Ankle swelling because of water and salt?

latke · Post by **latke** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:44 am

Last year, my lower legs ached all through Burning Man, even when I wasn't walking on them. Someone told me this might be because your lower legs swell when you drink too much water and combine it with too much salt.

How can I avoid this in the future? I need to drink lots of water and eat lots of salt, right?

Thanks for any words of wisdom!

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:17 am

I'd say it was just the opposite - although I'm not a doctor or a medic. Soreness and cramping is ont of the first things that cues me that I'm probably not drinking enough water.

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:33 am

My hands swell in the heat, a sure sign I'm not hydrated enough. Water retention, good sign of dehydration; I had a friend who refused to drink water when she dieted because it made her puffy. Idiot.

Also, leg cramps can be from a lack of potassium, be sure you're getting enough vitamins from your diet or a balanced supplement. That said, Larry had ankle swelling (not playa related) which we were pretty sure was linked to real licorice. Really.

Although it is possible to drink too much water, it is difficult to do so.

Anti m

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:01 am

You might want to lighten up on the salt. What you are describing sounds like edema (dropsey to my grandmother). The US Army had a problem with this 30-40 years ago, they would hand out salt tabs all over the place yell at the guys to take them, provide lots of water and then watch as they swelled out of their boots.

Edema Causes and symptoms

Many ordinary factors can upset the balance of fluid in the body to cause edema, including:

* Immobility. The leg muscles normally contract and compress blood vessels to promote blood flow with walking or running. When these muscles are not used, blood can collect in the veins, making it difficult for fluid to move from tissues back into the vessels.
* Heat. Warm temperatures cause the blood vessels to expand, making it easier for fluid to cross into surrounding tissues. High humidity also aggravates this situation.
* Medications. Certain drugs, such as steroids, hormone replacements, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and some blood pressure medications may affect how fast fluid leaves blood vessels.
* Intake of salty foods. The body needs a constant concentration of salt in its tissues. When excess salt is taken in, the body dilutes it by retaining fluid.
* Menstruation and pregnancy. The changing levels of hormones affect the rate at which fluid enters and leaves the tissues.

Angeleena · Post by **Angeleena** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:39 pm

Oh, I feel for swollen leg syndrome! If I'm not careful, my ankles end up looking like a solution for drought all summer long.

This is my first year at Burning Man, but I spent most of last summer training for a marathon in the heat. I found that I had to drink a lot of water as soon as I woke up, make sure to get 20-30 minutes of sustained activity if I wasn't running (walking when the weather is unbearable), lay off the salt, and to eat watermelon. I know that watermelon has a slight diuretic effect, but when combined with enough water it seems to help my body process in the heat. I've added watermelon to my "must haves" for the pack list. I'm going to cut it up, put it in tupperware, and have it during the heat of the day with a bunch of water.

mmmm, watermelon...

Icepack · Post by **Icepack** » Sat Jul 03, 2004 10:53 am

Last year my fingers swelled. I drank lots of water, and I thought I was eating enough salt. I don't like Gatorade so I was relying on salty snacks (trail mix and potato chips). Now I don't know if I was eating enough salt or not. My fingers swelled so much I had to take off my wedding ring and wear it on a chain around my neck. I plan to do the same thing this year. It might have been water, or altitude change, I'm not sure which.