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Understand what causes swollen fingers, a condition that affects King Charles III

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, and the proclamation of the King Charles III last Saturday (10), attention on the health of the new monarch of the United Kingdom gained even more space.

One detail aroused the curiosity of the most attentive: the swollen fingers of the king.

Hand swelling can be caused by a number of factors, some simpler, others that may require medical intervention. Experts explain the main causes and what to do to relieve symptoms.

poor blood circulation

Experts explain that poor circulation is one of the main reasons for swelling of hands and fingers.

“The cause is the loss of elasticity in the veins, and the more rigid the veins, the more difficult it is for the blood to reach the extremities. It usually accumulates in the arms, causing swelling. This loss happens for several reasons, such as natural aging of the body, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, alcohol or tobacco consumption, heart problems, sedentary lifestyle, among others”, says Juliana Toma, dermatologist at the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp).

According to the specialist, changing habits can be the solution to some of these causes, such as healthy eating, physical exercise, reduction in alcohol and tobacco consumption, massages and lymphatic drainage.

Vascular surgeon Alexandre Amato says that difficulties in venous or lymphatic return are more characteristic of swelling due to poor circulation.

“The veins bring the blood back to the heart, in the upper limbs they don’t usually cause many problems – so we won’t have varicose veins in the upper limbs. There are some situations where the veins and lymph vessels can cause swelling, for example a thrombophlebitis. If you took a vein to do some medication or after surgery, you may have thrombophlebitis, which causes pain at the site and swelling as well”, he explains.

Excessive consumption of salt

O excessive salt consumption can cause numerous health hazards. “Without it, we can develop hyponatremia, goiter and other conditions, but too much is also bad. One of the manifestations of excess salt is swelling of the hands and fingers due to the accumulation of sodium that retains water. The solution is to avoid eating a lot of salty food, replacing common salt with those with low sodium content or using other seasonings to reduce the consumption of salt in meals”, recommends Juliana.

One of the most well-known problems related to high salt consumption is the hypertension , one of the main risk factors for the development of other health problems, such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases. High blood pressure is also associated with swelling of the hands.

“When the blood reaches the hands and fingers, there can be some difficulty for the blood vessels to take the blood back to the heart, which causes swelling. Here there is no other way out than to treat hypertension through medication and change of habits”, says the dermatologist.

heat exposure

The doctor explains that high temperatures are unfavorable to blood circulation. “Some people tend to get swollen hands and fingers in the summer. In some cases, this swelling is accompanied by pain, great discomfort, and the feeling that the person has gained a lot of weight,” she says.

According to the specialist, blood vessels dilate in situations of high temperatures and end up taking more blood to the extremities of the body, such as the hands.

“The swelling here happens due to the accumulation of fluid in the spaces around the tissues. Depending on the degree of swelling, just a few simple precautions such as drinking plenty of water, eating healthy, avoiding the consumption of foods rich in lactose, reducing salt consumption and exercising are enough to reduce swelling”, he says.

inflammatory diseases

Swelling of hands and fingers can also be caused by inflammatory diseases.

Inflammation that affects the tendons of the hands and fingers, tendinitis causes swelling, pain and tenderness. “The main cause of the condition is repetitive strain, RSI. It occurs when a person uses that part of the body a lot, such as arms and hands”, says Juliana.

She explains that the treatment changes according to the degree of intensity of tendinitis. “In most cases, just rest and ice packs on the hands will help reduce blood flow. If it does not improve, the orthopedist should be consulted. He can prescribe anything from painkillers to anti-inflammatories. More severe cases are treated with physical therapy or surgery,” she explains.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes are also associated with swelling of the hands. The problem specifically affects women due to the increase in hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

“It is common in pregnancy, menstrual cycle, breastfeeding and menopause due to increased levels of estrogen and progesterone. This increase causes fluid retention, responsible for swelling of the hands. It is also accompanied by changes in mood, headaches and joint pain”, says Juliana.

“Progesterone and estrogen in women can cause this swelling, so it will vary with the menstrual cycle. This hormonal variation will not happen in men, but it is very common in women. She will realize that the ring will be more attached to her finger at some point in the month”, adds Amato.

In addition to reinforcing hydration during this period, massages and lymphatic drainage can help reduce the impacts of swelling.

Drop

Excess uric acid in the blood causes a condition called “gout”. The problem leads to the accumulation of sodium crystals in the joints.

“The higher the concentration, the greater the swelling and the presence of secondary acute arthritis, which causes pain, redness of the skin and the formation of small nodules in the joints of the fingers”, explains Juliana.

The doctor says it is a serious condition that requires urgent medical intervention. Treatment includes medication such as allopurinol, probenecid, or colchicine to reduce the concentration of uric acid, relieving pain and swelling.

Renal insufficiency

The doctor Alexandre Amato explains that the kidneys work by filtering the blood, removing substances that should not remain in the human body.

“When the kidney stops working or works poorly, it can end up causing swelling, which can be minor or major. The kidney is one of the possible causes of swelling in the hands”

Swelling can also be caused by accumulation of lymph fluid, called lymphedema, pregnancy, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and an allergic reaction.

Source: CNN Brasil

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