Does the heat/climate take a toll on your body (Phoenix: home, living in)

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by asufan

Regarding the heat taking a toll on your body, I think you adapt. I'm 35 years old, and I routinely go out in the middle of the day during summer when it's 110 and play basketball for an hour. I just take breaks and drink 2 16oz bottles during that time. I also go running for 3 miles in the morning when it is sometimes in the 90's in the summer. Again, if you drink water you are fine. I think it just became second nature for me to always have bottled water on me. I get thrown off when I go somewhere that I can't take my water, like a movie, because I don't drink soda, tea or coffee.

But people react differently. When I'm in the humidity, even if it's in the mid 80's, I feel very uncomfortable. It's not because of the heat, but rather I feel like I am always gasping for air. If you aren't acclimated to the weather, it can take it's toll. Because your sweat evaporates so fast in PHX, you feel like you aren't sweating, and don't drink enough water. If you stay hydrated and wear sunscreen when you're outside for a while, it's no problem.

Getting acclimated to the Phoenix heat is only part of it. I was born & raised in Phoenix, and used to love the heat when I was younger. I would be out doing yard work and playing in 100+ degree temps, and it was no problem. As a person gets older, extreme heat (or extreme cold for that matter) becomes harder on a body. This is especially true when health issues set in. For me, it was the onset of Diabetes that caused me to be much less tolerant to our heat. During the peak of the summer, if I'm outside for just five or ten minutes, it can be unbearable.

As you said, people react differently. Not everybody enjoys the seemingly endless sunny days or the blast furnace summer heat. Some of us reside for other reasons which we consider more important than weather/climate. With over 4 million people living in the metro area, it's pretty safe to say that not everybody is the same.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by asufan

As far as skin cancer, yes, if you are pale skinned, you need to wear sunscreen. At the very least you'll have a bad burn, but skin cancer is huge in AZ, so you need to take precautions.

Regarding the heat taking a toll on your body, I think you adapt. I'm 35 years old, and I routinely go out in the middle of the day during summer when it's 110 and play basketball for an hour. I just take breaks and drink 2 16oz bottles during that time. I also go running for 3 miles in the morning when it is sometimes in the 90's in the summer. Again, if you drink water you are fine. I think it just became second nature for me to always have bottled water on me. I get thrown off when I go somewhere that I can't take my water, like a movie, because I don't drink soda, tea or coffee.

But people react differently. When I'm in the humidity, even if it's in the mid 80's, I feel very uncomfortable. It's not because of the heat, but rather I feel like I am always gasping for air. If you aren't acclimated to the weather, it can take it's toll. Because your sweat evaporates so fast in PHX, you feel like you aren't sweating, and don't drink enough water. If you stay hydrated and wear sunscreen when you're outside for a while, it's no problem.

I am quite pale as well: although; apparently folks like me who are exposed to the sun (within reason) year round seem to have less problems with skin cancer vs. back east since they are covered up for months on end and are hit full on come summer.

Note too that I already received three severe sunburns in the Wash DC area when I was a kid so I am already at high risk for skin cancer. Needless to say: I do not stay in direct sun any more than I have to.

[Huckleberry3911948]

thats it--- reverse the aging--- move back to chicago. it dropped down to 40F last night, i had to put on my wool hawaiian shirt i can get rid of all that back in chicago excellent idea. im packing. oh to think about it that crispy walk late at night off the green line near cisero south side my old neighborhood its guna be just like heaven.

[cmist]

Originally Posted by Grannysroost

It is false thinking...I have gotten tanned without trying, going to water my plants, feed animals, just out under the awning to smoke and not even in the sun for long periods of time....how much tan can your body take year after year without aging? Peg is right about drinking water which also helps keep your skin hydrated and 'plumpier'....

Granny brings up a very good point here! I have been burned in a short amount of time without trying. You can get burnt through the windshield of your car on a short drive. I dont realize it right away but when my face feels hot later in the day I notice I'm red as a lobster.

Other times, I have left the car window open for short runs and propped an elbow on the window, only to notice later my left arm is burnt to a crisp while the other side is still pale.

So yes, you may have to apply sunscreen as a daily ritual if you want to preserve your skin. Small events outdoors on most days will leave you exposed to more heat and UV rays than is probably advisable. For the most part, the drying effect is the culprit.

Haven't you ever seen those poor 30 years old in the middle east that look 80? We're about the same climate. Talk about haggard??

[mattpresley]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

thats it--- reverse the aging--- move back to chicago. it dropped down to 40F last night, i had to put on my wool hawaiian shirt i can get rid of all that back in chicago excellent idea. im packing. oh to think about it that crispy walk late at night off the green line near cisero south side my old neighborhood its guna be just like heaven.

Only 40?? It was 28 at my house overnight.

[cmist]

Here's a photo of my 23 year old neighbor in Peoria, AZ that doesnt believe in sunscreen

[solow]

I am 40 do hvac and I love it except for 3 months . I find that the cold kills me . Grew up in the midwest and the rain makes me depressed cold and seem to be pissed off all the time and drink more back there. I also ate alot more there nothing better to do..

[mhouse2001]

When I lived elsewhere and visited here, my lips got chapped very quickly. Now that I live here, that doesn't happen. I really don't notice dry skin but I do hate the static electricity when it's really dry. I think the only consideration that needs to be made is for sensible protection from the constant sun, but then, I'm not a fan of anything pharmaceutical. I don't think the sun causes cancer, I mean, humans have existed for millions of years, why would the sun cause cancer now? Why did skin cancer rates go up after the introduction of sunscreen? I wear long sleeves and long pants year round. I don't have to flirt with being naked to tolerate the heat. I do just fine.

Today is cloudy and cold. We probably won't even hit 60. This is depressing, which is probably the second consideration: you get used to the sunshine and when it's cloudy, it can ruin your mood. I couldn't stand Seattle's weather and I hated it in the Midwest. Whatever toll the heat takes, I'll deal with it over those alternatives!

[cmist]

Originally Posted by mhouse2001

When I lived elsewhere and visited here, my lips got chapped very quickly. Now that I live here, that doesn't happen. I really don't notice dry skin but I do hate the static electricity when it's really dry. I think the only consideration that needs to be made is for sensible protection from the constant sun, but then, I'm not a fan of anything pharmaceutical. I don't think the sun causes cancer, I mean, humans have existed for millions of years, why would the sun cause cancer now? Why did skin cancer rates go up after the introduction of sunscreen? I wear long sleeves and long pants year round. I don't have to flirt with being naked to tolerate the heat. I do just fine.

Today is cloudy and cold. We probably won't even hit 60. This is depressing, which is probably the second consideration: you get used to the sunshine and when it's cloudy, it can ruin your mood. I couldn't stand Seattle's weather and I hated it in the Midwest. Whatever toll the heat takes, I'll deal with it over those alternatives!

I'm the opposite of this. We have so much sunshine, the cloudy days actually stand out and feel refreshing to me. Just like a sunny day would stand out in the middle of a bunch of rainy ones.

I love the winters here and will never complain for one second about a 60 degree "cold" day.

[Grannysroost]

It has been cloudy here all day...I asked the granddaughter how did we live in Alaska, because I am in a mood...finally got my vitamin D and flippin weather god took it away...go figure...now it is dark and a new day tomorrow...I will go grill my salmon in the dark