Hands and feet swollen when i wake up
Swollen hands and feet - What does it mean?
THIS POST IS PART OF THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FOOT AND ANKLE INJURIES
Swelling in the hands and feet is not that uncommon. When your hands and feet swell, it typically means that extra fluid has built up in your body’s tissues. There are a number of different reasons why this could occur.
Jessica Regan, former OrthoIndy clinical nutrition manager and dietitian, explains why your hands and feet may swell and how to reduce swelling with a low-sodium diet.
What are swollen hands a sign of?
‘Edema’ is the medical term for swelling. Edema happens when your small blood vessels leak fluid into nearby tissues. Body parts swell from injury or inflammation. Below are a few additional reasons to why your body may swell.
- Medications
- Pregnancy
- Infections
- Physical inactivity
- Hot temperatures
- Hormone changes
- Alcohol (an inflammatory substance)
However, if you wake up with swollen hands and feet, but did not find a reason listed above, this could be a sign of arthritis.
“When your feet swell this can be cardiac related, venous stasis, which is slow blood flow in the veins, venous insufficiency, which is when leg veins are not working effectively or rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr. Robert Falender, OrthoIndy hand, wrist and elbow specialist.
“Hands will swell from arthritic conditions and from the heat which could be related to vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels.”
What can you do for swollen hands and feet?
It is important to take the necessary steps to reduce swelling, not only for your own comfort, but because this extra fluid can also raise your blood pressure, leading to other health complications.
“One way to reduce swelling is to consume a diet that is low in sodium,” says Jessica. “Too much sodium can cause the body to hold on to extra water.”
The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommends limiting sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day. If you are swelling in certain areas more often than normal, you may want to aim for a goal of 2,000 mg or less per day.
Tips for reducing swelling in the hands and feet
- Select fresh foods over processed foods
- Check the nutrition facts label and aim for foods with 130 mg of sodium
- Flavor your foods with herbs and spices instead of salt
- Exercise your legs as this can help pump fluid from your legs back to your heart
If symptoms persist or worsen, make an appointment with a specialist right away.
Learn more tips for living an active and nutritious lifestyle
Schedule an appointmentYour well-being is important to us. Click the button below or call us to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists. If your injury or condition is recent, you can walk right into one of our OrthoIndy Urgent Care locations for immediate care. For rehabilitation and physical therapy, no referral is needed to see one of our physical therapists.
Water retention: Causes, symptoms, treatment for swelling in the hands, feet, ankles | Health
We all know that approximately 70% of the human body comprises of water, present both inside and outside of the cells.
Our organs, muscles and even bones have high water content. Water is the essence of our existence but sometimes our body holds on to too much of it. Such excessive fluid build-up in the body leads to water retention.
“Sudden swelling, puffiness or bloating of feet, ankles, hands, fingers and face can seem like weight gain. But, when no amount of dieting or exercise helps and the swelling persists with pain, it can be water retention,” said Dr Pooja Chaudhary, Wellness Consultant, Healthians.
What is water retention?
Water retention or fluid retention (medically known as edema) is defined as an excessive build-up of fluid in the circulatory system, body tissues or cavities in the body which can lead to swelling of the hands, feet, ankles and legs. It can be triggered by many things.
Causes of water retention
• Diet : Salt (sodium) rich food which are mostly include the processed food like meat, crackers, chips, canned vegetables, soups, fast food and even soft drinks can cause water retention.
• Malnutrition and poor diet: A diet that is low in protein can result in low levels of albumin, which can also lead to water retention.
• Physical inactivity: Very long period of physical inactivity, also increase the chances of fluid retention in the body. Sitting or standing for too long can cause the tissue to hold water and cause swelling and pain in the affected areas. It is common after a long journey by car or on an airplane.
• Hormones: Women normally feel bloated or fluffy during the days when they have their menstruation cycle. Fluid retention, associated with hormone changes during the menstrual cycle, can cause breast tenderness, uncomfortable swelling in your hands and feet, abdominal bloating and weight gain. Certain kind of hormonal therapies can also cause water retention.
• Hot weather: During hot weathers, our body tends to be less efficient in removing fluid from the tissues.
• Chronic venous insufficiency: Weakened valves in the veins of the legs fail to efficiently return blood to the heart, resulting in pooling of blood which leads to varicose veins.
