Overview:
Summer may not be a season for everyone, as the higher temperature outside can trigger a condition known as heat edema in some individuals. Heat edema is when body parts, including the hands, arms, legs, and ankles, swell due to excessive heat. Older adults or pregnant women are more likely to be affected by heat edema. Also, people sensitive to high temperatures or suffering from kidney diseases, diabetes, and cardiac diseases may be at higher risk of developing hands and feet swelling. The article is a must-read as it explores your most pressing questions, including, ‘Why do my hands and feet swell in the heat?’, ‘How do you reduce swelling in the heat?’ or ‘Why does my whole body swell?’
What is Heat Edema?
If the swelling occurs due to prolonged exposure to heat, the condition is termed heat edema. During summers, the temperatures outside are high, and if your ankles swell in heat or after spending time at the beach, you have to wonder, ‘Why do my feet swell at the beach?’ you may have fallen prey to heat edema. In addition, extreme temperatures can cause the widening or dilatation of the blood vessels. Resultantly, the fluid leaks and collects beneath the skin resulting in swelling.
Why do I get heat edema?
The body operates on the mechanism of peripheral vasodilatation in hot temperatures to regulate the body’s temperature. Moreover, vasodilatation is described as a process where the blood vessels widen to increase the blood flow to the lower part or extremities. However, due to the high temperature, the skin loses water. As the blood flow increases, the tiny capillaries in the body leak fluids into the space outside the cells. In normal circumstances, this fluid is cleared up by the lymph nodes, but the excess fluid cannot be cleared up efficiently. Consequently, the fluid accumulates in certain body parts, causing swelling hands and feet or swollen ankles in heat.
Types of Edema:
There are many types of edema. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Peripheral edema
- Pulmonary edema
- Cerebral edema
- Macular edema
- Pitting edema
- Periorbital edema
- Lymphedema
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Edema:
- Swelling and puffiness in both arms and legs
- Stretchy and shiny skin
- Pain in the affected body part
- Increased abdominal size
- When the swelling is pressed, it leaves a dent or a dimple, known as pitting edema.
- Difficulty moving the swollen part. For example, you might experience difficulty in walking if your legs are swollen.
What is heat edema a symptom of?
High temperatures cause heat edema. Additionally, warmer temperatures lead to blood vessel dilation, which causes fluids to accumulate in the hands, ankles, or legs. The type of swelling can be uncomfortable.
Besides this, edema can be caused by:
- Sitting or staying in one position for a long time
- Overeating salt in food.
- Being premenstrual
- Being pregnant.
Certain medicines can also cause it, including:
- High blood pressure medicines
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines
- Steroid medicines
- Estrogens
- Certain diabetes medicines are known as thiazolidinediones
- Medicines that are used to treat nerve pain
People at Risk of Heat Edema
Pregnant women and older adults are at a greater risk of heat edema, especially if they have any other medical condition that affects their blood circulation.
Heat edema can also occur in people returning from colder climates to hotter climates.
Diagnosis of Heat Edema:
The diagnosis is based on the patient’s medical history, physical examination, imaging, and lab tests. The methods have been described below:
- Medical History: This includes the general health, current symptoms, and drug history.
- Physical examination: If there is visible swelling on the hands, feet, legs, and ankles, the doctor applies light pressure on the swelling with his finger for 15 to 20 seconds. It is called pitting oedema if a dent is created on removal of the pressure.
- Laboratory Tests: This comprises urine tests and blood tests.
- Imaging Tests: CT and ultrasound check the accumulation of fluids in other organs.
What Causes Heat Edema to Flare-up?
Some common triggers of edema are mentioned below:
- Irritants such as soaps, detergents, shampoos, washing liquids, and bubble baths cause edema to flare up.
- Environmental factors: hot and humid weather can trigger swollen feet, arms, and ankles.
How Do You Get Rid of Heat Edema?
In some cases, the edema may go away on its own. However, there are some ways to get rid of this condition promptly:
- Avoiding salty foods and adopting a low-salt diet plan
- Avoiding alcohol
- Keeping yourself hydrated
- Exercising regularly and improving your blow circulation by elevating your legs or arms a few times daily
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle and quitting smoking
- Avoid going out in scorching weather
- Regularly massaging the affected area
- Keeping the affected area moisturized and clean
- Wearing support stockings to lessen the swelling
- Using drugs such as furosemide (Lasix), Aldactone, metolazone, Aldactazide, Demadex, and Maxzide helps the body expel excess fluid
How to Manage Heat Edema In Summers?
By following the ways mentioned above, you can easily manage Heat Edema. However, if these methods don’t prove helpful, you can follow some other strategies to help you manage these conditions efficiently.
