Swollen arms and hands (oedema)

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

Common causes of swollen arms and hands

Swelling in the arms and hands is often caused by a build-up of fluid in these areas, called oedema.

Oedema is usually caused by:

staying in the same position for too long
eating too much salty food
being overweight
being pregnant – read about swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy
taking certain medicines – such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, antidepressants or steroids

Oedema can also be caused by:

Symptoms of oedema include:

Swelling should go away on its own, but there are some things you can try to help.

lie down and use pillows to raise the swollen area when you can
move your whole arm and shoulder – try raising your hand above your head while you open and close your fist
massage your arm or hand towards your body using firm, but not painful, pressure – for example, start at your fingertips and massage towards your palm
get some gentle exercise, like walking, to improve your blood flow
drink plenty of water
wash, dry and moisturise your arms or hands to avoid infections

the swelling is only in 1 arm or hand and there's no obvious cause, such as an injury
the swelling is severe, painful or starts very suddenly
the swollen area is red or feels hot to the touch
your temperature is very high, or you feel hot and shivery
you have diabetes

You could have a blood clot in your lungs, which needs immediate treatment in hospital.

Treatment for swelling or oedema that does not go away on its own will depend on the cause.

It may include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or going on a low-salt diet.

Page last reviewed: 8 May 2019
Next review due: 8 May 2022