Summer brings longer days, warmer temperatures, and more time spent outdoors. But for many people, it brings something else: unexpected leg swelling. While some swelling during hot weather may be harmless, persistent or painful swelling can be a sign of an underlying circulatory condition, such as chronic venous insufficiency.
In this post, Inam Haq, MD, FACS, and Sushilkumar Samant, MD, FACS, explain why summer leg swelling happens and how patients at Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center can make sure they’re getting the best treatment for their needs.
Leg swelling is a common problem for millions of people, caused when fluid builds up in the lower legs, and sometimes your feet and ankles. Called edema, this type of swelling tends to become more common with age, and while it’s not always serious, it definitely should be medically evaluated.
While edema can be a year-round problem for many, others tend to experience swelling — or worsening symptoms — during the summer, a condition sometimes referred to as heat edema. This type of swelling often involves several factors largely depending on summer weather.
Hot weather and elevated body temperatures cause your blood vessels to widen or expand in order to help rid your body of excess heat. Widening blood vessels increases the risk of fluid leakage into surrounding tissues, which leads to edema or swelling.
Hot weather also leads to sweating, which in turn can cause dehydration. When your body is dehydrated, it reacts by conserving more fluids, along with sodium stores. Combined, these factors increase swelling, particularly in the lower extremities where circulation may already be compromised.
Regular exercise is important for maintaining good circulation, but if your body isn’t used to it, it could lead to swelling. During the summer months, many people spend more time doing physical activities or taking long trips. Spending more time standing or sitting still for long periods, such as during travel, contributes to an increased risk of leg swelling. Combined with hot weather, the effects can be multiplied.
Underlying health problems can cause swelling, too, and when combined with the other items on this list, you may experience worsening symptoms. Heart disease, diabetes, and kidney problems can cause fluid retention in your legs, and some medications can make the problem worse, too.
Chronic venous insufficiency is a common cause of leg swelling, developing when your veins aren’t working the way they should.
While swollen legs aren’t necessarily life-threatening on their own, swelling can be associated with more serious underlying problems. For that reason, you should always have it medically evaluated. Elevating your legs can help relieve swelling, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to put off seeing a doctor, especially if swelling returns.
You should also seek medical attention for swelling associated with pain or changes in the way your skin looks or feels. Cramps, sensations of heaviness or fatigue in your legs, restless legs at night, and varicose veins are all reasons to schedule an evaluation for swelling.
Some swelling causes skin changes that can make your skin more fragile and more prone to injuries. If you have a sore on your leg that isn’t healing well, that’s a definite reason to see our team. Slow-healing sores or leg ulcers can lead to serious infections that can increase your risk of sepsis and amputation.
Swollen legs are a sign that something’s not right — and a clear indication that it’s time to have your legs evaluated for circulation issues and other underlying health problems.
To learn how we can help you find relief for circulation problems, request an appointment online or call the Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center location most convenient to you. We’re in Staten Island’s Midland Beach or Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York.
