Hand swelling during exercise A concern - Mayo Clinic
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Products and services What causes hand swelling during exercise I walk several times a week and my fingers get puffy to the point that I can t get my rings off
Answer From Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. 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: Remove your rings and loosen your watchband before exercise. Perform occasional forward and backward arm circles during exercise. Stretch your fingers wide and then make fists several times during exercise. With Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
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Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Foot swelling during air travel: A concern? ShareTweet March 25, 2021 Show references Kenney WL, et al. Cardiorespiratory responses to acute exercise. In: Physiology of Sport and Exercise. 6th ed. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics; 2015. Rakel RE, et al., eds. Sports medicine. In: Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 5, 2015. Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 11, 2015. See more Expert Answers Products and Services
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