subject: Why You Must Be Careful Of Humidity [print this page] Why You Must Be Careful Of Humidity Why You Must Be Careful Of Humidity
One of the least liked weather conditions is the hot, humid day. The sun is terribly hot, and walking only a few blocks exhausts you like you'd just run a marathon. Not only that, but despite having just stepped out of the shower a few minutes ago, your clothes are sticking to your skin, and you can feel the sweat stinging your eyes. Far from being merely an uncomfortable weather condition, humidity comes with hidden and deadly dangers. In this article you'll learn a few of them. First of all, humidity dramatically decreases the body's ability to cool itself. That's why humidity seems to increase the heat dramatically. When you sweat, the water is evaporated on your skin, which cools the skin temperature. This is a natural reaction which allows people to live in many different environments. When the air is particularly humid, your sweat can't evaporate nearly as fast, which significantly decreases your bodies ability to cool itself. Something else that is dangerous about humid weather is that it makes it much more difficult to sleep through the night undisturbed. Sleep is very important, as it gives your body a chance to rebuild damaged cells. It is also necessary for maintaining a healthy immune system. Without proper sleep, your immune system is weakened, and you will not be able to fight off illnesses as easily. Being weaker from lack of sleep also makes it easier to suffer from heat stroke during the day. One more deadly effect of humidity is excess dehydration. The more you sweat, the more water you need to drink to replace the sweat. However, as described above, your body's sweat is much less efficient at cooling you off, so you sweat much more, sometimes without realizing it. This can lead to significant dehydration, which is a significant factor in heat stroke. One more thing to consider when regarding the dangers of humid weather is that high degrees of humidity can increase the amount of germs and other pathogens in your home. A hot, moist environment is a perfect breeding ground for these bugs. When you combine this with a weakened immune system due to lack of sleep, and you've got a deadly combination on your hands. What can you do to protect yourself from the seemingly inescapable heat and humidity without becoming a statistic in the latest round of deaths? A couple of simple tips can go a long ways in protecting you. Stay indoors as much as possible. Drink plenty of water or other fluids, but don't wait until you are thirsty to drink. Drink during the day regardless of whether you're thirsty or not. This can keep you sufficiently hydrated, which can go a long way to protect you from the deadly humidity.
