{"id":714170,"date":"2026-07-27T20:26:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T20:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/714170\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T20:26:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T20:26:33","slug":"dont-suffer-in-silence-from-common-health-condition-in-hot-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/714170\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t suffer in silence from common health condition in hot weather"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Don’t suffer in vein frm swollen legs and ankles (Image: Getty) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> <\/p>\n

Who doesn\u2019t enjoy a bit of sunshine? But, when temperatures soar to near subtropical levels, as they have over the last week, the heat can trigger some unpleasant side effects. As well as sunburn and sleepless nights, the relentless heat can also lead to swollen feet, ankles and legs, leaving many people feeling puffy, uncomfortable and struggling to fit into their shoes.<\/p>\n

While this can seem worrying, it\u2019s actually very common for feet, ankles and legs to swell slightly in response to hot weather. But, why does it happen and what can you do to alleviate the discomfort? We asked leading experts to share their top tactics on how to tackle summer swelling.<\/p>\n

Why swelling occurs<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Heat caused blood vessels to expand which in turn causes swelling when blood can’t escape (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u201cHeat causes blood vessels to expand,\u201d says Mr Zola Mzimba, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, who specialises in venous disease. \u201cThis is a natural process as the body tries to cool down and maintain a core temperature at around 37 degrees C. What happens is that blood vessels widen, or dilate, allowing more blood to flow close to the skin where excess heat can escape.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the same time, your sweat glands become more active. Even if you\u2019re not dripping in sweat, your skin will be moister than normal. As sweat evaporates, it cools the skin, helping to lower body temperature. Together with the increased blood flow, this helps to stop you from overheating. But, there\u2019s a downside, as blood vessels dilate, fluid is more likely to leak from the bloodstream into the surrounding tissues. This can lead to swelling, particularly in the lower legs, ankles and feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why does it affect some more than others?<\/p>\n

\"Mr<\/p>\n

Zola Mzimba says some people are more prone to leg swelling than other (Image: Courtesy Zola Mzimba)<\/p>\n

While some swelling in hot weather is perfectly normal, this effect can be exacerbated in some people. \u201cIn people with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), where the valves inside the leg veins don\u2019t work as efficiently as they should, heat-related swelling tends to be more pronounced,\u201d says Mr Mzimba.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost people don\u2019t even know they\u2019ve got CVI. This was highlighted in two landmark studies. In the Edinburgh Vein study in Scotland, 1,566 people were randomly selected from the general population and scanned. The study showed that CVI \u2013 where blood flows backwards, because the valves don\u2019t close properly \u2013 was surprisingly common. Yet, most people with abnormal vein function are unaware there is a problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bonn Vein study, in Germany, found that early stage (mild or asymptomatic) chronic venous disease affects around 90% of adults. Both studies showed that venous disease is usually progressive, and begins long before it becomes clinically obvious. Early symptoms of venous disease include achy, tired legs, itching, and cramps, which get worse towards the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Varicose veins don\u2019t help, either<\/p>\n

If you suffer from varicose veins, this can also make summer swelling worse. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted and enlarged veins that bulge just under the surface of the skin, usually on the legs. \u201cVaricose veins are incredibly common,\u201d says Mr Alastair Lewis, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, who specialises in the treatment of varicose veins. \u201cThey can develop for a variety of reasons. Spending long periods standing, for example, increases pressure inside the veins of the legs, making them more prone to becoming enlarged and twisted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Varicose veins can also cause other symptoms such as pain, aching, throbbing and heaviness. For most people, varicose veins don’t lead to serious problems. But, they can cause swelling in the legs, especially in the summer.<\/p>\n

This happens because blood begins to pool in the damaged veins, increasing the pressure within them. As that pressure rises, fluid leaks out of the tiny blood vessels, known as capillaries, into the surrounding tissues. \u201cIt is this build-up of fluid that causes the legs and ankles to swell,\u201d adds Mr Lewis. \u201cCompression therapy may help prevent further complications.\u201d<\/p>\n

Treat the underlying problem<\/p>\n

\u201cIf varicose veins are causing leg swelling, treating the underlying vein problem almost always leads to an improvement,\u201d says Mr Lewis. \u201cAlthough, the swelling doesn’t always disappear completely. That’s because the veins may have been under increased pressure for years, and the surrounding tissues can take time to recover.\u201d<\/p>\n

