How to Cool Down When It ’ s Really Hot Outside

Temperatures are climbing around the globe. Record heat has been cooking large swaths of the U.S. as well as Europe and China, and the hottest part of summer is still ahead. For most people, that means much more time spent as a sweaty, sticky mess. “We’re seeing the hottest summers in recorded history, multiple years in a row,” says Dr. Grant Lipman, an emergency physician and founder of the Global Outdoor Emergency Support (GOES) Health app. “This is an issue for all different demographics and walks of life.” [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Being really hot can be unpleasant and irritating; research has linked high temperatures to aggression and violence, as well as worse life satisfaction. It can also be dangerous: Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the U.S. each year, claiming about 158 lives per year nationwide over the past 30 years. Here’s what to know about why the heat bothers some people more than others, and the most effective ways to cool down fast. How the body regulates heat The human body regulates heat in a few different ways: by vaporization (in other words, sweating); radiation, or releasing heat into the surrounding air; convection, which occurs when you’re enveloped by cooler air (which is why air conditioning is so effective); and conduction, or transferring body heat onto cold water or ice. Some people are more susceptible to heat than others, usually depending on t...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized climate change healthscienceclimate Source Type: news