Curry to exercise — myths and tricks on beating heatwave as temperatures soar

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WE have basked in hovering temperatures for greater than per week, with the sunshine anticipated to proceed into July.

BBC climate forecasters predict highs of 28C right now. Whereas that’s nice information for solar worshippers, the heatwave may very well be wreaking havoc along with your well being.

With temperatures soaring, we reveal the best ways to beat the heatwave while experts explain some common myths — With temperatures hovering, we reveal one of the best methods to beat the heatwave whereas specialists clarify some widespread mythsCredit score: Getty

Excessive temperatures have been linked with all the pieces from poor sleep to elevated ranges of despair and even coronary heart assaults.

Lynsey Hope reveals how the warmth may very well be affecting your wellbeing, whereas specialists clarify the reality behind some widespread myths.

HEATSTROKE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT – MYTH

Dr Philippa Kaye reveals 'Heatstroke is a medical emergency' — Dr Philippa Kaye reveals ‘Heatstroke is a medical emergency’Credit score: Getty

Heatstroke can truly kill you, warns GP Dr Philippa Kaye, who provides: “If you happen to get too sizzling, you begin sweating and your physique will get sad. You may endure warmth exhaustion as your physique is working too laborious to remain cool.

“You’ll sweat so much and really feel unwell. You could go inside, take a cool bathe and take away some garments. However heatstroke is once you get even hotter and it’s way more severe.”

Heatstroke occurs when your physique is attempting to chill down nevertheless it turns into overwhelmed and begins shutting down. At this level, you received’t be sweating.

Dr Philippa provides: “By this stage it is vitally tough so that you can assist your self. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. It may possibly result in lack of consciousness and seizures. Your organs could start to close down and it may well result in demise.

“Infants, younger youngsters and the aged are extra in danger.

“If heatstroke occurs, take the particular person indoors, take away garments, apply a cool flannel to the again of the neck, get them to drink water if attainable and name 999.”

HOT WEATHER CAN AGGRAVATE MY ALLERGIES – FACT

Dr Rachel Ward reveals the heat can aggravate allergies, adding 'when the weather is good, hay fever is often worse' — Dr Rachel Ward reveals the warmth can worsen allergic reactions, including ‘when the climate is nice, hay fever is commonly worse’Credit score: Getty

“When the climate is heat, dry and windy, the circulating ranges of pollen within the air improve,” explains BBC Breakfast’s resident GP Dr Rachel Ward.

“Pollen is what individuals who have hay fever are allergic to and this can be a set off for bronchial asthma in some folks. Subsequently, when the climate is nice, hay fever is commonly worse and a few folks could endure extra with bronchial asthma signs.”

WHEN IT’S TOO HOT, WE GET ANGRY AND DEPRESSED – FACT

Dr Rachel explains 'extreme heat can lead to increased anxiety and violence' — Dr Rachel explains ‘excessive warmth can result in elevated anxiousness and violence’Credit score: Getty

“Some research have proven that excessive warmth can result in elevated anxiousness and violence, together with home violence,” Dr Rachel explains.

“Some research additionally recommend a hyperlink between elevated charges of suicide and excessive warmth. However there isn’t any clear cut-off temperature for the place this turns into most pronounced.”

WE NEED VITAMIN D SO WE DON’T NEED TO APPLY SUNSCREEN ALL THE TIME – MYTH

Dr Philippa says applying sunscreen is a given and a must, she explains 'Putting on sunscreen should be like brushing your teeth' — Dr Philippa says making use of sunscreen is a given and a should, she explains ‘Placing on sunscreen ought to be like brushing your enamel’Credit score: Getty

“Research have been carried out in Australia evaluating the Vitamin D ranges in individuals who did apply sunscreen with people who didn’t,” Dr Philippa says.

“There was little or no distinction of their Vitamin D ranges so you must apply your sunscreen rigorously and often.”

The NHS recommends making use of sunscreen each two hours, with two teaspoons in your head, arms and neck or two tablespoons in your physique whereas carrying a swimming costume.

“Placing on sunscreen ought to be like brushing your enamel,” Dr Philippa says. “Apply it earlier than you exit, even whether it is cloudy exterior, as there may be nonetheless a danger of sunburn.”

A HOT CURRY WILL COOL YOU DOWN – FACT

Eating hot and spicy foods such as a curry will make you sweat before cooling you down, says Dr Philippa — Consuming sizzling and spicy meals reminiscent of a curry will make you sweat earlier than cooling you down, says Dr PhilippaCredit score: Getty

“Scorching, spicy meals can warmth up the physique and trigger you to sweat,” explains Dr Philippa.

“The concept is that if the curry makes you sweat, then it is going to cool you down. It may positively work however with a view to sweat it’s essential to stay hydrated, so ingesting loads of water alongside your vindaloo is essential.”

I SHOULD AVOID EXERCISING WHEN IT’S HOT – MYTH

Working out in the heat puts extra stress on the body but 'that doesn’t mean you have to avoid it altogether' says Dr Philippa — Figuring out within the warmth places additional stress on the physique however ‘that doesn’t imply it’s important to keep away from it altogether’ says Dr PhilippaCredit score: Getty

Figuring out in extraordinarily sizzling locations places additional stress on the physique and could be harmful, placing you at higher danger of heat-related sicknesses reminiscent of heatstroke.

“However that doesn’t imply it’s important to keep away from it altogether,” says Dr Philippa.

“Most gyms are air-conditioned so you ought to be secure inside. If you happen to do train outside, it is advisable drink greater than regular.

