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Close-up of an elderly person's hand and feet. The person is putting on black shoes. Their feet and ankles are swollen.

Why do my feet swell in the heat?

It’s a hot day, and your shoes suddenly feel way too tight. Sound 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.

Close up image of a persons feet, the person is holding onto their ankles

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, 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.

Human need image showing higher levels of pain and swelling

Why do my feet swell when others don’t?

Like most conditions, there are several individual risk factors that can make you more susceptible to feet swelling in the heat. These include:

  • Existing medical conditions

    Some medical conditions, including diabetes, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and conditions of the lymph nodes, kidneys or circulatory system can make a person more vulnerable to swelling in the feet and ankles.

  • Being older

    Older adults are more at risk of heat swelling due to natural changes in the circulatory system as we grow older.

  • Existing medical conditions

    Some medical conditions, including diabetes, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and conditions of the lymph nodes, kidneys or circulatory system can make a person more vulnerable to swelling in the feet and ankles.

Image of three devices, medic coach, prohealth and medic

Which Revitive is best for relieving my swelling and discomfort? 

Discover if Revitive could be the ideal solution for you with our 60-second quiz. 

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What else can I do about heat oedema?

Heat oedema often goes away on its own, but it can result in ulcers, infection, and difficulty walking. Here’s what you can do to help:

  • Stay active
    You may want to simply sit in hot weather, but remaining stationary for long periods is a major contributor to swollen feet and ankles. Get up and walk around every so often to keep your circulation moving. Intense exercise can contribute to swelling when it’s hot, so gentle activity like walking or swimming is best.
    Two females in casual wear walking along a path, engaging in conversation
  • Drink more water
    When temperatures rise, so should your water intake. This might sound confusing - surely you need less fluid, not more? But dehydration increases the concentration of salt in your blood, causing swelling. Try to drink several glasses of plain water a day.
    Image of a person holding a water bottle
  • Elevate your feet
    If you notice swelling start to happen, prop your feet up to help your heart pump fluids away from your lower legs. Elevate your feet higher than your heart 3 or 4 times a day, for 30 minutes each time. While sleeping, you can prop your feet up on a pillow for extra benefit.
    Image showing someone elevating their leg with a pillow
  • Adjust your diet
    Avoid salty, highly processed foods such as shop-bought sauces and soups, crisps and smoked meats and choose low sodium alternatives when using seasoning at home. Try to eat more foods that act as natural diuretics, helping eliminate excess fluids in the body - good sources are green and leafy greens, celery, pineapple, lemons, onions and garlic.
    Image of a woman eating a bowl of healthy food
  • Massage your feet
    Boost your circulation by massaging your feet and ankles - or asking a friend or loved one to do it for you. Massage feet towards the heart with firm strokes and some pressure - it can help move fluid away from the area and reduce swelling.
    Close up image of a person holding the bottom of their foot
  • Wear comfy shoes and clothes
    Cramming your swollen feet into uncomfortable clothes and shoes won’t help your oedema and will cause discomfort. Choose clothes and socks that aren’t tight, and wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole.
    Individual standing on a tree lined pathway, facing away from camera wearing jeans and a pair of white trainers
  • Use Revitive Circulation Booster
    - our range of medical devices are clinically proven to boost circulation in the legs and feet.
    Medic in use image, woman sat in her living room with her feet on the device
  • Stay active
    You may want to simply sit in hot weather, but remaining stationary for long periods is a major contributor to swollen feet and ankles. Get up and walk around every so often to keep your circulation moving. Intense exercise can contribute to swelling when it’s hot, so gentle activity like walking or swimming is best.
    Two females in casual wear walking along a path, engaging in conversation
  • Stay active
    You may want to simply sit in hot weather, but remaining stationary for long periods is a major contributor to swollen feet and ankles. Get up and walk around every so often to keep your circulation moving. Intense exercise can contribute to swelling when it’s hot, so gentle activity like walking or swimming is best.
    Two females in casual wear walking along a path, engaging in conversation
  • Drink more water
    When temperatures rise, so should your water intake. This might sound confusing - surely you need less fluid, not more? But dehydration increases the concentration of salt in your blood, causing swelling. Try to drink several glasses of plain water a day.
    Image of a person holding a water bottle
  • Elevate your feet
    If you notice swelling start to happen, prop your feet up to help your heart pump fluids away from your lower legs. Elevate your feet higher than your heart 3 or 4 times a day, for 30 minutes each time. While sleeping, you can prop your feet up on a pillow for extra benefit.
    Image showing someone elevating their leg with a pillow
  • Adjust your diet
    Avoid salty, highly processed foods such as shop-bought sauces and soups, crisps and smoked meats and choose low sodium alternatives when using seasoning at home. Try to eat more foods that act as natural diuretics, helping eliminate excess fluids in the body - good sources are green and leafy greens, celery, pineapple, lemons, onions and garlic.
    Image of a woman eating a bowl of healthy food
  • Massage your feet
    Boost your circulation by massaging your feet and ankles - or asking a friend or loved one to do it for you. Massage feet towards the heart with firm strokes and some pressure - it can help move fluid away from the area and reduce swelling.
    Close up image of a person holding the bottom of their foot
  • Wear comfy shoes and clothes
    Cramming your swollen feet into uncomfortable clothes and shoes won’t help your oedema and will cause discomfort. Choose clothes and socks that aren’t tight, and wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole.
    Individual standing on a tree lined pathway, facing away from camera wearing jeans and a pair of white trainers
  • Use Revitive Circulation Booster
    - our range of medical devices are clinically proven to boost circulation in the legs and feet.
    Medic in use image, woman sat in her living room with her feet on the device
  • Stay active
    You may want to simply sit in hot weather, but remaining stationary for long periods is a major contributor to swollen feet and ankles. Get up and walk around every so often to keep your circulation moving. Intense exercise can contribute to swelling when it’s hot, so gentle activity like walking or swimming is best.
    Two females in casual wear walking along a path, engaging in conversation
two images one of David and the other of a person with their feet on a medic coach device

What our customers say:

"Being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and being quite sedentary means swelling is part and parcel of what I have. The Medic Coach has given me the reassurance that my ankles aren't going to be hugely swollen at the end of the day!"

David, Diabetes sufferer 

Customer stories

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