Dizziness, nausea or dizziness after a short time outdoors in the sun are conditions that many people experience in the summer. According to experts, these are often signs that the body is having difficulty regulating the temperature or has started dehydration.
Dr. Pooja Pillai, an internist at Aster CMI Hospital (India), said that discomfort appearing after only about 10 minutes of exposure to hot sun is not uncommon, especially in hot and humid weather conditions. At that time, the body has to work harder to maintain a stable temperature.
One of the main causes is dehydration. When in the sun, the body secretes a lot of sweat to cool down. This process causes water and electrolytes to be lost. If not compensated in time, blood volume can decrease, causing the heart to work harder to deliver blood to the brain and other organs. As a result, patients may feel dizziness, headache, fatigue, weakness, or nausea.
High temperatures also affect the circulatory system. To release excess heat, blood vessels near the skin surface will dilate. Although this mechanism helps the body cool down, it can also cause blood pressure to temporarily decrease. When blood flow to the brain decreases, a feeling of dizziness or loss of balance may appear.
According to experts, some groups are more susceptible to heat, including the elderly, children, people who are not familiar with high temperatures or people with underlying diseases. In addition, wearing thick clothes, skipping meals, exercising at high intensity outdoors or going out during the harshest sunny hours of the day also increases the risk of uncomfortable symptoms.
Not only causing dizziness, high temperatures can also affect the digestive system. When the body focuses on cooling down by increasing blood flow to the skin, the digestive system's activity may slow down. This contributes to feelings of restlessness, stomach discomfort or nausea.
Experts note that these manifestations can sometimes be early signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke. If not treated promptly, the condition can worsen and affect health.
To reduce the risk of dizziness and nausea when exposed to hot sun, people should drink enough water throughout the day, even when they do not feel thirsty. Light, loose and airy clothing also helps the body dissipate heat more effectively.
In addition, using helmets, umbrellas and limiting going out during hot sunny hours from noon to early afternoon are necessary measures.
Dr. Pillai recommends that people who frequently experience dizziness or nausea when it's hot should see a doctor to check for potential health problems. If additional symptoms such as excessive sweating, cramps, rapid heartbeat, confusion or fainting appear, timely emergency care is needed.
