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Cold Weather and Finger Swelling: Many people’s fingers swell in winter. According to doctors, due to cold our veins shrink, due to which the blood flow slows down. As soon as our hands become warm, blood suddenly flows faster. Due to this, swelling, redness and pain increases in the fingers. Apart from this, swelling of fingers can also occur due to loss of skin moisture in cold, thickening of blood and getting wet in water.
Winter Finger Swelling Reasons: During cold weather, many people start feeling swelling in the fingers and toes. Many people start having this problem every year. In winter, not only swelling occurs but also problems like pain and redness in the fingers. Most people consider it to be the effect of cold or changing weather and ignore their problem. According to health experts, there are many biological processes that cause swelling in fingers during cold weather. Because of these people start having these problems. However, these problems can be avoided by keeping some things in mind.
Dr. Sonia Rawat, Director of Preventive Health and Wellness Department, Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi told StuffUnknown. That in cold weather, the body constricts the external blood vessels to maintain its internal temperature. Fingers are located in the outermost parts of the body, hence when the temperature decreases, their nerves are the first to shrink. This slows down the blood flow and as soon as the person gets warm, the blood suddenly returns to those vessels. Due to this, swelling, redness and pain start occurring in the fingers. This is the reason why most people have this problem in winter.
The doctor told that the air is dry in winter, due to which the moisture of the skin reduces. Due to the thin skin of the fingers, dryness is felt more. When the skin starts becoming dry, the problems of swelling, stretching, tearing and irritation can also increase. Apart from this, many times people move directly towards heater, hot water or fire due to the cold outside. The body reacts to this sudden change in temperature and swelling increases in the fingers. When blood suddenly flows rapidly in the veins constricted by cold, it can cause problems like swelling, itching, tingling or burning sensation in the fingers. This reaction is seen more in people whose blood circulation is already weak.
According to Dr. Sonia Rawat, some people are more sensitive to swelling of fingers in cold. Diabetic patients, hypothyroid patients, people with low hemoglobin or anemia, smokers and people suffering from other nerve related problems have to face swelling of fingers more in cold. Some simple measures can be taken to avoid swelling of fingers. Wear warm gloves and protect hands from cold things. Do not put your hands in very hot water, increase the temperature gradually. Apply moisturizer regularly, so that the skin remains moisturized. Do light exercise or stretching of hands, so that blood circulation improves. Do not keep hands wet for long, because cold water increases swelling. If you are very worried, then consult a doctor and get yourself examined.
