A centuries-old medical trick is making a comeback as doctors encourage people to check their fingers for early warning signs of disease. The Schamroth window test, named after the cardiologist who popularized it, can detect subtle changes in your nails that may indicate serious health problems.
To perform the test, place your index fingers together nail-to-nail. Healthy fingers will form a small diamond-shaped space between the nails. If they press together completely with no gap, you may have finger clubbing – a condition where fingertips swell and nails develop a spoon-like curve.
“Clubbing develops so gradually that most people don’t notice it themselves,” explains Dr. Sarah Chen, a pulmonologist. “That’s why this simple visual test is so valuable for early detection.” The changes typically occur when chronic low oxygen levels cause blood vessels in the fingertips to expand.
While clubbing can sometimes run in families harmlessly, it’s often associated with lung diseases (including cancer), heart conditions, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The test takes just moments but could lead to life-saving early intervention.
