Heat is Here to Stay...

Living in Texas in the summer is no joke. It literally feels like it gets hotter every single year. This week alone we are just at the beginning of July and it hit 105° today. My husband and I are very diligent in making certain that the cooling system and our apartment are not overwhelmed or turned on full blast 24 hours a day. When he leaves for work he turns it up so it gets a break and then when I come home from work I turn it down so it begins to cool off. We have learned not to turn it off completely because then it takes too much power to come back on and completely cool off the house. Alternating the temperature up and down seems to give it a break and it gives our bank account a break when the bill comes!

There are many different things that you can do when it is this hot to ensure that you are at least staying on the cooler side of things. This is especially true if you don’t have air conditioning. We have been there also. We used to live in an apartment complex where the air conditioning would go out just as much as the heat would go out. And seemingly of course it would happen when we needed it most.

One of the best things that you can do to continue to cool your body is to stay hydrated. Drinking water is a great way to stay hydrated and keep cool on hot days. This is especially true if you put an additive in your water that helps with rehydration. They sell them over-the-counter. Some are in little packets and some are already added to the water. So, it is basically whatever is most convenient for you. Some people think that the colder the water the more it will cool off your body. And that is such a fallacy. It does not matter what the temperature of the water is simply because once it enters your body your body warms the water to your body temperature.

Another option that involves water is simply taking a cool bath or a cool shower. Doing this helps lower your body’s core temperature. If you really want to take it to the next level you can always up your game and include a peppermint soap in your bathing routine. The menthol that is involved in peppermint oil actually activates your body into sensing it is in a cooler state than it actually is.

Lastly, this is generally the ideal method for children. Simply use a washrag that has cold water or an ice pack inside of it on their wrists or the back of the neck. Doing this actually forces your body to cool down faster because this is where the critical pulse points are where blood vessels are concerned. By using these two points it forces your body to cool down in a much more rapid method. Little ones don’t understand this concept. This is where the adults have to step in and make sure that they are comfortable.

Braving this heat is critical right now. Extreme heat is very unhealthy for a person’s overall health. Many people associate the heat with summer fun or summer activities. And that is great! No one is saying to stop summer fun! The only thing I am suggesting is to do it safely. If you notice that you or a loved one is becoming overheated then one of these very easy methods may very well help bring their body temperature to a cooler and more adaptable level. Everyone can still have fun, in the heat, and be safe.

Until next time.

#KristinaWrites

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