Does anyone else with emphysema have clubbed fingers?

Hi everyone.. Just wondering if anyone else with Emphysema have clubbed fingers? and if so.. do they go back to normal? Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

[Anita_1960]

My dad (82) was recently at the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia. The consultant said dad had clubbed fingers, something we had never noticed. He has copd, emphysema and asthma. I don't think the fingers go bk to normal 😊

[hypercat54]

Hi some people are born with clubbed fingers and that is normal for them. If your fingers become clubbed then it can indicate lung problems. At least that's what I have always heard. x

[megshafer]

Many people are born with clubbed fingers. It is also a sign of low oxygen levels, if your fingers are newly clubbed, go have your oxygen levels checked, just to be on the safe side.

Take care.

Meg

[Shazrab in reply to megshafer]

Hi megshafer my hubby has clubbed fingers his cardiologist always examined them well on each visit even if it was a different cardiologist he saw, they said to him it was nothing to worry about but was a sign of heart/ lung problems and although he has a heart condition that cannot be fixed each Dr suggested he see a lung dr just for a check up He refused!! His Gp suggested he get a breathing test recently as his breathing has got bad and he agreed turned out he has copd he asked the drs about his fingers and he just said nothing to worry about. But if your concerned ask your dr see what he says. It took over a year maybe two years to get my hubby to get a lung function test as he’s stubborn and hates hospitals. Take care I wish you all the best of health 🌺💐

[Hidden in reply to Shazrab]

I can so relate to your Hubby! My First Dr wasnt so concerned.. so i just ignored it also. When i showed my new Dr.. she sent me for Lung and heart tests.. Which is how i found out i had emphysema. I too am not a fan of going to the Doctor/hospital, im as stubborn as your Hubby! (I actually havent been back since my Diagnosis and LFT...)

[skischool]

Within lung disease finger nail clubbing is sometimes associated with fibrosis,bronchiectasis and lung cancers and not normally with asthma or emphysema though there are many other causes of clubbing non lung related.

[ProudYorky]

Sorry to seem so ignorant on the subject what is clubbing and what does it look like x

[O2Trees in reply to ProudYorky]

The test they used when I was in hospital was to get me to put the nails of my forefingers together (kind of like you are making a heart with your forefingers and thumbs) and they were looking for an elongated diamond shape that you can see through. If that is there then your fingers aren't clubbed. A trainee pharmacist was doing the rounds checking for this - mine were ok, but I had never heard of that way of checking before.

[Nottobad in reply to ProudYorky]

This link may help you verywellhealth.com/clubbing...

[Hidden in reply to ProudYorky]

Clubbing is when the ends of your fingers kind of enlarge (sometimes called drumstick fingers ) and your nails tend to curve over the tips.

[bayleyray-uk]

Mine are clubbed due to bronchiectasis and the nails had started to splay out and the end of the nails started to curve down wards into hooks, if you look at some of them sideways you can see a definite hump on the main body of the nail and the cuticle curve has become distorted.

I'm now on oxygen and although the problem has not cleared up it doesn't appear to get worse. So worth having a chat with your doctor.

I keep my nails trimmed short now, keep thinking of evil witches.

Sue

[Hidden in reply to bayleyray-uk]

Thank you for sharing Sue! I do have bad circulation also.. so wasnt sure if that was connected. (like i get purple hands A LOT). I also work in manual labour, so for a while i ignored it, thinking it may just be swelling due to using my fingers all the time, and cutting my cuticles on boxes. Was only when a close friend of mine passed of lung cancer, and my family history that finally made me go back to a new Doctor to get them checked. She listened to my chest.. then next min.. im being sent off for CT scans, LFT, ECG, blood tests and all.. Im one of those people that rarely go to the Dr.. (Stubborn)

[Hidden]

Thanks everyone.. I have been checked.. that is why i was asking the question. First Doctor i showed didnt seem all that concerned about it.. So i waited a few years.. Changed Doctors and showed her, (because my Father and granddad both passed away from lung cancer, plus they look ugly ) Yes i was diagnosed with Emphysema.. Was curious to know if many others with Emphysema had clubbed fingers as well.. because when you google, it mainly comes up as a result of lung cancer.. Thank you for your replies! xxxx