How to prevent heatstroke in the dog days
Emotional Heatstroke
Health Science Popularization Classroom
When the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, sunlight exceeds 12 hours, and humidity is higher than 80%, meteorological conditions will significantly enhance the impact on the emotional regulation center in the hypothalamus of the human body, leading to emotional control loss and frequent occurrences of friction or disputes, known as emotional heatstroke, also known as summer emotional disorder syndrome. In psychology, there is a term called “meteorological emotional effect,” which refers to the influence of weather on a person’s emotional state. The hot weather is an external cause of “emotional heatstroke.” mainly because high temperatures and sultry weather will increase sweating in the body, leading to abnormal electrolyte metabolism; coupled with inadequate sleep and decreased appetite causing normal metabolism disruption, thereby affecting brain nerve activity, easily triggering emotional fluctuations and abnormalities.
“San Fu Tian” is the hottest and most humid period of the year, the time when people commonly call “bitter summer.” How to prevent emotional heatstroke during San Fu Tian?
First point
Adjust daily life. Keep the room well-ventilated, use air conditioning to cool down, but the temperature should not be too low. Also, adjust your lifestyle rhythm according to the characteristics of long days and short nights in summer, develop the habit of going to bed and getting up early, and taking regular naps. A regular lifestyle is an important factor in ensuring a good mood.
Second point
Self-adjustment is very effective. The most effective way to relieve “emotional heatstroke” is “mental cooling,” that is, self-regulation. The hotter the weather, the more one should remain calm and composed in dealing with things. There are many methods of self-regulation that can be flexibly applied according to one’s own situation. One method is conscious control. When emotions are about to erupt, use conscious control to self-suggest “don’t be angry, calm down.” Another method is environmental restraint. The hot and noisy environment is a significant factor in triggering “emotional heatstroke.” When feeling very uncomfortable physically and mentally, quickly apply environmental restraint methods, such as sitting in a cool and ventilated place, walking by a small river or lake, avoiding hot and dry colors and settings, creating a cold environment to get out of discomfort. The third method is emotional diversion. When feeling irritable and restless, consciously change the subject or do something else to distract attention. For example, listen to music, talk to friends about pleasant things, go for a run, play sports, etc., to release and alleviate emotions. It is important to note that if you feel unable to control your emotions, seek professional help promptly.
Third point
In a high-temperature environment, proper diet is crucial, especially the timely replenishment of fluids. On one hand, individuals should make necessary preparations before going out, such as preparing light saline water for timely hydration. On the other hand, the diet should be light. Hot weather can reduce appetite and slow down digestive functions, so one should consume more heat-clearing foods such as bitter melon, cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon, and other fresh fruits and vegetables. If possible, you can prepare some drinks like mung bean soup, chrysanthemum tea, etc.
Fourth point
Adjust physical activity. In a high-temperature environment, try to increase resting time and plan activities reasonably. It is best to engage in physical activities in the early morning or late evening when the weather is cooler, with a duration of about half an hour. Avoid prolonged activities in the sun to prevent physical and psychological discomfort.
Source: Mind-Body Science
Script: Wang Bingqian
Editor: Li Rui
Proofreading: Guo Yu
Review: Dong Mei, Su Yuke
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