13 Aug , 15:15
0
Summer Swelling: How Heat and Drinking Habits Affect Our Body
"Improper fluid consumption during the hot season becomes the main cause of swelling for most people. High temperatures expand blood vessels, which slows down blood circulation and causes fluid retention in tissues. The body activates sweating to cool down, but if you drink too little or too much – swelling appears," dermatologist and cosmetologist Galina Amosova told "Gazeta.Ru".
The specialist recommends drinking room temperature water in small portions, but regularly. Green tea, unsweetened fruit drinks, water with lemon or cucumber are effective for removing excess fluid. Watermelon, celery, parsley, and ginger also help when consumed in moderation.
Amosova warns that salty snacks, alcohol, and sweet drinks, including packaged juices, exacerbate the problem by retaining water in the body.
In hot weather, swelling most often appears in areas where fluid accumulates more easily due to gravity and blood flow patterns: on the legs (especially in the ankle and foot area), on the face (mainly under the eyes). Less commonly, hands swell – usually in those who work at a computer for long periods or wear tight jewelry that compresses blood vessels.
The cosmetologist notes that swelling can be intensified by varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, heart and kidney diseases, lymphedema, and hormonal disorders.
How to distinguish normal swelling from pathological? According to Amosova, it's worth paying attention to symmetry – if only one area swells, for example, one leg, this is cause for concern. Alarming signs also include swelling that doesn't subside within 24 hours, spreading to the face and hands, or accompanied by rapid weight gain.
To improve microcirculation and prevent fluid retention, the doctor recommends using lymphatic drainage products containing caffeine, troxerutin, menthol, horse chestnut extract, as well as practicing lymphatic drainage self-massage and contrast washing.
