I’ve often heard it said that there are good reasons to drink Coffee, Tea and other hot beverages in hot weather. Now I’m hearing it’s getting so hot this summer, that age-old practice is becoming a danger…
Too easy to get too much of a hot, caffeinated thing on recent summer
days when outdoors temps are already too hot for our own good…
My Dad’s mother – ‘Granny’ – was a classic Victorian era mom and middle class socialite. She loved to dwell on the importance of manners and traditions, and going to church on Sunday. And she was a self-appointed keeper of the history and traditions of Great Britain – especially the glory of Imperial times.
One of her favourite treatises was how the Brits brought Tea to the rest of the world. Having been the default rulers of India and Much of Asia for a hundred years, they learned that drinking a hot bever-age on a hot day made you perspire. And as the perspiration evaporated, it cooled the drinker. Like-wise coffee in the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the Empire.
Now the norm
Summer highs across North America have been reaching 109 F and higher this year. And those kinds of temperatures are not only setting records; they’re bringing many of us face-to face with dangerous outdoor heat for the first time in our lives.
During periods in which temperatures reach or exceed 100 F / 137.7 C, the (US) National Weather Service (NWS) routinely issues heat warnings warning folks to: “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”
The NWS adds, “Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activi-ties to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
What to do if you suspect Heat Stroke
- Heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heatstroke if not treated.
- If you suspect heatstroke, call 911 immediately.
- Move the person to a cooler place and try to lower their body temperature with cool compresses or water immersion.
- Do not give fluids if the person is unconscious or showing signs of heatstroke.
Potentially deadly
According to Health Canada, symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke can wear many faces:
- Heavy sweating: Your body is trying to cool itself down, but it might not be enough.
- Muscle cramps: Especially in the legs, arms, or abdomen.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness: Feeling faint or unsteady.
- Weakness and fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or weak.
- Nausea or vomiting: May also include stomach cramps.
- Headache: A dull ache or throbbing pain.
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat: Your body is trying to regulate and compensate.
- Extreme thirst: Dry mouth and sticky saliva are signs.
- Decreased urination: Dark yellow urine may indicate dehydration.
- Possible confusion or irritability: Changes in behavior, especially in children.
Heat Stroke Symptoms may include:
- High body temperature: Often above 104°F (40°C).
- Mental status changes: Confusion, delirium, combativeness, seizures, or loss of consciousness.
- No sweating (or very little): Your body’s ability to cool itself through sweat is impaired.
- Rapid and strong pulse: Your heart is working overtime.
- Hot, red, and dry skin: The skin may not sweat and can feel hot to the touch.
- Unsteadiness and lack of coordination: Difficulty walking or maintaining balance.
- Possible nausea or vomiting: May be a sign of severe heat illness.
- Fainting or loss of consciousness: A serious sign of heatstroke.
Those most at risk
Both agencies agree that those under the greatest danger from extreme heat include:
- Older Adults
- Infants and Young Children
- Those with Chronic Illness or who are taking Special Medication
- People who Work or are Active Outdoors
The problem with Coffee…
First and foremost, Coffee will raise your body temperature even more in already-dangerously-hot conditions
Coffee is a natural diureteic. Dehydration is a serious symptom of both heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Contrary to intuition… Coffee demand/consumption and coffee prices both remain at record highs – at the same time.
Coffee remains the most-consumed beverage across the developed countries, and especially in North America. In the US alone, that translates to millions of cups per day; billions of cups per year.
Perhaps the biggest problem with coffee in hot weather: We tend to take the beverage for granted in all seasons and weathers. Veteran coffee drinkers may tell you they can drink as much as they want to, and it doesn’t affect them. But put together extreme high temperatures and coffee addiction, and you have another – highly temperamental – animal altogether…
My take
Record numbers of consumers world-wide are potentially at risk of coffee overconsumption, especi-ally during this summer’s record heat waves.
Those whose job it is to warn us of specific dangers are – for the first time – universally placing spe-cific emphasis on recommendations that we all limit our coffee consumption under conditions of extreme heat.
It’s become critical for us all to know the basics of what to do, and what not to do. when heat exhaus-tion and stroke raise their ugly heads.
Also, as with many foods and drugs, it’s recently become apparent that coffee consumption is not a one-size-fits-all situation. We each need to know our own limits…
~ Maggie J.