Skip to Content
View Additional Content In This Section
It is not uncommon for the feet or hands to become swollen when a person sits or stands for a long time in a hot environment. This swelling is called heat edema.
Heat causes the
blood vessels to expand (dilate), so body fluid moves into the hands or legs by
The balance of salt in the body is also a risk factor for heat edema.
If salt loss is less than normal, the increased salt level draws fluid into the
hands and legs.
Older adults have an increased risk of heat edema, especially if they
have other medical conditions that affect their circulation.
People visiting hot climates from colder climates may also have an
increased risk of heat edema.
Current as of:
November 14, 2014
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2015 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.