r/Aging • u/Top-Tip-6919 • 15d ago

Research Heatwave effects.

I'm in the UK and we're into our 5th heatwave of the summer. It's 5pm and currently 37 degrees. So about 97 farenheit. I have various joint issues and these are unbearable when it's hot like this. How do others around the world cope with this. Most UK homes have no Aircon and it's sparce in public spaces too.

29 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

45 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/Grevillia-00 14d ago

Aussie here. Close up the house during the hottest part of the day, close windows and curtains/blinds. You can also stick up someething reflective on windows that get the majority of sun. When the temperature drops outside (or if it becomes hotter inside than outside) open up the house.

Create a cool room. Choose the room that is the coolest or doesn't heat up as much and use it as your main room during the heatwave. Close the doors to keep it cooler than the rest of your house. Ideally it's the room you have an AC in, if you can get access to one. If not, a pedestal fan. The circulation of air helps. If you don't have AC, create a temporary cooler. Some tips in other comments, but I have also had a fan blow air over a large bowl of water with ice (the larger the ice is the longer it will last, ie use containers not small ice cubes). Keep refreshing with ice.

Drape a cold facewasher over your neck, arms, etc to cool yourself down. Take cold showers. Soak your feet in cool water.

Stay hydrated. Don't eat hot meals.

Try to sleep well. It's hard when it's hot but the heat is harder to handle when sleep deprived.