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At the end of a hot summer day, all that's left to do is put your feet up. Good news: this is not the only thing you can do if your legs are heavy.
The summer heat puts a strain on the body. You may be one of those whose legs and feet swell and feel heavy when it's hot. How does this happen? “With heat, the body’s blood vessels dilate,” explains Leila Bruno, pharmacist in Marseille. Blood circulation slows down, veins lose their elasticity. This allows fluids to flow into the feet and legs. Since the return through the veins does not work as well, they then swell.
“Women are more affected than men,” explains Bruno. This is because they have weaker connective tissue. The veins are less well supported in the event of persistent heat. If your swollen legs and feet are recurring, it is best to seek the cause from a doctor. Indeed, the disorders can also be a sign of serious diseases of the heart, liver or kidneys.
If you only experience heavy legs and feet from time to time in summer, these tips may help:
7 tips, from movement to shoes
Tip 1: Incorporate physical exercise – even during office work
“People often don’t move enough,” explains naturopath René Graber. The heat in particular causes many people not to move so as not to sweat more. Still, movement stimulates blood circulation in the body, which can improve the feeling of the legs.
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