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Why Do I Have Sausage Fingers? The Top 3 Causes Explained

If you’ve ever looked down at your hands and thought your fingers seem puffier than usual, almost sausage-like, you’re not alone. 

Swollen fingers can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and sometimes worrying. 

While the term “sausage fingers” might sound light-hearted, it can point to several underlying health issues. Here are the three most common reasons.

1. Fluid Retention (Oedema)

One of the most frequent culprits is simple fluid build-up in the tissues. When your body retains water, it often shows up in your hands, ankles, and feet.

Possible triggers include:

Hot weather (blood vessels dilate and fluid leaks into tissues).

Eating too much salt.

Standing or sitting still for long stretches.

Hormonal changes (including during pregnancy).

Underlying conditions such as heart, kidney, or liver problems.

Tip: If your swelling comes and goes and is linked to heat, salt, or posture, it may not be serious. But persistent swelling should always be checked by a GP.

2. Arthritis (Especially Psoriatic Arthritis)

Arthritis is another leading cause of sausage-like fingers.

Psoriatic arthritis is particularly known for causing dactylitis, where an entire finger swells uniformly, resembling a sausage. This is due to inflammation not only in the joints but also in the tendons.

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can also lead to swelling, stiffness, and thickening of the joints, though the swelling may be more localised.

Tip: If your fingers are swollen along with stiffness, joint pain, or difficulty gripping objects, book an appointment with your GP or rheumatologist. Early treatment can prevent lasting joint damage.

3. Injury or Inflammation

Sometimes, swollen fingers are simply the result of trauma or infection.

Injuries such as sprains, fractures, or crush damage cause the body to send fluid and inflammatory cells to the site.

Infections (like paronychia around the nail or cellulitis in the finger) can make the area red, hot, and swollen.

Tip: Sudden swelling in one finger, especially if it’s painful, red, or warm to the touch, may indicate an infection that needs urgent medical attention.

Other Possible Causes

Though less common, sausage-like fingers can also be linked to:

Gout (uric acid crystals in the joints).

Allergic reactions.

Thyroid disease.

Autoimmune conditions like scleroderma.

When to See a Doctor

Seek medical advice if your finger swelling:

Comes on suddenly without explanation.

Is painful, red, or associated with fever.

Persists for more than a few days.

Is accompanied by other symptoms such as skin changes, breathlessness, or severe joint pain.

Final Word

While sausage fingers might sometimes be caused by something as simple as heat or salty food, they can also point to more serious conditions like arthritis or infection. If you’re unsure, it’s always better to get checked out. Your hands work hard for you, so don’t ignore what they might be trying to tell you.

Negative Calorie Foods – Healthy Helper or Just Hype?

The phrase “negative calorie foods” often crops up in dieting advice. The claim is that certain foods, including celery, cucumber, grapefruit, and lettuce, use up more calories during chewing, digestion, and absorption than they actually provide.

It sounds like the dream: eat as much as you like and still lose weight.

But is it true?

The Science Behind the Claim

When you eat, your body burns energy to digest and process food — this is called the thermic effect of food (TEF). On average, TEF accounts for around 5–15% of the calories you consume. 

While fibrous, water-rich foods like celery are very low in calories, research shows that no food actually takes more energy to digest than it contains.

So the idea of “negative calorie foods” is more myth than fact.

The Benefits of These Foods

Even if they aren’t truly “negative calorie,” the foods on these lists are still valuable:

Low in calories – Great for weight management when used as snacks or side dishes.

High in fibre and water – Promote satiety, regulate digestion, and support gut health.

Packed with nutrients – Grapefruit provides vitamin C, broccoli offers folate and antioxidants, and leafy greens support heart and bone health.

Encourages healthy habits – Choosing cucumber sticks or an apple over crisps or biscuits reduces overall calorie intake.

The Downsides of the Myth

False promises – Believing in “magic foods” can distract from the importance of balanced eating.

Nutrient gaps – Over-relying on very low-calorie foods could leave you short of protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins.

Digestive discomfort – Eating large amounts of raw, fibrous veg can cause bloating in some people.

Unsustainable approach – Diets built on restriction or gimmicks rarely last long-term.

A Balanced Approach

The real takeaway is this: while negative calorie foods don’t exist, low-calorie, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables can play a central role in healthy eating. Instead of chasing myths, it’s better to:

Fill half your plate with vegetables.

Pair them with lean proteins, wholegrains, and healthy fats.

