splinter hemmorhages

In the past week I've noticed two splinter hemorrhages in the distal nailbeds of my fingers and one in the nailbed of a toe.  Since I am prone to health anxiety I immediately convinced myself that I have endocarditis or some other serious illness.  I have no other signs or symptoms (normal temp.) and feel perfectly fine otherwise.  Can biting the skin around my nails (which I do obsessively) contribute to splinter hemorrhages?  I also run several miles a week and have noticed hemorrhages in my toenails before that I attributed to running.  

Is this something I should have my GP check out?  Since I am on zoloft for health anxiety (from all the previous "serious" illnesses that turned out to be nothing) I don't want to seem like a hypochondriac running to the doctor for every little thing.

Any advice is appreciated.    

[indeed]

I have the same problem.  I am 25 and I also have severe helath anxiety.  I had a splinter hemorrhage in January on the distal potion of a nail, two in may another finger, and another current one.  The first was likely caused by a fall I had and two in May were almost certainly caused when I accidentally jammed a piece of plastic under my nail.  I went to the doctor twice over these issues and he assured me I was fine.  Nonetheless, I made him give me an echo to check for endocarditis...everything came back normal.  The current splinter hemorrhage is freaking me out, however.  I cannot remember sustaining any trauma to the nail.  Given my negative echo, I assume I do not have endocarditis, but I am woried about some other serious cause cause (ie cancer or vascular problems).  I have considered calling my doc, but I bother her so much it is getting foolish.  

Apparently everyone gets them and some people are just prone to hemorrhages It is estimated that at any given time 10% of the population has them.  Nonetheless, I am very scared.  Does any doc on the board have advice?  

[stevodevo]

Old thread, but I'll just add my 2 cents for those that stumble across this like I have now.  Like the 2 previous posters, I too get unexplained splinter hemorrhages, mainly in both thumbs, but very occasionally on a finger.

I also got very worried about it and thought I had endocarditis. I saw my doc who said I was fine, but I got an echo anyway that turned out clear.  I had no other symptoms and was in perfect health, but the doc could see my anxiety and ordered the echo for my piece of mind (maybe splinter hemorrhages are caused by hypochondria hahaha).

Anyway, it's interesting to note that, like the original poster, I too chew my fingernails and the skin around my nails.  That's exactly what I've put it down to.  I've kind of made piece with them, because I know I'd be dead by now if I really did have endocarditis or something serious like that.

Hope this helps build a case for perfectly healthy people getting these.  It can be a problem when Google only returns doom and gloom like endocarditis.