“Attempt to keep away from operating or any high-intensity train within the warmth of the day from round 11am till 3pm.” If you happen to endure cramps, nausea, extreme sweating, dizziness or visible issues, cease, get indoors and funky down.

HOW THE HEATWAVE AFFECTS YOU

POOR MENTAL HEALTH: A 2018 examine printed within the journal Nature Local weather Change linked a 1C rise in common month-to-month temperature to a rise in suicides. Additionally they analysed greater than 600million tweets and located folks had been likelier to precise depressive emotions because the temperature rose.

BRAIN FOG: Analysis reveals any temperature above 23C can impair our focus. We carry out worse in cognitive checks, doing duties extra slowly and fewer precisely.

HEART RISK: Coronary heart assaults are extra widespread in sizzling climate. Our our bodies work to stop us overheating, pushing blood nearer to the pores and skin – however within the course of, placing additional pressure on the guts and lungs.

RASHES: Round 15 per cent of girls endure from polymorphic mild eruption, a pores and skin rash triggered by publicity to daylight or synthetic UV mild. These itchy, burning rashes can last as long as two weeks, usually showing on the pinnacle, neck, chest and arms. The situation is commonly confused with prickly warmth, when blocked sweat glands trigger small, raised spots, an itchy, prickly feeling and gentle swelling.

DIABETES COMPLICATIONS: The physique’s metabolism is larger in sizzling and humid climate which may result in elevated danger of hypoglycemia – the place your blood sugar stage drops dangerously low – as insulin absorption could be elevated.

MIGRAINES: Specialists say the elevated chances are all the way down to the stress warmth places the physique below. Our physique has to work more durable to keep up a secure temperature, pushing coronary heart charge up.

INSOMNIA: A 1C rise in temperatures may make it more durable to sleep for no less than three nights, researchers declare.

TOOTHACHE: It’s not the temperature that causes an issue however the meals and drinks we take pleasure in throughout a heatwave. Any sudden temperature change may cause tooth enamel to crack so ice cream or lollies may weaken it.

KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED – FACT

To keep your home as cool as possible, assess if the outdoors is hotter than inside and if so shut your windows — To maintain your private home as cool as attainable, assess if the outside is hotter than inside and in that case shut your home windowsCredit score: Getty

It’s widespread to fling doorways and home windows open when temperatures rise, however retaining them closed will hold the home cool.

“When it will get tremendous sizzling, it is advisable hold your private home as cool as attainable and that doesn’t at all times imply opening the home windows,” Dr Philippa says.

“If the outside is hotter than inside, hold your home windows closed and curtains drawn. This may cease the solar from getting in and warming up your own home.

“However because the solar units and temperatures drop, open the home windows and also you’ll really feel a stunning breeze coming in, which may show you how to to sleep.”

SLEEPING NAKED WILL KEEP ME COOL – MYTH

Opt for 100 per cent cotton pyjamas instead of sleeping naked as it will 'soak up any sweat rather than leaving it on your body', says Sammy Margo — Go for 100 per cent cotton pyjamas as a substitute of sleeping bare as it is going to ‘absorb any sweat relatively than leaving it in your physique’, says Sammy MargoCredit score: Getty

“It’s tempting to strip off however being bare received’t assist,” says Sammy Margo, a physiotherapist and sleep knowledgeable.

“As an alternative, select pyjamas that are 100 per cent cotton. This may enable your pores and skin to breathe and absorb any sweat relatively than leaving it in your physique.”

I MUST DRINK EIGHT GLASSES OF WATER A DAY IN A HEATWAVE – MYTH

Staying hydrated is a must during a heatwave but you don't have to drink plain water — Staying hydrated is a should throughout a heatwave however you do not have to drink plain waterCredit score: Getty

“An important factor you are able to do in your well being when it’s sizzling is to remain hydrated, and most of us don’t drink sufficient,” Dr Philippa says.

“The NHS recommends ingesting six to eight cups of fluid a day.

“Nevertheless, lower-fat milk, sugar-free drinks, tea and low all rely in the direction of that whole.

“It doesn’t need to be plain water and keep in mind that when it’s sizzling you could have to drink much more than regular.”

A COLD SHOWER WILL COOL ME DOWN – MYTH

Sammy explains 'Your body will react to freezing water by preserving heat' — Sammy explains ‘Your physique will react to freezing water by preserving warmth’Credit score: Getty

“You may really feel like an ice-cold bathe earlier than mattress, nevertheless it received’t cool you down for the evening,” explains Sammy.

“Your physique will react to freezing water by preserving warmth.

“Really, taking a heat bathe earlier than mattress could also be most helpful.

“As you get out of the water, your physique will wrongly consider the encircling temperature is cooler than it’s and launch melatonin to chill you down.”

IF I HAVE DIABETES OR HEART PROBLEMS I SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE SUN – FACT

People suffering from significant underlying health conditions should stay in the shade to keep cool — Folks affected by vital underlying well being circumstances ought to keep within the shade to maintain coolCredit score: Getty

“Anybody with vital underlying well being circumstances could grow to be extra unwell in the event that they get dehydrated or overheat,” Dr Rachel says.

“That is very true of these with circumstances that result in difficulties with fluid steadiness, reminiscent of coronary heart failure and kidney failure.

“Folks ought to keep within the shade, keep away from dehydration and be certain that they cowl up and hold cool.

“Keep away from going exterior for lengthy intervals throughout the center of the day when temperatures are highest.”