India, Sept. 25 -- When you wake up with stiff fingers, your hands may feel swollen, and even making a fist or fastening a button can be difficult. The stiffness may ease after a while, but if it happens regularly, it should not be brushed off. What could it mean? ALSO READ: Shoes suddenly feeling tight? Cardiologist shares signs of edema to watch for

We asked Dr Ashutosh Jha, consultant in orthopaedics at Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad, to clarify why morning stiffness occurs, what the pattern may reveal about your joints, and when to see a doctor. He believed it to be the first clinical indicator of arthritis.

Why might your fingers feel swollen and stiff when you wake up? Dr Jha revealed that the lack of movement overnight can affect ho...