The Importance of Managing Leg Swelling in the Heat
Summer brings long, sunny days and swollen feet and ankles. Fortunately, there are several methods for managing heat edema.
Summer brings long, sunny days — especially in Florida. Unfortunately, it can also bring swollen feet and ankles, particularly for those suffering from venous insufficiency. Warmer temperatures can result in increased vein dilation and heat edema.
What Is Heat Edema?
When excess fluid accumulates in your tissues, you may develop edema, or swelling. Summer seems to worsen edema, as when it’s hot, your blood vessels dilate in an attempt to avoid overheating. This dilation enables body fluids to move to the hands or legs, resulting in heat edema. Though swelling may develop anywhere, it’s most commonly located in the lower legs, as they are located furthest from your heart and at your body’s lowest point.
Older individuals and those who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing heat edema. If you have weakened vein valves in your legs and have venous insufficiency (that is, your veins have difficulty returning blood to your heart), you may be particularly susceptible to heat edema. Additionally, those unaccustomed to hot climates are more likely to experience leg swelling in higher temperatures.
What Causes Heat Edema?
As the name suggests, heat edema’s leading cause is high temperatures. Warmer temperatures increase blood vessel dilation, allowing fluids to settle in the hands, legs, or ankles due to gravity. The resulting swelling can be uncomfortable and even painful.
In addition to heat, having swollen legs during the summer can be the result of:
- Severe chronic lung diseases: Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can raise blood pressure in the blood vessels leading from your heart to your lungs. The pressure can then back up into your heart and cause swollen feet or legs.
- Congestive heart failure: When your heart isn’t pumping blood efficiently, fluid can accumulate in your lungs and throughout your body. You may also experience swelling in your feet and ankles.
- Pregnancy: When you’re pregnant, your uterus places additional pressure on your vena cava, which can cause swollen legs. The vena cava are large veins responsible for delivering deoxygenated blood to your heart. Swollen legs may also be a sign of preeclampsia. Swollen legs may also be a sign of preeclampsia.
- Low protein levels in your blood: Low protein levels in your blood can also cause edema. Albumin, a blood protein, helps prevent salt and water from leaking into nearby tissues. Malnutrition, liver disease, and kidney disease can result in low albumin levels in the blood, or hypoalbuminemia.
- Consuming too much salt: Another common culprit behind edema is having an excess of salt or insufficient salt loss in your body.
- Spending long periods sitting or standing: Whether it’s hot or not, sitting or standing for an extended period allows fluids to accumulate in your legs. Long periods spent sitting or standing during the summer months can result in excessive fluid accumulation and worsen any swelling in your feet, ankles, or lower legs.
What Are The Symptoms of Heat Edema?
Swollen legs and feet are the most common and most obvious signs of heat edema. Other symptoms of heat edema include shiny or stretchy skin, swollen or puffy tissues beneath your skin, an increase in abdominal size, and skin that remains pitted or dimpled after being pressed for a few seconds.
What Are Some Tips For Preventing And Treating Swollen Legs?
Staying out of hot temperatures is the best way to avoid swollen legs in the summer. Additionally, moving regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising can help prevent heat edema.
While it can be tempting to take a hot bath, visit a sauna, or apply a hot water bottle or heating pad to your legs, heat therapy can worsen leg swelling. Instead, try the following treatment options:
- Elevate your feet
- Lower your salt intake
- Take a diuretic (if your doctor recommends it)
- Take a cold shower
- Exercise late in the day to clear venous congestion
The Link Between Edema And Venous Insufficiency
If you’re affected by edema throughout the year, regardless of the weather, and experience cramps, aches, heaviness, and fatigue in your legs, venous insufficiency may be responsible for your symptoms. Other symptoms of venous insufficiency include leg ulcers and varicose veins. Your symptoms may worsen over the summer, as your veins will dilate and work even harder to return blood to your heart.
Venous Insufficiency is Treatable
Venous Insufficiency can interfere with your life and affect the appearance of your legs. The good news is, you don’t have to suffer. The experienced doctor at The Kimmel Institute in Florida understands how vein issues can affect your life and knows which treatments can help solve the problem. If you live in the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, or Fort Lauderdale areas, our South Florida team is ready to help. Our experienced vein specialist will assess your condition and discuss all possible treatment options. Call us at (561)948-5560 today to schedule an appointment.