Strategies to help beat the summer heat

It won’t be long until the dog days of summer are upon us. The potential for certain medical and psychological problems may increase due to the heat. Let us take a look at some of these potential problems:

• The effectiveness of some of the medications used to treat psychological disorders can be diminished by excessive perspiration, which often occurs when individuals are working in nonclimate-controlled conditions during the summer. The chemical balance the medication is designed to restore in the individual may dissipate and lose its effectiveness, thus necessitating closer monitoring by the prescribing physician.

• Many mental health professionals believe there is a correlation between prolonged exposure to heat and increased frustration, irritability and anger. Those individuals working in activities that require physical exertion, attention to small details and exposure to other stressful elements in their work environment such as noise, dust, etc., may experience even more difficulty when the temperature is elevated.

• Activities that help individuals deal with stress, including recreation and hobbies, often have to be diverted, postponed or altered during periods of excessive heat. For example, those who enjoy gardening may find that the prolonged heat makes working in the yard uncomfortable and takes away an enjoyable, healthy diversion. Many outdoor sporting events have to be curtailed or modified to prevent negative medical consequences. The elderly and those with certain medical conditions affected by heat have to be especially cautious about the length of time they spend in elevated temperatures.

Individuals seeking ways to deal more effectively with the “dog days of summer” may find some of the following suggestions helpful:

• Remember that hot summer is a time-limited phenomenon. Though it may feel like an endurance contest, at some point changes will occur in the weather. Those of us living in the Southwest know the change may be several weeks to several months away. But one morning we will wake up to a cool, crisp sigh of relief. Knowing that a change will occur enables us to embrace the old saying, “This, too, shall pass.”

• Try to find ways to modify activities and create options that enable you to continue with work and play in some modified fashion. A walk in an air-conditioned mall is, for most of us, better than no walk at all. Or you may want to try strolling at sun up, when the heat is much more bearable. Consider changing your work pattern to different hours if you have not already done so. Beginning work at day break and stopping in the early afternoon is often preferable to working through the mid and late afternoon heat. Consider postponing certain outdoor activities until cooler weather arrives. Reading a good book may have to replace a round of golf or working in the garden.

Remember, nature provides us with a relief from “dog days” in a few short months.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2001