3 Incredibly Obvious Ways to Beat the Heat This Summer

Even 2020 can’t stop the summer heat! This summer appears to be one of the hottest in decades (at least) and is coaxing many people outdoors. While bright sunshine equals fun times for most, we at Alight Chiropractic encourage you to stay safe and consider these painfully obvious tips to avoid overheating while you play!

Cold Shower

We can’t assert whether a cold shower is better than a hot one because they have different effects, but in the dead heat of summer? A cold shower has some great benefits.

Low temperature water decreases your body temperature to cool you down. This is important because prolonged exposure to the sun also increases your body’s internal temperature, which the body works to keep at its optimal temperature (around the 36.5 to 37.5 Celsius). If the body’s temperature goes up, it might result in symptoms such as itchy skin, skin color changes, blemishes, pimples, etc. If you are experiencing itchy skin, cold showers may help by bringing your temperature down to its optimal level.

Cold showers also increase blood circulation. It might sound illogical for circulation to improve in lower temperatures, but once the cold water hits the body, it essentially causes circulation to “constrict” on the surface level. Then, the blood flow increases in speed of circulation into the deeper tissues, all in efforts to maintain the body’s ideal internal temperature. The body works hard, ain’t it?

Lastly, this boost in blood circulation can help reduce inflammation and even help long-term to prevent cardiovascular disease. There are other great benefits as well, including soothing sore muscles, giving the brain a wake up call, and even glowing skin. However, if you have any type of health condition(s), be sure to consult your primary care provider (PCP) before trying this method.

Find Shade

If you have plans to hangout outdoors in hot weather, prepare to avoid getting dehydrated or risk of heat stroke. According to a study from 2018, it said, “Heat stroke is a life-threatening injury requiring neurocritical care, and there have been at least 3,332 deaths attributed to heat stroke from 2006 to 2010 in the USA. Regarding heat stroke, 28-day and 2-year mortality rates have been reported to be 58 and 71%, respectively. In addition, the number of deaths from heat stroke has been reported to increase due to climate change. By the 2050s, heat stroke-related deaths are expected to rise by nearly 2.5 times the current annual baseline of approximately 2000 deaths.” (source, DOI: 10.1186/s40560-018-0298-4.)

When you are outside in direct sunlight for more than 20 minutes, you might feel dizziness or nausea, have blurry vision, have near fainting spells, etc. Generally, there are no warning signs for heatstroke, meaning they usually come on rather suddenly. So if you plan on heading outdoors, be sure to prepare plenty of water, a cap or hat that blocks direct sunlight, and a wet towel to help decrease body temperature.

Avoid an intensive workout outside under hot weather unless there is enough shade in the area. Hiking is a great option in hot weather since hiking trails usually have plenty of shade from trees as well as fresh air. Take cucumber or celery as snacks to eat during the hike, which can supplement your hydration along with adequate water intake. Swimming is another good option; however, if you are headed to an outdoor pool or the beach, take a break every 30 minutes and rest under a shade or canopy to cool down your body temperature.

Hydrate Yourself

Especially in the summer time, we need to drink water even more than we are used to drinking. Your body requires more water intake in high temperatures because water evaporation (ie. sweating) is constant. If there is not enough water retention in the body, you may start to feel dizzy and nauseous due to the lack of oxygen and eventually pass out. This is why hydration is extremely critical.

Water is the best source to keep your body hydrated. If the taste of water bores you, try some fun options such as fruit-infused water. Add lemon or cucumber to your water for a refreshing twist. Lime, basil, and mint are also refreshing flavors to add without additives such as sugar.

If you are a fan of watermelon, you’ll be happy to hear that your body retains nearly 92% of the liquid you ingest from this delicious fruit (way better than fruit juice)! Coconut water also boasts 95% water content and is known to be super hydrating. Just be sure to check the label as some brands add unnecessary ingredients to their product.

Be careful of misleading drinks – some soft drinks often contain caffeine, which is an enemy of hydration, and others contain a lot of sugars and sodium. Beer or alcoholic cocktails are very tempting, especially in the summer time, but alcohol content actually removes water from your tissues. Now you must wondering about coffee. It is not too bad compared to the others above; however it also leads to dehydration because it contains caffeine. So, drink plenty of water if you do drink your iced Americano!

There you have it! 3 obvious tips for staying safe this summer and every summer. Have any more obvious summer safety tips? Share them in the comments below! As always, if you have any questions regarding overall health and wellness, contact us at Alight Chiropractic to learn from the experts!