At long last, the sun has come out to play here in the UK and temperatures are expected to rise as we move through the bank holiday weekend. Big! Massive! Yay!
But, while the heatwave is a welcome change to the cold, damp days (read: weeks) we've had of late, and is the ideal excuse to spend hours in the local beer garden, it can feel a bit overwhelming. Working (and commuting) during a heatwave should, in our humble opinion, be illegal, and sleeping in a heatwave can be a literal nightmare.
That said, none of us really complains about the warmer weather when we're on holiday. So, why is that? Oftentimes, heat in the UK can feel hotter than abroad, which a doctor on TikTok just explained...
Why does heat in the UK feel hotter than abroad?
"Why does the heat in the UK feel even hotter than when you're abroad?" Dr Karan Raj asked his millions of TikTok followers.
"The UK can get pretty humid, which means that sweat doesn't evaporate as quickly," the expert noted. "[Therefore] the human body finds it harder to keep cool, and we get these hot, tropical nights where the temperature doesn't dip, so we actually don't get a break from the heat."
On top of that, Dr Raj said, "because it's cold most of the year, the buildings in the UK are designed to keep heat in, compared to hotter countries. And the average person in the UK does not have air conditioning."
Everyone's clicking on...
Dr Raj's heatwave explanation went down a treat with curious TikTokers, who flocked to the comments section to praise the doctor and share their own thoughts on the topic. "Bricks, insulation, carpets, curtains, yes, we are boiling right now!" one person commented, with another person writing: "I'm Australian, the UK in the heat is REVOLTING!"
"It's sticky heat in UK. Overseas, the heat is dry and bearable," someone else added to the conversation, with a fourth putting: "Also, we have such changes in temperatures, that we don’t get a chance to get used to it!!"
Tips to cope with the heatwave
If you're struggling to enjoy the heatwave, there are some simple solutions you can try to make the warmer weather more manageable. And, remember... even if you love the hotter temperatures, looking after your health is crucial during a heatwave to avoid issues like dehydration and heatstroke.
According to the NHS, there are plenty of adjustments you can make to stay safe during hot weather:
- Keep out of the heat where possible or, if you have to go outside, stay in the shade, particularly between the hours of 11am and 3pm
- Make sure you wear sunscreen, a hat, and light clothes when heading outside
- Avoid exercise or any activities that can raise your body temperature
- Stay cool by consuming cold food (see: picky bits!), rather than hot meals
- Avoid hot drinks, too, as well as alcohol and caffeine
- Opt for cool showers rather than warm ones
- Close your windows during the day, but open them at night when the outside temperature has gone down
So, there you have it!
