The summer of 2018 will be remembered for many things and as it draws to a close, there is one overriding factor that will dominate the thoughts of most: the global heatwave. Few countries have been spared the wrath of some of the hottest, driest weather in years, and much has been said about the toll this period of extreme weather has taken on all aspects of life.
On a personal level, you may have found the heatwave stifling, unremitting, and downright bad for your health. I love the heat and even exercise in it, but I even have limits. No matter how much you love the summer months, the lack of rainfall, and persistent heat and humidity has been extremely challenging.
Coping With The Heat
There are no immediate signs of relief on the horizon from the heat. As a result, it seems pertinent to put together a guide to coping with the health conditions that heat waves can cause, so you can feel as good as possible until summer finally begins to give way to fall…
Headaches
During a heatwave, you will sweat more. As well as being unpleasant to experience, this can also mean that you dehydrate far quicker than normal. As a result, you will need to drink more water; you may also want to consider adding salt and lemon for an extra hydration boost.
It may also be worth considering reducing your fitness efforts during a heatwave, as sweating even more is unhelpful when dehydration is already an issue. Opt for gentle exercise such as yoga until the heatwave finally breaks. At that point, you can return to your standard routine.
Daytime Tiredness
First and foremost, it is important to note that tiredness is also a symptom of dehydration. So you will want to increase your water and salt intake to see if this helps the issue.
Secondly, heat in and of itself is tiring, and the most simple remedy is to keep cool. However, this is complicated by the fact that many people struggle to sleep at night when it’s overly warm and humid. This may contribute to daytime tiredness. If you suspect these issues may be causing your tiredness, then a few household changes can rectify the problem:
- Swap your mattress for a mattress that is specifically designed to prevent heat trapping; there are plenty more details at Mattress Guides regarding the options that may be suitable for this.
- Consider air conditioning, or, at the very least, build a ‘swamp cooler’; Instructables have a great guide to constructing one of these.
Breathing Issues
If you have a pre-existing lung condition such as asthma or COPD, then speak with a medical professional if you experience an increase in symptoms during a heatwave.
Even if you do not have a known lung condition, you may still experience shortness of breath. A ‘tight’ feeling in your chest due to the heat may also occur. A number of theories – such as air pressure changes – have been posited for the cause of this issue. Your response should be the same regardless: speak with a doctor. While the heat alone may be the cause, it’s still worth getting checked out, just to be sure.
The Gist of it
If, as expected, the global heat wave continues, keeping the above points in mind can help you to keep…well…probably not cool, but feeling as healthy as you possibly can given the circumstances. However, if you experience any of the symptoms above for a prolonged period of time, please do speak with a doctor for further advice.
What heat wave advice to have to keep you feeling good?
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