This Simple Thumb Test May Point to a Serious Heart Risk

A simple hand movement has drawn attention because it may reveal something deeper than flexibility. It is called the thumb-palm test, and it has been discussed by medical experts as a possible clue to risk for an aortic aneurysm, a dangerous bulge in the body’s main artery.

The test is not a diagnosis, and most people with an aneurysm will not test positive. But a Yale-led study found that when the thumb-palm test is positive, it can be highly specific for ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm, meaning it may be worth taking seriously rather than ignoring.