It can also be the symptom of serious underlying medical conditions:
Kidney diseases like nephrotic syndrome, acute glomerulonephritis // Heart failure // Chronic lung disease like emphysema // Malignant lymphoedema is a problem caused by cancer and cancer treatment // Thyroid disease // Arthritis // Allergic reactions // Autoimmune reactions like lupus
Very long period of physical inactivity, also increase the chances of fluid retention in the body. (Shutterstock)Symptoms of water retention
The most common water retention symptoms include:
Swelling in the affected body parts (feet, ankles and hands) // Bloated stomach // Pain in the affected body part // Stiffness in the joints // An unexplained fluctuations in weight // A rapid weight gain over a few days or even weeks
Diagnosis of water retention
In order to get rid of water retention, the most important thing is to get the correct diagnosis and start the treatment accordingly.
The diagnosis procedure includes:
Proper physical examination // Medical history of the patient // A detailed questioning about the fluid retention including when it started, factors that worsen the swelling and whether it is constant or recurrent // Blood tests // Urine tests // Liver function tests // Kidney function tests // Chest x-ray // Heart function tests such as electrocardiogram (ECG)
Treatment for water retention
Once the problem has been diagnosed the treatment can be started. The treatment mostly includes following changes in diet, exercise and the treating the cause directly.
Treating the causative factor for water retention // Lifestyle changes according to the underlying medical condition // If drugs are the cause for fluid retention, then a change in the medication or dose. This has to be supervised by the doctor // Water pills (Diuretics) can help in reducing the water retention by increasing the frequency of passing urine // Moving around or light exercise is also helpful
Home remedies and dietary suggestions to prevent water retention
• Have a low salt diet, as high intake of sodium in the salt can cause water retention
• Increase the magnesium intake in the diet.
Good source include nuts, whole grains, dark chocolate, leafy and green vegetables
• Vitamin B6 intake should be increased. Foods rich in vitamin B6 are banana, potatoes, walnuts and meat
• Include potassium rich food as they decrease the sodium levels in the body. Bananas and tomatoes are rich source of potassium
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid having refined carbs
• Avoid drinks like tea, coffee, alcohol and soda as they can cause dehydration
• Add cranberry juice in your diet
• Include fresh fruits and dairy products in your diet
• To improve circulation, try raising your legs several times in a day
• If the water retention is in lower limb then wearing supporting stockings is advisable
• Avoid sitting and standing still for too long, keep moving between work
• It is advisable to avoid extreme temperatures like hot baths or sauna
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what is the reason and what will help
July 08, 2020 12:17
On the air of the Russia 1 TV channel, rehabilitation doctor Sergei Agapkin and obstetrician-gynecologist, head of the Center for Gynecology, Reproductive and Aesthetic Medicine Ekaterina Zhumanova told what to do with edema (and, first of all, with swelling of the legs), and how to understand, in than their cause.
On the TV channel "Russia 1" doctor-rehabilitator Sergey Agapkin and obstetrician-gynecologist, head of the Center for Gynecology, Reproductive and Aesthetic Medicine Ekaterina Zhumanova told what to do with edema, and first of all - with swelling of the legs, and how to understand, in than their cause.
For some, doctors say, it is enough to lift up - throw your legs over your head, for someone - to drink more water. However, if such simple tips do not help, there are reasons for this.
Agapkin explains that the appearance of edema is always based on some conditions that make it difficult to remove fluid from the body. And leg swelling is no exception.
Ekaterina Zhumanova, for her part, says that women should not attribute everything to hormonal changes (including menopause).
First of all, edema occurs with excess weight and a sedentary lifestyle.
However, at childbearing age, adds Agapkin, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can lead to such consequences.
Among the possible causes of edema are also ovarian dysfunction, impaired lymph flow, thrombosis.
In this case, there is only one recommendation: go to the doctor, take a blood test and do an ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities in order to understand if there are any problems with the venous outflow.
Another cause of edema is kidney failure, says Dr. Agapkin.
Doctor Zhumanova adds that she (as well as kidney problems in general) is characterized by swelling of the face.
In this case, you need to take a urine test to determine if there are problems with the kidneys.
If they exist, the expert explains, then only raising your legs and drinking more will not help in this case - this is treated in a completely different way.
It is very difficult to figure this out on your own, Zhumanova adds.
