Beat the heat

It’s lovely to see the sunshine but record-breaking temperatures make it hard to keep our cool and could even be dangerous.  

Here are some top tips to beat the heat

• Drink regularly – take regular sips of cool drinks, even when you don’t feel thirsty. The best thing to drink is cold water, try adding a slice of lemon if you don’t like plain water. Age UK recommend at least 6-8 glasses of liquid a day. Try switching up to ice lollies or follow the example of our friends at The Sandford, who have been having fun with ‘blind tasting’ games to identify different drinks. Sugar free drinks with artificial sweeteners can also make you dehydrated so try to avoid these.  
• Sadly, it has been shown that hot drinks DON’T cool you down as some people used to believe, so we will be missing our daily brew for a while.  
• Choose lighter clothing – lightweight, loose-fitting clothing will help you keep your cool, with cotton and linen being great choices.  
• Close curtains and blinds to reduce the heat at home, waiting until later in the day when temperatures fall to open any windows.  
• The odd packet of crisps could be eaten to replace the salt lost when you sweat. Go easy on these if you have heart problems.  
• Take things easy – it is important for us all to stay active but overdoing things in high temperatures can lead to dehydration and even illness.  
• Check your medicines – many will need to be kept below 25*C, so if necessary, pop them into your fridge.  
• The pollen count is also likely to be high so remember to take any medication prescribed by your GP to help manage symptoms of either Hay Fever or Asthma. If you have new or emerging symptoms of Hay Fever or Asthma, it is important to seek advice from your pharmacist or GP on what over the counter medication may be suitable for you.