There’s nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice, but does it actually work? We asked the experts. Photo / Getty Images
There’s nothing like a British heatwave to bring out a long list of extreme weather advice, but does it actually work? We asked the experts. Photo / Getty Images
The claim: Keep all your windows and curtains closed
“It’s natural on a hot day to keep all your windows and doors open,” says Dr Alannah Hare, a sleep consultant at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital. “However, the best thing to do is to keep your windows shut and your curtainsdrawn all day. It’s all due to temperature differentials. When you open your windows in the morning it feels cool and lovely, but as the sun comes up throughout the day it heats the inside of your house.
“If you keep your windows and curtains closed until dusk, however, your house will feel very cool when you go to bed. As the sun sets, open your curtains and windows and you’ll feel a lovely breeze coming through your house, which will help you sleep.”
Verdict: True
The claim: Drink hot tea to cool down
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Young woman holding a cup of tea while sitting at a cafe table with friends in the background. Photo / 123rf
It has long been established that staying hydrated is essential during a heatwave. However, whether or not you should be boiling up a brew in the heat has been the subject of intense scientific debate.
In 2012, a landmark study by the University of Ottawa’s Ollie Jay discovered that when thermosensors in the mouth and throat detect heat, the brain activates a sweating response. The sweat then absorbs body heat and evaporates it into the air. As a result, the team concluded drinking hot drinks can cool you down in certain environments.
Drinking a hot latte while wearing long sleeves and trousers won’t work, however, because sweat needs to evaporate and the reduction in temperature caused by sweating needs to exceed the increase in temperature caused by drinking a hot drink. But drinking tea in a summer dress or short-sleeved shirt may help you cool down slightly.
Verdict: True
The claim: Have a hot curry
Gazpacho, ice cream, cold fruit salad – and curry? Several foods can have a cooling effect, and it seems one of them is chilli. It might appear counterintuitive – everyone who’s had an extra hot curry will know why – but it makes sense, considering many of the world’s spiciest cuisines are found in warm climates.
The theory is simple: fight fire with fire. Hot, spicy food, which usually contains chilli, contains a chemical called capsaicin. When eaten it heats up the body and you begin to sweat. The evaporation of this sweat removes heat from the body. Supposedly, cold food will only cool you down for a short spell, while hot, spicy food provides a more long-term cooling.
Several other ingredients often found in curries are thought to hold cooling properties, such as turmeric. It’s worth noting, however, that in order to sweat you must remain hydrated, so drink plenty of water.
Verdict: True (but it might not feel like it)
The claim: Have a cool beer tonight
Says Bond: “Drinking too much alcohol in a heatwave is just about the worst thing you can do. On a cold day, alcohol is dehydrating, but on a hot day the effects are tenfold and if you’re drinking during the day and outside, you’re more likely to get burnt because the enjoyment of drinking keeps people rooted to the spot. A couple of beers is fine, but no more than that, and have a glass of water before, in between, and after each beer.”
But a heatwave combined with alcohol consumption could lead to a “double whammy of bad sleep, from the effects of the alcohol and the heat,” says Hare. “So drink moderately.”
Verdict: False
The claim: Have a cold shower before bed
It's something many say helps but cold showers aren't always the best thing on a hot day. Photo / stock image
“This is something people always tell me they do when it’s hot, but it doesn’t work,” says Hare. “After a long, hot day in an office, it’s tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed. But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once you’re in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable. It’s far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesn’t try to warm itself up.”
Verdict: False
The claim: Put your pillow in the freezer
We’ve all heard this one, but does it actually work? “Yes, it does, but don’t put your whole pillow in there, just the pillow case,” says Hare. “Around an hour before you want to go to bed, put your pillowcase in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for about 40 minutes. Then pop it on just before bed, and it will feel lovely and cool on your skin. You know that feeling you get on a warm night when you turn your pillow over so you can feel the cool side? It feels like that, but 100 times better.”
Should you sleep naked in summer? The answer is neither yes nor no. Photo / 123rf
“People always ask me about this,” says Hare. “If you’re wearing natural fibres, like cotton, then you’ll feel cooler in the night than if you were naked because the cotton will wick away sweat from your skin. However, anything man-made or synthetic will keep heat next to your skin. And the same goes for bedding. So if I had the choice between cotton and nakedness, I’d choose cotton. But if you’re choosing between man-made fibres and nakedness, go naked.”
Verdict: Inconclusive
The claim: Don’t exercise
Working out can become a sweaty business – though some hardy souls will carry on regardless. Exercising in extreme heat places extra stress on the body and can be dangerous, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses, from heat cramps to heatstroke.
That doesn’t mean you should avoid it altogether – but you should understand how to recognise symptoms and know your limits. Warning signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, are numerous, including cramps, nausea, excessive sweating, dizziness, increased heart rate and visual problems. “By taking some basic precautions, your exercise routine doesn’t have to be sidelined when the heat is on.”
Here are some top tips from the Mayo Clinic:
Know how fit you are. If new to working out, take added care. Opt for something less intense, and keep hydrated.
Hydration is key. Drink regularly, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty. If sweating heavily, consider an isotonic sports drink, which will replace the minerals and nutrients lost while sweating, like sodium, chloride and potassium.
Wear the right gear. Keep it lightweight and loose, and choose a material that promotes evaporation. Dark colours, which absorb heat, are best avoided.
Cover up with a hat and wear plenty of sunscreen. Sunburn will hamper your body’s ability to cool down.
Exercise early in the morning to avoid the worst of the heat
You can exercise during summer heatwaves but be sure to monitor your body and stop if you notice any concerning symptoms.
The claim: Read heatwave advice features (like this one)
“During a heatwave people start to panic about their sleep, which is the very thing that will stop them sleeping,” says Hare. “So try not to worry about it too much. Maybe your sleep will be a little disturbed, but that’s fine. You’ll manage to get enough sleep to get by. And just think; in a few months it will be cold again, and we’ll back to worrying about that instead.”
Verdict: Inconclusive
Readers share their heatwave sleep advice
Jasmine Maddock: I put an ice pack in the bed a little while to cool the bed down, and find a cup of tea helps as paradoxically the heat cools your body down.
Mikel Crawley: We put a duvet on the floor near an open door so air moves through, and sleep on top of the duvet cover.
Linden Airey:If you are wearing clothes to bed, lightly dampen the clothes. With this kind of heat, damp can be your friend! If you can’t return to sleep after waking in the night, use a wet washcloth to cool your skin.
Put a large bath towel on your bed. Have a cool or barely warm shower, then lie down on your towel, still wet – preferably naked. Ideally also have a fan blowing towards the bed on low – the water will evaporate on your body and lower your temperature. The towel will stay mildly damp and cool you as the water in that evaporates also.
This article was originally published on the Telegraph on August 7, 2020