Experts explain: if edema does not occur every day (for example, when it is hot, you sat more, moved less, or this is clearly the second phase of the cycle), then most likely this is some kind of physiological process that can be controlled.
If it occurs every day, grows, or (as with thrombosis) one leg swells more than the other, then in no case should you self-medicate - you need to urgently go to the doctor.
Dr. Agapkin gives advice to those who develop edema only in the heat. It is enough for them to come home, take a towel, soak in cold water and wrap their legs for 5-10 minutes to cool the skin, subcutaneous fatty tissue.
If swelling occurs in the afternoon, lie down and raise your legs. However, if a person gets up in the morning with swollen legs, this method will most likely not bring him any relief, doctors say.
Thus, doctors summarize, people who regularly have swollen legs should go to the doctor, have urine tests, as well as a biochemical, clinical blood test.
In addition, women should visit a gynecologist to find out their hormonal status. It is also desirable to do an ultrasound examination of the veins of the lower extremities, and then it will become clear what treatment to prescribe for those who have encountered this problem.
medicine health Sergey Agapkin edema legs society news
Causes of edema in women
The most common cause of edema, especially in the morning, is excessive water and salt at night. If they appear rarely, there is no reason to panic. But if often, it's time to take urgent action!
Swelling may be a symptom of serious illness. Among them:
2. Kidney diseases
If the kidneys work poorly, then water and salt are not removed from the body in time, which is the cause of edema. Please note that swelling can be a symptom of other kidney diseases that cause a sharp decrease in the amount of protein in the blood. In such diseases, the protein is excreted in the urine and causes swelling.
Symptoms: Such edema appears in the morning. As a rule, on the face. If you wake up with swollen eyelids and bags under your eyes, your kidneys are to blame.
In the evening, puffiness usually decreases or disappears.
Your actions: You don't need to drink liters of diuretic teas, together with water they flush out valuable micro and macro elements from the body. Go to a urologist, and in no case do not self-medicate.
2. Heart disease
Heart failure is another important cause of edema. When our motor cannot cope with pumping blood, it accumulates in the legs, and as a result, swelling begins to bother.
Symptoms: cardiac edema can be noticed in the evening, and in the morning they disappear. You can see them on the legs. Often accompanied by pain or discomfort in the chest, weakness.
articleContentWhat to do: Under no circumstances should you get rid of cardiac edema yourself. Go see a cardiologist. He will prescribe a treatment that will put the heart in order.
3. Varicose veins
Every day you put a lot of stress on your legs, constantly sit or stand, or you have a habit of sitting in a “foot on foot” position - all this leads to swelling of the legs, because it disrupts blood circulation.
Women are more likely to suffer from this disease.
Symptoms: In the evening, after a day's work, you notice a trace from the elastic band of socks on your shins. It seems to you that the size of the foot increases by the end of the day, and the morning shoes are already small - these are all venous edema. In addition, in the evenings, the legs hurt and buzz
articleContentWhat to do: Buy some compression stockings and wear them every day to improve circulation in your legs. To correctly choose such medical clothes, you need to consult with a phlebologist. In addition, you can buy medicated ointments that reduce the symptoms of varicose veins.
4. Hormonal disorders
Female hormonal failure - often causes edema. Here the thyroid gland plays a key role, when it malfunctions, the necessary hormones become too scarce, and they cannot cope with the transit of water in the body. Water is retained, edema occurs, then substances that accumulate in the blood retain water.
Symptoms: The dislocation of such hormonal edema is most often the legs. They are dense to the touch: if you press, there will be no fingerprint left. In addition to swelling, other symptoms occur - extra pounds that are growing rapidly, constipation, a rare pulse, increased drowsiness.
Your actions: You can't cope without an endocrinologist: hormones are a delicate matter. Therefore, in no case do not go on medications on your own.
5. Allergy
articleContentAllergies often lead to swelling. If you are allergic to a bee or wasp sting, then a rather large tumor-like edema may occur at the site of the sting. Food allergy sufferers may experience swelling of the larynx. If you have eaten an allergenic product and feel itchy and swollen throat, call an ambulance immediately, because it is very dangerous, you can suffocate from such swelling.
Symptoms: Redness, itching and swelling at the bite site. With allergies, Quincke's edema often occurs, in which the lips, tongue, larynx, and tonsils swell.
