Hello Sir, My Palm Shirinks Due To Water Contact, Like
Cause of shrinking of palm
Detailed Answer:
Hi Krishnakant.
Welcome to Ask a doctor.
Some shrinking of palm is quite common with exposure to water and specially cold water.There is decreased blood flow to palms and fingers due to a phenomenon called vasoconstriction causing the shrinkage.This usually happens in winters.
There are some other causes of it as well.Raynaud's phenomenon is pathological condition of vasoconstriction and decrease in blood circulation to palm and fingers.
This can occur in smoking and buerger's disease when the blood flow to palm and fingers is hampered.
Whenever I come across such a patient in my clinic,I ask them to stop smoking and caffeine intake which is a root cause in many cases.I enquire about their profession because it is quite common in plastic industry with an exposure to chemicals like vinyl chloride.I go for checking of Thyroid levels to rule out hyperthyroidism.History of injuries of hands also needs to be ruled out.
We usually go for Doppler study of arteries and veins of hands to check the blood flow.
There are multiple drugs used for the treatment like calcium channel blockers which open up the small blood collaterals and alpha blockers and vasodilator drugs like nitroglycerine crèam which relaxes blood vessels.These drugs need to be taken under supervision of a doctor, as they have significant impact on thermodynamics.
Kindly visit your clinician for further management.
Time being keep your hands warm and avoid trauma and vibrations to hands (e.g. vibrating tools),stay away from caffeine and smoking(If it applies),eat high fibre diet with low saturated fats,be active,wiggle fingers when sitting and massage your hands to keep the blood flowing,use a hand exercise ball and avoid stress.
Hope that I have answered your query.Please let me know if you have any doubts.
Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.
Palm shrinking due to water contact.
Detailed Answer:
That's right Krishnakant.....
It is quite significant if it is happening with you in these times of summers (when there is relative vasodilation )and in the absence of a history of smoking and chemical exposure.
That directly indicates that there is a reduction in the calibre of blood vessels thus hampering the blood flow and causing the shrinkage.
As I told you do hand massage and apply heat to increase local blood supply.Also apply heat and 2 percent nitroglycerine ointment to relieve vasoconstriction.
The occurrence of vasospasm can be prevented by occurrence of atherosclerosis which is fat deposition in the vessels caused by taking high fat,greasy diet.Please do dietary changes accordingly.
Nimodipine is most common calcium channel blocker drug used to relax blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily.30 mgm softgel capsules need to be taken twice a day.
Similarly Pantoxifylline is highly effective to improve the symptomatology and 400mg extended release preparations are usually prescribed thrice a day.
In addition to this vitamin E and vitamin B3 (you can take commercially available preparations),potassium rich foods like citrus fruits and bananas,avoiding caffeine and reducing stress have scientifically proven roe
Please procure your Thyroid levels to rule out hyperthyroidism and a Doppler study of hands(available in most of radiological labs).
Don't worry,you will definitely improve.
I would be more than happy to clear your doubts, if any and to guide you during the course of your treatment.
Regards.