8 WAYS TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT


Summer is fun until the sun fries your skin, mosquitoes attack, hay fever clogs your nose and the house gets unbearably hot. Here are tips to deal with the downside of the warm seasons.


Using sunblock, wearing hats and caps, staying in shade during the hottest hours of the day… These are things we all know and do. But there are more simple tricks to ensure you don’t lose your cool.

WATER, WATER, WATER
When your temperature hits 37 degrees Celsius, or your body notices its hotter around you than in your body, it turns on the natural air-con. Your 2 million to 4 million sweat glands start releasing sweat. It works because your skin feels cooler when damp and because evaporating sweat transfers heat into the atmosphere. This is why wiping your sweat will not cool you.

You’re losing water when you sweat, so you need to drink more. It doesn’t have to be water – any liquid helps – but if you hate drinking water you can add fresh fruit or herbs like mint leaves to it for a more inviting taste.



MOSQUITOES
The smell of sweat and perfume attract mosquitoes, so a fragrance-free deodorant is a goods idea. Adding a few drops of lemon juice to your shower gel or shampoo also makes you less attractive to these buzzers.

Some plants can keep mozzies away. Try basil, rosemary, garlic, catnip, lavender, citronella grass, marigold, lemon balm, citrosa (a citronella-scented geranium), peppermint or sage.

Mosquitoes hate lavender. Make a body spray with lavender body oil or apply drops on your skin. A bowl of soapy water outside will attract mosquitoes and trap them. They also hate smoke, so incense is a good repellent.

Mosquitoes aren’t great fliers. An electric fan blowing away from you can keep them at a distance.

PRICKLY HEAT
In constant heat, sweat ducts to become clogged, trapping sweat in the deep layers of the skin. This irritation can cause a rash.

Ask a pharmacist about products such as calamine lotion, camphor, menthol or topical steroid creams to reduce the itch and swelling. Cool off quickly in front of a fan to stop excess sweat and take a cool bath or shower to clear up prickly heat faster.

Use sunblock sprays rather than thick creams that might block the pores.



HAY FEVER
Pollen season means itchy eyes and runny or blocked noses for many people. Start taking antihistamine tablets early. When the pollen count is high, don’t dry washing outside since it’ll be covered in pollen when you bring it in. A little Vaseline around the bottom of your nostrils will trap pollen and wraparound shades are best to protect your eyes from irritation.

FIGHT THE BURN
When you see sunburn, get indoors and treat it right away. Cool baths or showers help with the pain. Pat yourself dry afterward, leaving some moisture on the skin and trapping it with a moisturiser that contains aloe vera or soy. Take aspirin or ibuprofen for swelling and discomfort.

Sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface, away from the rest of the body, so drink extra water to stay hydrated. Blisters speed up healing, so don’t pop them. While you’re healing, wear clothes that cover your skin and have a tight weave – when holding them up, you shouldn’t see much light coming through.

BODY PROTECTION
Try synthetics designed to deal with sweat – they’re often used for sportswear. Cotton should be thin, loose and in a light colour. And go barefoot.

Your body has cooling points – wrists, back of the neck, feet, and temples. Put some ice cubes in a towel or dishcloth on them for quick relief.

COOL FOOD
Salads are summer food because they’re easier to digest and won’t make you feel sluggish. Your body creates heat while you eat, so replace big meals with regular small ones. Have lots of fruit and veg – they’re healthy and hydrating.



INDOOR HEAT
It’s hard to sleep with all the day’s heat trapped in the house. Put your fan in front of an open window, blowing towards it and not into the room. It will suck warm air out and pull cooler air in.

If the temperature hits 25 degrees or so, close doors, windows and curtains. Open them again after sundown. Improve airflow with open windows on opposite sides of the room or house.

When you get to a hot car that was parked in the sun, try this Japanese trick. Open one window all the way (say the driver’s). Close the door. Go to the opposite door (the front passenger in this case) and open and close it five times. Just normally – don’t do it fast or bang it shut. You’ll be surprised how much this cools the car instantly.

Finally, an oven releases a lot of heat into the house. In summer, cook with stove plates or a microwave or have a braai outside.

Sources: https://lifehacker.com, https://www.realsimple.com, https://wanderlust.com, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com, https://www.express.co.uk, https://www.aad.org, https://brightside.me, www.explorit.or.


8 WAYS TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT 8 WAYS TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT Reviewed by Jet Club on January 22, 2020 Rating: 5
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