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Doctor’s quick at-home test that could show if you have serious heart or lung problems Credits: Social Media
By Ellissa Bain

Doctor’s quick at-home test that could show if you have serious heart or lung problems

By Ellissa Bain

The human body is amazingly intelligent and uses all kinds of signs to show when there is something wrong with you.

A doctor has shared one simple test you can do at home that could show if you are suffering with heart or lung problems.

Heart disease patients
Young men have heart disease,Heart disease patients, heart disease. Credit: manusapon (Getty Images)

Test for heart and lung problems

“You can all do this one test at home to see if you’ve got any serious heart or lung problems,” general practitioner Dr. Ahmed said on TikTok.

The test determines whether you have clubbed fingers, which is a symptom usually associated with diseases of the heart and lungs. Your nails suddenly change in shape, appearing wider, spongelike or swollen as a result of an underlying health condition, Cleveland Clinic explains.

Nail clubbing can happen to your fingers or toenails and can be a sign of many conditions including lung cancer, lung infections, cystic fibrosis and cardiovascular disease. It’s believed to be caused by chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood.

“With clubbed fingers, you get a very round bulb-like fingertip. They can be very white and the base of the nails can be very shiny,” Ahmed explained.

@dra_says

Simple check at home for finger clubbing. Educational purposes only #fingerclubbing #lungcancer #lowoxygenlevels #doctor #privategp #privatedoctor #cysticfibrosis #chronicillness #crohnsdisease #cysticfibrosis #ulcerativecolitis #infectiveendocarditis #congenitalheartdiseasepatient #heartdisease #heartproblems #lungabcess

♬ original sound – Dr Ahmed

How to do the Schamroth Window Test

The at-home test is called the Schamroth Window Test, which was originally demonstrated by South African cardiologist�Leo Schamroth on himself.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Bring your two index fingernails together so they are touching
  2. There should be a small diamond-shaped ‘window’ between the nailbeds
  3. If this window is obliterated, the test is positive and clubbing is present

When you need to see a doctor

The NHS says you should always see a doctor if a nail has:

  • Changed shape, changed colour or fallen off and you do not know why
  • The skin around your nails has become sore, red, swollen and warm

Sometimes, nail clubbing can occur in a healthy person with no underlying health conditions. However, it’s always best to seek medical advice.

Dr. Dra Ahmed (MBBS, MRCGP, BSc) is a private general practitioner based in the UK who works at Hamptons Hospital.