Scorching Arizona temperatures really do slow you down, expert says
Jun 4, 2018, 4:21 AM | Updated: Jun 21, 2018, 2:24 pm
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PHOENIX — Are you moving a little more slowly, now that the high Arizona temperatures are here until September?
It’s not your imagination.
It turns out, according to Dr. Carlos Ventura with Banner Health, your body is working overtime to acclimate you to the heat – and that can disrupt your metabolism.
“There’s something called convection,” he said, “which is this movement of the blood throughout your body. Usually, the blood vessels dilate, which means they have more blood flow.
“You will need, slowly but surely, (for) your body (to) release some of the heat,” he said.
“If you are exposed long enough – a week or two – you may get definitely more used to it.”
Ventura says it can take as long as two weeks for healthy adults to adapt to hotter temperatures.
People who work outside for a living may adapt more quickly to the heat than those who work in offices, he says.
No matter what they do for a living, Ventura said it’s important for everyone to stay hydrated.
If you feel you have heat exhaustion (sweating profusely, muscle weakness), it may be a good idea to reach for a sports drink to help you recover.