Month: April 2025

One woman based in the United Kingdom is warning people of a strange finger test for lung cancer. Individuals would look for a phenomenon called ‘finger clubbing.’ Emma Norton, an oncology nurse advisor, says most people don’t know about this unusual sign, and wouldn’t know to check for it [1]. Checking your fingers for signs of clubbing is called the Schamroth window test. When touching the nails of your index fingers together, there should be a very small space, roughly the shape of a diamond, between your cuticles. If there’s no such space, your fingers could be clubbed, which could be indicative of adverse health conditions in the body, including lung cancer. Finger clubbing usually happens in both fingers but could happen in just one [2]. Fingers can look swollen or the nail may be curved in an almost beak-like way. People with finger clubbing, such as another woman in the UK, have received lung cancer diagnoses, but it’s not the only condition that problems with your fingernails can tell you. Here’s what you need to know about finger clubbing as well as how you can effortlessly conduct the Schamroth window test on your own at home. The bed of your nails—the lighter part of your nail near your cuticles—will become softer and shinier, which is suspected to be the result of fluid buildup. The nail curve isn’t always obvious, but looking at your nails from the side can give you a better look (the curve of the nail in this way is referred to as Scarmouth’s sign). As the condition progresses, your fingers may appear larger from the fluid collection and swelling, especially at the ends of your fingers. 3 Easy Steps to Do the Schamroth Window Test Source: Shutterstock Doing the Schamroth window test is easy, and only takes a few seconds on your own at home: Put your hands up in front of you Touch the tips of your index fingers Make nails touch by bending the tops of fingers You should see a small diamond-shaped gap beneath the nail beds. If there’s no gap, means your fingers are clubbed, and you should follow up with your doctor as soon as possible. Your physician may suggest further diagnostic efforts to determine what the issue is. Does It Really Mean You Have Lung Cancer? Source: Shutterstock Even if your fingers are clubbed, it doesn’t automatically mean you have lung cancer. Finger clubbing has also been associated with [3][4]: Congenital heart disease. Present at birth, this condition causes an issue with the actual structure of the heart, which can affect blood flow [5]. Infective endocarditis. A rare, life-threatening infection of the endocardial surface of the heart [6]. Other lung issues. Such as a lung abscess, which is caused by an infection (sometimes even gum disease!) [7], and bronchiectasis, in which the airways are scarred or damaged, which can occur from lung infections, autoimmune disorders, or allergic reactions [8]. Inflammatory bowel disease. IBD encompasses both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which involve chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract [9]. Finger clubbing has even been known to be an early sign of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in patients who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [10]. Read More: 10 Warning Signs of Lung Cancer Other Fingernail Conditions and What They Could Reveal Source: Shutterstock Finger clubbing isn’t the only finger sign that can point to other health conditions in the body. In fact, our fingernails can reveal a surprising amount of information about our health. Just a few of the many fingernail signs that could be indicative of an underlying health condition include [11]: Koilonychia Source: Shutterstock This term refers to nails that are concaved, or have a spoon curvature to them due to a depression in the middle. Koilonychia occurs in children and could be the result of: An iron or protein deficiency Exposure to petroleum-based solvents, which contain toxic chemicals [12] Lupus Thin or Brittle Nails Source: Shutterstock These nails may break easily or appear very thin, and could be indicative of: Metabolic bone diseases, such as osteoporosis Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism Malnutrition Beau’s Lines Source: Shutterstock These lines could appear as indents or white lines that span the width of your nail. They typically signal a severe illness that has already happened. For example, Beau’s lines could be the result of previous conditions or treatments such as: Severe infection Myocardial infarction (heart attack) Shock or sepsis Chemotherapy Severe zinc deficiency What’s interesting about Beau’s lines is that their position on the nail can reveal the approximate date of the illness, and the depth of the lines could allude to the severity of the condition. Rough Nails Source: Shutterstock These nails may appear dull instead of having their characteristic natural shine, or almost look as if they were sandpapered. Rough nails could indicate: An autoimmune disease Exposure to toxic chemicals Psoriasis, which is a skin condition resulting in rough or scaly patches of skin Is There Any Way to Prevent Finger Clubbing? Source: Shutterstock Since finger clubbing is a symptom rather than the root cause of the problem itself, taking care of your health and reducing your risk for certain health problems could prevent finger clubbing. For example, not smoking, avoiding toxic chemicals, and, of course, taking other basic measures to care for yourself such as eating healthy and exercising could prevent finger clubbing. Did you know that any of these fingernail signs could point to an underlying condition or disease? It’s pretty fascinating what our fingers can show us!

