This European heatwave has been going on for weeks and shows no signs of abating. It’s really wearing me down. Any tips for staying cool when you don’t have air conditioning? I’ve tried the whole shutting the windows and blinds thing they recommend but that just makes it worse. I already feel uncomfortably hot at the best of times as a side effect of my medication. So an actual heatwave on top is literal torture. It’s so bad in the UK that supermarket refrigerators have stopped working due to the heat, and the news says its going to be the longest heatwave in 50 years.

  • CloutAtlas [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    5·
    1 day ago

    From someone who lives in Wuhan (one of the original Three Furnaces of China) as well as Australia:

    • Spicy food in a ventilated area. Works in Chongqing, works in India, works in Wuhan, works in Thailand, works in Mexico, etc etc. Spicy food causes sweat (without actually increasing your body temperature any more than eating the exact same food without the spice). This will cool your body down so long as there’s even a mild breeze. Note: This won’t make you feel cooler, at least not initially, but the sweat drawing heat from your body will reduce your temperature and help avoid things like heat stroke.

    • Drink loads of water. Room temperature is counterintuitively better than iced water.

    • Cool showers. Not cold, you might get your body confused and think you’re freezing and start retaining heat.

    • Air dry after. Supposedly this is actually better for your skin but that’s not why we’re doing this. As the water evaporates, it will take heat with it.

    • Eating iced cream or other frozen things in excess can also trigger that response.

    • Expose your belly. I’m not sure if this actually works or is just a Chinese unc tactic. Cigarette optional

    • Peat bogs. Just go and submerge yourself in a peat bog, like the Britons of old before the Romans arrived. Alternatively just a bathtub filled with room temperature water could do the trick, if you don’t have a peat bog handy.

    • Unironically try and get a shirt cricket players wear. Long sleeve, white coloured and breathable. Loose polyester or polyester/cotton blends. Try and avoid wearing standard polyester, that shit isn’t nearly as breathable.

    • While we’re on the topic, try and get cotton weaves that aren’t intended to retain heat, but breathe. Linen is probably the best choice, but linen is a pain in the ass to iron. Bamboo does alright. Obviously avoid wool. Shirts with large logos/prints on them will also block ventilation, so try and avoid wearing those.

    • A spray bottle of water in front of a fan does wonders. Seriously, just have the fan pointed at you and spray your face or body.