Why do my hands swell after a long walk?

PixieThin
PixieThin Posts: 57
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Ok it's happened to me a lot. I don't know if it is the heat or if it is just the way your body works??? My Fiance also experiences it during and it lasts til a while after. I don't understand it. Anyone?

Replies

  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    Me too. It's probably just circulation. It was really bad when I first started and almost never happens anymore. Try swinging your arms a little bit when you walk...
  • HollyLLillis
    HollyLLillis Posts: 113 Member
    Happends to me everytime too.... guess I've never worried about it but it would be interesting to know why :smile:
  • biddysaurus
    biddysaurus Posts: 156 Member
    Mine do this too! I thought it was from danging down but they did it yesterday after a long bike ride too and were still swollen this morning! They've gone down now though and I have no idea when or why. lol
  • bagpipebecky03
    bagpipebecky03 Posts: 35
    I have the same thing happen but I don't know why? I used to think it was just the heat but it happens when its cooler outside too,
  • DancingSquirrel
    DancingSquirrel Posts: 31
    It's probably related to electrolyte balance in your body. I see this happen to me also but since I've started exercising more, it's happened to a lesser degree.

    You might try watching your sodium intake. Or getting some additional exercise. Both may help reduce the degree of the swelling.
  • juggalotus
    juggalotus Posts: 227
    Mine do it all the time! My hands always swell when its hot outside. I don't know why either! Maybe something to do with the sodium in your body and retaining water. I don't know.....
  • Amo_Angelus
    Amo_Angelus Posts: 604 Member
    It's the heat. You're most likely walking enough to raise your body temperature. Hands swell when they're hot. Simple a that, nothing you can do about it.
  • vikesfanmb
    vikesfanmb Posts: 291 Member
    Sorry - I don't have an actual answer for you. But I just wanted to know that I can relate!! Same thing happens to me after a long walk. I wonder if it's fluid distribution or something? It happens more to me outside than inside (say, at the gym). Could be humidity levels possibly??

    I'll be interested to see if anyone else chimes in?
  • HollyLLillis
    HollyLLillis Posts: 113 Member
    Me too. It's probably just circulation. It was really bad when I first started and almost never happens anymore. Try swinging your arms a little bit when you walk...
    yes, it could be that you walk with your arms at your side all the time, that is what I do unless I am jogging or running (which is not very often, lol) so I bet the blood goes to your hands and they swell.
  • twotfluty
    twotfluty Posts: 51
    I was curious too! I found this site that has some possible answers:

    http://health.msn.com/health-topics/heart-and-cardiovascular/why-do-my-hands-swell-up-when-i-walk
  • OneBryteSmile
    OneBryteSmile Posts: 808 Member
    I have the same issue when I run so I researched it on google and found out why it was happening. It's nothing serious so that was good. Here's some info on it at livestrong.com

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/211317-why-do-my-fingers-swell-when-i-run/
  • tmiqueen
    tmiqueen Posts: 254 Member
    A combination of circulation, dehydration (gotta drink that water!) and heat.
  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    when you walk you hang your hands down, your heart is pumping blood to move you and the hands aren't that important if they're just dangling there. The blood pools. That's my theory...Hold your hands up as if you were jogging and swing them to keep the blood pumping all over. Also drink more water! Sometimes if I notice mine are swelling i put them on top of my head for awhile. I'm sure it's funny looking but who cares, it hurts after awhile if they're all puffy.
  • tararocks
    tararocks Posts: 287 Member
    i also do not have an answer for you, but can tell you it used to happen a lot when i first started exercising, additionally when on machines like the elliptical my feet would tingle, almost like they were falling asleep, since i now exercise on a regular basis i hardly ever notice it happening, so maybe that has something to do with it.
  • WILSONBA
    WILSONBA Posts: 197
    i'm sorry to report that my hands and mostly my feet do this same thing yet i have no idea why. could be heat or circulation, either way i hope we can eventually find this out.
  • kbeach08
    kbeach08 Posts: 184 Member
    I personally think it has something to do with circulation. I have notice when my hands are raise (pushing my daughters stroller) I don't have the problem as much as I do when I have my hands to my side.
  • cspence2270
    cspence2270 Posts: 229 Member
    I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with this problem. It happens all the time. I've learned to take my rings off before I work out. :wink:
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    This article kind of explains why it happens:
    http://health.msn.com/health-topics/heart-and-cardiovascular/why-do-my-hands-swell-up-when-i-walk

    It's really common!
  • PixieThin
    PixieThin Posts: 57
    I was curious too! I found this site that has some possible answers:

    http://health.msn.com/health-topics/heart-and-cardiovascular/why-do-my-hands-swell-up-when-i-walk

    This explains a lot!!! Thanks! I would have never known. =D
  • PixieThin
    PixieThin Posts: 57
    I have the same issue when I run so I researched it on google and found out why it was happening. It's nothing serious so that was good. Here's some info on it at livestrong.com

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/211317-why-do-my-fingers-swell-when-i-run/

    Thanks soooo much! I am trying to watch my sodium and I've been drinking tons of water a day. So this one explains a bit more in detail. =D Glad it wasn't anything serious!
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    When your working out really hard, awesomness tends to build up I certain areas. That's prolly what it is.
  • HollyTsiaussis
    HollyTsiaussis Posts: 415 Member
    When your working out really hard, awesomness tends to build up I certain areas. That's prolly what it is.

    LOL.
  • TDGee
    TDGee Posts: 2,209 Member
    When your working out really hard, awesomness tends to build up I certain areas. That's prolly what it is.
    Look at Popeye, he was full of awesomeness.
  • kgool
    kgool Posts: 177 Member
    This makes sense now (I have no idea about the actual issue), but I read this earlier as:

    "Why do my hands SMELL after a long walk?"

    Once I realized what the OP posted this made much more sense.
  • samleague
    samleague Posts: 1
    http://healthyliving.msn.com/diseases/heart-and-cardiovascular/why-do-my-hands-swell-up-when-i-walk-1

    Mine do the same thing. It's uncomfortable while wearing jewelry, but doesn't last very long. Just make sure you drink plenty of fluids and keep up on the exercising. It may or may not disappear with the more fit you get. Like this article suggests, it could just be your body's way of keeping itself cool, especially on overly hot days if you happen to be doing your walk/jog outside! Good luck. I hope all of the answers you've recieved have helped you.
  • chtsngiggles
    chtsngiggles Posts: 24
    I have the same problem and here is a good link that explains it.

    http://healthyliving.msn.com/diseases/heart-and-cardiovascular/why-do-my-hands-swell-up-when-i-walk-1
  • Delicate
    Delicate Posts: 625 Member
    Circulation, when you're walking your body is focused more on that movement, than pushing blood through your arms.

    How to reduce it or stop it, hold your arms up like speed walkers, cause the arms are level with your shoulders (near enough) and moving, your blood is flowing properly which means you wont get swelling.

    I used to get it while running, but not when walking since i'm usually holding bags up.
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