Trying to stay cool in the heat can seem like tough work. As temperatures soar across the UK, it's important to do everything you can to try and keep your body healthy.
With temperatures expected to near 40C in the coming days, you may find the heat makes you feel a little strange. Symptoms such as headache, nausea and cramp could be signs that you're suffering from heat exhaustion.
But sometimes our bodies are affected in different ways too. Have you ever noticed your shoes feeling a little tighter in the height of summer? Or perhaps you struggle to take the rings off your fingers after a long day in the sun?
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If that sounds familiar, you'll know that the heat can make your ankles and fingers swell up, which can be rather uncomfortable. But why does it happen?
According to Dr Bryony Henderson, lead GP at digital healthcare provider Livi, it's one of the ways our bodies try to cool us down in the heat. She explains that ankles and fingers may feel swollen in the heat "because the blood vessels in our bodies expand to send more blood to the skin to cool down the body”. This can cause fluid retention which may result in your ankles looking larger than usual.
If your ankles feel swollen in the heat, you should raise them up higher than your heart to ease the swelling. It's also important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water as this will ensure your salt levels are not too high.
You should also avoid sitting or standing in the same place for too long. Usually, the swelling will go down on its own once your body has cooled down.
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