Kathmandu, February 24

Dismissing her body pain as normal, Saraswoti Shrestha of Asan, Kathmandu, said she was feeling a pain at the back of her hand due to household work that she was new to.

She began doing chores when she got married a year ago. “I have never done cooking, cleaning or washing before I got married. So I assumed the pain was because I am new to it,” the 30-year-old shares.

Ganglion cysts, which is a tumour or swelling usually on top of a joint, are more common in women than men, says Dr Anju Maharjan, Neuropathy Physician of Spark Health Home Hospital. Often overlooked, these occur most commonly among women, whose works involve sewing, washing, and cooking, Dr Maharjan explains.

“It looks like a sac of liquid or a cyst and located just under the skin,” informs the doctor. Adding that the treatment largely involves resting, Maharjan said the main cause is due to excessive movement and pressure of the limbs.

“Especially women while doing household activities, there’s a lack of fine movement of hands. It is strenuous and helps grow cysts on the hand,” The doctor also observed that it is the highest among women between 20 and 40.