The July heat in Austin can be downright brutal—and if you have varicose veins, that heat may be doing more than just making you uncomfortable. You may notice that your legs feel heavier, more painful, or more swollen when temperatures rise. You’re not imagining it. Hot weather really can make varicose veins worse, and there are some clear reasons why.
At South Austin Vein Center, board-certified and fellowship-trained vein expert Dr. Michael Di Iorio regularly helps people who struggle with worsening vein symptoms in the summer. He’s a highly respected varicose vein specialist who helped create clinical treatment guidelines for varicose veins and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Vein and Lymphatic Society. His expertise particularly shines at this time of year, when an increasing number of patients experience worsening symptoms of vein disease.
Let’s break down exactly how Texas heat affects your veins.
When it’s hot, your body sends more blood to the skin’s surface to help you cool down. This causes your veins to widen and increases internal pressure. If your veins are already weakened or damaged (as with varicose veins), they can’t handle this extra pressure. The result? Increased bulging, swelling, and discomfort like burning, heaviness, or throbbing.
Let’s be honest: when it’s scorching outside, you probably don’t feel like exercising as much. But staying active helps your veins push blood back toward your heart, where it’s recirculated. When you sit still for too long, blood collects in your lower legs, making varicose veins worse.
Being sedentary, especially in hot weather, creates the perfect storm for swelling and pressure to build up in your veins.
When it’s hot outside, you sweat more. Your nervous system signals the sweat glands to release sweat. The sweat then evaporates from the surface of your skin, helping you flush heat out and cool down.
But, when you sweat, you lose fluid—and many people don’t drink enough water to make up for it. This can lead to dehydration, in which your blood slightly thickens and makes it even harder for your veins to do their job.
Dehydration can also lead to muscle cramps and increased leg fatigue, both of which are common complaints in people with varicose veins during hot months.
If summer makes your vein symptoms worse, now’s the time to do something about it. Dr. Di Iorio offers advanced, minimally invasive treatments to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and enhance the appearance and function of your legs with little to no downtime. Call South Austin Vein Center at 512-614-1025 to schedule your consultation today.
