Dizziness is a feeling that makes you feel as if the world is spinning around you, even when you are standing still. It is not a separate condition, but a symptom of various underlying problems, especially involving the vestibular system, which includes the inner ear.
The vestibular system helps maintain your balance by sensing changes in the movement and position of your head. When this system is disrupted, the brain receives mixed signals, leading to dizziness, nausea, and loss of balance, the main characteristics of vertigo.
Causes of dizziness in hot weather
If you feel dizzy in hot weather, it may be due to:
1. Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the main causes of dizziness or lightheadedness in the summer. Your body’s ideal temperature is around 37 °C. Your body cools itself by losing heat in the form of sweat.
The hot and humid summer temperatures often dehydrate your body. As a result, your body has a hard time fighting the heat and your internal body temperature rises, leading to dizziness or lightheadedness.
2. Heatstroke
Heat exhaustion and excessive sweating can reduce blood volume and lead to serious health conditions, including heatstroke. One of the symptoms of heatstroke is dizziness, which may be accompanied by heavy sweating, muscle cramps, rapid heartbeat, and fainting.
3. Sudden temperature changes
Moving in and out of an air-conditioned room affects both the internal and external temperatures. It forces your body to adjust to the changing temperatures, creating a stress-like situation. This can lead to dizziness and other conditions such as dry eyes, muscle spasms, breathing problems, etc. Furthermore, sudden changes in temperature can also cause positional vertigo (dizziness), as it can disrupt your vestibular system (a system that helps with balance).
4. Airflow Problems
Working or living in a cramped and poorly ventilated space can also lead to lightheadedness. You can also define this condition as Sick Building Syndrome or SBS. This condition is mainly caused by poor ventilation and poor air quality in enclosed environments. Although the exact cause of SBS is unknown, it can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and various skin and respiratory conditions.
5. Sun Exposure
Being outdoors in the sun, especially during peak hours, i.e. between 11am and 4pm, can put you at risk of heat-related illnesses, including dizziness.
How to Prevent Dizziness in Summer?
You can prevent heatstroke by following these tips:
- Make sure you drink enough water, regardless of your activity level. If you are on a water-restricted diet or diuretics, consult your healthcare provider before increasing your fluid intake.
- Avoid drinking too much tea or coffee and limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day. All of these can make dehydration worse.
- Use ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) as it replenishes your body’s fluids quickly and helps you feel better. If you don’t have ready-made or packaged ORS, you can easily make it at home by dissolving half a teaspoon of salt and six teaspoons of sugar in a litre of water.
- You can also drink energy drinks and refreshing drinks such as coconut water and lemonade in the summer.
- Avoid sun exposure as much as possible, especially during peak hours.
- Wear loose, lightweight cotton clothing to allow your skin to breathe.
- Don’t leave home without sunglasses, a hat or an umbrella.
- Too much outdoor activity and physical activity on a hot day can cause heat stress. Try to limit these activities to the “cool” hours of the day.
- Eat small meals and salads. Avoid very hot and spicy foods.
