Adapting to the Heat

It has been hot outside. Very, very hot.

It’s the kind of hot that can make you miserable. It can make you sick. For older adults and outdoor workers, it can be deadly.

As an editor on the Well desk at The Times, I work on stories about health issues like extreme heat every day. I’m always looking for practical advice that people can use to live healthier lives. For many health issues we report on, my thinking is: Well, that’s terrible. What are we supposed to do about it?

I thought I knew the answer when it came to heat. Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay alert to the signs of heat illness. Those are all important. But I was surprised to learn there’s another approach that has largely been overlooked.

It’s called heat acclimatization, and The Times published a story about it this morning. It’s about teaching your body to deal with the stress of heat. Right now, the people who try to do so are often outdoor laborers, athletes, soldiers and others who have to be outside all the time. But many other people might benefit from giving it a shot.

How acclimatizing helps

Heat taxes the body. You sweat more, and your heart beats harder. Both help keep you cool. But in very high temperatures, your heart rate can jump too high. Your blood pressure can drop. You can sweat so much you can become dizzy or dehydrated.

Pushing the body too hard in extreme heat without preparation can be deadly. Almost half of all heat-related deaths among workers occur on their first day on the job, and more than 70 percent occur within the first week, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Once bodies are used to the heat, they start to adapt within days.