It’s a hot day, and your shoes suddenly feel way too tight. If this sounds familiar, you could be suffering from heat oedema, the medical term for feet and ankles that swell in hot weather.

This common condition - which tends to affect women more than men - isn’t usually a cause for concern, but it can be uncomfortable and cause further issues if left untreated.

We explore why our feet and ankles swell during hot weather, and how using Revitive can help.

Why does heat cause swelling?

When temperatures rise, our blood vessels naturally dilate to help us cool off. As they expand in this way, fluid moves out of vessels into surrounding tissue.

Gravity then causes the fluid to travel downwards to our feet and ankles, resulting in swelling.

As well as swollen or puffy feet and ankles, you may also notice shiny or stretched skin, discomfort and stiffness when moving, and a dent that doesn’t disappear when you press on the skin.

How do I know heat is the reason for my swollen feet?

Heat oedema is common, and if your puffy feet coincide with a hot spell, chances are that’s the cause. But swollen feet and ankles can happen for other reasons, too, so it pays to be sure.

Swelling can be caused by an injury such as a sprain or an insect bite, but this is more likely to affect one leg.

Being overweight or pregnant, or taking certain medications, including some high blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants, and steroids, can also cause swollen feet and ankles.

More rarely, swollen feet can signal a more dangerous condition such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), infection, heart failure, kidney or liver disease.

Seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb, if it’s red and hot to the touch, or if the swelling occurs with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood or fever. If you experience any signs of DVT, please refrain from using Revitive and consult your doctor as soon as possible*.

Why do my feet swell in the heat?

References

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