What Could Cause My Legs to Feel Hot and Heavy?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Your legs feeling hot and heavy may be from changes in blood flow that cause extra blood to pool in your legs, making them feel warm and tired.

Explanation

When your legs feel hot and heavy, it could be because your blood is not flowing back to your heart as fast as it should. Sometimes, when you sit or stand for a long time, blood can pool in your legs. This extra blood can make your legs feel warm and heavy. Studies that look at blood flow during heat stress also show that your legs can get warmer when more blood is sent there to help cool you down. In addition, early stages of problems with your veins, called chronic venous disorder, can slow the return of blood from your legs. This may be another reason why they feel heavy or swollen along with the heat. If your legs keep feeling hot and heavy, or if you notice pain or swelling, it is a good idea to talk with a healthcare provider. They can check your blood flow and give you advice on how to feel better.

(References)

Chiesa ST, Trangmar SJ, González-Alonso J. Temperature and blood flow distribution in the human leg during passive heat stress. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016 May 1;120(9):1047-58. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00965.2015. Epub 2016 Jan 28. PMID: 26823344; PMCID: PMC4894946.
Yang DH, Kim M, Yang JW, Cho JM, Park SJ, Kwon HD. Early-stage chronic venous disorder as a cause of leg pain overlooked for lumbar spinal disease. Sci Rep. 2023 Oct 25;13(1):18303. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-45623-0. PMID: 37880332; PMCID: PMC10600168.
Okino K, Aoki M, Yamane M, Kataoka Y, Nitta A, Kohmura C. Prolonged Sitting Causes Leg Discomfort in Middle Aged Adults: Evaluation of Shear Wave Velocity, Calf Circumference, and Discomfort Questionaries. J Clin Med. 2022 Jul 12;11(14):4024. doi: 10.3390/jcm11144024. PMID: 35887787; PMCID: PMC9320137.
Grinnell M, Keyes E, Wat M, Elenitsas R, Diaz D, Vazquez T, Werth VP. Erythromelalgia associated with dermatomyositis: A case series. JAAD Case Rep. 2021 Aug 18;16:37-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2021.07.035. PMID: 34522744; PMCID: PMC8426183.

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