Is Your Summer Leg Swelling Heat-related or Related to Something Else?
Don’t you love it when you’ve been hanging out at the beach or pool and you go to put on your shoes – and you look down and your legs, feet and/or ankles resemble this?
(Well, minus the prickly bits, we hope.)
Leg, ankle and foot swelling brought on by the heat is one thing a lot of us have to deal with during the summer. But it’s important to take note whether the swelling is just heat-related — and not tied to something more devious like vein disease, in which leg swelling is one of a number of symptoms. In its more advanced stages, leg swelling caused by vein disease can progress to more chronic conditions, like venous dermatitis and leg ulcers. Not swell things to get at all.
Edema is swelling caused by an abnormal build up of fluid in the body’s tissues. When it’s hot outside, blood vessels dilate and gravity forces body fluids to pool in the legs, ankles and/or feet. The same type of thing happens in edema caused by vein disease — when venous hypertension forces fluid to pool in the tissues beneath the skin. That’s why you need to get it checked out by a vein specialist to find out what’s really causing your swelling issues.
If you’re having a “swell summer” so far, try cooling it with a
Zoot Recovery Slide
Impress midsole allows you to customize to your foot. And the foot bed design helps cool the foot and reduce swelling. Plus, keeping your feet exposed while you’re outside and not crammed in the darkness of a shoe will keep swelling down. For more info and to purchase, visit zootsports.com
Peppermint Reviving Leg Gel from Body Shop
Lather this on and your legs will say, “ahhhhhh…” To purchase, visit bodyshop.com
Green, Ginger, Echinacea Iced Herbal Teas
Bring on the diuretic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory good stuff as you sip a tall, cool one of these.
Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salts
Magnesium sulfate found in epsom salt is a natural fluid build-up buster, so thank you, Dr. Teal’s, for making epsom salt smell so lovely and relaxing. Pick your flavor from this diverse range.
If you’re experiencing leg, ankle or foot swelling at any time, even if you think it’s just heat-related, come in for an ultrasound screening at any one of the eight Houston-area Hamilton Vein Center locations. Call 281-565-0033 today.
Your legs will thank you for it!
