Escaping from the Heat: How to Survive the Heat
For many, the summer heat is not a reason for joy, but a real test. Experts will tell you how to survive the heat without harming your health.
The beginning of summer really brings a lot of joy - it is the time for vacations and long holidays; the opportunity to enjoy walks, swim, sunbathe, enjoy fresh fruit and ice cream. But, unfortunately, summer has not only pleasant surprises in store.
"High air temperature is stressful for human health, especially for people with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. On hot days, there is also a risk of getting sunstroke and heatstroke, which in severe cases can lead to stroke or death. In mild cases, patients experience fatigue, nausea, dizziness, strong heartbeat and muscle weakness," says neurologist Natalia Shindryaeva.
What to do
The question arises: how to make the three summer months as comfortable as possible? Therapist and chief physician of the Detox clinic Artem Merinov notes: "The first piece of advice here is extremely simple: to survive the heat, you need to drink as much water as possible. The thing is that high temperatures and, as a result, increased sweating contribute to dehydration. The amount of liquid that needs to be consumed per day is calculated based on weight and ambient temperature.
Doctors also advise not to overuse the air conditioner in the apartment. It seems like an ideal companion on a hot day, but in fact it can cause cooling and illness. Therefore, doctors advise buying additional means to "drive away" the sun: dark curtains or a special film that will reflect the rays." Natalya Shindryaeva also suggests a way to maintain an optimal temperature in the house: "On hot sunny days, you should give up dark clothes in favor of lighter and lighter ones. Don't forget to drink clean water. This way you will be able to control the necessary balance of water in the body, and it will also be much easier to tolerate the heat. During the day, you should close the doors and windows, and in the evening, on the contrary, open them for ventilation. Thanks to this, a comfortable temperature will be maintained in the room."
Who should not
I know that people with health problems are especially sensitive to the summer. They should be careful about being outside in hot weather. Artem Merinov says: "Despite the hot weather, it is worth going for a walk. The ideal time is either early morning (5-6 am) or evening (8-9 am). This way you can enjoy both the coolness and physical activity.
And who should not go out in hot weather? In general, doctors do not recommend most people to go out in hot weather, especially without a bottle of cool water. But this can be a particularly serious problem for people with high blood pressure. Pressure surges associated with weather changes can harm a person's heart.
People suffering from diabetes, cystic fibrosis or scleroderma should not go out on a hot day. In this case, the human body does not cool down, so he may feel unwell in the heat."
"In case of decompensation of chronic diseases, try not to go outside during the daytime. Choose either evening or morning walks. If you take medications on a regular basis, you should consult with your doctor. It may be necessary to adjust your treatment. Also, do not forget to take prescribed medications on time.
If you feel dizzy and unwell in the sun, you should immediately go into the shade, drink cool water, wipe your body with a damp towel and wash your face with cool water," adds Natalia Shindryaeva.