6 Tips to Stay Healthy in the Heat this Summer

Heat can make life unbearable and summer less enjoyable. Heat can also have dire consequences on your health. That is why it is very important to do things that will make you stay healthy in the heat when there is too much heat in your surroundings.

by Bharat Kothakota , MD MPH

Heat can make life unbearable and summer less enjoyable. Heat can also have dire consequences on your health. That is why it is very important to do things that will make you stay healthy in the heat when there is too much heat in your surroundings. The people who have trouble regulating body temperature e.g. the very young, outdoor workers, the elderly, those suffering from conditions like diabetes and obesity need a lot of care when ere is a lot of heat in their environment. Fortunately, there are many simple things that you do to stay healthy when you are in a hot environment.

Here are tips on how to stay healthy in the heat.

1. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Your body will lose a lot of water through sweat when it's hot. You should replace the water that your body is losing by drinking plenty of water. Under normal environmental circumstances, it is recommended that you drink at least two liters of water on a daily basis. When it is hot and you sweating more than usual, you should increase the amount of water that you take. Keeping yourself well hydrated helps you to ensure that important body processes take place at optimum rates. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, soda and other unhealthy drinks. Stick to water if you want to keep your body healthy.

2. STAY AWAY FROM THE SUN

Try as much as you can to stay away from the sun. Only go out when you don't have a choice. Your body temperature will rise significantly every time you are out in the sun. When you have to go out in the sun, make sure that your wear sunscreen. This will not only help you with the heat, it will also help you avoid the harmful effects of the sun on your skin. During the hot season, you should always wear sunscreen even when you are not exposed directly to the rays of the sun.

3. WEAR LIGHT, LOOSE CLOTHING

Do not wear heavy tight clothing when it is hot outside. Wear light, loose clothing to keep your body cool when it is hot. Light, loose clothing allows your body to lose the heat generated from within easily. You will be a lot more comfortable with light, loose clothing when it's hot.

4. MAKE YOUR HOME A COOL PLACE

Makes your house the coolest place that you can be. Use an energy efficient air condition to cool the air inside your home. You should also reduce heat gain using blinds, shades and curtains. Keep your AC filter clean at all times to prevent the build of dust and other particles that block the flow of air. Do not use your oven in the day if possible. The best time to prepare your food during the hot season is at night. Bake and roast as infrequently as possible to keep the temperature in your home low. Your dishwasher can also generate a lot of heat in your home. That is why it will be best for you to wait until it is truly full before you decide to run it.

5. KEEP YOUR BELLY COOL WITH SMALLER MEALS

Eating lager meals when it's hot will your body temperature go up. Thing will be worse if the heavy food that you are eating is hot. Eat less of the heavy stuff if you want to keep your body cool. Every time you overload your body with food, you force it to work harder to digest it. This is what lead to the increase in body temperature. Salad and fresh fruits should be your foods of choice when it's hot. These foods do not require a lot of digestive effort. Veggies and fruits also contain a lot of fluid that further helps to cool you down.

6. DON'T DO A LOT OF OUTDOOR EXERCISES

Exercising is important because it helps to keep the body healthy. However, you should not work out outside when it's hot. In fact, you should reduce the intensity of your workouts when it is very hot. Reducing the intensity of your exercise will help to reduce the amount of heat that your body generates when you work out. Work out indoors, in cool areas. This will help you keep your body temperature within the limits that are not dangerous.