Sitting in a heat wave can feel like being swaddled in an uncomfortable blanket, but it'll settle differently on you depending on a few different factors, like how acclimated you are to the heat, whether you're taking certain medications and even if you've been drinking alcohol.
We'll outline a few common and unexpected culprits that can make a day in the heat less bearable. For more on heat safety, learn how to respond if someone around you is experiencing heatstroke, how to keep your pets safe in high temperatures and how to stay cool enough to get better sleep.
Drinking alcohol in the heat
Feeling hot requires the body to do things to try to cool itself down, mainly by sweating, which causes you to lose water and may lead to dehydration if you're not replenishing with water and electrolytes.
The issue with alcohol is that it dehydrates you even further, in a couple of different ways, according to the Cleveland Clinic: It's a diuretic, which means you'll urinate more often while drinking, and alcohol also interferes with vasopressin, per the Clinic, which is an antidiuretic hormone that helps balance body fluids.
On top of all the dehydrating effects, alcohol can trick you into feeling hydrated, since you're technically drinking a liquid.
How to drink safely in the heat: The safest thing when it comes to alcohol and high temperatures is to refrain from drinking altogether -- and that's especially true if you have a health condition or are taking certain medications (more on that below) that make you more susceptible to heat-related illness.
If you do drink, make sure to drink a glass of water, or at least 8 oz of water, with each alcoholic beverage to help counteract the dehydrating effects. You can also choose beverages with lower alcohol content.
Taking certain medications
Common medications, including ones used to treat heart disease, depression and mental illness symptoms, allergies and more, can all affect the body's response to heat. On top of this, the health condition behind the medication may increase someone's health risks during a heat wave.
What to do: Check in with your doctor each summer to double-check appropriate dosages and come up with a management plan for the heat if your medication may have an impact on your body's reaction to higher temperatures. You can learn more about how to prepare for high heat while living with a health condition here.
Being sleep deprived
There's a well-known relationship between high temperatures and how they interfere with sleep, but skimping out on sleep may also increase your risk of dehydration. This again may have to do with vasopressin (the antidiuretic hormone that helps balance body fluids) and a sleep-deprived person's current state with the hormone, according to 2018 research published in the Sleep journal.
Any dehydration risk is exacerbated in high temperatures or when it's hot out, and staying hydrated is important for your body's ability to sweat and cool itself. Add this to the fact many people may notice they feel more sleepy or tired on hot days in the sun, and the effects of sleeping poorly during a hot week may be compounded.
What to do: Prioritizing a night of quality rest will help your overall health and better prepare your body to take on the day, whether it's hot or not. To keep cool during hot summer nights, read more of CNET's tips including putting your sheets in the freezer, using special curtains and more.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.