4 minute read
dry heat is often caused by mountains . in fact, some of the driest places on earth (the sahara desert and the australian outback, for example) are surrounded by mountain peaks that redirect humid air away from those areas and leave dusty, dry areas full of sand in the middle. the valley of the sun in the phoenix area is a prime example.
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in southern ontario, we’re used to humid summers where it can often feel like you need to take several showers a day because your body is always sweating. but the lack of moisture in dry air allows the body to cool itself more efficiently with sweat — our body’s natural cooling system.
extremely dry air readily accepts any water and moisture from the things existing inside of it, so all the moisture on my skin and in my mouth was being sucked away by the dryness — which bring us to the pee.
even though it didn’t feel like we were sweating a lot, we were. and all that water leaving the body triggers the release of antidiuretic hormone (adh) into the blood. according to my health alberta , adh is a chemical created in the brain that tells the kidneys to release less water (pee) than they normally would. adh levels often rise at night so we don’t have to use the bathroom while sleeping, but they can also rise in the face of extreme temperatures. the body recognizes that there isn’t an excess a water available and goes into conservation mode.
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heat exhaustion and heat stroke are all serious conditions that could require immediate medical attention and it is important to know the difference, so you are able to respond in a timely manner.
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