- Avoid eating green leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce. Also, avoid smoked meat, onions, and soups.
- Avoid sitting in the same position for too long.
- Apply ice packs to the affected area.
- Put Epsom salt in a slightly wet towel and wrap it around the affected part. This method will provide coolness and help reduce swelling.
- Keep a small fan with you wherever you go.
- Avoid hot showers and baths.
- After a shower, put cold water on your legs or arms to boost blood circulation.
- Try to keep your room air-conditioned.
- Try to move your body as much as you can. Take walking breaks throughout your day.
- Stretch your body daily during the cooler parts of the day.
Effects of Edema on Different Body Parts
Hands and Arms swelling: In this condition, your fingers and arm appear larger than normal. Edema of the hand and arm can be caused by the following:
- A severe injury or trauma
- A blood clot in the affected area
- Overuse of the arm, such as during typing or using a computer
- Tight casts after an injury
- Excessive use of steroids or antidepressants
- An insect bite
- Infection
How to Manage Edema of Hands and Arms?
- When lying down, raise the swollen area with a pillow.
- Raise your hand above your head a few times a day.
- Massage your arm and palm by applying a little pressure.
- Keep your hand and arm moisturized.
- Put your hand in a tub of cold water and immerse the hands until the swelling goes away.
- Avoid wearing watches and bracelets because these things can reduce blood circulation.
- Avoid wearing tight sleeves and prefer loose clothing.
Swelling of Legs and Feet: Swelling of the feet and legs occurs to the accumulation of fluid in these areas. Other causes of swelling in this area are:
- Standing for a long time.
- Overweight.
- Spasm or strain in the leg.
- An infection
- Intake of salty food
- Contraceptive pills
- Pregnancy
- Less or no exercise
How do you get rid of swollen legs from heat?
- Soaking your feet for 20 minutes in a lukewarm bathtub.
- Mix Epsom Salt in warm water and soak your feet in it. Also, you can put Epsom salt on a towel and wrap it around your leg.
- Use compression socks to avoid blood clots.
- Exercise daily.
- Elevate your leg a few times a day.
- Try lymphatic drainage massages. These massages increase the blood flow in the leg and break down the fluid accumulation in the area.
- Increase intake of foods that are rich in potassium.
- Use freezable slippers. They are gel-based and can quickly help reduce inflammation and cool your feet.
- Avoid wearing tight leggings.
Is Heat Edema Dangerous?
Swollen hands, arms, faces, and feet look scary, but in most cases, they are not a sign of any potential danger. However, when paired with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and cirrhosis, it can become a cause of concern. Therefore, it should not be ignored and should be taken seriously. Also, a person with Deep Vein Thrombosis might be in danger because heat edema makes this disease life-threatening. Hence, the affected person should immediately move to a cooler place and consult a healthcare provider.
Prevention of Edema
Edema is a severe condition, so doing physical activity, avoiding excess sodium, living a healthy lifestyle, and following the doctor’s instructions can help prevent it.
When to consult a doctor?
You should seek help from a doctor if your swelling does not go away or stays for more than one day. Moreover, if you experience swelling, chest pain, fever, and shortness of breath, you should immediately seek treatment. This condition could lead to more dangerous diseases such as pulmonary embolism, cellulitis, and deep vein thrombosis without prompt treatment. Your doctors online have a professional doctors team that can answer your questions, including ‘Why do my hands swell when I walk in the heat’ and advice on the most appropriate treatment for fingers swell when walking in the heat.
FAQs About Heat Edema Answered By Your Doctors Online Team
Yes! Edema increases with heat because the fluid leaks out of the blood vessels at high temperatures.
Yes! Depending on the location and severity, massage therapies can cure or even eliminate edema. Moreover, massage therapists often use manual lymphatic drainage to drain excess bodily fluids.
Swelling typically lasts for a few days. You will also experience the most node in the first three days, which should start reducing by the fourth day.
It is because the heat causes the blood vessels to dilate, so body fluid moves into the hands or legs by gravity, which can lead to swelling.
Medications classified as diuretics can help to remove excess fluids from the body. Moreover, treatment varies on the severity and cause of the symptoms.
If edema is not treated, it can lead to complications, including:
– Pain due to stretched skin.
– Walking difficulties.
– Stiffness of the joints.
– Shortness of breath.
– Chest pain.
– Inflammation of the skin.
– Skin rashes.
-Cerebral edema.
Elevating the legs several times during the day helps improve blood circulation, ultimately preventing the accumulation of fluids. Moreover, using compression stockings reduces swelling and fluid accumulation.
Remaining active and exercising moderately or walking helps boost your circulation and prevents the fluid from building up.
Epsom salts contain magnesium sulfate, which helps manage swelling and inflammation.
