing an image of normal fingers, compared to clubbed fingers.
“With clubbed fingers, you get a very round, bulb like fingertip.
“They can be very white and the base of the nails can be very shiny.
“The exact pathophysiology of a cause of finger clubbing is not fully known, however, the consensus at the moment is generally that it is down to some sort of chronically low oxygen levels.
“Clubbing is something we assess for very carefully on a physical examination.
“But it can have some serious causes. One of the causes is lung cancer… bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or a lung abscess.”
Dr. Ahmed went on to explain that a number of heart conditions can also cause the fingers to appear clubbed.
How to check for clubbed fingers
To perform the simple test, Dr. Ahmed advised people to bring the fingertips of their two index fingers together so both nails are touching.
Kind of like if you’re making a love heart sign with your fingers.
There should be a small window at the base of both the fingernails.
“If you think you’ve got finger clubbing, especially if it’s new, you must get it checked out,” said Dr. Ahmed.
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