Clubbed fingers describefingernails or toenailsthat are curved downward, like a spoon.
The nails may feel soft when pressed and no longer sit even with the cuticle.
This often occurs along with swelling or bulging of the tips of the fingers or toes.
Desherinka/ WIkimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Clubbing usually happens because of long-term low levels of oxygen in the blood, known ashypoxemia.
However, clubbed nails are not always cause for alarm, especially if nail clubbing runs in your family.
Finger Clubbing Symptoms
Clubbing can involve your fingers and/or toes.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Clubbing happens gradually and causes a change in the appearance of your fingers and/or toes.
Clubbed nails become red, sponge-like, and swollen, almost like tiny balloons.
From close up or a distance, clubbed nails resemble upside-down spoons.
These gradual changes may occur alone or with other symptoms, such as shortness of breath or coughing.
If you notice signs of nail clubbing, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Is Finger Clubbing Painful?
Painful clubbing may occur in some people with certain conditions that cause scarring in the lungs.
Hereditary clubbing is simply a physical feature, like eye color and height.
With primary HOA, other family members are also likely to have finger clubbing and/or toe clubbing.
In fact, secondary clubbing is resulting from lung cancer or lymphomain approximately 80% of cases.
Yes, chronic smoking blocks oxygen from getting to tissues, including fingernails.
Primary finger clubbing is far more rare.
Experts suggest that clubbing occurs as your body undergoes changes in response to low oxygen.
Several processes affect the nail beds in secondary clubbing.
The nail enlargement occurs due to the growth of excess soft tissue beneath the nail beds.
The enlargement is associated with inflammation and a proliferation of small blood vessels in the nail beds.
They’ll be interested to know if it’s a hereditary trait.
Chronic kidney disease and other disorders such assystemic sclerosismay cause finger changes that mimic the appearance of digital clubbing.
Additional tests may be needed to rule these out.
There are a variety of approaches used to treat the underlying cause of clubbing.
Your treatment will depend on your situation.
You may need management of respiratory disease, treatment of heart disease, or interventional therapy for cancer.
In fact, 90% of all clubbing cases are resulting from lung cancer.
Pinpointing the cause of clubbing is important.
Once the cause is treated, the clubbing should go away on its own.
If you notice clubbed fingers or toes, be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider.
Clubbing can be diagnosed in your healthcare provider’s office.
Heart and lung diseases are the most common problems.
These may need to be treated with medication or surgery.
Stopping smoking is essential.
If there is not, you may have clubbed nails.
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