Compression Socks the Gold Standard for Foot & Ankle Edema: MD Podiatrist

If you’ve noticed that whenever the temperature starts to rise, so does the swelling in your feet and ankles, then you should know that you’re not alone. Dan Michaels, DPM states that heat affects circulation and fluid balance in the body, which is the main reason why lower extremity swelling is more common in hot weather. “Heat dilates blood vessels, especially in your extremities like your feet and ankles, which causes more blood to [pool] into those areas, and that can lead to fluid from your blood leaking into the surrounding tissue of your vessels,” Dr. Michaels said. 

Dr. Michaels noted that the body’s tendency to retain water in warm temperatures to avoid dehydration and regulate its internal temperature can also contribute to foot and ankle puffiness. “Gravity adds to this problem, because obviously our feet are the lowest points of our body [and] gravity will naturally draw fluid downward, and into our feet and ankles,” Dr. Michaels added. He called compression socks “the gold standard” when it comes to managing foot and ankle swelling, but also acknowledged that in the summertime, they might not be the most comfortable thing to wear.