This 2-Second Thumb Test Could Indicate If You're At Risk For A Heart Problem

""The thumb test is an easy test people can do to see if they are at increased risk for an aortic aneurysm," preventative cardiologist Dr. Tracy Paeschke told HuffPost. "The thumb test involves laying your thumb across your flat palm. If your thumb extends beyond the edge of your palm, this indicates joint laxity or stretchiness, which can be associated with connective tissue diseases.""

"Connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are associated with a higher risk of aneurysms, particularly aortic aneurysms, because people with these conditions tend to have weakened blood vessel walls. Also known as the thumb-palm test, the thumb test doesn't necessarily indicate that someone currently has an aneurysm. Rather, it helps detect the kind of joint hypermobility linked to these disorders ― which carry an increased risk of aneurysms."

""A study in 2021 showed that people with a positive thumb sign had a high likelihood of having an ascending aortic aneurysm, widening of the large blood vessel in the chest that carries blood from the heart to all parts of the body," Paeschke said. What are the limitations of the thumb test? "Remember this is not a diagnostic test," said Dr. Marc Bonaca, a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist and chair 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 may have a connective tissue condition associated with aneurysm, but that"

The thumb test involves laying the thumb across the flat palm; if the thumb extends beyond the palm edge, the result indicates joint laxity or hypermobility. Joint laxity can be associated with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which often weaken blood vessel walls and raise risk for aortic aneurysms. A 2021 study linked a positive thumb sign with a higher likelihood of ascending aortic aneurysm. The thumb test serves as a simple screening clue rather than a definitive diagnosis. Most people with an aortic aneurysm will have a negative thumb test.

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