Swelling in the hands can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from minor injuries to underlying medical conditions. Here are some of the most common causes of swelling in the hands, as well as some tips on how to treat them:

• Water retention: This is one of the most common causes of swollen fingers. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including diet and underlying health conditions.

• Injury: Whether mild or serious, a hand injury can lead to swelling in the fingers, hand, and wrist. Other symptoms of injury and inflammation in the fingers might include tenderness, bruising, pain, numbness or tingling, and visible breaks in the skin or bones.

• Exercise and heat: Swelling in the hands can occur during exercise or in hot weather. During exercise, more blood flows to your heart and lungs and to the muscles youre working. Less blood may flow to your hands, making them cooler. The blood vessels in your hands may react by opening wider, which could lead to hand swelling. Similarly, when your body heats up in hot weather, blood vessels in your skin swell to allow heat to leave the surface.

• Infections: Finger infections can spread to other parts of the body if they’re not treated early. This swelling happens when fluid in the lymph system can’t drain well. It’s sometimes a side effect of cancer treatment. Women with breast cancer often have lymph nodes in their armpits removed to check for cancer. This upsets the flow of lymph and can lead to swelling in the arms and hands. Radiation can damage nodes and make the problem worse.

• Arthritis: Swelling in the hands can be a symptom of arthritis, including psoriatic arthritis.

• Gout: Gout is a type of arthritis that can cause sudden and severe pain, redness, and swelling in the joints, including the hands.

• Kidney disease: Swelling in the hands can be a sign of kidney disease.

• Medications: Certain medications, such as those used to treat high blood pressure, can cause swelling in the hands.

• Lymphoedema: This is a condition where the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked, leading to swelling in the arms and hands.

• Diabetes: In rare cases, swelling in the fingers can be a symptom of diabetes, particularly a condition called tropical diabetic hand syndrome, which can cause swelling of the fingers due to infection.

Swelling in the hands often goes away on its own, but if it persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, its important to seek medical attention. Treatment for swelling or oedema that does not go away on its own will depend on the cause. Possible treatments include changing your medicine if this is the cause of the swelling, treating any condition that is causing the swelling, diuretics (water pills) to help reduce the swelling, and more.