The Work of Sweat and Blood
When we exercise, our body’s core temperature increases. To combat this, we have a number of built-in cooling methods. The main way our body cools itself is through the evaporation of sweat on our skin. For sweat to evaporate, it needs to absorb heat. That absorption of heat cools us down.In addition to sweat, blood is diverted to our skin’s surface to cool and recirculate throughout our body. It’s the reason why many of us become flushed in the face when we’re active.
How much each of these two methods contributes to cooling can vary from person to person. Some people are profuse sweaters, while others turn red and hardly sweat at all.
The effectiveness of our body’s cooling also depends on ambient conditions. The drier the conditions, the more effective sweat is at cooling us. But in high humidity, the air is saturated with water vapor causing our sweat to drip ineffectively off our body. In these situations, our body continues to produce more sweat in the hopes of cooling off.
Exercising in hot weather adds stress to our body. Diverting blood to our skin to cool means less blood (and oxygen) going to the working muscles.
Sweating also reduces the amount of water in our body and if this lost fluid isn’t replenished, blood volume goes down. This can lead to lower blood pressure and increased heart rate. At the very least, this results in a decrease in performance. At the extreme end, it can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, as happened to True.
Young and Elderly at Greatest Risk
Even though education and awareness have increased over the years, the prevalence of heat exhaustion may be on the rise.Six Tips to Avoid Heat Exhaustion
When temperatures rise, a few simple precautions can help mitigate the risk:- Know the weather conditions beforehand.
- Wear sunscreen and light clothing.
- Drink fluids regularly.
- Avoid exercising at peak hours of heat, or exercise in an air-conditioned gym.
- If you’re traveling to a warmer climate, whether in the summer or winter, allow your body to get acclimatized by slowly increasing your activity.
- If you are competing in an athletic event during the day and you usually train during the early morning or evening, you should also acclimatize your body to the midday heat.
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