Why Do My Hands Swell?

Sometimes the hands can swell so that the rings press against the skin and feel tight. Your fingers may look thick and strangely colored. What causes hand swelling? There are a few reasons why fingers and hands swell, and while most of these reasons are completely harmless, they can sometimes be a sign of some illness. Keep reading and we’ll take a closer look at these reasons.

What causes hand swelling?

Swelling of the fingers is a common discomfort, often due to harmless causes. Sometimes your fingers may start to tingle and swell even during a walk. Usually, tingling is caused by an increase in blood flow as the heart pumps blood to the hands – sometimes this causes swelling.

On the other hand, if only one finger is swollen, there may be an  injury or inflammation.  If your fingers and whole hand swell regularly, it’s a good idea to look into what causes it, as sometimes swollen hands are a sign of joint disease. Sometimes the hands swell for the following reasons, for example:

• Injury or damage to the finger. Did you accidentally hit your hand on something? Did the dog bite you? Maybe you accidentally cut your fingers while cooking? Usually, such injuries are a clear cause of swelling and pain, but sometimes you can hurt your hand somewhere unnoticed. Hours later, your fingers start to swell and you don’t understand why.
• Damaged ligament or cartilage.  If your work image involves the constant repetition of certain movements with your hands and fingers, or the movement of heavy objects, your fingers may appear swollen at the end of the work day. Stress injuries can cause swelling and damage tendons and cartilage.

• Bursitis. Mucus bags, or bursaes, are fluid-filled bags that protect tendons, joints, and bones by reducing abrasion between them. Sometimes these mucus bags may become irritated and inflamed, for example as a result of excessive exertion or repeated small shocks or tears. This painful discomfort often occurs in the joints of the fingers, and sometimes a small, sore bump can form on the inflamed site. 
• Carpal tunnel syndrome. This painful ailment is common especially in women. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the nerve passing through the wrist is under pressure, leading to swelling, numbness and stiffness in the fingers. The pain can be severe.

Other possible causes

• Jelly bladder. A bladder tumor, or ganglio, is a bulge in the articular capsule or tendon sheath with a jelly-like, clear secretion. Its occurrence is influenced by, for example, an accident or joint irritation.

• Inflammation.  Inflammation can always be a clear cause of swelling of the fingers. Streptococcus can cause severe swelling in the fingers and cause pain and fever.
• Inflammation of the nails. This is a clear inflammation associated with only one finger. Inflammation of the nail causes severe pain and swelling, especially in the area of ​​the inflamed nail. The nail can rot.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an unfortunate common ailment and should always be kept in mind if you suffer from constant swelling, stiffness and pain in your fingers. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that affects the joints of the body, often occurring especially in the fingers. Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain and swelling.
• Bacterial arthritis.  This style of inflammation in the joints is an infectious disease and sometimes difficult to distinguish from rheumatoid arthritis because its symptoms are usually the same. Make an appointment with your doctor if you suspect inflammation or rheumatism. 

If more than one finger is swollen, you should observe for symptoms. Check both hands: is it just a swelling of one finger or is it present in the other fingers as well? If the whole hand is swollen, it is usually due to circulatory problems or palm defects.

If the swelling occurs on only one finger, check the condition of the nail and then consider whether you may have struck the hand unnoticed or suffered some recent injury. Swelling can be caused by something as harmless as an insect bite. If swelling of the hand or fingers persists for more than 5 days, make an appointment with your doctor.

How can swelling of the hands be treated?

If your hands swell and the trouble persists for many days, see a doctor. In case of transient discomfort, you can control the swelling with these natural treatments:

1. Soak your fingers in cold and hot rosemary water.  Rosemary is great for treating joint and cartilage pain and swelling. Mix two sprigs of fresh rosemary in hot water and immerse the swollen finger or whole hand in the water for three minutes. Repeat the treatment immediately with cold water. Switch between cold and hot water, this will improve blood circulation and reduce swelling. To complete the treatment, you can rub your swollen hands with a few drops of rosemary oil. 

2. If you suspect that the swelling is due to bacterial inflammation,  rub a clove of garlic on the inflamed area. Garlic is a natural antibacterial ingredient that relieves inflammation and swelling.

3. Ginger wrap.  Ginger relieves swelling quickly. Grate a few pieces of fresh ginger and stir in hot water. Immerse the swollen fingers or hand in the mixture for a few minutes. Remove the grated ginger from the water and place on the swollen area, wrap in gauze and allow to soak for 10 minutes. Do not press too hard. This will certainly relieve the inflammation.