What to do if your feet swell in the heat. Answered by a doctor

What to do if your feet swell in the heat. Answered by a doctor

Swelling can be a sign of serious diseases.

Phlebologist surgeon of the First professional network of orthopedic salons ORTEKA

What should you do if your feet swell in the heat? Why does it happen?

Why feet swell in hot weather

Blood becomes thicker

In hot weather, we lose more fluid, blood becomes thicker, the outflow through the veins of the legs slows down, which causes swelling. At high temperatures, the body tries to restore heat exchange and for this purpose dilates blood vessels. Against the background of such a change often exacerbate existing problems, such as varicose veins.

Less motor activity

Usually in the heat people move less – the weather discourages all desire to go outdoors. Prolonged stay in a static position also contributes to the appearance of swelling. Only when moving, the muscles of the lower leg contract, which affect the vessels and stimulate the outflow of venous blood from the legs to the heart. Therefore, working in a sitting or standing position, a long drive or flight also contributes to blood stasis and swelling.

Spend a short workout warm-up can be done even in the office. Told about a few exercises that will help stretch your muscles, in our article.

Disturbance of water balance

The work of the venous system depends on the diet. Consumption of salty foods, heavy foods and fast carbohydrates makes the blood more viscous, which negatively affects its outflow. In addition, in summer, many people try to quench thirst with tea, juice, sodas or coffee – and they do not help to restore the loss of fluid in the body.

Uncomfortable shoes

Feet can swell because of uncomfortable shoes. Wearing heeled shoes overloads and strains the lower leg muscles, making them less effective at stimulating venous blood flow. Narrow, tight shoes put pressure on the tissues of the foot and blood vessels, impairing blood circulation.

How to get rid of swelling during the heat wave

Swelling of the legs in the summer is a fairly common phenomenon. To avoid this, you need to follow a few simple rules.

• Take more walks so that the muscles work. A lot of time in the sun is not recommended for anyone, especially those who are already worried about vein problems. Try to avoid direct sunlight. For example, walk in a park where you can hide from them in the shade of trees.
• Control your diet. Each meal should be balanced. To normalize metabolic processes, you need to drink 2-3 liters of plain water every day. This will help reduce the risk of edema in hot weather. Limit the use of alcohol and give up smoking.

• Get rid of uncomfortable shoes. Ideally, you should wear orthopedic shoes – in them your feet feel as comfortable as possible, and the muscles of the lower leg are not unnecessarily tense and function properly.

Read more about how to choose the right shoes for training, told in the material.

• Lead an active lifestyle. Swimming, cycling, light running, Nordic walking – all this helps to prevent the appearance of edema.
• Wear compression knitwear, which improves the flow of venous blood. It is especially useful for those who have a sedentary or standing work. Also such products are indispensable when traveling. Modern models are made of breathable materials, so compression knitwear is comfortable to wear even in the summer.

If leg swellings are accompanied by pain and redness, there is a high probability that they signal more serious problems. In this case, you need to urgently seek advice from a phlebologist.

Swellings also appear in kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic heart failure. Often it is also a consequence of alcohol abuse. In addition, edema can be a sign of allergic reaction or a consequence of trauma, which caused compression of blood vessels. As we can see, there are enough reasons for their appearance, so with constant swelling self-diagnosis should not be engaged in self-diagnosis – it is better to make an appointment with a doctor.