Problem: Article: Move your fingers around pump excess fluid back to the heart. Motion causes blood flow to the area, which stimulates the pressure necessary to pump excess fluids away. Exercises may be as simple as typing at a keyboard, flexing your fingers or using your hands to get dressed or fix breakfast. Any movement of your fingers will reduce swelling. If you don't have time for traditional exercise, think about a quick 15-minute walk once a day. Walking just 10 to 15 minutes is a great way to increase circulation throughout your body. Swing or move your hands up and down while you walk. People who suffer from obesity are more prone to edema because the lymphatic system works slower. Swelling may diminish if the lymphatic system kicks in again. Exercising more often, planning out a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and protein, and drinking more water may assist the body in getting the lymphatic system running to its full potential. Swelling can be caused by poor circulation or blood that stagnates in your hands. Elevating your hands will help any accumulated blood flow back down to the body. Raise your swollen fingers above your heart for 30 minutes at least 3 or 4 times per day to treat severe edema. Doctors also recommend elevating your hands above your heart when sleeping. Keep your hands and fingers elevated for a short period of time to alleviate minor swelling. Try raising your hands up above your head, interlocking them, and bringing them down behind your head. Move your head back and create a little bit of resistance. After 30 seconds, release your hands, shake them out, and repeat process multiple times. Massage the tissues in the swollen fingers toward your heart. Use strong, firm rubbing motions. A hand massage will stimulate the muscles and blood flow to your fingers, which will help push out the excess fluid that causes your fingers to swell. Consider getting a professional hand and foot massage. Hand and foot massages can be very affordable. Give yourself a hand massage. Using the thumb and forefinger of one hand, clamp lightly but securely onto the opposite hand. Run your thumb and forefinger from the base of the palm to the end of a finger. Repeat for each finger, then switch hands. Compression gloves apply pressure to your hands and fingers, which deters the collection of excess fluids. Salt causes your body to retain extra water and fluids, which may affect your fingers. By limiting your salt intake, you reduce the chances of retaining extra fluids. If you feel food is too bland with less salt, use other seasonings to flavor your foods. A moderate temperature will encourage better circulation. Keep the temperature around you steady to reduce finger swelling that results from extreme temperature changes. Studies show that hot showers, baths and compresses increase swelling on affected body parts, including fingers. Exposure to extremely cold temperatures may also increase swelling. If the swelling in your hands is caused by a bruise, moderate cold (such as an icepack wrapped in cloth) will reduce the swelling. Diuretics often reduce fluid retention in patients who have edema and swelling. With medication prescribed by your doctor, the swelling in your fingers may be relieved.
Summary: Exercise your swollen finger(s). Elevate your hands and fingers. Rub your swollen fingers. Wear compression gloves. Limit salt in your diet. Maintain a moderate temperature in your home or office. Take medications.

Problem: Article: If your friend has just been rejected, she may not want to hear the things she could improve on in order to improve her odds next time. While there may be things that she's said or done that contributed to the rejection, or her even if her job loss or her relationship with the boyfriend wasn't ideal, unsolicited advice may be difficult for your friend to benefit from at this time. For example, this isn't the time to remind her that she spent a lot of time complaining about the job she just lost, or the man who just broke up with her. Rejection can hurt regardless of the circumstance, so being a good listener is an effective way to help a friend cope with this initial sting. If your friend says that she doesn't know what she's doing wrong, and asks you for help figuring it out, then you might offer a gentle suggestion. You don't want to be too quick to talk about the "opportunity for growth" inherent in a rejection, but at the same time you might help your friend find ways to benefit from the experience. There are always positive aspects to any situation. Sometimes it takes a friend to help you find them. For example, if she didn't get the job she wanted, now she'll be able to attend the family vacation she'd been looking forward to. Being single means having more freedom. Having a story rejected for publication means being able to submit it somewhere else. One way of supporting your friend is to help him navigate his pain. Ask him how he's feeling, and affirm that his feelings are okay. If he knows that he can share painful things with you as a friend, without being rejected, this may help him feel better. Saying things like, "It sounds like you're pretty broken up about things," can help him feel supported. If your friend was deeply wounded by the rejection, she may not have words to articulate how she feels. She might just want to sit quietly with you. Being present and showing that you're ready to listen when she's ready to talk will be enough. You can always offer a hug, or a gentle supportive touch. Talking about something other than the rejection, or doing an activity together are other ways you can offer support for a friend who's not ready to talk about her feelings yet. For example, try going on a hike, or playing video games together.
Summary:
Don't offer feedback if your friend hasn't asked for it. Help your friend reframe the rejection. Reflect your friend's emotions. Be willing to sit in silence.