Swelling can happen anywhere in the body, but is most commonly seen in the hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs. It occurs when there’s extra fluid trapped in the body’s tissues. While it’s nothing to be overly concerned about, it can be quite uncomfortable, especially if you’re wearing jewelry!
A little bit of puffiness in the hands or fingers can occur for a number of different reasons, from eating too many salty snacks to being out in the blazing heat too long. Most of the time it’s not worth fretting about, but in some cases it can be a result of a medical condition or underlying illness that needs to be treated. If you’re someone who suffers from swollen hands or fingers, keep reading to find out what the culprit could be…
Arthritis
If the swelling in your fingers is mostly around the bony finger joints, the culprit may be arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes swelling in the fingers, especially in the morning. This age-related arthritis is caused by the “wearing down of the cushioning tissues at the end of your joints,” writes Prevention.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is another type of arthritis that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, particularly the hands. Unlike osteoarthritis, RA isn’t age-related. “RA can cause the joints to swell up as well as cause inflammation in between the joints,” says Neha Vyas, MD, a physician in the department of family medicine at Cleveland Clinic to Prevention.