Quick finger test can show serious underlying health conditions

Serious health issues can often emerge without much warning. But our bodies often give off signals to let us know if there's a problem

One particular sign to watch out for, which could indicate a range of grave health conditions, involves finger clubbing. Keeping an eye on any changes to your hands could be a crucial early indicator that you need a doctor's help.

Clubbed fingers and nails typically develop over many years, but in exceptional cases, this change can occur more rapidly. You might observe your nails have softened, leading to some unnatural curving.

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While these nails may not necessarily be painful, they are a potential indicator for various severe underlying health problems. The list includes lung cancer, heart defects and other infectious diseases.

NHS GP Dr Ahmed, who shares his medical insights on social media as @dra_says, has discussed a straightforward method known as the Schamroth Window test to detect fingernail clubbing. Dr Ahmed demonstrated the technique using comparative images of 'normal' and clubbed fingers, stressing: "Clubbing is something we assess for very carefully on a physical examination but you can have some serious causes."

Here's how to conduct the test at home

Dr A demonstrates in his video that checking for clubbed nails is a quick process. Simply bring the tips of your index fingers together.

You're looking for a "very small window" around the base of the nails. As depicted in the video, this 'window' is quite narrow but still visible.

In instances of clubbed fingers, this wouldn't be visible at all as your fingernails couldn't get close enough. If you're experiencing issues with your nails, the NHS website advises: "You might be able to refer yourself directly to a podiatrist without seeing a GP."

You should be able to find local services online or inquire at the GP reception.

However, if you have serious concerns, it's always best to consult a healthcare professional. It could be beneficial not to bypass the GP visit to evaluate all possibilities.