Summer, Sun, Heat

Summer is coming and with it the great heat. What can we do to protect ourselves, and what helps when the circulation nevertheless gives out? How do you get through a car ride in the summer heat unscathed? In hot weather, the body dilates the blood vessels in the skin and produces more sweat. If the sweat evaporates on the surface of the skin, this cools the skin and helps to keep the body temperature constant despite the heat. However, under extreme conditions, especially in sweltering hot weather, this cooling system can become overloaded, leading to health problems.

Heat as a burden on the body

High temperatures and humidity, low air movement and heat trigger heat stress in the body. Unsuitable clothing, lack of fluids, and the intensity and duration of physical activities further intensify the stress. This leads to regulatory disorders, i.e. the body suffers from fluid loss and heat accumulation. Elderly people, patients with cardiovascular diseases or people with weak veins are particularly at risk.

Since our bodies consist of 60 percent water, supplementing heat-related fluid loss by consuming at least 1.5 liters daily is vital. On hot summer days, however, the body may well need three to four times that amount.

Signs of heat stress

  • Exhaustion, nausea
  • Weak circulation (circulatory weakness)
  • Aggressiveness
  • Drowsiness and apathy
  • Headache and dizziness

Driving in the summer heat

Driving a car in the heat is particularly stressful for the body. Temperatures up to 70 ° C inside the vehicle are not uncommon. Under heat stress, the heart rate increases, there is premature fatigue and drowsiness and thus prolonged reaction times. As a result, the frequency of accidents increases by 20 percent in hot weather.

If you are going on a long drive in the summer, you should therefore take short breaks more often and ventilate the car well. To keep your circulation going, you should take enough drinks with you on your drive to keep yourself sufficiently hydrated (water).

What can you do? What helps in the heat?

These 8 tips will help you cope better with the summer heat:

  1. Drink plenty of fluids. Normally we need about two liters of fluid per day; but on hot days it can be quite three to four liters of water.
  2. Eat light meals! Hard to digest, fatty or lush meals are heavy in the stomach and put additional strain on the circulation. Therefore, eat rather salad or fruit instead of roast.
  3. Replace salt and minerals! When we sweat a lot, our body also loses important minerals and trace elements. These can be replaced again by mineral drinks.
  4. Airy clothing: For the summer, light, airy clothing made of natural fibers is recommended. This helps to avoid heat accumulation in the body. In direct sunlight, especially children should wear headgear.
  5. Avoid overexertion! Do not put additional strain on your circulation through heavy physical work or sports. Because any physical exertion increases the energy turnover and thus the body heat that the body must give off to the environment. It is better to do sports in the early morning hours or in the evening.
  6. Lock out the heat during the day: it is best to ventilate your home well in the morning and evening and close shutters and blinds during the day.
  7. Quick cooling: If it should not go at all, you can run cold water over the inside of the wrists for quick cooling in the summer or even better take a cold forearm and foot bath. Through the cold stimulus, the vessels are tightened at least for a short time – the circulation is strengthened again.
  8. Avoid alcohol: After alcohol consumption, the vessels in the body are additionally placed even further than they already are, which means that even less blood is available to the circulation. In addition, fluid excretion via the kidneys is stimulated – the body loses even more fluid and minerals. Therefore, you better refrain from alcoholic beverages during the hot days.