Heat edema is swelling of the extremities caused by exposure to high temperatures. It is not dangerous but can be a sign of heat-related illnesses. Treatment involves cooling down and elevating the affected area. Acclimating slowly to heat can prevent heat edema. Heatstroke requires immediate medical attention.
Heat edema is swelling of the extremities associated with exposure to high temperatures. It most commonly occurs during a heat wave, when the temperature is unusually high, or when someone used to a cool or temperate climate visits a warm one. This condition itself isn’t dangerous, but it can be a sign that a person may be at risk for a more serious heat-related illness, such as heatstroke. There are a number of measures people can use to prevent and deal with heat edema.
This condition occurs when the body begins to retain water and has difficulty expelling salt. It is believed to be linked to an increase in the hormone aldosterone. Heat edema can occur after a day or more in unusually hot weather, or it can develop more quickly in people who work outdoors or are engaged in strenuous physical activity.
People usually notice that rings and other jewelry feel tight. Heat edema is often accompanied by facial flushing. Clothing may be restrictive, the patient usually perspires, and generally feels hot and uncomfortable.
Immediate treatment for heat edema involves getting the patient to a cool place, providing cold liquids to drink, and elevating the extremities to reduce swelling. Edema can resolve very quickly in a place like an air-conditioned building, helping the patient feel more comfortable. This will also prevent heatstroke and more serious heat-related illnesses.
Allowing people to acclimate slowly to the effects of heat can reduce the risk of developing heat oedema. If the weather is hot, people should try to spend time in cool places and should work or engage in physical activity in bursts, and not during the hottest part of the day, to give their bodies a chance to adjust. People traveling in a hot climate should bring layers of clothing so they can dress for the heat and should make sure they have access to a cool place to rest if they start to feel too hot.
If the weather is hot and someone reports feeling lightheaded or confused, slurring or stumbling, or behaving abnormally in other ways, that person should be taken to a hospital for heat stroke treatment. Heatstroke can come on very suddenly, and people have varying degrees of sensitivity to heat. Therefore, some people may be fine in certain temperatures, while others may be at risk for heat stroke.
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