Use fruit and veg as additions rather than miracle cures.

Sustainable health comes from overall balance — not from hoping celery sticks undo a slice of cake.

To learn more please visit our sister site That's Food and Drink:- https://thatsfoodanddrink.blogspot.com/2025/08/negative-calorie-foods-myth-or.html

 

Shingles vaccine to be offered to hundreds of thousands more immunosuppressed adults

Around 300,000 more people will become eligible for a potentially lifesaving shingles vaccination from next week, as GP practices roll out the jab to protect all severely immunosuppressed adults.

People newly eligible for the shingles vaccination from Monday 1 September are those aged 18 to 49 who have a severely weakened immune system. 

They will be able to book an appointment for the vaccine with their GP surgery, with practices starting to contact people over the coming weeks.

This includes people with conditions like leukaemia or lymphoma or those who are undergoing chemotherapy, which put them at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell should they contract shingles.

The NHS has previously expanded the shingles vaccination programme to include all over 50s with a severely weakened immune system.

Patient organisations welcome the latest expansion that will see thousands more at risk people protected.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (which causes chickenpox) and usually occurs decades after initial infection. 

The condition causes a painful rash and typically lasts between 2 and 4 weeks.

1 in 5 people will go on to develop shingles in their lifetime and although most people make a full recovery, it can cause serious problems including persistent pain known as post-herpetic neuralgia, eye problems, and even lead to pneumonia, hepatitis and inflammation of the brain.

Individuals who are severely immunosuppressed are most at risk of serious illness and complications from shingles.

The vaccine, Shingrix®, is currently available to people aged 65 to 79 and severely immunosuppressed individuals from 50 years of age, but eligibility is set to change from next week to include all severely immunosuppressed adults aged 18 years and over.

The roll out to all severely immunosuppressed adults follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who found that the risk of hospitalisation from shingles or those resulting in post-herpetic neuralgia was similar in younger immunosuppressed age groups to those who were already eligible.

Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, told That's Health: “Shingles can be seriously debilitating for older people and those with a severely weakened immune system, so following the latest expert guidance, the NHS is now expanding the potentially lifesaving jab to all severely immunosuppressed adults.

“The vaccine is safe and effective and significantly reduces the chance of developing shingles and becoming seriously unwell, so I’d urge anyone newly eligible to come forward for their protection as soon as possible.

“The NHS will be contacting you to let you know you are eligible, but you can also make a booking through your local GP – and even if you’ve had shingles before, you can develop it again so please still come forward for the offer.”

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said: “Expanding shingles vaccination will protect even more people at greatest risk from this painful condition.

“This government is committed to preventive healthcare and ensuring those who are most vulnerable receive the protection they need.

“I encourage all those eligible for the vaccine to come forward for their jab”.

Severely immunosuppressed people will be offered 2 doses of the non-live shingles vaccine, Shingrix®, with the second dose given 8 weeks to 6 months after the first dose.

A JCVI report estimates that prior to the introduction of a shingles vaccination programme in 2013, there were over 4,500 hospital admissions per year due to shingles, most of which could have been prevented through vaccination.

Within the first 3 years of the vaccination programme, there were an estimated 17,000 fewer episodes of shingles and 3,300 fewer episodes of post-herpetic neuralgia among the eligible population.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency: “Shingles can be a very painful infection and may cause complications that lead to hospitalisation. It can affect people at any age, but the risk and severity of shingles increases with age. 

However, following a review of the evidence, it was discovered that younger adults who are severely immunosuppressed are also at higher risk of severe illness and hospitalisation, and from September the shingles vaccine programme will now be expanded to include this group who are aged 18 and over.

“The NHS will continue a phased roll out of the vaccine for older people and your GP should be in touch once you become eligible, currently when you reach 65 or 70 years.

“Shingles can be a nasty, painful disease, so I strongly recommend you have the vaccine, given as 2 doses, as soon as you become eligible, and if you are unsure, please do check with your GP surgery”.

NHS services were contacted about the expansion in July to ensure that they are ready to roll out the vaccine from September, and Shingrix® can be given alongside other seasonal and routine vaccines, including flu and COVID-19.

Susan Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Immunodeficiency UK, said: “We welcome the widening of the age eligibility criteria for the shingles vaccination programme for immunosuppressed individuals. 

"It means that people most at risk will be able to have protection against the worst effects of having shingles and will help reduce the risk of being hospitalised from its complications. We are encouraging everyone eligible to take up the offer."

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