Scientists say that smoking weed in your youth isn’t a big deal — but if you’re still using it well into adulthood, your mileage may vary. In a new study published in the journal Addiction Research & Theory, a team of researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia examined success outcomes for both cannabis and amphetamine users. Using data from over 8,000 mothers and 2,000 children about drug use at ages 21 and 30, the team found that both substances were associated with lower success rates based on nine specific criteria, including education, income, home ownership, relationship status, and reported happiness, but only if they continued into adulthood. For any offended stoners out there, the study does have likely shortcomings. For one thing, that dataset about mothers and children in Australia is strange and highly local — some of its data, fact, hearkens back to 1981 — and by no means guaranteed to represent a broader or more contemporary global population. For another, home ownership and relationship status aren’t necessarily the strongest measures of success. Another substantial issue that the researchers acknowledged is that the data didn’t reflect whether the cannabis users in question were also dabbling in other drugs besides amphetamines, leaving a huge question of correlation hovering over the weed findings. “We do not have adequate data on other illicit drugs that may be being used, for example, ecstasy, opiates and even synthetic drugs,” the scientists wrote in the study. “A subset of those using cannabis as well as amphetamines may also be using a range of other drugs and it may be that our findings reflect polydrug use generally rather than the specific use of cannabis and amphetamines.” Still, the results are intriguing, at least as a jumping off point for further study. Basically, the researchers found, people who dabbled in drugs when they were younger tended to do well in life — as long as they sobered up before too long. After 30, however, all bets were off. “We found people who used cannabis and amphetamines at 30 had substantially lower levels of life success,” Najman said in a press release. In addition to the choppy data, it’s worth remembering that cannabis can mess up your life in ways that aren’t directly related to the drug at all. People who get caught with it can get enmeshed into the criminal justice system, for instance, kicking off a self-fulfilling spiral of poor outcomes. The new research, for its part, seems to circle around that point without quite grasping its implications. “Antisocial behavior and contact with the criminal justice system are the strongest predictors of continued drug use, along with problems at school and aggressive or delinquent behavior early in life,” Najman argued in the statement, adding that the findings “raise the possibility that targeted interventions for children who show early signs of antisocial behavior or poor school performance may reduce drug use and lead to improved life success.” It’s worth noting, by the way, that Australia has been a notable exception to the broader global trend of cannabis legalization, which may well flavor both the data and conclusions of this particular study. At the end of the day, we still don’t fully understand the relationship between between marijuana use and social outcomes. In fact, some research has found that occasionally sparking up is associated with better quality of life. That said, we all could benefit from reassessing our drug use from time to time — and to recognize that policy interventions don’t make a drug any more or less damaging.

Hives, known in the medical world as urticaria, are your skin’s reaction to histamine (a chemical released by the body’s immune system in response to an allergen) and other inflammatory signals being released into your bloodstream. (1) RELATED: What Is Histamine? You likely know hives for the way they appear on your skin: They’re red, swollen welts that can sometimes be accompanied by itchiness or pain. There are a variety of possible causes for hives (or reasons that histamine and other chemicals get released by the body in the first place). They could be the result of allergies in response to foods, medication, or an infection, or they could be from another trigger, like exercise, heat, stress, or alcohol. (2,3) Red bumps on the skin can seem like a somewhat generic description. Couldn’t that indicate a number of possible skin issues? How can you know if it’s hives you’re experiencing and not something else? Here’s what to know about hives and their unique symptoms. What Are the Symptoms of Hives? “Hives are characterized by red or pale-colored welts on the skin, which typically come and go throughout the day,” says Sourab Choudhury, DO, a dermatologist and the chief medical officer at the Dermatology Specialists, a private dermatology practice in New York City. “Sometimes they itch, burn, or sting.”Usually the welts will be surrounded by clear edges. They may look similar to bug bites, but hives generally will appear and disappear more quickly. They may itch, sometimes severely, and they’re not always the same size or shape. They may be as small as the tip of a pen or as large as a dinner plate. (4) When you press the center of a hive bump on the skin, it likely will turn from red to white, which is known as blanching. (2,3) Hives may appear on the body grouped together and take over a large area of the skin, or as a couple of individual welts that show up here and there. (4) They can appear anywhere on the body, though some people get them in the same spot over and over again (usually as a result of a specific trigger). (4) Generally, you’ll know you have hives simply by seeing the hives themselves. If you experience other symptoms, such as swelling in the eyes, lips, or inside of the throat, or if you have trouble breathing, you should call 911 or see a doctor immediately, says Sapna Palep, MD, a dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York City. These symptoms indicate you may be experiencing a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. (5) How to Know It’s Hives and Not One of These Other Skin Problems “To the untrained eye, hives can have a similar appearance to other common skin conditions,” Dr. Choudhury says. He says one way to tell the difference is by how quickly the welts clear up.