It is not advisable to drink alcoholic beverages in the midst of extreme heat. Not only could it affect your ability to make decisions and make you more likely to do risky things, but the combination of alcohol and hot weather can also lead to fluid deficiency.

In the midst of extreme heat, it is crucial that you prioritize adequate hydration by drinking water regularly. In these conditions, the body loses fluids at a faster rate, and alcoholic beverages can worsen the condition.

The Risks of Drinking Alcoholic Beverages in Extreme Heat

Diuretic properties of alcohol

Alcohol has diuretic properties, meaning that it increases urine production and makes fluid output, if not balanced by drinking enough water, greater than the fluid entering the body. In extreme heat, the body naturally maintains its temperature by expelling fluids through sweating. If you also drink alcoholic beverages when your body is already expelling fluids, then you may urinate more frequently and lose more body fluids.

Alcohol can also irritate the stomach and make some people vomit, which makes them lose more fluid. Lack of fluids, especially when you are in the midst of hot weather, can have a detrimental effect on your condition.

Increased risk of heat exhaustion to heatstroke

Alcohol can cause blood vessels to dilate, resulting in faster loss of body heat. Normally when the ambient temperature is lower than the body temperature, this mechanism can cause heat to be expelled from the body and the body temperature to drop.

However, when you drink alcohol in hot weather, the dilation of blood vessels can make it easier for the body to absorb heat from outside, resulting in more heat being expelled. You risk heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

While drinking alcoholic beverages, your awareness and alertness will be reduced. This makes you slower to notice and respond to signs of overheating and heatstroke.

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Tips for Staying Healthy During Extreme Heat

To keep your body healthy during this extreme heat, you should avoid alcoholic beverages and focus on hydrating your body by drinking water, fruits that are high in water content, or soupy foods. In addition, some of the following tips may also help, namely:

• Regularly drink water to replace lost fluids through sweating
• Avoiding alcoholic beverages, drinks with excessive caffeine, or soft drinks
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing with sweat-wicking fabric.
• Avoid excessive physical activity under the hot sun especially during the hottest hours
• Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from direct sunlight
• Find a shady, cool place

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Look out for signs of dehydration, such as dry lips, dry eyes, fatigued skin, redness, dizziness, or a decrease in the frequency of urination. Dehydration can develop into a serious condition. Do not hesitate to see a doctor or seek medical attention at a hospital when experiencing severe symptoms of dehydration.

Learn more about the signs of dehydration and how to prevent it by utilizing online health consultation services through the Ai Care app, which can be downloaded on the App Store or Play Store.

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