Why Are My Hands Swollen in the Morning?
Some people notice that their hands are swollen when they wake up. Sometimes this swelling can go away quickly, but sometimes it can remain to some degree throughout the day. They may also feel swollen in other areas such as the feet. Even if it disappears at night, hand swelling in the morning is an issue that should be treated to avoid major health problems.
Poor blood circulation, a lack of regular physical activity and excessive salt consumption are some of the reasons why you may wake up with swollen hands. We learn more at oneHOWTO about theses causes and prevention by asking why are my hands swollen in the morning?
- Poor blood circulation
- Lack of regular physical activity
- Excessive salt consumption
- Diabetes
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- High temperatures in summer
- Kidney failure
- Certain medications
- Hormonal changes
Poor blood circulation
Poor blood circulation is the most common cause of swollen hands when waking up. It happens as a result of the body's natural aging process. The veins lose elasticity and become stiffer, complicating blood circulation to the legs in the direction of the heart. As a result, blood accumulates in the legs and arms, causing swelling in the extremities.
To get rid of morning hand swelling, you should move your hands as soon as you get up. If you wake up during the night to go to the bathroom or for any other reason, take advantage of this opportunity to move them around and improve circulation. You can also have regular massages or lymphatic drainage to help activate circulation.
Depending on the cause of poor circulation, various treatments may be available. A doctor may open blocked arteries or even perform heart surgery if necessary. Never ignore this symptom.
Lack of regular physical activity
Lack of exercise has a negative impact on blood circulation, as it slows down and makes it difficult for blood to flow from the arms and legs to the heart. This can cause swelling in extremities such as the hands.
It is important that you start doing physical activity on a regular basis. This way, you can prevent and improve swelling in your hands. Blood will circulate more efficiently through the body, preventing fluid from accumulating in the extremities.
Excessive salt consumption
Too much salt in your diet can cause swelling in your hands. This is because salt contains a lot of sodium which retains water. If you have a lot of sodium in your body, fluid retention increases.
To avoid this, use low-sodium salt or herbs to reduce sodium intake. And if you prefer a more drastic measure, choose from your diet. This is easier said than done, but there are often low-sodium alternatives you can use.
If you have swelling due to fluid buildup, take a look at our article on how to get rid of fluid retention in the legs.
Diabetes
People with diabetes may wake up with swollen hands because their blood circulation is not working efficiently, especially when their blood sugar levels are not controlled. To avoid this, they should measure their glucose every day to ensure that their sugar levels are under control.
Learn how to have fun with little sugar in our recipe for diabetes-friendly cupcakes.
Heart failure
If the heart does not have the strength to pump blood, heart failure occurs. One of the symptoms is swelling in the hands and feet, accompanied by shortness of breath, excessive fatigue and a feeling of pressure in the chest. Depending on the extent of the heart disease, the swelling in the hands in the morning may remain for the rest of the day.
Heart failure is always treated with medication prescribed by a doctor, so it is advisable to have the help of a cardiologist. Reducing salt consumption and doing moderate exercise, always under the guidance of a cardiologist, are also good measures.
High blood pressure
This is a fairly common health problem, especially in older people. It happens due to the natural aging process in which the arteries lose flexibility and become more rigid. The heart needs to beat harder to get blood to other parts of the body.
Once blood reaches the extremities, blood vessels may have difficulty carrying blood back to the heart. This is one of the reasons why hands swell in the morning. To treat high blood pressure, you should take medications prescribed by a cardiologist, as well as exercise such as walking, reducing salt intake and losing weight. These are measures that help control blood pressure.
In addition to swollen hands in the morning, discover the symptoms of a hypertensive crisis in our related guide.
High temperatures in summer
In summer, it is common for hands to swell when the temperature is very high. The blood vessels in the hands dilate, bringing more blood to these extremities and causing morning swelling in the hands. To avoid this, raise your arms, open and close your hands, and lie down with your legs raised to facilitate the return of blood to the heart.
In addition, hand massages and wearing elastic sleeves or compression stockings can be helpful, although always do so under medical supervision. It is also essential to stay well hydrated and have a balanced diet to prevent the body from retaining fluids. Reducing salt can also aid in keeping hydrated.
Kidney failure
When the kidneys do not function properly, kidney failure occurs. This is because the organs are unable to remove fluids from the body through urine. This can cause swelling in the hands, feet and face. A specialist nephrologist must be in charge of determining the most appropriate treatment to treat this problem. If renal failure is very advanced, it may be necessary to perform hemodialysis under medical prescription.
Check out what to avoid if you have renal failure with our article on the worst foods for the lymphatic system.
Certain medications
Minoxidil, corticosteroids and some medications used to treat high blood pressure such as enalapril, captopril and lisinopril can cause the hands to swell. Changing the treatment under medical supervision would be a solution, as well as other simple measures such as doing a massage or lymphatic drainage, raising the arms and moving the hands.
Hormonal changes
The changes in progesterone and estrogen that occur during menstruation can cause swelling in the hands in the morning. This is because it causes the body to retain fluid. Performing a massage or lymphatic drainage on the fingers and hands helps prevent fluid accumulation and reduce swelling. In addition, you should keep your body well hydrated and eat diuretic foods such as watermelon and melon.
Now that you know why your hands are swollen when you wake up, you may also be interested in knowing how to give a hand massage to help drain fluid and improve circulation.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Why Are My Hands Swollen in the Morning?, we recommend you visit our Family health category.