The death of the King’s 96-year-old mother on Friday brought to light His Majesty’s failing health, with the Queen suffering from increasing fatigue in her later years. But now attention has turned to her 73-year-old heir and his red and swollen hands, with photos being shared on social media following Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Swollen fingers have been something the now-king has suffered from for years, with the monarch himself jokingly calling them ‘sausage fingers’ in 2012 while on tour in Australia after a long flight. A British doctor has since explained that several health conditions can be responsible for the swelling, as well as water retention or – more likely – just old age. Senior lecturer at the UK’s University of Chester, Dr Gareth Nye, said several painful health conditions could be responsible for King Charles III’s swollen fingers “Oedema is a condition where the body starts to retain fluid in the extremities, usually the feet and ankles, but also the fingers, which causes them to swell,” Dr Gareth Nye told the Daily Star. “To see if that’s the cause, pressing on the swollen area for about 15 seconds would cause depression in the area.” Women are more prone to swelling than men because their female hormone, progesterone, tends to trigger the condition, leaving some women with swollen ankles just before their period. Older people may develop the disorder if they sit for long periods of time. King Charles has been photographed with swollen hands and feet many times, apparently after long periods spent flying or traveling in hot countries. Another possible reason for “sausage fingers” is arthritis. “Oedema is a condition where the body begins to retain fluid in the extremities, usually the feet and ankles, but also in the fingers, which causes swelling,” explained Dr. Nye. “Arthritis – another common condition over the age of 60. It often affects three main areas in the hand – the thumb joint or the two finger joints,” he said. “The fingers usually become stiff, painful and swollen, and although medication can help with the pain, the swelling may remain.” Other causes may be a high-salt diet or certain medications such as those made for high blood pressure. On Friday, a doctor pointed to the Queen’s frail appearance at her last royal appointment as a sign that she was nearing her final days. If none of these apply to the royals, it could be a high-salt diet or specific drugs such as those made for high blood pressure (King Charles pictured with his mother in June) Dr Deb Cohen-Jones, who lives in Perth, Western Australia, said pictures of Queen Elizabeth II’s bruised hands as she posed alongside new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Tuesday were probably a sign declining health. “It looks like there’s probably evidence of peripheral vascular disease. It’s a blood circulation disorder that causes the blood vessels outside your heart and brain to narrow, block or break,’ she told FEMAIL. “It can sometimes lead to heart failure. If your peripheral circulation is so poor, the organs don’t get a good blood supply. It can be a sign of multiple organ failure.” An Australian doctor pointed to the Queen’s frail appearance at her last royal appointment as a sign she was going to die within days Dr Deb Cohen-Jones said pictures of Queen Elizabeth II’s hands (pictured) as she posed alongside new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss two days ago are a sign of declining health
What is peripheral vascular disease?
Peripheral vascular disease is a slow and progressive circulatory disorder. A narrowing, blockage, or spasm in a blood vessel can cause PVD. PVD can affect any blood vessel outside the heart, including arteries, veins, or lymphatic vessels. Organs supplied by these vessels, such as the brain and legs, may not have enough blood flow to function properly. However, the legs and feet are more commonly affected. Peripheral vascular disease is also called peripheral arterial disease. Some of the known symptoms include intermittent pain, which may present as cramps or muscle fatigue, “coldness” of the affected body part, numbness and pins and needles. The late queen’s hands were ‘spotted’, which usually happens when the heart is no longer able to pump blood efficiently. Blood pressure drops slowly and blood flow throughout the body slows, causing the extremities to begin to feel cold to the touch, Crossroads Hospice said. Unfortunately, Dr Deb confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II “would be in a lot of pain” if she suffered from the chronic illness because it “looks quite serious”. This official announcement from Buckingham Palace recorded that the Queen held the historic audience
