One woman based in the United Kingdom is warning people of a strange finger test forย lung cancer. Individuals would look for a phenomenon called โfinger clubbing.โ Emma Norton, an oncology nurse advisor, says most people donโt know about this unusual sign, and wouldnโt know to check for it. Checking your fingers for signs of clubbing is called the Schamroth window test.
When touching the nails of your index fingers together, there should be a very small space, roughly the shape of a diamond, between your cuticles. If thereโs no such space, your fingers could be clubbed, which could be indicative of adverse health conditions in the body, includingย lung cancer.
Finger clubbing usually happens in both fingers but could happen in just one. Fingers can look swollen or the nail may be curved in an almost beak-like way. People with finger clubbing,ย such as another woman in the UK, have received lung cancer diagnoses, but itโs not the only condition that problems with your fingernails can tell you. Hereโs what you need to know about finger clubbing as well as how you can effortlessly conduct the Schamroth window test on your own at home.
What Is Finger Clubbing?
Finger clubbing (sometimes referred to as digital clubbing) is when the ends of your fingers swell up. It could present as widened fingers, a downward curve to yourย fingernails, or what looks like swollen tips of your fingers. This swelling is what eliminates the diamond-shaped gap between your cuticles, which is apparent during theย Schamroth window test. It typically doesnโt happen overnight, instead occurring in stages.
The bed of your nailsโthe lighter part of your nail near your cuticlesโwill become softer and shinier, which is suspected to be the result of fluid buildup. The nail curve isnโt always obvious, but looking at your nails from the side can give you a better look (the curve of the nail in this way is referred to as Scarmouthโs sign). As the condition progresses, your fingers may appear larger from the fluid collection and swelling, especially at the ends of your fingers.
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 thereโs 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.
Even if your fingers are clubbed, it doesnโt automatically mean you have lung cancer. Finger clubbing has also been associated with
- Congenital heart disease. Present at birth, this condition causes an issue with the actual structure of the heart, which can affect blood flow.
- Infective endocarditis. A rare, life-threatening infection of the endocardial surface of the heart.
- Other lung issues. Such as a lung abscess, which is caused by an infection (sometimes even gum disease!)ย , and bronchiectasis, in which the airways are scarred or damaged, which can occur from lung infections, autoimmune disorders, or allergic reactions
- Inflammatory bowel disease. IBD encompasses both Crohnโs disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which involve chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
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) .
Finger clubbingย isnโt the only finger signย 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 includeย [11]:
Koilonychia
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 chemicalsย [12]
- Lupus
Thin or Brittle Nails
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
Beauโs Lines
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, Beauโs 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
Whatโs interesting about Beauโs 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
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?
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.ย 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? Itโs pretty fascinating what our fingers can show us!
Sources
- https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/finger-clubbing-test-lung-cancer_uk_5dd7ebcce4b0d50f328e3e5d
- https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/623
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/clubbing-of-the-fingers-or-toes
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1596648/
- https://medlineplus.gov/congenitalheartdefects.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5240923/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4543327/
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/bronchiectasis
- https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/what-is-IBD.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4375768/
- https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/571916_2
- https://pprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Fact-Sheet-Parts-Washers-Comparison_08_2015.pdf