What illness might facial and hand swelling be a precursor to?

Generally, facial and hand swelling may be early signs of conditions such as hypothyroidism, glomerulonephritis, or hypoalbuminemia. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a systemic metabolic disorder caused by the thyroid gland's inability to produce sufficient thyroid hormones or by resistance to thyroid hormones. When thyroid hormone secretion is insufficient, protein metabolism becomes abnormal, leading to accumulation of mucopolysaccharides in subcutaneous tissues and excessive fluid buildup in tissue spaces, resulting in edema. Swelling commonly occurs in the front of the lower legs but can also manifest as facial and hand swelling.

2. Glomerulonephritis

In patients with glomerulonephritis, reduced glomerular filtration rate leads to sodium and water retention in the body, causing edema in the face, eyelids, hands, and both lower limbs. In severe cases, generalized edema may occur.

3. Hypoalbuminemia

Inadequate protein intake or malabsorption, as well as abnormal albumin secretion or impaired protein synthesis, can lead to decreased plasma albumin levels, resulting in hypoalbuminemia. This reduces effective osmotic pressure, causing excessive fluid retention in the body and leading to edema in areas such as the face, hands, and extremities.

In addition, diseases such as liver cirrhosis may also cause such symptoms. It is recommended to visit a hospital for a thorough examination to determine the exact cause and receive appropriate treatment promptly.