Is it Too Hot to Exercise?

Y’all, it’s hot outside. It’s really, really hot.

So, what does that mean for those of you who ONLY like to exercise?

Unfortunately, the health risks often outweigh the benefits.

According to Women’s Health magazine, “When you work out in super hot temperatures, your body sweats a lot to cool itself. Then your blood rushes to the skin to cool it, which means there’s less blood in your muscles. That makes your blood pressure drop and your heart rate go up, which can sometimes cause you to feel lightheaded. As your body temperature climbs higher, you might feel nauseous and put yourself at risk for heat stroke, seizures, and heart rhythm problems. Overall, pushing yourself in this kind of heat is just a bad idea.”

When does hot become TOO hot?

When the head index hits 90 degrees, head inside to do your exercises in an air conditioned space. 

And in case you’re curious how the whole heat index thing works, the National Weather Service defines it as:

The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.  This has important considerations for the human body’s comfort. When the body gets too hot, it begins to perspire or sweat to cool itself off. If the perspiration is not able to evaporate, the body cannot regulate its temperature.  Evaporation is a cooling process. When perspiration is evaporated off the body, it effectively reduces the body’s temperature. When the atmospheric moisture content (i.e. relative humidity) is high, the rate of perspiration from the body decreases.  In other words, the human body feels warmer in humid conditions.

While exercise is important, it’s also important to know the limits of your body in this type of weather. Keep that in mind when you step out for a run in the next couple of months!