WAYS TO BE MORE COMFORTABLE DURING SUMMER HEAT

The garment is soaked in cool water for a few minutes before the worker dons the garment and goes out in the heat. These garments harness cooling energy as the water evaporates  and changes from liquid to a gas (evaporation).

The evaporation of the water cools the core body temperature and the individual remains cooler for several hours. True, they won't cool your swollen area directly, but keeping the rest of your body cooler makes a difference to how you feel in the heat.

*** Error: missing image ***

WATER CAN BE WONDERFUL

Precautions:

COOLING GARMENTS

Construction workers in hot climates often wear specialized cooling garments. These garments are made in several layers of light weight layers fabric. Most commonly these are light weight vests, neck scarves, or hats.

The evaporation of the water cools the core body temperature and the individual remains cooler for several hours. True, they won't cool your swollen area directly, but keeping the rest of your body cooler makes a difference to how you feel in the heat.

• • Swimming has multiple benefits for keeping you comfortable, cool, and free of compressions bandages while you are in the water.
  • The hydrostatic pressure of the water replaces the need to wear a compression garments and this cools you and gives you a feeling of freedom in the water.
  • The muscle movement of swimming brings stimulates the movement of the muscles and this encourages the decrease of swelling in the tissues. It is an excellent cooling exercise to stimulate the flow of lymph and reduces the swelling.
  • Skin affected by lymphedema tends to burn every easily. When out of doors, be certain to wear sunscreen.
  • It is important that the water you are swimming in is clean. If the water is contaminated, and you have a break in your skin, you are at increased danger of developing an infection.
  • When you get out of the water, rinse or shower thoroughly and apply sunscreen or moisturizer.
 

To learn more about these types of products visit the Mscooling website (http://www.mscooling.com/) In addition to the garments described here there are also cooling covers to keep you cool at night.

Got a question or comment? Post it in the Living With Lymphedema forum.

Publication: Living With Lymphedema
Updated: 2011-05-25