Try Bending Your Thumb... This Sign Could Be Dangerous

If Your Thumb Reaches Beyond the Palm When Bent Inward,
You May Be at Risk for Aortic Aneurysm

"Try bending your thumb right now. How far does it go?"

Joe Whitington, an emergency medicine specialist in California, USA, has drawn attention by releasing a video demonstrating a "one-minute simple self-diagnosis test" that can immediately identify life-threatening heart conditions such as vascular rupture.

According to the Daily Mail in the UK on June 12, Joe Whitington introduced the "thumb-palm test" in a recent TikTok video, explaining that this simple test can be used to diagnose an aortic aneurysm. The video has garnered over 230,000 views and has attracted significant interest.

If the thumb reaches beyond the palm to the outside of the hand as shown in the photo, it is considered a positive sign of aortic aneurysm. AI-generated image to aid understanding of the article. ChatGPT

The method is straightforward. With your palm open, stretch your thumb inward as far as possible. If your thumb reaches beyond the palm to the outside of your hand, it is considered a positive sign. Dr. Whitington explained, "In such cases, the connective tissue may be abnormally flexible, which is associated with a condition where the wall of the aorta stretches or weakens."

In fact, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2021, 60% of patients with aortic aneurysm showed a positive result in this test. The researchers conducted the test on 305 patients who had undergone heart surgery. A significant number of those with a positive result were found to have an aortic aneurysm. Dr. Whitington advised, "A positive result on the test is not a reason to panic, but it is advisable to consult a doctor to check for connective tissue disorders."

The aorta is the largest and most important blood vessel, starting from the heart and delivering blood throughout the body. If there is a problem with this vessel, it can pose a direct threat to life. The most representative aortic diseases are aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection. An aortic aneurysm is a condition in which a section of the aortic wall weakens and balloons out like a localized bulge. Because it usually presents no obvious symptoms, it is often referred to as a "silent time bomb." However, once its size exceeds a certain threshold, the risk of rupture increases sharply, and the mortality rate upon rupture is extremely high, exceeding 80%.

Aortic dissection is a dangerous condition in which a small tear forms in the inner wall of the aorta, and blood enters the gap, splitting the vessel wall. Sudden chest pain and a drop in blood pressure are typical symptoms, and if treatment is delayed, the mortality rate rises significantly. In particular, people with cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, or hyperlipidemia, as well as those with hereditary connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, have a much higher risk of developing aortic disease than the general population. Prevention and early detection are key for aortic diseases, and regular checkups and lifestyle management are most important.