Can you recall the summer afternoons when the hot breeze and the scorching heat of the Sun got you all sweaty, parched, and exhausted? One might often wonder, what is it about the sun that makes us so tired?
The Sun, especially during peak summer months can exhaust your body, making you feel weak and lethargic. However, not many people understand the science that goes behind it.
For those who are curious, in this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the sun, why it makes you so drained, and how to deal with exhaustion caused by the Sun!
During the months of March to August, our Earth is closest to the Sun. At this time, the maximum amount of sunlight reaches the surface of the Earth, heating it up considerably.
Due to the extreme heat, the fluids, as well as the blood present in the human body, come close to the surface, in an effort to cool down the surface temperature of the body through Vasodilation. This particular procedure consumes sufficient energy, thus making the individual exhausted and dehydrated!
Reasons Why the Sun Makes You Tired
If you’re feeling drained on a sunny day, there is a high chance that several factors are unanimously coming to play.
Below is a list of reasons due to which you might feel tired due to the Sun:
- Your Body is Working Overtime to Keep Itself Cold!
The human body is accustomed to homoiothermic or warm-bloodedness. Our body regulates a core temperature of 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Whenever the atmospheric temperature goes through fluctuations, the human body regulates its core temperature through thermoregulation.
There are several ways through which thermoregulation occurs. One such way is through the process of vasodilation. During vasodilation, the blood vessels widen in order to increase the blood flow through them, in turn decreasing the blood pressure. This procedure saves a person from the attacks of a heat stroke.
Another process through which the body regulates heat is through sweating profusely. The sweat present on the skin evaporates, which in turn helps to cool down the surface temperature of the body!
During these crisis situations, the human body overworks itself to bring back the core temperature to normal. These extensive procedures tend to tire out the body easily, especially during summers.
- You’re Dehydrated!
Profuse sweating leads to a huge loss of water as well as sodium ions from the body, which in turn leads to dehydration. Due to excessive loss of water content from the blood, the blood becomes much thicker in nature, which in turn stands in the way of thermoregulation.
Not only that, pumping out thick blood causes extra pressure on your heart, making every pump much slower with a decreased rate of oxygen content. This adversely affects the body and makes it exhausted and lethargic.
- You Got Sunburnt
The Sun’s rays contain a lot more than the visible spectrum of light. The Sun exerts Ultraviolet Radiation or UV rays. UV rays are responsible for sunburns and tiredness. If the exposure persists for a longer period of time, it can even cause skin cancer in some individuals.
The human body protects itself from UV exposure in two different ways. Firstly, the body increases the secretion of melanin which can be visible as a tan. Additionally, the immune system also works in full swing in order to fight off UV exposure. When the immune system overworks itself during the day, it consumes huge amounts of energy, making the body drained and tired.
- Your Body is Active
Let’s be honest, nobody lies around at home during the summers! Summers are all about pool parties, hitting the beach, challenging your adventurous self to a hike, or going out for a nice jog to feel the fresh summer breeze!
Humans tend to overwork themselves during the summer months. Our bodies receive little to no exercise during the winters. The sudden transition from inactivity to full-fledged activeness can be a little taxing to the muscles.
Overhyped exercises or activities easily drain out the human body, making it feel drained. Additionally, the scorching heat of the Sun and constant sweating can ultimately lead to complete exhaustion.
- Unbalanced Circadian Cycle
Are you aware that our body has a natural sleep-wake cycle? Human bodies are designed in such a way that they are able to stay awake during the daylight hours and fall asleep when there is a lack of light.
This natural rhythm is also known as the Circadian Rythm or the body’s biological clock!
Research has shown that prolonged exposure to the sun can trigger and disrupt the circadian rhythm, causing you to feel tired and droopy by the early evening!
How Can you Avoid Tiredness on a Sunny Day?
If the tiredness on a sunny day bothers you, fret not! We have just the remedies that can keep all your exhaustion away!
- Drink plenty of water during the summers. We need to compensate our body for all the lost fluids and electrolytes. You can also prefer fruit juice as they have the additional nutrients and minerals that helps to rejuvenate the body, keeping the tiredness away!
- Avoid consumption of caffeine, alcohol, added quantities of sugar or salt as they have a major contribution towards dehydration.
- Avoid going out during peak sunlight hours, especially during the afternoon.
- If you’re engaging in physical activities, take adequate breaks in between to avoid exhaustion.
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes, especially dark in colour as dark colours absorb heat and increase the bosy temperature. Wear light coloured clothes made out of breathable fabrics.
Bottom Line
Sunshine is a natural source of Vitamin D and can be extremely good for your health. However, just like anything else, excessive amounts of sunlight can adversely affect your body and in some cases, make you gravely ill.
In this article, we have covered all the precautionary measures that you can do in order to save yourself from sun exhaustion.
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