In many photos that have been circulating on the internet, King Charles III appears to have ‘swollen and red’ fingers. This has put the 74-year-old heir’s health condition in limelight and it has been discovered that swollen fingers are something that the King has been suffering from for years. He even called them ‘sausage fingers’ back in 2012 while he was touring through Australia.
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During his first visit overseas as monarch, in Germany, the King has been showing up online a lot, sparking health concerns about his swollen fingers once again.
And a few users took the opportunity to tease the King about his condition. One said:
Why are his fingers swollen and red?
The fact that King Charles III’s mother died at the age of 96 meant that he wasn’t really ‘young’ when he became the King. And what comes with old age? Health problems! A British doctor has come forward to explain the possible health concerns that the King of England might have, confirms MailOnline
From water retention to simply old age, this is what Dr Gareth Nye had to say initally:
Oedema is a condition where the body starts to retain fluids in the limbs, normally the legs and ankles but also in the fingers which causes them to swell.
Oedema is a common condition and mostly affects people over the age of 65 as the ability for fluid control is restricted.
Adding another explanation, he said:
Arthritis- another common condition in the over 60s. It often affects three main areas in the hand - the thumb joint or either joints in the fingers.
And:
Uncommon causes may include high salt diet leading to fluid retention, certain medications can rarely lead to swelling as a side effect such as with blood pressure medications or steroid medications.
However, after seeing the pictures of King Charles in Germany, Dr Gareth Nye told the Daily Star he now believes arthritis to be the most likely candidate. He also thinks the King's condition has worsened.
The most likely cause here is as it was 6 months ago and that King Charles is suffering with arthritis in the hands which seems to be worsening with time.
Read more:What your hands reveal about your health
Is it a cause of concern?
Losing Queen Elizabeth II is a blow that the nation is still recovering from and mourning her death. Amidst this, such medical conditions that the King might be going through just further add to the concerns that people have. While Dr Gareth Nye talked about the possible health issues, he also added:
There certainly aren't any immediate health concerns to be concluded from swollen fingers and it is most likely a sign of his age.
Read More:King Charles III: Peculiar food items that the monarch is particular about
Sources used:
DailyStar: Doctor says King Charles' 'sausage fingers' have 'got worse' as new pics show red digits