Water in the hands during menopause | Water in your hands

Water in the hands during menopause

The changing hormone balance is usually responsible for water retention in the hands or other parts of the body during menopause. During the menopause, less and less progesterone is produced. In addition to its main effect, namely to prepare the uterus for a possible implantation of an egg and thus a pregnancy, this hormone also has a “water-driving” effect.

Often, one notices water retention much earlier, before one is in the actual menopause. This is due to a slowly decreasing synthesis of progesterone. In addition to the therapy options mentioned above, there is also the option of hormone therapy in the special case of menopause, i.e. to substitute progesterone (and usually also in combination with estrogen) by means of tablets. You can read more information on this topic here Menopause

Water in the hands after an operation

After a surgical procedure and after injuries to the hands, they tend to retain water for weeks to months. Up to a year after the operation, edema develops, especially in the middle finger joints, which is related to the higher vascular permeability during the healing process. Immediately after the operation, immobilization in a plaster cast or splint contributes to reduced blood circulation.

In post-operative treatment, regular elevation of the arm and movement of the forearm and finger muscles plays an important role. Other operations, for example on the heart, also frequently cause edema after the procedure. The formation is related to the inflammatory process brought about and usually disappears during the healing process.

If the lymphatic system is damaged during an operation or if lymph nodes are removed in a targeted manner, as in breast cancer surgery, the transport route of the lymph fluid is interrupted. Lymphedema can develop shortly after the operation and disappear again in the course of the operation. If, on the other hand, the interruption is permanent, the edema can remain forever.

Water in the hands after sports

Especially after endurance sports such as jogging or hiking, where the hands are often not used continuously, swelling of the hands occurs during the course of the activity, which is noticeable by a feeling of pressure or even tingling.However, this is usually not the cause of a disease, but a normal process that takes place when the tissue is only held still during the effort of the rest of the body. This can be remedied by regular pumping with the hands in the rhythm of walking/jogging. You can also take a small ball or stick with you to exercise and with each step you can close your hands to your fist and open them again.

Alternatively, you can raise your hands from time to time to a higher level, i.e. above your head or shoulders, so that the blood and with it the excess water can be transported from the veins back to the heart more easily. Normally, the water in the hands will be absorbed back into the vascular system some time after exercise and the swelling will go down again. However, if you find that the water has not disappeared by the next day, you should talk to your doctor to find out if there are any other factors that may be reducing your blood circulation or organ performance.