Lesser known symptoms in the hands such as finger clubbing and swelling could point to a dangerous condition.
Heart health is a growing concern in the UK. Around a quarter of all deaths across the nation can be attributed to cardiovascular disease every year. This includes conditions and diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure and strokes.
According to the British Heart Foundation, around 7.6 million people in the UK are currently living with cardiovascular disease, with this number expected to rise. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment it can prove dangerous and even fatal.
Therefore, spotting any warning signs is extremely important. But some of the symptoms of a heart issue are more obvious than others.
As an example, heart palpitations and chest pain could signal an issue. But other signs can be more unusual – including two that can appear in the hands. Finger clubbing and swelling of the hands could both indicate a problem with the heart.
Finger clubbing
This phenomenon that causes the ends of the fingers to look larger, giving them a clubbed appearance, could signal heart disease. With this symptom nails can widen and appear to wrap around the sides of the fingers.
They might also form a rounded, bulging shape, giving the appearance of an upside-down spoon. The Cleveland Clinic, in the US, describes this as looking like your nails are “floating” and “aren’t really attached to your finger”.
Clubbing is usually the result of long-lasting low levels of oxygen in your blood, known as hypoxemia. This can be due to heart disease, the clinic says, as well as problems with the lungs or digestive system.
More specifically, finger clubbing can be the result of these cardiovascular problems:
- Aortic aneurysm: A bulging in the wall of your body’s largest artery
- Congenital heart disease: A structural issue with your heart that’s present at birth
- Endocarditis: A bloodstream infection attacks the lining of your heart valves.
Swelling
Swelling in the hands could also indicate a problem with your heart. This occurs when fluid builds up in the affected areas and is known as oedema.
This can cause a feeling of swelling or puffiness of the tissue right under the skin, and the skin can become stretched or shiny. It is one of the key signs of heart failure, which means that the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly.
The NHS explains that the swelling may be better in the morning and “get worse” later in the day. Oedema can also affect the ankles and legs.
You should speak to your doctor if you experience either of these unexplained symptoms.
