This 2 -second thumb test could indicate if it is at risk of a heart problem; Here is how to do it at home

There are many small health controls that people can do at home, from reviewing their pulse to breast exams. But one that could be less familiar is the thumb test.

It is a relatively simple maneuver, but it has the potential to reveal clues about a possible heart problem.

So what exactly does the “thumb test” and what should people know about it? Next, the cardiologists break it down.

What is the thumb test?

“The thumb test is an easy proof that people can do to see if they have a higher risk of an aortic aneurysm,” Dr. Tracy Paeschke told Hoffpost to Hoffpost. “The thumb test implies placing the thumb on its flat palm. If your thumb extends beyond the edge of its palm, this indicates the laxity or stretching of the joint, which can be associated with connective tissue diseases.”

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Connective tissue diseases, such as Ivory syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, are associated with a higher risk of aneurysms, particularly aortic aneurysms, because people with these conditions tend to weaken the walls of blood vessels.

Also known as the thumb palm test, the thumb test does not necessarily indicate that someone has an aneurysm. Rather, it helps detect the type of joint hypermobility linked to these disorders, which lead to a greater risk of aneurysms.

“A study in 2021 showed that people with a positive thumb sign had a high probability of having an ascending aortic aneurysm, expanding the large blood vessel in the chest that transports blood from the heart to all parts of the body,” Paeschke said.

What are the limitations of the thumb test?

“Remember that this is not a diagnostic test,” said Dr. Marc Bonaca, a cardiologist and specialist in vascular medicine and president of the American Heart Association Pad Collaborative. “Most people with an aortic aneurysm will have a negative thumb test. Those who have a positive thumb test can have a connective tissue condition associated with aneurysm, but that does not mean they have an aneurysm.”

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In fact, that same 2021 study that found that people with a positive test were more likely to have an aortic aneurysm also pointed out that “most patients with aneurysm do not manifest a positive sign of thumb palm.” Therefore, a negative result does not exclude having an aneurysm.

“The thumb test is not considered precise or reliable as a detection tool for an aortic aneurysm,” said Dr. Tarak Rambhatla, a cardiologist at the Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Miami of Miami of Baptist Health South Florida. “Many healthy people can have a ‘positive’ test without any mixed disease of connective tissue or no vascular disease. And on the contrary, many others with aneurysms may have a normal thumb test. The aneurysm detection is performed with images such as echocardiography, CT or ultrasound: you do not handle physical.”

He believes that the thumb test is “an interesting night sign linked to connective tissue disorders”, but otherwise it can be misleading.

“A positive result is nonspecific and can cause unnecessary anxiety, while a negative result can provide false peace of mind to someone who really has an aneurysm,” Rambhatla said. “The excessive dependence of IT could delay adequate detection or surveillance with images in high -risk individuals. In summary, it should never replace formal medical evaluation or the detection of aneurysm based on guidelines.”

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Dr. Glenn Hirsch, a cardiologist and head of the National Jewish Health Cardiology Division, also emphasized that other factors are more predictive of the presence of an aortic aneurysm than the thumb test, such as cardiovascular problems or family history of aneurisms.

“There are other causes of aortic aneurysms in the chest, such as high blood pressure, and this test would be less useful in that situation,” said Hirsch.

What should you do if you have a positive thumb test?

“If you have a positive thumb test, you should talk to your doctor about whether this could suggest a underlying connective tissue disease and if you must have additional tests,” said Bonaca, adding that his doctor could do a more complete physical exam and ask for certain scans. “The aneurysms are diagnosed with images, and the guidelines recommend tests for specific reasons in people at risk.”

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He pointed out that the image is the gold standard to diagnose aneurysms, and there are medical guidelines that recommend tests based on the evaluation of certain risk factors.

“If someone with a positive thumb test also has suggestive characteristics of Ivory Syndrome, Ehlers-Dlos or family history of aneurysm or dissection, they must discuss it with a doctor who can recommend a formal evaluation and images of the aorta,” Rambhatla said. “If it is an isolated finding in a healthy person, it usually does not justify an urgent concern, but can be mentioned in a medical visit of routine for the context.”

Hirsch also recommended that people discuss risk factors with their doctors to determine when detection and monitoring is appropriate.

“Some of the risk factors for aortic aneurysms include age over 65, men, smokers, high blood pressure, connective tissue disorders, or family history of aortic aneurysms and the presence of bicuspid aortic valves, ”he said.

He also pointed out other potential signs of a underlying connective tissue disorder beyond the thumb test, such as “double articulated”, having joint dislocations and even losing teeth.

“Ultimately, awareness of the thumb test can cause useful conversations,” Rambhatla said. “But medical decision making should always be guided by detection and evidence -based images.”

This article originally appeared in Huffpost.

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