Lengthy Fingers could predict heart attacks

Scientists at Liverpool University have related a link between the length of a young boy's finger and their chances of having a heart attack at a later age. They believe the link could provide doctors with a simple way to to spot potential heart disease victims at a very early age.

The research shows that boys with shorter ring fingers tend to be at greatest risk. This is because these boys tend to have lower levels of the male sex hormone testosterone, which is known to protect against heart attack. The genes that are indirectly responsible for the production of testosterone and the female hormone oestrogen also control the development of the fingers.