If you’ve noticed that whenever the temperature starts to rise, so does the swelling in your feet and ankles, then you should know that you’re not alone.
Dr. Pegah Panirian, a podiatrist at The Feet Institute of Los Angeles, told HuffPost in an email correspondence that heat affects circulation and fluid balance in the body, which is the main reason why lower extremity swelling is more common in hot weather.
“Heat dilates blood vessels, especially in your extremities like your feet and ankles, which causes more blood to [pool] into those areas, and that can lead to fluid from your blood leaking into the surrounding tissue of your vessels,” Panirian said.
She noted that the body’s tendency to retain water in warm temperatures to avoid dehydration and regulate its internal temperature can also contribute to foot and ankle puffiness.
“Gravity adds to this problem, because obviously our feet are the lowest points of our body [and] gravity will naturally draw fluid downward, and into our feet and ankles,” Panirian added.
