Marching on through the heat.
I have seen a lot of people complaining about being inexplicably very tired and yet we are still in the first quarter of the year. The year has only just begun yet people are so tired as though they’re having year-end fatigue. The scientist in me has been curious about this phenomenon since it is not just the patients who sit in front of me who have been complaining about this. It is a recurring theme of conversations at the odd event I’ve attended or on social media status updates.
I’ve been deliberating about what could be affecting so many people who are not necessarily undergoing the same experiences in their lives. Could it be the heat wave? Is everyone complaining about attending all these events that have been happening and giving me FOMO? Could it be that the “new year, new me” energy is dissipating and reality is setting in for people that they are not going to achieve the long list of goals (unrealistic new year’s resolutions) they have set (possibly while hungover) on the 2nd of January?
On top of all these scenarios, there are actual possible commonly occurring health conditions that people are just not aware of or think to check. The start of the new year can be quite stressful as people are trying to do the most with their new found motivation of the new season. This can lead to over exertion on the mental and physical and lead to burnout. Bearing in mind that not everyone shuts down and takes long leave in December for the festive season. Burnout on its own has various health implications due to lack of proper care for oneself ranging from poor sleep patterns, undesirable eating habits to lack of exercise and mindfulness.
It will be difficult to prove the medical reasons without taking a history and examining everyone who expresses these seemingly abnormal levels of fatigue so early in the year. So, I decided to look further into what can affect a lot of people all at once countrywide (maybe even continental or worldwide). The heat wave and the “eclipse season” seemed like the most plausible causes and made the most sense. We live in Africa, and so it is generally accepted that it is hot. However, it has been hotter than usual when we compare temperatures from the past years to this year for the same period of the year. BBC Africa has reported that record high temperatures have been recorded in various parts of our continent, including 43,7 degrees Celsius in Twee Riviera in the Eastern Cape. I will not get into why we are having heat-waves, we all know about how humans have taken the planet for granted over many years and now we are reaping the effects of the global warming.
Whether it is the excessive deforestation to accommodate urbanisation or the warming of the sea surface due to climate changes, we are now here and are suffering for it. The body has a built-in thermostat – the hypothalamus – that regulates body temperature. When it gets very hot, it sets off a series of processes to get rid of excess heat away from the vital organs so they don’t overheat (think of the proverbial frying of the brain). This process protects the heart and brain and ensure they sustain their functions. The first of the processes is vasodilation – the blood vessels of the skin get wider and send warm blood to the skin causing evaporation of heat. This process happens through sweating, where there is loss of water and essential salts necessary to keep things balanced. This happens without people being overtly aware, especially because not everyone will have excessive sweating. Over and above, there is also evaporation from talking and breathing, and loss of water by urination. All of this can lead to loss of enough water to dehydrate the body. When the body cannot keep up with getting rid of heat from its core vital organs, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes can occur even in the healthiest of individuals. And those with underlying conditions such as heart and kidney disease and diabetes may experience worsening of their conditions as these are affected most by dehydration and salt imbalances.
I am not making a diagnosis that everyone who feels tired is suffering from heat exhaustion. There is probably more than meets the eye for some. However, I have decided to highlight this as it may very well be the cause for some, if not most, where heat has been a problem lately. People tend to not drink enough water. For some people, the only water their bodies get is the few drops that accidental escape down the throat when they brush their teeth. There are things we can do to prevent heat induced illnesses. Avoid the sun by staying indoors from midday to late afternoon where possible; Wear lighter clothing to avoid keeping the body too warm; Drink lots of water, more than average daily requirements; Avoid high protein foods as they increase body’s heat production; Avoid staying in a parked car with the windows closed during the day.
I urge you to be more mindful of your bodies as you are out and about Xploring life. Make your kids aware to not play in extremely hot sun without taking cover in the shade, and to drink water too. This is not a diagnosis by any measure. Please seek appropriate medical advice and care if you’re unwell and feel “wiped out” energy wise as there could be more that needs further attention (hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, depression, etc).
Until next week, take care and stay Lovelee.