Easy ‘thumb test’ may identify fatal heart condition, researchers suggest

A simple “thumb palm test” may indicate whether someone has an ascending aortic aneurysm, or a potentially fatal ballooning of a large artery in the heart, researchers say, suggesting the test be included in standard physical exams, especially for those with a family history of aortic aneurysm.

Researchers found that positive "thumb palm tests," or the "thumb crossing beyond the edge of the palm" often correlated with diagnosis of an aortic aneurysm. According to a related release posted by Yale University, "being able to move the thumb in that way is an indication that a patient’s long bones are excessive and their joints are lax — possible signs of connective tissue disease throughout the body, including the aorta." While 59 patients had ascending aneurysm diagnoses, the test indicated 10 patients had the disorder, while 295 patients did not.