Swelling when walking him

Swollen hands, swollen arms (or some people may also have swollen fingers).

While hiking or walking high, it is very common.

Especially daylight or when the body is tired.

The main causes aren't as scary as they seem.

But anyway, there are points to surveillance.

The cause is mainly due to physical mechanisms and the environment.

As follows:

1. Centrifugal force and blood flow

(Gravity & Centrifugal Force)

When we hike or walk aloft, our arms often drop plummeting down the side of the torso and constantly swinging. The centrifugal force from the arm swing combined with gravity will cause blood and fluid to flow down to pile up at the end.

More hands and fingers, while the arm muscles do not shrink and squeeze back as violently as the leg muscles, the fluid slows back up.

2. Vasodilation

Although the air on high ground may be cold, walking up the hill is a high-energy activity. The body generates heat internally. To cool that off, the body directs the peripheral blood vessels (including those on the hands and arms) to expand wider so that blood conducts heat to exude through the skin. As the blood vessels expand, some fluid seeps through the blood vessel walls into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling.

3. Dehydration body or mineral salt balance change (Dehydration & Hyponatremia)

• Dehydration: On high ground, the air is often dry, causing us to lose water through unconscious breathing and evaporation of sweat. When the body begins to dehydrate, it tries to "retain more fluid" along the tissues.

• Low Sodium: On the other hand, if we repeatedly drink excessive amounts of water without adding any mineral salt, the concentration of sodium in the blood will dilute.

4. High Altitude Flattening / Edema

In very high rise cases (usually starting at a height of 2,500 meters above sea level), free radical pressure and changes in blood oxygen levels can cause easier retention of water in different parts of the body, often accompanied by swelling in the eyes or face.

💡 How to prevent and correct

• Sway your arm and administer your hand: During walking, periodically hold your hand or raise your hand to the chest to help your blood flow back.

• Trekking Poles: Using a walking stick forces our arms to lift and the hand / arm muscles are constantly curling and loosening, which acts like a pump to push the fluid back up. It is one of the best ways to reduce swelling.

• Sipping water and adding mineral salt: Drink water gradually but often and should have mineral salt powder (Electrolytes) mixed during the day to maintain balance.