You wake up in the morning ready to start your day off right except one thing is holding you back: swollen hands. It can sometimes seem difficult enough to get through the day even without pain or restrictions, adding something like swollen hands in the morning to the mix doesn’t make for a great start to the day.
If you have swollen hands in the morning, it can affect any of your daily morning rituals including taking a shower, brushing your teeth, making breakfast, getting your kids ready for school or driving to work. Getting to the root cause of your swollen hands is key to identifying solutions to reduce the swelling.
So what is causing this swelling each morning? Here are some possible causes and what you can do to get rid of those swollen fingers.
Causes for Swollen Hands in the Morning
1. Arthritis
Arthritis is a common cause of swollen hands in the morning and can come in many different forms such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
2. Consuming a High-Sodium Diet
If you are eating too much salt, it could be causing your body to retain water and, you guessed it, causing those swollen hands.
3. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Generally, numbness and tingling are the main symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome but swelling can also be a symptom.
4. Hand Injuries
Any injury or trauma to the hand can cause swelling.
5. Overuse of Your Hands
If you are constantly using your hands in strenuous activities, exercises or repetitive motions, this could cause swelling in the hands and fingers due to bad circulation.
6. Your Sleep Situation
The way you are sleeping may be causing swollen hands in the morning. If your bed isn’t level, or you sleep on top of your hands or with your wrists bent you could be causing those swollen hands to occur.
Remedies to Swollen Hands in the Morning
If you’re experiencing swollen hands in the morning, we’ve listed here some of the things you can do to find relief.
- Ice your hands
- Raise your hands up above your heart for 3-5 minutes
- Do some hand exercises to get the muscles moving
- Give yourself a hand massage
- Drink lots of water throughout the day
- Reduce your alcohol intake
- Practice proper sleep posture
- Take anti-inflammatory medicines
- Rest your hands if you use them frequently
- Exercise daily
