This simple finger test may reveal your hidden risk for lung disease

Time of India

06-05-2025

Symptoms
How to know if your joints are super-flexible
Stiff joints can signal trouble, but super-flexible ones may even bring worse news. If you are able to bend your pinkie backward 90 degrees or touch your thumb to your forearm, this may not necessarily be a good thing.Sign of a rare genetic condition, uber-flexible joints may indicate your increased risk of respiratory illnesses and complicated recovery, as per experts.A quick flexibility test at home could help you uncover this hidden risk. This test is done to understand if your joints can go beyond the typical range of motion. Even if your joints are super-flexible, for most it isn't a sign of worry, but for some people, it could mean they may be suffering from a worrisome condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Ehlers-Danlos syndrome affects your connective tissues - your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. People suffering from the condition have overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin, according to mayoclinic.This can become a serious issue if you have a wound that needs stitches, as the skin may not be strong enough to hold them properly. Connective tissue, a complex blend of proteins and other elements, gives your body structure, strength, and flexibility, and when it's compromised, healing becomes much more difficult.A severe form of disorder could cause the walls of your blood vessels, intestines or uterus to rupture. People with the condition may have muscle weakness, including in the muscles that control inhaling and exhaling.Patients may report respiratory issues, including shortness of breath, difficulty with deep inhalation, sleep apnea, coughing, wheezing that mimics asthma and even chest pain that worsens with breathing in. Breathing pattern disorders are also common. For example, people with EDS may unconsciously adopt a 'bracing' pattern, where they hold their inhaled breath for too long," Jeannie Di Bon, a UK-based hypermobility and EDS specialist, told Newsweek.Di Bon, who has EDS, explains that people with the condition often adopt altered breathing patterns as a subconscious way to feel stable. However, this can reduce lung movement, particularly in the lower lungs, creating conditions that increase the risk of infections and complications from illnesses like COVID-19 and pneumonia. Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is marked by distinctive facial features like a thin nose, small earlobes, and prominent eyes, along with fragile, translucent skin that bruises easily. In fair-skinned individuals, veins may be clearly visible. The condition can weaken major arteries, including the aorta, increasing the risk of life-threatening ruptures. It can also affect the uterus and intestines, potentially leading to dangerous tears.Joint pain and dislocations are common in this disorder as the joints that can move far past the normal range of motion.The disorder, caused by weakened connective tissue, can make your skin unusually stretchy. You might be able to lift a section of skin away from your body more than normal, but it will quickly snap back into place. The skin may also feel exceptionally soft and velvety to the touch.It is also noticed that the skin doesn't heal properly as the stitches used to close a wound often tear out and leave a gaping scar.Doctors often use the Beighton score to evaluate joint flexibility, which, when combined with other symptoms and family history, can help suggest the presence of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). The score is based on five simple flexibility tests: bending the pinkie finger backward 90 degrees, touching the thumb to the forearm, hyperextending the elbows and knees by more than 10 degrees, and bending forward to place palms flat on the floor without bending the knees. Each maneuver scores one point per side, except the last, which is a single score.A total score above five in adults (or six in children) indicates hypermobility and could be a reason to consult a medical professional about the possibility of EDS.