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Home » Simple five-second thumb test can warn of dangerous heart condition
Health

Simple five-second thumb test can warn of dangerous heart condition

By staff17 August 2025No Comments3 Mins Read

If you pass this test you should speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

13:16, 17 Aug 2025Updated 13:16, 17 Aug 2025

Woman with chest pain
A doctor shared a simple test you can do at home to check for an aortic aneurysm(Image: Getty)

An emergency doctor has revealed a simple five-second test that could warn you of a dangerous heart condition. The expert urged people to speak to a medical professional if the test comes back positive.

Speaking in a video shared to social media platform TikTok, Doctor Joe Whittington – who is better known online as Dr Joe MD explained more. He detailed how the “thumb palm test” could detect if you have an aortic aneurysm.

He said: “Okay, here’s a simple little test you could do at home that might tell you something about your heart.” An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta, the body’s largest artery, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

This can prove life-threatening if the bulge ruptures. However, the test can help provide a warning if you are at risk of this happening.

How to carry out the test

To check if you could have an aortic aneurysm you need to see how far your thumb stretches back across your palm. Dr Joe said: “Hold up your palm and try and stretch your thumb across as far as you can.

“Does it stop about there, or does it extend past your palm like this? If it does, that’s a positive thumb palm test.”

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If your thumb goes beyond the edge of your palm it means the connective tissues of your arteries could be too stretchy. Dr Joe referenced a scientific study that linked the test with aortic aneurysms.

He continued: “In 2021 a Yale study published in the American Journal of Cardiology showed that 60 per cent of people with known aortic aneurysms had a positive thumb palm test. Because if your connective tissues are very stretchy, that could mean the connective tissues of your arteries, like your aorta, are stretchy as well.”

However, testing positive doesn’t necessarily mean you have an aneurysm but it’s worth getting checked. Dr Joe added: “Now, this by itself does not mean you have an aneurysm, so don’t freak out.

“But if you have a positive thumb palm test, it’s worth bringing up with your doctor so they can dive deeper into any sort of connective tissue disorders or anything like that just to make sure you stay healthy.”

Person checking hands
To check if you could have an aortic aneurysm you need to see how far your thumb stretches back across your palm(Image: Getty)

Symptoms

The Cleveland Clinic says that aortic aneurysms don’t often present with symptoms. However, as the aneurysm grows, you might notice symptoms including:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Feeling full even after a small meal
  • Pain wherever the aneurysm is growing (could be in your neck, back, chest or abdomen)
  • Painful or difficult swallowing
  • Swelling of your arms, neck or face.

It adds that most people won’t experience symptoms unless the aneurysm ruptures. This can then cause:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Sudden, severe chest pain, abdominal pain or back pain

It says: “If an aneurysm ruptures, it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.” The clinic recommends calling for emergency services in this case.

Aortic aneurysms are linked to your genetics as well as lifestyle. They occur most often in people who:

  • Smoke
  • Are over age 65
  • Are male
  • Have a family history of aortic aneurysms
  • Have high blood pressure (hypertension)

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