Lung conditions are most often marked by traditional respiratory symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain, to name a few. But experts say your lungs can affect other parts of your body as well, some of which you may not expect. Your hands, for instance, can present with surprising symptoms that may shed light on your pulmonary health. Read on to learn how your hands can alert you to a problem with your lungs, and which other subtle symptoms to look out for.
Finger clubbing
Finger clubbing occurs when the tip of the finger swells due to excess soft tissue underneath the nail beds. According to Mount Sinai, the majority of finger clubbing cases point to a diagnosis of lung cancer. However, clubbing can also be caused by other lung conditions, including chronic lung infections and interstitial lung disease.
Blue nail beds
Lung conditions are most often marked by traditional respiratory symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain, to name a few. But experts say your lungs can affect other parts of your body as well, some of which you may not expect. Your hands, for instance, can present with surprising symptoms that may shed light on your pulmonary health. Read on to learn how your hands can alert you to a problem with your lungs,.
Poor grip strength
Subjects with weakened grip strength were also significantly more likely to visit the emergency room for their COPD symptoms within a year after the study’s initiation, compared with the regular grip strength group.
Pain and swelling
Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease of unknown cause which occurs when the lymph nodes become enlarged. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s characterized by “the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in any part of your body—most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes.” The most frequently reported symptoms of this condition are dry cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder which causes inflammation around the joints. Those with RA often experience stiffness, pain, and swelling in the wrist and fingers, among other body parts.
