Being in the sun for a long time is not easy, or at least that's how your brain and body interpret it. If you spent a long time at a pool or beach this summer, did you notice the sleepiness and tired feeling afterwards? Why does this happen?
"The sun causes some changes that force the body to work harder, which leads to fatigue," says dermatologist Heather D. Rogers. Under the influence of high temperatures, the body works harder to lower its temperature to a normal level.
There are three things your body is doing to cool off: You're breathing faster, your heart rate is increasing, and you're sweating more. All of these require extra energy from your body, which can make you feel tired.
"In extreme cases when our body can't cool down effectively, people get hyperthermia or heat-related illness," added doctor Shengyi Mao. Heat exhaustion includes symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Excessive exposure to UV radiation can weaken the body's immune system and the skin's ability to protect itself from infection, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. A suppressed immune system leads to more fatigue.
In the sun, people lose more water, and when you're dehydrated, your body works harder to perform its normal functions, such as pumping blood, which can make you feel tired. Beyond these factors, there is something else that happens when the body is exposed to the sun... The feeling of relaxation and release from stress when you are near a pool or at the beach leads to a state of sleep that lasts if you do not enter the house or hotel room and take care of yourself, rest, drink water or consume food products.
Suggested articles:
Source: HuffPost
