When the weather gets hot, trying to stay cool becomes priority. The elderly, the young, and tose with asthma, allergies, and heart issues, can find themselves in distress when it gets too hot. Keeping as cool as possible in the summer heat can be a major factor in staying healthy and comfortable.
Here are some tips for staying cool:
Sweating helps keep you cool, so stay damp. Spray yourself with cold water when you feel hot.
Wear proper clothing. Wearing light colors reflects light, where dark colors absorb it. Lighter colors will keep you cooler. Light fabrics like cotton can breathe and help to keep you cool as well.
Turn off things that generate heat. Unplug clocks, computers, coffee makers, phone chargers, appliances and microwaves when not in use.
Stay downstairs if possible. A basement is always cooler than the rest of the house because heat rises. Normally a basement is about five to 10 degrees cooler than the other floors of a house.
Spicy food can make you feel cooler. Eating spicy food and then producing sweat helps cool down your body. Don’t forget to stay hydrated when you are doing a lot of sweating. Dehydration can bring its own set of health problems.
Soak your feet in a baby pool or bucket of water while sitting in the shade. If you are inside, a cat litter box or bucket filled with cold water will work. Put a chair next to your tub and soak your feet there. Having your feet wet will make your entire body feel more comfortable. This works for dogs too! Some dogs will actually lie down in the pool, where others will just stand in the cool water.
Freeze bottles full of water. You can use the frozen bottles to hold behind your neck to cool you off. You can also drink them as they start to melt. Remember to put more bottles in the freezer as you are using them so you always have a supply of frozen bottles.
Keep the curtains closed. This will prevent the room from becoming etra hot from the sun shining in.
Exercise during the cooler hours. Exercising in the early morning or evening is much easier during the hotter months of the year. You will have more energy and be able to exercise longer if you are not as hot.
Eat cool foods instead of cooking. Salads, fresh fruit and cheese are great options for the summer. Keeping that oven turned off will go a long way to keeping your home cooler.
Because appliances give off heat, run the dishwasher and the dryer during cooler hours of the day.
Do your errands when the day is at its hottest. Malls, grocery stores, movie theaters, banks and just about any other business will have air conditioning.
Chill your pulse points by running cold water over your wrist. Splashing water on your temples or face can produce a similar effect.
Want to cool the bed down? Fill a standard hot water bottle with ice water. Use it to cool your ankles and the back of your knees.
Cooling your head cools your entire body. Try using an organic cotton pillow. Keep the down and latex pillows until the weather cools down.
