Circumstances of swollen hands | Swollen hands

Circumstances of swollen hands

If the hands are swollen, often the feet are also swollen. Common to both is the peripheral position in relation to the middle of the body. If swelling occurs not only on the hands but also on the feet, this may indicate certain causes, while others are less likely.

A simple explanation would be a hike where a backpack was carried and then hands and feet are swollen. Furthermore, heart failure often results mainly in swelling of the feet and legs, but it can also lead to swelling of the hands due to the same mechanisms. Less blood is pumped back to the heart and especially in the sloping parts of the body such as hands and feet, water is stored and thus swelling occurs.A more localized cause of swollen hands, for example as a result of surgery or infection, is unlikely if the feet are also swollen.

For rheumatic diseases, swollen feet are less typical than swollen hands, so that this trigger is not likely to be considered. In addition to the hands, the face is also susceptible to swelling due to water retention. All the causes that lead to these so-called edemas on the hands can also cause the face to swell.

This is especially possible in the morning, as blood and tissue fluid are less able to drain off because of the lying position of the body. A raised pillow can prevent the formation of facial swelling. Some causes of swollen hands are rather unlikely when the face is swollen at the same time, such as rheumatic disease.

In rare cases, however, extreme swelling of the eyelids can also cause serious kidney disease, which is why it is essential to consult a doctor in such cases. A swelling of the hands in the morning can be caused by an unfavorable sleeping position. Usually it helps to move the hands and hold them up for a while so that the accumulated water can drain away.

A swelling of the hands especially in the morning is also typical for a rheumatic disease, but harmless causes are more common. One-time or occasional swollen hands, which soon subside again after getting up, are no cause for concern. However, if the swelling persists every morning and additionally a morning stiffness of the hands is noticeable, a doctor should be consulted to investigate the suspicion of a rheumatic disease.

If the hands are particularly swollen at night, this is rather unusual. The most common cause of swollen hands, an increased accumulation of fluid in the tissue, usually improves more when lying down. However, the hand and possibly both hands can swell due to an unnatural sleeping position.

If, for example, you lie on your arm when sleeping, the blood backflow from the hand can be squeezed and the affected hand can accumulate water. If this is the cause, the swollen hand should soon subside again after getting up. If you wake up because of the swollen and possibly aching hands, you should hold them up for some time and move them through.

If you have a tendency to water retention, even minor sporting activities can lead to edema of the arms and legs. Here too, in most cases a combination of different factors is present. Age and sex, the pumping capacity of the heart, and a weakness of the veins are the most important factors in the development of edema.

Through certain sporting activities, the muscle power of the veins can be additionally fatigued and reduced. In addition to endurance sports in general, sports with special arm activity such as ball sports, but also skiing or cycling can quickly lead to swollen hands. The treatment initially focuses on the protection, elevation and cooling of the hands and arms.

The slow diffuse swelling of the wrists can often be traced back to previous stress and activity. The increased strain leads to increased blood circulation in the muscles and extremities, exhaustion of the venous return, and possibly weakening of the heart muscles with a slight cardiac insufficiency. All this leads to a disturbed return transport of the blood to the heart.

Due to the congestion of the blood, part of the fluid can penetrate the subcutaneous tissue and cause doughy, push-away swellings. Important measures are relief, elevation and cooling of the affected extremity. Swollen hands due to water retention often result from a combination of several factors.

Disturbed vein activity, physical activity, cardiac output, gender, time of day and age all play important roles. If there is a tendency to water retention in the arms and legs, even small triggers can cause swelling. Heat from high environmental temperatures or a visit to the whirlpool or sauna can cause the blood vessels in the hands to dilate and cause venous congestion.

Heat generally has a relaxing effect on the blood vessels, which slows down the return of blood to the heart and can lead to a dangerous standstill of blood flow in the veins.In addition to water retention, thromboses with dangerous complications can also develop. An operation is a very common and typical cause of swelling of the hands. This can sometimes lead to postoperative complications, which can be prevented by various measures.

In the course of an operation, immobilization and bedriddenness for a few days at a time often occur. The inactivity and pressure caused by lying down can lead to a disturbed return transport of the blood and venous congestion. In addition to swollen hands, this can also lead to thromboses, which can cause dangerous complications such as pulmonary embolism.

Important measures to prevent such complications include early activation and mobilization as well as thrombosis prophylaxis in the form of injections. This topic may also be of interest to you: Medications for thrombosis prophylaxisIf swollen hands appear in children, this can be caused by insect bites or contact with some plants such as poison ivy or poison oak. The suspicion is obvious if the children have played outside.

The skin should be examined for a rash and blisters. Mostly there is also itching. Bacterial infection (erysipelas) may also be present, especially if the hand is injured, which favors the penetration of germs.

Usually only one hand is affected and the children are in pain. Other abnormalities are redness and overheating. Fever can also occur in addition.

In such a case a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. One as with adults possible however rather rare explanation for swollen hands is also with children a rheumatic illness. During pregnancy some conversion processes of the woman’s body take place, which can result in swollen hands, among other things.

Thus for example the quantity of the circulating blood is increased. This can make it easier for fluid to be pressed through the walls of the blood vessels into the tissue. The resulting water retention is particularly noticeable on the feet and legs.

But swollen hands can also be affected by this so-called edema. After pregnancy, the body’s remodelling processes are reversed within a few weeks and thus this cause of swollen hands also disappears. Even if this is the most common explanation of swollen hands during pregnancy, it can of course also be due to illness or infection. A doctor should therefore be consulted especially in case of pain or severe swelling of the hands.