Medical-grade compression stockings can help to reduce swelling, ease symptoms such as aching and heaviness, and can also slow the progression of venous disease. Most varicose veins never cause serious problems, but if venous disease is left untreated it can gradually damage the skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the earliest signs is venous eczema, which may come and go,\u201d adds Mr Lewis. \u201cBut, over time, permanent brown staining can appear, and in more advanced cases, the skin becomes fragile and damaged. In fewer than one per cent of people this can lead to venous ulcers.\u201d<\/p>\n

What surgical options are there?<\/p>\n

\"Varioce<\/p>\n

Varicose veins can be painful and unsightly (Image: Daily Mirror)<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, most procedures are minimally invasive keyhole treatments,\u201d says Mr Lewis. \u201cThis means the vast majority of people no longer need traditional vein-stripping surgery. The most common option is endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), which uses heat to seal the faulty vein from the inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmaller veins can often be treated with sclerotherapy, an injection that damages the vein’s inner lining so it closes down and is gradually absorbed by the body. Bulging veins can also be removed through tiny incisions in a procedure called a mini phlebectomy. These procedures are usually performed under local anaesthetic. Side effects are typically mild and temporary, with some bruising, tenderness, small lumps or inflammation around the treated veins for a few weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most significant potential complication is venous thrombosis (a blood clot), but this is uncommon, occurring in fewer than 1% of patients. Those with additional risk factors, will be prescribed anticoagulant medication as a precaution.<\/p>\n

Now the good news<\/p>\n

Around nine out of ten people with varicose veins will never develop serious complications. \u201cFor the minority who do, early treatment and simple measures such as compression stockings can significantly reduce symptoms and help prevent progression,\u201d says Mr Lewis. \u201cMany people also choose treatment simply, because they dislike the appearance of their veins. Age is a major factor, and both thread veins and varicose veins become more common over time. Women are more likely to develop them than men, partly because hormonal changes weaken vein walls. Pregnancy, in particular, can accelerate the process, as hormonal changes combine with increased pressure on the veins.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to support circulation and leg health<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Healthy eating and exercise are crucial to good leg health (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

Exercise regularly: \u201cRegular movement is crucial for healthy circulation,\u201d says Mr Mzimba. \u201cYour veins contain one-way valves that stop blood flowing backwards, but they also depend on something known as the calf muscle pump. Every time you walk, your calf muscles contract and squeeze the veins, pushing blood upwards through the leg. If you’re not moving, you’re not using your calf pump. Standing still or sitting for long periods means blood isn’t being pushed efficiently back towards the heart. The result is increased swelling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch your diet: \u201cExcess sugar, processed foods and alcohol can increase inflammation and make swelling feel worse,\u201d says Mr Lewis. \u201cSo, eating a healthy, nutritious food is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herbal support: A recent review (Phytotherapy Research, 2020) showed that red vine leaf extract can have a therapeutic beneficial effect on CVI and help to support healthy leg-vein function. Try: Healthspan Vein-Vine Leg Vein Support (\u00a319.99 for 90 tablets) \u2013 contains red vine leaf extract (5400mg), vitamins B1 and C. Available via healthspan.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Healthspan<\/p>\n

Healthspan Vein-Vine Leg Vein support (Image: Healthspan)<\/p>\n

Elevate your legs: \u201cIf you\u2019re relaxing, lying down with your legs elevated is much better than sitting with your feet hanging down. The closer your legs are to the level of your heart, the less pressure there is inside the veins.\u201d<\/p>\n

When should you see a doctor? “Visible veins alone aren’t always a reason for treatment,\u201d says Mr Lewis. \u201cBut, if you’re experiencing aching, throbbing, heaviness, tired legs, swelling or worsening symptoms \u2013 it’s worth getting your veins assessed by a specialist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stay hydrated: \u201cNot drinking enough fluids can contribute to muscle cramps, particularly in people with venous insufficiency,\u201d says Mr Mzimbi. \u201cHot weather also increases the risk of electrolyte imbalances, which may trigger painful night-time leg cramps.\u201d<\/p>\n

When travelling: \u201cIf you\u2019re sitting for long periods on a plane or train, make sure you get up and walk up and down the aisle regularly during the flight,\u201d says Mr Mzimbi. \u201cYou can also do some simple exercises while sitting \u2013 eg: ankle circles, heel raises. Wearing compression stockings can also help to reduce swelling.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Don’t suffer in vein frm swollen legs and ankles (Image: Getty) This article contains affiliate links, we will…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":714171,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[51557,236507,19214,59,102,1554,236505,56,54,55,236506],"class_list":["post-714170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-chronic-venous-insufficiency","tag-compression-therapy","tag-foot-health","tag-gb","tag-health","tag-health-section","tag-swollen-feet","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-varicose-veins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=714170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/714171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=714170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=714170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=714170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}