The last week in Houston has been the physical embodiment of the "It's not just the heat, it's the humidity" meme.

According to Space City Weather, the daily high temperature was 98 degrees or higher on 15 days in August.

Though stores, malls and restaurants have reopened, it's still important to stay distanced from people who don't live in your household. You can safely go to the mall, but it's not the air-conditioned safe haven that we have come to rely on in summers past.

Follow these tips to survive the heat until the first cool front of the season (whenever that will be):

HYDRATION

Drinking water is an important part of surviving a Houston summer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, water helps your body keep a normal temperature, get rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements, lubricate and cushion your joints and protect sensitive tissues.

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Daily water intake recommendations vary by age, sex and whether youre pregnant or breastfeeding.

The CDC recommends men consume 3.7 liters, or 125 ounces, each day through a combination of food and liquids, while women should consume 2.7 liters, or 91 ounces. But even that should be increased for those planning to exercise.

Drink water throughout your fitness routine if you can, and add in electrolytes via sports drinks like Gatorade, Powerade, or Pedialyte, which was initially created for sick children but is now marketed to active adults.

SUN SAFETY

Plan your outdoor activities during the morning or evening hours, and check the weather forecast for heat advisories or excessive heat warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

If you're outside when the sun is up, wear sunscreen with SPF protection of 30 or higher. And remember to take breaks in your workout.

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Never assume that youre invincible, said Space City Weather meteorologist Matt Lanza. While we can adapt and adjust to the hot climate during Houston summers, its important to realize that its still really hot which can have negative consequences on the human body.

Choose a mineral-based sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium oxide. These are the only ingredients that are proven safe for human use, according to the Environmental Working Group.

Two scientific studies published last year showed that after a single application, all non-mineral sunscreen ingredients are absorbed through the skin and could be detected in our bodies at levels that could cause harm, the EWG found.

SWEAT

Sweating, while it can be annoying, is definitely good for us on 100-plus degree days.

The main reason that humans sweat is we need to regulate our body temperature; its actually a really beautiful system, said Dr. Rajani Katta, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and a board certified dermatologist. When we overheat, our sweat glands produce more sweat. When it evaporates, it cools off our temperature.

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Humidity does not make us sweat more, she said, but it does raise our body temperatures, which causes us to sweat more. Some bodies acclimate better to the heat and dont sweat as much as others.

Older people sweat less than younger people, which puts them at an increased risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke, Katta said.

When exercising outside, watch out for signs of heat-related illness: headache, skin that is cool to the touch and a lack of sweat. If you experience these, stop what youre doing, find shade and drink water.

Its really not just about sweat, but hydration and how you motivate yourself to stay hydrated, said Shelby Saylor, association director of healthy living at the YMCA of Greater Houston. Sweat all you want, just replenish it.

julie.garcia@chron.com

Twitter.com/reporterjulie

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Originally posted here:
If you haven't melted yet, here's how to beat the heat in Houston. - Houston Chronicle