swallen fingers

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

  Didn't think much of this at first...  I have a 2 mile walking course that I do when ever I get the chance.  For what seemed like a month of cold weather and rain I became a couch potato but the last week or so I've been walking this course almost every day right after dinner.  However good this is, I am still a couch potato between getting up in the AM and dinner and then again till bed time.

  My current problem, which "I didn't think much about at first" is... when I get home after the walk I'll grab the laptop and check my email.  While logging on my fingers felt sluggish for maybe 15 or so minutes then were fine.  Just now, after my walk only one hand felt this way and what I found when comparing hands is the sluggish fingers are swelled.  I probably should also mention the chest discomfort after the first three minutes of my walks and this goes away after ten minutes.  This is nothing more than a discomfort and is also something I don't think much of but it is related to the above, so...

  I see my cardiologist in two weeks and will mention all this at that time.  In the mean time, could I get a run down on the mechanics of what is going on with this?

Michael

[Ken_PA]

it's vasodilation, and a very healthy condition for your system to be in. I get it all the time, and look forward to it. The flow of blood through arteries increases Nitric Oxide production, and NO is the main vasodilator.

You might find that as you get fitter, the vasodilation occurs earlier.

[ireneo]

We have a 2 mile course around a golf course nearby. When walking I also get swollen hands part way through. It's much worse if I've had a bit too much sodium during the day. I don't know if it's a real problem. I just assumed that the walking, the increased circulation and the hands hanging down created the puffiness. Like you, after I sit down for a bit, especially get my hands up on something, they deflate pretty quickly. I don't worry about it much; maybe I should. Perhaps there's someone who could explain the phenomenon.

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

  I figured I had better say this before I get the wrong answers...  The chest pain feels like it's the muscles outside of the ribs, not the heart.