If your lymphedema seems more noticeable when the temperature climbs, you’re not imagining it.
Hot weather can make swelling feel heavier, tighter, or simply more uncomfortable. And during an extreme heat wave, those changes may be even more noticeable.
The National Cancer Institute notes that high temperatures can make lymphedema worse, while Memorial Sloan Kettering recommends avoiding or limiting exposure to extreme temperatures because they may increase swelling.
So why does this happen, and what can you do when staying cool feels nearly impossible?
Why Heat Can Increase Swelling
When your body gets hot, your blood vessels expand in a process called vasodilation. This helps your body release heat, but it also increases blood flow closer to the surface of the skin.
More fluid can then move from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues.
Normally, the lymphatic system helps collect that excess fluid and return it to circulation. But when lymphatic drainage is already impaired, that additional fluid can be harder for the body to manage.
The result may be more noticeable swelling, heaviness, tightness, or aching in an affected arm, leg, or other area.
This doesn’t necessarily mean your lymphedema has permanently progressed. Sometimes heat simply causes a temporary increase in symptoms.
Extreme Heat Can Be Especially Challenging
A typical warm summer day is one thing.
Several days of temperatures hovering near or above 100 degrees can be something else entirely.
During prolonged heat waves, you may spend more time dealing with factors that can contribute to swelling:
- heat exposure
- less physical activity because it’s uncomfortable or unsafe outside
- prolonged sitting indoors
- increased sweating
- changes in how compression garments feel against the skin
If your usual lymphedema-management routine suddenly doesn’t seem quite as effective during a heat wave, the weather may be part of the reason.
Keep Moving Without Overdoing the Heat
Movement is important for the lymphatic system because muscle contractions help move lymphatic fluid through the body.
That doesn’t mean you need to go for a power walk at 3 p.m. when the heat index is dangerously high.
Instead, adjust your routine.
You might walk early in the morning, exercise indoors, take short movement breaks throughout the day, or perform the exercises recommended by your lymphedema therapist.
Even simple movements such as ankle pumps, gentle arm movements, or walking around the house can help keep you from sitting in one position for hours.
What About Compression Garments?
If compression is already part of your lymphedema treatment plan, you may notice that wearing it in hot, humid weather is less than pleasant.
Sweat, heat, and tight fabric aren’t exactly a winning combination.
But this isn’t usually a good time to stop using prescribed compression on your own.
Talk with your Certified Lymphedema Therapist if heat is making your compression difficult to tolerate. They may be able to help you adjust your routine, determine whether your current garment still fits correctly, or discuss options that may be more comfortable during hot weather.
Be Careful with Saunas, Hot Tubs, and Heating Pads
If the outdoor temperature is already making your swelling worse, intentionally adding more heat may not help.
Memorial Sloan Kettering recommends limiting time in hot tubs and saunas for people with lymphedema because extreme heat may contribute to increased swelling. Mayo Clinic also advises against using heating pads on an affected limb.
That doesn’t mean every warm shower is suddenly forbidden.
It does mean prolonged or intense heat exposure is something worth being cautious about, particularly if you already know heat tends to aggravate your symptoms.
Don’t Forget About Your Skin
Heat brings another challenge: sweat.
Moisture trapped beneath compression garments or in skin folds can cause irritation, and irritated or damaged skin can increase the risk of infection.
Skin care is especially important for people with lymphedema.
Keep your skin clean and moisturized, change out of damp clothing when possible, and pay attention to areas that are rubbing or becoming irritated.
Sunburns, insect bites, cuts, and scratches are also worth avoiding when you can. Memorial Sloan Kettering recommends sunscreen and insect repellent as part of skin protection for people with or at risk for lymphedema.
Is It the Heat, or Is Something Else Going On?
If you already know that your swelling tends to increase during hot weather, a mild change may not be surprising.
But not every increase in swelling should automatically be blamed on the temperature.
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience a sudden or significant change in swelling, especially if it is accompanied by redness, unusual warmth, pain, fever, or other symptoms that aren’t normal for you.
Redness and heat in an area affected by lymphedema can sometimes be signs of cellulitis, a skin infection that requires medical attention.
It is always better to have an unusual change evaluated than to assume it’s simply because it’s hot outside.
You Don’t Have to Spend the Entire Summer Indoors
Living with lymphedema doesn’t mean you have to avoid summer altogether.
It may simply require making some adjustments.
Choose cooler times of day for outdoor activities. Take breaks in air-conditioned spaces. Continue the movement and compression strategies recommended by your healthcare team. Protect your skin. And pay attention to how your body responds when temperatures climb.
Your lymphedema may feel different in August than it does in January, and that’s useful information.
If you’ve noticed that your swelling has become harder to manage during hot weather, a Certified Lymphedema Therapist can also help assess what you’re experiencing and discuss ways to support your existing lymphedema-management plan.
At The Supine Studio, we provide Manual Lymphatic Drainage and specialized care for people living with lymphedema, post-surgical swelling, and other lymphatic concerns.
Has the summer heat left you feeling more swollen than usual? Schedule an appointment with The Supine Studio and give your lymphatic system a little extra support.