Heart health is a major issue in the UK, with cardiovascular disease accounting for around a quarter of all deaths every single year. This includes conditions and diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure and strokes.
Around 7.6 million people in the UK are currently living with cardiovascular disease, with this number expected to rise, the British Heart Foundation says.
Without early diagnosis and treatment, cardiovascular disease can prove fatal. Therefore, spotting any warning signs is vital.
But some of the telltale signs of a heart issue are more obvious than others. For example, heart palpitations and chest pain could signal a problem.
However, there are some more unusual symptoms, including two that can appear in the hands.
According to health bodies, finger clubbing and swelling of the hands could both indicate a problem with the heart.
Finger clubbing
Finger clubbing is a strange phenomenon that causes the ends of the fingers to look larger, giving them a clubbed appearance.
Along with the tips of the fingers, the nails will widen and appear to wrap around the sides of the fingers.
The nails might also form a rounded, bulging shape, giving the appearance of an upside-down spoon.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, in the US, it may look like your nails are “floating” and “aren’t really attached to your finger”.
It usually occurs because of long-lasting low levels of oxygen in your blood, known as hypoxemia.
This can be due to heart disease, the clinic says, as well as problems with the lungs or digestive system.
More specifically, finger clubbing can be the result of these cardiovascular problems:
- Aortic aneurysm: A bulging in the wall of your body’s largest artery
- Congenital heart disease: A structural issue with your heart that’s present at birth
- Endocarditis: A bloodstream infection attacks the lining of your heart valves.
Swelling
Swollen hands could also indicate a problem with your heart.
Known medically as oedema, it occurs when fluid builds up in the affected areas.
You might feel a swelling or puffiness of the tissue right under the skin, and the skin can become stretched or shiny.
It is one of the most common signs of heart failure, which means that the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly.
The NHS warns that the swelling may be better in the morning and “get worse” later in the day.
If caused by heart failure it can also affect the ankles and legs.
You should speak to your doctor if you experience either of these unexplained symptoms.