These warning signs could mean your heart is in real danger.
It's easy to overlook issues with your hands—they may be helpful,
but they're not precisely vital organs. You may want to start if you're someone
who doesn't pay much attention to these appendages. Your hands can reveal
symptoms that serve as severe warning signs of heart trouble, whether it's an
issue with your nails, fingers, palms, or anything else. Read on to learn what
you should watch out for in your hands and what it could mean for your heart.
1. Painful lumps in fingers
If you've developed hard, painful lumps in your fingers, don't
ignore them. These bumps are Osler's nodes and could be a sign of infectious endocarditis—a potentially life-threatening inflammation of your heart's
chambers or blood vessels. When bacteria enter your body, spread through your
bloodstream, and attach to weak areas of the heart, endocarditis. If left
untreated, endocarditis can permanently damage heart valves.
Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, says,
"Osler's nodes form due to an inflammation of the blood vessels in the
area, which then causes a bacterial infection in the dermis, leading to more
inflammation. A skin biopsy may aid in diagnosis, but confirmation should be
sought from a cardiologist."
Osler's nodes can last for a couple of hours to several days, and
they tend to clear up on their own. Even if the lumps go, you should see a
doctor as soon as possible to see if you have endocarditis and need treatment.
In most situations, antibiotics will cure the infection, but surgery may be
required in other cases.
2. Red or purple lines under fingernails
The majority of us see lines under our fingernails and think
nothing of it. According to a 2012 research published in the Journal of Travel
Medicine, red or purple lines under your nails, known as splinter hemorrhaging,
could be a symptom of heart disease or infection. So, if you have lines under
your nails and other symptoms like a fever or an irregular heartbeat, you
should see a doctor right once because these could be signs of heart disease.
Yadav explains, "If you have many splinter hemorrhages, it
could be an indication of something serious. In the case of heart disease, it's
believed that splinter hemorrhages form because of clumps of bacteria traveling
through the small blood vessels of the nail bed. This weakens those vessels and
makes them more susceptible to hemorrhaging."
3. Clubbing
Another sign that your fingers might indicate heart problems is if
you experience "clubbing," a condition characterized by swollen
fingertips and downward-curving fingernails. Heart disease or an infection of
the heart chambers are common causes of clubbing.
"Clubbing [of the fingernails] refers to an angle of over 180
degrees, normally 160 degrees in formal nails," explains Beth Goldstein,
MD, a dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "This type of anatomy can present from
birth, but it is more typically found in those who have osteoarthritis. It
usually begins in the thumb and index fingers if it is caused by heart problems."
If you're experiencing clubbing, see your doctor see if you have a heart
condition that must be treated.
4. Waxy lumps on hands
Nodules of systemic amyloidosis appear as smooth, waxy lumps on
your skin, often on the hands. These lumps are caused by a build-up of protein deposits in the heart, which can interfere with heart function. Because these
protein deposits can function in place of the heart muscle, affecting heart
signaling and causing irregular heartbeats, the resulting condition is known as
"stiff heart syndrome."
According to the Mayo Clinic, amyloidosis inhibits the ability of
your heart's chambers to fill with blood between beats. As a result, there is
less blood pumped throughout the body, leading to waxy lumps on the hands. If
you notice symptoms of amyloidosis, make an appointment with your doctor right
once. This sign could indicate that your heart is in grave danger.
5. Discoloration on palms
Spotty red or brownish discoloration on your palms (also known as
"Janeway lesions") could spell trouble for your heart. Another sign
of a bacterial infection in your heart or surrounding blood vessels is this
symptom. The discolored spots are usually painless and vanish on their own
after a few days or weeks, but that doesn't mean you should ignore them.
Consult your doctor if you notice these discolorations on your palms to see if
you have a heart infection that needs antibiotics or other treatment.
Ultimately, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure for heart health. Jennifer Lewey, MD, MPH, a cardiologist with the American Heart Association (AHA), advises, "Heart disease means making smart choices now that will pay off the rest of your life. Your health must connect with a health care professional and have regular wellness exams. Talk to your doctor about your diet, lifestyle, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, blood sugar, and body mass index."