What makes fingers swell at night

Fingers swell for a lot of reasons-many of them harmless-but sometimes the puffiness medical term; dactylitis points to more serious health conditions. Here are some of the common causes of swollen fingers, and when you should call your doctor. Heat causes blood vessels to expand, which allows more heat to escape through your skin so you can keep cool, explains rheumatologist Dr Tammy Olsen Utset.

As the vessels stretch, some of their fluid can leak into your soft tissues and cause puffiness. Dr Utset says this type of swelling tends to go away as you use your hands and continue your regular activity. Lots of chips and guac, or anything fried could be the cause of your frankfurter fingers.

Your body likes to keep a consistent salt-to-water balance. Taking more salt in means your body compensates by retaining more water, which explains the swelling, Dr Utset says. Typically, mild swelling brought on by salty foods goes away on its own within a day, although, it can lasts longer depending on how much extra salt is in your system.

If you cut back on salt and the swelling persists, see your doctor, Dr Utset advises. This age-related form of arthritis is caused by the wearing down of the cushioning tissues at the end of your joints. Osteoarthritis is often, but not always, accompanied by pain and stiffness, Dr Utset says. Fingers swell for a lot of reasons, and many of them harmless. But sometimes the puffiness, medically known as dactylitis, points to more serious health conditions.

Here are some of the common causes of swollen fingers, and when you should call your doctor. Heat causes blood vessels to expand, which allows more heat to escape through your skin so you can keep cool, explains Tammy Olsen Utset, MD, MPH, an associate professor in the rheumatology department at the University of Chicago.

As the vessels stretch, some of their fluid can leak into your soft tissues and cause puffiness. Utset says this type of swelling tends to go away as you use your hands and continue your regular activity. Your body likes to keep a consistent salt-to-water balance, so when you down extra sodium, it compensates by retaining more water, leading to swelling, Dr.

Utset says. Typically, mild swelling brought on by salty foods goes away on its own within a day but it can last longer depending on how much extra salt is in your system.

If you cut back on salt and the swelling persists, see your doctor, Dr. Utset advises. This age-related form of arthritis is caused by the wearing down of the cushioning tissues at the end of your joints.

Osteoarthritis is often, but not always, accompanied by pain and stiffness, Dr. Rheumatoid arthritis RA , an autoimmune disease that attacks the lining of the joints, can also cause swelling. Swelling in people with RA often happen in the wrists and finger joints. One of the initial interventions for reducing the pain and swelling associated with tendinitis is cold therapy. Applying ice to the swollen fingers can help to reduce blood flow to the area and reduce pain. Bursitis is another inflammatory condition.

If the bursae of the fingers become inflamed, it can cause swollen finger joints. Other symptoms of bursitis might include:. Cold therapy is also helpful in reducing the inflammation and pain from bursitis. Physical therapy and injectable medications may also be used for more chronic cases. In some cases, surgery may be used to drain the inflamed bursae. Gout is a condition that occurs when high levels of uric acid build up in the body and form crystals in the joints. Normally, the body excretes uric acid in the urine, but decreased kidney function can increase uric acid levels and trigger gout.

Although gout commonly affects the feet, it can also cause swelling and pain in the joints of the fingers. Other symptoms of a gout attack may include:. Gout generally requires early intervention to prevent it from spreading or becoming chronic. Medications that help reduce pain and lower uric acid levels are often prescribed first.

A review published in also found that weight reduction, dietary modifications, and decreased alcohol intake can also reduce the frequency and severity of gout attacks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , one of the first symptoms of sickle cell disease is hand-foot syndrome, which can cause swelling in the fingers. Other symptoms of sickle cell anemia may include:.

Sickle cell disease requires various types of treatment, depending on the severity and progression. However, an increase in fluids may help to at least decrease the swelling in the fingers. It can also cause changes in the connective tissues of the body, as well as the organs. One of the initial symptoms of scleroderma is swelling of the hands and fingers, especially in the morning after waking up.

Other symptoms of scleroderma may include:. Treatment for finger swelling associated with scleroderma includes frequently exercising the fingers and toes, sometimes with the help of an occupational therapist. Anti-inflammatory medications can also help more severe cases. As you can see above, there are many health conditions that can cause swollen fingers.

Most of these reasons, such as heat, exercise, or even hormones, are rarely dangerous. For these types of conditions, simple interventions can help with any swelling or discomfort you might feel in your fingers. Swelling occurs whenever organs, skin, or other parts of your body enlarge. Massaging your piriformis muscle may help loosen the muscle and reduce pressure on your sciatic nerve. Try these 3 self-massage techniques.

In some cases, doctors recommend surgery such as joint repair or joint replacement. For some people, physical therapy PT can help improve range of motion and strength. Also, depending on the type of arthritis, doctors often recommend medications such as:. Some of that excess fluid and blood can fill tissue in your hands , ankles, and feet. Treatment: Typically, swollen hands in the morning due to pregnancy is nothing to worry about.

In many cases, all that is necessary is to lower the amount of sodium in your diet and increase the amount of water you drink. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease affecting connective tissue. A typical early symptom of scleroderma is swollen hands and swollen fingers in the morning. This swelling is associated with muscle inactivity at night. Treatment: Since a mild case can become more serious if not treated, proper medical attention is necessary. In most cases, your doctor will recommend anti-inflammatory medications.

Your doctor might also suggest occupational therapy. Swelling in your extremities can be the result of water retention. The kidneys remove excess fluid and toxins to cleanse the body. Treatment: If swelling is accompanied by symptoms such as unusual fatigue , shortness of breath after minimal effort , and having trouble thinking clearly, see your doctor for a full diagnosis.