Why do fingers swell in heat

Hand swelling during exercise is a fairly common problem. The cause isn't completely clear, but hand swelling appears to be a result of the way your body and blood vessels respond to the increased energy demands of your muscles during exercise. Exercise increases blood flow to your heart and lungs, as well as to the muscles you're working.

This can reduce blood flow to your hands, making them cooler. In turn, the blood vessels in your hands may react by opening wider — which could lead to hand swelling.

As you continue to exercise, your muscles generate heat that makes your system push blood to the vessels closest to the surface of your body, to dissipate heat.

This response triggers perspiration and may also contribute to hand swelling. Sometimes, endurance athletes develop hyponatremia hi-poe-nuh-TREE-me-uh — an abnormally low level of sodium concentration.

Swollen fingers and hands may be a sign of hyponatremia, but other signs, such as confusion and vomiting, are more prominent than is swelling. Drinking too much water, particularly during a marathon or similar long, strenuous event, may cause your body's sodium to become so diluted that you become hyponatremic. Hyponatremia requires immediate medical attention.

There's no proven way to prevent or reduce most exercise-related hand swelling, but these tips may help ease discomfort:. Edward R. Laskowski, M. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

The Mayo Clinic suggests stretching out your fingers and then balling them into fists, and repeating this motion a few times. This suggestion is specifically for when you're exercising in the heat, but the same theory applies when your hands swell up all on their own in the heat.

You can also try and elevate the hands , reports LiveStrong , rather than have them dangling by your sides. Again, this will help circulation and blood flow, and keeping hands elevated at night, maybe on a pillow, could generally help with this, the site says.

Byrdie suggests icing your hands : this will help the blood vessels shrink back down, and in so doing, they will stop leaking fluid into the fingers. DIY Remedies suggests putting a teabag on your fingers and dunking them in water mixed with epsom salts, which admittedly are known to generally help with inflammation.

Ultimately, if it's getting uncomfortable, the best cure is prevention: stay inside! Try making a few lifestyle changes and see if that helps. You may have preeclampsia or lymphedema. Injuries and subsequent inflammation….

Have swollen lips? Read about the causes, from allergies to genetic conditions, and how to treat them. Is your earlobe swollen? A recessed maxilla can cause cosmetic issues like flat cheekbones and a prominent jaw, and lead to dental problems, speech issues, and obstructed….

If you do tear a meniscus, you might be tempted to "walk it off. A lateral pelvic tilt is when one hip is higher than the other. Learn about five exercises that can help with this condition. Enthesopathy refers to pain and inflammation around your joints.

This includes your wrists, knees, and ankles. Here's how to recognize and treat it. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Why Are My Hands Swollen? Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Should you freak out? Probably not. Fingers swell for a lot of reasons, and many of them harmless.

But sometimes the puffiness, medically known as dactylitis, points to more serious health conditions. Here are some of the common causes of swollen fingers, and when you should call your doctor. Heat causes blood vessels to expand, which allows more heat to escape through your skin so you can keep cool, explains Tammy Olsen Utset, MD, MPH, an associate professor in the rheumatology department at the University of Chicago.

As the vessels stretch, some of their fluid can leak into your soft tissues and cause puffiness. Utset says this type of swelling tends to go away as you use your hands and continue your regular activity. Your body likes to keep a consistent salt-to-water balance, so when you down extra sodium, it compensates by retaining more water, leading to swelling, Dr. Utset says. Typically, mild swelling brought on by salty foods goes away on its own within a day but it can last longer depending on how much extra salt is in your system.

If you cut back on salt and the swelling persists, see your doctor, Dr. Utset advises. This age-related form of arthritis is caused by the wearing down of the cushioning tissues at the end of your joints. Osteoarthritis is often, but not always, accompanied by pain and stiffness, Dr.