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Swollen arms and hands (oedema)

Overview

Open all pages about Swollen arms and hands (oedema)

Common causes of swollen arms or hands include staying in the same position for too long, a diet high in salt, pregnancy and certain medicines.

Swelling in the arms and hands can make the skin very tight, puffy and shiny.

Things you can do to ease swelling in your arms or hands include raising and massaging the area, doing gentle exercise and drinking lots of water.

Treatments for swelling in the arms or hands depends on the cause. For example, taking water tables or wearing compression sleeves may help.

Swelling in the arms or hands (called oedema) often goes away on its own. See a GP if it does not get better in a few days.

Page last reviewed: 02/03/2022
Next review due: 02/03/2025