Coping With Lymphedema in The Hot Summer Months
Summer is the best time of the year for many people. But if you have lymphedema, it can easily become your most despised season. This is especially true if you live in an area with extreme hot summers where the heat can cause discomfort and swelling. While you can’t control the weather, you can definitely do something about improving your safety and comfort despite the heat and humidity. Having the right lymphedema products can help. Can hot weather affect lymphedema? Understanding the basics of the lymphatic system will help you understand how to avoid swelling. It will also help you identify which arm compression sleeves and other products you can use to prevent discomfort during the summer months. Your lymphatic system is part of your immune system and it is responsible for pumping fluid and waste throughout the body. Interruptions to that process could cause the flow of fluid to slow down or accumulate, which causes swelling. Extreme hot and cold temperatures can often slow down the pumping process. Heat makes blood vessels expand, which increases the amount of fluid moving out of the blood vessels into your tissues. When your lymphatic system isn’t working inefficiently, the excess fluid can’t find its way back to the system, and swelling can occur.