Published on: 4/7/2025
Your legs may feel hot because your body sends extra blood flow to them, or because the nerves in your legs sense heat differently compared to the rest of your body.
Sometimes, even when your body seems cool, your legs can feel hot due to changes in how your body controls temperature. Your legs might get extra blood to help cool your body during warm conditions, which can make them feel warmer than other areas. This extra blood makes the skin of your legs feel warm even if other parts of your body are not as warm. Another possibility is that the nerves in your legs may pick up and send different signals about temperature compared to your torso. In some cases, if you have been sitting or standing in one position for a while, the way blood flows in your legs can change, leading to a warmer sensation. These differences in blood flow and nerve signals are natural ways for your body to manage heat, and they sometimes work differently in different parts of your body. If you are ever worried or notice other symptoms, it is a good idea to talk with a doctor who can help explain what is happening with your body.
(References)
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Alkemade P, Eijsvogels TMH, Janssen TWJ, Jansen KMB, Kingma BRM, Daanen HAM. Upper-Body versus Lower-Body Cooling in Individuals with Paraplegia during Arm-Crank Exercise in the Heat. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 Nov 1;55(11):2014-2024. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003244. Epub 2023 Jun 30. PMID: 37418241; PMCID: PMC10581408.
Pham DD, Lee J, Kim G, Song J, Kim J, Leem CH. Relationship of the Cold-Heat Sensation of the Limbs and Abdomen with Physiological Biomarkers. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:2718051. doi: 10.1155/2016/2718051. Epub 2016 Oct 12. PMID: 27818698; PMCID: PMC5080491.
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