Nighttime heat is a new summer problem: the body has the hardest time recovering when there is no freshness even after dark

We usually measure summer heat by daily highs, but it's increasingly clear that the most dangerous part of a heatwave can begin when we expect relief: at night. When the temperature doesn't drop enough even after sunset, the body doesn't get a natural break to recover, sleep becomes shallower, and fatigue builds up day after day.

The Associated Press recently reported on a new heat wave in the United States, where a number of temperature records were expected to be broken, especially at night. In some cities, nighttime temperatures are forecast to not fall below 27 degrees Celsius, which experts say is particularly dangerous for the elderly, chronically ill, young children and people without access to air conditioning.

The problem is not just discomfort. When the body does not cool down during the night, the next day begins with a greater physiological load. The heart works under greater strain, sleep is poorer, concentration drops, and the first signs of exhaustion can be easily overlooked: headaches, cramps, unusually heavy sweating, weakness or the feeling that you “can’t catch your breath” in your own apartment.

That's why the summer routine is increasingly shifting from the question of "how to get through the day" to the question of "how to prepare for the night." The most important thing is to cool down the space before going to bed as much as possible: close the blinds and curtains during the hottest part of the day, ventilate early in the morning or late in the evening if the outside temperature is lower, use a fan judiciously and, when available, spend at least part of the day in an air-conditioned space. A cold shower, light bedding and a bottle of water by the bed are not luxuries, but a small defense system.

It is especially important not to wait for someone to complain. Elderly neighbors, parents, people who live alone or do physical work often try to "push through" the heat, even though their bodies are already sending them signals. A quick call, checking if they have water, medication, and access to a cooler room, can be much more important than it seems.

This is not a call to panic, but to take summer more seriously. If the night no longer brings freshness, routine must replace it: less exertion in the hottest hours, more fluids, lighter food, a cooled space and a quick reaction to worsening symptoms. Summer is still the season of the sea, vacations and long evenings, but it increasingly requires a little more planning than before.

Article prepared with the support of AI tools.