Finger Test For Lung Cancer Could Determine Cancer Risk
One woman based in the United Kingdom is warning people of a strange finger test for lung cancer. Individuals would look for a phenomenon called ‘finger clubbing.’ Emma Norton, an oncology nurse advisor, says most people don’t know about this unusual sign, and wouldn’t know to check for it [1]. Checking your fingers for signs of clubbing is called the Schamroth window test. c Doing the Schamroth window test is easy, and only takes a few seconds on your own at home: Put your hands up in front of you Touch the tips of your index fingers Make nails touch by bending the tops of fingers You should see a small diamond-shaped gap beneath the nail beds. If there’s no gap, means your fingers are clubbed, and you should follow up with your doctor as soon as possible. Your physician may suggest further diagnostic efforts to determine what the issue is. Does It Really Mean You Have Lung Cancer? Source: Shutterstock Even if your fingers are clubbed, it doesn’t automatically mean you have lung cancer. Finger clubbing has also been associated with [3][4]: Congenital heart disease. Present at birth, this condition causes an issue with the actual structure of the heart, which can affect blood flow [5]. Infective endocarditis. A rare, life-threatening infection of the endocardial surface of the heart [6]. Other lung issues. Such as a lung abscess, which is caused by an infection (sometimes even gum disease!) [7], and bronchiectasis, in which the airways are scarred or damaged, which can occur from lung infections, autoimmune disorders, or allergic reactions [8]. Inflammatory bowel disease. IBD encompasses both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which involve chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract [9]. Finger clubbing has even been known to be an early sign of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in patients who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [10]. Read More: 10 Warning Signs of Lung Cancer Other Fingernail Conditions and What They Could Reveal Source: Shutterstock Finger clubbing isn’t the only finger sign that can point to other health conditions in the body. In fact, our fingernails can reveal a surprising amount of information about our health. Just a few of the many fingernail signs that could be indicative of an underlying health condition include [11]: Koilonychia Source: Shutterstock This term refers to nails that are concaved, or have a spoon curvature to them due to a depression in the middle. Koilonychia occurs in children and could be the result of: An iron or protein deficiency Exposure to petroleum-based solvents, which contain toxic chemicals [12] Lupus Thin or Brittle Nails Source: Shutterstock These nails may break easily or appear very thin, and could be indicative of: Metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism Malnutrition Beau’s Lines Source: Shutterstock These lines could appear as indents or white lines that span the width of your nail. They typically signal a severe illness that has already happened. For example, Beau’s lines could be the result of previous conditions or treatments such as: Severe infection Myocardial infarction (heart attack) Shock or sepsis Chemotherapy Severe zinc deficiency What’s interesting about Beau’s lines is that their position on the nail can reveal the approximate date of the illness, and the depth of the lines could allude to the severity of the condition. Rough Nails Source: Shutterstock These nails may appear dull instead of having their characteristic natural shine, or almost look as if they were sandpapered. Rough nails could indicate: An autoimmune disease Exposure to toxic chemicals Psoriasis, which is a skin condition resulting in rough or scaly patches of skin Is There Any Way to Prevent Finger Clubbing? Source: Shutterstock Since finger clubbing is a symptom rather than the root cause of the problem itself, taking care of your health and reducing your risk for certain health problems could prevent finger clubbing. For example, not smoking, avoiding toxic chemicals, and, of course, taking other basic measures to care for yourself such as eating healthy and exercising could prevent finger clubbing. Did you know that any of these fingernail signs could point to an underlying condition or disease? It’s pretty fascinating what our fingers can show us!
