With heat
Swollen, edematous hands are often seen in hot weather. Mostly not only the hands but also the feet are affected by the water retention. The human body sometimes regulates the temperature via the vascular system.
If the outside temperature rises, the body has to release more heat. This is achieved, among other things, by dilating the vessels under the skin. The blood now circulates more slowly and the release of heat is made easier.
The large diameter of the veins, the increasing permeability and a low muscle content of the vein wall cause the blood to back up in the veins and capillaries, and fluid penetrates into the tissue. Particularly affected are people with weak connective tissue, overweight people and those who do not drink much fluid. The female sex has a higher tendency to have weaker tissue. A stimulation of the blood circulation and an alleviation of the symptoms can be specifically supported by exercise. Cold leads to the contraction of the vessels and also contributes to their regression.
Pain
Due to the water in the hands, the tissue often swells considerably. Especially on the hands, however, there is not much room for such volume expansion, so that the tissue is quickly irritated and pain develops. Typically, the skin stretches, it is usually firm and shiny.
The water retention also has an effect on the nerves and muscles in the hands. The strong swelling can cause movement restrictions. The most effective therapy consists of a good edema treatment with compression, massage and targeted exercise of the muscular function of the hands.
There are several ways to treat water retention in the hands. Firstly, in the case of small oedemas limited to the hands, there is the possibility of trying out a few things yourself:For example, you can put your hands up so that the water can be transported more easily in the direction of the heart again. If the swelling is due to an inflammation, the affected area can be cooled.
Light compression, e.g. by gently massaging the hands from the fingertips towards the wrist, can also make it easier to transport the water back to the heart. There are also some over-the-counter medications that can be helpful with water in the hands. However, you should always be careful and better always go to your doctor first before taking any medication, who can rule out worse causes (e.g. heart failure).
Over-the-counter medications that can provide relief from water retention in the hands often contain the following active ingredients: horse casatana extracts, bromelain from pineapple, buckwheat, wobenzym or also Hauhechel root. All of these products are said to have an effect on water retention in tissues with few side effects. Your pharmacist will be happy to advise you.
In some cases, drug therapy with prescription drugs may also be necessary. Here, so-called diuretics are used in particular, which help the body to excrete excess water and thus reduce the burden on the heart and the vascular system. There are different groups of active substances, you should always decide individually in consultation with your doctor and pay particular attention to other medications that are taken on a permanent basis (e.g. antihypertensives, blood thinners, etc.)
The so-called loop diuretics are often used for water retention (e.g.B. Furosemide, Torasemide), alternatively there are other diuretics that your doctor can prescribe for you in case of intolerance. Various homeopathic remedies are used to treat water retention in the hands.
Most of the remedies are water-impelling, so they can also be used against other oedemas. Homeopathic remedies include Acidum fluoricum, Hamamelis, Lycopodium, Magnesium and Calcium Carbonicum. Vitamins such as vitamin B 6 can also help against water in the hands.
Arnica and barium carbonicum are also used. In most cases, homeopathic remedies can also be combined with “classic” water tablets. With this approach from different therapeutic directions further therapeutic successes can be achieved. However, in order to avoid interactions between the medicines, there should be an agreement between the prescribing persons (doctors and homeopaths).
